Days before the war in Iran reached the one-month mark, the U.S. Department of State issued a "worldwide caution" alert for American travelers. 

"The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution. Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate," reads the recent security alert. 

"U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world," the department added. 

Recently, the Trump administration began considering deploying thousands of additional U.S. troops to the Middle East. Two anonymous sources told Reuters that the troops would be coming from the U.S. Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division. The soldiers are stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Additionally, Iran dismissed a U.S. ceasefire plan and made a counterproposal demanding reparations, as reported by NPR. These conditions include safeguards against future attacks on Iran, the payment of war reparations to the country, and full recognition of Iran's sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

The situation remains very fluid, and it's important to research your destination's specific advisories before setting sail. High-risk areas are dangerous, and by visiting, you could be putting yourself at risk. There's also a chance that the U.S. will have limited ability to help in an emergency. 

That said, the new alert isn't banning U.S. citizens from traveling. Rather, it urges heightened vigilance and monitoring of local conditions. 

Six Cruise Ships Remain Stuck in the Arabian Gulf

After the U.S.-Israel attacks, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. This important waterway connects the Arabian Gulf to the rest of the world. Consequently, the closure greatly disrupted maritime traffic, including cruise itineraries. 

On an average day, around 138 vessels travel through the Strait of Hormuz. However, on March 24, the Joint Maritime Information Center reported there were just four transits on March 22 and six on March 23. 

"The overall maritime threat environment remains at a critical level due to recent attack patterns, continued navigation interference, and persistent operational disruption, to include port facilities, across the region," the report adds.

As of March 25, six cruise ships remain stuck in Gulf Arab countries due to the closure, including MSC Euribia, Mein Schiff 4, Mein Schiff 5, Celestyal Discovery, Celestyal Journey, and Aroya. 

The Strait's closure has also greatly affected travel and daily life globally. For example, the Strait of Hormuz regularly sees 20% of global oil shipments. With oil tankers not being able to make their way to other ports, the price of oil has risen around the world.

Fortune reported that the cost of Brent oil, the main global oil benchmark, traded at $99.75 per barrel on March 25, 2026. One month ago, the price was just $71.49 per barrel. 

Read more: Multiple Cruise Ships Remain Stuck in the Arabian Gulf

A passenger injured while sailing on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit seeking damages of more than $75,000. 

Jaimie Lewis, of California, was a fare-paying guest vacationing aboard Harmony of the Seas when she slipped on a walkway in Central Park and fell backward onto the hard deck in November 2024, as reported by Holzberg Legal.

The outdoor neighborhood was wet due to the rain, with Lewis asserting that passengers could not reasonably perceive how slippery it was. The lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, further alleges that Royal Caribbean breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to maintain the Central Park deck in a safe condition for guests. 

According to the complaint, there were no visible wet-floor warning signs or anti-slip applications on the floor, despite the ship's crew being aware of the hazard. As such, the lack of signage, warning cones, or verbal warnings left Lewis unaware of the danger, which directly led to her accident. 

Lewis's legal team, Gerson & Schwartz, P.A, claims that she sustained severe physical and emotional damage, including a concussion, neck injuries, and a puncture wound. 

Her lawsuit seeks compensation for past and future medical expenses, physical impairment, disability, and the aggravation of pre-existing conditions, along with damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish (i.e., shame and humiliation), and the loss of capacity to enjoy life — all of which exceed $75,000. 

Lewis asserts that her injuries are permanent and continuing in nature. Moreover, she was not the first guest to allegedly slip and fall on a wet Central Park walkway to file a lawsuit.

(Credit: Jeanne Grubbs / Facebook)

Between 2020 and 2024, there were over ten specific cases involving guests who suffered similar accidents. For example, on November 8, 2024, another passenger fell on a slippery Central Park walkway on Allure of the Seas (Hill v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Case No. 1:25-cv25669). 

Similarly, on May 23, 2023, a guest on Oasis of the Seas slipped and fell on a wet Central Park walkway (Shipe v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Case No. 1:24-cv-20645).

Earlier, on January 2, 2020, a passenger identified only by the initials A.S. experienced a similar fall on a wet and slippery walkway aboard Symphony of the Seas (Selwood v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Case No. 1:20-cv-24513).

Lewis's legal team argues that these prior incidents demonstrate a pattern of hazardous conditions that have not been adequately addressed by Royal Caribbean on its Oasis Class vessels.

Most recently, the court issued an update stating that Lewis must file proof of service on the defendant by April 22, 2026. The order further states that failure to do so will result in dismissal of the case without notice. The directive was signed by Judge David S. Leibowitz on March 23, 2026.

Lewis hopes to hold Royal Caribbean accountable for the alleged negligence that disrupted her vacation on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship and impacted her long-term health.

Which Royal Caribbean Ships Have Central Park?

