In a significant update, Carnival Corporation reveals an impressive surge in bookings for 2024, alongside proactive changes to itineraries in the Red Sea region. However, the changes could impact the company’s financial growth.
Unprecedented Booking Momentum
Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator, has reported an exceptional start to the year, with booking volumes reaching all-time highs. The company has experienced robust booking momentum since November, surpassing previous records.
The final quarter of 2023 set a remarkable precedent for Carnival, with historic booking highs noted during key sales periods like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Impressively, total customer deposits soared to a fourth-quarter record of $6.4 billion, a 25% increase from the previous record in November 2022.
The final quarter also came as Carnival Cruise Line introduced its newest ship, Carnival Jubilee. The 183,521-gross-ton, 6,500-passenger ship based in Galveston, Texas, embarked on her inaugural cruise on December 23, 2023.
Carnival Jubilee in Galveston, Texas
As 2024 progresses, Carnival’s booking trajectory continues its upward climb. Nearly two-thirds of the company’s 2024 occupancy has already been secured, and the first half of 2024 is nearly fully booked.
This trend positions Carnival Corporation for substantial growth. The company expects to return to historical occupancy levels and achieve a growth of over 30% compared to 2023.
Red Sea Itinerary Adjustments
However, in response to the escalating tensions in the Red Sea and surrounding areas, Carnival has decided to reroute itineraries for 12 ships across seven brands, including Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises, Seabourn, and AIDA Cruises.
These adjustments significantly impact key voyages, including those of Costa Deliziosa and P&O Cruises’ Arcadia, which were originally scheduled to navigate through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea on World Tour itineraries. Furthermore, Carnival Corporation’s AIDA Cruises has announced the cancellation of several spring 2024 voyages. This decision affects several ships in its fleet, namely AIDAbella, AIDAblu, and AIDAprima.
AIDAprima Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Janet Worg)
In addition, Seabourn’s Encore is making revisions to its Arabian itineraries. This change particularly affects two fully-booked cruises set for departure in March and April 2024.
Carnival’s assessment of the situation led to a regulatory filing that stated, “We believe that the instability in the Red Sea region currently impacting shipping could have an impact on our results of operations.”
The company expects the rerouting to affect its earnings per share by $0.07 to $0.08 for the full year of 2024, with a significant concentration of this impact in the second quarter.
Strong Outlook Amidst Challenges
Despite these challenges, Carnival Corporation maintains a positive outlook. The record levels of bookings for 2024 are expected to offset the financial impacts of the Red Sea itinerary changes, contributing significantly to the company’s performance for the year.
Completing this operational success is Carnival’s strong financial position. The company strategically redeemed $571 million in second-priority senior secured notes due 2027. This action eliminates all remaining second-lien debt, marking a significant step toward financial stability.
Rising Tensions Changing Cruise Itineraries
The Red Sea’s escalating geopolitical strife, mainly due to Houthi rebels in Yemen, has disrupted a key maritime route connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean.
This instability has affected commerce flow between Asia and Europe, and despite military interventions by U.S. and British forces, the impact on maritime operations continues to spread to cruise lines.
The situation has compelled other cruise lines to similarly adjust their itineraries. MSC Cruises rerouted MSC Poesia and cancelled three grand voyages scheduled for April. Silversea’s Silver Moon also cancelled sailings in the region.
Guests are already excited to be visiting Carnival Cruise Line’s new private destination on Grand Bahama Island, Celebration Key, when it opens in summer 2025.
Now, new details about the exclusive port are amping up the excitement even further. The destination will offer something for everyone with five distinct “portals” offering unique experiences for all guests.
Celebration Key to Feature Five Portals
Carnival Cruise Line has revealed that the upcoming Celebration Key will be divided into five unique portals, each of which will have unique features to welcome guests and immerse them in authentic Bahamian culture.
“No one does FUN like Carnival and we are designing Celebration Key, and its five portals, with endless ways for our guests to unlock their own kind of fun in this incredible paradise that also celebrates the beauty of Grand Bahama,”said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“Celebration Key is uniquely positioned to bring an island experience to our diverse range of guests, in a way that lets them choose their slice of ‘paradise.'”
When first arriving at the destination, which is now under construction, guests will pass through the Welcome Portal. This iconic focal point will feature an immense sand castle symbolizing the fun the destination holds. Live music will create a truly celebratory atmosphere, and information will be available to help guests orient themselves to the new port.
