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Cruise News, Travel News & Current Events

Cruise News Roundup: Royal Caribbean Buys Into Sandals, Carnival Brings Back Full Muster Drills, Whittier Dock Destroyed & Baby Spiders Invade Cruise Parking

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Cruise News Roundup | Aired September 23, 2026| Episode 61

Prefer listening instead of reading? Enjoy the full episode of The Cruise Therapy Podcast, hosted by G-Free, your Cruise Therapist.

Cruise Family, today’s Boarding Call has ships, resorts, old-school muster drills, a devastating Alaska dock fire, and a post-cruise surprise that might have me abandoning my car at the port permanently.

Royal Caribbean Group is making a major move into the all-inclusive resort business through a partnership with Sandals and Beaches Resorts. Carnival is bringing back the traditional full in-person muster drill on five ships this weekend. A new $80 million cruise dock in Whittier, Alaska, has been declared a total loss after a major fire. And some Royal Caribbean cruisers returned from vacation in Galveston to discover that their cars had apparently become luxury condos for baby spiders.

Cruise Cousins…

Apparently Wednesday decided peace was optional.

Grab your boarding pass, grab something from the bar, and let’s get into today’s cruise and travel news.

Promotional graphic for 'Your Daily Boarding Call' podcast featuring a cruise ship, with icons indicating cruise news, travel alerts, destination trends, and industry updates.

🏝️ Royal Caribbean Makes a $3 Billion Move Into Sandals and Beaches

Royal Caribbean Group apparently looked at cruises, private islands, beach clubs, river cruises, and luxury ships and said:

“What else can we add to the vacation?”

The answer?

All-inclusive resorts.

According to the episode, Royal Caribbean Group and Sandals Resorts announced a new partnership in which Royal Caribbean will acquire a 50% stake in Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts for approximately $3 billion.

The deal values the overall Sandals and Beaches business at roughly $6 billion.

Sandals brings decades of experience operating adults-only all-inclusive Caribbean resorts.

Beaches brings its family-focused resort portfolio.

Royal Caribbean brings a very large cruise customer base.

Together, the companies plan to form a joint venture combining Royal Caribbean’s vacation platform with Sandals’ resort expertise. The transaction is expected to close in early 2027, assuming the necessary approvals are received.

And immediately, my travel-advisor brain starts asking questions.

Couple enjoying drinks in a pool with beach and cruise ship in the background, palm trees and colorful flowers adding to the tropical ambiance.
Royal Caribbean Group is acquiring a 50% stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts as part of a major expansion beyond traditional cruise vacations. (AI Generated Image)

Could we eventually see:

  • Cruise-and-stay vacation packages?
  • Royal Caribbean loyalty benefits at Sandals?
  • Pre-cruise Sandals stays?
  • Post-cruise Beaches vacations?
  • Combined promotions?
  • Resort-and-cruise loyalty opportunities?

None of those ideas were announced in the transcript, but they’re exactly the kind of possibilities this partnership naturally makes travelers wonder about.

Because Royal Caribbean apparently no longer wants just your sea days.

They want the beach chair too. 😂

🛟 Carnival Is Bringing Back the Old-School Muster Drill — On Five Ships

Longtime cruisers…

You remember.

Everybody went to their assigned muster station.

Everybody arrived at the same time.

You stood.

You waited.

Then you waited some more.

And eventually somebody would stroll in 15 minutes late holding a frozen drink like:

“Was I supposed to be somewhere?” 😂

Well, for passengers aboard five Carnival ships, that traditional in-person safety drill is coming back temporarily.

The affected sailings mentioned in the episode are:

  • Carnival Horizon — September 26
  • Carnival Panorama — September 26
  • Carnival Sunshine — September 27
  • Carnival Vista — September 27
  • Carnival Firenze — September 28

More than 18,000 guests are expected to participate.

But before Linda and Leroy start yelling:

“Carnival got rid of e-muster!”

No.

