Video: Royal Caribbean ship needs assist from Wonder of the Seas
Winds were about 15-18 kts and seas rough at 4'-6'.
"The hope and now reality/success that Wonder of the Seas arrived and is now miraculously blocking the swells and wind from the other side of the pier (Our portside) and allow a safe disembarkation process to the pier," said Come Cruise With Me's Dennis Post, who is onboard.
Wonder of the Seas is a newer Oasis Class Ship with newer technology for maneuvering and stability with a gross tonnage of 228,000 compared to Enchantment of the Seas at 82,000 gross tons.
"Wonder is now providing us with significant protection from the elements making the disembarkation procedure safe and underway," according to Post.
Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.
Enchantment of the Seas Costa Maya (0:47)
Two mega ships Carnival Jubilee from Texas and Wonder from Port Canaveral along with Enchantment of the Seas all docked in Costa Maya on May 21. Those ships brought over 10,000 passengers to the port, which maxes out with three cruise ships.
Wonder of the Seas carries 7,900 plus passengers, while Carnival Jubilee has 5,300 plus and Enchantment of the Seas at 2,400, makes it a tight squeeze for the relatively small port area.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.
That's more people than Costa Maya can serve well, according to multiple passengers on Enchantment who made the trip.
"No I'm not getting off into that mess," Becky from Tampa shared as she looked at the situation in port.
Brandon Green from Lakeland Florida, a passenger of Enchantment of the Seas did manage to make it off the ship.
"It was a nightmare getting into the port and once we got in, the shops were overun," he said.
Some ports like Nassau and Cozumel are build to handle six ships or more. Costa Maya has docks for three, but it's crowded any time more than one ship is in port.
With two mega-ships in port, that's simply more people than the island has capacity to handle.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
3 essential tips for making the most of a Mediterranean cruise
3 essential tips for making the most of a Mediterranean cruise originally appeared on TravelHost. When recession concerns hit the U.S. in early 2025, many travelers began to think differently about their summer vacation plans. As a travel writer who covers the cruise industry, I quickly dug into what that meant for cruises. I was eager to learn if cruise demand — and prices — would begin to drop as a result. Although those recession concerns were somewhat short-lived, I learned that they did have an impact on summer cruises to a key destination — the Cruise Line, a line that's long impressed me with its well-curated cruise itineraries, found that travelers from North America suddenly began to shy away from long-haul summer trips, leading to a decrease in demand for its port-immersive Q3 Europe cruises. As a result, the cruise line launched enticing limited-time sales that offered great deals on this summer's bucket-list-worthy Mediterranean cruises. To me, it was a sign. It was time to book the dream trip to Italy our family had been talking more and more about lately. To make the most of our Mediterranean adventure, we chose an 11-night cruise itinerary on recently updated Norwegian Breakaway that departed from Barcelona, Spain, stopping in Mallorca, Spain and Cannes, France before sailing around the entire coast of Italy. The well-planned itinerary offered opportunities to visit most of Italy's coastal highlights, as well as Malta, Corfu, Greece, and Croatia, before ending in Trieste, Italy, near Venice. The trip was truly everything I dreamed of, and I returned home with not just a full heart, but with a wealth of Norwegian Cruise Line and Mediterranean cruise insights to share with the Come Cruise With Me community. Here are three of the most essential tips I can share based on my experience that I know will prove helpful for anyone planning a Mediterranean cruise on any cruise line. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. 1. There's a lot to see, but be careful not to overdo it. For me, taking a cruise in the Mediterranean for my first visit to the region was appealing because of how many places we were able to visit in one trip. It was like a Mediterranean sampler that gave us a taste of so many beautiful places. Waking up each day in a different Mediterranean city with endless opportunities to explore was exciting and I was eager for our family to see as much as we could. My go-go-go adventurous attitude quickly caught up with me though. By day five, after a long, scorching day walking around Rome during a summer heatwave, heat exhaustion hit me during dinner back on the I wished we had chosen an itinerary with one sea day built in, which would have forced me to relax. I did get some rest after Rome though, and later in the cruise, I even found some time to recharge with a morning in the Norwegian Breakaway spa's rejuvenating thermal suite featuring multiple saunas and steam rooms, a thalassotherapy pool, and therapeutic loungers. