If you’ve spent any time at all on Instagram lately, you’ve no doubt seen numerous posts about a secret funnel bar located on Carnival Cruise Line ships. Here’s what’s got people buzzing… and the truth about the suddenly-exposed “secret.”

How To Access Carnival’s Secret Bar

What was supposedly a well-kept secret suddenly went viral over the past few days. Seemingly out of nowhere, Carnival cruise directors and random influencers were spilling the beans about a secret bar found inside the infamous red funnels which make the line’s ships so easy to distinguish from those of other brands.

One such video features popular cruise director Kyndall Fire whispering to us via her Instagram page that she’s “here to confirm” the rumors that there is “a new speakeasy inside the funnel.” Better still, she informs watchers that there are exclusive cocktails and the bartender is none other than the brand’s long-retired mascot, Funship Freddy.

So how does one gain access to all this awesome? “All you need to get in,” Fire informs us, “is knock three times and know the password, which is ‘muster.’” 

There’s Only One Catch…

Of course, there’s not a bit of truth to the rumor — a fact we’re as sad to report as you are disappointed to hear. But a quick glimpse at the calendar shows that these posts began appearing just a day or two before the first day of April.

And if one follows the link in Carnival’s Instagram bio, as instructed, it leads to a page reading, “Our funnel isn’t really a speakeasy, but that would be pretty cool!” 

That’s right, this is the latest April Fool’s joke to be rolled out by Carnival. It’s unclear whether some of those involved accidentally posted their vids early or perhaps that was done on purpose to keep people from guessing at the truth.

Obviously, some folks weren’t fooled. After all this isn’t the first time a cruise line — let alone Carnival — has pulled our collective legs on this silliest of holidays. Who could forget last year’s “Duolingo World Cruise” which would supposedly visit 195 countries over 5 years? (You can check out that video below.)

One of the dead giveaways indicating the “funnel speakeasy” is a prank? Just like with the Duolingo prank, no specific ship is mentioned. And while we might be gullible enough to fall for the notion of Carnival rolling such a fun concept out on a new build, the idea of it being on every ship?

Hey, we weren’t born yesterday.

Read Next: Should man overboard pranksters be punished?

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It started with tea.

Not the kind you absent-mindedly order at a diner and don’t think twice about as you sip until the cup is empty. 

The kind you sit down for, learn about, and share with a stranger from Madison, Wisconsin who you never would have spoken to otherwise.

That conversation at a tea house in Singapore, on day one of a six-day segment aboard Holland America’s Volendam, was the moment I realized this trip was going to be different.

Not because of the ship. Not because of the ports. Because of the people.

I joined the Volendam on day 79 of a 133-day Grand Voyage. The ship had already crossed oceans, made stops on multiple continents, and turned strangers into something closer to a floating community by the time I stepped aboard in Singapore.

I was the newcomer. What I did not expect was how quickly that stopped mattering.

On most cruises, you see people moving about the ship with their heads down and their phones up. They’re checking messages or using the app to plan their day. They are, in a word, distracted by technology. And there is nothing wrong with that. But on this sailing, something was different.

People said hello in the hallway.

Conversations started during sailaway. Nobody was allowing their phone to serve as a wall between themselves and the next person. They were taking photos of sunsets and posting sailaway videos, sure. But when it was time to talk, they were present.

I put my phone away too. Not in my cabin, granted. Just in my pocket. But it stayed a lot longer than usual.

It turns out that is what time spent on a world cruise segment does to you, if you let it.

The People You Meet on a World Cruise Are Not Who You Expect

Take, for example, the woman from Wisconsin. While chatting, she shared that she does variations of world cruises every year, switching between ships and itineraries.

For them, this was not a bucket list cruise. This was just what they have done since retiring from banking. I found that both impressive and quietly inspiring.

During that same shore excursion at a tea house in Singapore, I also met a recently retired nurse from Florida who had boarded in Sydney. Before joining the ship, she checked bungee jumping in New Zealand off her list. But that was only the beginning, as she had a long list of items and intended to work her way around the world, checking them off as she went.

A UK couple in their 70s told me the pandemic rewired how they think about time. They were not waiting anymore. If they wanted to do something, they were doing it. A 133-day grand voyage was not an extravagance to them, but an investment in their lives. It was the decision not to put things off.

And then there was the woman I spoke to in the elevator. She worked in healthcare and had sublet her New York City apartment for four months to fund the voyage. “It’s cheaper than staying home,” she shrugged, backing that up with some pretty solid math to prove her point.