It did not.

These are periodic full safety drills that ships and crews must perform so emergency procedures can be demonstrated with actual passenger participation.

Carnival explained that ships periodically have to complete these drills to satisfy government requirements and international SOLAS — Safety of Life at Sea — standards.

During the drill, crew members will demonstrate life jackets, explain evacuation procedures, and sound the emergency signal:

Seven short blasts followed by one long blast.

Food and beverage service will also temporarily stop.

Cruise Cousins…

They turned off the bar.

That is how you know they are serious. 😂

The interruption is brief, but the information matters.

If an emergency ever does happen, those few minutes of paying attention could make a real difference.

A group of people wearing orange life jackets gathered near the pool deck on a cruise ship, listening to crew members giving instructions during a safety drill.
Carnival will conduct traditional full muster drills aboard five ships as part of required periodic safety exercises. (AI Generated Image)

🔥 Whittier’s New $80 Million Cruise Dock Declared a Total Loss

Now to a serious update from Alaska.

A major fire at the Whittier Alaska cruise terminal caused extensive damage to a dock that only began welcoming ships in late 2024.

The fire reportedly broke out near a tour vessel docked at the facility and burned for hours.

The blaze damaged both the dock and the tour boat Klondike Express.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

A large fire emits flames and thick black smoke from a dock surrounded by water, with mountains in the background.
A newly developed cruise dock in Whittier, Alaska, has been declared a total loss after a major fire that caused extensive damage. (Photo Credit: MarineLink)

Norwegian Jade was nearby when the fire occurred.

The ship moved safely away from the area and was not damaged.

Passengers scheduled to embark that day were redirected to Whittier’s other cruise terminal.

The damaged facility was part of an approximately $80 million development.

After assessing the damage, the Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office determined that the dock itself was a total loss.

The cause remained under investigation at the time of the episode.

This matters because Whittier is an important embarkation and disembarkation point for Alaska cruises, particularly for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brands.

The good news is that Whittier has another cruise facility available.

At the time of the episode, cruise lines had not announced widespread cancellations for 2027, but repairs, rebuilding, and future operating plans still needed to be determined.

If you’re booked on an Alaska sailing through Whittier in 2027?

Keep this story on your radar.

🕷️ Cruise Over. Vacation Over. Car Taken Over by Baby Spiders.

Cruise Cousins…

Imagine this.

You had a great cruise.

You ate.

You drank.

You relaxed.

You got off the ship in Galveston.

You found your luggage.

You walked back to your car.

And your car said:

“Welcome home. We have new tenants.”

Baby spiders.

And apparently…

A surprised couple stands in front of a car covered in numerous spiders, with palm trees and a cruise ship in the background.
Some cruisers returning to their cars near the Port of Galveston reportedly discovered tiny spiders covering their vehicles. (AI Generated Image)

A LOT of them.

According to the episode, two Royal Caribbean cruisers returned to a parking area near Cruise Terminal 10 at the Port of Galveston and discovered their vehicle covered in tiny spiders.

An Uber driver who helped the couple reportedly said several other cars had the same eight-legged surprise.

The couple reportedly took an Uber to Walmart, purchased pesticide, and returned before they felt comfortable driving the vehicle home.

Listen.

I can handle:

  • delayed flights
  • missing luggage
  • rain
  • bad excursions
  • somebody reclining their airplane seat directly into my soul

But if I open my car door and 300 spiders look back at me?

They own the car.

Call the insurance company.

Tell them:

“Total loss.” 😂

To be clear, the spiders were not aboard the Royal Caribbean ship and were not inside Royal Caribbean’s terminal.

This happened in a parking area.

The episode explains that September can be a prime period for baby spiders in Texas. Spiderlings can sometimes move through a process called ballooning, releasing silk strands that catch the wind and carry them through the air.

That sounds adorable.

Until the wind drops them on your Honda.

Colorful graphic featuring a globe, travel elements like a suitcase, camera, and clock, with the text 'Travel Tip of the Day' prominently displayed.

