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Norwegian Moves Up Disembarkation Time for Upcoming Sailing

Catie Kovelman
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Norwegian Moves Up Disembarkation Time for Upcoming Sailing

Since most cruise ships operate back-to-back sailings, where they disembark and re-embark on the same day, it’s quite common for disembarkation to begin early in the morning.

But on Norwegian Gem’s upcoming voyage on December 2, 2024, the disembarkation process will essentially commence in the middle of the night. 

The 19-ship cruise line wrote to guests to inform them that they would need to be ready to leave the ship as early as 4 a.m. local time when their 9-night, one way sailing concludes on December 11, 2024. 

“The embarkation time for your upcoming cruise on board the beautiful Norwegian Gem on December 2, 2024, has been updated, and will now commence at 4:00 a.m. local time,” the cruise line wrote in an email to impacted guests and travel agents.

NCL stated that all guests who arranged airfare directly through the cruise line would be provided with new flights automatically. 

The brand also offered to reimburse up to $300 (USD) per person in change fees for independently booked flights, but didn’t provide any further compensation as of the time of publication.

The December 2 voyage is the first of two unique Panama Canal cruises – as the 2,394-guest ship typically homeports in Miami, Florida. 

After departing from Miami, this sailing will call on Puerto Plata / Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Catalina Island, Dominican Republic; Willemstad, Curacao; and Oranjestad, Aruba; before arriving in Panama City, Panama, for an overnight visit and disembarkation. 

The 93,530-gross ton vessel then departs Panama City on December 11 – the same day the previous cruise disembarks – to return to Miami, from where she will offer a variety of sailings throughout the Caribbean and the Bahamas until Mid-August of 2025. 

The Reason for the Change

While Norwegian Cruise Line didn’t give an exact reason for why the extra early disembarkation was necessary, the letter they sent out strongly insinuates the change was made to be more environmentally friendly. 

“We are committed to providing the best vacations at sea and have been working tirelessly to continue elevating the quality of the overall guest experience while positively impacting society and the environment,” said the cruise line.

“As we continue to optimize itineraries for fuel efficiency, as part of our commitment to the environment and sustainability efforts, enhanced turnaround operations, as well as global maritime regulations, we have adjusted the original itinerary,” continued the letter from NCL.

This also wouldn’t be the first time Norwegian has made itinerary changes for the purposes of sustainability. 

For example, in January of 2023, the cruise line shortened Norwegian Getaway’s call on San Juan, Puerto Rico, in order to be more environmentally conscious.

Norwegian Gem Cruise Ship
Norwegian Gem Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: On The Run Photo)

The purpose of this change was that it would enable the 3,963-guest ship to sail to its next port of call at slower speeds, which is more fuel efficient and results in lower emissions.

Indeed, the popular cruise line has doubled down in its commitment to sustainability through the brand’s Sail & Sustain program, which was created to reduce NCL’s negative environmental impact.

Through the program, the cruise line has prioritized measures like optimizing wastewater treatment onboard, improving recycling, and connecting to shoreside power whenever the option is available. 

The cruise line has also found more creative ways to go green, such as by serving zero-waste cocktails at the Metropolitan Bar aboard Norwegian Prima – in addition to reducing food waste in other ways.

More recently in August of 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line began rolling out new, reusable serveware that is partially made from recycled materials for room service orders. 

So far, the bento-box style dishes are already in use on Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima – and will likely be spotted on more ships in the near future.

Outbreak on Royal Caribbean Ship Confirmed From Rare Cause

Melissa Mayntz
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Outbreak on Royal Caribbean Ship Confirmed From Rare Cause

The recent outbreak of gastrointestinal illness aboard Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas has been confirmed as salmonella, a relatively rare causative agent for cruise ship disease reporting.

The outbreak occurred on the ship’s last sailing of the 2024 Alaska season, a 7-night voyage that departed Vancouver, Canada on Friday, September 20. During the week, the ship visited Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, and Ketchikan.

Throughout the week, a total of 180 passengers and 3 crew members reported gastrointestinal symptoms, predominantly diarrhea and cramps, along with headaches and muscle aches.

These numbers are higher than originally noted several days ago as additional reports were confirmed at the conclusion of the sailing.

The final numbers mean that of the 2,172 passengers aboard, 8.29% reported illness at some time during the cruise. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires outbreaks to be reported when the threshold passes just 3%.

