Cruise News on Cruise Lines, Ships & Ports

Table Of Content

• Carnival Firenze Officially Joins Carnival’s Fleet
• Norwegian Cruise Ships – Newest to Oldest
• MSC Seascape (MSC Cruises)
• Windstar Cruises Welcomes Two New Ships to Fleet
• Celebrity, Holland America Line and Celestyal Drastically Alter Itineraries
• Cruise Couple Reveal Wi-Fi Cost of 17 Back-to-Back Sailings on World...

In a nod to the Italian city that inspired its name, Carnival Firenze's atrium is modeled after Piazza del Duomo, Florence's famous public square. The ship will also feature Italian-flavored venues currently present on Carnival Venezia, such as restaurants La Strada Grill, Tomodoro and Il Viaggio, as well as bars like Amari and Frizzante. We are elated to welcome Carnival Firenze to the Carnival fleet, joining her sister Carnival Venezia to showcase ‘Carnival Fun Italian Style,’” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. Stefani is also known as one of the celebrity coaches on the Emmy-Award winning show The Voice. Aside from music, the artist has been recognized as a fashion icon as well as for her philanthropic work, including her support of children’s cause.

Carnival Firenze Officially Joins Carnival’s Fleet

For a full accounting of cruise ship transactions, see the Secondhand Market Report by Cruise Industry News. “We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Gwen Stefani onto Carnival Jubilee so we can honor her as the ship’s godmother,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “She has demonstrated her commitment to our Carnival values, including promoting diversity and inclusion, supporting charitable causes, being a leader in her field, and of course, having fun." Carnival Cruise Line announced today that the 4,000-passenger ship is returning to its homeport of Port Canaveral to resume its Caribbean itineraries. (March 27, 2024) -- A little over a month after announcing the construction of its fourth Excel-class ship, Carnival Cruise Line is yet again expanding its fleet with a fifth Excel-class vessel due to arrive in 2028.

Going on the same cruise ship twice. Is it boring the second time around? - Cruise Blog

Going on the same cruise ship twice. Is it boring the second time around?.

Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:43:47 GMT [source]

Norwegian Cruise Ships – Newest to Oldest

The class debuted in 2009 with Oasis of the Seas, followed by Allure of the Seas in 2010; Harmony of the Seas, 2016; Symphony of the Seas, 2018; and Wonder of the Seas, 2022. The sixth in the class, Utopia of the Seas, is under construction and due to enter service in July 2024. The new Sanctuary Collection aboard Sun Princess includes three levels of stateroom types – Signature Collection Suites (80), Mini Suites (123), and Premium Deluxe Balconies (12).

MSC Seascape (MSC Cruises)

Her list of accolades include three Grammy Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, two Billboard Awards, an American Music Award and a Brit Award. "Carnival's Excel-class fleet will soon be a quintet of these very popular ships that provide outstanding guest amenities and tremendous operating efficiencies," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. Cunard Line took delivery today, April 19, from Fincantieri on its first new cruise ship built for the storied brand in... Norwegian Star is sailing a 14-day South America cruise roundtrip from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Port calls include destinations in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Shetland Islands, and Falkland Islands The itinerary also originally included scenic cruising in Paradise Bay, a well-known cove off Antarctica’s mainland. Excel-class enthusiasts will be watching to see what unique features the new-build will offer.

Windstar Cruises Welcomes Two New Ships to Fleet

Acquired from sister cruise line Costa Cruises, Carnival Firenze becomes the 27th ship in Carnival's fleet. Carnival Jubilee's naming ceremony is scheduled to take place on Feb. 24 in Galveston, the ship's homeport. Carnival Vista rejoins fellow vessels Carnival Freedom, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Mardi Gras to complete the cruise line's four ship deployment in Central Florida.

MSC Seascape is also designed with environmental friendliness in mind, with catalytic reduction systems to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90% and sulphur oxide emissions by 98%. A new water feature combines cinema with water slides, and new tech-heavy indoor experiences allow for interactive family fun. Discovery Princess will offer Mexican Riviera, California coast, and Alaskan cruises. Otherwise, Carnival cruisers can expect all of their normal favorites, from long-standing Carnival dining options, such as Guy’s Burger Joint, to newer options, like Shaq’s Big Chicken. As Istanbul is a popular port of call and cruise homeport in the eastern Mediterranean, it will be curious to see whether this ongoing discontent grows in 2024 and beyond, and whether or not restrictions on ship noise or size may be implemented. Guests were generously compensated for the changes, however, with $200 of onboard credit per stateroom as well as a 50% future cruise credit based on the cruise fare, so they could visit ports of call on another Carnival cruise vacation in the future.

Viking Cruises has found a formula that works for the brand, and they’ve stuck with it, adamantly. Slated for Mediterranean itineraries before moving on to the Caribbean, the ship continues Virgin’s work in refining its identity as a cruise line, so don’t expect anything necessarily ground-breaking. Norwegian is clearly trying to break records with this one, and cruisers are paying attention; when bookings opened in May 2021, the cruise line experienced its best initial booking week sales and best single booking day ever. MSC World Europa will embark on her maiden voyage in December of 2022 on a special 4-night voyage from Doha in Qatar to her new homeport, the ultra-modern metropolis of Dubai.

Cruise Couple Reveal Wi-Fi Cost of 17 Back-to-Back Sailings on World...

