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Holland America Line Presents Special Solar Eclipse Sailings

Melissa Mayntz
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Holland America Line Presents Special Solar Eclipse Sailings

Holland America Line has revealed new sailings, including special total solar eclipse itineraries, for the line’s 2023-2024 West Coast departures. Included is a special Sea of Cortez sailing with new and unique ports of call, as well as itineraries to Mexico, the Panama Canal, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest.

Special Solar Eclipse Cruises

As Holland America Line continues to be a strong cruise presence on the West Coast, sailing from San Diego, Vancouver, and Seattle, the cruise line is offering unique and engaging itineraries for the 2023-2024 season.

One of the top highlights of the season will be a pair of longer voyages specially planned for outstanding viewing of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

The first solar eclipse cruise is aboard the Rotterdam-class Zaandam, which will depart San Diego on March 30, 2024. The 14-night roundtrip sailing includes visits to a variety of ports along the Mexican Riviera and Baja Peninsula, such as Manzanillo, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, Loreto, La Paz, and Cabo San Lucas.

Holland America Line Cruise
Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line

On the day of the eclipse – April 8, 2024 – the ship will be visiting Mazatlan, right in the midst of the total eclipse zone.

The Pinnacle-class Koningsdam will also offer a special eclipse sailing, departing from San Diego for a 22-night voyage on April 5, 2024, and the vessel will be at sea on April 8 during the eclipse for unparalleled viewing. Ports of call on the cruise include Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, as well as four ports in Hawaii and a visit to Victoria, British Columbia before arriving in Vancouver on April 27.

“We took extra time crafting the solar eclipse cruises so they are perfectly aligned to give our guests a total view,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer, Holland America Line. “We expect them to book up quickly, so those who are interested shouldn’t delay.”

The astronomical phenomena in April 2024 is the first viewable total solar eclipse in the Northern Hemisphere since August 2017, and there will not be another visible in the Northern Hemisphere until August 2026. It will be the first total solar eclipse to be seen in Mexico since July 1991.

More Mexico Sailings

In addition to the solar eclipse cruises, Holland America Line is offering a wide variety of itineraries from San Diego, visiting unique Mexican destinations and offering guests a variety of options to explore the colorful history, art, culture, and cuisine of each region.

“San Diego is an important homeport for Holland America Line, both from a drive-to market and for guests who fly in, and it’s important for us to be able to offer cruises to a variety of destinations,” said Bodensteiner.

Holland America Line
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock

A total of 39 West Coast departures are available, with distinctive ports of call such as La Paz, Loreto, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Santa Rosalia, Topolobampo, and Zihuatanejo. The exact itinerary will vary depending on the ship, sailing date, and cruise length.

In addition to Zaandam and Koningsdam, the Rotterdam-class Volendam will also be sailing in the region, with a special 12-night “Historical Baja Peninsula & Sea of Cortez” sailing departing San Diego on December 10, 2023. The carefully curated itinerary will follow the footsteps of author John Steinbeck and biologist Ed Ricketts’ journey in 1951 that inspired books about their experiences.

Together, the three vessels will offer itineraries ranging from 5-22 nights, with a number of popular 7-night Mexican Riviera sailings throughout the season.

Other West Coast Departures

Beyond Mexico, Holland America cruisers will have the opportunity to enjoy Hawaii sailings aboard either Koningsdam and Volendam, with itineraries ranging from 16-18 days. Both roundtrip and one-way sailings are available from San Diego and Vancouver, with the one-way cruises moving between the two homeports.

Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, and Noordam will also offer limited West Coast departures, including quick getaways, classic wine country sailings, and other options.

Four Holland America line vessels will transit the Panama Canal during the 2023-24 season: Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Volendam, and Zaandam. All transits are planned as daytime events, and will include special guests onboard to provide commentary about the engineering and other aspects of the canal as the ships move through the momentous passage. All transits will then visit various Caribbean ports of call before arriving in Fort Lauderdale.

With so many options available, there is a Holland America Line cruise suitable for all guests setting sail from the West Coast.