Three of the 894 crew members (.34%) also reported symptoms. When all persons aboard are combined, 5.97% of them reported illness during the sailing.

Onboard Radiance of the Seas, protective actions were taken immediately once the symptoms began being reported. This included encouraging travelers to practice frequent and thorough hand washing, increased cleaning and sanitation of public areas and high-tough surfaces, and announcements to ensure everyone was apprised of the situation.

While being ill on a cruise is certainly no one’s idea of the perfect vacation, the outbreak was not severe enough to curtail activities onboard Radiance of the Seas and there were no changes to the ship’s overall operation as she closed out her Alaska season.

Read Also: The Best Time to Cruise Alaska – Months to Choose

The ship has since departed on her next sailing, the first leg of her repositioning sailing for the winter season. The ship is now enjoying an 8-night, one-way trip from Vancouver to Los Angeles, visiting Victoria, Seattle, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Catalina along the way.

After this voyage, a 16-night trip will move the vessel to Tampa, with the full transit of the Panama Canal a key highlight of that repositioning cruise. From Tampa, Radiance of the Seas will offer Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries before returning to Alaska for the 2025 summer season.

An Unusual Outbreak

Testing has now confirmed the outbreak as salmonella, which is relatively rare for cruise ship illness outbreaks. The most frequent and familiar disease noted onboard ships is norovirus, one of the most common viruses to cause typical “stomach flu” symptoms.

According to the CDC, salmonella is a bacteria that causes similar symptoms that may appear from 6 hours to 6 days after a person becomes infected. Symptoms typically resolve within 4-7 days. Contaminated food or water is the most common source of salmonella, along with poor restroom cleanliness.

Cruise Ship Buffet Tongs
Self-Serve Cruise Ship Buffet (Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock)

The recent outbreak aboard Radiance of the Seas is the first cruise ship salmonella outbreak noted in 2024. Previous infections have been confirmed as norovirus, as well as one outbreak of E. coli.

To be clear, one outbreak – 124 reported infections aboard Allure of the Seas in May – did not have an overall causative agent confirmed, and therefore could have been any disease vector.

Of 14 cruise ship outbreaks reported to the CDC in 2023, only one was noted as occurring with salmonella, although E. coli was also noted in the same outbreak. This was aboard Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady in mid-October.

The rest of the 2023 disease outbreaks were all confirmed as norovirus. From 2019 through 2022, no salmonella outbreaks were noted aboard any cruise ships reporting such occurrences to the CDC.

Cruise travelers can easily protect themselves from outbreaks – whether salmonella, e. coli, or norovirus. Minimizing physical contact with high-touch surfaces such as elevator buttons, hand railings, and serving utensils, as well as washing one’s hands frequently and thoroughly with warm water and soap, are the best protective measures.

Norwegian Tweaks Japan Itinerary, Nixes Overnight Osaka Call

Donna Tunney
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Norwegian Tweaks Japan Itinerary, Nixes Overnight Osaka Call

Norwegian Cruise Line has alerted guests booked on a November cruise to Japan that their ship’s itinerary has been tweaked, cutting out one overnight in port and altering arrival and departure times in five other destinations.

Just six weeks before the November 15, 2024 departure, cruisers set to sail on Norwegian Spirit’s 11-day voyage from Incheon, South Korea, to Tokyo, Japan learned that they will not enjoy an overnight in Osaka, which had been planned for Day 6 of the cruise.

Instead, the ship will call at the port from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on November 20, 2024, then add a day at sea on November 21, 2024. While guests will likely be disappointed with the change, the long, 12-hour port call does provide for a full day of exploring and extends late enough to enable dinner ashore if desired.

In addition to Osaka, the itinerary features port calls at Jeju Island, Korea, and Sasebo, Kagoshima City, Miyazaki, Hiroshima, Kochi City, Nagoya, and Shimizu, all in Japan.

Port times are being altered in several destinations. At Sasebo, the November 17, 2024 call was originally from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and was changed to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On November 19, the call to Miyazaki was 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is now 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Also, the ship’s November 22, 2024 call to Hiroshima was from noon to 10 p.m. and was altered to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the November 24, 2024 call to Nagoya was 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is now 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Finally, on November 23, 2024, Norwegian Spirit will expand its port call to Kochi, Japan, remaining in port from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Originally, the itinerary called for a visit from noon to 5 p.m. 