The Central Park neighborhood debuted on Oasis of the Seas. Since then, the outdoor neighborhood has become a defining feature of Oasis and Icon Class ships. 

Following its debut on Oasis of the Seas, the Central Park concept has been incorporated into all Oasis Class ships, including Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas. 

Icon Class ships — Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and the upcoming Legend of the Seas — feature an evolved Central Park design. For example, the open-air neighborhood is home to the Izumi specialty restaurant, along with innovative infinite verandahs that seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living spaces.

Read more: Icon of the Seas Central Park: What to expect

Aboard Oasis Class ships, the Central Park area is located on Deck 8 and offers passengers an array of retail and dining options, ranging from Chops Grille to Park Café, Hublot, the beloved Trellis Bar, 150 Central Park, and more. 

Because Central Park is not fully enclosed, its walkways are exposed to the elements, including rain, humidity, and condensation, which can occasionally make surfaces slick under certain weather conditions.

However, Royal Caribbean generally takes precautions to mitigate risks, including placing visible wet-floor warning signs throughout the outdoor neighborhood.

Harmony of the Seas Royal Caribbean Facts

Harmony of the Seas is an Oasis Class ship that set sail in May 2016. She measures 226,963 gross tons and is 1,188 feet long, according to the cruise line. 

At double occupancy, the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship can accommodate 5,479 guests, in addition to the 2,200 international crew members who help the vessel run smoothly. 

Highlights include the AquaTheater, zip line, FlowRider surf simulators, mini-golf course, Perfect Storm water slides, ice skating rink, Rising Tide Bar, escape room, adult-only Solarium, and more. 

Harmony of the Seas is set to undergo a major refurbishment in April and May 2026. As part of the ship's Royal Amplification, she will receive brand-new cabins, an expanded casino, Pesky Parrot Bar, Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade, Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, Caribbean-inspired pool deck, an upgraded Crown Lounge, and more. 

Following the dry dock, Harmony of the Seas will spend the summer of 2026 in Europe, offering bucket-list cruises to destinations like Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Seville (Cádiz), Spain; and more. 

She will return to Florida in August 2026. Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, will be Harmony's homeport through at least April 2028. 

If you've recently been annoyed by seemingly constant Royal Caribbean emails about your upcoming vacation, you’re not alone.

Cruisers have reported receiving numerous emails from the cruise line containing the same basic information about their reservation — myself included. 

Ever since paying off my upcoming 3-night voyage on Harmony of the Seas, my inbox has been flooded with a "Welcome Aboard" email nearly every day. 

The message always begins with, "Wohoo! You're officially booked, and we're thrilled you'll be joining us on your boldest vacation yet" before providing the booking number for "easy reference." 

Then, the email gives a brief reminder to make sure all of my travel party's details are completed and up to date in the reservation dashboard. 

"Once your information is complete, download the Royal Caribbean app to make the most of every vacation moment. Book shore excursions, make dining reservations, create a personal calendar for your onboard activities and more — all from your phone," it continues. 

"The countdown is on, and now it's time to start setting up your ultimate vacation! Start exploring all the ways to upgrade your adventure and score the best deals right now before you board Harmony of the Seas."

Beneath that, the email features a series of links that direct to the online Cruise Planner. This is where booked passengers can browse add-ons, like beverage packages, shore excursions, dining packages, and internet packages. In addition to the spammy emails, the Cruise Planner is also accessible through Royal Caribbean's website. 

Every "Welcome Aboard" email that I've received since Feb. 20 — there have been 20 — has been the exact same. As such, they've promptly ended up in my email's trash. In fact, after the first two or three, I stopped reading them entirely and automatically deleted them. 

According to a recent Reddit thread, I’m far from the only one dealing with the repetitive messages. 

"I booked my June 2026 cruise back in December, and finished paying it off in February. When I booked it, and everytime i made a payment, I got one of those welcome aboard emails, which i thought was weird but whatever. Now I seem to be getting them almost every day??" shared MissDeeBee.

"Just curious if this has happened to anyone else. I've double checked my reservation and nothing seems to have changed so it's just odd. I feel very welcome now, Royal Caribbean, you can stop now!"

Over two dozen users shared similar experiences, with some speculating that it could be a glitch. Others argue that it may be an aggressive sales tactic to increase pre-cruise bookings through the Cruise Planner. 

"I have an upcoming sailing in late April and I've received 'Welcome Aboard' emails since near the end of February. I had assumed it could be a glitch with their emailing software but I also could see they're trying to encourage us to book dining packages or shore excursions through those emails," Must-Be-Gneiss said. 

Meow217 added, "I have a cruise next month, and I’m getting the welcome aboard email daily as well, which hasn’t happened before. I thought it was because it was coming up so soon but I feel for [y'all] who still have a ways to go and are getting an email taunting you!"

