Tag Archives: Caribbean Cruise News

🚢 Cruise & Travel News Roundup: Port Canaveral Flooding, Labadee Cancellations Extend Into 2028, Disney Opens Palo to Kids & Cat in the Hat Takes Over Carnival

Cruise News Roundup | Aired November 3, 2026| Episode 82

Flooded roads at Port Canaveral, more Labadee cancellations, kids dining at Palo, and a 40-foot Cat in the Hat aboard Carnival ships?

Crewmates and Cruise Addicts, apparently spooky season wasn’t quite ready to leave the ship.

I’m GFree, your Cruise Therapist, and welcome aboard another edition of Your Daily Boarding Call, where we unpack the latest cruise and travel headlines with a little information, a little humor, and plenty of Cruise Therapy.

Technically, Halloween is over—but I still have candy, decorations, and at least one ghost who apparently forgot checkout time. So we’re giving spooky season one final sailing. 👻🚢

A vibrant graphic promoting 'Cruise Day Tuesday' by Atlanta Travel Associates, featuring a joyful woman holding a cocktail, tropical scenery with palm trees, and a cruise ship in the background. Text highlights cruise deals and vacation offers.

And because this episode falls on Cruise Day Tuesday, don’t forget to check the Cruise Therapy Podcast Facebook Group and Atlanta Travel Associates Business Page for the latest cruise promotions, vacation offers, and travel deals.

Grab your boarding pass, your leftover Halloween candy, and a drink from the bar.

It’s time for Your Daily Boarding Call.

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🌧️ Heavy Rain Turns Port Canaveral Cruise Day Into a Soggy Mess

If 2026 needed another nickname, we might as well call it:

The Year of Weather Interruptions.

On November 2, heavy rain and flooding across Brevard County made getting to and from Port Canaveral a little more complicated than usual.

Five ships were in port:

  • Norwegian Getaway
  • Carnival Freedom
  • Disney Wish
  • Utopia of the Seas
  • Carnival Glory
Flooded street with several cars submerged in water, including a red sports car and a black vehicle, during a heavy rainstorm.
Cruise passengers arriving at Port Canaveral during heavy rain and localized flooding. (Photo Credit: Florida Today)

Guests reported standing water and slower traffic along roads connecting the port with Orlando, and Norwegian advised embarking guests to allow extra travel time.

The good news? Port Canaveral said cruise operations remained normal—just slower—and no ship departures were confirmed delayed.

Cruise family, that wasn’t cruise traffic.

That was cruise traffic with a water feature. 😂

If your Uber starts looking like it needs a life jacket, you might have left the hotel a little too late.

Heavy rain falls at Port Canaveral, with parked and moving cars on a wet road and large cruise ships in the background. People are seen with umbrellas, indicating inclement weather.
Heavy rain and flooding slowed traffic around Port Canaveral while cruise operations continued normally. (Ai-generated Image)

⚓ Royal Caribbean Extends Labadee Cancellations Into 2028

If Labadee appears on your 2027 or early 2028 itinerary, check your cruise reservation again.

Royal Caribbean has extended its suspension of visits to Labadee, Haiti, through at least April 2028.

The change affects 44 itineraries across nine ships, including Adventure of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and others.

Royal Caribbean says guest and crew safety remains the priority as conditions in Haiti continue to be monitored.

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship beside a map of the Caribbean, highlighting the removal of Labadee as a port of call and listing possible replacement ports including Nassau, Cococay, Falmouth, and Puerto Plata.
Royal Caribbean has extended its suspension of Labadee visits through at least April 2028. (Ai-generated Image)

Depending on the sailing, Labadee may be replaced with destinations including:

  • Nassau
  • Grand Turk
  • Cozumel
  • Puerto Plata
  • San Juan
  • Or a sea day

Guests who prepaid for Royal Caribbean excursions in Labadee will receive automatic refunds.

Cruise family, this itinerary change has been hanging around longer than a Halloween cobweb nobody wants to take down.

So if you’re sailing Royal Caribbean in 2027 or early 2028, don’t assume the itinerary you booked months ago is still the itinerary you’ll sail.

Check again.


🍝 Disney Is Letting Kids Into Palo — But Only on One Sailing for Now

Disney cruisers, one traditionally grown-up dining experience is about to look a little different.

Disney Cruise Line is testing an all-ages experience at Palo Trattoria aboard Disney Adventure.

On the ship’s December 28 holiday sailing from Singapore, Palo Trattoria will welcome guests of all ages.

Normally, Palo restaurants are known for their adult-focused atmosphere. But on this sailing, children ages 3 through 12 will receive special brunch pricing, and a children’s à la carte menu will be available during dinner.

Disney has not announced this as a fleet-wide change.

At least not yet. 👀

And you already know cruise families have opinions.

Some parents are probably saying:

“Finally! Family dinner!”

While somebody else is clutching their mimosa, saying:

“Wait…wasn’t Palo where I escaped from the family?” 😂

That debate, my little pumpkin pies, might get spookier than Halloween.