Carnival Cruise Line’s New Ship is All Shiny in Latest Update

Robert McGillivray
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Carnival Cruise Line’s New Ship is All Shiny in Latest Update

Carnival Jubilee, the newest cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line, is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The shipyard provided a construction update of the vessel today, showing the steady progress that has been made lately.

Carnival Jubilee is the first Excel class cruise ship to be built for Carnival Cruise Line in Germany, marking a significant milestone for the company. Construction on the sistership to Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras is expected to be completed in the second half of this year, with the maiden voyage taking place in December 2023.

Meyer Werft Provides Construction Update on Carnival Jubilee

Construction on the 180,000 gross tons Carnival Jubilee began in March of 2022 when Carnival Cruise Line and the Meyer Werft shipyard celebrated the cutting of the first steel.

The keel was laid down in July of 2022, and since then, the shipyard has been working diligently to bring the vessel to completion. The shipyard provided an update on the cruise ship’s construction today, January 17, showing the final coat of blue paint on the ship.

Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Meyer Werft

The Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, stated on its Facebook page: “The year 2023 is now a few days old, and so it’s high time to post a recent photo from our building dock once again: The Carnival Jubilee is currently under construction in Hall 6, and with her bright blue paint job and finished ship’s name, she is an impressive sight to behold.” 

“Work on and inside the 345-meter ship for the American shipping company Carnival Cruise Line continues to make steady progress. When completed, she will be in no way inferior to her Turku-built sisters Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.”

The ship now features the sparkling blue paint of the hull, the red pinstripe along the edge of the hull, and the flowing lines of the name painted on the side of the ship. The full vessel has now been painted, with no more bare metal showing. 

Carnival Jubilee
Carnival Jubilee

In the coming months, expect more updates regarding the build progress of Carnival Jubilee, as the shipyard will be installing important Fun stuff such as the BOLT rollercoaster and the signature Carnival Cruise Line Whale tail funnels. 

Carnival Cruise Line will disclose more details about this exciting new cruise ship soon, as several areas on decks 6, 7, and 8 are still to be revealed. Many of these areas have seen several changes between Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. The expectation is that Carnival Cruise Line will think of several new venues and spaces for Carnival Jubilee.

Delivery of Carnival Jubilee Slightly Delayed

Carnival Jubilee was scheduled to sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton in the United Kingdom. However, due to delays in the global supply chain, this voyage and several others were canceled. The impacted sailings are all voyages from October 30, 2023, through and including the December 16, 2023 sailing.

Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship
Rendering Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Because of the delay, Carnival Jubilee‘s maiden voyage will now be sailing from Galveston on December 23, 2023. Further details of that sailing are not yet available.

Once completed, the Carnival Jubilee will be based year-round in Galveston, Texas, and will be operating seven-day cruises to the Western Caribbean with departures every Saturday. Voyages include cruises to Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Mahogany Bay on Isla Roatan, Honduras. The vessel will be able to welcome 5,347 guests at double occupancy and as many as 6,631 guests when fully booked.

A Month of Sailings Cancelled for Norwegian Cruise Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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A Month of Sailings Cancelled for Norwegian Cruise Ship

Norwegian Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked aboard Norwegian Joy in early 2024 to inform them that their cruises have been cancelled, and the ship will be undergoing a drydock revitalization during the impacted time period.

Compensation is being provided, and since the affected sailings are a year away, guests have plenty of time to alter their travel plans for a different cruise vacation.

Norwegian Joy Sailings Cancelled

Guests eagerly anticipating their upcoming cruises aboard the Breakaway-Plus-class Norwegian Joy in early 2024 will need to reschedule their vacation plans, as Norwegian Cruise Line has emailed booked passengers that a month of sailings has been cancelled for the ship’s revitalization.

“As part of our commitment to continuously offer extraordinary vacation experiences around the world for our guests, and to uphold a consistent world-class product across our fleet, Norwegian Joy will be undergoing a revitalization in early 2024,” the email read.