Every one of them had a different reason for being there. None of them fit the profile most people picture when they hear world cruise. 

The Ship Gets Out of Your Way

The Volendam has nine decks. Ten if you count the sun deck. You can walk from one end to the other in a couple of minutes. 

After years of covering mega ships that require a map and a plan just to get to dinner, that simplicity was something I did not know I needed.

The ship runs quiet during the day. Port intensive itineraries will do that. Most guests are off exploring by mid morning, which means the lounges, the library, the Crow’s Nest (my favorite!), and the Ocean Bar are essentially empty until guests begin returning in the late afternoon. 

For me, that was ideal. I am a remote worker, and finding a quiet corner to plow through a few hours of work before the ship pulled into port was never a problem. I noticed I was not the only one. Microsoft Teams meetings were happening in quiet corners and lounges all around the ship.

The only thing that required self control was the food. Something was always available no matter where you went or what time it was. That is both a feature and a problem, depending on how you look at it.

By evening the ship came back to life. There was live music in the Ocean Bar, the Piano Bar was slowly morphing into a gathering place, the World Stage filling with guests to see a super talented electric violinist named Jocelyn Ng.

For a ship of 1,400 guests it covered a lot of ground entertainment wise without ever feeling like it was trying too hard.

The size also made it easy to settle into a routine. Wake up, find a quiet spot, get some work done, head ashore, come back, eat well, catch some live music, and sleep. Repeat. 

By day three it felt completely natural. A day later I was at the future cruise desk, just to see what a longer segment might look like.

That is probably the best endorsement I can give a ship.

Cruising as a Gateway

Cruising has a way of opening doors you did not know you wanted to walk through. A Celestyal Cruises sailing introduced me to Doha, Qatar. I have been back twice.

Holland America’s Eurodam showed me St. John in the US Virgin Islands. I have done three land trips since. Cozumel started the same way. The list now goes on and on.

This segment added Singapore and Halong Bay to that list. I stayed an extra day in Halong Bay after the ship left because I needed to explore more. 

The bay is one of those places that does not fully register until you are standing in the middle of it. (Sunrise is something that might just have the ability to change your life, if only for a few moments.) 

Singapore is already on the return list. It is not that far from Manila, which I know well, so it will happen sooner rather than later.

My Last Morning Onboard

I set my alarm for sunrise as the Volendam made its way into Halong Bay. What I woke up to looked like something out of a Bob Ross painting. If you are over 40, you’ll get the reference. If not, hit up Google.

Limestone karsts (mountains) rising straight out of the water in every direction. The ship threading through them like a needle, turning to port, then to starboard, with the kind of precision that makes you appreciate the river pilot’s knowledge of the local waterway. 

Both sides of the ship had views worth standing for, and I found myself bouncing back and forth like a tennis ball, trying to take in as much as I possibly could.

I was not the only one. The crew had lined up on deck nine to take it in themselves. That is when you know a place is something special. When the people who have traveled the world show up for it.

Six days on a world cruise segment will not scratch the itch. It will just give you a bigger one,… even for an introvert like myself.

Read More: Embarkation Thoughts of Holland America’s Volendam

Marie Antoinette may or may not have said “Let them eat cake!” But Norwegian Cruise Line’s new policy means that if you want to do so, you’ll have to pay a whole lotta money. Why? Because the birthday package which previously included a six-inch cake has being majorly altered… or in their words, “refreshed.” 

What You Now Get Instead of Birthday Cake

Guests who had already ordered the Happy Birthday package, for themselves or a loved one, got an unexpected note from the cruise line. It appears that while the package is still available for purchase, it no longer includes the celebratory cake.

Instead, the letter reads, the package has been “designed to make your special day even more memorable.” It goes on to say that the “refreshed” package is part of the cruise line’s “continued effort to elevate the way we celebrate life’s moments at sea.”

Now, the previously included cake “will be replaced with a photo keepsake so you can take home a memory that lasts long after the candles are blown out. It is a small shift designed to make your celebration feel more personal and more connected to your time onboard.” 

Those booking the birthday package will now receive, according to the site, “a colorful selection of cheerful cabin decorations and a celebratory banner, plus keepsakes to capture the celebration, including a Compass Collection frame and a photo voucher redeemable toward any photo or photo package.” 

