Disney cruisers say Pelican Plunge is closing again with little warning. Plus: Carnival’s adults-only sailings, Princess’ new perks and a fake Royal Caribbean email.
If your Disney cruise stops at Castaway Cay soon, don’t promise the kids Pelican Plunge just yet.
The floating waterslide platform on Disney’s private island keeps closing on and off, and Disney Cruise Line hasn’t said when it’ll be fully back, Cruise Hive reported.
Pelican Plunge floats in the island’s swimming lagoon, with waterslides, a giant tipping bucket and water cannons.
Guests are hearing about the closures through the cruise line’s Navigator app, often just a day before they get to the island.
Here’s what Pelican Plunge looks like when it’s running, from Attractions Magazine:
Why is Pelican Plunge closed at Castaway Cay?
Disney says it’s for refurbishment. The Navigator notice tells guests the slide “is closed over the coming weeks due to necessary refurbishments,” Cruise Hive reported.
This isn’t the first time. Pelican Plunge closed for refurbishment in August, as PNP reported Aug. 26.
Since then, some guests say it was open on their sailings, including one who said it was running about a week before Oct. 24.
Disney Cruise Line hasn’t explained the repeated closures, Cruise Hive said. Nobody knows yet whether it’s one problem or different parts of the platform being fixed at different times.
The structure sits in salt water and takes the weather head-on, so it likely needs more upkeep than most attractions.
How are Disney cruise guests reacting?
Mostly, they’re frustrated by the timing.
“Sailed this week, and we weren’t told until the night before while already on the boat,” one guest told Cruise Hive. Another said their kids, who were “finally big enough,” were disappointed.
Guests have to be at least 38 inches tall to ride the slides. There’s no walkway to the platform, so riders also have to swim out to it. Free life vests are available.
What can kids do at Castaway Cay instead?
Plenty, according to Cruise Hive:
A smaller play structure in the swimming lagoon
Spring-a-Leak, a splash pad for younger kids
Tetherball, basketball and ping-pong
The Monstro Point whale dig site
Shopping and paid excursions
And the waterslides back on the ship usually keep running while you’re docked at the island.
What’s new with Carnival’s adults-only cruises?
Carnival is adding more SEA sailings, short for Sailings Exclusively for Adults. They’re open to everyone 21 and older, Cruise Fever reported.
The new list covers five homeports:
Los Angeles: Carnival Firenze, Nov. 2 and Nov. 13, 2026
Miami: Carnival Conquest, Jan. 4, 2027
Tampa: Carnival Paradise, Feb. 12, 2027
Galveston: Carnival Horizon, May 13, 2027
New York: Carnival Firenze, June 1, June 9 and Aug. 24, 2027
Deposits start at $99 per person if you book by Nov. 9, according to Cruise Fever. Expect a heavy casino focus with no kids on board.
What is Princess’ Sanctuary Collection?
It’s Princess Cruises’ premium package, and it’s spreading to five more ships, Cruise Industry News reported.
It started on Sun Princess and Star Princess. Now it’s coming to Royal Princess, then Regal, Discovery, Sky and Enchanted Princess.
Guests get a private Sanctuary Club lounge, a dedicated pool, an exclusive Sanctuary Restaurant and a suite concierge. They also get Princess Premier, the line’s most inclusive package.
Royal Princess is on sale now, starting with a 12-day South Pacific cruise on Jan. 4, 2027. The other four ships go on sale between Nov. 5 and Dec. 17.
Is Utopia of the Seas going to Mexico?
No. An email saying Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas would skip the Bahamas for Cozumel this week was fake, Cruise Hive reported.
“Utopia is not scheduled to go to Mexico this week,” Royal Caribbean told Cruise Hive, adding that it sent no such message to guests. The ship is still headed to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The fake email spread on Reddit just as strong winds and king tides were forecast for the Bahamas. It’s the second fake Royal Caribbean letter in a week, Cruise Hive said.
So if an itinerary change sounds off, check your cruise line’s app or website before you rebook anything.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Cruise Hive (Oct. 25 and 26, 2026), Pelican Plunge’s closures and guest reactions, and the fake Utopia email
Cruise Fever (Oct. 24, 2026), Carnival’s SEA sailings
Cruise Industry News (Oct. 2026), Princess’ Sanctuary Collection
Pirates & Princesses (Aug. 26, 2026), Pelican Plunge’s August closure
Attractions Magazine on YouTube (Nov. 28, 2019), the Pelican Plunge POV
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