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. 2. Don't be afraid to venture outside of a Mediterranean port. On Norwegian and other cruise lines, most Mediterranean cruise itineraries are designed to maximize time in port. In multiple cities in Italy, for example, we had 12 hours in port, allowing us ample time to travel from the port to Pisa and Florence one day, and into Rome the next. Although many passengers on our ship ventured to Florence and Rome on these days with cruise line excursions, on other port days, people seemed less inclined to travel far from the port, and especially to travel by train during a port family found, however, that in certain ports that had a train station close by, like Messina, Sicily, traveling by train was cost effective, simple, and convenient. The train was a bit intimidating when we first used it in Rome, but once we successfully traveled that way once, we saw how beneficial it was for cruise travelers. Although Messina, Sicily didn't seem like an exciting port of call, Sicily ended up being one of our favorite cruise destinations because we decided to make the short walk to the train station. We took a one-hour train ride to stunning Taormina (where Season 2 of HBO's "The White Lotus" was filmed), which cost $14 euros per person roundtrip. The 'Pearl of the Ionian Sea,' Taormina and its enchanting Isola Bella island nature reserve absolutely lived up to the hype. Want the latest cruise news and deals? Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. 3. Have plenty of euros on hand. Although the train stations in Italy, and most restaurants and shops, take credit cards, carrying some euros is essential. We found that some taxi drivers only took cash, and if you want to buy street food or souvenirs from street vendors, you'll usually need euros, too. We ended up taking a couple of detours during our trip to visit an Italian bank partner of our U.S. bank in order to get more euros to use in port without being charged high fees by a more conveniently located ATM. In most ports, we also activated our Verizon TravelPass international cell phone plan for $12 per day to help us more easily navigate from the port to the destinations we wanted to visit.(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Norwegian Cruise Line is making a huge Royal Caribbean-style move
Norwegian Cruise Line is making a huge Royal Caribbean-style move originally appeared on TravelHost. Norwegian Cruise Line may have been the first cruise line to offer a private island escape as part of its Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, but it wasn't the first to build out its private piece of paradise with resort-style amenities and attractions. Royal Caribbean made waves in the cruise industry when it turned a basic cruise line private island experience into a 'Perfect Day' in 2019. Whether you want the thrill of a waterpark, bliss of a beachside cabana, or exclusivity of an adults-only beach club, you can find your perfect Bahamas beach day experience at Perfect Day at CocoCay. And now, for even more choice in how you want to enjoy your cruise line private island escape, soon you'll be able to discover your greatest vacation day at Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay, addition to enhancing the 270-acre island in late 2025 with a new multi-ship pier, a huge heated pool, and a variety of new amenities, Norwegian Cruise Line is expanding the island's offerings in a big way in 2026. With the addition of a nearly six-acre waterpark and even more experiences, vacationers will find endless ways to enjoy 'The Great Life' at Great Stirrup Cay. To celebrate Great Stirrup Cay's great transformation, the cruise line is even giving away 250 cruises to the island for vacationers to 'Escape to the Great Life' and experience the all-new attractions next Cruise Line is adding a giant Great Stirrup Caywaterpark Slated to open in summer 2026, Great Stirrup Cay's new Great Tides Waterpark will feature 19 waterslides, a nearly 800-foot dynamic river, a 9,000-square-foot splash zone for kids, and the cruise industry's first cliffside jumps. Vacationers will be able to splash down eight exhilarating waterslides from the 170-foot Tidal Tower. The waterpark will also feature additional racing slides, tube slides with large spirals and spins, and thrilling body slides. Riders won't even need to carry their own rafts up the tower to ride certain slides thanks to convenient raft conveyer Cove, another section of Great Tides Waterpark, will offer more opportunities for families to find adventure with racer slides and two different cliff jumps standing at 10 and 15 feet tall (a cruise industry first) as well as the Caribbean's only family slide, where four guests can slide down simultaneously. Those who would rather relax and watch the action can chill in The Grotto Bar, a cave-like bar hidden under the family slide. Great Tides Waterpark will have huge kids splash zone, dynamic river A 9,000-square-foot kids splash zone at the center of Great Tides Waterpark will offer big splashes for little cruisers with an oversized tipping water bucket, eight mini slides, and interactive water features. The waterpark will also feature a new take on the lazy river — an 800-foot-long dynamic river with an accelerated current with several entry points, including a wading pool with a swim-up bar nearby. The river will offer a unique immersive experience with an illuminated grotto tunnel featuring a dreamlike bioluminescent scene. Cabanas will be conveniently located at the edge of the dynamic river and the kids splash zone. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Great Stirrup Cay will offer jet kart excursion, Great Life Lagoon Great Stirrup Cay shore excursions are also getting an upgrade with the addition of an all-new mini aquatic racecourse with jet karts, an experience that combines elements of go-karting and jet skiing. Later this year, Norwegian cruise passengers visiting Great Stirrup Cay will start experiencing the first of the island's enhancements as Norwegian opens a new heated pool, splash pad, multi-ship pier, welcome plaza, and island-wide tram Great Life Lagoon, the recently announced expansive 1.4-acre pool area, will offer private ocean and pool view cabanas and villas, complimentary loungers, and two swim-up bars. Each swim-up bar will have its own ambiance, but both will serve refreshing beverages including kid-friendly drinks and adult-favorite cocktails. The Reef Bar will feature a DJ while The Waves Bar on the opposite side of the pool will be a fun spot situated alongside a beach-style entrance and a splash area for kids. Steps away from the new pool, Splash Harbor, a 3,400-square-foot complimentary splash pad, will offer more family fun with interactive water fountains, aquatic features, and a shaded bar and lounge for parents to relax. Great Stirrup Cay will get new recreation area, adults-only beach club Great Stirrup Cay's enhancements also include a new complimentary recreational area, Horizon Park, featuring lawn style games, pickleball courts, a nine-hole mini golf course, half a sports court, and more. Those looking for beachside relaxation will find 'The Great Life' at Hammock Bay, featuring more than 50 hammocks and a dedicated bar conveniently located near the passenger-favorite BBQ the purchase of a day pass, visitors can also elevate their Great Stirrup Cay beach day with greater luxury at Vibe Shore Club, a sophisticated adults-only area featuring a private bar, hanging day beds, and premium loungers and umbrellas. Villas will also be available to rent at Vibe Shore Club. As it unveils Great Stirrup Cay's transformation, Norwegian Cruise Line expects to welcome one million guests to the island across 15 of its ships in 2026. Ships sailing to Great Stirrup Cay in 2026 include the cruise line's newest ship Norwegian Aqua, which offers a variety of seven-day Caribbean voyages from Miami and Port Canaveral, Fla., and Norwegian Luna, the cruise line's upcoming vessel debuting in March 2026, which will sail seven-day Caribbean itineraries from April 2026 to October 2026. Norwegian Cruise Line launches limited-time Great Life sale and sweepstakes For a limited time, Norwegian Cruise Line is celebrating Great Stirrup Cay's transformation by offering up to $1,500 off all Caribbean and Bahamas sailings with 'The Great Life Sale' and giving away 250 cruises to the island. Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada (excluding Quebec), the 'Escape to the Great Life' sweepstakes offers vacationers the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a four-day voyage in August 2026 for two in a balcony stateroom inclusive of NCL's popular More At Sea package. The 'Escape to the Great Life' sweepstakes runs from July 29 to Aug. 31, 2025. Additionally, the cruise line is bringing the island life to New York City from July 29 to 31, 2025, and to Miami throughout the month of August, with 'Escape to the Great Life' consumer activations.'Escape to the Great Life' escape hatches to pop open in NYC, Miami In New York City, Great Stirrup Cay will come to SoHo with a limited-time engagement experience. Beginning at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, a custom 'escape hatch' at 104 Grand Street, New York City, will open to the public and those who pass by will instantly be transported to the island paradise, complete with tropical sights and sounds of what awaits at Great Stirrup Cay. The experience will feature immersive LED graphic island visuals, live steel drums, beach-ready NCL merchandise, and opportunities to enter to win the 'Escape to the Great Life' sweepstakes. The pop-up activation is open to the public on July 29, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST on July 30 and 31, coincide with the consumer activation, the cruise line also hid seven custom 