How You Can Still Get a Birthday Cake

Never fear, those who believe that a party ain’t a party without a slice of cake will still be able to order up a tasty treat. It won’t, however, come cheap. According to the line’s website, a “standard half sheet” cake (whether for one’s birthday or honeymoon) comes in at $148.80. But for around $50 more, you can go whole hog and order a full-sheet. Both are available in vanilla or chocolate.

“I Want My Money Back!”

The only people truly impacted by the change are those who had previously placed an order. (Anyone looking to purchase it moving forward would know that a cake is no longer included just by reading the details when ordering.) “The whole reason I ordered this package was for the cake,” complained one Norwegian passenger in a Facebook page devoted to the line.

Others, however, agreed with the company’s thinking that a complimentary photo was a better option. “Honestly, the cake isn’t that good,” wrote one, followed by a shrugging emotion. “I had it on two different birthday trips, and most of it wound up in the garbage.” 

Read Next: Norwegian’s New Show Comes With a Price Tag

For most of my cruising career, the routine was simple. Fly to Miami or Port Everglades, board a ship, sail the Caribbean, repeat. Maybe Alaska in the summer. It was comfortable, familiar, and the easiest way to cruise.

That changed in 2021 when my dad passed away at 65. He always talked about doing a Holland America world cruise someday. Asia, the Amazon, getting back to Sydney. His desk was cluttered with itinerary-filled brochures.

Sadly, he never got to make that dream a reality.

I am not sure I made a conscious decision to change the way I traveled after losing him. But looking back, something shifted. The Caribbean was no longer enough. I started saying yes to things I would have talked myself out of in the past.

Cruising the Norwegian Fjords. The glaciers of Alaska. A river cruise down the Mekong. A sailing out of Athens. A Middle East cruise out of Qatar. I started doing them all.

And now, here I am, joining day 79 of 133 on Holland America’s Grand Voyage aboard the ms Volendam, somewhere in Southeast Asia, doing part of the trip my dad never got to take.

The segment I joined dotted Southeast Asia and was a fraction of the overall itinerary.

I embarked in Singapore, crossed the South China Sea on a sea day, stopped at Phu My — the port for Ho Chi Minh City — had another day at sea, called on Da Nang, and wrapped in Halong Bay, where I disembarked and flew out of Hanoi. More on these later.

See the World — Or Just Part Of It

One of the biggest misconceptions about a world cruise is that you have to commit to the whole thing. You do not.

Holland America breaks the Grand Voyage into segments, and there are options around nearly every continent. On this sailing alone, I met passengers who boarded in Fort Lauderdale and were going the distance, others who joined in Sydney and would remain until the ship returned to Florida, and others doing shorter stretches between specific ports.

Everyone had their own version of the same trip, like one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books I loved as a kid.

The full 2027 Grand Voyage starts at around $29,000 per cabin, which sounds like a lot… until you start breaking it down.

But you can also pick up an 18-night segment from Sydney to Singapore for $4,600, or jump on for the final 54 nights from Cape Town back to Fort Lauderdale.

Suddenly it is a different conversation. You don’t have to be retired to take one of these segments. Whether you want to see the world or just one particular part, the cruise can be tailored to your bucket-list or interests.

In fact, flexibility is what makes this more accessible than most people assume. You pick the piece of the world you want to see, book the segment that gets you there, and let the ship do the rest. It is really that easy.

Boarding a Different Kind of Ship

The ms Volendam is the smallest ship I have ever sailed with Holland America Line. After this sailing, the only Holland America ship I have not been on is the Zaandam.

Coming off a stretch on newer vessels like Nieuw Statendam, Koningsdam, and Rotterdam, stepping onto a ship that holds just 1,400 guests felt like I could catch my breath again.

That size is not a limitation. It is the entire idea.

On a sailing like this, the ship is more than a mode of transportation. You spend the day exploring, come back, eat a good meal, maybe catch a show, get some sleep, and do it all over again.

You are not meant to stay onboard, though there is nothing saying that you can’t do exactly that. But you are meant to go out and see the world, and the Volendam is a comfortable, unpretentious home base to return to at the end of the day.

For a ship launched in 1999, she holds up well. The layout will feel familiar to anyone who has sailed Holland America’s older fleet, and the onboard options cover what you need without overcomplicating things.

You won’t find a dozen dining venues or big Broadway-style productions, but again, that isn’t why you’re here. This isn’t a one-week vacation, this is the journey of a lifetime.

It’s All About Singapore

So let’s talk about my experience doing a segment of this incredible voyage.

