Cruise News Update: New Giant Ships, Passengers, Cancellations

Table Of Content

• What Are the Best Cruise Lines for Families?
• Carnival Cracks Down on Unsanctioned Poolside Gambling During Cruise
• Harmony of the Seas 2024 Review + Cruise News [PODCAST]
• My review of Celebrity Ascent from a first time Celebrity Cruiser [PHOTOS]
• Celebrity, Holland America Line and Celestyal Drastically Alter Itineraries
• Glitch Causes Dining Reservation Snafu on Carnival-Owned Line
• Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Ships by Size: Largest to Smallest

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. The Casino, for instance, has been expanded with a new layout and a separate non-smoking annex. The executive added that, beginning in 2027, Carnival Corporation will welcome one to two ships per year in order to "satisfy outsized demand." “Building on our strong performance and growing momentum around the world, we are excited to resume our newbuild program and further enhance our global fleet with yet another state-of-the-art ship,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation. The cruise company signed an agreement with German shipbuilder Meyer Werft to build the as of yet unnamed ship, which is Carnival's first newbuild order in five years.

What Are the Best Cruise Lines for Families?

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. 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.

Carnival Cracks Down on Unsanctioned Poolside Gambling During Cruise

The line is also rerouting segments on the 2024 World Cruise on Crystal Serenity to avoid the Middle East. We will keep tabs on the situation as it develops, but if you have a cruise booked in this region it is best to reach out to your cruise line for all the latest information on changes and cancellations. (December 5, 2023) -- As part of the inaugural U.S. sailing, Cruise Critic had a chance to take in Beetlejuice The Musical. Norwegian Viva is nearly identical to fleetmate Norwegian Prima, which debuted in 2022, winning a Cruise Critic's Editors' Picks award for best new ship of the year. The cruise line highlighted that Jacksonville is a growing drive-to cruise market, with more than 98 million people living within driving distance to the cruise port.

Harmony of the Seas 2024 Review + Cruise News [PODCAST]

Brown declared February 24 as “Carnival Jubilee Day.”and also presented Duffy with a large, Texas-sized key to the city. “Lokono Cove will be a treasure trove – a place for our guests to immerse themselves in the spirit of The Bahamas and find locally-inspired keepsakes, symbols of paradise they can share with loved ones, or cherish for themselves for years to come,” Duffy said. Music will guide guests on their journey, matched with vibrant murals painted by local artists. One of five distinct portals, or areas, on Celebration Key, Lokono Cove will host the cruise destination's retail and shopping areas in an authentic Bahamian artisan market hosting everything from handcrafts to jewellery. Juneau, Alaska is continuing with its efforts to limit the number of cruise passengers as the capital city of Alaska pre... Fuel efficiency and emissions reduction have taken center stage in the dynamic realm of maritime technology.

Some passengers booked on itineraries in the region, however, are making alternate plans. Cruise lines have begun canceling itineraries scheduled to call on the Middle East as the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip escalates. “The three ships will transfer directly to Europe without any passengers on board and avoid transiting through the Red Sea.

My review of Celebrity Ascent from a first time Celebrity Cruiser [PHOTOS]

The 2003-built cruise ship is now set to undergo a refit before entering service for Celestyal in the Eastern Mediterranean as the Celestyal Discovery. Following a significant refit, the 2000-built vessel will offer a series of four- and five-night cruises to the Western Caribbean and Key West starting in June. 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. With the conflict continuing to escalate – and the increased possibility it could spread beyond the borders of Israel and the Gaza Strip – cruisers are starting to wonder what may become of their cruises to the region in the coming months.

This week, Celebrity and other lines loosened their COVID protocols, no longer requiring vaccinated passengers to test before most cruises and allowing unvaccinated passengers, who must test before boarding. Cruise insiders in recent weeks had been expecting an announcement of a new ship for Carnival Cruise Line, after unconfirmed reports indicated that parent company Carnival Corporation was poised to disclose the development. Elsewhere, the ship's Lido deck draws inspiration from the Italian Riviera and will be the setting of the Festa Italiana deck party. Other Italian-themed activities include the Captain's Venetian Toast and Italian-inspired youth programming for teens and children. Acquired from sister cruise line Costa Cruises, Carnival Firenze becomes the 27th ship in Carnival's fleet.

