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Propulsion Issues Force Port Change for Holland America Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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Propulsion Issues Force Port Change for Holland America Ship

Guests booked to sail next week aboard Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam have been notified of an itinerary change that involves a port swap and slightly less time in the replacement port due to an engine issue that limits the ship’s speed. The safety of the vessel is not impacted, and guests are being provided with compensation for the change.

Nieuw Amsterdam Itinerary Change

The impacted itinerary is the February 12, 2023 sailing of Nieuw Amsterdam, a 7-night roundtrip Southern Caribbean cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale. The original itinerary has the ship calling on Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s private island in The Bahamas, as well as Bonaire and Curacao before returning to Florida on Sunday, February 19.

Guests have now been notified of a modification to the itinerary, with a port swap as a result.

“Please be advised that Nieuw Amsterdam is experiencing a technical issue with the Azipod propulsion system,” the email explained. “As a result, we will no longer call to Kralendijk, Bonaire on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Instead, we will now call to Oranjestad, Aruba.”

Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock

Bonaire was planned to have been the second port of call for the cruise, after Half Moon Cay and with a day at sea between the two ports. The email explains that the Azipod issue “does restrict our ability to operate at full speed” as the reason for the port swap.

Bonaire and Aruba are just 125 miles (201 kilometers) apart. At Nieuw Amsterdam‘s top cruising speed of nearly 24 knots (27 miles per hour / 44 kilometers per hour), it would take the ship just under 5 hours to move between the ports.

The call to Aruba will be from 5-11 p.m, whereas the original itinerary had the ship visiting Bonaire for two hours longer, from 3-11 p.m. on the same date.

This does confirm that the ship must move more slowly to reach the port, but not so slowly that the itinerary must be more dramatically altered, such as switching to an Eastern rather than a Southern Caribbean route.

Compensation Provided

To help alleviate disappointment over the change, guests are being provided with $50 (USD) of non-refundable onboard credit, which will be posted to each guest’s onboard account for this sailing.

Furthermore, all shore excursions for Bonaire that have been booked through the cruise line are being fully refunded, and updated excursion options for Aruba will be available for booking onboard.

Holland America Line
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock

As no other ports of call have been modified in any way at this time, this is quite generous compensation for the alteration. Experienced cruise travelers know that cruise lines have full authority to change or cancel ports of call at any time, even after the cruise sets sail, and have no obligation to provide compensation to guests for such alterations.

More Changes for Nieuw Amsterdam

This is the second change announced recently for the Signature-class Nieuw Amsterdam. Earlier this week, the cruise line notified guests booked on the 14-night May 7, 2023 Alaskan sailing that there were several changes to that lengthy itinerary, including a port swap and changes to the days the ship would be visiting other ports along the way.

Those changes were attributed to “operational changes” with no mention made of any engine issues impacting the ship’s speed.

This may mean that the Azipod issue is a relatively minor concern, one that can be easily fixed while the ship is in operation. It is likely that the issue will be corrected well before the ship repositions to Vancouver in April in preparation for the Alaska sailing season.

Nevertheless, guests booked on Nieuw Amsterdam for the next several weeks will want to stay in close contact with the cruise line for potential updates and itinerary changes for their sailings, just in case further adjustments are necessary or the issue becomes more critical.

MSC Cruises’ Summer Program Covers 140 Destinations

Robert McGillivray
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MSC Cruises’ Summer Program Covers 140 Destinations

MSC Cruises is set to make a splash in 2023 with its summer itineraries, offering guests a wide selection of 140 destinations across 40 countries, with more than 50 embarkation ports. 

The world’s third-largest cruise brand has 22 ships in its fleet, each sailing to must-see destinations, including the Arctic, Copenhagen, the Greek Islands, the Bahamas, Japan, and the Caribbean. 

Experience the Best of Europe and the Arctic Circle

This summer, guests booking a cruise onboard one of the state-of-the-art MSC Cruises ships can look forward to visiting some of the most exciting destinations in Europe. 

Sailing from Kiel, Germany, and Copenhagen, Denmark, the 2023 UNESCO World Capital of Architecture, MSC Euribia will sail to Hellesylt, Alesund, and Flaam in Norway. MSC Euribia is the newest ship in the fleet launching in June, and is a sister ship to MSC World Europa. 

