Packed for Nova Scotia, Sailing to Nassau: The Nor’easter That Scrambled a Fleet of Cruise Ships
A nor'easter sent Vision of the Seas to the Bahamas instead of Canada and tangled five ships' plans. Who went where, why, and what you're owed.
Ernie
Ernie has been cruising for ten years and writes and edits Cruise Chaos. That decade at sea shapes what gets published here: cruise news explained properly, honest stories from onboard, practical guides, and deals verified on the cruise lines' own sites the day they run. No affiliate commissions, no invented facts, and corrections welcome.
Why Do Cruise Ships Need a Pilot? The Law, the Ladder and Who’s Really in Charge
Every big cruise ship takes a local pilot into port. We read the rules in six places, two NTSB reports and the ladder data to explain why.
Can You Bring Snacks on a Cruise? Every Big Line’s Food Rule, Checked
Yes, if they're factory-sealed. We checked nine cruise lines' own food and drink rules, the snack almost all of them ban, and the soda rules that differ.
The Ship Meant for a Three-Year World Cruise Is Being Auctioned for Scrap
Gemini, first picked for the failed Life at Sea world cruise, goes to auction in Greece on Oct 21 over a EUR 22,772 debt. How it happened.
Please Don’t Come: Royal Caribbean’s Year of Overbooked Cruises
Royal Caribbean has oversold at least nine 2026 sailings and is now paying Allure of the Seas guests to stay home. Here's why, and what you're owed.
This Week’s Best Cruise Deals: Celebrity Beyond Drops $496 to $1,028
Seven verified deals, re-checked Sept 25: Celebrity Beyond down $496 to $1,028, CocoCay from $278, Disney military rates from $123.50 a night.
Do You Need a Passport for a Cruise? Every Itinerary Checked, From Alaska to Europe
Closed-loop cruises, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama and Europe checked, plus the 1886 law behind the birth-certificate rule and the UK ETA.
Banned for Card Counting? The Gambler Suing Royal Caribbean Over Five Free Cruises
Royal Caribbean gave a gambler five free cruises, then turned his family away in Brisbane. What the tribunal decision actually says.
Do You Need a Lanyard for a Cruise? Which Ships Still Use Key Cards, and Who Gets One Free
No line requires a lanyard, but on key-card ships it's the easiest way to carry your room key. Line-by-line rules, wristbands and the hole-punch trap.
Fake ‘Captain Has Lost Control’ Alert: How Six Passengers Got on MSC Divina’s PA
Six passengers allegedly told MSC Divina the captain had lost control. Nothing was hacked, MSC says. What happened, and how to spot a real emergency.