“In order to complete these enhancements, Norwegian Joy sailings from January 6, 2024 through and including February 10, 2024 have been canceled.”

Norwegian Joy in Alaska
Photo Credit: EB Adventure Photography / Shutterstock.com

A total of four sailings are impacted by this cancellation, including two one-way 15-night voyages between Miami and Los Angeles that would have taken guests through the Panama Canal and to various ports in Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico. The other two cancelled cruises are a 5-night Mexican Riviera getaway from Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, and a 7-night sailing from Miami to Honduras, Belize, and Mexico.

No further details about the ship’s planned revitalization have been released, but the drydock work will likely include standard hotel upgrades and refinishing of public areas, as well as various technical or behind-the-scenes upgrades.

It is possible that some of the refurbishment will also include changes to lounges and entertainment areas in line with the cruise line’s recent announcement about reducing entertainment options.

The 167,725-gross-ton Norwegian Joy first joined the fleet in 2017 in China, and much of her design was specifically outfitted for Chinese guests. Her most recent refurbishment was in 2019, an extensive $50 million (USD) update that renovated the vessel to better serve a Western market rather than an Asian one.

Refunds and Other Compensation Offered

All guests booked on the now-cancelled cruises will automatically receive a 100% refund returned to the form of payment made to secure the reservation, though refunds could take 30-45 days to appear back in guests’ accounts, depending on their financial institution. If a future cruise credit (FCC) was used for the reservation, that credit will be returned to guests’ cruise line loyalty accounts.

Norwegian Joy Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line

It should be noted that the expiration date, if applicable, of the FCC will not be adjusted. Because the sailing is a year away, however, guests do have ample time to apply any credits to other sailings as they change their travel plans.

In addition to the full refund, guests are also being offered a 10% FCC based on their fare paid for the cancelled voyage, which may be applied to any future Norwegian Cruise Line sailing through December 31, 2024. “We sincerely appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you aboard very soon,” the email concluded.

Why Cancellations?

While impacted guests will understandably be upset at the cruise cancellations, these types of scheduling changes do happen and cruise lines make every effort to provide guests with early notice so their travel plans can be more easily adjusted.

Cruise ship dry docks are generally scheduled well in advance, and cruise lines try to plan for gaps in a ship’s deployment so no cruises need to be cancelled when a ship is out of service for upgrades and maintenance.

This isn’t always possible, however, and shipyard schedules, the supply of materials, environmental regulation changes, and unexpected repairs can all require adjustments to dry dock plans.

Norwegian Cruise Line similarly canceled cruises for Norwegian Escape in September 2022 due to dry dock, while Carnival Cruise Line canceled five sailings for Carnival Paradise in October 2023 for dry dock renovations.

At this time, many shipyards are still struggling with scheduling issues from the pandemic disruption, which caused numerous delays and postponements of ship construction, renovations, and repairs. Similar cancellations are to be expected for all cruise lines, and guest should remain flexible and understanding with their travel plans.

How Does a Cruise Ship Stabilizer Work?

Haiyan Ma
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How Does a Cruise Ship Stabilizer Work?

What is a cruise ship stabilizer? How does it work? Stabilizers serve an essential function on cruise ships. They are fins or rotors beneath the water line, extended from the ship’s hull to stabilize the ship and prevent it from rolling. This rolling could result from either wind or waves, and the stabilizer steadies the ship.

In general, you don’t need to worry about how the ship stays stable – that’s for the engineers to concern themselves with. However, if you’re curious, the following is a guide you can reference for your safety, comfort, and enjoyment.

In This Article…

How Do They Work?

Modern ship stabilizers – of which there are many types – are highly effective and efficient. Below, we describe the different types and how they function. 

Passive Systems

These systems don’t require external power or control. Examples include a bilge keel, fixed fin, and moving weight system.

Bilge Keels

These are used widely throughout the cruise ship industry. A bilge keel is an externally-fitted bulb plate that forces the water to move with the ship, which creates turbulence – a necessary controlled underwater force for smooth sailing – and reduces motion. It functions best at higher speeds. 