Norwegian Cruise Line did not indicate any reason for the multiple itinerary changes. However, in acknowledging the inconvenience to guests, it is providing a $100 onboard credit per stateroom.

Any shore excursions booked through the cruise line for tours in Osaka on November 21, 2024 will be automatically cancelled and the cost refunded to the guest’s original form of payment.

Likewise, excursions booked through the cruise line at all of the other affected port calls will be adjusted to reflect the new arrival and departure times.

Norwegian Cruise Line noted in its alert to guests that any shore tours that cannot be adjusted will be automatically cancelled and refunded.

Norwegian Spirit, a Leo-class ship, is the cruise line’s oldest and smallest ship, in terms of gross tons. With capacity for 1,966 guests in double occupancy, the ship entered service in 1998 as SuperStar Leo for Star Cruises. The ship joined the Norwegian fleet in 2004, and her most recent major refurbishment was a $100 million update in 2023.

Cruise Series Is Part of Broad Expansion in Asia

Norwegian Spirit’s deployment to Asia is part of a broad expansion of Norwegian Cruise Line’s capacity in the region. In May 2024, the line revealed its plans to introduce 30-plus itineraries across Asia/Pacific and Australia/New Zealand.

With three ships sailing in the region from September 2024 to March 2026, the line will offer some 90 voyages with diverse itineraries. Along with Norwegian Spirit, the line is deploying the 1,944-guest Norwegian Sky and the 1,976-guest Norwegian Sun to the region.

Norwegian Sun
Norwegian Sun – Photo Credit lgabriela / Shutterstock

Read Also: 10 Reasons Not to Stay on the Cruise Ship When in Port

Norwegian Spirit is operating 9- to 15-day voyages through Japan and Southeast Asia from September 2024 to November 2025. In December 2025 the ship will begin a series of Australia/New Zealand voyages.

Norwegian Sky will enter the Asia market in January 2025 with a series of Japan and Southeast Asia itineraries through March 2025. Norwegian Sun is set to make her debut in Australia in December 2024, with a cruise series that features Australia, New Zealand, and French Polynesia.

Norwegian Details Program Replacement for Booked Guests

Catie Kovelman
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Norwegian Details Program Replacement for Booked Guests

On October 1, 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line announced that the brand’s new “More at Sea” program would replace its current “Free At Sea” Program – taking effect for voyages sailing from January 1, 2025, and beyond. 

While the new plan is supposed to be bigger and better, the announcement left booked guests wondering how the upgrade would impact their sailing. But now, we have our answer. 

The 19-ship cruise line reached out to already booked guests to confirm that their previously booked “Free at Sea” package will be replaced for all sailings that embark on or after January 1, 2025, even if the booking was made before the new offering was unveiled. 

“As our guests, we want you to have more experiences that lead to more memories! This is why we are pleased to announce our new More at Sea program,” Norwegian wrote in an email to impacted guests and travel agents.

“With the launch of More at Sea, we will sunset the Free at Sea Plus package which will be modified on reservations made prior to October 1, 2024 for sailings on or after January 1, 2025,” continued the update.

However, guests shouldn’t be too worried. The changes either won’t be too significant or will improve upon the original package. 

For example, the cruise line confirmed that guests will still receive two specialty dining meals, a $50 credit to use per shore excursion, and unlimited Wi-Fi minutes.

The biggest change is that the Premium Plus Beverage package that comes with the current “Free at Sea” program is also going away. Guests will receive a refund for that portion of the package within 30 days – or the new price will be reflected on their reservations if they have not yet paid in full. 

“A refund of the beverage portion of the package will be provided to you as a result of the removal of the Premium Plus Beverage package,” the cruise line confirmed. 

Read Also: Cruise Hive Boards: More At Sea

That said, the drink packages aren’t going away entirely. Instead, the current package will be replaced by the “More at Sea” beverage package, which features an enhanced unlimited open bar experience with comparable drink options as the original. 

Enhancing the Onboard Experience

The goal with the “More at Sea” program isn’t to inconvenience guests, but rather to improve their cruising experience. 

The amenities currently offered through the popular “Free at Sea” program will remain available – with the cruise line building upon them to provide even more value. 

For example, the current program offers two free meals to enjoy at the specialty dining venues onboard.

However, the new “More at Sea” program expands upon this to offer extra appetizers and desserts – with up to three of each now included with the meal at no extra charge.