After embarkation in Singapore, I ordered a Grab (Southeast Asia’s answer to Uber) and headed straight to Marina Bay Sands. Photos and videos do not do it justice. The observation deck gives you the kind of view that reminds you how far from home you actually are.

I walked through the casino, which is enormous in a way that has to be seen to be understood, made a quick stop at the Apple Store, and headed back to the ship. Knowing my excursion the next day would eat up most of my time ashore, I wanted to get out while I had the chance. I’m glad I did.

Holland America was deliberate about the Asia segment of this Grand Voyage, and it showed before I even got back onboard. Asia was not just a backdrop here. It was the point. That thinking carried into the shore excursion program as well.

Make Room for Tea

One of more unique shore excursions was a tea experience developed in partnership with Art of Tea, a four-hour hands-on workshop built around Chinese tea culture. This included a guided tasting at a traditional tea house to high tea in the afternoon at the Shangri-La Singapore resort.

What made this event so special was that Art of Tea founder Steve Swartz, a master tea blender and author, was onboard for the entire Southeast Asia segment, leading classes, Q&A sessions, and joining shore excursions in both Singapore and Vietnam. That is the kind of access you do not get on a standard seven-night cruise.

If I am being frank, I had no idea what I was getting into when I signed up. I have extreme ADD, and sitting still for a tea tasting is not exactly my natural habitat. Regular readers will know that I typically catch about 10 minutes of an onboard show before getting the fidgets and bolting.

But here I was, genuinely fascinated by all things tea, and a lot of that credit goes to the woman who led the tea house portion.

She was funny, knew how to hold a room, and made it feel like a workshop rather than a lecture. Sometimes you book an excursion and then worry it’s going to feel like listening to Charlie Brown’s teacher. This was not that.

The excursion wrapped up with high tea at the Shangri-La, and the presentation alone was worth showing up for. Pastries and bites arrived on a tiered stand, the kind of spread where everything looks too good to eat before you remind yourself that you absolutely should!

I have done high tea on cruise ships before and showed up mostly for the food. This time the entire high tea event made sense. It gave me a new appreciation for tea I did not see coming. In fact, once back on the ship I found myself routinely ordering tea instead of coffee. Trust me, that was not on my Bingo card for 2026!

At $269.95 per person it is a niche offering, best suited for repeat Singapore passengers or those looking for something in depth as opposed to your typical “highlights” tour.

Either way, this was a clear example of Holland America leaning into the culture of the region rather than simply passing through it.

The Cruise Begins

After two days in Singapore harbor, the Volendam finally pushed back from the dock and headed out through the Gulf of Thailand toward the South China Sea.

With only 1,400 guests onboard, sea days felt… well, the way sea days are supposed to but rarely do. Unhurried. Relaxed. Refreshing. There were no crowds at peak dining times, and nothing felt like a competition for space. What a change from all the mega ships I’ve sailed lately.

I found myself back in one of Steve Swartz’s sessions, this time a casual tea chat that turned into a conversation about herbal health benefits. He made it clear that he does not give medical advice, but everything he mentioned checked out when I looked it up later.

It was enough to get me to the gym, which is not something I say very often.

That evening, I caught the live music in the Ocean Bar and Piano Bar, and eventually made my way to the back of the ship.

Standing at the stern watching the sun sink into the South China Sea, the wake churning below me, I was not thinking about itineraries or excursions or what was next. I was just there, in the moment.

These are the moments that keep bringing me back to cruising, and honestly, the reason my dad would have told me take the cruise in the first place.

To be continued.

City officials are mulling a solution to ease traffic congestion at the world’s busiest cruise port. Miami lawmakers are considering constructing a direct rail link connecting PortMiami to Miami International Airport.

Direct airport-cruise port link under review

An initial proposal for a rail link was included in the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) 2050 Master Plan, published in 2024. It was one of several options to alleviate congestion in the port area.

A direct train to PortMiami is now under serious review after narrowing down most other options, according to the TPO.

The project could cost up to $800 million and would require extending the Metrorail system by about 10 miles of new track, plus a new bridge over the Miami River. Operational costs would run up to $15 million annually.

The port currently has a freight train bridge, but it could only support the MetroMover system, which moves slowly and carries about 50 passengers at a time. The direct rail link remains at an early stage of discussion.

While lawmakers are interested in exploring this long-term option, interim measures to reduce congestion around PortMiami are also on the table.

