Don’t feel like lingering at the dinner table on your cruise? You’re not alone. And for that reason, Carnival Cruise Line is testing a new “Express Dining” option that could get passengers in and out of the dining room in under 45 minutes. The new service is undergoing a test run only aboard the 3,934-passenger Carnival
Modern cruise ships are equipped with numerous pieces of safety equipment, including lifeboats and inflatable life rafts. While SOLAS and other safety regulations strictly control lifeboat capacities, the actual number of lifeboats on a cruise ship will not match the total number of passengers and crew members. This guide will explain why lifeboats aren’t required
On June 7, 2025, Carnival Cruise Line threw an epic party to celebrate sailing out of Port Canaveral for 35 years. The celebration took place onboard the 180,000 gross-ton Mardi Gras while at Terminal 3 in Port Canaveral, with members of the Canaveral Port Authority, the United States Coast Guard, and Brevard County in attendance. In
Cruise travelers often plan their oceangoing getaways a year or more in advance, looking forward to their carefully chosen itineraries and highly anticipated ports of call. It can be frustrating, then, when guests receive notifications just days before sailing that their cruise has been altered and port visits changed. That is just what is now
There was commotion in Souda-Chania, Crete (Greece), as a crew member found herself in a potentially life or death situation. On the afternoon of June 3, 2025, while passengers were busy exploring the Mediterranean cruise port, a crew member went overboard in the Port of Souda under mysterious circumstances. But thankfully, she was quickly saved
Table seating at Carnival Cruise Line’s Lido Marketplace can be a nightmare with crowds, saved tables, long lines, and more. But would a table flag system help alleviate some of these common issues? One guest suggested the use of colored flags to Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, as a way to indicate open
You’ve come to the right place to keep up with all of the big cruise news stories of the week. Highlights of Cruise Hive’s latest recap include coverage of high winds impacting ships from Sicily to Alaska, a fire onboard an MSC Cruises ship, and Diana Ross being named godmother of Star of the Seas.
On June 6, 2025, just a week into a 113-day world cruise, Crown Princess experienced some less-than-ideal weather off the southern coast of Australia. While en route from Sydney to Adelaide, the ship was already encountering rough seas when sailing near the border of Victoria and South Australia. Unexpectedly, the wind shifted from 45 knots
With the Atlantic Hurricane Season now underway and seasonal predictions for an above-normal number of storms, cruisers may be understandably nervous about how their oceangoing vacations may be impacted. While it is inevitable that cruises will be affected by hurricanes every year, Carnival Cruise Line is offering great insights about how ships are kept safe
A top management change is on the horizon at Royal Caribbean Group, as longtime chairman of the board Richard Fain, considered a pioneering visionary across the cruise industry, is due to step down from the post in late 2025. Fain has held the top executive position since 1988, overseeing the Royal Caribbean brand and paving
Cruisers asked, and Royal Caribbean answered. The cruising community is looking for more non-smoking casino access, and their wish is the cruise line’s command. On Royal Caribbean’s more modern cruise ships, the smoking and non-smoking sections of the casino are separate venues entirely. For many, this is a welcomed change from simply splitting two sides
Many cruise travelers carefully select their cruise lines, individual ships, and departure dates for specific itineraries that best match their vacation dreams. It can be frustrating, then, to receive an email letting you know that your itinerary has been changed. Guests aboard four Carnival cruise ships have received such notifications, but without any frustration at