Great fun for all ages will be found at the Family-Friendly Portal with its large freshwater lagoon, colorful splash pad, racing waterslides, sports courts, and a variety of dining options. Guests can enjoy the beach or opt for private cabana rentals or villas with their own personal waterslides into the lagoon.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Key
Guests who want a break from younger cruisers can opt for the Adult-Friendly Portal with access to the lagoon and warm which sands at the beach. A swim-up bar provides convenient refreshment, and a DJ will be spinning tunes to keep the party going all day long. Cabana and villa rentals are also available at this portal, along with a full-service restaurant for a relaxing meal.
Even more exclusivity can be found at the Private Club Portal, described as a “premium experience curated for those who are seeking a relaxing and luxurious day in paradise.” This adult-only retreat will have an infinity pool with stunning views, relaxing loungers, and elevated dining options.
To take home a memento of their visit to Celebration Key, guests will want to visit the Retail Portal with its beautiful murals by Bahamian artists and a wide selection of locally-made artisanal goods. Duty-free stores will also be located in this area.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Key
Also part of Celebration Key will be an events pavilion for hosting weddings, vow renewals, and other celebrations, which may also be used for activities and events while guests are visiting. With the adjacent dock allowing immediate access to the destination, two Carnival ships can visit simultaneously.
The destination will also have expansion space for future development, with preliminary plans that include a waterpark, zipline course, and more. No timeline for those expansions has yet been announced, and the initial phase of Celebration Key will begin welcoming guests in July 2025.
Costs Not Yet Revealed
Of special note is that costs for cabana or villa rentals, as well as other experiences that may be offered on Celebration Key, have not yet been revealed. It is possible there may be fees to access more exclusive parts of the destination, similar to the fee Royal Caribbean International has for guests to access the new adults-only Hideaway Beach on CocoCay.
Itineraries have already been opened for ships visiting Celebration Key, with 12 Carnival ships from eight different homeports scheduled to visit the new destination in 2025 and 2026 on itineraries ranging from 3-14 nights.
The $200 million destination is already under construction, and further details will be revealed in the months to come about what guests can expect at the new port of call.
Carnival Jubilee was able to smoothly rescue two men in a kayak stranded at sea on the morning of Monday, January 29, 2024.
What was initially believed to be a man overboard emergency was quickly adapted to the rescue operation, and both men were brought safely aboard the cruise ship.
Carnival Jubilee Rescue at Sea
Carnival Jubilee was just enjoying a beautiful morning for a day at sea when a man overboard alert was called and the ship’s crew quickly sprang into action with emergency operations. A few minutes later, the situation was clarified as a rescue operation for a kayak with two men aboard rather than anyone actually overboard the cruise ship.
The men did have paddles to steer the kayak and were able to come alongside the cruise ship for immediate assistance. A rope was lowered and they safely climbed a ladder onto the ship while the kayak was left abandoned.
No supplies were immediately visible in the kayak, and only one of the men appeared to be wearing a life jacket while the other man was barefoot.
The men appeared to be from a larger vessel that may have sunk or otherwise have become disabled overnight, though those details have not been confirmed and it is possible that strong winds simply blew the kayak away from shore. The kayak’s bright yellow and orange coloring undoubtedly helped its visibility so the men could be spotted and rescued before they had drifted further.
The incident happened approximately 9 miles (15 kilometers) east of Cancun, Mexico, and 50 miles (80 km) north-northeast of Cozumel. There is no immediate confirmation of where the men had originally set sail from.
While onboard Carnival Jubilee, the men would have been provided food, water, and medical care as necessary. Local authorities were alerted, and the men were turned over to Mexican officials via a patrol boat sent to meet the cruise ship shortly after the rescue. This is standard procedure for rescued individuals, no matter what the circumstances.
Carnival Jubilee departed from Galveston, Texas on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Saturday, January 27. The first two days of the sailing are days at sea, and the ship will spend Tuesday, January 30 in Roatan, Honduras followed by Wednesday in Costa Maya and Thursday in Cozumel. Another day at sea will bring the ship home to the Lone Star State on Saturday, February 3.