"I’m getting the sense that their add on bookings aren’t quite what they were anticipating, so they’re pushing out as much marketing as possible to people to book drink packages, dining, and all of the other upcharge stuff that people are foregoing (in contrast to their projections for onboard spending). We cruise late next week and I’ve gotten fewer desperate, repetitive bits of communication from an ex," nmunyat joked. 

"OMG I just googled this about my own situation and found your post! I don't understand why they're doing this, but it makes me want to unsubscribe from all of their emails, but I see we're in good, but unfortunate company," Suspicious-Orchid-40 wrote. 

While Royal Caribbean hasn’t addressed the duplicate "Welcome Aboard" messages, it's clear that if it's a marketing strategy, it's backfiring. The emails are more annoying than helpful and are easy to ignore and delete. Plus, they're sent in addition to regular promotional emails that advertise ongoing sales. 

Read more: How far in advance can you book a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Not the first time Royal Caribbean has had a technological glitch

Last spring, Royal Caribbean cruisers reported receiving numerous pop-ups on their devices from the mobile app. The test notifications were filled with placeholder text and ascended sequentially from "test segment 1" to "test segment 19." 

The cruise line confirmed they were aware of the situation and let their IT team know about the annoying pop-ups:

"We're sorry you received pop-ups. Our IT team is doing updates on the app. We've let them know guests are receiving notifications. Sorry about that."

The notifications finally stopped at around 12:30 p.m. EST. Some found the pop-ups to be annoying, while others turned the situation into an inside joke of sorts and created funny memes that they shared on social media.

For example, on Reddit, amishengineer shared a meme that suggested everyone should mark themselves "safe from testing in production," referring to the Facebook feature people use after a natural disaster or major news event.

Another meme mimicked the famous SpongeBob SquarePants scene where Mr. Krabs looks frazzled while keeping the Krusty Krab open 24 hours for days in a row. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean app sends out erroneous pop-up messages

Royal Caribbean is one of many companies hit hard this week by the fallout of the Iran conflict, as its stock price took a tumble.

Oil prices surged on Friday amid growing fears of a broader storage crisis in the Middle East, which could force the world's largest oil producers to halt extraction. But what does this mean for cruise lines that rely on massive amounts of fuel for their ships to travel between ports?

Unsurprisingly, fuel is one of the cruise industry's largest and most volatile expenses. In Q4 2025, Royal Caribbean consumed 439,000 metric tons of fuel at $667 per metric ton, according to GuruFocus, and the company projects using 1.76 million metric tons throughout 2026, at a total cost of roughly $1.17 billion. 

Although 60% of Royal Caribbean's 2026 fuel was hedged (or pre-bought) at $474 per metric ton, the remaining 40% is subject to market fluctuations — for better or worse. Approximately 10% of the 2026 fuel consumption is expected to be from LNG and biofuel blends. 

As such, based on the 2026 fuel forecasts, there are over 520,000 metric tons of fuel that could be subject to a 30% price increase. 

The cost of West Texas Intermediate oil, the U.S. oil benchmark, jumped to $86.57 per barrel on Friday morning, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 4.7% to $89.44, as shared by CBS News. Both were trading near their highest levels since April 2024. 

Thankfully, oil prices aren't close to what they were in late 2007 and 2008, when the West Texas Intermediate benchmark hit roughly $146 per barrel — around $220 in today's money when adjusted for inflation. At around $86 per barrel as of Friday, current oil prices remain well below those historic highs.

Royal Caribbean's hedges mean that the company isn't as susceptible to wild market swings, which helps soften the blow of rising fuel prices.

Unlike Royal Caribbean, Carnival Corporation & plc doesn't hedge any of its fuel. Brokerage William Blair & Co. claims that the rising fuel costs could penalize the company's full-year earnings by about 20 cents per share, Seatrade Cruise News reported. 

Consequently, the rising oil prices have created significant uncertainty for cruise operators, contributing to a sudden decline in cruise stocks. If prices remain high, cruise companies like Royal Caribbean and Carnival may face tighter profit margins and see major impacts on current share prices. 

Will Royal Caribbean pass on a fuel surcharge to guests?

According to Royal Caribbean's cruise contract, the cruise line has the right to impose a fuel surcharge on its guests without warning, either when booking the cruise or anytime before the sailing begins. 

"Subject to the terms of this Section, Carrier reserves the right, without prior notice to Guest, to impose a fuel supplement charge (the 'Fuel Supplement'). Carrier may impose such Fuel Supplement either at the time of booking or thereafter at any time prior to sailing," the contract states. 

The contract further specifies when a fuel surcharge could be imposed. If, after booking, the price of West Texas Intermediate crude exceeds $65 per barrel or the Henry Hub Natural Gas Spot price exceeds $3 per million British Thermal Units, Royal Caribbean can charge guests up to $12 per day, per person.

