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Carnival Cruise Line answers key tipping question
Carnival Cruise Line answers key tipping question originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald is used to putting out fires on his popular Facebook page that's followed by more than 600,000 cruisers. Often this means extinguishing rampant cruise rumors spread by other popular Facebook pages dedicated to cruising. Related: Carnival Cruise Line warns against another bad cruise behavior Recent rumors Heald has snuffed out include false claims that the cruise line is retiring a beloved cruise ship and removing fan-favorite dining venue Guy's Burger Joint fleetwide, along with a number of other untrue assertions. Now, the brand ambassador is tackling a blaze that heated up around onboard tipping. Cruisers basically have two choices for how to handle tipping on a cruise. Carnival and other cruise lines will automatically add the suggested daily gratuity amounts to your onboard account, so you can accept that or choose to remove the automatic gratuities in favor of tipping in cash. Some passengers choose to prepay gratuities at the suggested daily rate and provide additional tips in cash, too. Although tipping the wonderful crew members who work hard to make your vacation special is something the majority of cruise passengers are happy to do, the proper way to tip and how much to tip is a matter that's often debated. And while tipping is already a complicated cruise topic, false rumors occasionally add fuel to the fire. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. The latest tipping controversy Heald battled involved an alleged negative consequence of removing automatic cruise gratuities to instead pay the same amount or more in cash during your cruise. According to a widely circulated social media post, if you do remove automatic gratuities, crew members will find out that you did this by the middle of your cruise and will reduce the level of service they provide to you as a result. In a recent video update for his followers, Heald stressed that this rumor is completely false, and backed it up by providing details on when crew members receive their crew payment guidelines for each sailing. Related: Carnival Cruise Line rep sounds alarm on growing YouTube problem 'This happens after the cruise,' Heald explained. 'So, you finish your cruise, whether it's a three- or an eight- or a 10-day cruise, and the gratuities from that cruise are always paid to the crew the following cruise.' As Heald emphasized, the claim 'that you're going to get diminished service is absolutely nonsense.' He hoped that providing clarification on this would help passengers avoid worrying. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Although how you choose to tip on a cruise is a matter of personal preference and either way is acceptable, removing automatic gratuities and not tipping at all is discouraged. Heald made a point to address cruisers who choose not to tip in his video, too, even though the cruise line reports that a very small percentage of cruisers actually do this. 'For those who remove their gratuities and give nothing, well, that's your personal choice, but I think most people that do that…have never been in a service-oriented [position],' Heald added. 'They've never been a waiter or a cabin attendant or in housekeeping or a waitress or anything like that.' More Carnival cruise news: Carnival Cruise Line ship pivots to avoid Hurricane Barbara Carnival Cruise Line bans more passengers after another brawl Carnival Cruise Line shares new warning for parents Heald also stressed that the tips that passengers give to Carnival crew members are sincerely appreciated, but regardless of the way you choose to tip, the crew will provide the same high level of service. 'Thank you for all your gratuities that you give the crew,' he said. 'We appreciate it, they appreciate it, their families at home appreciate it, and they will, regardless [of how you tip], give you the best service because they are, as Tina Turner once said, 'simply the best ooh better than all the rest ooh better than anyone, better than I've ever met.'' (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@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Carnival Cruise Line ship pivots to avoid Hurricane Barbara
Carnival Cruise Line ship pivots to avoid Hurricane Barbara originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. The 2025 hurricane season is getting off to a busy start, but not where you'd probably expect. Although the National Hurricane Center is not yet reporting any tropical disturbances in the Atlantic, the eastern Pacific is already on its third named Pacific hurricane season starts slightly earlier than the Atlantic one, but the first named storm usually doesn't come until around June 10. This year, three storms formed prior to that date, including the season's first hurricane. Hurricane Barbara became the first hurricane of the 2025 eastern Pacific hurricane season on June 9, with Tropical Storm Cosme following right behind it and expected to intensify. Most Pacific storms track away from land and move westward out to sea, but so far this season, storms seem to be sticking a little closer to land than usual. Because of this, Carnival Cruise Line, which sails regular Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, Calif., is making some proactive passengers often hear most often about weather-related itinerary changes for Caribbean cruises, Carnival's Fleet Operations Center and its captains are always on top of the weather in any region where the cruise line's ships are sailing. 'We give due care and attention and we'll always keep everybody safe whether you're sailing from Miami, Port Canaveral, or indeed Long Beach, or anywhere else that we cruise from,' Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald recently shared in a video he posted on his Facebook provide an example of how Carnival prioritizes both passenger safety and satisfaction, Heald explained to his followers how the cruise line and Carnival Panorama's Captain Carlo made proactive changes to the ship's June 7-15 Mexican Riviera cruise itinerary. In his video, Heald read a message that Captain Carlo provided to Carnival Panorama passengers on June 8. 