Diplomacy

In the past month, I had the opportunity to visit both Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas, CocoCay, and Carnival Cruise Line’s new private port, Celebration Key.

I had visited CocoCay six times prior to this past cruise, and I was at Celebration Key the day it opened last month on July 19, 2025.

Which private port between the two largest cruise lines in the world is the best? Let’s look at the features that each one offers so you can make the decision for yourself based on your interests.

CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s highest rated port among their guests. Celebration Key is a month old and will be expanding over the next few years.

Pool

This is one area where Celebration Key wins hands down. I always loved the large swimming pool at CocoCay with the swim-up bar. The one area of the pool that gradually gets deeper is great for little kids.

However, I was blown away by the enormous size of the pools, or lagoons as Carnival calls them, at Celebration Key. The two pools are separated by a walkway and each one is 6.3 acres in size.

If you want to spend most of your day in a pool, then Celebration Key is for you. They are a combined 16.5 times larger than the pool at CocoCay.

Beach Clubs

CocoCay has the Coco Beach Club and Celebration Key has the Pearl Cove Beach Club. Both have an entrance fee, an infinity pool, private beach and include upgraded food offerings. Pearl Cove does have some options that don’t include a premium lunch.

The food at Coco Beach Club is miles ahead of the Pearl Cove Beach Club. The infinity pools are similar, but Pearl Cove does have a swim-up bar.

CocoCay has over-the-water cabanas that you can rent for the day that nothing short of incredible.

I really love the entrance to the Coco Beach Club, it gives you the feeling that you are entering a secluded, private area away from everything else on the island.

Excursions

On CocoCay, your options are a beach day, pool day or waterpark day. If none of those interest you, then the only other option is to stay on the ship.

Since Celebration Key is located on Grand Bahama Island, you can take a normal cruise excursion away from the beach and pool. You can even take a taxi and do your own thing for the day.

Beach

The beach at Celebration Key is one long beach and is a basic ocean beach. Since it is open water for a good 50 miles away, you may not find the calmest of water.

CocoCay has a lot of different beach options all around the island. Since there are several islands all around CocoCay, the water is calmer and leads to a better beach day. They also built several coves where the water is normally very calm.

Pier

Both ports have a pier so you can just walk off the ship and be straight in paradise.

Waterpark

Right now, only CocoCay has a waterpark, but it’s not just any waterpark. It has the tallest waterslide in North America, a wave pool, and thrilling waterslides.

Carnival has talked about building a waterpark that will be a part of Phase 2 on Celebration Key. Of course, we will have all updates when Carnival says what exactly will be included in Phase 2.

Splashpad for Kids

While both ports have splashpad for kids, but the one on CocoCay is a lot bigger than the one on Celebration Key. However, the one on Celebration Key is located right next to the massive pool and in a much better location for families.

Food

Since Carnival Cruise Line does not own or operate the food stalls at Celebration Key, it is not an all you can eat situation like most cruise line private islands. You get one complimentary meal for lunch. However, they do have more variety than what you would find on other islands.

CocoCay offers unlimited food all around the island.

Which private island is better really all depends on what you’re looking to do that day. I personally loved both of the ports and look forward to go back to each of them soon.

Cruisers spend months planning the perfect vacation at sea, but what happens if you miss the ship before the sailing even begins?   Where do you even begin?

That’s exactly what happened to a passenger who recently shared a candid look at their experience on Reddit after missing embarkation day for a British Isles cruise on a Carnival ship.

Here’s what other cruisers can learn from their experience—and how you can be ready for a situation in which you hopefully will never find yourself.

Missing Embarkation Day

“Due to poor planning we missed embarkation day. It was a stressful 24 hours before we got the green light to meet the ship in Cork, but we made it,” the traveler shared.

The cause? Same-day flights with tight connections and unexpected flight delays.

We often recommend on Cruise Fever that getting to the port at least one day ahead of the cruise is not just a good idea, it’s practically a must.

