Cruisers Choice

Name: Cruisers Choice
Address: Sebastian, FL, US
Telephone: 772-918-8817

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Cruisers Choice

Welcome aboard Cruisers Choice! I’m Andy Hodges, with 20 years of experience sailing on cruise ships. I provide information and travel tips! Let's set sail!

I'm Andy Hodges, your cruise expert with over 20 years of experience on every major cruise line. Whether you're searching for ship tours, honest reviews, news, travel hacks, or insider tips, I'll guide you to the perfect voyage—saving you time, hassle, and money along the way. New videos every week! Follow our page and let's set sail together! ⚓

06/17/2026

A 25-year-old Royal Caribbean passenger was arrested aboard the Allure of the Seas cruise ship after being accused of secretly recording people without their consent.

According to authorities, Matthew Stilwell of Illinois was taken into custody while the ship was at sea. He faces charges of video voyeurism, a crime that involves recording individuals in private settings without their knowledge or permission.

Cruise line officials confirmed the incident but provided limited details, citing the ongoing investigation. Royal Caribbean said it is collaborating fully with law enforcement.

Video voyeurism cases on cruise ships, while not common, have drawn increased attention in recent years. Cruise lines have come under scrutiny for how they handle allegations of misconduct at sea, where jurisdiction can be complicated and response times vary.

The passenger’s name has not been released. It remains unclear whether he has entered a plea or retained legal representation.

Royal Caribbean has not said whether the incident involved guests or crew members, or in what area of the ship the alleged recordings took place.

The cruise line said it continues to review its safety and security procedures following the arrest.

06/16/2026

A woman has sued Royal Caribbean Cruises for $75,000, claiming she suffered injuries when she slipped on a wet or slippery surface on the pool deck of the Vision of the Seas.

Elaine Sebestyen, of New Jersey, filed the complaint May 7 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami.

She alleges that on April 20, 2025, she suffered multiple fractures in her left leg when she fell on the external walking surface of the open pool deck on Deck 9 while she was heading toward the Windjammer Café.

The suit says wet spots or a liquid or transitory substance on the deck created a slipping hazard that was not readily visible to passengers. Sebestyen claims the cruise line owed her a duty of reasonable care as a fare-paying passenger and breached that duty by failing to maintain the area safely and by not warning guests or blocking off the spot.

Sebestyen brings two counts: negligent maintenance and negligent failure to warn. She seeks damages exceeding $75,000 for past and future medical expenses, pain and mental anguish, disability, physical impairment, and loss of enjoyment of life. The complaint describes the injuries as permanent or continuing in nature.

Court papers state that Sebestyen was treated by the ship’s medical crew shortly after the fall and that an incident report was prepared on board. She also provided timely written notice of her claim to the company as required by the ticket contract.

Royal Caribbean, a Liberian corporation with its principal place of business in Miami-Dade County, has not yet responded to the allegations in the public docket. The company operates the Vision of the Seas and other vessels that carry paying passengers on cruises.

Sebestyen is represented by attorneys from Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. in Miami. The case is assigned to the Miami Division of the Southern District of Florida.

06/15/2026

A brawl involving at least a dozen guests erupted at Royal Caribbean International’s Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island last week.

The fight took place at the Floating Flamingo Pool & Swim-Up Bar on the south side of the property. Participants on the island were trading slaps, pushes, hair-pulling, and punches. Some kept swinging after falling to the ground.

The chaotic scene lasted more than a minute, with shouting heard over music from a nearby DJ. Other guests quickly moved out of the way, and one woman ushered young children to safety.

At least three security officers and several club employees stepped in to break up the groups. Some bystanders also tried to pull people apart.

On this particular day, the Utopia of the Seas was the only Royal Caribbean ship in Nassau, though it is unclear whether the people involved were passengers on that vessel or day visitors using the beach club.

Royal Caribbean has not issued a statement about the incident.

Guests at the company’s private destinations are subject to its Guest Health, Safety and Conduct Policy, which bars abusive language, uninvited physical contact, fighting, and disruptive behavior.

Possible consequences include loss of onboard privileges, suspension or revocation of Crown & Anchor loyalty benefits, removal from the ship or a permanent ban from future sailings.

The incident could also be referred to Bahamian authorities.

The Royal Beach Club, a 17-acre private resort on Paradise Island that opened in late December 2025, is available only to Royal Caribbean Group passengers through day passes. It features beaches, pools, dining and bars.

No arrests have been reported in connection with the beach club incident.

06/13/2026

A Miami mother has sued Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., alleging her young son was seriously injured when he slipped and fell on a wet floor in a children’s splash area aboard the Wonder of the Seas last year.

The complaint, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, claims Xander Carballea, the plaintiff, fell while playing in the splash pad on deck 15, an area also called Splashaway Bay or the Splash Zone, on Sept. 27, 2025.