🚗 Travel Tip of the Day: Check Your Car Before Driving Away

Today’s spider story gives us one of the strangest Travel Tips of the Day we’ve ever had.

If you leave your vehicle at a cruise port for a week or longer:

Give it a quick inspection before jumping inside.

Check:

  • mirrors
  • door handles
  • windshield
  • wheel wells
  • tires
  • under the hood if something looks unusual

And this isn’t just about spiders.

While you’re away, you could potentially encounter:

  • ants
  • rodents
  • storm debris
  • water damage
  • flooding
  • insects
  • other unexpected surprises

If you see something that could bite, sting, or damage the vehicle, don’t start grabbing at it.

Ask parking staff for assistance or contact a pest-control professional if needed.

Apparently our old post-cruise checklist was:

✅ Passport
✅ Luggage
✅ Car keys

Now we have to add:

✅ Make sure the car does not have eight legs.

Cruise Therapy is evolving. 😂

Two men inspecting a gray car near a cruise terminal with a large cruise ship in the background, surrounded by luggage.
After leaving a vehicle at a cruise port for several days, take a quick look around before loading your luggage and driving home. (AI Generated Image)
Illustration of a clipboard with checkmarks and a pencil, labeled 'Key Takeaways'.

⚓ Key Takeaways

Today’s Boarding Call had a little bit of everything.

Royal Caribbean + Sandals: Royal Caribbean Group plans to acquire a 50% stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for approximately $3 billion.

Carnival Muster Drills: Five Carnival ships will temporarily use traditional full in-person safety drills as part of required periodic exercises.

Whittier, Alaska: A newly developed cruise dock has been declared a total loss after a major fire, though no injuries were reported.

Galveston Spider Surprise: Some returning cruisers reportedly found their parked vehicles covered in baby spiders.

Travel Tip: Always give your vehicle a quick inspection after leaving it parked for an extended period.

Graphic featuring three colorful silhouettes of people with speech bubbles, promoting engagement with the text 'Join the Conversation' and a ship in the background.

💬 Join the Conversation

Cruise Family, I need answers today.

🏝️ Would you be interested in a future vacation that combines a Royal Caribbean cruise with a Sandals or Beaches resort stay?

🛟 Do you prefer the fast e-muster process, or do you think the traditional full muster drill is better?

And finally…

🕷️ You return from your cruise and discover hundreds of baby spiders on your car.

What are you doing?

A. Buying bug spray
B. Calling pest control
C. Selling the car
D. Leaving the country 😂

Drop your answer in the comments.

Graphic promoting vacation planning, featuring a suitcase, passport, travel plans notebook, an airplane flying in the sky, a cruise ship in the water, palm trees, and a beach background.

🧳 Ready to Plan Your Next Vacation?

Whether you’re dreaming about a Caribbean cruise, an Alaska sailing, an all-inclusive resort, or a combination of experiences, Atlanta Travel Associates can help you coordinate the details from beginning to end.

That includes:

  • cruises
  • resorts
  • pre- and post-cruise hotels
  • flights
  • transfers
  • excursions
  • vacation planning

📝 Start planning your next vacation:
Help Me Plan My Vacation

🎙️ Keep Up With Cruise Therapy

Follow the Cruise Therapy Podcast for cruise news, travel alerts, destination trends, travel tips, and your regular dose of Cruise Therapy.

Again, I’m GFree, your Cruise Therapist.

Until our next therapy session:

Keep calm.
Keep cruising.
And keep listening.

And I’ll SEA you aboard the Disney Wish at Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge. ✨🚀🍸

The cocktails are flowing.

The stars are flying.

And we’re taking Cruise Therapy straight into another galaxy.

Grab your drink.

Find me by the viewport.

And let’s make one more jump into hyperspace before the night is over.