For a more adventurous experience, guests can opt for the exclusive destination of Svalbard, Norway, which is only available for four sailings during the summer of 2023 onboard MSC Preziosa.

MSC Euribia Cruise Ship
Render Courtesy: MSC Cruises

Svalbard, located 500 miles from the North Pole, offers a unique opportunity to discover the Arctic Circle and its breathtaking landscapes. Excursions include a hybrid-electric catamaran tour of the fjords, a hybrid-electric speedboat visit to a walrus colony, or e-biking through polar bear country.

MSC Cruises is introducing a brand-new destination for the summer of 2023, the Greek Island paradise of Zakynthos, onboard MSC Lirica, which will begin in May. The island boasts white pebbled shorelines, turquoise waters, and rugged clifftops. The ship will sail from Venice and also visit Dubrovnik, Croatia; Bar, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece; and Bari, Italy.

The 215,863 gross tons, 6,762-passenger MSC World Europa, the flagship of MSC Cruises, will sail to popular Western Mediterranean destinations this summer, including Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona, and Marseille. 

The first LNG-powered vessel in MSC’s fleet, the ultramodern vessel, has been operating in the Persian Gulf since December last year. This summer will be the first season of cruises in Europe for the cruise ship. 

Three Cruise Ships Sailing from the U.S. 

MSC Cruises is offering three ships sailing from US homeports, providing guests with a variety of Caribbean cruise options. MSC Seascape offers 7- or 14-night sailings from Miami, MSC Meraviglia offers 7-night Bahamas cruises from New York, and MSC Seaside offers 3 to 11-night cruises from Port Canaveral.

MSC Cruise Ship in Miami
Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock

All cruises visit the highlight of MSC’s Caribbean itineraries, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. The island was built by dredging in the late 1960s is a former sand mine but now features a tropical landscape that only MSC guests can enjoy.

Return to Japan

MSC Cruises will finally return to Asia and offer a one-of-a-kind opportunity to discover the beauty of Japan during one of six cruises. Aboard the MSC Bellissima, guests can experience the country’s rich cultural heritage, ancient traditions, and modern attractions.

The itineraries include stops at the island of Kyushu, which was recently named one of the 23 must-visit destinations in 2023 by Architectural Digest, and other popular cities like Kagoshima and Fukuoka. Cruises depart from Yokohama, conveniently located just south of Tokyo, allowing guests to explore the exciting capital of Japan pre- or post-cruise. 

Two Princess Cruises Ships to Call at Historic Yorktown

Donna Tunney
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Two Princess Cruises Ships to Call at Historic Yorktown

Princess Cruises will turn the spotlight on American history in the summer of 2024, when two of its cruise ships will call at the port of Yorktown, Virginia, and offer guests the opportunity to explore Virginia’s Historic Triangle — Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg.

The port of Yorktown is within a small harbor where Chesapeake Bay meets the York River in southeastern Virginia. Princess will be the first major cruise line to call at the port.

Ties to Revolutionary War

Two Princess Cruises ships will include five-day-long port calls to Yorktown on their itineraries in summer 2024, with three visits by the 92,000 gross ton, 2,200-guest Island Princess and two visits by the 113,561 gross ton, 3,080-guest Emerald Princess.

Dates and itineraries will be announced in coming weeks, the line said, along with excursions, which are certain to include the historically significant sites and events that tie the region’s Historic Triangle destinations to the Revolutionary War.

Princess Cruises President John Padgett said, “Princess is already well known for our unique itineraries that appeal to our guests who gravitate toward interesting historical and cultural opportunities and Yorktown is perfectly in tune with that philosophy, offering not only a glimpse at the Revolutionary War but also dining, shopping and activity options with wide-ranging appeal. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Island Princess Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: Princess Cruises

It was the Battle of Yorktown that decisively ended the war when British General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington in 1781.

Williamsburg is home to Colonial Williamsburg, a historic district and living-history museum, while Jamestown has the ruins of the first permanent English settlement in North America as well as a living-history museum. The three historical sites are within a short drive of each other.

