Carnival Cruise Line Captain Niccolo De Ranieri and his team on Mardi Gras received well-deserved recognition for a daring rescue the team performed in June 2022, saving 16 lives in strenuous weather conditions that would eventually become Tropical Storm Alex.

The honor was presented to Ranieri on behalf of his team as part of the Association for Rescue at Sea annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Mardi Gras Team Honored for Extraordinary Rescue

Carnival Cruise Line Captain Niccolo De Ranieri accepted the Cruise Ship Humanitarian Assistance Award during the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) annual awards ceremony on Tuesday evening. The award was presented in recognition of the ship’s outstanding rescue of 16 migrants in distress early on the morning of June 3, 2022.

At the time of the rescue, the 181,808-gross-ton cruise ship – then the newest and largest vessel in the Carnival fleet – was sailing north of Cuba in the Florida Strait as part of a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary, returning to Port Canaveral. The ship was also working to keep ahead of severe weather that would eventually develop into the first named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.

Those challenging weather conditions made the rescue effort exceptionally hazardous, but Captain De Ranieri and his team did not hesitate to take all necessary steps to bring the 16 refugees to safety, using the cruise ship itself as a windbreak to shelter the rescue operation.

Once aboard the cruise ship, the refugees were all provided with food, water, and medical care as needed, as well as fresh clothing.

“Receiving this award is a humbling reminder of the responsibility we have as mariners. I’m proud of my team’s brave and coordinated efforts during this rescue,” said Captain De Ranieri. “It’s an honor to be recognized, and I’m thankful those 16 people were brought to safety.”

As is customary with such rescues, the refugees – 11 men and 5 women – were then turned over to authorities as soon as possible.

A Noble Maritime Duty

All cruise ships, as well as other vessels, are bound by the Safety Of Life At Sea agreements (SOLAS) and the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, which requires that assistance be offered to anyone in danger at sea, so long as it can be done without serious harm to the assisting ship, crew, or passengers.

While the June 2022 incident was not the first time Mardi Gras participated in such a rescue, the exceptional nature of the weather conditions and the efficiency with which the large cruise ship offered aid speaks well of the skill and dedication of her master and her crew.

Mardi Gras is not the first Carnival cruise ship team to be honored for lifesaving efforts. AFRAS has been awarding this type of recognition since approximately 2004, with the more formalized Cruise Ship Humanitarian Assistance Award beginning in 2017.

In August 2004, the Carnival ship Holiday was recognized for the rescue of five Mexican fishermen.

Read Also: Former Carnival Cruise Ships – Where Are They Now?

Carnival Ecstasy was honored in 2021 for a rescue of an injured yacht crewmember during the industry shutdown in November 2020 near Great Stirrup Cay, while maintaining COVID-19 safety protocols throughout. Carnival Elation was similarly honored for a rough seas rescue during Hurricane Irma in September 2017, after the cruise ship was rushed out of dry dock ahead of the impending storm.

In addition to Carnival ships, vessels from Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, TUI Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Holland America Line have also received awards from AFRAS.

A variety of lifesaving awards and other recognition are also presented to United States Coast Guard members and vessels as well as other maritime ships and associated teams for their dedication to safety and preserving life.

Carnival Cruise Line will be relocating its Miami office space within the next two years as the company has engaged real estate services to list the existing property in a skyrocketing real estate market.

While the cruise line does not appear to be relocating outside of the Miami area, the downsizing in office space can be a smart financial step as office roles have changed since the company first started in the location more than 30 years ago.

Carnival to Sell Miami Headquarters

Carnival Corporation & plc is currently based in Doral, Florida, a city in the Miami metropolitan area just west of Miami International Airport and 12 miles (19 kilometers) from PortMiami, through the often congested downtown region. The cruise company will soon be moving, however, as the space is being listed with commercial real estate broker Cushman & Wakefield Plc.

According to Bloomberg, the current headquarters of Carnival Corporation & plc has now been listed for sale as the company is seeking to downsize its overall office space.

The current space measures roughly 470,000 square feet, whereas a space of 300,000 square feet is being sought for the relocation. This reflects changes in office use in several ways, such as the greater use of digital meetings and virtual spaces in the post-pandemic area as well as more efficient staffing, streamlined equipment, and an online or remote workforce that requires less of a physical office footprint.