The 183,521-gross-ton, Excel-class ship can welcome 5,374 guests aboard at double occupancy, or up to 6,631 passengers when fully booked. Also onboard are 1,735 international officers and crew members who offer excellent service, as well as looking out for anyone who may need help.
Second Rescue in 2024
Carnival Jubilee‘s rescue of the two men is not the first rescue operation of 2024. On January 18, Royal Caribbean International’s Harmony of the Seasrescued six stranded fishermen and their dog just north of the Yucatan Peninsula.
While it is commonly assumed that cruise ship rescues are typically of refugees fleeing their home country, this is not always the case. Refugee rescues do indeed happen, but cruise ships also offer assistance to anyone needing aid.
Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas Rescue
This might include fishermen, ferry boats, pleasure craft, cargo vessels, yachts, or other vessels that suffer from rough weather, engine failure, or other poor circumstances.
All mariners – regardless of the size of their ship – are bound by international maritime law to offer assistance to those at sea, regardless of who they may be, where they are, or why they require help. Cruise ship crews are well trained to offer such help in a smooth, efficient manner, safeguarding all life at sea.
Cruise Hive commends the crew of Carnival Jubilee and all cruise ships who offer such assistance to all in need.
Costa Cruises has joined a growing movement by cruise lines to bypass sailings in the Red Sea due to escalating tensions in the region, cancelling Costa Toscana‘s repositioning sailing less than six weeks before the cruise was to begin.
Booked guests have been offered some alternative options with onboard credit incentives, or may opt for a full refund for the cancellation.
Costa Toscana Repositioning Cruise Cancelled
Costa Toscana‘s March 9, 2024 departure from Dubai – a 19-night cruise meant to reposition the ship from the United Arab Emirates to Italy for the Mediterranean summer season – has been cancelled. Guests were notified of the cancellation less than six weeks before the cruise was to set sail.
“As you can well understand the critical situation that is currently affecting the maritime traffic along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is constantly monitored with maximum attention,”the notification explained.“As always, the security and well-being of our guests and crew is our foremost priority, and on this direction no uncertainty and compromise can be accepted.”
Multiple cruise lines have already cancelled sailings in the Red Sea to avoid the potential for violent actions against ships. Depending on the cruise line and available options, ships may be rerouted around Africa or moved through the Red Sea while empty, so there is less risk to guests. Now, Costa Cruises is also canceling a critical repositioning cruise to avoid dangers in the region.
“Given recent developments on the current security environment and future uncertainties in the area, working in close consultation with global security experts and government authorities we have made the difficult decision to cancel the cruise that was originally planned,”the notification read.
Costa Toscana Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Riccardo Arata / Shutterstock)
“Therefore, we regret to inform you that your northbound cruise with Costa Toscana from Emirates to Mediterranean has been cancelled.”
The impacted cruise was to have been a one-way sailing that would have visited exotic destinations in Oman, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy, including passage through the Suez Canal. The itinerary had already been revised when the tensions in Israel began, and now, the entire cruise is cancelled.
The 185,010-gross-ton, Excel-class Costa Toscana is the newest ship in the Costa Cruises fleet, able to welcome more than 5,300 guests per sailing.
At the moment, there are no further changes expected for Costa Toscana, and the ship will be prepared to sail its scheduled Mediterranean season as planned. Guests booked on the first Mediterranean cruise, however, will want to stay in close contact with Costa Cruises in case further adjustments may be necessary.
Options for Impacted Guests
Costa Cruises is offering guests several alternatives to their now-cancelled cruise. Guests may move to any other repositioning or transatlantic cruise by December 2024, with price protection and an onboard credit of €100 ($108 USD) per adult. If the new cruise is a lower price, the price difference will be returned to the guest.
It should be noted that the May 2024 Costa Favolosa repositioning from Brazil to Germany is not included in this offer, nor is the first segment of Costa Deliziosa‘s World Cruise that begins in December 2024.
Costa Toscana Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: ODIN Daniel / Shutterstock)
Guests can also choose to move to any other Costa Cruises sailing with an onboard credit of €50 ($54 USD) per adult, with a departure date no later than March 31, 2025.
A third option is to cancel the old booking entirely. This can be done in one of two ways – preserving the full amount as a credit for a new sailing, with the addition of a €100 ($108 USD) per adult onboard credit. To redeem this option, the credit must be used within 18 months.