According to Padgett, the calls at Yorktown and excursions to the region’s historic sites are significant as the country approaches the 250th anniversaries of the start of the Revolutionary War and the writing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The anniversary will be celebrated in 2026.

Padgett added, ”We couldn’t be more excited about this incredible opportunity to add this truly unforgettable destination experience to our already impressive array of itineraries. As a native Virginian myself, I can attest that an itinerary that offers the chance to visit Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown promises to be a most welcome addition for our guests, providing them with memorable vacation experiences that they can’t find anywhere else.”

Local Tourism Boost

With the Princess ships sailing at full capacity, the five port calls could deliver around 14,000 cruise guests to the area, representing a boost to local tourism and to local tour operators.

York County Economic & Tourism Development Director Kristi Olsen-Hayes said, “Our community is rooted in history and it is an important part of our visitor mix. We are honored that Princess Cruises sees the value in bringing their customers to Yorktown.”

“Additional visitors coming to our area via the cruise line would contribute to the region’s economy, benefiting retail, restaurants, and regional attractions, as well as generating revenue for both the Commonwealth and multiple local governments,” Olsen-Hayes added.

Emerald Princess Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: EWY Media / Shutterstock

Excursions are likely to include revolutionary battlefields, colonial architecture, gardens, the living-history museums at Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg, and other area attractions.

As a small port with limited docking facilities, the Princess ships will tender guests ashore. Another cruise line already includes Yorktown on its itineraries, American Cruise Lines, which operates small ships carrying under 200 guests.

The line’s 170-guest American Constitution calls at Yorktown on her 6-night Chesapeake Bay Cruise and 10-night American Revolution Cruise, both departing from Baltimore.

The Princess announcement of port calls at Yorktown was the second itinerary reveal by the line this week. On February 7, it unveiled its Alaska 2024 schedule, which will see seven vessels deployed to the destination.

Norwegian Cruise Line Begins Pre-Cruise Entertainment Reservations

Melissa Mayntz
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Norwegian Cruise Line Begins Pre-Cruise Entertainment Reservations

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that pre-cruise online reservations for onboard entertainment will now be effective fleetwide, with booking windows opening for guests based on the stateroom category of guests’ reservations and individual loyalty tiers.

This process is sure to be a hit for some guests, but may lead to disappointment for others if reservations fill up very quickly.

Online Entertainment Reservations Now Fleetwide

Guests booked for upcoming cruises throughout the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet will now be able to pre-book reservations for onboard entertainment, including production shows, comedy, and exclusive live music venues.

Exactly when guests will be able to book, however, will vary depending on the category of stateroom booked as well as guests’ loyalty status in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Rewards program.

Guests in The Haven staterooms or suites will be able to pre-book entertainment as early as 26 days before embarkation, as will guests who are at least Platinum level in the Latitudes Rewards program. To reach the Platinum level, guests must have accumulated 75+ points. Guests earn one point for every cruise night, with additional points for suite or The Haven stateroom bookings as well as insider offer bookings.

Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Theater
Photo Copyright: EWY Media / Shutterstock

Guests at lower loyalty levels or staterooms from Club Balcony Suites and lower – balconies, oceanviews, inside, and studios – will be able to pre-book their entertainment beginning 21 days before sailing.

Bookings can be made through the cruise line’s website or through the NCL app if guests are logged in to their associated cruise reservations. There is no cost for reservations for any complimentary entertainment options.

While this announcement was just made earlier this week and is effective from February 7, 2023, some booked guests have reported that the entertainment booking options for upcoming cruises are not yet open, despite being within the specified windows. It is possible that some tech glitches will occur while the reservation system is fine-tuned.

Will Reservations Fill Up?

With guests at upper loyalty levels or in more exclusive cabins having five extra days to secure their reservations, some cruisers are concerned that reservations may be filled and unavailable for the most popular shows and entertainment by the time other guests are able to reserve their space.

This can be especially true in smaller venues or for more exclusive shows with fewer showtimes available throughout a single sailing.

Read Also: Which Cruise Lines Match Loyalty Programs?