A joyful family dining at the Palo Trattoria restaurant on a Disney cruise, enjoying brunch with mimosas, surrounded by a scenic ocean view.
Disney Cruise Line is testing an all-ages Palo Trattoria experience aboard Disney Adventure on one holiday sailing. (Ai-generated Image)

🎩 The Cat in the Hat Takes Over 23 Carnival Ships

Halloween may be finished, but Carnival apparently said:

“Keep the costumes out—we’ve got a giant cat coming.”

Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating the new Cat in the Hat movie with limited-time activities aboard 23 Carnival ships.

Four costumed characters inspired by Dr. Seuss stand on a cruise ship deck, with a large red funnel in the background. The characters include the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, Thing 2, and the Lorax, all posing with cheerful expressions.
Carnival is bringing limited-time Cat in the Hat movie celebrations and new Seuss at Sea activities to 23 ships. (Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)

The celebration includes:

  • A massive 40-foot Cat in the Hat inflatable
  • Premiere parties
  • Red-and-white striped carpets
  • Character appearances
  • Camp Ocean activities
  • Build-A-Bear experiences
  • Surprise stateroom deliveries
A large inflatable red and white striped hat next to a swimming pool on a cruise ship deck, with cloudy skies in the background.

Carnival is also adding two new Seuss at Sea activities:

Seuss-a-Palooza Game Time and Seuss-a-Palooza Family Time.

Cruise family, Halloween ends and Carnival immediately says:

“Keep the costumes out.”

And honestly?

A 40-foot inflatable Cat in the Hat on a cruise ship is exactly the kind of nonsense I support. 😂

Interior view of a vibrant atrium featuring a large, spiraling display with a character holding a red and white striped hat, surrounded by floating red and white balloons.
Carnival cruise ship decorated for a Cat in the Hat-themed celebration with families and red-and-white Seuss decorations. (Photo Credit: Travel Pulse)

Logo featuring the phrase 'Travel Tip of the Day' with illustrations of a globe, an airplane, a ship, luggage, a camera, a clock, and a checklist against a tropical backdrop.

💡 Travel Tip of the Day: Check Before You Leave Home

Today’s Port Canaveral and Labadee stories give us the perfect reminder:

Always check your travel conditions and cruise itinerary before leaving home.

Before embarkation, check:

  • Local weather
  • Road closures
  • Your cruise line app
  • Your email
  • Port traffic alerts
  • Transportation conditions

If you booked your cruise months—or even years—in advance, check the itinerary periodically.

Ports can change long before sail day.

Cruise family, your cruise confirmation is not carved into a tombstone. 👻

Things change.

Stay informed.


Graphic featuring three stylized figures representing people, with speech bubbles and the text 'Join the Conversation', set against a backdrop of a ship and water.

🗣️ Cruise Family, I Want to Hear From You

Port Canaveral cruisers: How much extra travel time do you give yourself when bad weather is in the forecast?

Royal Caribbean cruisers: If Labadee is removed from your itinerary, which replacement would you prefer—Nassau, Grand Turk, Cozumel, Puerto Plata, San Juan, or a sea day?

Disney cruisers: Should Palo stay more adult-focused, or would you like more family dining options?

And Carnival families: Are you excited about the Cat in the Hat taking over 23 ships?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

I would love to hear from you!


👻 One Final Goodbye to Spooky Season

Since we’re giving Halloween one final sendoff…

May your cruise fare stay low.

May your upgrade fairy stay generous.

And may the only thing haunting your cabin be that room-service plate you forgot to put outside. 😂👻🚢


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🌴 Ready for Your Next Cruise?

Whether you’re dreaming about the Caribbean, planning a family cruise, watching a future itinerary change, or looking for your next dose of Cruise Therapy, Atlanta Travel Associates can help coordinate the details.

Cruises, hotels, transportation, group travel, pre- and post-cruise stays—we can help you get started.

✨ Ready to plan your next vacation?

👉 Start planning HERE: Guest Information Form


🧊 Until Our Next Cruise Therapy Session…

Again, I’m GFree, Your Cruise Therapist.

Follow the Cruise Therapy Podcast Group on Facebook for more cruise news, travel alerts, destination trends, and, of course, Cruise Therapy.

Until our next therapy session:

Keep Calm.
Keep Cruising.
Keep Listening.

And I’ll “SEA” you aboard Norwegian Getaway.

Meet me at the Skyy Vodka Ice Bar.

Order me something ice cold, because if I’m standing in a 17-degree bar, my cocktail better understand the assignment. 🧊🍸

And after all these leftover ghost stories?

If somebody taps me on the shoulder inside that dark, freezing bar…

I’m leaving the drink and the ship. 😂👻

What are you having?

Thanks for listening.

BYEEEE!

A promotional image featuring a cartoon character with curly hair and sunglasses holding a microphone, set against a background of the Norwegian Getaway cruise ship and the Skyy Vodka Ice Bar. The image includes text inviting viewers to meet at the Ice Bar aboard the cruise.