Finally, guests can choose to cancel their cruise entirely for a full refund. Processing times for the refund will vary for different financial institutions.
This variety of options gives travelers plenty of choices for how to rearrange their vacation plans and still enjoy an amazing experience with Costa Cruises, despite the current volatility that makes some destinations unavailable.
While the Ultimate World Cruise as a whole has become a social media sensation, one TikToker has ridden the viral wave more than most.
But now that he’s disembarked Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas, what will the voyage be like without this influencer’s often controversial critiques?
Controversial TikToker No Longer On Board Ultimate World Cruise
While many passengers onboard the nine-month cruise have seen their social media followings skyrocket, few have received quite as much attention as Marc Sebastian (@marcsebastianf). His controversial videos have not only stirred up debates in the comment section on TikTok, but also drew attention from major news outlets.
The Tiktoker, who has 1.7 million followers at the time of this publication, is back on dry land after an eventful 18 days onboard Serenade of the Seas – during which he promised to tell his followers “the good, the bad, and the ugly” about his time on board.
But before he was ready to disembark, Marc Sebastian had two important tasks to accomplish: giving some feedback to Whoopi Goldberg, godmother of Serenade of the Seas, and putting on a fashion show to honor the outfits that didn’t get worn on board.
Marc Sebastian recorded a message for Whoopi Goldberg, which she reacted to live on The View, which is a talk show the celebrity co-hosts.
In a videoposted on January 25, 2024, the TikToker says that he needs to let Goldberg know what’s been happening on board, to which she replies:“Let me start out by saying, I run a tight ship.”
Three days before on January 22, 2024, Marc Sebastian posted a final shout out at sea to his followers, which has been viewed more than 860,000 times at the time of publication.
He showed off some of his favorite outfits that he wasn’t able to wear while on board, including a baseball hat with a tiara attached to the front that he wasn’t allowed to wear in the dining room during formal night and a short blonde wig.
While around 700 of the passengers currently on board will be staying for the duration of the cruise, some are only joining the ship for shorter segments, which is what Marc Sebastian did. His sponsors shelled out $8,500 (USD) for the influencer to join the cruise for the South American and Antarctic segment.
Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas (Photo Credit: Lisa Bronitt / Shutterstock)
During his time on board, the TikToker posted frequent videos, most of which were critique-filled, consisting of cabin tours, ship reviews, and accounts of his experience and the drama onboard.
The TikToker posted that he was back on land on January 24, 2024, when the ship was docked in La Serena, Chile. As of January 26, Serenade of the Seas had sailed on to Peru, and will next be heading to Ecuador and Puerto Rico.
Although Marc Sebastian will no longer be sharing his cruise saga from on board Serenade of the Seas, there is no sign that the appetite for cruise drama has diminished on TikTok. Only time will tell if the excitement around the cruise on social media will dissipate.
Marc Sebastian’s New Cruise Knowledge
Prior to embarking on The Ultimate World Cruise, Marc Sebastian wasn’t an avid cruise influencer on social media. Most of his videos consist of product reviews and funny videos related to current trends and pop culture.
But even though he had a lot of critiques for Royal Caribbean, and certainly wasn’t always happy with the service or his experience, the TikToker also learned a lot on board.
In a video posted on January 22, 2024, which has been viewed more than 5 million times, Marc Sebastian detailed everything he had learned while cruising on what he calls “a floating retirement home with a Cheesecake Factory attached.”
First, and not surprisingly, the TikToker learned it was taboo to talk about the ill-fated Titanic at sea. Marc Sebastian explained that when he compared the length of Serenade of the Seas to that of Titanic during lunch, utensils dropped, waiters gasped, and the room went awkwardly silent.
The TikToker also discovered the phenomenon of cruising ducks, which is a scavenger hunt many passengers and crew members play where rubber ducks are hidden around the cruise ship for others to find and keep, or to find and re-hide.
Marc Sebastian said people on his ducks were “crazy” about trying to find them, even digging through artificial plants to collect as many as they could – although he personally didn’t understand the appeal.
“Why ducks? Because they float? I just don’t get it,” says Marc Sebastian.
Lastly, he was shocked to find out that cruise ships fill their pools with seawater. However, it is quite common for ships to source pool water from the ocean through a process called reverse osmosis, which allows cruise lines to make their own fresh water at sea, which is safe for swimming and consumption.