Carnival Cruise Line first moved into the Doral office space – located at 3655 NW 87th Avenue, Miami – in 1983, having paid $16.6 million (USD) for the real estate at that time.

While no listing is yet publicly active for the space, skyrocketing real estate values in the area could mean a significant profit to be made from a successful sale, which could help the company’s overall financial status and provide a boost for further investment.

New HQ Not Yet Purchased

At the same time, however, the company will need to search for new office space. There is no indication yet where that might be, though it would be logical to secure a space closer to the cruise terminals, if possible. There is no hint that the cruise line might relocate to a completely different area, such as moving closer to Port Canaveral or another busy cruise port.

The report also says that Carnival plans to remain at the same space in Doral for roughly the next two years, so there is time to both secure a new space that will meet evolving, updated needs as well as court a suitable buyer for the existing space at a good price.

It is possible that Carnival will look for a new space that could woo employees with upgraded features and amenities, encouraging greater office use at a time when remote work remains high.

Carnival Corporation & plc has more than 100,000 employees, and while the crews aboard its cruise ships on multiple lines – Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, etc. – make up the bulk of the company’s workforce, shoreside employees are also a valuable part of the team.

Shoreside positions include research and development, management, weather operations, interior design, data analysis, accounting, payroll, recruitment, software engineering, marketing, and much more, as well as teams at cruise homeports, staff for the cruise line’s private islands – including the upcoming Celebration Key – and other destinations.

Lokono Cove is set to join Carnival Cruise Line’s exclusive private destination, Celebration Key, on Grand Bahama Island, emphasizing Bahamian culture and craftsmanship. 

A New Marketplace in the Bahamas

Carnival Cruise Line revealed its latest addition to the much-anticipated Celebration Key by announcing details of Lokono Cove during the annual Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami Beach on April 9. 

One of Celebration Key’s five portals, Lokono Cove will be an exclusive retail portal offering a variety of stores and kiosks featuring everything from souvenirs to fine jewelry, designed to immerse guests in the richness of Bahamian heritage and creativity.

During the announcement of the new portal, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy said, “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 added that Lokono Cove will honor the beauty and culture of The Bahamas.

The chosen name, Lokono, pays homage to the Lucayans, the island’s original inhabitants, and was submitted by Deidre Rahming, in a naming competition held by Carnival Cruise Line. Rahming received $5,000 for the winning name and will have the opportunity to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including transportation, food, and beverages, as well as a day-pass to Celebration Key with drink vouchers, food, and a cabana.

The area will be a departure point for passengers visiting the private port, located 20 miles east of Freeport on Grand Bahama. The port will be dedicated specifically to Carnival Corporation cruise ships, mainly Carnival Cruise Line, but not exclusive from Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, or Cunard Line, which are also a part of the Carnival family.

Celebration Key’s Newest Addition

The unveiling of Lokono Cove marks just the beginning of what’s to come on Grand Bahama’s latest gem, which represents Carnival Corporation’s most significant investment to date at $600 million for the phased development. 

In addition to Lokono Cove, Celebration Key will feature four more distinct “portals,” mirroring the themed zones found on Carnival’s Excel-class ships. At the heart of the port lies the Welcome Portal, to be called Paradise Plaza, which will feature a towering sandcastle and live music as a gateway to the island.

The Family-Friendly Portal will feature a sprawling freshwater lagoon, splash pad, and shallow pool, with waterslides embedded in a grand sandcastle for the adventurous. The area will also feature sports courts, dedicated areas for kids and teens, a beach adorned with various loungers and exclusive cabana rentals, and a diverse selection of dining options.

Read Also: Half Moon Cay, Bahamas – What You Need to Know

For adults, Calypso Lagoon, the Adult-Friendly Portal, will set a tranquil escape by another freshwater lagoon, complete with a swim-up bar and tunes from a live DJ. Cabana offerings include beach cabanas, floating cabanas, or villas with private waterslides. The area will also offer a full-service restaurant focusing on Bahamian delicacies.

For those seeking exclusivity and luxury, the Private Club Portal will provide an additional adults-only sanctuary featuring an infinity pool with views of the Bahamian sea. The club will elevate the experience with sophisticated dining options.

Lokono Cove and Celebration Key are scheduled to open in July 2025. More than 500 Carnival itineraries are already scheduled to call at the port, with 12 ships from eight different homeports in its initial years.

Carnival Corporation is already planning a significant expansion. A $100 million investment will extend the existing pier to accommodate two additional ships by 2026.

