Beekeepers Remove Bee Swarm From Utopia of the Seas Pool Deck
Video showed a person in protective beekeeping equipment collecting the insects with a vacuum-type apparatus beneath an umbrella near Deck 15's waterslide exits.
A swarm of bees was removed from the pool deck of Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas in Port Canaveral on October 12, 2026. Passengers were boarding for a four-night Bahamas sailing, and no departure delay or itinerary disruption was reported.
The bees had gathered beneath a shade umbrella on the port side of Deck 15, near the waterslide exits. No guests were reported stung during the encounter.
Video posted to Reddit showed a person in protective beekeeping equipment using a vacuum-type apparatus to collect the insects. It was not clear whether the person handling the removal was a crew member or a contractor brought aboard while the ship was alongside for its turnaround. Royal Caribbean has not commented on the incident.
According to Wildlife Works, central Florida’s warmer climate allows bee swarms to occur later in the year than is typical in northern states, making fall swarming less unusual in the region. Swarms can form when a colony becomes overcrowded, a queen leaves the hive or the colony experiences stress.
Carnival Cruise Line has had its own bee problems. A swarm was found aboard Carnival Valor during a call at Cozumel, Mexico, in October 2024. Bees were also present near guest areas when Carnival’s Celebration Key opened in July 2025, and the line took steps to reduce the problem, including the risk to passengers with bee-sting allergies.
Utopia of the Seas is scheduled to call at Nassau on October 13, followed by Perfect Day at CocoCay on October 14. A sea day follows before the ship returns to Port Canaveral on October 16.
See current Utopia of the Seas fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
