A devastating tragedy unfolded aboard the cruise ship Carnival Splendor, where two separate incidents during the same voyage have left passengers shaken.

Carnival Legend crew stepped into action this week after spotting a sailboat in distress while sailing from Galveston to Cozumel.

According to reports, the rescue at sea happened Tuesday night in the Gulf, when the ship’s crew noticed emergency flares coming from a nearby sailboat. Without hesitation, a rescue boat was launched to investigate.

The cruise shipbuilding industry has long been one of Europe’s most protected and specialized sectors. For decades, construction of the world’s most complex cruise ships was concentrated in a small group of shipyards led by Fincantieri, alongside Meyer Werft and Chantiers de l’Atlantique. 

Carnival Cruise Line is once again opening the doors to life behind the scenes with the return of its summer “Fun-ternship” program, offering more than 100 students a hands-on look at cruise terminal operations.

The Port of Lisbon has expanded its annual Cruise Activity Awards to spotlight sustainability and community involvement, introducing a new category at this year’s ceremony on March 23.

For the first time, organizers included a dedicated section under the “Cruise Lines for the Community” program, recognizing cruise companies for their role in social and environmental initiatives across the city.

Construction of Carnival Festivale is moving ahead at Meyer Werft, with the latest update confirming a key milestone—engine installation is now underway.

The newbuild, set to debut in 2027, will feature four dual-fuel engines powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), continuing the industry’s shift toward more environmentally friendly propulsion.

Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new fleetwide lottery game that connects passengers across its ships in North America and Europe, giving eligible guests a chance to win prizes of up to $1 million.

Passengers sailing with Carnival Cruise Line will soon see higher onboard costs, as the company prepares to increase gratuities and adjust select beverage package prices beginning April 2, 2026. The changes were communicated to guests in a recent email notification, confirming that both service charges and the popular Bottomless Bubbles package for adults will be updated later this year.

In message to passengers, Carnival explained:

Carnival’s cruise operation in Australia found itself in the spotlight last week after the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) rolled out a headline-grabbing claim: 

Workers earning as little as $2.50 an hour, stuck with “precarious contracts,” “cramped living conditions,” and “poor quality food and water,” plus a long list of other onboard horrors. 

Carnival Cruise Line has quietly raised its automatic service charge on beverages from 18% to 20%. While the price increase for guests is relatively small, just 22 cents more for an $11 cocktail, it brings a question crew members have been asking for years: