Propulsion Issues, Lifeboat Fall, Reminders

It’s time to dig into the week’s prime cruise headlines from Cruise Hive, your go-to supply for cruise and port name information and developments.

In our recap version this week, we’ll let you know a couple of lifeboat that fell from a Carnival Cruise Line ship throughout an unmanned check, Princess Cruises streamlining its trip insurance coverage insurance policies, and Royal Caribbean unveiling a Duckie Carousel onboard its new-build Legend of the Seas.

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Man Escapes Damage After Fall Into Nassau Harbor

A person strolling close to Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore whereas the ship was docked on the Port of Nassau took an unexpected dip within the harbor. 

The unidentified male visitor was not injured, and it was not clear whether or not he was a visitor on the ship.

Norwegian Encore was making an unscheduled name at Nassau when the incident occurred on November 16, 2025. The ship was initially scheduled to name at Nice Stirrup Cay that day, however heavy seas within the space prompted a revision to the itinerary.

Movies posted on social media present the person holding onto a life ring within the water between the ship and the pier. It isn’t clear how he landed within the water — whether or not he was on the gangway and slipped, or fell from the pier.

Inside minutes, crew members helped the visitor onto the pier with a ladder. Norwegian Encore was crusing a 7-night Japanese Caribbean cruise that left PortMiami on November 15, 2025.

Compensation Supplied as Cruise Ends 8 Hours Late

Propulsion issues on Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon prompted the ship to reach again at her homeport, PortMiami, 8 hours later than scheduled on November 16, 2025. That meant loads of journey complications for visitors booked on homeward-bound flights following debarkation.

Cruise line President Christine Duffy despatched an e-mail to each visitor, apologizing for the delay and offering some compensation.

The ship had been crusing an 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise when it developed propulsion points that prompted crusing speeds to be lowered. Carnival Horizon had departed PortMiami on November 8, 2025.

The cruise line supplied as much as $200 per individual to cowl non-refundable air fare prices and/or change charges. Visitors looking for reimbursement should ship their price receipts to the cruise line by e-mail and wait just a few weeks to obtain cost.

Carnival Horizon’s subsequent cruise, which departed on November 16, 2025, left PortMiami later than anticipated, so the cruise line supplied pro-rated, one-day refunds of every visitor’s cruise fare plus any packages that they had bought.

Courtroom Submitting Provides to Thriller in Teen’s Shipboard Loss of life

A court docket submitting seems to supply some new information within the case of an 18-year-old’s demise on Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon on November 7, 2025.

Anna Kepner was found lifeless in her cabin, hidden beneath the mattress, throughout the ship’s 6-night Western Caribbean cruise that departed from PortMiami. An investigation is underway, and no explanation for demise has been revealed.

However in a authorized movement filed on November 17, 2025, Kepner’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, sought to postpone a court docket listening to involving her ex-husband, apparently associated to little one custody, as a result of chance {that a} prison case can be filed in opposition to one of many household’s minor youngsters.

It seems that these prison fees may very well be tied to Kepner’s demise. The title and age of the minor little one — a step-sibling to Kepner, haven’t been disclosed, however the motion taken by Hudson was primarily based on data from FBI investigators.

Kepner, a Florida resident and cheerleader, was present in her stateroom by a cabin steward.

Cruise Line Points Mobility Scooter Reminders

Carnival Cruise Line despatched letters to visitors booked on two upcoming voyages reminding them of the road’s mobility scooter rules.

Those that obtained the notices are crusing on Carnival Liberty’s 14-night crusing to Panama and the Caribbean from New Orleans, and Carnival Venezia’s 14-night Southern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral. Each cruises depart on November 30, 2025.

The cruise line has not revealed why visitors booked solely on these two departures have been chosen to obtain the reminders.

Carnival Cruise Line has a number of scooter rules relating to measurement, storage, and basic etiquette. Amongst them is, as an example, that scooters should be beneath 21 inches huge to suit by means of the door of a normal cabin. Visitors with wider scooters should guide a completely accessible stateroom or hire a smaller scooter.

And for security causes, scooters are usually not allowed to be saved in hallways or left unattended wherever on the ship. The cruise line’s reminder additionally urges visitors to inform the road in the event that they intend to convey a scooter onboard. 

