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New Princess Cruise Ship Will Never Open Key Features

Princess Cruises News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jul 20, 2024

New Princess Cruise Ship Will Never Open Key Features

Princess Cruises has announced that key adventurous features aboard their newest ship, Sun Princess, will not be able to open. This follows months of closures for these features as the ship has been sailing since her debut on February 28, 2024 without the features open for guests.

The never-to-open features are the RollGlider, Coastal Climb, and Ropes Course attractions within the ship’s Park19 space. These highly anticipated options were to have offered fun and adventurous diversions for guests eager for unique, oceangoing thrills.

“We regret to announce that Princess is unable to accept delivery of the RollGlider, Coastal Climb, and Ropes Course features within Park19 aboard Sun Princess and those experiences will not be opening,” the cruise line confirmed in a statement.

The RollGlider was to have been a first of its kind glider-style zipline experience that would move riders at speeds up to 11 miles per hour while they were suspended from an overhead track. The feature was planned to be ADA-accessible, ensuring that all family members could take in marvelous views.

Coastal Climb was the ship’s ropes course, with a variety of bridges, nets, planks, and other challenging features that offered higher and higher views for the most adventurous travelers.

Ascending from deck 19 to 20, the climb was topped with an outstanding, 360-degree view from The Lookout, an open-air observation deck and the highest point available to guests on the ship.

Now, these key features will not be opening to guests after all. No details about why the features cannot be opened have been confirmed, though the permanent closure could be related to safety considerations, construction flaws, regulations in different destinations, or many other factors. At this time, no new features have been announced for the space occupied by these attractions.

“We are actively evaluating these areas for future recreational opportunities to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all our guests,” the statement from Princess Cruises said.

Many cruise ships are home to unique rides, features, and challenges, from roller coasters to surf simulators to go-kart tracks. Undoubtedly, Princess Cruises will continue to receive guest feedback and consider new options to install aboard Sun Princess to offer everyone great experiences and fun memory-making activities.

The 175,500-gross-ton Sun Princess, first in the line’s Sphere class of vessels, is currently offering diverse Mediterranean itineraries. She will make her first transatlantic crossing in late September, moving to Fort Lauderdale to spend the winter season in the Caribbean. The ship can welcome 4,300 guests aboard, and is also home to roughly 1,500 international crew members.

Sun Princess‘s sister ship, the upcoming Star Princess, was likely to have had similar adventurous features onboard.

No announcements have yet been made about whether or not the features will debut on the second Sphere-class ship or if they will be replaced with different options. Star Princess is currently under construction with Fincantieri and scheduled to debut in October 2025.

What Can Guests Still Do?

The Park19 space on Sun Princess still offers both adventurous and relaxing options for travelers. For thrill-seekers, the best views are had at Infinite Horizon, which features cantilevered walls extending out over the sides of the ship for adrenaline-inducing views.

Cruisers of all ages will enjoy the Splash Zone with its colorful water sculpture and fun pop jets as a space to chill out, while guests who want to relax while staying dry will head for the Hammock Area for laid-back vibes.

Sun Princess also offers a classic Recreational Court as a multifunctional sports space for cornhole, shuffleboard, ping pong, and more. For travelers looking to stay fit and take in ocean breezes, the Jogging Track is not to be missed and offers elevated views to enjoy with a morning, afternoon, or evening stroll, jog, or run.

Royal Caribbean’s New Utopia of the Seas Gets Spectacular Sendoff

Royal Caribbean News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jul 20, 2024

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Royal Caribbean’s New Utopia of the Seas Gets Spectacular Sendoff

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship and the sixth vessel in the innovative Oasis class has officially begun her maiden voyage with a spectacular sendoff from Port Canaveral on Friday, July 19, 2024.

Hundreds of well-wishers lined the shore and sent Utopia of the Seas on her first sailing in style at “The World’s Biggest Wave Out” party hosted by Port Canaveral.

The event included a festive, family-fun afternoon with local vendors, a DJ spinning sailaway party hits, a bubble machine, fun giveaways, and more. Nearly 800 people lined the shoreline at Jetty Park adjacent to Port Canaveral to big the ship bon voyage, complete with homemade signs and plenty of good cheer.

Utopia of the Seas Sets Sail from Port Canaveral (Credit: Port Canaveral)

“Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas is one of the most anticipated new cruise ships in the industry,” said Captain John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “We’re proud to be Royal Caribbean’s partner for this industry first experience and excited to support the strong market demand for short itineraries. Our team is ready and committed to providing high-quality experiences to help all cruise guests launch their memorable journeys from our Port.”

