Carnival Ship Gets Stranded at Sea, Disney Shares Vital Reminder

Cruise itinerary and sailing dates are usually important factors that influence your decision to book a particular cruise. Don’t expect these key elements of your cruise to change. But you should be aware that they can, and sometimes do, especially when weather conditions arise during hurricane season.

This week, passengers on the Carnival Valor learned exactly what it’s like to change your cruise itinerary due to weather as Hurricane Francine headed toward their ship’s home port of New Orleans.

Related: Popular port Royal Caribbean and Carnival on ‘reconsider travel’ list.

Carnival Valor remains stranded at sea due to Hurricane Francine

Francine made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane on September 11, one day before the Carnival Valor arrived back in Port NOLA. With the port closed while officials conducted a post-storm assessment on September 12, the cruise ship had to spend an additional day at sea awaiting clearance to return to New Orleans on September 13.

With the delay, passengers booked on Carnival Valor’s next sailing, a 4-night cruise to Cozumel, also saw their cruise itinerary adjusted. With their cruise now departing a day later, passengers will not be able to visit Cozumel. The ship is expected to sail without a port call.

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Image source: Disney Cruises.

Disney Cruise Line reminds passengers of important travel document rules

This week, Disney Cruise Line sent emails to passengers booked on future roundtrip voyages from the US with an important reminder for those planning to cruise using birth certificates as citizenship documents.

Only an original, state-issued birth certificate is acceptable as proof of citizenship for a cruise that begins and ends in the same US port. Photocopies of birth certificates will no longer be accepted. The cruise line applies a US Customs and Border Protection rule that applies regardless of which cruise line you are sailing with from the US. A government-issued photo ID is also required for passengers over the age of 16.

While an original birth certificate is accepted for certain cruises, the US State Department recommends that all cruise passengers travel with their passports in case of an emergency.

READ ALSO: Disney Cruise Line is raising the fee for a meal service

Disney Cruise Line opens reservations for Disney Destiny

Bookings are now open for Disney Cruise Line’s new ship inspired by heroes and villains, Disney Destiny. Departing Fort Lauderdale beginning in November 2025, the new ship will feature “hero-worthy” staterooms and suites and debut new locations and experiences inspired by Disney’s epic adventures.

Disney Destiny will sail an inaugural season of four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale in late 2025 and early 2026. Each sailing includes a visit to one of Disney Cruise Line’s private island destinations in the Bahamas, either Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Some itineraries will visit both.

Related: What to Watch on Disney Cruise Line’s New Private Island

Holland America Line updates Pinnacle Grill steak menu

Carnival’s Holland America Line recently made enhancements to its Pinnacle Grill steakhouse menu to offer destination-focused dining. A new regional menu section will vary based on each ship’s itinerary. Regional offerings will be presented alongside the typical steakhouse dishes from renowned chef David Burke.

Pinnacle Grill’s updated menu reflects the flavors of each destination, with a rotating selection of regional dishes featuring local ingredients and fresh, locally sourced fish. Locally inspired offerings will include dishes such as Jerked Chicken Bao in the Caribbean, Coconut Seafood Chowder in Hawaii and the South Pacific, Australian Black Angus Steak Tartar in Australia and Seared Beef Tataki with Crispy Lotus Chips in Asia.

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Greece will add a new tourist tax for cruise ship passengers

If you’re planning a Greek Islands cruise for next summer, you may have to pay an extra fee to visit Greece’s most popular islands. In an effort to combat over-tourism, the Greek government has shared plans to add a €20 per passenger tax to cruise ships sailing to the islands of Santorini and Mykonos during the peak summer season.

The new cruise tax is expected to be introduced in 2025.

Earlier this summer, the Greek government also began looking at ways to limit the number of cruise ships visiting the country’s most popular islands. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the country was looking at options such as limiting the number of available berths and berths. Cruise lines should secure berths through bidding processes or tenders.

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