"Carrier may, in its sole discretion, require Guest to prepay the Fuel Supplement prior to boarding the Vessel or apply such charge to Guest’s onboard folio at the time of sailing. Guest’s refusal or failure to prepay any Fuel Supplement may be deemed as a cancellation by Guest," the contract continues. 

Despite the specific terms and conditions (and West Texas Intermediate fuel clearly exceeding $65 per barrel as of March 6), it is unlikely that Royal Caribbean will add fuel surcharges, even as oil prices continue to spike. 

When oil prices rose in 2022, Royal Caribbean Group opted not to pass the costs directly onto passengers, The Points Guy reported. Then-spokesperson Jonathon Fishman explicitly said, "We won't be imposing fuel surcharges" in an emailed statement to the online publication. 

The company’s hedging strategy plays a key role in the decision since 60% of the 2026 fuel has already been locked in and accounted for in the budget, meaning the cruise line has a buffer for sudden market changes. 

In other words, they don't have to immediately resort to drastic measures like imposing fuel surcharges and can avoid burdening passengers with unexpected fees, even though it's something everyone agrees to in the contract. 

Why are crude oil prices rising?

Last weekend, the U.S. and Israel launched multiple sustained air and missile strikes against Iran, targeting the country's missile infrastructure, military sites, and leadership, the BBC reported. During the attacks, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and several high-ranking officials were killed.

Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles towards Israel and several Gulf states, which hit or were intercepted in countries like Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. 

They also halted shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about 20% of global oil shipments.

On a normal day, about 138 vessels travel through the Strait of Hormuz. However, that number dropped to "single-digit levels," according to a statement issued on March 6 by the Joint Maritime Information Center. 

"Recent AIS review indicates transits continue at single-digit levels, with only 04 confirmed commercial transits observed in the past 24 hours. JMIC has no indication that these vessels were escorted," reads the statement. 

"This represents a near-total temporary pause in routine commercial traffic, resulting from ongoing regional conflict dynamics involving Iran, including warnings against transits by U.S., Israeli, European, and allied vessels."

Read more: How the US-Israeli attacks in Iran are impacting cruises so far

An Israeli man was arrested at PortMiami on Monday after he was found with child sexual abuse material on his cellphone, according to a report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. 

Basilios Grayeb, 29, of Haifa, Israel, was detained after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers received a "suspicious activity report" regarding "the purchasing of child sexual abuse material," CBS News reported. 

Grayeb was sailing aboard Freedom of the Seas. Rather than waiting for him to disembark and pass through the terminal, federal agents boarded the 156,271 gross-ton ship to take him into custody. 

According to the arrest report, an officer conducted a border search on the suspect's phone and found a video showing a man sexually assaulting a girl who appeared to be younger than five years old. 

(Credit: Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation)

Grayeb confessed to viewing and possessing the material after being read his Miranda rights. He was then brought to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Facility, where he was booked on February 16, 2026, around 4:00 p.m.

He is being held on a $2,500 bond as of Tuesday morning, The Times of Israel reported, and was also placed on an immigration hold. 

According to Cruise Mapper, Freedom of the Seas had just completed a 4-night Bahamian cruise to Freeport and Nassau, departing on Feb. 12. 

(Credit: Mugshots Zone)

The 19-year-old ship set sail on her maiden voyage in May 2006. She measures 1,111 feet long and has a passenger capacity of 3,926 at double occupancy. Freedom will remain in Miami, Florida, through at least April 2028, embarking on a series of cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean. 

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship is back in service after engine problems, and a temporary issue with its private island pier has been fixed.

Between the itinerary changes due to the unprecedented winter weather, technical issues, and damaged piers, the past few weeks haven't been the smoothest for travelers. Thankfully, recent repairs and better forecasts seem to be helping things get back on track. 

For starters, Anthem of the Seas is back in service after being pulled for repairs to address a technical issue that arose last month. Passengers aboard the January 27, 2026, cruise were informed just a few days before embarkation that, as a result, their sailing had been unfortunately canceled. 

"Anthem of the Seas experienced a technical issue on its last sailing, and we're returning to begin required maintenance. Unfortunately, we will not be able to complete the needed repairs in time for our 27 January sailing," read the upsetting email. 

(Credit: Mattynice75/Reddit)

However, according to a Reddit post shared on Saturday, Feb. 5, Anthem of the Seas is ready to welcome passengers back on board. 

"Beautiful day to board Anthem of the Seas. After she spent 10 days alongside for emergency repairs it’s great to see Anthem here in Sydney for our cruise. Perfect day for it too," wrote Mattynice75. 

Cruise Mapper further confirms that Anthem of the Seas returned to Sydney and set sail on the scheduled 7-night round-trip Queensland cruise. She is expected to arrive in Airlie Beach on Feb. 9. 

(Credit: Cruise Mapper. Screenshot taken at 1:25 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 6)

Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum Class cruise ship that debuted in 2015. She'll remain Down Under through April 2026 before relocating to Seattle for a seasonal stint in Alaska. Anthem is scheduled to return to Sydney, Australia, in October. 