Norwegian Cruise Line Ship
Norwegian Cruise Line Ship (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)

If guests do order more than that, they will need to pay a simplified cover charge – likely between $40 to $60 depending on the restaurant. But with more included, it’s less likely guests will be hungry enough to expand beyond their allotted portions.

Another enhancement is coming to the new and improved premium beverage package.

More From Cruise Hive

Guests will likely still be able to order any favorites they would have before – and will have access to an unlimited open bar featuring Grey Goose vodka, Casamigos Tequila, Woodford Reserve Bourbon whiskey, and more than 100 specialty cocktails.

Additionally, the new and improved program also comes with an enhanced internet experience, helped by the rollout of Starlink internet, which offers better connectivity using satellites in Outer space that are operated by SpaceX. 

Some of the most popular amenities included with the current “Free At Sea” package will also remain part of “More At Sea” – most notably the $50 tour credit to use for shore excursions and airfare promotions.

Repairs Complete to World’s Largest Cruise Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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Repairs Complete to World’s Largest Cruise Ship

Guests booked on the record-breaking Icon of the Seas will be relieved to learn the ship’s next sailing will move forward as planned following the ship being temporarily out of service for emergency repairs.

While the cruise line has been in touch with guests since the ship was pulled from service for the unexpected work, the update was rather vague, only promising “As we get closer, we’ll provide you with updates on our progress.”

Now, Royal Caribbean has reached out to booked guests to alert them to the conclusion of the repairs, confirming that the ship’s October 5, 2024 departure will set sail as scheduled following the cancellation of the September 28 sailing.

“Just a quick update regarding our upcoming sailing…” the notification said. “We were conducting unplanned maintenance onboard Icon of the Seas and we’re happy to share that it’s complete!”

The cruise line has not shared the nature of the “unplanned maintenance,” but typically, a vessel is not removed from service for such work unless critical systems are impacted, such as propulsion or safety systems.

Nevertheless, the work has been successfully completed while the ship has been in Freeport – the closest shipyard capable of repairs – and she is scheduled to be back in Miami on Saturday.

“The ship is ready, our crew have missed our guests, and we are looking forward to resuming our normal itineraries as of our October 5, 2024 sailing,” the message concluded.

The upcoming cruise is a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing with visits planned for St. Kitts on Tuesday, St. Thomas on Wednesday, and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamian destination, on Friday. At this time, there are no planned adjustments to the itinerary.

Read Also: Icon of the Seas Size Comparison – Facts and Stats

The 248,663-gross-ton ship can welcome 5,610 travelers at double occupancy, or up to 7,600 guests when fully booked with all berths filled. As the ship is specially designed for families and multi-generational travel, she often sails well above her double occupancy total, and all passengers are sure to be relieved that the next cruise will set sail as planned.

Not the First Problem for Icon of the Seas

Though Icon of the Seas has not even been in service for a year – the ship’s inaugural sailing set forth on January 27, 2024 – this “unplanned maintenance” is not the first technical problem the vessel has faced.

In May, the ship experienced a significant power loss that impacted propulsion, lighting, water pumps, elevators, and other systems. While the overall outage was not long, it did take several hours for full systems to be restored across the vessel.

Despite all the pre-inaugural testing, sea trials, and shakedowns, it is not unusual for new ships to have some small tweaks or minor incidents as they begin full passenger operations.

Icon of the Seas Docked in Miami, Florida
Icon of the Seas Docked in Miami, Florida

What is unusual, however, is for such problems to cause widespread and apparently serious technical problems as Icon of the Seas appears to have experienced. Of course, the completely new class of ship – and the largest ship in the world – can be presenting entirely new challenges to engineers as she settles into full-time service.

Some travelers have been concerned that Icon of the Seas‘ problem might mimic that experienced by Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Vista, which experienced propulsion problems in August, resulting in adjusted itineraries, missed port visits, and eventually, the ship being removed from service for repairs.

While Carnival Vista‘s most recent difficulties only cancelled a single sailing, the propulsion problems appear to be widespread and recurrent with the Vista-class ships. Some Royal Caribbean cruisers are worried that Icon of the Seas‘ sudden difficulties might be similar with that new class of ship.

Hopefully, the recent repairs have fully fixed any significant difficulties, and Icon of the Seas will be able to sail full speed ahead to bring amazing adventures to thousands of guests every week.