The report recommends adding shuttle bus routes from downtown transit stations to the port, developed in collaboration with cruise lines.

PortMiami handled a record 8.5 million cruise passengers in 2024, leading to serious congestion on busy days. Carnival brand ambassador John Heald has posted tips for guests on how to plan around and avoid traffic delays. Most out-of-state cruise guests arrive via rideshare or hotel shuttle.

The port’s terminals handle an average of nearly 25,000 cruisers daily, with a single-day record of over 75,000 passengers set in late 2025.

They say kids will be kids… but when their actions have major (and expensive) consequences, should they be made to pay the price? That’s the question some are raising in the wake of an incident which unfolded aboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Coast Guard and Ship Involved In Search

Several passengers aboard the just-concluded sailing of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas reached out to our tipline with news that a passenger had reportedly gone overboard. The code “Oscar, Oscar, Oscar” was heard over the ship’s PA at approximately 1 p.m., with the captain soon after confirming the news shortly thereafter.

As is protocol, Oasis immediately changed course in order to initiate a search for the passenger. Simultaneously, the Coast Guard was alerted to the situation so that they, too, could join the search.

While hunting for a person who has gone overboard is much like searching for a needle in a haystack, this particular scenario was literally an impossible mission. Why? Because it would soon turn out that all passengers were accounted for, and that a group of teenagers were responsible for the false report.

What Should Happen Next?

The trajectory of events could be followed live in a Facebook group dedicated to the sailing in question. Members first express concern and send up prayers for the person who’d supposedly gone overboard. But as word of the hoaxes true nature spread, concern turned to anger… much of it aimed at not only the teens but their parents.

“Those kids should be confined to their cabins,” wrote one passenger, adding that “their parents should have to pay for the rescue boats coming out.” 

“Man, if you’re here as the parent of these kids, do better!” said another, while numerous commenters cited a rash of bad behaviors on the part of young travelers across the vessel.

“This will definitely be out last Spring Break cruise,” echoed yet another upset guest.

While unconfirmed by Royal Caribbean, it was claimed in the Facebook group that a young female passenger had urged her friends to tell her grandmother that she’d gone overboard.

Man Overboard Prank Could Prove Costly

While there is no word on whether the responsible parties will face punishment for their actions, there are policies in place governing such situations. According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s web page, penalties for “issuing a false distress call” can include a $250,000 criminal fine, up to six years in prison and being made to reimburse the Coast Guard for the cost of performing the search.

The page outlines just how far-reaching the consequences of such a prank can be. Why? Because it places members of the Coast Guard at unnecessary risk, can cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and could potentially interfere with the agency helping those who are genuinely at risk.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a coastal resiliency bill that effectively kills plans to construct a new cruise port facility near Tampa.

The bill includes a special amendment specifically restricting work in Manatee County where the proposed cruise terminal was planned.

The bill also forbids dredging activities in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, south of Tampa, unless it is for specific environmental improvements.

DeSantis noted that the existing Port Tampa Bay is sufficient to serve cruise ship tourism in the region and that another terminal would be unnecessary.

Governor says region doesn’t need a new cruise facility

“There’s not really a need to add another port in the middle of a conserved area and an aquatic preserve, especially given that Tampa Bay is already home to three deep-water ports,” the Governor said.

Some cruise industry advocates disagree. The proposed terminal site is south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which would have allowed mega cruise ships to call in the region for the first time.

Currently, the largest ships cannot visit Port Tampa Bay due to the bridge’s height clearance.

The cruise terminal proposal was put forward by SSA Marine, which operates a facility at Port Tampa Bay and at other U.S. ports.

Addressing the issue last month, SSA Marine said it is committed to environmental stewardship and to creating long-term economic opportunity for Manatee County and West Central Florida.

From the start, the project faced strong opposition from local residents. An online petition against it drew about 19,000 signatures, with concerns that dredging and construction could negatively impact water quality and damage the preserve’s ecosystem.

For passengers, the signed law means mega ships that cannot clear the Sunshine Skyway Bridge will remain unable to call at the Tampa area.

That limitation would have been lifted had the Manatee County terminal moved forward.

In what’s becoming something of a trend at Norwegian Cruise Line, they have yet again reversed a policy shortly after implementing it. This time, it has to do with the Free at Sea drink package. And while guests will no doubt like this change more than some recent developments, the line made another announcement while will prove annoying to some, even if only temporarily.