One lesson stood out that the cruiser said made the whole process easier:

“Save any notifications of flight delays,” they emphasized. “Being able to show proof of flight delay is extremely helpful when asking permission for meeting the boat at the next stop. I deleted mine, but luckily someone else in our party had them.”

Another cruiser echoed the sentiment in the comments: “Moral of the story… Do NOT fly in the day of.” 

Getting On Board

Getting permission to rejoin the cruise at a later port isn’t a guarantee. The original poster explained that the process involved “speaking to multiple people over a 24 hour period” and only getting a breakthrough after reaching a supervisor by email. “Don’t be afraid to ask for a supervisor, I wish I had lol,” they wrote.

Another commenter added practical advice: “Have travel insurance. Although we booked our flights through Carnival there was always a chance we still could not be allowed on board… Don’t give up. Enjoy the time at the hotel while waiting to get onboard.”

It’s worth noting that Carnival’s policies—as confirmed by the OP—leave final approval up to the ship’s captain: “What I learned is that it is up to the discretion of the ship’s captain. So that is why having the proof of flight delay really helped us get permission to meet at the next port,” they explained.

Documentation and Customs

If you’re ever in this situation, make sure your paperwork is in order. “Make sure you have all your boarding documents and passports. Two of the folks traveling in our party forgot their printed boarding documents and it held everything up when trying to board and it was an unnecessary stressor,” the traveler wrote.

Customs can be trickier if you board later. “Since we missed all the passport verification during the first daily day, we had to do everything on debarkation day. We were asked to come to a different location far earlier than the rest of the ship to have passports verified and we were not eligible for express check out. Nothing terrible, just an inconvenience.”

Bottom Line

• Never fly in the morning of your cruise embarkation—give yourself a buffer day.
• Keep physical and digital copies of all travel documents and proofs of delay.
• Purchase cruise travel insurance for extra protection.
• Communicate early and persistently with the cruise line.
• Know that boarding at the next port is up to the captain’s discretion and may not be guaranteed.

 “The key is to let [the cruise line] know as things happen so they’re aware you’re gonna meet them,” one comment reminded everyone.

In the end, the traveler summed it up perfectly: “Customer service was incredibly helpful in an incredibly stressful situation. I hope no one ever has to go through it, but if you do, I hope this is helpful.”

Princess Cruises is making a few good changes to their magic experience that is on Sun Princess and their next new cruise ship, Star Princess.

Spellbound by Magic Castle will be revamped on Star Princess with a captivating speakeasy experience as guest enjoy a night of illusion, sleight-of-hand, and unforgettable storytelling at sea.

The original experience on Sun Princess came with a $149 price tag and included a special dinner and unlimited cocktails. When Star Princess debuts, it will cost $45 per person and come with two signature cocktails. Dinner will also not be included prior to showtime.

These changes will also go into effect on Sun Princess starting October 4, 2025.

Guest will be able to purchase additional drinks after the two that come with the admission fee. However, they are not included in any drink packages.

Tickets for Spellbound can be purchased online before the cruise or once a guest boards the ship.

As part of its transformation, Spellbound on Star Princess will introduce an exclusive new cocktail menu featuring handcrafted drinks available only at the Cardini Bar.

The menu complements the venue’s magical atmosphere and includes innovative libations, each with their own surprise twist, like The Inner Circle (milk-washed Meili vodka with delicate notes of jasmine tea), and Cardini (a butter-washed rum Old Fashioned).

Lorna Warren, Princess Cruises Vice President Hotel Operations and Guest Experiences, said:

“Spellbound has quickly become one of the most talked-about experiences at sea, and we’re thrilled to take it to the next level aboard Star Princess.

“By bringing to life the spirit and setting of the original Magic Castle in Hollywood, our reimagined speakeasy will deliver a one-of-a-kind venue where every guest can feel like they’ve stepped into a world of true magic.”

Star Princess is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. After a handful of cruises in the Mediterranean, the ship will head to Port Everglades and sail its first cruise from the port on November 7, 2025.