A guest on a recent Carnival cruise has reached out to the cruise line’s brand ambassador, upset because their stateroom attendant ignored the do not disturb sign on the door and entered their cabin all the same.

While this may seem like a violation of guests’ privacy, it is actually part of the cruise line’s policy and the attendant was taking the appropriate steps to ensure the guests’ wellness.

Why would a cruise line ignore a do not disturb sign, and how should a guest react if this happens on their cruise vacation?

Do Not Disturb Sign Ignored

A guest on a recent Carnival cruise had their “Snoozin'” door hanger outside their stateroom, indicating they did not wish to be disturbed. To their dismay, however, their attendant knocked on the door and proceeded to enter the cabin anyway, despite the sign.

The guest – who has not been identified – reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, to notify him of the incident and express their displeasure at the sign being ignored.

“How would you like it if the cabin cleaner walked in on you John Heald. Our cleaner knocked and walked in on us ignoring the do not disturb sign we had out. This was not acceptable,” the guest wrote. “Is this how Carnival trains their workers?”

Heald, who routinely answers thousands of questions each week on his popular Facebook page, investigated the incident to determine the circumstances, and responded to the guest to explain the situation.

“I have since spoken with the Housekeeping Manager who explained what had happened. The guests had their ‘SNOOZIN’ sign out for more than 24 hours. So it is company policy that we check the safety and well being of the guests and that is what happened here,” Heald explained.

Carnival Cruise Line provides two-sided “Cruisin'” and “Snoozin'” signs for each stateroom so guests can indicate their privacy or service needs. The red “Snoozin'” side also states “Privacy Please” while the blue “Cruisin'” side says “Service Please” so stateroom attendants can adjust their attention to each cabin as desired.

It is Carnival Cruise Line’s policy, however, to ensure there has been direct contact with each guest onboard in every 24-hour period. This is to ensure there have been no medical emergencies, accidents, or injuries that might leave someone unable to summon help. If a “Snoozin'” sign is not removed so the cabin attendant can check the room, they will ask permission to enter despite the sign.

“The state room attendant did knock as they always do before entering and as there was no reply they entered the room with the floor supervisor also there,” Heald confirmed. “The crew member was simply doing her job.”

Stateroom attendants do have a guest checklist to keep track of having seen travelers to confirm they are okay. This does not mean they must always enter a cabin, however – if an attendant sees “their” guests in the corridor, they can mark the checklist for that day as having seen the passenger.

When it is necessary to enter a stateroom despite the presence of a privacy sign, a floor supervisor or security personnel will accompany the stateroom attendant just in case help is needed. This is also to serve as a witness that the wellness check was done in accordance with the cruise line’s policy.

How Can You Guarantee Privacy?

There are several ways that cruise guests can ensure their “Privacy Please” requests are not violated. If the guest is not in the stateroom, remove the sign so the attendant can easily check the room to know that no one is in distress inside.

If a guest passes their attendant in the hallway, a simple “Hello” is sufficient to ensure they have been adequately seen and their privacy in the stateroom will not be violated, as they are indeed well and out and about enjoying their cruise.

If there is an unexpected knock on the door, quickly answering the door to let the attendant know that all is well will avoid any unwanted entries.

Read Also: What a Cruise Ship Cabin Steward Really Does

Some travelers prefer not to have housekeeping services daily in their stateroom, and making contact with their cabin attendant in the corridor is the best way to ensure they will not be disturbed.

What Not to Do

A further wrinkle to this incident is that the impacted guest was upset enough at the situation to remove gratuities from the housekeeping staff.

“We took away the gratuity and gave it to other crew people,” the guest said.

While it is Carnival Cruise Line’s policy that travelers are always welcome to adjust gratuities onboard (though prepaid gratuities cannot be adjusted), the cruise line prefers that if there is something wrong, the matter be addressed through Guest Services before such a drastic step is taken.

This gives the crew an opportunity to either explain the policy or correct the incident without punishing the crew member by impacting their hard-earned paycheck. This is especially important when an incident like this is a misunderstanding of cruise line policy.

It can be difficult, especially for first-time cruisers, to understand the ins-and-outs of how a cruise ship operates and what services to expect onboard. Crew members are always happy to explain and will work hard to accommodate requests, and polite communication would go a long way to ensure everyone understands what service they may encounter during their cruise vacation.