Unpopular Drinks Package Move Reversed

Some of Norwegian Cruise Line’s recent decisions have gone over like the proverbial lead ballon. There was the downright confusing issue regarding changes to the dress code which were immediately walked back. (The policy as it now stands is still somewhat confusing, reading in part “there’s no right look, just your look.”) But any disgruntlement over sandals and shorts was quickly drowned out by news that moving forward, their popular Free at Sea drink package would not be honored at their private island destination, Great Stirrup Cay.

In fact, word began leaking that the company would begin selling a separate Great Stirrup Cay drinks package. While that plan was slated to go into effect in March, it was temporarily postponed. Although no reason was given, it seemed clear that the company — already under heavy scrutiny thanks to harsh criticism from major shockholder Elliott Investment Management — was aware of the negative reaction amongst cruisers.

Now, it seems Norwegian Cruise Line has blinked, announcing that they have not so much shelved as nixed their previous plans. Moving forward, the Free at Sea drinks package will continue to be honored at Great Stirrup Cay.

Tenders Returning to Private Island

In other Great Stirrup Cay news, Norwegian has announced plans to temporarily shut down the island’s recently-opened pier. Opened to much fanfare just before Christmas of 2025, it seemed clear from the start that this was a temporary move, especially as plans included a second pier which would allow for two vessels to visit the island at the same time.

We now know that in April, Norwegian will indeed stop using the pier for several months so that construction can be completed. While no official date has been announced, it is believed the project should be completed by early fall.

Until that time, however, ships visiting Great Stirrup Cay will once again be doing so by using tender boats to ferry guests back and forth. The timing is not particularly ideal, especially given that NCL is planning to open Great Tides Waterpark — the latest in a series of major island expansions — sometime this summer.

It’s worth noting that failing to fully monetize their initial investment in Great Stirrup Cay was one of the major issues raised by Elliott Investment Management. This issue was also addressed by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings during its most recent quarterly earnings call.

Read Next: Norwegian adds fee for new entertainment

Forget who won the Oscar for Best Picture or which actors were left out of the annual In Memoriam section. The thing which unexpectedly had people talking all across social media was a Disney Cruise Line commercial.

Why Disney’s Ad Hit Home

Nobody plucks at the heartstrings better than Disney. But while we’re used to that where their movies and even in-park experiences are concerned, nobody expected for a simple ad to have that impact on the viewing audience at large. Yet the moment it began, people felt themselves bracing for what was to come.

Why? The instantly-recognizable “Married Life” theme from the soundtrack of the Disney animated feature Up. For those not in the know, that beloved film opened with a sequence in which we saw a couple meet as children, fall in love, experience everything life has to offer — both the good and the bad — before the wife passed away.

To call it heart-wrenching would be a massive understatement. So to hear the music which accompanied that gorgeous sequence play immediately clued viewers in to the fact that something special was about to unfold.

Late Nights With Dad

The ad starts with a beautiful shot of a Disney ship cutting through the waters late at night. A dad whose baby isn’t able to sleep takes the child for a late-night stroll around the slumbering cruise ship. Simple enough, right? Cute, but not overly emotional.

But we then follow this father and son over the course of several years, each time on the ship, each time taking a late night stroll. “Dad,” asks the boy late one night, “can we do the walk?” Even when his offspring hits the sullen teenage years — opting to chill in the room instead of hang with the family by the pool — he still joins pop for a late night sojourn.

But it’s the final shots which really get us in the feels. As a now much older dad is laying in bed late at night, there’s a knock at the door. It’s his fully-grown son, now a dad himself, saying he and his child can’t sleep. The toddler reaches out, uttering one simple word — “Grandpa” — before we see the trio walking hand-in-hand on a moonlit night.

Cue the tears.

Don’t believe us? Check out the ad for yourself above. But don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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More than 150 cruise ship guests and crew have fallen ill during a Caribbean cruise this week.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was informed of the outbreak on March 11 and confirmed norovirus as the cause.

More than 150 guests and crew reported sick

The CDC reports 104 guests and 49 crew members experienced diarrhea and vomiting. According to CDC data, this is the first cruise ship norovirus outbreak confirmed this year. A previous outbreak in January was caused by E. coli.

Guests reported enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures onboard, and ill guests and crew were isolated. More than 4,300 guests are currently sailing on Star Princess, which concludes its Caribbean voyage Saturday at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades.

The week-long Western Caribbean sailing departed Florida on March 7 and called at Roatán, Honduras; Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico.