The ship features 30 dining and drink venues and over 1,500 balcony cabins.

Viking has announced its new World Cruise itineraries for 2027-2028, with a flagship 142-day sailing scheduled to take place on Viking Vesta. The vessel, which was delivered in 2025 as the newest ship in Viking’s fleet, will offer extended overnight stays in several iconic ports.

“Our approach has always been different. At Viking, we always focus on the destination,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “These epic voyages are truly the ultimate in exploration.”

The new cruises are designed to be destination-focused, with extra time for learning more about each port of call both on and off the ship.

2027-2028 World Cruise Itineraries

Viking is offering travelers a choice of three comprehensive world cruise options:

• Viking World Cruise: This is the primary 142-day journey, departing from Fort Lauderdale on December 28, 2027, and finishing in London on May 18, 2028. The itinerary will visit 31 countries and include 62 guided tours, with overnight stays in 16 cities.
• Viking World Discoveries: A 125-day cruise that travels from Los Angeles to London, visiting 27 countries.
• Viking World Voyage III: The longest option at 170 days, this voyage continues beyond the Viking World Cruise route. It begins in Fort Lauderdale and ends in Stockholm,
   adding 21 more ports of call across Northern Europe and Scandinavia.

The Route and Excursions

The main route will include ports across six continents, beginning in Central America, transiting the Panama Canal, and traveling up the West Coast of North America.

It will then cross the Pacific, with stops in Hawaii and French Polynesia, followed by New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, and Africa, before arriving in Europe. Among the destinations with overnight stays are Sydney, Singapore, Zanzibar, Cape Town, and Casablanca.

Travelers will be able to learn along the way with the Viking Resident Historian program, which provides lectures on the history and culture of the regions visited. Optional multi-day overland excursions are also available, including:

• A six-day trip to Australia’s Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef.
• A five-day safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
• A six-day excursion to India’s Golden Triangle to see landmarks like the Taj Mahal.

Viking’s Accolades

Viking has received many awards for its fleet and service. The company was rated #1 for Oceans, #1 for Rivers, and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in its 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. It was also named a “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure and recognized as the Best Luxury Line by U.S. News & World Report for the fourth consecutive year.

Booking Details

Booking offers are available for North American travelers through August 31, 2025. These include free business-class airfare, a $4,000 per couple shore excursion credit, a $2,000 per couple shipboard credit, and a complimentary Silver Spirits Beverage Package.

Returning Viking guests also receive an additional $2,000 per couple in shipboard credit, and a limited-time reduced deposit of 10% is being offered.

Star Princess, the next new ship from Princess Cruises, successfully completed sea trials this week ahead of the vessel’s debut.

Star Princess is the second Sphere class ship from Princess and will sail its maiden voyage on October 4, 2025. In early November, the ship will head to Port Everglades where she will be christened on November 6, 2025.

Star Princess will spend the winter season sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to the Caribbean before heading to the West Coast for cruises to Alaska in the summer of 2026.

But first, the finishing touches will be put on the ship now that sea trials have been completed.

Sea trials took place between August 9-12 when the ship departed from the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

Star Princess underwent a comprehensive series of tests, including steering, navigation systems and propulsion.

As the second ship in the Princess fleet powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), Star Princess represents a significant step forward in reducing emissions.

To optimize both power efficiency and maneuverability, the vessel is fitted with two Azipod propulsion units, providing 360 degree thrust for both forward and reverse movement, along with four large controllable pitch bow thrusters, enabling precise lateral maneuvering.

Star Princess Captain Gennaro Arma gave the following statement about sea trials:

“We confidently led Star Princess through sea trials. As the proud leader of our newest vessel, I’m extremely impressed with the ship’s navigation capabilities and maneuverability. With the final countdown underway, my incredible teammates and I can’t wait to welcome guests aboard for unforgettable adventures this fall.”

The 177,800 gross ton ships can carry 4,300 guests. It features 30 distinct dining and drink venues and elevated entertainment.