Norwegian Cruise Line Ship
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz

There is no indication that any number of seats in specific venues may be earmarked for specific guest categories, or held back to ensure some available for reservations onboard. Norwegian Cruise Line does use wait lists onboard, however, and guests can add their names to those lists as showtime approaches.

Shortly before the show begins, reserved seats for guests who have not yet arrived will be opened for the wait list in order to ensure as many guests as possible are accommodated for different shows. Guests on the wait list are notified in the order in which they requested a seat, and have just a few minutes to check in for the show or else the reservation will move on to the next wait list guest.

Do you prefer a reservation system for onboard entertainment, or a first-come, first-served walk-up system? Share your thoughts on the Cruise Hive boards!

Carnival-Owned Costa Cruise Ship is Largest to Be Sold Off

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival-Owned Costa Cruise Ship is Largest to Be Sold Off

The long-debated fate of Costa Magica has finally been decided as Carnival Corporation & plc has confirmed the sale of the vessel to Seajets, a Greek ferry operator, for an undisclosed amount.

The new owner has not announced any immediate plans for the cruise ship, which has been out of passenger service since March 2020, never having resumed guest operations after the pandemic lockdown.

Costa Magica Sold

The Destiny-class Costa Magica has been sold to the Marios Iliopoulos-led Seajets high-speed ferry company. The ship’s fate has been uncertain for some time, as it was announced in June 2021 to be transferred to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet.

That plan was dismissed in mid-2022 when it was announced that Costa Luminosa would instead become Carnival Luminosa, while Costa Magica was to remain with Costa Cruises for the time being. The ship had not been sailing since the industry-wide shutdown began in March 2020, being one of the few ships to not resume guest service.

Worth Reading: Former Carnival-Owned Ship Sold to Chinese Cruise Company

In the meantime, Costa Magica was offered to house Ukrainian refugees in March 2022, with Costa Cruises reaching out to the Italian government with that proposal. Though generous and appreciated, the offer was ultimately unnecessary.

Costa Magic Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock

In late December 2022, as part of the Fourth Quarter 2022 Business Update from Carnival Corporation, it was announced that three “smaller-less efficient ships” would be removed from the corporation’s overall fleet. At that time, it was known that two of the ships would be retired from the Costa Cruises fleet, but the names of the vessels were not released.

Then, in early January, AIDAaura was confirmed to be leaving the AIDA Cruises fleet as part of those optimization plans. Now we know that Costa Magica will be another of the impacted vessels, but the third vessel is still unknown, other than the fact that it will be retired from Costa Cruises.

At this time, two additional Costa ships – Costa Serena and Costa Diadema – are still in lay up, though Costa Diadema is slated to resume passenger operations in April 2023 with Mediterranean itineraries. Costa Serena is also scheduled to resume service in December 2023, but her itinerary plans are not yet finalized and she is not listed on the Costa Cruises website any longer.

What Will Become of the Former Carnival-Owned Ship?

With Costa Magica now belonging to Seajets, her future is still murky. The company, which operates a fleet of high-speed ferries in the Aegean Sea, has purchased several cruise ships since the pandemic began, scrapping two vessels and keeping others in layup for the time being.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Scrapping – Everything You Need to Know

It is possible that Seajets has plans to begin offering cruise service, or may renovate the ships for modified ferry service of some kind. No official announcement of their plans has been made.

In addition to Costa Magica, Seajets has also purchased Holland America Line’s Veendam, P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Aria, P&O Cruises Oceana, and Royal Caribbean International’s Majesty of the Seas. Of all the ships, Costa Magica is the youngest, having first debuted in 2004. The other ships first set sail in 1996, 1994, 2000, and 1992, respectively.

Costa Magica can host 2,718 passengers and weighs in at 102,784 gross tons. This also makes her the largest gross tonnage vessel Seajets has purchased in the past two years, with one of the highest guest capacities (Majesty of the Seas is slightly higher with a 2,767 guest capacity). Of course, Seajets may do any sort of renovation to the vessel to dramatically change her size, capacity, or venues, or the vessel may yet be scrapped or resold.