Next Icon-Class Ship Floats Out With Major Construction Milestone

Melissa Mayntz
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Next Icon-Class Ship Floats Out With Major Construction Milestone

The highly anticipated second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, is officially floating on her own hull following a celebratory construction milestone. This is a major event as a cruise ship comes to life, and signals the next phase of her development as she comes closer to her August 2025 debut.

The ship is being built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in southern Finland, the same shipyard that built the first-in-class, world-record-breaking Icon of the Seas. Construction officially began 19 months ago with the ship’s steel-cutting in February 2023.

The entire float out for Star of the Seas took more than 35 hours as 92 million gallons of water was pumped into the construction dry dock. The doors were then opened and four tugboats moved the ginormous vessel – Star of the Seas will be roughly 250,800 gross tons when complete – approximately 1,000 feet to the outfitting pier.

Such a momentous occasion was attended by shipyard and cruise line executives, and featured a ceremonial cannon blast in honor of the workers who have assembled the tremendous ship’s hull.

Now, the vessel moves on to her interior work, the lengthy process that will truly bring the ship to life.

“Float out really marks the beginning of the next phase, where the fun really begins,” said Jennifer Goswami, Director of Product Development for Royal Caribbean. “This is when you’ll see the interior coming to life.”

The ship’s dining and entertainment venues, décor, artwork, and special features such as the AquaDome’s fountains, the waterpark, and much more will all be part of that next phase now that the hull is officially complete.

Star of the Seas Float Out
Star of the Seas Float Out

“We’re moving from an assembly stage, really heavy construction, to now the outfitting,” said Gianluca Corneli, Newbuild Hotel Director for Royal Caribbean. “We’re going to give the soul to Star of the Seas. It’s really an exciting time and it’s now the sprint to the finish line.”

Sailing on Star of the Seas

That finish line is almost a year away, but bookings have opened for the ship’s first sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida – though her very first sailing has already been cancelled due to an anticipated delivery delay.

“While we’re working hard on completing our newest Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, and after a review of the work that remains to be done, we’re unfortunately forced to delay the ship’s delivery date,” the cruise line said when that unfortunate announcement was made.

The new inaugural sailing is the ship’s August 31, 2025 departure.

Star of the Seas Float Out
Star of the Seas Float Out

Star of the Seas will offer 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries featuring top destinations cruisers love, including San Juan, St. Maarten, Cozumel, Costa Maya, and more.

Each cruise – both Eastern and Western – will also feature a visit to Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Like her sister ship, Icon of the Seas, the new vessel will have eight distinct “neighborhoods” each with its own vibe, from the family-friendly Surfside to the adrenaline-inducing Thrill Island. More than 40 restaurants and bars, 7 pools, 10 whirlpools, and more are all part of the amazing ship.

Read Also: Icon of the Seas Size Comparison – Facts and Stats

Yet she will be unique in her own way, offering exclusive options like a brand new “Back to the Future” production show.

One feature that Star of the Seas will share with her sister ship is a furry crew member that will bring smiles to crew members and guests alike. Onboard Icon of the Seas, Rover has been a big hit, and Sailor is the designated “Chief Dog Officer” for Star of the Seas.

West Coast Port Welcomes Launch of Mexico Cruise Season

Donna Tunney
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West Coast Port Welcomes Launch of Mexico Cruise Season

The Port of San Diego, gateway to the Mexican Riviera, has officially kicked off its 2024-25 winter cruise season, with major cruise lines poised to homeport ships or visit on port calls.

Holland America Line, which typically homeports ships for winter season cruises to Mexico, will again deploy two ships from November 2024 to late April 2025. Other cruise brands sailing from San Diego or calling at the port include Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Viking Cruises.

Holland America, with two ships based at the facility, will offer the lion’s share of voyages to several popular destinations in Baja California and the Mexican Riviera. Kicking off the San Diego season on October 4, 2024, the line’s Nieuw Amsterdam will depart the port on a 16-day Panama Canal cruise that ends in Fort Lauderdale.

The voyage calls at Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Santa Cruz Huatulco, and Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and Puntarenas, Costa Rico before transiting the Panama Canal. The ship will visit Aruba before ending at the Florida port.

“We love sailing from San Diego and are thrilled to kick off the 2024/2025 cruise season. Our guests will be able to explore the Pacific Coast, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Hawaii and even traverse the gems of the South Pacific,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for Holland America Line. 