It says excessive water pooled in the area because of drainage problems, creating a slippery hazard that the cruise line had known about for years.

According to the suit, a crew member at the entrance told the boy he could not wear his non-skid water shoes in the splash zone and made him take them off. The complaint says those shoes are designed for wet surfaces and that Royal Caribbean knew requiring guests to remove them increased the risk of falls.

The complaint says Royal Caribbean has installed small permanent warning signs in the area and stationed crew members to monitor the floor, squeegee water, and verbally warn guests. It alleges those measures have been insufficient and that the company has failed to fix a known problem with the flooring, which the suit claims has failed coefficient-of-friction testing and does not provide a reasonably safe walking surface when wet.

The lawsuit brings three counts: negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain the area, and general negligence. It claims the cruise line failed to adequately inspect and dry the floor, failed to use non-slip surfaces or mats, failed to close off hazardous sections, and continued to allow passengers, including children, to walk through the wet area despite a pattern of incidents.

Xander Carballea suffered injuries to his body and extremities, the complaint states. The suit seeks damages for medical expenses, physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, disfigurement, lost wages, and the loss of the family’s vacation and cruise costs. The suit demands a jury trial.

Royal Caribbean has not filed a response in the case. The complaint was filed under the court’s admiralty and maritime jurisdiction because the incident occurred aboard a vessel on navigable waters.

The case is Maribel Reyes, as parent and natural guardian of Xander Carballea, a minor, v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., Case No. 1:26-cv-24154-CMA.

👉 WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS LAWSUIT? Share your thoughts below.

06/12/2026

Carnival Cruise Line unveiled a major new dining initiative called The Next Course on Thursday, bringing specialty restaurants and bars to two future ships while rolling out menu refreshes and new concepts across its existing fleet.

The line, which carries more than six million guests and serves more than 100 million meals annually, said the program was shaped by extensive insights from its operations and guest feedback. An immersive event in New Orleans with Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse gave participants a look at what’s ahead.

“Our approach to dining combined with our team’s amazing service is a driving force behind Carnival’s success,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Our latest culinary adventure marks a bold step forward to give guests an unforgettable experience with a variety of new vibrant flavors fleetwide.”

Carnival Festivale, scheduled to debut in 2027, and Carnival Tropicale in 2028 will introduce the bulk of the new specialty dining and bar venues.

Emeril’s Coastal Seafood will offer coastal-inspired dishes from Lagasse. Uku Lei Lei brings Hawaiian specialties and Asian classics, and Fetaccine combines Italian and Greek flavors in a Mediterranean setting.

Le Bistro Musicale, a French restaurant in a music-filled Parisian atmosphere, will be exclusive to Carnival Festivale.

Festivale will also get three new bars: The Spark, a lounge with live music and cocktails inspired by popular songs; Mix, a spot for inventive cocktails or guest-created layered drinks; and Festival Grounds Coffee & Bar, focusing on specialty coffees and cocktails.

Fleetwide enhancements are already in progress. Main Dining Room menus for breakfast, brunch and dinner are being updated with new dishes. The Lido Marketplace will feature a new Lido Family Menu of kid favorites each day, and BlueIguana Cantina will have daily rotating specials.

Other additions include Bagels @ Sea with fresh bagels and toppings, a refreshed Chef’s Table with multi-course dinners drawing on regional flavors, and pop-up breakfast and dessert bars — including Fruity & Frosted and ice cream and milkshake options — on Excel-class ships, plus more pop-ups elsewhere in the fleet.

Carnival is expanding mobile ordering and grab-and-go through its Mobile Coffee Shop service and adding Express Dining for faster service in the Main Dining Room.

06/10/2026

A California woman has sued Carnival Corporation, claiming she was seriously hurt when she tripped on a hidden ledge while walking to the dance floor at the Hot and Cool Nightclub aboard the Carnival Liberty.

The complaint, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Miami, says Penny L. Scott, of California, fell on her right foot the evening of Sept. 22, 2025, because of an unmarked step or drop-off that was not obvious or properly lit. Scott alleges the hazard caused severe injuries and ruined the rest of her cruise.

The suit accuses Carnival of negligence for failing to warn passengers, mark the change in floor level, provide adequate lighting or keep the walkway safe.

Court papers say Carnival has settled prior incidents with confidentiality agreements, which the plaintiff argues has kept other similar hazards hidden from public view. The complaint lists three counts: general negligence, negligent failure to warn and negligent failure to maintain.

Scott is seeking damages for physical pain, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, disability and the wasted cost of her vacation. She is asking for a jury trial. The case was filed under general maritime law.

Attorneys from Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman in Coral Gables represent her. Carnival has not yet filed a response in the case, which is assigned case number 1:26-cv-24027.