Because if Disney magic, Star Wars, and a cruise ship all show up in the same place…

I’m staying until somebody turns the lights on. 😂

May the Force be with you.
May the pixie dust find you.
And may your next cruise already be booked.

Promotional image for the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge aboard the Disney Wish, featuring a vibrant bar scene with colorful drinks and a representation of the cruise ship.
Cruise News, Travel News & Current Events

Cruise News Roundup: PortMiami Hits 10 Million, Carnival Panorama Tragedy, Oasis Medical Emergencies & Carnival’s First President’s Cruise

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Cruise News Roundup | Aired September 21, 2026| Episode 60

Prefer listening instead of reading? Enjoy the full episode of The Cruise Therapy Podcast, hosted by G-Free, your Cruise Therapist.

Cruise Family, today’s Boarding Call has a record-breaking milestone in Miami, two serious stories that remind us why flexibility and compassion matter when we travel, and one Carnival event that had cruisers attacking the registration page like concert tickets had just gone on sale.

PortMiami has officially surpassed 10 million cruise passenger movements in a single fiscal year. A missing-person search aboard Carnival Panorama ended with heartbreaking confirmation that a guest had gone overboard. Oasis of the Seas diverted for two medical emergencies, delaying one sailing and changing the next. And Carnival Cruise Line opened registration for its first-ever President’s Cruise.

Grab your boarding pass, grab something from the bar, and let’s get into today’s cruise news.

Graphic promoting 'Your Daily Boarding Call' podcast by The Cruise Therapy Podcast Group, featuring a large cruise ship on the water, with icons representing travel news, destination trends, and industry updates.

🚢 PortMiami Says: “10 Million? Hold My Mojito!”

The so-called Cruise Capital of the World has another record to celebrate.

PortMiami officially recorded its 10 millionth cruise passenger movement of the 2026 fiscal year on September 14.

And before you ask…

What exactly is a “passenger movement”?

It refers to passengers either boarding or disembarking from a cruise ship.

Although, as GFree pointed out in the episode, maybe the cruise industry could have workshopped that phrase just a little longer. 😂

PortMiami reached the 10-million mark with more than two weeks remaining in its fiscal year, which runs through September 30. The previous fiscal year’s record was about 8.56 million passengers, meaning the port had already surpassed that level by nearly 17 percent when it reached the milestone.

Port officials attributed the growth to factors including:

  • more cruise ships
  • additional cruise-line offerings
  • new and expanded terminals
  • continued investment in port infrastructure

The day PortMiami crossed that milestone, ships in port included Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady, Norwegian Getaway, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Conquest, MSC Seaside, and Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas.

At this rate, Miami doesn’t need another traffic lane.

It needs an air-traffic controller for rolling luggage.

And somewhere out there, somebody is still sitting in an Uber saying:

“We can SEE the ship. Why haven’t we moved?” 😂

Aerial view of PortMiami showcasing multiple cruise ships, including the Icon of the Seas and Carnival Celebration, with the Miami skyline in the background. The image highlights the theme of 10 million passenger movements, emphasizing connectivity and future opportunities.
PortMiami surpassed 10 million cruise passenger movements during its 2026 fiscal year, setting another major milestone for the Cruise Capital of the World. (AI-Generated Image)

💔 Carnival Panorama Search Ends in Tragedy

Now we turn to a much more difficult story.

A missing-person search aboard Carnival Panorama ended with confirmation that a male guest had gone overboard.

The incident occurred during the final full day of a seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise from Long Beach, California. The ship had departed Puerto Vallarta and was heading back toward California when announcements began asking for help locating a missing guest.

Later that afternoon, Carnival Panorama reversed course.

Guests were asked to return to their staterooms while crew members conducted a full ship-wide search and accounted for everyone aboard.

Carnival’s security team also reviewed onboard camera footage.

According to the episode, that footage ultimately confirmed that the guest had gone overboard.

U.S. and Mexican authorities were notified, and search-and-rescue responsibility was transferred to those agencies. No additional information about the guest or the circumstances surrounding the incident had been publicly released at the time covered in the episode.