As Utopia of the Seas sailed out of the port with revenue guests for the very first time, she was led by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, Canaveral Fire Rescue City/Port Fireboat 2 with a water cannon display, and two local tug boats.

The 236,473-gross-ton ship joined an evening parade of departing ships from one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. Also departing and wishing Utopia of the Seas well on her first sailing were Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Glory, and Utopia of the Seas’ fleetmate, Royal Caribbean International’s Adventure of the Seas.

Port Canaveral is now home to two of the three largest cruise ships in the world, with both Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas offering sailings from the Space Coast.

While Wonder of the Seas offers exclusively 7-night voyages, Utopia of the Seas has been carefully designed to offer shorter sailings, giving travelers more flexibility to enjoy the massive ship for the ultimate weekend getaway.

Utopia of the Seas‘ maiden voyage is a 3-night Bahamas itinerary with visits to Royal Caribbean International’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, as well as Nassau.

The 4-night itineraries will visit the same ports and will also include a day at sea for guests to enjoy the massive ship. The ship can welcome 5,668 travelers at double occupancy, and is also home to nearly 2,300 international crew members.

Is the Port Ready?

With so many large ships now sailing from Port Canaveral, concerns about traffic congestion and parking availability have been raised. The port is well-prepared for the increase in cruise travel, however, and prepared for Utopia of the Seas‘ arrival by adding nearly 1,000 additional parking spaces at Cruise Terminal 1.

The port has also recently announced further expansion with a new cruise terminal in development on the north side of the port. The new terminal will also include a new parking garage and a flyover ramp for easy traffic flow, with additional room for even more future expansion.

More and more ships are planning to homeport at Port Canaveral, taking advantage of the port’s fine, state-of-the-art facilities as well as its convenient location for travelers and diverse itineraries.

In November, Princess Cruises will bring Caribbean Princess to the port for the line’s first-ever homeport operations, while Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox will likewise homeport from Port Canaveral at that time, another cruise line first.

In December, Disney Cruise Line’s new Disney Treasure and sister ship to Disney Wish will also debut from Port Canaveral as her new homeport, while in August 2025, Royal Caribbean International will bring the second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, to the port.

With so many amazing ships soon to call Port Canaveral home, there are sure to be more amazing welcome and wave out events in the months ahead to celebrate the port’s growth and great opportunities for cruise travelers.

Technical Issue Delays Norwegian Cruise Ship By a Full Day

Norwegian Cruise Line News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jul 19, 2024

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Technical Issue Delays Norwegian Cruise Ship By a Full Day

Guests aboard Norwegian Jade are getting a longer cruise than originally planned as a technical issue with the ship’s engines has slowed her propulsion and will make her a full day late returning to Port Canaveral.

This changes the disembarkation date from Saturday, July 20 to Sunday, July 21 and subsequently also impacts the next upcoming voyage.

Guests onboard the ship have received notification of the change as well as further details about onward travel arrangements.

“Unfortunately, due to a technical issue, which has impacted the speed of our beautiful ship, but will not impact your safety or that of our crew, we are unable to make the speed needed to get to Port Canaveral on time for disembarkation,” a letter sent to guests’ cabins read.

“Consequently, we will not be arriving into Port Canaveral, Florida, on July 20, 2024, as scheduled. Norwegian Jade’s arrival into Port Canaveral is now anticipated for Sunday, July 21, 2024, at 6:00 a.m.”

This puts the ship a full 24 hours behind her original schedule, and means that any onboard guests with further travel plans to return home may need to make severe adjustments. Norwegian Cruise Line has opened the phone lines and internet access aboard Norwegian Jade so guests can make such adjustments more easily.

If travelers have booked transfers and flights through Norwegian Cruise Line, the reservations team is working to make those adjustments, but some travelers may not be able to return home until Monday, July 22. Any guests impacted in that way will be provided with a 1-night complimentary hotel stay as they wait for their rearranged flight.

Any guests who booked flight arrangements independently will need to contact their airline for rescheduling, as well as travel insurance if they have it for any reimbursement possibilities. The cruise line is also offering up to a $300 (USD) reimbursement per person for any airline change or cancellation fees not covered through travel insurance.

Finally, all guests onboard are being offered a 10% discount as a future cruise credit in acknowledgement of the inconvenience this delay has caused. The credit will be available for use beginning August 7, 2024, and must be used no later than December 31, 2025.

What About the Next Cruise?

Because the 93,558-gross-ton, Jewel-class Norwegian Jade will be late returning to her Florida homeport, guests departing on the next sailing are also impacted. These travelers are being provided a prorated refund as well as help adjusting travel plans if they were booked through Norwegian Cruise Line.