Bodensteiner noted that cruise guests bring substantial revenue to embarkation destinations. Holland America Line guests and crew will spend an estimated $378,000 each time one of its ships calls this season, adding some $11.3 million into the local economy.

In all, 75 voyages will be offered this season, bringing 265,000 cruise guests to the region through spring 2025.

“We are thrilled to kick off our cruise season here in San Diego with our long-time homeport partner, Holland America,” said Sid Voorakkara, commissioner of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. 

“Together, we will create unforgettable experiences for travelers while showcasing the beauty of San Diego Bay and its waterfront,” added Voorakkara.

Starting in November 2024 and continuing through April 2025, Holland America Line will base the 2,650-guest Koningsdam and 1,432-guest Zaandam in San Diego, with both ships sailing 7- to 11-day voyages.

A 10-day “Mexican Riviera & Sea of Cortez” cruise, with several departure dates, calls at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, La Paz, and Loreto, on both ships, for example, while a 7-day “Baja Peninsula” cruise onboard Koningsdam visits Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Loreto.

In March 2025, a longer, 14-day “Mexican Riviera, Wine Country & Pacific Northwest” voyage is offered on Koningsdam. The March 22, 2025 departure calls at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, San Diego, San Francisco, Astoria, Victoria, and Vancouver.

Holland America's Koningsdam
Holland America’s Koningsdam

In April 2025, Koningsdam deploys to Vancouver to operate a 21-day “Circle Hawaii Pacific Northwest” cruise just before launching her Alaska Inside Passage cruise series from that port for summer 2025.

Read Also: Your Guide to the Best Mazatlán Beaches

Cruises from San Diego continue through late April on Zaandam, which picks up the “Mexican Riviera & Sea of Cortez” itinerary that Koningsdam offered. On April 26, 2025, Zaandam also shifts to Vancouver, sailing an 11-day cruise to that destination from San Diego. Like Koningsdam, Zaandam will sail 7-day Inside Passage cruises in the Great Land starting in early May 2025.

Disney Wonder to Sail From San Diego in Early 2025

Disney Cruise Line will base one ship, the 2,713-guest Disney Wonder, at San Diego in early 2025. The ship in March, April, and May will operate 3-, 4-, and 7-night voyages to the Mexican Riviera. 

Port calls include Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Ensenada on the longer sailings. Shorter cruises visit Ensenada, and Catalina Island.

Viking Cruises will not homeport a ship in San Diego this season, however, two of its vessels will make inaugural calls to the port this season, Viking Neptune and Viking Sea.

Villa Vie Odyssey Finally Sets Sail on World Cruise After False Start

Lissa Poirot
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Villa Vie Odyssey Finally Sets Sail on World Cruise After False Start

Passengers aboard the 3.5-year Villa Vie Odyssey residency voyage can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the ship has officially left port to begin its 147-country world cruise, ending a long saga of delays and paperwork issues.

The 24,344-gross-ton vessel carrying over 100 passengers (one guest was just removed on September 17, 2024, due to negative texts) initially attempted to set sail on October 1, 2024. Still, it was again delayed due to incomplete paperwork, keeping the ship anchored in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Frustrated passengers, who have been living in Ireland since Odyssey’s original sail date in May 2024 was delayed, couldn’t believe the false start and feared returning to Belfast instead of continuing to its first port of call, the Faroe Islands in Scotland.

It turns out, during the four months of delays, Villa Vie Odyssey’s paperwork for sailing in Norway, where it is scheduled to visit after Scotland, had expired.

Now, after a final inspection by Norway’s DNV, the ship’s class certificate has been extended until Christmas Day, allowing the vessel to continue its journey.

Villa Vie Odyssey CEO Mike Petterson shared the good news with passengers this morning, October 3. “We are not going to Belfast,” he said.

The ship is now headed to Hunterston, Scotland, for refueling and an overnight, with Petterson telling crew, he “doesn’t care where we go, just go – but not to Belfast.”

Passengers celebrated the long-awaited moment with a christening at sea as Petterson ceremoniously broke a bottle of champagne – though it took three tries to crack.

Odyssey’s Troubled Start and Future Plans

Since arriving in Belfast months ago, the Villa Vie Odyssey has been fraught with complications. Initially set to serve as a small, all-inclusive residency ship circumnavigating the globe with 425 port visits, the ship was held up by various technical and administrative setbacks.

