As we usher in a brand new yr, there’s tons to be enthusiastic about within the cruise trade for 2025. We’ve received the summer season debut of Royal Caribbean’s second Icon-class ship Star of the Seas, in addition to Princess’ second Sphere-class ship Star Princess. Disney Cruise Line has some main adjustments to cruising this yr as nicely: the upcoming launch of not one, however two ships — together with mega ship Disney Journey. Two new non-public locations within the Bahamas will likely be opening in 2025: Carnival’s Celebration Key and Royal Caribbean’s Royal Seashore Membership.
However together with the thrilling adjustments come a couple of disappointing ones as nicely. We’re rounding up ten disappointing adjustments to cruising that you should be ready for in 2025.
Disappointing Adjustments to Cruising in 2025
1. Norwegian Cruise Line discontinues the Premium Plus beverage package deal
Final yr, NCL ditched its Free at Sea promotion for a brand new included package deal referred to as Extra at Sea. And whereas Extra at Sea truly does have extra inclusions than Free at Sea, there may be one change that has upset many NCL cruisers: the discontinuation of the Premium Plus beverage package deal (and the improve to Free at Sea Plus).
Extra at Sea nonetheless contains what NCL calls an “unlimited open bar,” which is the road’s Premium beverage package deal. It contains extra premium manufacturers than earlier than, and there’s now not a $15 drink cap. This package deal continues to not embody bottled water and Starbucks drinks. Nonetheless, up to now friends had been in a position to both improve to the Premium Plus package deal or buy it outright. That package deal did embody bottled water and specialty coffees. Now, that package deal now not exists.
Which means those that need a bottled water or Starbucks package deal must purchase them individually. NCL presents a number of sized instances of bottled water starting from $20 to $50. The Limitless Starbucks Package deal prices $16.50 per particular person, per day. It is a disappointing change for many who would have taken benefit of the Premium Plus package deal for the bottled water and Starbucks advantages. They now both have so as to add an additional package deal to their trip or purchase these drinks a la carte.
2. New per-person cruise tax in Mexico
In 2024, the Mexican authorities introduced that it might be implementing a tax for anybody visiting the nation through cruise ship. And it’s not a small forgettable quantity — it’s $42 per cruise passenger, and applies whether or not you get off the ship or not. Initially, the tax, which known as the “Non-Resident Fee”, was scheduled to take impact on January 1, 2025. Nonetheless, it’s just lately been delayed to July 1, 2025.
Although this price appears out of left subject, it’s already been in place for many who are visiting through airplane. Most vacationers don’t understand this as a result of airways roll it into the value of the airfare. When the price goes into impact for cruisers, cruise traces will seemingly roll the value into the fare as nicely. Nonetheless, this isn’t nice for cruise traces or their passengers.
The price was handed within the Mexican Senate this previous fall, and got here as a shock to the cruise trade. By the point it was introduced, cruise traces had already offered a big chunk of their mid-late 2025 stock. So, the traces themselves will likely be on the hook for the brand new price.
On the visitor facet, although the $42 doesn’t appear to be a deal-breaker, it might be sufficient to sway some individuals from itineraries that embody that nation. If you happen to’re a household of 4 cruising to Mexico, it’ll value an additional $168. Those that are on a decent price range could also be inclined to select a unique cruise itinerary, or select to not cruise in any respect. These lowered numbers of passengers on Mexican itineraries would then negatively influence the economic system of the port communities the ships go to.
The excellent news is that the tax is per itinerary, not per port. So in case your cruise visits a number of Mexican ports, the $42 is simply charged as soon as per particular person.
3. A discount in cruises to Australia
Whereas just about all the main cruise traces — together with many luxurious manufacturers — supply cruises in Australia, it’s not essentially the most profitable marketplace for the cruise trade. Elements like economics, lack of curiosity, and restricted itinerary choices preserve cruising in Australia and New Zealand much less well-liked than it’s in North America and Europe.
Due to these components — in addition to different causes — many cruise traces have carried out adjustments to cruising in Australia by lowering their presence there. For instance, Princess Cruises, which is without doubt one of the hottest traces in Australia, pulled Grand Princess from Australia for a previously-scheduled 2025-2026 season there. That leaves simply two Princess ships within the area: Crown and Discovery Princess. As nicely, early final yr Virgin Voyages canceled its 2024-2025 Australia season aboard Resilient Girl.
Cunard’s ship Queen Elizabeth is at the moment in Australia for the winter, and was there for the 2023-2024 season as nicely. Nonetheless, the road has stated that it’ll not offer an Australia program in winter 2025-2026. Additional, Carnival Corp. is sunsetting the P&O Cruises Australia model in March 2025.