'escape hatches' across Manhattan in the popular areas of Hudson Yards, Gansevoort Plaza, 54th Street in Times Square, Broadway and Broome, Grand Central Station, State Street in the Financial District, and on the Highline Sundeck on 14th Street, providing additional opportunities for people to open the door and to enter to win one of the 250 cruise giveaways. Throughout the month of August, three 'escape hatches' will also be hidden throughout Miami, inviting residents and visitors in Norwegian Cruise Line's hometown to open the doors to enter to win an escape to 'The Great Life' at Great Stirrup Cay. Those escape hatches will be located in Wynwood, on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, and at Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Princess Cruises adds new cruise package perks, raises prices
Princess Cruises adds new cruise package perks, raises prices originally appeared on TravelHost. Although many travelers appreciate that cruises offer a more inclusive type of vacation that transports you to a different destination each day with onboard meals and accommodations included, most cruises are not truly all-inclusive. On most cruise lines, you'd need to purchase a few add-on packages for things like drinks, Wi-Fi, and specialty dining to make your cruise actually feel all-inclusive. Some cruise lines try to simplify these add-ons for their passengers, however, allowing them to enjoy more and get more out of their cruise experience through bundled packages that offer the most desired cruise add-ons for one Cruises does this remarkably well with its cruise packages, Princess Plus and Princess Premier, which pack a lot of cruise extras and value into their bundles. And now, the cruise line is refreshing those popular packages to give passengers even more of what they've been asking for — enhancing their inclusions to add highly requested items. Although passengers probably won't be happy that the package prices are going up and some benefits are going away, they will get more value included with the enhanced packages. Princess says that passengers can save 50-70% compared to purchasing all the items separately, depending on the package they select and length of their cruise. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Princess Cruises adds new benefits to Plus and Premier packages On sale beginning July 22 and available for voyages sailing in 2026 and beyond, the newly enhanced Princess Plus Package will include more casual dining meals while the updated Princess Premier Package will add a shore excursion credit. But along with adding these requested items, Princess is removing certain package features that passengers use less — such as premium desserts, juice bar access, Medallion shipping, fitness classes, and Princess the enhanced Plus Package, passengers will get two more casual dining meals per cruise, for a total of four. The package still includes the Plus Beverage Package, single device Wi-Fi, fees waived for OceanNow and room service delivery, and daily crew appreciation (gratuities). With the enhanced Premier Package, passengers will get a new shore excursion credit, varying by voyage length: $100 (6–9 days), $200 (10–20 days), and up to $300 for voyages of 21+ days. The package still includes an unlimited Premier Beverage Package, unlimited casual and specialty dining, four device Wi-Fi, fees waived for OceanNow and room service delivery, unlimited digital professional photos, reserved seating for theatrical shows, and daily crew appreciation. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Princess Cruises raises prices for Plus and Premier packages With the new updates to the packages, the cost to add one of the packages to your cruise will raise by $5 – $10 per passenger, per day. For the Princess Plus Package, pre-cruise pricing will increase from $60 to $65 per person, per day. For the Princess Premier Package, pre-cruise pricing will increase from $90 to $100 per person, per day. Additionally, for new Sphere class ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess, passengers will pay an additional $5 more per day — pre-cruise pricing will be $70 per person, per day for the Princess Plus Package and $105 per person, per day for the Princess Premier Package. When purchased on board or within three days of departure, both packages cost an additional $5 per passenger, per Cruises says the package updates are part of a commitment to continually improving its offerings based on passenger feedback. "By thoughtfully evolving our packages, we're ensuring they reflect what our guests truly desire, more flexibility, enhanced culinary experiences, and opportunities to explore ashore, all the while retaining the exceptional benefits they've come to expect," said Alfredo Jimenez, Princess Cruises Vice President, Onboard Revenue. "Ultimately, it's about delivering an even more rewarding and personalized vacation experience." (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
