Welcome to Cruise Blog's Weekly Roundup for the week of November 21, 2025!
This is a helpful post covering everything you may have missed from this week, including a Carnival cruise ship that's struggling with propulsion problems and reasons why you might actually hate cruising.
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Carnival cruise ship cancels port visit amid ongoing propulsion problems
Carnival Horizon’s propulsion problems have now affected the disembarkation and embarkation of two consecutive cruises. However, the ongoing speed issues continue to frustrate guests with last-minute port cancellations.
The Vista Class mechanical problems began on an 8-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean, resulting in a delayed arrival in Miami, Florida. Consequently, Carnival had to push back the next sailing's embarkation, with check-in times rescheduled for as late as 10:00 p.m.
After losing out on the entire first day of their cruise vacation, the disappointment continued, with guests learning that they had to cancel their stop in Grand Cayman on November 19 because of the ongoing mechanical issues.
Read more: Carnival cruise ship cancels port visit amid ongoing propulsion problems
Cruise passenger falls between ship and dock in The Bahamas
A cruise passenger fell off the pier into the ocean while in The Bahamas.
According to videos, an unidentified male guest fell into the ocean in Nassau, putting himself between the Norwegian Encore ship and the cruise pier.
Norwegian Encore wasn't supposed to be in Nassau on Sunday, November 16. However, strong winds made tendering to Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) private island, Great Stirrup Cay, impossible.
Read more: Cruise passenger falls between ship and dock in The Bahamas
Celebrity Cruises replaced a popular venue on its newest ship — and I am obsessed with it
One of the beloved Edge Class venues got a major upgrade on Celebrity Xcel, and Elizabeth couldn't be happier about the change.
Earlier this year, Celebrity Cruises announced that Eden would be transformed into the Bazaar, a brand-new venue that combines shopping, dining, and entertainment in one multi-sensory space that blurs the line between ship and shore experiences.
Everything in the Bazaar is inspired by the ship's itineraries, so the merchandise, activities, and dining while sailing through the Caribbean will differ from when Celebrity Xcel moves to the Mediterranean next summer.
Read more: Celebrity Cruises replaced a popular venue on its newest ship — and I am obsessed with it
Carnival pushes back start date of controversial new loyalty program
Carnival cruise fans have a few more months to lock in their lifetime Diamond loyalty status.
The cruise giant announced that, rather than taking effect in June, the unpopular Carnival Rewards™ program will now launch on September 1, 2026.
This means that all Carnival cruise activity through August 1, 2026, will count toward everyone's final VIFP status, which will match each guest’s starting Carnival Rewards™ loyalty level.
Read more: Carnival pushes back start date of controversial new loyalty program
Disney Cruise Line bans this commonly-packed travel item from its cruise ships
Disney Cruise Line has added a commonly-packed household item to its prohibited items list: hair dryers.
Beci Mahnken, founder and CEO of MEI Travel, shared the update on her Facebook after her hair dryer was confiscated when boarding the Disney Destiny cruise ship.
The new guidelines cap outlet use at 1,500 watts for 110-volt outlets and 2,000 watts for 220-volt outlets, meaning that powerful Dyson hair dryers can no longer be brought onboard.
Read more: Disney Cruise Line bans this commonly-packed travel item from its cruise ships
Stepbrother under FBI investigation after teen's body found under bed on a Carnival cruise
The body of Anna Kepner, 18, was discovered aboard a Carnival cruise ship, resulting in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
While few details were initially released, new evidence has since emerged, with Kepner's 16-year-old stepbrother listed as a suspect in official court documents.
The 18-year-old high school senior was months away from graduating from Temple Christian School in Titusville, Florida, with plans to join the military.
Read more: Stepbrother under FBI investigation after teen's body found under bed on a Carnival cruise
I sailed in balcony cabins on five different cruise ships. Here's how they rank — and which was the best by far
Balconies are Elizabeth's favorite type of cruise cabin. Although she does not stay in them as often as she would like, she appreciates the extra space, natural light, and privacy that make them among the most popular categories of cruise rooms.
Still, not all cruise balconies are designed equally, nor are they the cheapest rooms onboard. Some have extra-large balconies, while others don't even face the ocean.
This year, she stayed in five categories of cruise balconies on different ships: Icon of the Seas, MSC World America, Margaritaville at Seas' Islander, Celebrity Xcel, and Celebrity Eclipse.
8 reasons why you might hate cruising
Cruising is one of the best ways to travel for many reasons, including its convenience, the ability to visit multiple destinations in a single trip, and the comfort of having everything you need right on board.
While cruising is the perfect vacation choice for many people, it’s definitely not the right fit for everyone. This is why the cruise industry offers such a wide variety of cruise lines and vessels.
Before you commit to spending multiple days at sea, it’s worth taking a realistic look at the aspects of cruising that might not align with your travel style.
Read more: 8 reasons why you might hate cruising
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