Carnival said its care team was supporting the guest’s family and traveling companions.

There isn’t a joke for this one.

A family went on vacation together expecting memories, laughter, and time at sea.

Now they are dealing with something unimaginable.

Our thoughts remain with the guest’s loved ones, traveling companions, crew members, and everyone aboard affected by what happened.

A cruise ship named Viking Sky sailing on calm waters during a sunset, with golden hues in the sky and reflections on the water.
A missing-person search aboard Carnival Panorama ended with confirmation that a guest had gone overboard during a Mexican Riviera sailing. (AI-Generated Image)

🚑 Two Medical Emergencies Change Oasis of the Seas’ Schedule

Another serious situation unfolded aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.

The ship was sailing a seven-night Bahamas itinerary when medical staff determined that one guest needed urgent care ashore.

According to the captain’s announcement referenced in the episode, one of the patients was a critically ill seven-year-old child.

Oasis of the Seas reversed course and returned to Nassau, the nearest location where hospital care could be provided.

Then, while the ship was heading back, a second guest became critically ill.

Both guests were eventually taken ashore in Nassau for further medical treatment. Royal Caribbean did not disclose additional medical details, respecting the families’ privacy.

The emergency diversion had a domino effect on the ship’s schedule.

Instead of arriving at Cape Liberty in New Jersey around 6 a.m. on September 20, Oasis of the Seas arrived approximately eight hours late.

That delay pushed embarkation for the next sailing into the evening.

The next cruise also lost its scheduled Port Canaveral call on September 22.

Royal Caribbean refunded affected shore excursions and provided onboard credits to guests on the following sailing.

Nobody likes:

  • losing a port
  • boarding hours late
  • rearranging flights
  • changing transportation plans

But this is one of those situations where the answer has to be:

Take care of the people first.

If it were our child, parent, spouse, friend—or us—we would want that captain to turn the ship around too.

A cruise ship named 'Oasis of the Seas' sailing near Nassau at sunset, with city lights reflecting on the water.
Two urgent medical emergencies caused Oasis of the Seas to return to Nassau, delaying the ship’s arrival and affecting the following sailing. (AI Generated Image)

🎉 Carnival’s First President’s Cruise Sends Fans Racing Online

After two serious stories, we can use something lighter.

Apparently Carnival cruisers woke up and collectively said:

“MOVE! Get out the way—I need to REGISTER!” 😂

Carnival Cruise Line opened registration for its first-ever President’s Cruise at 10 a.m. Eastern.

The event is planned aboard Carnival Magic on the February 28, 2027 sailing.

The voyage is already tied to John Heald’s FFS No. 9 cruise, and the President’s Cruise activities are expected to feature Carnival President Christine Duffy, John Heald, and Carnival Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse.

Registration costs $40 per person, and guests must already be booked on the qualifying Carnival Magic sailing.

The fee includes access to things such as:

  • special parties
  • exclusive events
  • a commemorative lanyard
  • a gift
  • meet-and-greet opportunities

And apparently Carnival fans do not play around when there are parties, swag, John Heald, Christine Duffy, and Emeril involved.

So many guests reportedly tried to register when enrollment opened that some initially encountered delays and website issues.

Carnival cruisers treated that registration page like Beyoncé tickets. 😂

If you’re already booked on the February 28 sailing and want the full President’s Cruise experience, check your Carnival Cruise Manager for current registration information.

Promotional image for the President's Cruise 2021 featuring three individuals posing together with a cruise ship and ocean backdrop.
Carnival cruisers rushed online to register for the cruise line’s first President’s Cruise, planned aboard Carnival Magic in February 2027. (Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)
A colorful logo featuring a globe, airplane, ship, palm trees, and travel-related items like a suitcase, camera, clock, and checklist, with the text 'Travel Tip of the Day'.