These have included issues with the ship’s outfitting and delays in obtaining essential components and finalizing construction. Even after leaving dry dock, the ship was delayed further as it struggled to complete regulatory requirements and safety checks.

Guests, who invested heavily in the promise of an extended cruise experience with villas starting at $99,999 plus a monthly fee, were stranded in Belfast.

Villa Vie Odyssey
Villa Vie Odyssey (Credit: Villa Vie Residences)

For months, the cruise company paid the living expenses for passengers who eagerly awaited updates on when the ship would be ready to sail.

Read Also: Read Also: Retire on a Cruise Ship – Is It Really Worth It?

Now that the vessel is finally at sea, its itinerary, updated in mid-July, begins with destinations like Norway, Iceland, and Scandinavia. Originally scheduled to take place during the summer months, it is unsure if the residences will revise the schedule.

As of the last update, the ship will travel to Spain and Portugal after Scandinavia, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean and arriving first in Bermuda and then continuing to the Caribbean.

There, the ship is expected to visit the Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. It will then continue to Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Colombia before island hopping across 16 different countries in the Caribbean.

While it’s fairly certain Villa Vie Odyssey, purchased by Villa Vie Residences in 2023, will have many itinerary changes in its future, guests are ecstatic to finally begin the journey of a lifetime.

Carnival Cruise Line to Add Celebration Key Feature Guests Want

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line to Add Celebration Key Feature Guests Want

Carnival cruise fans eager to visit Celebration Key when the new Bahamas destination opens in August 2025 will be glad to know the cruise line is listening to feedback and adding an important feature travelers want.

In response to guest inquiries and comments, new plans are being adjusted to add lockers to Celebration Key to allow visitors to securely store their belongings while they enjoy a day of fun.

The news comes from John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, following a less-than-polite comment from one of the followers on his popular Facebook page.

“Build lockers at Celebration Cay for for phones, cameras, and wallets,” the guest demanded. “This is crazy bad planning by Carnival. Put it right for Celebration [Key].”

Many additional comments did agree with the original poster with how helpful lockers could be, especially on the beach when travelers want to enjoy the beautiful blue waters of the Bahamas.

“Lockers would be nice. I worry about my money, phone, and other possessions laying unattended if I’m in the water.”

“I would definitely appreciate a locker so that my husband and I could swim together. We’re not comfortable leaving things like our eyeglasses, etc., on our chairs.”

“Lockers would be great. I spend the majority of my time in the water with my kid at these islands. Would love to be able to keep my valuables locked up!”

While lockers aren’t essential, it is obvious they would be a welcome addition for travelers. Other options include locking backpacks or other travel accessories to secure one’s belongings, or else ensuring that one member of a group stays with any valuables at all times.

Fortunately, Heald passed along the request to the Carnival Cruise Line “beards” for consideration, and the decision was a quick one.

“Yesterday it was requested that we install lockers at the lagoons on Celebration Key,” Heald explained. “The beards … read your comments so I was told last night that they would indeed install lockers there for those who need them.”

There are no further details about how many lockers would be made available or where they would be positioned, but they are sure to be a welcome option for guests who want to lock up valuable items as they enjoy all the great features the destination will offer.

Since the island destination is still under construction, it should be fairly easy to add several locker banks in different locations where they will be most useful, while still maintaining the gorgeous Bahamian look the cruise line wants.

About Celebration Key

Carnival Cruise Line first broke ground for the new destination on Grand Bahama Island in May 2022, and construction of the $200 million development has been underway ever since.

As the first destination being designed exclusively with Carnival guests in mind, Celebration Key is focused on offering a wide variety of amazingly fun experiences with something for everyone. Distinct portals will offer unique vibes, including an adults-only area, new specialty dining options, lagoons and beaches, a local retail marketplace, and more.

Celebration Key, Grand Bahama Island
Celebration Key, Grand Bahama Island

Read Also: Carnival Unveils Dining Options for New Private Destination Celebration Key

The entire destination is being designed to celebrate the Bahamas, with local artists engaged in design choices and other facets of the development.

Celebration Key is slated to welcome its first guests in August 2025, and a dozen ships from multiple homeports are now offering sailings ready for booking. More than 400 sailings are now available featuring Celebration Key, giving travelers plenty of options to explore this new and exciting destination.

Are you booked on a cruise to Celebration Key? What are you most looking forward to? Join in the conversation on the Cruise Hive boards!

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