Glitch Causes Dining Reservation Snafu on Carnival-Owned Line

Other destination options being offered aboard Windstar’s ships are Caribbean, Tahiti, Costa Rica and Panama. “This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth. Like the existing Excel-class ships, the new vessel will be powered by liquified natural gas, which cuts its carbon footprint by reducing emissions. The ships in this class are larger than others in the fleet, and able to offer more restaurants, bars, and activities. American Cruise Lines released additional details on its newest class of coastal cruise ships due to enter service in 20... Celebrity Apex was en-route to Haifa before altering course to dock in Limassol, Cyprus.

Carnival Cruise Line explains onboard ban that angered passengers - TheStreet

Carnival Cruise Line explains onboard ban that angered passengers.

Posted: Sun, 21 Apr 2024 21:47:07 GMT [source]

Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Ships by Size: Largest to Smallest

“The safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit is always our top priority. Our Global Security teams continue to monitor the evolving situation in the Red Sea. In an abundance of caution, we have adjusted select itineraries of Silver Moon, Silver Spirit, and Silver Whisper. We are notifying guests and travel advisors of changes directly,” the cruise line said in a statement shared with Cruise Critic. (December 5, 2023) -- Norwegian Viva made its U.S. debut last week, sailing its first itinerary from Miami before it repositions seasonally to homeport out of Puerto Rico. Norwegian Gem will arrive at JaxPort in November 2025, marking the first time an NCL ship homeports in the northeast Florida port.

Posting videos on TikTok using the name “ruinedvacation,” the woman’s complaints have attracted more than 3 million views. For the second time, Princess Cruises has cancelled the inaugural cruise of its new ship, Sun Princess, due to the need for additional technical work to be completed. The 175,000-gross-ton vessel was officially delivered to the line by the Fincantieri shipyard on February 14, 2024.

The October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas led to a number of lines canceling port calls (see below), while the latest attacks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea in early 2024 has led to cruise lines canceling itineraries in that region. To welcome the ship, Norwegian Cruise Line hosted executives, media (including Cruise Critic), partners and travel agents on a short preview sailing in celebration of the newest ship in the fleet. 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. Royal Caribbean opened for sale a slew of 2025 and 2026 cruises to the Caribbean and Canada/New England from a wide choice of ports. Bookings for voyages onboard seven ships opened to Crown & Anchor Society members on February 14, 2024 and to the general public a day later.

A new inaugural cruise was scheduled for February 18, 2024, and now that has been cancelled as well. Carnival Cruise Line, in the last two years, has promoted three cruise directors to fleet cruise director posts. They are Mike Pack, Chris “Donkey” Salazar, and Chris “The Flying Scotsman” Williams. The Oasis class introduced the line’s popular neighborhood concept, including Boardwalk, with its AquaTheater, arcade, and carousel, and Central Park, a leafy, open space with thousands of live plants and a choice of restaurants and bars.

MSC Cruises, which maintains a strong presence in the Arabian Gulf with cruises aboard MSC Opera, also told Cruise Critic in an email that those voyages – which operate far removed geographically from the current conflict – would continue as planned. 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. Windstar Cruises, which was to deploy its Star Legend on its first series of Middle East voyages next month from Dubai, sent a note to passengers on October 16 advising them that their cruises had been canceled. Cruise lines had initially canceled ports of call in Israel like Ashdod and Haifa following the attack on Israel by Hamas in early October. Now, with the conflict showing no signs of resolving, some cruise lines have begun making sweeping changes to current and upcoming deployments in the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf. Each brand is offering affected cruisers a variety of compensation options, depending on the circumstances and whether their voyages are already underway.

Lastly, following the Explorer Class ships, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029. Building on the success of its Allura Class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029. An irate guest sailing aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Star is calling attention to an itinerary change she says is ruining her vacation at sea.

Indulge Food Hall will be located on Norwegian Aqua's Deck 8 and will be home to 10 food stations that draw inspiration from international food marketplaces. The cruise line revealed new food and beverage venue details ahead of the Prima Plus-class ship's arrival in 2025. 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. Disney Cruise Lines added its fifth and largest ship, Disney Wish, to the fleet this summer and the biggest ship in the world, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas began sailing in March. The new ship launched in the spring, enticing travelers with a two-story sundeck, expanded rooftop garden and French chef Daniel Boulud's first restaurant at sea.