Royal Caribbean to Increase Capacity at its Private Island

Robert McGillivray
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Royal Caribbean to Increase Capacity at its Private Island

Royal Caribbean Group has big plans for Perfect Day at CocoCay, its private island in the Bahamas. During the recent Q4 earnings call on February 7, CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean International President Michael Bayley revealed plans to increase the island’s capacity to 13,000 visitors daily.

Perfect Day at Cococay has quickly become one of the most popular destinations for cruise travelers. With the launch of Icon of the Seas coming and with the addition of the new Hideaway Beach, an adult-only neighborhood set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2023, the island is sure to become even more popular.

Perfect Day at CocoCay: A Growing Destination for Cruise Travelers

Perfect Day at Cococay is a private island owned and operated by Royal Caribbean that offers visitors a tropical escape complete with breathtaking views from a hot-air balloon and many exciting activities. From a waterpark to zip-lining to snorkeling and everything in between, Perfect Day at Cococay has something for everyone.

During the fourth quarter earnings call on February 7, company CEO Jason Liberty revealed the cruise line has big plans for the private island, including increased capacity due to the addition of Hideaway Beach.

Royal Caribbean Private Island
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

“In addition to our incredible new vessels, we plan to launch Hideaway Beach in the fourth quarter of 2023, an adult-only neighborhood, making Perfect Day at CocoCay more perfect and increasing capacity in the island to 13,000 visitors daily,” Liberty said during the Q4 earnings call.

Little is known about Hideaway Beach at this time, except that it will be an adults-only resort area. This new addition to the cruise line’s private island is set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2023 and is expected to bring an additional 3,000 people to the island. This will further increase the island’s capacity to 13,000 visitors daily.

Royal Caribbean Sees Increased Interest in Caribbean Vacations

The Royal Caribbean International’s North America-based itineraries, many of which visit Perfect Day at Cococay, are already booked in line with the record-breaking year 2019, indicating that the ships will be full while sailing. 

During the first quarter of 2023, approximately 80% of Royal Caribbean’s capacity will operate from North America, with the majority sailing to the Caribbean. 

This is higher than in the first quarter of 2019, especially for short Caribbean sailings, as the company has added more capacity in the region to take advantage of the incredible interest that both Perfect Day at Cococay and the upcoming release of Icon of the Seas has brought.

Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean betting big on CocoCay comes as no surprise. The cruise company’s costs for sailing to the island are reasonably low for the cruise company, while the returns are excellent. 

Jason Liberty expanded further on the importance of CocoCay for Royal during the call: “The demand for that product is exceptionally high. We have a significant increase in our overall capacity that we bring into CocoCay. And the demand not only is there from a volume perspective, but the rate is there. It’s the same with the spend for the products and experiences on Perfect Day. We’ve seen a great demand and a lot of resilience as the prices go up.”

“So, it’s a hit, and it’s very successful. We are opening Hideaway Beach in the fourth quarter of this year in preparation for Icon of the Seas. Hideaway Beach will allow us to bring an additional 3,000 people to Perfect Day.”

With the addition of Hideaway Beach, the island is sure to become an even more popular destination for cruise travelers. Royal Caribbean expects to bring 2.5 million to 3 million guests to CocoCay in 2023. This would mean between 7000 and 8000 guests visiting the island each day of the year. 

Carnival Cruise Line Introducing New Policy for Crew Members

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Introducing New Policy for Crew Members

Many travelers enjoy bringing a small gift to give their stateroom attendants or other crew members, such as favorite bartenders, youth counselors, or cruise directors in thanks for their dedicated and often personalized service.

Carnival Cruise Line is now adapting new guidelines that might mean some gifts are unacceptable. What can grateful cruisers to do to offer thanks without violating the guideline?

Not All Gifts Permitted to Crew Members

For many years, cruise travelers have brought small gifts to give to crew members as appreciation for their helpful service in creating amazing vacations. Items have ranged from treats such as cookies, candy, and snacks to more practical items like phone cards, socks, and toiletries.

Carnival Cruise Line is now introducing a policy to prohibit some gift items, however. Brand ambassador John Heald addressed the new policy on his Facebook page, in response to guests’ questions about items to give crew members.

“There is a new guideline for this,” Heald said. “Please only bring something that is factory sealed and still in the packet or box. Individual candy or cookies etc. won’t be able to be taken by the crew I am afraid. This is for their safety.”