While returning to Galveston at the end of a 14-night sailing, Carnival Dream encountered such severe weather that both guests and crew members were confined to their staterooms until conditions improved.
The poor weather also resulted in the cancellation of a popular loyalty event as well as several entertainment options, but the ship did return to her homeport safely.
Carnival Dream Encounters Severe Storm
On the last day of a 14-night cruise that included a visit to the Panama Canal, Carnival Dream encountered such severe weather in the Gulf of Mexico that all guests, as well as the ship’s crew members, were asked to return to their staterooms. This was done as a precaution for what could have been unsafe conditions on decks and in stairways.
The confinement for guests lasted just about one hour, which also included time for crew members to check for damage and other hazards after the ship cleared the severe squall.
Poor weather did continue past that point and all aboard were urged to use caution when moving about the ship. The outer decks remained closed, which is standard procedure in any foul weather.
Unfortunately, the poor weather did lead to the cancellation of some evening entertainment, as the motion of the ship could have been unsafe for performers.
On the Carnival Dream out of Galveston, we just hit a horrible storm. All guests and crew sent to their cabins. I have a action camera recording it from the front of the ship. This is minutes before. pic.twitter.com/fFUSK4DFg4
Some localized flooding occurred on the ship in different areas, as well as disarrayed furniture and other minor issues. Crew members were quick to respond and clean up the affected hallways and public areas, and no significant damage was reported.
Rough weather is common in the Gulf of Mexico during the winter months, though the severity of storms can vary considerably. Squalls and other storms can happen anywhere at any time, and often lead to some incidental flooding and other instances, such as happened on Royal Caribbean International’s Serenade of the Seas at the beginning of the ship’s ongoing Ultimate World Cruise.
Loyalty Event Cancelled
Also cancelled was the much-anticipated Diamond and Platinum Party, a get-together for the highest levels of Carnival Cruise Line’s VIFP guests. Guests were informed of the cancellation with letters delivered to their staterooms.
“As you know, we experienced unfavorable weather earlier and, in an abundance of caution, guests and team members were asked to return to their staterooms until conditions improved,”the letter explained.“This prevented the team from completing the set up to host our VIFP Diamond and Platinum appreciation event.”
To make up for the cancellation of the VIFP event, all Diamond and Platinum guests were given a $25 (USD) onboard credit to their Sail & Sign accounts, “so you can enjoy something on us.”
Because Carnival Dream was enjoying a Carnival Journeys voyage to Panama – a highly desirable itinerary popular with many long-time cruise travelers – it is likely there were a higher-than-typical number of both Diamond and Platinum passengers aboard, though exact numbers have not been released.
The 128,250-gross-ton Carnival Dream can welcome 3,646 guests at double occupancy, or as many as 4,633 passengers when fully booked with all berths filled. The ship is homeported from Galveston, Texas year-round, offering mostly 6- and 8-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, with occasional longer voyages on her schedule.
The impacted cruise had left Galveston on Saturday, January 13, and despite the poor weather, was able to return as scheduled on Saturday, January 27. The ship’s next 14-day voyage is not until mid-October, and does not include Panama as a destination.
Carnival Dream has already departed on her next sailing, an 8-night cruise scheduled to visit Key West, Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau before returning to Galveston on Sunday, February 4. Cruise Hive hopes everyone aboard enjoys smooth sailing!
The US Department of State has issued a Level 2 Travel Advisory for The Bahamas due to a recent increase in crime that may affect cruise guests.
The specific areas where heightened crime is noted are both Nassau and Freeport, and certain popular water activities are also listed as needing additional caution.
Travel Advisory for The Bahamas Due to Crime
A Level 2 Travel Advisory has been issued for visitors to The Bahamas due to crime and water activity safety. The advisory, updated by the US State Department on Friday, January 26, 2024, specifically lists New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands as where the majority of crime occurs.
A Level 2 Travel Advisory is a guideline to “Exercise Increased Caution” if traveling to the destination. This is a sensible precaution for any traveler when visiting a foreign nation or unfamiliar region. The Bahamas has been listed at a Level 2 alert for more than a year, but the information is regularly updated to note more recent concerns.
“Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas,”the advisory states.
