Brief Summary
This video discusses important updates and changes for cruises in 2025 and beyond, including alterations to drink packages, specialty dining, new cruise fees and potential scams, new taxes for cruise travelers, a port destination change, and the introduction of an adult-only cruise option by a major cruise line.
- Princess Cruise drink package changes (no cans of soda, limit one drink at a time, no double pours).
- MSC Cruises simplified specialty dining packages with set menus and pricing.
- Increased cruise scams, including fake fees and impersonations.
- New Mexico cruise tax starting in July 2025 and Hawaii cruise tax proposal for 2026.
- Royal Caribbean drops Labadee, Haiti, from itineraries due to safety concerns.
- Carnival introduces an adult-only cruise, sparking interest in potential new trend.
Princess Cruise Drink Packages Changes
Princess Cruises is implementing changes to its drink packages included in the Princess Plus and Princess Premiere packages. Cans of soda are no longer included, though fountain soda remains available. Passengers can bring up to 12 cans of soda on embarkation day. Additionally, cruisers are now limited to one drink at a time at the bar, even when getting a drink for someone else, and double pours are no longer allowed (excluding wine). Princess Cruises states these changes aim to maintain consistency and guest service while preserving the value of the beverage packages.
MSC Cruises Specialty Dining Packages
MSC Cruises has simplified its specialty dining packages and menus due to past confusion with a la carte items not included in the package. The new system features a set three-course menu with simplified pricing. Passengers can pre-purchase one to four dining experiences, with Butcher's Cut limited to one visit per package. Children aged 3 to 12 dine for $12, and those under three dine for free. Booking before the cruise provides an additional 20% discount.
New Cruise Fees and Debunked Scams
Cruise lines are warning passengers about an increase in scams, where individuals pose as cruise line employees or travel agents to trick passengers into making bogus payments for cruise fares, upgrades, or airfare. Scammers are requesting docking fees, embarkation fees, and expedited cruise document fees, all of which are fake. A new travel requirement for international travelers, the UK ETA, is being exploited by scammers who are charging upwards of $150 when the actual cost is only £10 through the official UK government website.
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Norwegian Cruise Line Phone Call Scam
A scam involving individuals impersonating Norwegian Cruise Line reps is circulating, where they call guests to collect fake payments for upgrades, flights, and cruise fare balances. One passenger reportedly lost over $20,000. Best practices to avoid this scam include getting the caller's name, not providing any personal information, and calling the cruise line back using the official number from their website or contacting a travel agent.
New Taxes for Cruise Travelers
A new Mexico cruise tax is starting in July 2025. Originally planned to be $42 per person, it has been negotiated down to $5 in 2025, increasing to $21 by 2028. This tax is a one-time fee per cruise, collected by the cruise lines and built into the cruise fare. Hawaii is proposing a new tax starting in January 2026 that would be 11% of the cost of a cruise cabin prorated to the time spent in Hawaiian ports. Cruise lines are pushing back, with Norwegian Cruise Line threatening legal action, arguing it could violate federal regulations and force rerouting or scaling back on Hawaiian itineraries.
Royal Caribbean Drops Labadee
Royal Caribbean has dropped Labadee, Haiti, from many itineraries through summer 2025 due to safety concerns. These itineraries have been changed to include Nassau or Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Major Cruise Lines First Adult-Only Sailing
Carnival is introducing an adult-only cruise on November 1st on Carnival Magic, reclassifying a regular sailing as a casino event cruise for those 21 years of age and older. This casino-themed cruise has sparked interest in adult-only voyages, potentially starting a new trend among major cruise lines.