Whereas it’s comprehensible that cruise traces place their ships within the markets which might be most favorable for them, it may be disappointing for cruisers. It signifies that each locals and guests alike have much less selection on the subject of exploring the area, each in ship stock and itinerary choices.
4. Extra giant ships = extra crowding in ports
Whereas many vacationers are followers of the biggest cruise ships on this planet, having fun with a plethora of actions, eating places, and hangout spots to select from, drawbacks include such huge vessels. These embody an enormous variety of passengers (although ships are good at spreading everybody out), an awesome variety of selections for what to do and eat, and the lengthy distance and time it takes to stroll to completely different components of the ship.
Although, the downside that we’re specializing in right here is overcrowding in ports. The bigger cruise ships get, the extra individuals are getting off one of many ships that takes up a berth in port. And in smaller ports the place populations may presumably double in measurement when two or three ships come to city, an enormous mega ship could make an actual distinction.
That is additionally true of cruise traces’ non-public islands. For instance, if two medium-sized Royal Caribbean ships dock at its island Excellent Day at CocoCay on the identical day, it’s crowded however not overcrowded. But when two Oasis class ships go to concurrently, the port may simply be welcoming 10,000+ individuals directly — not counting employees and crew. That’s lots of people for a 125-acre island.
With traces like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess persevering with to construct their largest cruise ships ever, the port overcrowding downside is simply going to develop.
5. New visa necessities for visiting Europe
In mid-2025, adjustments to cruising will likely be coming for vacationers visiting many nations in Europe. The European Union will likely be enacting a brand new visa for residents of nations that at the moment can go to the Schengen Space with out one.
The visa, referred to as the European Journey Data and Authorization System (ETIAS), will apply to these from nations together with the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, and Australia. Which means as soon as the visa requirement is activated, cruisers from relevant nations will want it to take a cruise that visits nations throughout the Schengen Space. These embody well-liked Mediterranean locations reminiscent of Greece, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. It additionally contains northern Europe nations like Norway, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
Whereas a journey visa just like the ETIAS isn’t an enormous deal, it simply provides one other merchandise to the pre-cruise “to-do” checklist and is one other factor to maintain monitor of. The excellent news is that it’s an digital visa that may simply be submitted on-line, and can value below $10 per particular person. Even higher information: whereas the ETIAS is required for all ages, solely these between the ages of 18 and 70 must pay the price. It’s free for minors and seniors over 70.
Equally, U.S. residents additionally now want an Digital Journey Authorization (ETA) to transit by means of or journey to the U.Okay. as of January 8, 2025.
6. MSC locations restrict on alcoholic drinks
In December 2024, MSC Cruises introduced that it was inserting a restrict on drinks for these with a beverage package deal. To be particular, the road is now limiting alcoholic drinks acquired by means of the beverage package deal to fifteen per day. This cover is just like Carnival Cruise Line’s restrict on alcoholic drinks per 24-hour interval, which can also be 15.
Nonetheless, there’s a large distinction. Carnival limits friends who’ve bought its Cheers drink package deal to fifteen, they usually can’t buy any alcoholic drinks past that restrict — even when they’re prepared to pay a la carte. That is presumably to chop down on intoxication ranges. Nonetheless, MSC permits friends to buy drinks a la carte past their restrict. This means that MSC’s choice to cap the package deal has extra to do with cash than drunkenness.
The nice information is, neither Carnival nor MSC’s drink packages have a every day restrict on non-alcoholic drinks. This implies that you may have as many sodas, specialty coffees, and bottled water as your coronary heart wishes.
7. Extra stops at cruise line non-public locations
Relying on the kind of cruiser you might be, this might be a professional or con. However the disappointment for a lot of grows as cruise traces proceed so as to add new non-public locations to their portfolios and embody them on itineraries on the expense of different ports — notably within the Bahamas and Caribbean.
Final yr, Disney Cruise Line opened its second non-public vacation spot, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level. Within the pipeline are a number of new seaside golf equipment for Royal Caribbean (the primary of which is about to open on Paradise Island this December) and a brand new non-public vacation spot on Grand Bahama Island for Carnival referred to as Celebration Key. That is along with an already sturdy assortment of personal islands and locations for cruise traces. These embody Nice Stirrup Cay (NCL), Ocean Cay (MSC), Labadee and Excellent Day at CocoCay (Royal Caribbean), Half Moon Cay (Holland America/Carnival), and Princess Cays (Princess), amongst others.