Cruise Passengers in the Bahamas (Photo Credit: Wagner Santos de Almeida / Shutterstock)
A high homicide rate is also noted but is not common in non-tourist areas. The US Embassy in Nassau notes in a separate security alert issued on January 24 that 18 homicides have occurred in Nassau so far in 2024, at all hours of the day, but that such incidents are primarily retaliatory gang violence.
Travel Warning Includes Water Activities
Of special note in the travel advisory is the attention paid to water activities, including tours, use of recreational watercraft, swimming, and shark encounters.
“Activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated. Watercraft may be poorly maintained, and some operators may not have safety certifications,”the advisory said.“Commercial watercraft operators have discretion to operate their vessels regardless of weather forecasts; injuries and fatalities have occurred.”
This is likely a reference to the unfortunate incident in November 2023 when a Blue Lagoon Island ferry sank after encountering rough waves, and one cruise passenger – an elderly woman – died. The exact circumstances of her death were not detailed, and cruise lines suspended offering the tours for several weeks until further safety protocols and inspections were completed.
Blue Lagoon Island has since reopened for tourists, but it is up to individual cruise lines whether or not to offer shore excursions for guests to purchase. Any visitors can purchase tours not offered through the cruise line if they prefer.
Nassau Cruise Port Upgrades
The advisory also noted that sharks have become a recent concern in The Bahamas, with injuries and fatalities in recent weeks.
“Be mindful of sharks when swimming and engaging in water activities, as there have been recent fatal and non-fatal incidents involving sharks,”the advisory reads.
A 10-year-old boy was bitten by a shark in mid-January while participating in an encounter experience through Blue Adventures by Stuart Cove, a tour operated through Atlantis Paradise Island Resort. This has prompted the temporary closure of the excursion offering. It should be noted, however, that the injured boy was not a cruise ship guest.
Travel Advisories to Other Popular Destinations
It is worthwhile to note that the US Department of State regularly issues travel advisories on popular cruise destinations around the world, with varying levels of precaution suggested.
Other destinations with Level 2 advisories include the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, the Turks and Caicos, the UK, and Belize. Level 3 advisories – “Reconsider Travel” – apply to destinations such as Honduras, Colombia, and Jamaica.
Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories apply to extremely unstable regions, such as Russia, Ukraine, and Haiti – destinations that are rarely visited by cruise lines at this time.
Travelers should be aware that advisories are generally issued for an entire country, even if the crime or other instability is limited to a relatively small region.
Cruise lines are aware of these advisories and take every precaution to keep guests safe, including adjusting itineraries or changing port visits if a destination is considered extremely unstable.
It’s easy to stay up to date on the big cruise headlines with Cruise Hive, where we’ve got full coverage of all major developments. In this week’s update, read about Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line.
Let’s get going with this week’s top cruise news stories from Cruise Hive, including Princess Cruises raising its internet rates big time, Norwegian Cruise Line possibly home-porting a ship in Jacksonville, Florida, the gala christening of Icon of the Seas, Carnival Cruise Line replacing a Dr. Seuss breakfast event, the cancellation of Sun Princess’ maiden voyage, and Norwegian Cruise Line deploying two ships to US homeports.
Cruise Line Hikes Internet Rates, Pushes Bundling
In what appears to be an effort to sell more bundled packages of onboard services, Princess Cruises is hiking the price of its internet plans — but only if a plan is bought independently of other packages, like dining or beverage plans.
In a notification to travel agents, Princess Cruises said guests buying a WiFi plan for one device will pay $24.99 per day, a hefty increase of 65% compared to the current cost of $14.99 per day. The cost increase for a four-device plan will rise to $44.99 per day, up from $39.99. The new rates took effect on pre-cruise purchases starting January 22, 2024.
The increased costs are designed to make it financially unwise to buy only an internet plan. Under the Princess Plus package, for instance, guests can pay about $60 per day for a plan that covers not only unlimited WiFi but also beverages, crew gratuities, specialty dining, room service, fitness classes, and other services and perks.
Any guest booked to sail who has already pre-paid for an internet plan will not be charged the new rates. Internet services onboard Princess Cruises’ ships, like most others in the industry, now use Starlink satellites from SpaceX, which provide much faster access than previous services.
Is a Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Bound For JAXPort?
It appears likely that Norwegian Cruise Line is looking at Jacksonville, Florida, as a potential homeport for one of its cruise ships.