She measures 168,666 gross tons, 1,141 feet long, and can accommodate over 4,100 passengers at double occupancy. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean cancels Australia cruise because of propulsion problem

CocoCay pier is fully operational again

At least two cruise ships had to cancel their visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay this week after high winds caused the catwalks to fall into the sea on the eastern side of the pier. Freedom of the Seas was diverted to Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic, while Celebrity Reflection went to Freeport, Bahamas. 

"As the Captain announced earlier, due to this past weekend's winter storm, which included strong winds and heavy seas at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas, catwalks fell into the sea on the eastern side of the pier," read the informational letter given to guests aboard Freedom of the Seas. 

"Unfortunately, divers have not been able to locate all of them, which prevents us from safely docking the ship at Perfect Day at CocoCay. After exploring and exhausting all other alternatives, we'll skip our visit. We'll now enjoy a sea day tomorrow and visit Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic, on Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM," it continued. 

(Credit: Lynette Trease/Facebook)

Future cruisers were initially wary that their visits to CocoCay might be canceled due to the recent pier damage. However, Royal Caribbean confirmed that the repairs were complete in a statement given to TravelPulse:

"Perfect Day at CocoCay experienced adverse weather over the weekend of January 30–February 1 and temporarily closed. Following assessments, the eastern side of the pier was unavailable for docking, and select itineraries were adjusted. Guests were informed directly, and operations have since resumed."

This was confirmed when both Adventure and Liberty of the Seas successfully docked on Thursday, Feb. 5. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! The dock at Coco Cay is re-open! Liberty and Adventure are currently here!" Lynette Trease shared on Facebook. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean Ship Diverted from CocoCay Due to Temporary Pier Issue

Another winter storm caused two ships to skip visits to CocoCay today

(Credit: Cruise Mapper. Screenshot taken at 1:45 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 6)

Unfortunately, while the pier is fully repaired, strong winds on Friday, Feb. 6, prevented two ships from docking safely, forcing last-minute cancellations for guests sailing on Explorer and Icon of the Seas. 

Angela Marie Collins Frost shared the news on Facebook, with Cruise Mapper confirming that the scheduled port day was turned into an extra day at sea for the vessels. 

According to Wunderground, the reported winds in the Bahamian capital of Nassau were around 17-18 miles per hour (mph) this morning. While that might not seem extreme, the winds were strong enough to make docking unsafe for large vessels.

Icon of the Seas is currently on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that previously called at St. Maarten and St. Thomas. The Icon Class ship is due to return to Miami on Saturday, Feb. 7. 

Explorer of the Seas is finishing up a 5-night Bahamian cruise. The 137,308 gross-ton vessel departed Port Canaveral on Feb. 2 and visited Bimini two days later. She'll return to Florida on Saturday as well. 

A Long Island travel agent has been charged with multiple counts of grand larceny and schemes to defraud after stealing over $50,000 from clients, police confirm. 

Tavia Thomas, 47, of Hempstead, New York, was the CEO and Destination Travel Specialist of her company, Destiny Travel. 

Authorities allege that she defrauded families by taking payments for vacations and failing to actually book them, PIX 11 reported. 

Some of the victims were hoping to sail on Royal Caribbean cruises. In July 2024, for example, she supposedly received $35,753.98 from nine people to book a Royal Caribbean cruise out of Bayonne, New Jersey. 

(Credit: LongIsland.com)

Unfortunately, when the victims arrived at the terminal to board their cruise, they were informed that their booking confirmations were fake, officials said. As such, they were denied boarding. 

Just one week later, Thomas was hired to arrange a resort reservation for a destination wedding through ALG Vacations. However, the reservation was never made, and the clients did not receive a refund for the $5,000 they had paid. 

LongIsland.com shared that several members of the wedding party also made payments to Thomas, totaling over $2,600, which were never refunded. 

A reporter from The Shade Room spoke with Denise Perez-Horton to learn more about the impact of Thomas' alleged actions. 

"Final payment comes, and I’m like, 'Okay, where’s the reservation number?'" she told Justin Carter. "…She’s like, 'Well, the resort had a child that was electrocuted in the pool…and they have mold...' downplaying the resort, and I’m like, 'What? What is going on?'"

Perez-Horton was then informed that the reservation was moved to another resort, though they still did not receive flight or hotel confirmations. When she called the resort, she learned that the business "never" got the booking from Thomas. 

In another case, a family of 50 paid Thomas over $10,000 for a celebratory birthday trip to the Dominican Republic. According to Nassau County police, she never booked the accommodations and failed to return the family’s money.

Thomas faces three counts of third-degree grand larceny, three counts of first-degree scheme to defraud, and two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny.

Her arraignment was held on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, at the First District Court in Hempstead. 