Active Systems

These systems use external power and control to provide a roll that opposes the natural roll of the water underneath the ship at any given time. Examples include active fins, gyroscopes, and active moving weight systems. 

Active Fins

Active fins use a roll sensor that conveys the roll angle and velocity to a main external controller. That controller processes these two factors using data algorithms and transmits back the correct response to counterbalance against the roll, using fins and hydraulic pressure. 

Cruise Ship Stabilizer Fin
Cruise Ship Stabilizer Fin (Photo Credit: Templar52)

Active fins have a relatively high 90% success rate, ensuring smooth sailing (literally). It also keeps the resale value of the ship high. Like bilge keels, active fins are less effective at very slow speeds, but there are modern technologies that can fix that. 

Active Anti-rolling Tanks

These work above the water line. These tanks use pumps or air pressure to control the water’s motion, decreasing roll while a second axial pump transfers water from one side of the ship to the other. The tanks time the water flow in sync with the ship’s roll, reducing overall roll and motion. 

While highly effective, there can be a lag time in filling the tanks, which would cause a delay in the tanks’ ability to stabilize roll effectively.

More on Stabilizers

Consider this section more casual parlance about stabilizers, in case the technical specs were too techy. People who board a cruise ship are sometimes afraid that the boat will rock so much as to make them seasick. We have great news to the contrary – that rarely happens!

The ship stabilizers are responsible for that stability. While a bit of motion here and there is inevitable, you likely won’t feel it unless there’s a disaster or an unexpected turn, which is rare. Check out the secret codes on cruise ships for more information about those phenomena.

For the active and passive finned stabilizers, a cruise ship’s stabilizers essentially act how you would expect fins to act in the water. They extend out from both sides of any given cruise vessel. They are usually below the waterline, invisible to passengers and crew, while engineers have access to them in case of an emergency onboard (i.e., they stop working).

Cruise Fin Stabilizer
Image Credit: Tosaka

Smaller ships have two, and larger ships and other vessels, such as military craft, have four. 

In layman’s terms, all “roll” means is the vessel’s movement at sea. Since you want to do all sorts of things that require stability, such as hitting the gym, dancing, or clinking wine glasses with friends – preventing roll is paramount. 

The fins adjust and calibrate according to the motion of the water. One fin lifts, and the other goes down. It’s all about balance. These motions help the ship stay stable and in equilibrium by cutting through the water and creating drag, no matter what the movement of the water will bring. Heavy storms are possible, but cruise ships are so elegantly and maturely designed that they know just what to do.

Technology has its limits, though. There is what’s called “pitch” on all maritime vessels. Pitch is the up-and-down movement of the ship, so lengthwise or horizontal motion. Manual labor is the way through that natural phenomenon – adjusting the ship’s course. With skilled captains at the helm, this won’t be a problem.

Conclusion

This is your go-to guide on ship stabilizers. We’ve provided both highly technical and highly accessible descriptions and specifications of stabilizers, including differentiating between the different types that are out there.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Propeller Size – How Big Are They?

We learned that finned stabilizers act like real water fins, balancing out the motion of the water and helping the ship compensate for it by creating drag. You might want to take this guide with you when you board a cruise ship for the first time or anytime. It will put you at ease.

Carnival Sailing Turns Into Cruise to Nowhere

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Sailing Turns Into Cruise to Nowhere

With poor weather impacting a number of ships in The Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend, several ships adjusted itineraries and port visits to steer clear of the worst swells and gusty winds.

For Carnival Sunshine, these adjustments meant a Bahamas sailing turned into a cruise to nowhere with no ports of call, but guests received excellent compensation for their radically altered cruise.

Carnival Sunshine Cancels Visit to Nassau

Carnival Sunshine is currently sailing a 4-night cruise from Charleston, South Carolina, with just one planned port of call – Nassau in The Bahamas. That visit had been scheduled for Saturday, January 14, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Guests were notified onboard, however, that the visit was not possible due to poor weather. “We are not able to visit Nassau today due to unfavorable weather that would make docking unsafe,” the letter delivered to guests said. “We know you were looking forward to your time in port and apologize for this change of plans.”