Cruise insiders spotted a new landing page on the cruise line’s website, showing sailings from Jacksonville marked “Coming Soon.” Also, local media reports indicate that an official of the port, called JaxPort, recently told the port authority’s board that a cruise line is expressing interest in home-porting a ship.
JaxPort CEO Eric Green did not disclose the name of the interested line, but said it is not Carnival Cruise Line, which currently homeports its 2,190-guest Carnival Elation at Jacksonville.
Cruise Ship Docked in Jacksonville, Florida (Photo Credit: Ramunas Bruzas)
The ship sails 4- and 5-night cruises to the Bahamas year-round. Other blue-water cruise lines that sometimes call at Jacksonville include Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Crystal, and American Cruise Lines offers river cruises from Jacksonville.
The port, in northern Florida about 165 miles from Port Canaveral, could be a good departure port not only for Caribbean and Bahamas sailings but also Bermuda and even New England/Canada cruises.
There is a height limit for ships entering JaxPort, since the city’s Dames Point Bridge requires vessels to be under 180 feet from the water line in order to pass under it.
World’s Biggest Ship, Icon of the Seas, Is Christened
Able to accommodate 7,600 guests at full capacity, the 248,663-gross ton ship is the first of the line’s innovative Icon class. Her christening featured maritime traditions such as blessings from clergy, a bagpiper, and the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” while adding some new elements, including videos of crew members talking about the ship and performances by the ship’s entertainment staff.
Icon of the Seas Naming
Royal Caribbean executives attended the event along with PortMiami and Miami-Dade County officials, plus representatives of the Meyer Turku shipyard that constructed the vessel.
The ship will depart on her inaugural voyage on January 27, 2024, sailing a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise calling at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Icon of the Seas will operate alternate 7-night Western and Eastern Caribbean voyages, with Eastern Caribbean cruises slated to call at St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Port calls will depend on the departure date.
New Seuss Breakfast Event Begins Rolling Out
Carnival Cruise Line is saying good-bye to its Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast and hello to a new Seuss-inspired meal, the Thing 1 & 2 Birthday Breakfast. The swap has already rolled out on the line’s newest ship, Carnival Jubilee, and will be introduced fleet-wide through early May 2024.
For years the green eggs and ham event has been held once per cruise in each ship’s main dining room. The line charges $10 for adults and $8 for children, but fees for the new event will rise to $15 for adults and $10 for children.
Dr. Seuss Carnival Cruise Breakfast
Thing 1 & Thing 2 are characters from the Seuss book “The Cat in the Hat.” Breakfast foods on the new menu offer delights such as Who-Ville Red Velvet French Toast and a Who Roast Beast Omelet. A green eggs and ham platter also will be available.
The revamped breakfast event will debut on Carnival Cruise Line ships on various dates through May 7, 2024, when the final introduction will be made on Carnival Firenze. Some key roll-out dates include March 16 for Mardi Gras, March 17 for Carnival Celebration, April 5 for Carnival Venezia, and April 6 for Carnival Vista.
The Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast will continue to be offered on the ships until each vessel’s swap date.
The 10-night “Grand Mediterranean” cruise from Barcelona to Rome was to depart on February 8, 2024 and make port calls at Palma de Mallorca, Messina, Athens, Ephesus, Crete, and Naples.
Neither the shipyard nor the cruise line has offered a reason for the delay, but cruise watchers suggest that supply chain obstacles, labor shortages, or inspection issues could be among the challenges.
Sun Princess Under Construction (Photo Credit: Novikov Aleksey / Shutterstock)
So far, only the maiden voyage has been cancelled. The ship’s second scheduled voyage, a 10-day cruise roundtrip from Rome, is still slated to depart on February 18, 2024.
Guests booked on the maiden cruise will receive refunds of their cruise fare, port charges and taxes, and any pre-paid purchases such as dining or drink packages, excursions, spa treatments, and other similar services.
The cruise line is providing up to $200 per person toward flight cancellation or change fees, and is offering all booked guests a future cruise credit equal to 50% of their cruise fare. The credit must be put toward a new booking by November 30, 2024, for cruises departing no later than December 31, 2025.
With the shift, the cruise line will have a dozen ships plying Caribbean waters in fall 2024 and into winter 2025.