“We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitizing throughout the voyage,” Princess Cruises said. “We also separated anyone feeling unwell so they could rest comfortably in private as an added precaution.”

Embarkation for the next cruise is delayed

Princess Cruises says it will conduct an intense deep cleaning when the ship docks Saturday. Guests booked on the next departure have been notified by email that embarkation is delayed.

“As an extra precaution, the ship will undergo additional disinfection in Fort Lauderdale,” the cruise line said. Check-in will begin at 12:30 p.m., with staterooms available in the afternoon. All guests must be onboard by 4:00 p.m., and the ship will depart shortly after.

Guests are advised not to arrive before 12:30 p.m. Those with Princess hotel or transfer packages will receive updated pickup times at the hotel or airport.

This is the second ship to report a gastro outbreak in 2026, following 23 reported cases in 2025.

A new investigation into a 2023 cruise ship incident has criticized the medical response after an elderly passenger suffered a fatal injury during a storm at sea.

The report from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch examined the incident aboard the Spirit of Discovery operated by Saga Cruises.

Investigators say an 85-year-old passenger, Trevor Gilks, suffered a severe spinal injury after falling as the ship rolled violently in a storm off northern Spain.

The vessel had lost propulsion and was being battered by winds of about 70 miles per hour with 30-foot seas, leaving more than 100 passengers injured.

The report found delays in recognizing the seriousness of the spinal injury and said the passenger received suboptimal treatment on board.

According to investigators, a key diagnostic X-ray was not performed, and the patient was not placed on a spinal board. Over the next two days, he became paralyzed.

A doctor later recommended a medical evacuation, but the captain declined due to weather conditions. The ship eventually docked in Portsmouth, England.

Saga Cruises said it disagrees with several findings in the report but has since taken steps to strengthen safety procedures.

Plans for a new cruise port near Tampa are in doubt after Florida lawmakers passed a new coastal protection bill. The House passed the coastal resiliency bill, following unanimous backing in the Senate last month.

It is now headed to Governor Ron DeSantis’ desk for signature. DeSantis hasn’t publicly indicated whether he will sign or veto it. If it is signed, it would become effective July 1.

New Law Would Likely Prohibit Port Construction

The bill sets out a framework to protect coastlines and their habitats. Sen. Jim Boyd of Bradenton, FL added an amendment seeking enhanced protections specifically for Manatee County’s Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.

This would likely prohibit the dredging work required for the proposed new Tampa cruise port in the Knott-Cowen Tract. This would have been a game changer for cruise tourism in West Florida, as the cruise port site is south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, enabling the largest cruise ships to call.

The height clearance of the bridge limits the size of the ship that can call at the existing Port Tampa Bay. The new port development is a joint venture project between SSA Marine and Slip Knott LLC.

SSA Marine said last month: “We are committed to environmental stewardship and to creating long-term economic opportunity for Manatee County and West Central Florida. We look forward to engaging with residents, officials, and community leaders in meaningful dialogue.”

SSA Marine hasn’t shared many details about the work required at the site ahead of port construction. The bill allows for dredging and drilling only under special circumstances, such as for environmental improvements. 

Strong Local Opposition to the Project

The project has been controversial, with strong local opposition citing concerns about water quality and the health of the preserve’s ecosystem. An online petition against it has garnered nearly 20,000 signatures

Walk into almost any cruise ship casino after dinner and you’ll hear it right away. The familiar chime of slot machines, spinning reels, and celebratory jingles when someone hits a small jackpot.

Slots have long been the backbone of cruise ship casinos. They are easy to play, require no special knowledge of rules, and allow passengers to jump in for a quick round between shows, dinners, or late-night drinks.

Interest in this format has grown alongside the expansion of digital gaming platforms.

Many enthusiasts search for guides, reviews, and discussions about where to enjoy these games safely and effectively, which is why content about crown casino online pokies often appears in conversations about modern casino entertainment and online gaming culture.

These discussions help players understand how pokies work, how different game mechanics influence potential outcomes, and how to navigate the wide variety of titles available today.

I often emphasize that knowledge enhances enjoyment: understanding volatility, bonus features, and payout structures can make the experience far more engaging.

How Pokies Evolved from Mechanical Machines

The earliest pokies were entirely mechanical. A lever triggered spinning reels with printed symbols, and winnings depended on simple combinations. While the concept was straightforward, it captured the imagination of players worldwide.