During the time Carnival Sunshine was to have been docked, Nassau was experiencing steady winds at about 20-25 miles per hour (32-40 kilometers per hour), with gusts as high as 40 mph (64 kph).

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship
Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship

These conditions created unstable conditions on the dock, making it unsafe for guests to cross the gangway to get on or off the ship, or to walk down the dock into the downtown area.

Furthermore, many of the most popular excursions, such as snorkeling trips or dolphin encounters, would have been impossible in the choppy water.

Since the ship did not stop at the port, all shore excursions, as well as taxes and port fees, were automatically refunded to guests’ Sail & Sign accounts.

Cancelling the port of call is the second alteration to Carnival Sunshine‘s current sailing. Prior to setting sail, guests had been informed of a change in embarkation time in Charleston, and had to adjust their arrival times one hour earlier than originally planned.

Fortunately, no further delays or changes to the cruise are expected, and Carnival Sunshine should arrive back in Charleston as expected on Monday, January 16.

Compensation Offered

Because the single-port cruise has now become a cruise-to-nowhere without any port visits, Carnival Cruise Line is offering generous compensation to guests.

In addition to the automatic refunds of fees, taxes, and shore tours, guests are receiving $100 (USD) per stateroom of onboard credit, which can be used for drinks, spa treatments, specialty dining, photos, and onboard shopping. That is not the only compensation guests on this cruise are receiving, however.

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

“We also want you to return to experience the cruise we had intended for you,” the letter read. “So, we are extending a 50% future cruise credit for you to use towards another Carnival Cruise.” The letter was signed by the ship’s master, Captain Leonardo Contarino.

The future cruise credit (FCC) is based on the fare guests paid for this voyage, and is unable to be used for a deposit on a new cruise but can be applied to additional payments for the fare. The FCC must be redeemed by January 31, 2024, and can be used for any departure from any homeport and on any ship in the Carnival fleet.

Many Ships Impacted by Weather

Carnival Sunshine is not the only ship that has been impacted by the strong cold front that moved through The Bahamas over the weekend.

Two Royal Caribbean ships, Liberty of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, had to skip visiting CocoCay on Saturday because of rough waves and wind gusts that made the dock unsafe.

Several other ships, including Disney Wish, Norwegian Pearl, Carnival Liberty, and Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas, also had to skip Nassau on Saturday.

More From Cruise Hive

Earlier in the storm’s track, Norwegian Gem had to drastically shorten its port time in Bermuda to avoid the worst weather conditions.

Poor weather can affect any cruise ship on any itinerary at any time of year. Cruise guests should always stay in touch with their cruise line for updates as their sailing date approaches, and remain flexible in their vacation expectations in case changes are necessary.

MSC Cruises Ship Rescues Boat With Two Dozen Refugees

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Cruises Ship Rescues Boat With Two Dozen Refugees

MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia rescued a dramatically overloaded boat with 24 refugees aboard on Saturday, January 14, 2023, as the cruise ship was returning to Port Canaveral at the end of a 9-night itinerary.

The rescue happened during the ship’s last day at sea, and all refugees were safely brought aboard the larger vessel to be brought to the proper authorities.

MSC Meraviglia Rescues 24 Refugees

MSC Meraviglia encountered the overloaded refugee boat at approximately 12 P.M. on Saturday, January 14, as the ship was enjoying a day at sea en route to Port Canaveral. The ship had visited Cozumel, Mexico on Friday, and the incident occurred in the Straits of Florida, between Cuba and the Sunshine State.

Once the small craft was spotted, the 171,598-gross-ton vessel turned around to offer assistance, sending out one of its own lifeboats to make contact with the refugee boat. At the time, the waves were rolling noticeably, but all individuals on the refugee boat were safely transferred to the lifeboat.

The small boat appeared to be covered in a green tarp, and the occupants were waving at the cruise ship and lifeboat to indicate distress.