'In partnership with our Fleet Operations Center in Miami, we are actively monitoring Tropical Storm Barbara and other tropical systems which have developed in the Pacific. Given the current track of both storms we must modify our itinerary to remain a safe distance away,' Captain Carlo explained to modified itineraries can often mean missed ports of call and passenger disappointment, this shouldn't be the case for this sailing. The captain planned to reverse the order of the four ports on the cruise itinerary to avoid poor weather while also taking passengers to all the ports they hoped to visit. 'I am happy, however, to let you know that at this time we are planning to visit all of the original ports with Cabo on Monday, La Paz on Tuesday, Mazatlan Wednesday, and Puerto Vallarta Thursday, and we will continue to monitor weather forecasts and provide updates,' Captain Carlo told passengers. More Carnival cruise news:John Heald explained to his followers that this was a best-case scenario when it comes to a hurricane season itinerary change. 'In this case, the captain with the Fleet Operations Center was enabled to juggle the ports around and do a reverse itinerary giving everybody the itinerary they wanted, but most importantly, keeping everybody safe. And that will ultimately be what we try and do. Not always going to be possible to give the same ports, but we will certainly always try,' Heald explained. (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 Come Cruise With Me on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Unsung hero helps Norwegian Cruise Line passengers in crisis
Unsung hero helps Norwegian Cruise Line passengers in crisis originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. A port stop in Catania, Italy, turned into a cruise crisis for Norwegian Epic passengers and crew members on May 30 as a rare weather-related emergency derailed their best-laid plans. In the middle of the day, as 3,600 passengers were off the ship exploring Sicily, unexpected gale-force winds swept through the port, causing three pier bollards holding the ship's mooring lines to break. As its lines snapped back, Norwegian Epic abruptly drifted away from the passenger who fell into the water from the ship's gangway during the incident was rescued and taken to the hospital for minor injuries. And the chaos didn't end there. Although ships can usually be tied back up again quickly when severe winds occasionally cause mooring lines to snap, Norwegian Epic wasn't able to get back to the dock for hours after the incident. The port's harbour master ordered the ship to temporarily leave the port and wait off shore until the wind calmed, but it took several hours for that to happen. As you can imagine, this alarmed many passengers who began to return to the pier to find their ship gone. Communication between the ship and passengers back on shore proved difficult during the situation, but one crew member stepped up and took charge when passengers needed him Epic Cruise Director Daniel Dornas became the unsung hero of the day as he reassured and provided updates to passengers at the pier throughout the stressful, hours-long ordeal in Catania. Carlos Eduardo, a member of the ship's stage staff, described how Dornas went above and beyond to support stranded passengers for seven hours straight in a letter sent to Crew Center, a website that shares news and insights about life and work on cruise ships. 'With 3,600 guests disembarked and awaiting information, Daniel was at the pier by himself, facing a sea of concerned faces. He didn't just stand there; he became the single point of calm and communication for everyone,' Eduardo the situation dragged on for hours, Dornas remained steadfast in his role and did all he could to care for the worried passengers who chose to wait at the pier until the ship returned. 'For seven grueling hours, Daniel was on his feet, tirelessly providing updates, even when information was scarce. He personally distributed water to our thirsty guests and, with incredible compassion, went above and beyond to assist disabled passengers, ensuring they were as comfortable and cared for as possible under the circumstances,' Eduardo an extremely taxing situation, Dornas offered an example of what makes diligent crew members so valuable and integral to the cruise experience, even if few passengers recognized it amid their frustration. 'In a crisis, true character shines through, and Daniel Dornas proved himself to be a true hero that day. His commitment to guest satisfaction, his ability to manage an incredibly difficult situation with grace and efficiency, and his genuine care for our passengers were nothing short of extraordinary. He truly embodies the spirit of Norwegian Cruise Line and deserves to be formally recognized and awarded for his exceptional actions,' Eduardo sharing Eduardo's commendation for his cruise director, Come Cruise With Me joins Crew Center in celebrating the unseen heroism of crew members who dedicate themselves to ensuring passengers have the best cruise experiences possible. It's easy to complain and focus on the negative when something goes wrong on your cruise, but remember that crew members are human, too. And even when they're powerless to prevent an inconvenience for passengers, they're unwavering in their support. Their commitment to guest service is truly remarkable and deserves to be recognized. (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 Come Cruise With Me on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Carnival Cruise Line testing new dining option passengers want