✈️ Travel Tip of the Day: Don’t Book That Flight Too Early

The Oasis of the Seas delay gives us an important reminder.

Your scheduled arrival time is not the same thing as your airport departure time.

Even on the final morning of a cruise, unexpected situations can occur:

  • medical emergencies
  • weather
  • mechanical issues
  • port congestion
  • customs delays
  • unexpected diversions

Whenever possible, leave a healthy buffer between the ship’s scheduled arrival and your flight home.

If the itinerary says:

“Ship arrives at 6:00 a.m.”

that does not necessarily mean:

“You’ll be at the airport gate by 7:45.”

The ship still has to:

  1. reach the pier
  2. dock
  3. clear the appropriate authorities
  4. begin luggage operations
  5. disembark thousands of passengers
  6. get you through transportation and airport security

Give yourself room.

Because running through the airport dragging a suitcase behind you is not the cardio program Cruise Therapy recommends. 😂

A happy couple in a travel terminal holding travel mugs, sitting on a bench with suitcases beside them. They are wearing sunglasses and straw hats, smiling as they wait for their flight. A digital screen displays their flight information. The background features travel-related signage and a cruise ship poster.
A cruise ship’s scheduled arrival time can change unexpectedly, so build plenty of time between debarkation and your flight home. (AI Generated Image)
Illustration of a clipboard with checkmarks and a pencil, labeled 'Key Takeaways' on a circular background.

⚓ Key Takeaways

Today’s Boarding Call covered one historic milestone, two difficult reminders about emergencies at sea, and one very popular Carnival event.

PortMiami: The port surpassed 10 million cruise passenger movements before the end of its fiscal year.

Carnival Panorama: A missing-person search ended with heartbreaking confirmation that a guest had gone overboard.

Oasis of the Seas: Two urgent medical emergencies forced a diversion to Nassau, delayed the ship’s return, and changed the following cruise.

Carnival President’s Cruise: Registration opened for the cruise line’s first President’s Cruise aboard Carnival Magic, drawing heavy interest from booked guests.

Travel Tip: Never schedule your post-cruise flight so tightly that one unexpected delay could unravel your entire trip.

Graphic with text 'Join the Conversation' surrounded by colorful speech bubbles and silhouettes of three people, with a ship in the background.

💬 Join the Conversation

Cruise Family, I want to hear from you.

🚢 Does PortMiami reaching 10 million passenger movements surprise you?

❤️ Would you be understanding if your cruise lost a port because the ship needed to handle a medical emergency?

🎉 And would you pay the $40 registration fee to participate in the Carnival President’s Cruise activities?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Graphic promoting vacation planning, featuring a suitcase, passport, travel plans notebook, an airplane in the sky, and a cruise ship near a tropical beach.

🧳 Ready to Plan Your Next Cruise?

Whether your next vacation includes Miami, the Caribbean, Mexico, the Bahamas, or another destination, Atlanta Travel Associates can help coordinate your cruise, flights, hotel accommodations, transfers, excursions, and pre- or post-cruise plans.

📝 Start planning your vacation:
https://bit.ly/ATAGuestInformationForm

🎙️ Keep Up With Cruise Therapy

Follow the Cruise Therapy Podcast for cruise news, travel alerts, destination updates, cruise tips, and your regular dose of Cruise Therapy.

Again, I’m GFree, your Cruise Therapist.

Until our next therapy session:

Keep calm.
Keep cruising.
And keep listening.

And I’ll SEA you aboard MSC World America at The Gin Project. 🍸🚢

Apparently they have more than 70 different gins to choose from.

At some point, the bartender is going to ask:

“Which gin would you like?”

And after staring at 70 options…

I’m probably just going to say:

“Yeah.” 😂

What are you ordering?

Promotional image for MSC World America cruise, featuring a large cruise ship at sea, a cocktail from the Gin Project Bar, and a character with curly hair wearing sunglasses and holding a microphone. The text emphasizes inviting guests aboard and highlights the bar's offerings.