Additional, a number of cruise firms are at the moment renovating and including new experiences to their non-public locations. These locations embody Half Moon Cay, Nice Stirrup Cay, and Excellent Day at CocoCay.
As these locations are enhanced, cruise traces have the demand and functionality to port extra and bigger ships there. Some giant traces boast that a few of their ships within the Caribbean function itineraries that every one name to certainly one of their very own properties.
Some cruisers love non-public locations and welcome calls there. They like staying within the cruise line’s “bubble” and benefit from the facilities there created particularly for cruise passengers. It could make planning a day simpler, particularly as they’re typically utilized by friends as enjoyable seaside or pool locations. Nonetheless, many individuals cruise to expertise a lot of native cultures and experiences multi function journey, and should not discover the genuine experiences they’re craving throughout a name to a personal cruise line vacation spot.
8. Elevated gratuities and drink package deal costs
As time goes on, costs go up — it’s simply a part of life. However that doesn’t imply it may possibly’t be disappointing and annoying, particularly on the subject of issues that you may’t actually management like cruise gratuities. 2024 noticed a number of cruise traces improve the value of every day gratuities together with Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Princess. Whereas the incremental will increase are normally solely by 50 cents or a greenback, this could add up — particularly in case you’re crusing as a household on an extended cruise. It simply provides the necessity for extra cash in your trip price range.
Equally, drink package deal costs are on the rise — some considerably. Carnival, for instance, beforehand charged $59.95 per particular person, per day for its Cheers beverage package deal if bought previous to the cruise. Final month, it elevated the package deal value by a whopping 16 % to $82.54 per day. Princess Cruises elevated the value of its inclusive Premier Package deal, which features a drink package deal, by $10 from $80 to $90 final yr — although it did add extra inclusions with that improve.
As the price of working a ship and shopping for provides and elements inflate, so do the costs. And that additional value is handed all the way down to the passengers, that means some may have much less spare money for his or her holidays going into this yr.
9. Plenty of upcharge eating places onboard
Specialty eating places are nothing new to cruise ships; their reputation on ocean liners dates again to the 1910s. For many years, cruise ships might have had just one or two specialty eating places, certainly one of which was typically a steakhouse. Now, as cruise ships are constructed bigger and bigger, there’s extra room for a plethora of upcharge eating choices.
Most specialty eating places are upscale night eating places, serving cuisines starting from Mediterranean and Asian to Italian and Brazilian. Some venues supply reside music such because the Supper Membership on Royal Caribbean’s Icon class ships or the nation band at Q Texas Smokehouse on Norwegian Cruise Line. Others are a part of a whole dinner expertise reminiscent of Spellbound on Solar Princess or Royal Railway Utopia Station on Utopia of the Seas.
However extra just lately, cruise traces have been including extra informal choices to their choice of upcharge eating places. For instance, in 2023 Princess Cruises added a set-price price to its sit-down pizzeria Alfredo’s. Strains like Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival have devoted dessert outlets the place gadgets like sundaes, milkshakes, and cupcakes have an extra cost. Royal Caribbean’s mega ship Icon of the Seas has an informal walk-up venue referred to as Basecamp, which is positioned in its Thrill Island waterpark neighborhood; menu gadgets there are a la carte.
Whereas some eating places incurring an upcharge make sense, reminiscent of steakhouses and teppanyaki, others are a bit disappointing, like a walk-up fast service counter or an informal pizza spot.
10. Extra ports limiting cruise ships
One other one of many disappointing adjustments to cruising is the rising variety of ports which might be limiting cruise ships. A number of years in the past, Bar Harbor, Maine voted to restrict cruise guests to 1,000 per day. In 2023, a number of main cruise firms agreed to a every day five-ship restrict in Juneau, Alaska. A passenger depend restrict has additionally been agreed upon for Juneau, set to enter impact in 2026. In 2021, Venice, Italy banned giant cruise ships from porting in its metropolis heart. They now dock on the close by industrial port of Marghera as an alternative.
There are a number of causes that cities make the choice to restrict cruise ships and cruise passengers. These can embody environmental and infrastructure issues, in addition to overcrowding points. Nonetheless, there’s a stability. Even when the choice to restrict cruise in a selected vacation spot is healthier general, some individuals are negatively affected.
For one, companies in these ports will see a discount in visitors, and due to this fact income. Cruise passengers might need fewer itineraries to select from. A extra favorable itinerary might need to be switched to a much less fascinating route. Within the case of locations like Venice, it additionally signifies that friends need to get on and off the ship at an industrial port as an alternative of the earlier port within the coronary heart of the town. It is a much less picturesque possibility, and creates extra of a problem to get out and discover.
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