The rescue took approximately one hour from the time MSC Meraviglia first slowed and turned to when all refugees were safely aboard and the cruise ship resumed course.

MSC Meraviglia Cruise Ship
MSC Meraviglia Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Valokuva24 / Shutterstock)

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) was notified of the encounter, and will take custody of the refugees once the cruise ship returns to Port Canaveral on Sunday, January 15. In the meantime, all individuals are being provided with food, water, shelter, and medical care as necessary.

The ship continued on its way shortly after the rescue, and is scheduled to arrive back in Port Canaveral on time by 7 a.m. Sunday morning. No delays or changes for the next cruise, a 4-night sailing to Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, are expected at this time.

Many Refugee Rescues in Same Region

MSC Meraviglia encountered this boat of refugees approximately 75 miles (120 kilometers) northeast of Havana, Cuba, which is also 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Key West, Florida.

Worth Reading: MSC Cruises Crew Member Helps Rescue Guest at Ocean Cay

This area is the Straits of Florida, the closest point between Cuba and the United States. This is where many refugee encounters have occurred in recent weeks as desperate individuals seek a better life for themselves, whether due to political corruption, economics, criminal activity, or other reasons.

Just in the past month, there have been at least 11 incidents where cruise ships have either assisted or rescued refugee craft.

Carnival Celebration Cruise Rescue
Photo Credit: Leslie Andradi

In addition to MSC Meraviglia, cruise ships that have reported these encounters include Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Beyond, Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady and Scarlet Lady, Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Celebration and Carnival Sunrise, and Royal Caribbean International’s Jewel of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.

More From Cruise Hive

In total, these rescues involved more than 75 refugees, all of whom would have been turned over to proper authorities and eventually returned to their home countries as necessary.

Additional rescues have also taken place closer to The Bahamas recently. Rotterdam rescued 14 refugees during Hurricane Nicole in mid-November, while the ship was at sea longer than expected due to the closure of Port Everglades, and similarly, poor weather on January 14 kept Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas from visiting CocoCay, and the ship encountered and rescued refugees instead.

These are only the reported and confirmed rescue encounters, and do not include any rescues by military, cargo, or private mariners, nor any refugee craft that successfully makes it across the Straits to land in the Florida Keys or on the peninsula’s mainland.

Royal Caribbean Ship Skips Port, Rescues Boat Instead

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Ship Skips Port, Rescues Boat Instead

While bad weather forced Royal Caribbean International’s Liberty of the Seas to forgo a planned port of call, the result was very fortunate indeed as the ship found itself in the position to rescue a group of refugees from rough conditions and a makeshift craft. The rescue was a tricky one due to the challenging conditions, but all refugees were safely brought aboard the cruise ship.

Liberty of the Seas Rescues Refugees

The wayward craft was sighted just before 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2023, and Liberty of the Seas turned to assess the situation and offer assistance, as is protocol for any boat that appears to be in distress.

At the time, guests onboard the Freedom-class cruise ship reported the conditions as very choppy water and quite breezy, a situation that would be very dangerous for any small, ill-equipped boat.

Because of the poor conditions, however, the cruise ship was unable to launch a rescue craft, which could have been damaged as it was released from the ship. Instead, the refugees rowed toward the ship and were able to catch a rope to tie up alongside the vessel as guests cheered and applauded for the fortuitous encounter.

The small boat appeared to be constructed from reused wood and was overloaded with 17 individuals, male and female, aboard. A battered piece of cloth was affixed to the bow, perhaps to be used as a sail or shade for the occupants, but it had been torn away before the boat met the cruise ship.

After the rescue, the small craft was left adrift, with its position reported to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) so other vessels would be aware of the debris. The USCG will also take custody of the refugees as soon as possible, and they will be repatriated to their home country.

A Rescue That Might Not Have Happened

It is doubly lucky for the refugees that the cruise ship was able to come to their aid, as the cruise ship was not supposed to be sailing on Saturday.

Liberty of the Seas is currently sailing a 3-night weekend itinerary to The Bahamas, with two planned port visits. The ship was supposed to have been docked at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will call on Nassau on Sunday.