The complaint describes the Hot and Cool Nightclub area as a place where passengers are invited and expected to walk, and it alleges Carnival had policies and industry standards in place for marking level changes, installing contrasting flooring and warning guests — standards the plaintiff says were not followed here.

👉 WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS CASE?

06/09/2026

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake centered off Cuba’s northwestern coast jolted cruise ships at sea Monday afternoon and was felt at several major Florida cruise ports, including Port Canaveral, though no damage or injuries were reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck around 2 p.m. EDT in the Gulf of Mexico, roughly 65 miles west-northwest of Mantua in Cuba’s Pinar del Río province.

It occurred at a depth of 16 miles as a result of reverse faulting within the North American plate, an intraplate event far from the boundary with the Caribbean plate.

Seismologists called it the largest instrumentally recorded earthquake in the Gulf since 1950 and the strongest to hit Cuba in more than 100 years. The last comparable event, a roughly magnitude 6.0 quake near San Cristóbal, Cuba, in 1880, caused building damage and casualties on the island.

Passengers aboard ships near the epicenter described a hard, unexpected shake. One guest said the vessel “shook hard,” frightening some people on the upper decks who thought they might need to report to muster stations. The captain later announced over the intercom that the ship had experienced an earthquake but was not damaged.

Cruise tracking data showed Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Escape sailing in the area at the time. Shaking was also reported as far west as Cancun and Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

Several ships were docked at Cozumel during the quake, including Disney Destiny, Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Breeze. Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas were at Costa Maya.

In Florida, the shaking was felt at Port Canaveral and Port Tampa Bay. Seven ships were docked at PortMiami for turnaround, among them Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.

Utopia of the Seas, Disney Wish and Carnival Glory were at Port Canaveral, while Carnival Paradise was in Tampa Bay. Miami officials said the city received multiple calls for service after seismic activity was reported in several areas.

Cruise operations continued normally both at sea and in the affected ports. Cruise ships are designed to handle such movement while underway, and officials confirmed there was no tsunami threat to the U.S. East Coast or Gulf states.

The National Tsunami Warning Center said the earthquake was not expected to generate a tsunami. No significant damage to infrastructure in Cuba or elsewhere has been reported.

👉 DID YOU FEEL THE QUAKE? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS!

06/08/2026

A Florida woman has filed a federal lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., claiming she suffered a serious wrist injury after tripping over an electric mobility scooter parked in a walkway inside a crowded casino on the Jewel of the Seas.

Colleen Parsons filed the complaint May 18 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division. The case is docketed as 1:26-cv-23495-RKA. She alleges negligence in maintaining the casino and failure to warn passengers of the hazard.

According to the complaint, Parsons was walking through the ship’s casino on or about June 22, 2025, when the area was packed with passengers.

A female guest had parked a large electric mobility scooter in the walking path. Another passenger bumped into Parsons, causing her to trip and fall over the scooter.

Parsons suffered a comminuted intraarticular fracture of the distal radius in her left wrist. She underwent open reduction internal fixation surgery and says the injuries are permanent.

The suit claims she has experienced ongoing pain, mental and emotional distress, medical expenses, physical limitations, scarring, loss of enjoyment of the cruise and lost earnings.

The lawsuit accuses Royal Caribbean of breaching its duty of reasonable care by failing to monitor or supervise the use of mobility scooters on board. It states the company has no policies or procedures in place for how passengers may safely operate or park the devices in confined, congested spaces.

The complaint notes the cruise line had prior notice of similar risks, citing another passenger’s lawsuit involving a mobility scooter on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Parsons further alleges the company failed to warn her about the parked scooter. She says she could not see or avoid the hazard on her own because she was bumped by another passenger in the overcrowded casino before she noticed it.

The suit seeks damages, prejudgment interest and court costs. It was filed by attorney Paul M. Hoffman of the Hoffman Law Firm in Fort Lauderdale. A summons has been issued for Royal Caribbean’s registered agent in Miami.

Royal Caribbean has not yet responded to the allegations in court records.

06/05/2026

Do you smoke in the cruise ship casinos? 🚬

Do you think cruise lines should allow smoking in the casinos, or would you prefer more (or fully) smoke-free options?

Policies vary by line and ship — some have designated smoking and non-smoking sections (like many Royal Caribbean ships), while others only allow it while actively playing or have provided a smoke-free areas.

Secondhand smoke is a big topic for a lot of cruisers. 🚭

Whether you’re a smoker or non-smoker, we’d love to hear your honest experiences and opinions!

Drop your thoughts in the comments below 👇

06/01/2026

OUR VIEW: Is a 25-year-old Royal Caribbean cruise ship still worth your money in 2026? We give you the honest verdict on every single area: the Solarium, Windjammer buffet, Main Dining Room, specialty dining, Casino Royale, the bars, cabins, and all the free outdoor activities.

No fluff. Link in comments below ⬇️

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772-918-8817

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http://www.cruiserschoice.com/

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