It's important to do your research before trusting a travel agent

A travel agent's job is to make your life easier by handling all the meticulous details of planning a trip, from confirming your stateroom to helping book specialty restaurants and arranging transportation. If they do it right, all you have to do is focus on enjoying your well-earned vacation.  

Unfortunately, as Thomas proved, not all travel agents operate with the same level of professionalism or client care as others.

That's why it is important to check reviews, verify credentials, and even ask for references before giving a stranger any payment information. 

If you aren't sure where to start, ask friends and family members for recommendations. You can also look for agents affiliated with reputable organizations, like the American Society of Travel Advisors (the world's leading association of travel professionals). 

At Royal Caribbean Blog, we love working with MEI-Travel. Having now booked over one dozen cruises with MEI, I can attest that their employees are professional, timely, and dedicated to ensuring you have the best experience possible from start to finish. 

Read more: I always ask my travel agent for 4 things on every cruise I book to make my cruise easier

Royal Caribbean had one of its best years ever in 2025 with the launch of a new ship, big announcements, and stellar financial performance.

It was also a busy year with lots happening. Sometimes the news was exciting and upbeat, and other times bad things temporarily overshadowed the fun.  Nonetheless, there was a lot to love and reflect on from this year.

With the end of the year just a few days away, I wanted to share which news stories garnered the most attention and notoriety in the year.

Here's a look back at this year's big Royal Caribbean news.

Perfect Day Mexico and beach club reveal

Jaws dropped when Royal Caribbean unveiled plans for new beach clubs and a second Perfect Day location.

Held at a special event in New York, Royal Caribbean announced the opening of Perfect Day Mexico, two beach clubs, and a new beach destination.

Perfect Day Mexico is the crown jewel of the announcement. Located in what is today Costa Maya, this is Royal Caribbean's biggest land project ever. 

Royal Caribbean cruisers will have the choice of miles of beaches, heated pools, a giant water park, and even the longest lazy river in the world.

Plus, the lazy river will have a few different "Tubes and Tequila Bar" locations you can stop at, where you latch your tube to a bar and take a break for a cocktail.

In addition, a new beach club is coming to Cozumel, Mexico.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel will open in December 2026 and offer a new beach getaway option that matches the cruise line's high standard.

The idea is to build the idyllic resort centered around the pool, beach, sun, food and culture.

There will be a pool with a swim-up bar, DJ, and plenty of Mexican food to enjoy too.

Finally, a new private destination will open in the South Pacific in early 2027.

Lelepa is located on the island of Vanuatu, and it's a different kind of product that doesn't fit into the other destinations mold.

A series of "villages" will be built to offer various beach options. There's no water park, DJ, or lazy river here. Instead, it's about relaxing and enjoying the natural beauty of the area.

Star of the Seas launch

A new Royal Caribbean joined the fleet this year.

Star of the Seas became the world's largest cruise ship and began sailing in August. The second in the Icon Class, Star measures 1,196 feet long and 219 feet wide. 

Although Star of the Seas is more similar to Icon of the Seas than not, there are a few key differences that help give Star a defining personality of her own. 

First, Royal Caribbean is raising the entertainment bar even higher with its new theater production, Back to the Future: The Musical, which will have the largest orchestra at sea. Not only that, but there are also new shows in the ice skating rink and AquaTheater.

The AquaDome Marketplace is getting a refresh, too. Instead of GNGR, Mac's, and Toast & Garden, guests will find Pig Out BBQ, Mai Thai, and La Cocinita. 

Similarly, the Lincoln Park Supper Club is replacing the Empire Supper Club. The $200-per-person specialty restaurant will feature a Chicago-inspired theme with the cocktails, menu, and music reimagined to reflect the spirit of the Windy City. 

Icon of the Seas confirmed for Galveston

People living in Texas and Oklahoma celebrated the announcement Icon of the Seas is coming to Texas.

Galveston will call Icon home beginning in August 2027.

This has been a long-rumored deployment, and it's confirmation means the Texas cruise market is getting one of the biggest and most impressive cruise ships in the world.

It opens up Icon to an entirely new cruise market in Texas, and the ship's arrival coincides with the opening of Perfect Day Mexico.

Labadee visits cancelled

Royal Caribbean ships were unable to visit Labadee through much of 2025, and that will continue into next year.

The cruise line halted visits to Labadee until at least May 2026.

The issue is the ongoing civil unrest and violence in the country, which forced Royal Caribbean's hand in making this decision.

"Out of an abundance of caution," the announcement read.

Nothing else has been announced since, but at least half of 2026 will begin without visits to one of Royal Caribbean's best known private beaches.

Loyalty points will be interchangeable

Perhaps the biggest loyalty program change ever announced by Royal Caribbean, we can expect a major shift next year.

The Points Choice program will be fully revealed in "early 2026", and will change how cruisers earn loyalty points when they cruise between lines.