Liberty of the Seas Cruise Ship
Liberty of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Debbie Ann Powell / Shutterstock)

Because of bad weather throughout The Bahamas, however, the ship’s visit to CocoCay was cancelled, and because the ship was enjoying a day at sea instead, it was in the right place at the right time to encounter the imperiled refugees.

Liberty of the Seas‘ rescue comes at a time when refugee encounters are noticeably high, with multiple cruise ships from multiple cruise lines having made similar rescues since the first of the year.

Weather Affecting Multiple Ships

Several cruise ships in The Bahamas and as far north as Bermuda have adjusted their itineraries because of the strong cold front that is causing gusty winds and choppy waves that make both docking and tendering unsafe.

On Friday, January 13, Norwegian Escape cancelled its visit to Great Stirrup Cay, while the new Norwegian Prima cancelled its planned Saturday visit to the private island. On Thursday, Norwegian Gem shortened its extended call in Bermuda to avoid the worst of the weather.

In addition to Liberty of the Seas missing out on CocoCay on Saturday, Oasis of the Seas also cancelled that port stop on the same day.

Throughout Saturday, weather at both Great Stirrup Cay and CocoCay included wind gusts as high as 40 miles per hour (64 kilometers per hour). Conditions may remain poor through Sunday and could impact additional ship visits for that day.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Cancel Calls Due to High Winds

Robert McGillivray
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Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Cancel Calls Due to High Winds

A follow-up on the weather front in southern Florida and the Bahamas that is causing cruise ships to cancel port calls this weekend. As of Saturday, January 14th, the situation has worsened.

The storm system has brought winds exceeding 40 knots and waves crashing over the pier at Royal Caribbean’s private island, making it unsafe for anyone to be on it.

Consequently, Royal Caribbean has cancelled the call to its private island resort of Perfect Day at CocoCay for two cruise ships, Liberty of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.

The cancellation was met with disappointment and understanding onboard both vessels. Passengers were informed that the weather conditions were worse than expected and the safety of the passengers and crew was the top priority.

Most cruise ships with calls scheduled in the Bahamas this weekend have been unable to make their intended visits on Saturday, with Freedom of the Seas and Margaritaville being the sole exception so far.

No Perfect Day for Royal Caribbean Guests

The cold front and weather system that made its way south over the last couple of days and has been affecting Florida and the Bahamas has forced several cruise ships to change their itineraries. While we already saw several Norwegian Cruise Line cancel calls to Great Stirrup Cay on Friday. Today, Royal Caribbean canceled all calls to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Navigator of the Seas at CocoCay
Photo Credit: Hendrickson Photography / Shutterstock

James van Fleet, the chief meteorologist for Royal Caribbean, posted the following update: “Good morning Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas guests. Gusts are topping 40 knots, about 5 knots higher than anticipated, and we are seeing waves crash over the Pier, making it unsafe for anyone to be on it. It does look better tomorrow for Freedom of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas.”

Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean Shifts Bahamas Itineraries Due to Cold Front

The weather system is now expected to clear the Bahamas by the morning on Sunday, with weather conditions rapidly improving throughout the day. This will be a relief to passengers on the Freedom of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas, who will most likely be able to make their scheduled calls to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

It is important to note that these cancellations are out of the cruise line’s control and are made to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew. As the weather system is expected to clear by Sunday, passengers on affected ships can look forward to resuming their planned itineraries with improved weather conditions.

The call to Perfect Day at CocoCay for Oasis of the Seas was the last of a 10 Night Eastern Caribbean Holiday, due back in PortMiami tomorrow, January 15. Liberty of the Seas will sail to Nassau tomorrow, and return to Fort Lauderdale on Monday.

Nassau Proves Difficult to Reach

Saturday was supposed to be a busy day for Nassau, Bahamas, as several cruise ships were scheduled to make calls there. 

Among the ships were the Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Liberty, Disney Wish, Freedom Of The Seas, Mariner of the Seas, and Norwegian Pearl. However, due to the high winds and rough seas caused by the weather front, not all ships could dock as planned.