Carnival Cruise Line Crew Member
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive

This means that any opened or homemade items will not be able to be accepted, or may be immediately discarded regardless of the item or to whom it is given.

No further details about this restriction were made immediately available, but the new guideline is intended for the safety of the crew. There are several ways that even the most well-meaning gift could be unsafe. Homemade goodies, for example, might have unknown allergens in the recipe, such as nuts that could give a crew member a dangerous reaction.

To best safeguard crew members, Carnival Cruise Line is restricting any gift items that are not in the original, factory-sealed packaging. This will ensure that items have not been tampered with and are properly labeled so their safety is confirmed.

The Best Gifts You Can Give

The quickest, easiest gift to give any crew member who goes above-and-beyond with excellent service is an additional gratuity, a bit of extra cash they can spend on whatever they like. While extra gratuities are never expected, they can be greatly appreciated.

Many cruise ship crew members send their paychecks home to their family members, and a bit of extra onboard cash could be spent on their favorite treat in port when they have a break. This will also ensure that even factory-sealed treats aren’t inappropriate due to allergies or personal preferences.

Carnival Cruise Line Crew Members
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive

Read Also: How to Help Out Your Stateroom Steward

While crew cabins onboard are small and space is limited, many crew members also enjoy small tokens to remember guests by.

“The crew love to remember you so if you want to bring them something like a baseball cap, a key ring, or something that will remind them of you and the kindness you showed them then that would be marvelous,” explained Heald.

Consider small items from your hometown like local postcards, magnets, or other fun keepsakes. Other great gifts include personalized notes or a sincere, face-to-face thank you acknowledging superior service. These greetings mean a lot to crew members and can brighten anyone’s day.

Taking extra steps to make crew members’ jobs easier is another way to show thanks. This can be as easy as returning empty glasses to the nearest bar so they don’t need to be collected, discarding trash in appropriate trash cans instead of leaving it on deck, or keeping your stateroom a little neater so it can be cleaned up more quickly by the stateroom attendant.

Have you ever brought gifts to give out to crew members? Share your favorite ways to say thanks on the Cruise Hive boards!

Carnival Cruise Line Reveals 31-Day Voyage Across Three Continents

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Reveals 31-Day Voyage Across Three Continents

For the first time, Carnival Cruise Line is opening up bookings on a 31-day voyage that will take passengers across three continents, starting in Australia and ending on the US west coast. This will be one of the most unique journeys offered by the Miami-based cruise line, and will set sail in spring 2024.

Carnival Luminosa to Sail 31-Day Cruise

The recently refurbished Carnival Luminosa that transferred from the Costa Cruises fleet as part of the new “Carnival Fun – Italian Style” initiative will take guests on an epic journey spanning three continents across 31 days. It’s one of the longest and most unique voyages in the cruise line’s history and part of its Carnival Journeys offerings.

“This itinerary reads like a travel lover’s wish list. This transpacific voyage on Carnival Luminosa is a truly unique offering,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “As we continue to grow our fleet and our offerings, our team is taking every opportunity to create exceptional new experiences for our guests. This sailing is a perfect testament to that.”

The Carnival cruise ship will begin the long cruise on April 1, 2024, out of Brisbane, Australia, which is where the ship is currently based. In total, the voyage will include nine port visits and 19 sea days. There will also be one day of cruising the Hubbard Glacier for exceptional vistas and views.

Carnival Luminosa Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

There will be a visit to Guam, time in Tokyo, and stops in some of the most popular Alaskan ports of call, including Seward, Juneau, and Ketchikan. Of special interest is the stop in Okinawa, Japan, which will be Carnival Cruise Line’s first-ever visit to that historic and culturally-rich destination.

The cruise will conclude in Seattle, Washington on May 1, 2024, where the ship will remain homeported through mid-September for the Alaskan sailing season, offering 7-night roundtrip itineraries to the Last Frontier. After Alaska, Carnival Luminosa will return to Australia to homeport once more from Brisbane.