Those that do will likely be requested to fill out a mobility questionnaire, in order that the road can be sure that acceptable staterooms have been booked.

Lifeboat Falls From Ship Throughout Unmanned Take a look at

Think about the shock on the faces of Carnival Dream visitors when one of many ship’s lifeboats broke free from the vessel and went crashing into the water throughout a port name in Cozumel, Mexico.

That was the scene because the Carnival Cruise Line ship made her closing port name on a 6-night Western Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Galveston, Texas. The incident, through which no accidents have been reported, occurred on November 19, 2025.

It was Lifeboat 3, saved on the ship’s starboard aspect, that fell. Seems that the crew was holding an unmanned test that concerned decreasing the vessel, a apply that’s not unusual whereas ships are docked at a port of name.

Fortuitously, the lifeboat didn’t injury Carnival Dream’s hull when it fell, however did maintain vital injury, together with an enormous crack alongside the boat’s stern. That meant the lifeboat can be unusable throughout an precise emergency.

It raised questions on whether or not the three,646-guest ship might sail with out it, since all cruise ships are required to have sufficient lifeboats to accommodate everybody on board. 

Nevertheless, apparently there have been sufficient lifeboats left on the ship to carry all souls, since Carnival Dream returned to Galveston on schedule and was resulting from function her subsequent crusing, an 8-night Bahamas cruise departing on November 21, 2025.

Princess Cruises Streamlines Insurance coverage Plans

Princess Cruises’ visitors will say goodbye to the road’s Normal Princess Trip Safety (PVP) plan as of December 9, 2025. However all isn’t misplaced: the road will nonetheless supply its Platinum PVP, though it’s a costlier plan.

The Normal PVP is often 9% of the cruise price, whereas the Platinum model is 12%. Visitors who’re booked to sail and have already bought the usual plan are unaffected, and the usual plan will proceed to be supplied by means of December 8, 2025.

The cruise line’s aim is to simplify insurance choices and increase protection. With Platinum PVP, visitors obtain an insurance coverage coverage that covers issues like misplaced baggage, emergency evacuation, and journey delay prices, as an example, in addition to a cancellation waiver.

The waiver allows visitors to cancel a cruise for non-covered causes, however is priced individually, beginning at 10% of the cruise fare for voyages costing as much as $5,000 per individual.

Additionally being altered is the road’s At-Ease Waiver, which will likely be renamed Cancellation Safety. It allows visitors to get a refund on gadgets reminiscent of a cruisetour section or a lodge lodging booked as a part of a Cruise Plus package deal.

Duckie Carousel to Debut on Legend of the Seas

The cruise business’s cruising-duck phenomenon, whereby visitors conceal small rubber geese round a ship for others to seek out, is reaching a brand new degree onboard Royal Caribbean’s new-build, Legend of the Seas, resulting from launch in July 2026.

The third within the Icon class, Legend of the Seas will function a “Duckie-Go-Round” carousel within the family-oriented Surfside neighborhood. Will it’s for adults in addition to youngsters? Nonetheless unknown, however a rendering of the carousel exhibits brightly coloured geese carrying vacation-style clothes.

Royal Caribbean is inviting cruisers to assist title the geese. On social media, the road introduced a pink duckie and requested folks to vote for both Dolly, Sally, Polly, or Lulu. Dolly gained out, with greater than 50% of the votes.

Rides on the carousel will likely be free. This isn’t the primary time that carousels have been added to Royal Caribbean ships as an leisure function. They debuted with the Oasis class, nonetheless, Legend of the Seas is the primary to concentrate on geese.

Extra Cruise Headlines

Why cease now? Cruise Hive has loads extra information and options for you, together with protection of Norwegian Cruise Line including an Elton John tribute present to 1 ship’s leisure roster, Movie star Cruises’ Movie star Equinox getting delayed in Lisbon resulting from a port strike, and Carnival Cruise Line making its new non-alcoholic drinks package accessible on the market on voyages departing in early 2026.

Additionally, learn Cruise Hive author Catie Kovelman’s onboard review of the model new Star Princess, and discover out why some hair dryers are being confiscated aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship.