Cruise News Update: Carnival Tweaks Loyalty, Royal...

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This week we’re highlighting protection of key adjustments Carnival Cruise Line is making to its new rewards plan, the profitable sea trials accomplished by Movie star Cruises’ new ship, Movie star Xcel, and an unlucky struggle aboard a Royal Caribbean ship that prompted a return to its homeport.

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Visitor Complains Onboard Occasions Run Too Late

Carnival Cruise Line is called the Enjoyable Ship line, however is the enjoyable lasting too late into the evening to allow an excellent evening’s sleep?

One cruiser thought so, and posited his declare on model ambassador John Heald’s Fb web page, explaining that dinner occasions, stage exhibits, and different actions ought to begin two to a few hours sooner than they sometimes do.

This visitor advised that 10 p.m. is his good bedtime, figuring out himself as being in his early 40s. Heald didn’t immediately reply, however he did publish a ballot asking cruisers their opinions on the topic.

About 2,150 folks agreed that actions ought to begin earlier, however 9,200-plus company checked the choice stating: “I’m not often in mattress on my cruise by 10 p.m.”

Like different cruise strains, Carnival does supply nightly occasions that run late, akin to comedy exhibits, cabaret performances, and dwell music in scores of bars and lounges throughout the fleet. However sometimes, early and late stage exhibits are scheduled, similar to early and late seatings within the eating rooms.

After Outcry, Carnival Tweaks New Rewards Plan

Three months after saying it was restructuring its Very Vital Enjoyable Particular person (VIFP) program into a brand new plan known as Carnival Rewards, Carnival Cruise Line has altered some aspects following criticism from loyalty membership members.

The brand new rewards plan takes impact on June 1, 2026.

In a serious concession to indignant company, the road now states that every one VIFP company with Diamond standing, or who will earn that standing by Could 31, 2026, will keep it on a everlasting foundation. To succeed in Diamond stage, a visitor should sail on a Carnival ship for 200 days.

Additionally, the lower-level Platinum VIFP company will routinely obtain 10,000 Carnival Rewards “stars” when the brand new program rolls out on June 1, 2026, and in each two-year incomes cycle after that.

The cruise line added a rewards plan for youngsters below 18, too. They can’t, by legislation, be enrolled in a rewards program, however they are going to be awarded the identical standing because the grownup who’s the accountable social gathering on a cruise reserving.

Youngsters who attain Diamond or Platinum standing earlier than the brand new program begins will have the ability to be part of Carnival Rewards at that loyalty stage after they flip 18.

Movie star Cruises’ New Ship Aces Sea Trials

Movie star Cruises’ Movie star Xcel efficiently accomplished her sea trials within the Bay of Biscay on September 13, 2025 and is anticipated to be delivered to the cruise line in a few weeks.

Sea trials are the final main hurdle in a cruise ship’s development course of, as all main systems are put to the test at sea. Technical methods akin to navigation, propulsion, and emergency operations are evaluated in an open-ocean atmosphere.

The 141,400-gross-ton ship is below development on the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, and is because of sail her maiden voyage on November 18, 2025 following her inaugural transatlantic crossing from Europe. The maiden cruise will probably be a 5-night Bahamas and Mexico itinerary calling at Cozumel and Bimini.

A 4-night preview cruise is scheduled for November 9, 2025 from her US homeport of Fort Lauderdale.

Now that sea trials are achieved, ending touches will probably be made to the three,260-guest ship, together with new leisure and exercise areas such because the Hydra Room, which is able to supply a therapeutic massage pool and heated lounge chairs, and a lounge known as Attic at The Membership, providing video games like darts and pool.

Following her maiden voyage, the ship will sail 7-night itineraries to the Japanese and Western Caribbean.

Two Injured in Combat Onboard Marvel of the Seas

An onboard altercation that resulted in accidents prompted Royal Caribbean’s Marvel of the Seas to show again to PortMiami shortly after setting sail on September 15, 2025.

The 5,734-guest ship had simply left port on a 4-night Bahamas itinerary when a struggle erupted in a pool space close to Splashaway Bay on Deck 15. 

It wasn’t clear what number of company had been concerned, however the onboard medical group decided that two folks would want therapy at a shoreside hospital.