Key stages of evolution

• mechanical machines with physical reels
  
• electronic slots introducing digital displays
  
• online pokies featuring advanced animations and bonus rounds
  

Each step added new layers of interactivity.

Features That Define Modern Pokies

Modern slot games, both onboard ships and on digital platforms, now include features designed to keep gameplay dynamic.

Some of the most common mechanics include:

• Cascading reels that trigger additional spins after wins
• Expanding wild symbols that increase winning combinations
• Free spin rounds with multipliers and bonus mini-games

These features add an element of surprise and variety, which helps explain why slot machines remain among the most popular games in cruise casinos.

Classic Pokies vs Modern Online Pokies

Aspect	Classic Pokies	Modern Online Pokies
Visual Style	Simple symbols and limited colors	High-definition graphics and themes
Gameplay Mechanics	Basic paylines	Multiple features and bonus systems
Interaction Level	Minimal	Highly interactive
Accessibility	Physical casino locations	Available on desktop and mobile devices
Game Variety	Limited	Thousands of different titles

The table shows how dramatically the format has evolved over time.

Why Slots Remain Popular on Cruise Ships

Cruise casinos offer a mix of table games and slot machines, but slots consistently attract the largest crowds.

One reason is accessibility. Unlike games such as blackjack or poker that require learning rules or strategies, slots allow passengers to start playing immediately.

Another factor is variety. Cruise casinos typically feature a wide range of themes and game styles, from classic fruit machines to modern video slots based on movies, mythology, and adventure themes.

For many passengers, slot machines are simply another form of onboard entertainment, similar to attending a show or trying a new restaurant.

Responsible Gaming at Sea

Cruise lines emphasize responsible gaming in their onboard casinos. Passengers are encouraged to treat casino play as entertainment and to set limits on time and spending.

Most cruise casinos operate only while ships are in international waters, and they follow regulations designed to ensure fair play and transparency.

For guests who enjoy gaming in moderation, the casino can be a lively and social part of the cruise experience.

Final Thoughts

Slot machines have been part of the cruise casino environment for decades, offering an easy and entertaining way for passengers to try their luck at sea.

While the technology behind these games has evolved dramatically, the core appeal remains the same: simple gameplay, quick rounds, and the excitement of seeing the reels line up just right.

Whether played onboard a cruise ship or through modern digital platforms, slot games continue to evolve while remaining one of the most recognizable forms of casino entertainment.

If you’re planning to set sail on a Princess Cruises ship, be prepared to shell out a bit more money than you might originally have budgeted. Why? Because the line has increased the daily gratuities which are paid, they say, directly to the crew. How much was the increase and what other fees were bumped up? Read on for details.

How Much You’ll Pay

The increase made to the daily gratuities — which Princess calls a “Crew Appreciation” charge — amounts to $1 per person, per day, regardless of stateroom category. That means those in a standard cabin will now pay $18 per person per day. Those opting to stay in a Mini-Suite, Cabana or Reserve Collection stateroom will be paying $19 per person, per day. Finally, those booked in Suites will be charged $20 per person per day.

No doubt aware that this type of change is never received well by the cruising public, Princess opted not to make a formal announcement or send a press release. Rather, word began spreading amongst cruisers after they noticed an update to the line’s website outlining the changes.

Service Charges Increased, Too

Another change that went unannounced regards the service charge added to things such as specialty dining, drinks and other purchases. Princess has now increased that charge from 18% to 20% across the board. The change went into effect on March 7, with some guests reporting they were informed via a letter left in their stateroom.

The letter reads in part that the increased service charge “will apply to applicable dining and beverage purchases made onboard, excluding any prepaid packages. This includes experiential, specialty, and casual dining cover charges, a la carte food items, and a la carte beverage purchases excluded from a package.”

More: Princess Adds Premiere Dining Option

Meanwhile, the updated website reads as follows: “A non-refundable service charge of 20% of purchase will be automatically added to optional purchases of drinks, dining room and specialty dining, private group funtions and other elected products, services or amenities provided to guests that are no included in the cruise fare.” 

In essence, this means that any purchase made on board — outside of the various shops — will see a 20% charge added to the base price. Those purchasing Princess Plus or Princess Premium packages will not be impacted.

Shipping Fee Doubled

Finally, Princess revealed that they are now charging $20 for those wishing to have their Princess Medallions shipped to them in advance of the cruise. Previously, shipping was available for half that price at $10. Guests may still pick up the Medallion at their port of departure at no charge.

Read Next: Carnival Rolls Out New Dining Option