Cruise Ships in Storm
Photo Credit: Dee Browning / Shutterstock

According to reports, only the Freedom of the Seas was able to dock in Nassau, despite the challenging weather conditions. On the other hand, Disney Wish attempted to dock but had to abandon it due to the weather conditions.

Read Also: Rough Seas on a Cruise Ship – How They Handle it

Norwegian Pearl, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Liberty, and Mariner of the Seas had to change their itinerary and could not make their scheduled call to Nassau. 

Other ships that have canceled port calls in the Bahamas today include Carnival Freedom which was due in Princess Cays; Scarlet Lady, which was supposed to call to Bimini today; and Brilliance of the Seas which canceled its call to Freeport. 

All ships scheduled to call to a port in the Bahamas this Saturday, but could not do so, have chosen to spend the day at sea. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Cutting Back on Entertainment

Donna Tunney
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Norwegian Cruise Line Cutting Back on Entertainment

Norwegian Cruise Line is making further adjustments to its offerings onboard, and this time, it’s all about entertainment. The cruise line has communicated to impacted crew members that as it’s moving into a steadier state of operations, some of its shipboard options are changing. This includes staff cutbacks and reduced production shows.

This news comes after NCL has made several changes across the fleet recently, including increasing gratuities, reduced housekeeping, shoreside staff reductions, room service fees, and even removing crew member privileges in guest areas.

NCL Adjusts Entertainment

Norwegian Cruise Line is continuing with its cutbacks, as some crew members are reporting the line is cutting cast members and other entertainment staff. In some cases, contracts were ended early, and recently hired workers were told not to report to their ship.

NCL informed crew members that it was moving into a steadier state of operations, and this included making some adjustments across its entertainment departments onboard ships.

Norwegian Cruise Line Deck
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz

An email from the cruise line on Crew Center says, “After bringing our entire fleet back into service we have reached the time where we transition from operating in a ‘relaunch’ mode to a steadier state of operations. As part of this transition, Norwegian Cruise Line is adjusting its shipboard entertainment operations.”

Norwegian continues to say, “We regret to inform you that the decision has been made to reduce our Entertainment department manning across all vessels and as a result, your scheduled assignment has been cancelled and your services are no longer required.”

The show “Kinky Boots” is being discontinued on Norwegian Encore effective January 15, and staff were being sent home before their contracts were up. Others who were on vacation at the time of the announcement received notices to not return to their assigned ships. Norwegian’s press office did not respond to a request for confirmation about entertainment staff changes.

Earlier Cutbacks and Reductions

In mid-December 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, announced it would reduce shoreside staff by 9%, saying the decision was one of the company’s “prudent actions across our business to align with our strategic priorities.”

The company said, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to restructure and rightsize our shoreside workforce, reducing our current and planned shoreside roles by approximately 9%.”

“This action is part of a broader and ongoing effort to improve operating efficiencies, including cost minimization initiatives, to strengthen the foundation for sustained, profitable growth.”

Norwegian Bliss in Seattle
Photo Credit: casa.da.photo / Shutterstock

Entertainment staff reductions appear limited to Norwegian Cruise Line, since no mention was made of similar changes within Oceania Cruises or Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Earlier in December, Norwegian Cruise Line took steps to increase some onboard charges, including certain fees and gratuities. These included a new $4.95 service fee for continental breakfast room service. While many cruise lines have rolled out room service fees in recent years, classic continental breakfast offerings have typically remained free of charge.

On the gratuity front, the Haven and Suite guests, who book the highest level of accommodations on Norwegian ships, are now charged $25 per day per person. Previously, the charge was $20 per day.

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Club Balcony suite guests and all other guests now pay $20 per day per person. It represents a $2 increase from the previous gratuity charge of $18 per day for Club Balcony suite guests and a $4 increase for guests staying in all other cabin categories.

The cruise line also announced a cutback on housekeeping, with a decrease in cabin service and some adjustments to crew staffing.

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