Whereas particulars of the altercation are sketchy, together with why and the way the struggle started, Royal Caribbean confirmed that it was working with native officers and would totally examine the incident.

The ship turned again to port, and two company had been debarked and brought to Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital for additional therapy. The unscheduled route change didn’t impression the ship’s deliberate itinerary, which included calls at Nassau and at Excellent Day at CocoCay, the road’s personal island vacation spot.

Movie star Cruises to Discontinue Two VIP Perks

Two perks that include the acquisition of Movie star Cruises’ Premium Entry Go will be suspended beginning on August 1, 2026.

Citing restricted capability, the cruise line will nix the unique lunch on embarkation day in addition to reserved seating within the fleet’s theaters — two advantages that make company really feel like actual VIPs.

The go will proceed to cowl many precious companies, together with WiFi for 2 gadgets, a premium drinks package deal, free room service, precedence debarkation in tender ports, and categorical baggage service on debarkation day, amongst others.

The price of the plan is between $15 to $40 per individual per day — or $105 to $280 for a week-long cruise, relying on the crusing.

Even with out the misplaced perks, the go can nonetheless be thought of an excellent worth, contemplating {that a} Premium Drink Bundle purchased by itself begins at about $105 per individual, per day. 

Nonetheless, there’s one disadvantage: the Premium Entry Go should be bought for each visitor sharing a stateroom who’s over the age of 6. For a pair or household sharing a cabin, the go provides lots of to the cruise price.

Carnival Ramps Up Departures to Aloha State in 2027-28

For the primary time, Carnival Cruise Line is planning to supply a dedicated series of Hawaii voyages from the US West Coast between October 2027 and March 2028.

The Carnival Journeys cruises will probably be operated onboard the two,100-guest Carnival Legend, which is able to sail 10 14-day Hawaii itineraries from Lengthy Seaside, California, the port for Los Angeles. 

By means of the 2026-27 season, the cruise line provides only one Hawaii crusing monthly from November to April, so the 2027-28 deployment is seen as a serious enhancement of its dedication to Hawaii.

The brand new Hawaii collection was amongst different 2027-28 deployment plans the road introduced up to now week. A notable change has Carnival basing Carnival Freedom in Norfolk, changing Carnival Sunshine, on a year-round foundation.

The three,000-guest Carnival Freedom will sail to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Bermuda from the Virginia port. 

In the meantime, in Baltimore, the road confirmed that the two,134-guest Carnival Satisfaction will stay primarily based on the port, additionally providing voyages to the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Bermuda.

Cancellations Disappoint Visitors on Two Voyages

Visitors booked to sail aboard two P&O Cruises ships must make alternate plans now that the cruise line has cancelled their scheduled itineraries.

The primary is a 4-night crusing aboard Ventura that was to depart on February 23, 2026. The Amsterdam cruise was roundtrip from Southampton, UK, and was to be the ship’s first voyage following a dry dock renovation.

Whereas the road gave no motive for the cancellation, it’s seemingly that the dry dock refit will take longer than anticipated. Visitors are being refunded and can obtain a £25 (about $34 USD) onboard credit score in the event that they rebook with the road.

The second impacted crusing is a 14-night Mediterranean voyage aboard Arvia, additionally crusing roundtrip from Southampton, with a scheduled departure on April 11, 2027. P&O Cruises is changing that voyage with two 7-night cruises — one to Norway and the second to the Mediterranean.

Arvia company are being refunded and can obtain a £50 ($68 USD) onboard credit score in the event that they e-book a future crusing. Cruisers can select from a number of different 14-night sailings with comparable itineraries on varied dates in 2027.

Extra Cruise Headlines

In search of extra cruise information? Try all of our protection on Cruise Hive, together with a giant storm in the Gulf of Alaska forcing a number of ships to change itineraries, a residential cruise line unveiling a brand new monthly cabin rental choice, and Princess Cruises revealing the deployment of two ships to Canada/New England in 2027.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean quickly suspends use of its skydiving simulator on one ship in order that it will probably bear upkeep, and MSC Cruises introduces Texas-style entertainment aboard MSC Seascape, set to start sailings from Galveston in November 2025.

Cruise News Update: Carnival Tweaks Loyalty, Royal Caribbean Brawl, and more

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