Carnival Cruise Line testing new dining option passengers want originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Cruise ship dining has evolved quite a bit over the years. In the classic days of cruising, dinner was almost always a formal affair, and meals were slow paced. Dinner was something that most passengers looked forward to, and no one was really in rush to get through formal nights are still a thing on some cruise lines today, dress codes are no longer strictly enforced. Main dining room menus have also changed as cruiser palates have evolved. Now, passengers who want something different than the main dining room experience have options, too. On Carnival Cruise Line ships, for example, the buffet is open for dinner, and most ships feature a variety of casual, quick-service dining options as well. Additionally, main dining room dinner seatings are a little more flexible now. On Carnival ships, passengers can choose from a traditional preset dining time with the same table assignment each night or a first-come, first-served 'Your Time' open seating dinner option. Still, despite the increased dining flexibility on most cruise ships, passengers often complain about one aspect of the main dining room experience that hasn't changed as much with the you choose the traditional set dining time or 'Your Time' Dining on a Carnival cruise, the main dining room experience typically lasts for about one hour and 30 minutes. For some passengers today, that's just too long. 'I don't know of anyone in real life who wants to spend one and a half hours in the dining room,' a passenger named Graham recently wrote to Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald. Carnival's brand ambassador responds to hundreds of passenger questions and comments on his popular Facebook page every day, and he often receives messages like this one.'We had two nights in our cruise last week where we left at the one hour and 35-minute mark. I would say the average cruiser wants to be in and out of the dining room in under an hour at the very, very least. Most Carnival cruisers want this from the people I have seen and spoken to,' Graham insisted. Although Heald himself would love to hold on to the cruise tradition of lingering over dinner with family and friends, he understands that a speedier style of dining is something that passengers increasingly value response to passenger feedback about the main dining room experience, Carnival is now testing a new Express Dining option on one of its ships. 'Some people do want to be in and out, and that's why we're testing something on the Carnival Vista,' Heald noted in a recent video for his followers. 'This is what we are calling Express Dining.' Only available on Carnival Vista at this time, Express Dining is something passengers can choose to enjoy if they select 'Your Time' Dining. Carnival's Express Dining is intended to be a 45-minute dinner experience, and it features a smaller menu than the other main dining room options. More Carnival cruise news:An sample Express Dining menu that Heald shared included the following choices: Appetizers: Roasted duck rolls Shrimp cocktail Caesar salad Tomato soup Entrees: Szechuan shrimp Cornish game hen Braised short rib Sirloin steak Desserts: Cheesecake Navel orange cake Chocolate melting cake Heald noted that if Express Dining proves popular on Carnival Vista, it may roll out to other ships. 'We will see if it's popular, and if it is, we will take a look, and then we will let you know if we're trying this on other ships,' Heald explained. (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 Come Cruise With Me on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Video: Celebrity Cruises ship nearly collides with Carnival ship
Video: Celebrity Cruises ship nearly collides with Carnival ship originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. In recent weeks, several cruise ships have been caught off guard by unexpected high winds while docked in ports around the world. Although cruise ships have advanced propulsion systems and stabilizers designed to withstand rough seas and intense weather, they aren't completely protected from Mother Nature's multiple recent incidents, extreme winds have caused cruise ship's mooring lines to break — even ripping the heavy bollards holding ship's mooring lines right off the pier in some cases. In one such accident that was widely covered in the news, Norwegian Epic suddenly drifted from the dock in Catania, Italy on May 30, causing one passenger to fall into the water from the ship's gangway as a result. But Norwegian Epic isn't the only ship that's struggled to stay docked as winds have recently whipped through cruise ports. That same weekend, MSC Seascape broke its moorings in The Bahamas, and Holland America Westerdam's lines snapped while docked in Ketchikan, Alaska. In every case, capable cruise ship captains and crew members quickly sprang into action when their ships broke free from their moorings, keeping their passengers safe and preventing more serious accidents. As the latest weather-related cruise port incident unfolded during a sudden, unusual storm in Juneau, Alaska's Gastineau Channel on June 16, a witness caught a video of the moment Celebrity Edge went adrift, nearly colliding with another ship in the crowded Celebrity Edge began to rapidly drift from the dock, witnesses reported that its gangway fell into the water as its mooring lines snapped. The ship began to drift quickly toward Carnival Luminosa, which was anchored nearby in the channel. The captains of both ships reacted quickly, but narrowly avoided a collision. Carnival Luminosa swiftly backed up to make space for Celebrity Edge in the channel as it powered up, stabilized, and dropped anchor. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the video shows that the storm swept through the channel suddenly and dramatically, with the wind picking up first before heavy rain set in. A rare severe thunderstorm warning with wind gusts up to 60 mph and penny-sized hail was issued for the Juneau area by the National Weather Service. Thunderstorms very rarely occur in Juneau and southeast Alaska during the summer season — on average, only once every two years — making the severe weather incident even more Alaska cruises now through mid-September, Celebrity Edge is currently sailing a seven-night Alaska Dawes Glacier cruise from Seattle visiting Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, and Skagway in Alaska as well as Victoria, British Columbia. Hailed as the most immersive ship in Alaska, Celebrity Edge features a unique outward-facing design that's ideal for glacier viewing. Celebrity Edge Series ships are specifically designed to create a closer connection between passengers and their Edge is one of three Celebrity Cruises ships sailing in Alaska this summer. The ship is joined in the region by Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit, which sail from Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. Carnival Luminosa is cruising alongside Celebrity Edge through the Last Frontier this summer, sailing similar Alaska Inside Passage & Glacier itineraries from Seattle. (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 Come Cruise With Me on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