The new program promises to allow cruisers to earn and apply loyalty points across the family of brands within Royal Caribbean Group.

It appears that means someone taking a Celebrity Cruise could earn Crown and Anchor Society points for that sailing. Or vice versa.

More details will be forthcoming in the early part of the year.

Drink package rule change

Royal Caribbean dropped its drink package exception rule in 2025, much to the dismay of many families.

There had been an unpublished option to allowed for someone who is unable or unwilling to drink alcohol to call in and get an exemption to the rule requiring all adults in the same stateroom to buy a drink package.

That workaround is now no longer available and it's because too many passengers were sharing drink package benefits.

"This change allows us to ensure guests are consuming their beverage package responsibly. Over time, requests for exceptions have increased, and sharing of packages has continued, which led us to implement this policy change," the company spokesperson said.

The original intent of the exception was to offer an alternative to guests who couldn't drink alcohol, such as expectant mothers, people in recovery, and other specific needs. However, too many people took advantage of it.

Broadway show was removed from two ships

A Broadway show performed on two different cruise ships was quietly removed with no replacement Broadway show.

Grease is no longer performed on Harmony or Independence of the Seas.

Instead, it appears cruise line created production shows have taken its place.

No reason was given why Grease was removed, but there's plenty of speculation related to costs.

New non-smoking casinos added

Non-smokers got some welcome news with new ways to gamble on ships.

Freedom of the Seas replaced Vintages wine bar with a non-smoking casino, while Wonder, Utopia, and Allure of the Seas had the Crown Lounge and even the Attic replaced with non-smoking casinos.

The idea is to offer more ways to enjoy the fun of the casino to those that do not care to be in a room sharing space with smokers.

The cruise line has not gone as far as banning smoking in the casino outright, providing a non-smoking alternative venue seems to be their new strategy.

Legend of the Seas details revealed

Legend of the Seas won't enter service until 2026, but 2025 was the year we got all the details about this new ship.

This is going to be one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, coming in at 250,800 gross tons, and be able to accommodate up to 7,600 passengers.

Legend of the Seas will welcome paying guests for the first time when she sails in Europe in summer 2026.

Legend remains in Europe through October, until the ship departs on a 13-night transatlantic sailing.

The new ship heads to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to sail in the winter.

Bookings are available now for all open sailings.

First Royal Beach Club opened

Sneaking in right before the end of the year, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opened its beaches to cruisers in the final weeks of the year.

Located in Nassau, Bahamas, this is the cruise line's first beach club and it's designed to be the ultimate beach day option.

Think of it more like a "super shore excursion" than a private island beach day.  There's an admission cost, but it has unlimited food, drink, and Wi-Fi.  Plus, transportation is included.

The area is divided into three zones to provide a different vibe for everyone.

Plus, it's only open to Royal Caribbean cruise passengers in one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

A high-profile incident last year aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship involving a cruise ship passenger who was detained and later died has resulted in a new lawsuit from the family.

The guest, who was identified as Michael Virgil, 35, was detained after assaulting crew members and threatening other cruisers in a drunken rage. 

Virgil's fiancée, Connie Aguilar, is suing the cruise line for their part in his untimely death. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, crew members served Virgil "at least 33 alcoholic beverages" before his behavior escalated. 

Aguilar claims that they boarded the ship with their 7-year-old son and were directed to wait at one of the bars since their stateroom wasn't ready. 

Their son, who has autism, grew impatient, so Aguilar left to take him on a walk and check on their stateroom, leaving Virgil alone at the bar. The court documents add that he was served dozens of drinks before he ventured off to find their cabin. 

The incident happened aboard Navigator of the Seas in December 2024 on a cruise out of Los Angeles (San Pedro), California, to Ensenada, Mexico.

A bystander, Christifer Mikhail, recounted that he encountered the now-deceased passenger less than an hour after sailing away during what was supposed to be a quick stop to his cabin to grab his phone charger and a sweater. 

Virgil was making a scene, trying to kick down one of the stateroom doors, punching crew members, and spewing profanity and racial comments.

"I was waiting for them to say cut and come out of the rooms," he said, "I was kinda scared [because] I was like, 'Dude, I'm stuck in this hallway [and] everyone else is kind of behind something.'"

The ship's security team then intervened and assisted in restraining Virgil, who fell victim to "the excessive force and fatal actions taken by crew members including security and medical personnel."

After being detained using towels, zip ties, and handcuffs, he was injected with Haloperidol, a sedative that can have severe side effects when combined with heavy alcohol consumption, in an attempt to calm him down. Unfortunately, he passed away within the hour. 

Moreover, the court filings assert that the crew caused "significant hypoxia and impaired ventilation, respiratory failure, cardiovascular instability and ultimately cardiopulmonary arrest, leading to his death..."

The news aligns with what Virgil's family initially claimed last year, stating that his death was wrongfully caused by the cruise line. 

Aguilar's lawsuit seeks damages for the loss of support, inheritance, past and future earnings, funeral and medical expenses, mental pain and suffering, and more.

His death is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The FBI is typically called to investigate deaths involving U.S. citizens on the high seas. However, cruise criminal jurisdiction is complicated since ships are registered in foreign countries, with most crimes occurring in international waters. 

The location of the vessel, the nationality of the suspect or victim, the ownership of the vessel, the points of embarkation and debarkation, and the country where the vessel is registered all determine the FBI’s role and ability to investigate.

As part of the cruise line's security guidelines, Royal Caribbean reports all allegations of crime to the FBI and United States Coast Guard (USCG).

Another family blamed Royal Caribbean for the death of their loved one, claiming that crew members served her too many drinks

In October 2024, a cruise ship passenger was reported overboard during Allure of the Seas' Taylor Swift-themed cruise. At the time, the vessel was roughly 17 miles north of Nassau. 

The guest was later identified as Dulcie White, 66, with authorities confirming that she didn't fall off the ship: she jumped. 

Despite extensive search efforts, White's body was never recovered. 

According to her daughter, Megan Klewin, White had Royal's unlimited drink package, and the family alleges that crew members overserved her. The lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County states that she was served seven drinks in just over six hours.

"Because of that [drink package, my mom] did overdo it, trying to maybe get her money's worth," Klewin told CBS News. 

"She was completely intoxicated in a way I haven't seen before. It saddens me that that is my last memory of her."

The lawsuit continues, claiming that crew members ignored obvious signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, stammering, and difficulty standing up. Additionally, another passenger noticed White's dangerous behavior and assisted her safely to her stateroom. 

Klewin saw her mother go onto the balcony on Deck 14, then looked away for a moment. The next time she saw her mother, White was "[sitting] on the edge of the balcony like she had climbed up" and fell into the ocean before Klewin could react. 

Royal Caribbean just filed a series of bizarre trademarks, and one appears to be for a new restaurant. 

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the cruise line submitted a new trademark for a Korean restaurant.

Although trademark applications are vague, they give a general indication of what the word or phrase is intended for. 

For example, the registration could indicate a new dining concept, modifications to the customer loyalty program, or general cruise ship services. 

In this case, SEOULMATE™ is a "trademark registration [that's] intended to cover the categories of restaurant services; Korean restaurant services."

Another possibility is the trademark is intended for one of Royal Caribbean International's sister brands, such as Celebrity Cruises or Silversea.

To be very clear, Royal Caribbean International has not made a formal announcement about this. Rather, this article is simply speculating on future additions to the fleet based on the trademark filing. 

Other interesting trademark filings

In addition to SEOULMATE™, Royal Caribbean filed a trademark for FRESH PRESS™. The registration is intended to cover the categories of restaurant services, specifically restaurant services featuring smoothies and juices. 

This concept appears to align with the line's existing Vitality Café, which suggests that Royal Caribbean could rebrand (or add to) its healthy dining options. 

It also seems that Royal Caribbean is thinking about creating more interactive experiences, like what they did with Admiral Awesome in Icon of the Seas' Surfside neighborhood. 

The CAPTAIN COOL™ trademark filing "is intended to cover the categories of arranging, organizing, conducting, and hosting social entertainment events; Hosting and conducting social entertainment events, namely, family game shows, for others; Entertainment services in the nature of hosting social entertainment events; Hosting social entertainment events, namely, family friendly events or games; Conducting live entertainment in the nature of games featuring a balance beam, ball toss, 3-legged race, treasure hunt, and immersive story time."

Another trademark points to what the family-friendly events or games could be called: COOLYMPICS™. 

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the filing is "intended to cover the categories of arranging, organizing, conducting, and hosting social entertainment events; Hosting and conducting social entertainment events, namely, family game shows, for others; Entertainment services in the nature of hosting social entertainment events; Hosting social entertainment events, namely, family friendly events or games; Conducting live entertainment in the nature of games featuring a balance beam, ball toss, 3-legged race, treasure hunt, and immersive story time."

As with SEOULMATE™, Royal Caribbean has not made any announcements about the new filings and what they could mean for its ships. 

It's not uncommon for the cruise line to file trademarks in batches, just in case they want to use the names later down the road. 

In many cases, they may file multiple trademarks and end up only using one. 

For example, last year, Royal Caribbean filed two trademarks for concepts relating to the "rental of beach chairs, towels, umbrellas, and cabanas for recreational use":

• Ultimate Family Cabana
• Ultimate Celebration Cabana

As of Dec. 2025, only the Ultimate Family Cabana has been fully conceptualized. The cruise line's largest cabana will be exclusively available at the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. 

However, that doesn't mean that they won't eventually use the name "Ultimate Celebration Cabana" somewhere else — perhaps at Perfect Day Mexico or the Royal Beach Club Cozumel? It's too soon to tell!