One of the Freshest Ships in the Fleet

The Spirit-class Carnival Luminosa is one of the newest ships in the Fun Ship fleet, and wasn’t originally a Carnival ship at all. The ship was transferred from Costa Cruises to Carnival in November 2022, becoming the first ship of the new “Costa by Carnival” program that will also revitalize and renovate the upcoming Carnival Venezia, which will begin sailing from New York in June 2023.

Carnival Firenze will be the third ship in the fleet transfer, setting sail with Carnival in 2024 from Long Beach, California.

Carnival Luminosa in Australia
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

To prepare for the transfer, Costa Luminosa became Carnival Luminosa with an extensive refit that brought popular Carnival-branded spaces to the vessel, including the Punchliner Comedy Club, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi Express, the Chef’s Table dining experience, and the adults-only Serenity retreat.

The ship also received new gold-and-blue livery during her refit, similar to the red-white-and-blue livery that debuted with Mardi Gras and is being added to the full Carnival fleet.

With a fresh new feel and unique Italian vibes throughout, Carnival Luminosa is a stunning vessel perfect for this stunning new itinerary, with the space to welcome 2,260 guests aboard with service from 926 international crew members.

Princess Cruises Unveils Senior Officers for New Cruise Ship

Robert McGillivray
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Princess Cruises Unveils Senior Officers for New Cruise Ship

In one year, the newest addition to the Princess Cruises fleet, Sun Princess, will make her debut in the Mediterranean. The next-generation LNG-powered cruise ship will offer a host of new and exciting experiences for guests to enjoy. 

To ensure the smooth sailing of this beautiful vessel, Princess Cruises has handpicked a team of seasoned mariners to guide Sun Princess through its final stages of construction and ready her for her debut.

Princess Cruises revealed a team that brings many years of combined experience to steer the ship through its final construction phase and into the inaugural season.

Princess Reveals Sun Princess Senior Management Team

Princess Cruises revealed that Captains Craig Street and Paolo Arrigo will be in charge of Sun Princess during the final phases of construction and during the maiden season of cruises in the Mediterranean. 

“Sun Princess promises something special for everyone and we’re pleased to announce the skilled and deserving team, led by Captains Street and Arrigo, who will guide Sun Princess through the remainder of the construction phase and ready her for her shining debut in just one year,” said Princess President John Padgett.

Captain Street joined Princess Cruises as a deck cadet in 1990 after training at the Warsash Maritime Academy in England. He has since served as captain of 13 Princess ships. 

Captain Arrigo joined Princess Cruises in 1996 as a deck cadet and has since served as first officer, safety officer, and staff captain. He also served as captain during the reality-based television program “The Real Love Boat.”

Sphere-Class Sun Princess Cruise Ship
Render Courtesy: Princess Cruises

“With such an amazing opportunity to elevate the guest experience, it takes an equally talented team of revered mariners to oversee the ship’s final stages of construction at the Fincantieri shipyard, then officially take delivery of the ship and welcome the first guests onboard,” Padgett continued.

Also onboard are Staff Captains Brian Whelan and Valerio Esposito. Staff Captain Whelan, a native of Galway City, Ireland, has been with Princess Cruises for 23 years. Staff Captain Esposito, a native of Meta di Sorrento, Italy, has been with Princess Cruises for 17 years. 

The hotel department will be led by Hotel Managers Ralph D’Souza and Simona Stumberger; Chief Engineers Gaetano Guida and Davor Pavlovic-Kalifo will be in charge of the technical areas onboard. 

A New Era for Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises will launch Sun Princess in Europe on February 8, 2024. The ship, currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, will be the line’s first cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will be the largest ship ever built for the company, at 175,500 gross tons and accommodating 4,300 guests.

The Sun Princess will embark on its maiden voyage from Barcelona, Spain, visiting popular Mediterranean destinations such as Palma De Mallorca, Messina, Piraeus, Kusadasi, Santorini, Naples, and Civitavecchia.

More From Cruise Hive

After cruising the Mediterranean in the summer of 2024, Sun Princess is scheduled to reposition to Fort Lauderdale in November 2024. It is expected that the ship will offer a range of Caribbean itineraries for the winter season. In mid-2025, Princess Cruises will also debut the second ship of the Sphere class, which is currently unnamed.

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