In a disappointing turn for early-bird passengers who booked a September 2026 cruise on the 142,714-gross-ton Regal Princess, Princess Cruises has announced it has removed the September 5 Southern Caribbean Islander itinerary from its schedule. Citing changes in their deployment program, which could mean anything from scheduling a chartered voyage to port adjustments to repositioning the … [Read more...]

With no end in sight to the cruise-tourism boom Alaska has experienced in recent years, Holland America Line is taking steps to significantly upgrade and expand Denali Lodge, the centerpiece of the line’s Denali cruisetours. The cruise line revealed it will invest $70 million in the property during the next three years, enhancing guest rooms, public spaces, and restaurants. Denali Lodge was … [Read more...]

An independent cruise tour company that has had questionable practices in the past has now cancelled its entire 2025 season with Carnival Cruise Line. Previously, hundreds of guests have been left without refunds from Sandra O’Leary of Sandra’s Cruise Tours, despite the company’s reassurances of policies. It is unclear whether or not any travelers who have already booked with O’Leary this year … [Read more...]

Cruise vacations often conjure images of sitting poolside with an exotic-looking cocktail, cooling off with a refreshing mug of beer, and choosing from a selection of dinner wines, but Princess Cruises is set to introduce a new drink menu for those who prefer non-alcoholic options. The cruise line will soon roll out the Amore Princess Zero Alcohol Collection of 10 to 20 curated craft cocktails. … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line has teamed up with one of the sweetest content creators online to help launch Celebration Key, the cruise line’s new private destination in the Bahamas, which will open later this year. Amaury Guichon has now packed his bags to join Carnival at the new destination and has shared an exclusive new outstanding creation to celebrate. Swiss-French pastry chef and chocolate … [Read more...]

Cruisers looking forward to seeing Greece’s “Emerald Island” of Corfu in 2025 won’t find it on the 155,873-gross-ton Norwegian Epic. The cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has removed the destination from its lineup. This marks the second consecutive year NCL will skip the port during a Mediterranean season. Two new Greek destinations replaced the port … [Read more...]

AIDAnova‘s first departure of the new year has already encountered difficulties with its first port of call, as poor weather has forced the ship to skip the destination. Homeported from Hamburg, Germany and sailing many northern itineraries, these types of diversions are to be expected during the winter months. The 183,858-gross-ton, Excel-class ship departed Hamburg on Saturday, January 4, … [Read more...]

As the new year sets sail, it looks like 2024’s tumultuous year for virus outbreaks aboard cruise ships looms large. Just days into 2025, two cruise ships have already reported virus outbreaks to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including Holland America Line and Oceania Cruises. Holland America Line’s Eurodam, carrying 2,139 passengers and 832 crew members, may … [Read more...]

Guests choose their next cruise vacation for a lot of reasons – cruise line, price value, destinations, ship features, and more. One common reason is scheduling and trying to maximize one’s getaway while minimizing the need for time off work, especially when days off may mean lost income or a disgruntled boss. When a cruise leaves on a Friday or Saturday, for example, many passengers can relax … [Read more...]

Guests aboard Carnival Conquest are having a slightly longer cruise than they anticipated, as the vessel has developed a propulsion issue that has made her late in returning to Miami, Florida on Monday, January 6, 2025. Due to slower sailing speeds the ship will not dock until approximately 10:30 a.m., which will impact travelers’ onward plans after debarkation as well as upcoming guests … [Read more...]

Here comes the bride! Puerto Plata, often hailed as the “Bride of the Atlantic,” is experiencing a very happy new year as it starts 2025 with an increase in cruise ship arrivals. This January, the northern province in the Dominican Republic, featuring over 60 miles of coastline, is set to welcome a total of 81 cruise ships across its two major ports, Amber Cove and Taíno Bay. This … [Read more...]

For the second year in a row, Nassau, Bahamas, has set a new record for the annual number of cruise guests visiting the Bahamian port, surpassing the previous high by more than one million passengers.  In 2023, the busiest port in the Bahamas welcomed 4.4 million passengers – surpassing the total of 3.2 million cruisers who visited in 2022 and setting a new annual record. But the Nassau … [Read more...]

A holiday voyage ended with a tragedy aboard a recent Silversea Cruises’ voyage in Hong Kong when a passenger collapsed in his cabin just before midnight on January 4, 2025, and was unable to be revived. Silversea Cruises’ small 596-guest Silver Dawn, which was sailing a 22-night segmented cruise that kicked off in Singapore on December 22, 2024, had concluded a 13-night itinerary in Hong … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean’s Formal Night is a unique tradition where passengers can dress up for a sophisticated evening. These events are not strictly black-tie affairs, but the atmosphere calls for elevated attire. Men often wear suits or dinner jackets, while women usually opt for cocktail dresses, pantsuits, or evening gowns. While you can get away with a basic dress or collared polo shirt, it’s fun … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line’s annual VIFP loyalty pins – commemorative gifts given to Gold, Platinum, and Diamond level cruisers – are some of the most sought after cruise keepsakes in the industry. Each year, a new design is unveiled, and the 2025 pins offer classic elegance that all Carnival cruisers will love. The new pins have been showcased by Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean International is known for its family-friendly cruises, where parents with children can enhance their vacation by allowing their kids to enjoy an array of age-appropriate amenities. They also offer programs for kids, including their award-winning Adventure Ocean, which is open to children aged 6 months to 17 years. It provides activities and amenities tailored to different age … [Read more...]

Believe it or not, 2025 marks 60 years of success for Princess Cruises – with the cruise line first founded by Stanley McDonald six decades ago in 1965.  The world-famous “Love Boat” brand kicked off its Diamond anniversary year with a special event onboard Discovery Princess on the morning of January 4, 2024 – and Cruise Hive was there to witness it all. While the festive celebration … [Read more...]

British Isles cruises, particularly those that circumnavigate the whole Isles with stops in England, Ireland, and Scotland, are bucket-list itineraries for many cruise passengers. It can be disappointing, then, when booked guests get notice of a significant itinerary change for this sought-after sailing. Unfortunately, Princess Cruises guests booked on the August 1, 2025 departure of Regal … [Read more...]

Fashion trends come and go, but it isn’t changing fashion and the relaxing of onboard dress codes that completely eliminated one once-popular fixture aboard Carnival cruise ships. Until the early 2000s, guests could look their best through the services of onboard formalwear shops and fast-service tailors, but no longer. Why not? The disappearance of formalwear shops and fast-service tailors … [Read more...]

Port of Galveston Vehicles (Photo Credit: JSvideos) As the fourth busiest cruise port in the United States, things can sometimes get rather chaotic at the Port of Galveston.  Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse – and the unusual – when a cruise shuttle contract worker was injured on the job on the morning of December 30, 2024.  The accident occurred just … [Read more...]