Citing strong demand for cruises to warm-weather destinations, the cruise line will homeport the 4,000-Norwegian Getaway and the 4,100-guest Norwegian Epic in New Orleans and Port Canaveral, respectively.
Starting on October 20, 2024, Norwegian Getaway will sail 7-night Western Caribbean cruises from the Big Easy with port calls at Harvest Caye, Belize; Roatan, Honduras; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
Norwegian Epic Cruise Ship in the Caribbean (Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators)
Norwegian Epic, sailing from Port Canaveral, will launch her series of cruises on October 30, 2024, offering multiple 7-day itineraries in the Caribbean and Bahamas. Port calls will vary by departure date, and will include Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and George Town, Grand Cayman, among others.
The repositioning of Norwegian Getaway has resulted in the cancellation of seven Europe sailings. Booked guests have been informed and cruise fares are being refunded. The cruise line has not yet announced any cancellations of Norwegian Epic’s Europe sailings, but it appears at least three voyages will likely be impacted.
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In a heart-wrenching incident, a Navy veteran and local nurse from Norfolk, Virginia, lost their lives in a motorcycle accident during an offshore excursion from their cruise ship, Norwegian Sky.
Vacation Turned Tragedy
A Norfolk, Virginia, couple’s dream vacation aboard the 2,000-passenger Norwegian Sky turned tragic with a fatal motorcycle accident in Cozumel. Robert Baker, 72, a respected Navy veteran, and Diane Baker, 62, a dedicated nurse at Sentara Lehigh Hospital in Norfolk, began their “5 Night Caribbean: Great Stirrup Cay & Cozumel” cruise from Miami on January 21, only to meet unforeseen tragedy.
Arriving on the island famed for its picturesque landscapes off Cancun on January 23, the couple seized the opportunity to explore the island on a rented motorcycle.
However, as reported by Norfolk news affiliate 10Wavy.com, while traveling along Cozumel’s Southern Coastal Highway, the Bakers’ motorcycle veered off the road, plunging both passengers and the vehicle into thick roadside vegetation.
Road in Cozumel, Mexico (Photo Credit: Javier Garcia)
The accident, which occurred during daylight, sadly went unnoticed for hours. It was not until Tuesday night that a passing motorist spotted the crashed motorcycle and the Bakers.
It is believed that the couple was in the process of returning the motorcycle to catch their cruise ship, which was scheduled to depart at 5 p.m., when the accident occurred. The exact time of the crash remains unknown.
The Risks of Vehicle Rentals in Foreign Locales
This incident adds to a growing list of accidents involving American tourists in Cozumel. Regrettably, another American, Terry “B,” described as being 55 to 60 years of age, lost his life in an ATV accident during a cruise ship excursion on the island on the very same day. The group was only about 1 kilometer into their ride when the event happened.
Similarly, in September 2023, a distressing incident occurred involving two American passengers from Carnival Paradise. During an excursion purchased separately from their cruise ship, Natalia and Ashley Ortega were involved in a serious scooter accident. Unfortunately, the ship left port unaware of their situation, leaving the passengers behind.
It was only after the ship’s departure that the sisters’ mother was contacted, informing her that her daughters had not returned to the ship. Subsequently, it was discovered that the women were receiving care for their injuries in a private hospital.
Photo Credit: PQK / Shutterstock
These incidents underscore the dangers associated with renting vehicles in unfamiliar territories, especially during vacation excursions. In fact, cruise lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line, strongly advise against renting motor vehicles from non-approved vendors in ports of call due to less stringent regulations compared to the U.S.
The variable conditions of vehicles and roads, coupled with relaxed enforcement of local traffic laws, significantly increase the risk of accidents.
Passengers are advised to assess their own experience and comfort level with different modes of transport. Moreover, wearing safety gear like helmets and protective clothing is important.
Navigating the Aftermath of Overseas Incidents
These incidents also regrettably highlight the complexities families face when dealing with accidents abroad. Sam Eisenhuth, the Bakers’ son, faced challenges in seeking information about his parents’ accident through the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
Similarly, the Ortega family was burdened with staggering medical bills, reportedly as high as $20,000.
The Bakers, remembered as active members of the Real Life Christian Church in Chesapeake, Virginia, will be honored in a Celebration of Life service on February 2 at 6:30 p.m. During this difficult time, our thoughts at Cruise Hive are with their family.