The Oasis-class Allure of the Seas will return to Galveston to offer 7-night Western Caribbean sailings, while two ships will deploy to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for winter cruising. Brilliance of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas will sail Southern Caribbean itineraries, calling at exotic ports such as Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, and Trinidad and Tobago. Sister ship to P&O Cruises’ Iona, Arvia is an Excel-class cruise ship that boasts a few highlighted features. Carnival Cruise Line has dealt with many rumors through 2023, including if all guests would be required to have passports beginning in 2024, even when sailing from US homeports on closed-loop cruises, where passports have never been required. This rumor caused a social media furor in late April and early May, until the cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, put the rumor to rest.

Carnival Cruise Passengers Attempt to Bring Portable Washing Machine Aboard Ship

Boston will be the seasonal homeport for summer sailings to Canada aboard Brilliance of the Seas, while Baltimore will continue to host Vision of the Seas on a year-round basis. Royal Caribbean has not disclosed details about the new Oasis-class ship order, but the vessel is expected to be roughly the same size as the existing ships in the class, which can accommodate about 5,600 guests in double occupancy. In what's been a busy week of cruise news, we're got all the major stories, including new ship orders from cruise giants, cancellations and angry guests. As the name suggests, guests reserving in the Sanctuary Collection enjoy exclusive access to the ship’s top deck retreat area, along with a host of additional and high-end amenities designed to enhance their voyage. These indulgences include exclusive private dining and relaxation areas, a luxurious stateroom experience, as well as the Princess Premier bundle to round out the all-inclusive allure of the Sanctuary experience.

Cruise guests are always encouraged to explore ports of call via shore excursions, which cruise lines select based on safety records and reliability. Tour operators through cruise line excursions stay in contact with each ship, and can advise the ship if there are delays or other difficulties with an excursion, ensuring that guests do not miss the ship if their tour is late. Celebrity Apex was en-route to Haifa before altering course to dock in Limassol, Cyprus. Each brand is offering affected cruisers a variety of compensation options, depending on the circumstances and whether their voyages are already underway.

Celebrity Beyond is the third ship in Celebrity’s Edge Series, building on all of the successful components that cruisers loved in past Edge ships, with even more to enjoy. In a trend increasing at many destinations, the Orkney Islands on the northern coast of Scotland began considering implementing restrictions on cruise ship arrivals in August. This is enormous and I think it's one of the biggest at sea." CBS News Correspondent Wendy Gillette got a reduced rate to sail aboard Beyond and Seashore, which boasts a water slide, infinity pool, and specialty restaurants.

The ship will also offer MSC Cruises’ largest water park yet, with VR-enabled water slides. About 65% of the public spaces on the ship have been redesigned from previous MSC Cruises designs. The ship’s visit to the port was cut short by two hours, with multiple methods used to contact guests off the ship – including text messages, social media, the Carnival Hub App, and contacting tour operators. Continuing the trend of different destinations having growing concerns about cruise ship visits, residents of Istanbul, Turkey expressed further discontent with ship disruptions in early September. While many locals don’t mind the numbers of visitors in general, it is the overall size of the ships that block harbor views and horn blasts that shatter peaceful quiet that is a greater irritant. Cruise travelers are accustomed to the occasional itinerary change or port alteration, particularly when bad weather plays a role.

The ships in this class are larger than others in the fleet, and able to offer more restaurants, bars, and activities. Sun Princess was to launch on February 8, 2024, sailing from Barcelona to Rome, but that voyage was cancelled on January 24, 2024. A new inaugural cruise was scheduled for February 18, 2024, and now that has been cancelled as well.

Weigand currently works as cruise director on Carnival Freedom, and was to remain there until mid-June 2024, however, with her promotion, Todd Evans will serve as cruise director starting on March 30, as Weigand begins her new duties. Guests who have booked as of April 23, 2024 already have reserved Sanctuary Collection staterooms on either ship will receive the additional amenities outlined at no additional cost, excluding the premier bundle. The ship will sail the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, before heading to Asia and Australia. The Altitude entertainment and activity zone offers new ways for families to have fun, too, such as with the Altitude Skywalk, a high rope course; a nine-hole miniature golf course; and Altitude Splash Valley, a water area for kids. Dramatically captured on video, the waterfall was a result of an overflowing pool after the ship had an emergency course correction to avoid a small refugee craft in the Straits of Florida. After several hours of frustration, the couple learned their assigned stateroom had been damaged on the previous cruise.

Itinerary changes as a result of the conflict are also being felt in other geographic areas, too. Passengers aboard Norwegian Epic were notified that their November itinerary would drop ports in Israel – but also the Greek ports of Rhodes and Patmos. Celestyal Cruises, which maintains a presence in the region, said late Monday evening it would suspend calls to Israel on its sailings until the end of November.

“We were on tour of Galilee region at Jordan River when we were all recalled to the ship,” writes CNSJ on Cruise Critic’s Holland America Line message boards. Three days in Holy Land has become three hours…obviously this is beyond HALs control. "The ship was originally scheduled to sail in the Middle East. We’ve postponed our launch in that region to begin in November 2024,” said Windstar Cruises President Christopher Prelog. “Instead, they will sail around the west coast of Africa with no ports of call on their journeys to their respective European homeports for the summer 2024 season.