“Guests on this cruise will receive a prorated refund based on the reduced sailing length for the original voyage fare paid, prepaid service charges, Free at Sea package fees and port taxes,” a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Cruise Hive. “We are adjusting travel arrangements for guests who purchased their air or pre-cruise hotel stay through us, as needed, to accommodate the new embarkation date of July 21, 2024.”

There is no mention, however, of any help with securing hotel reservations for Saturday, July 20, when guests would have been expecting to set sail aboard their cruise ship.

Norwegian Jade Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: suttirat wiriyanon / Shutterstock.com

Furthermore, the nature of the “technical issue” impacting Norwegian Jade has not been detailed, though the cruise line does acknowledge that repairs are needed.

“The ship is scheduled for maintenance prior to its departure from Port Canaveral, Fla. on July 21, 2024 to mitigate any further impacts to the guest experience,” the statement read.

Norwegian Jade is completing a 7-night Caribbean sailing that visited Great Stirrup Cay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. The next cruise, which was to have departed on Saturday, July 20, was originally an Eastern Caribbean sailing with visits to the Dominican Republic, Tortola, San Juan, and Great Stirrup Cay.

At this time, there is no confirmation of whether or not any itinerary adjustments will be necessary. The next cruise does include two days at sea, which may give the ship ample time to adjust speed to preserve the ports of call, provided repairs can be successfully completed.

Norwegian Jade can welcome 2,402 guests at double occupancy or up to 3,590 travelers when fully booked. Also onboard are approximately 1,000 international crew members who will work hard to ensure all guests have a fun cruise, no matter what technical problems might arise.

Holland America Launches New Promotion to Entice Winter Cruisers

Holland America Line News

Lissa Poirot

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Jul 19, 2024

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Holland America Launches New Promotion to Entice Winter Cruisers

Holland America Line has announced a new promotion, “Save on Sunshine,” to encourage travelers to book winter cruises. Launching July 19, 2024, the offer includes up to 40 percent off fares, free prepaid crew appreciation, and 50 percent reduced deposits.

The promotion applies to select departures from September 2024 through April 2025 and must be booked by August 20, 2024.

“Soon enough winter weather will have us all dreaming about cruising to warmer destinations, and with the Save on Sunshine offer, travelers can plan a tropical vacation now and take advantage of extra savings and amenities,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for Holland America Line.

Holland America Line Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line

The promotion, available on nearly 300 cruises, covers a range of destinations, including the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Tahiti, the Pacific Coast, South America, Hawaii, and the Panama Canal.

It also features cruises to Antarctica, several cruises over the winter holidays, and back-to-back Collectors’ Voyages. Sailings range from 4 to 58 days and excludes Grand Voyages and cruises of three days or less.

Save on Sunshine is combinable with the cruise line’s “Have It All” premium fare, which includes four high-value amenities like shore excursions, Signature Beverage Packages, specialty dining, and the Wi-Fi Surf Package.

Winter and Holiday Destinations

Holland America Line operates a fleet of 11 ships, with five sailing in the Caribbean this winter.

Guests can travel from Fort Lauderdale aboard the 2,104-passenger ms Eurodam, the 2,106-guests ms Nieuw Amsterdam, 2,666-passenger ms Nieuw Statendam, the 2,668-passenger ms Rotterdam. The 2,272-passenger ms Zuiderdam will offer Caribbean routes from Miami.

The 1,331-passenger ms Koningsdam will take guests through the Panama Canal on a special November repositioning from San Diego, California, to Fort Lauderdale for a winter in the Caribbean. Prior, the ship is spending late October and early November in San Diego for short cruises to Santa Barbara and Catalina Island, California, and Ensenada, Mexico.

Special holiday voyages in the Caribbean are available on ms Koningsdam, ms Nieuw Statendam and ms Zuiderdam. Both ms Koningsdam and ms Zuiderdam will spend Christmas at sea and New Year’s Eve visiting St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands as ms Nieuw Statendam enjoys Christmas Day in Cozumel, Mexico, and New Year’s Eve in Puerto Plata/Amber Cove, Dominican Republic.

Holland America Westerdam (Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line)

ms Zaandam, accommodating 1,432 passengers, will stay on the Pacific Coast in November and December, before departing on a Grand Voyage in January 2025. Homeporting in San Diego, the ship will travel to various calls in Mexico, including Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.

Meanwhile, south of the Equator, 1,964-guest ms Oosterdam and 1,432-passenger ms Volendam will explore South America, including voyages to Antarctica. A 22-night departure on ms Oosterdam from Buenos Aires, Argentina, will bring passengers to the southernmost continent during the holidays before ending in San Antonio, Chile, on January 9, 2025.

Down Under, the 1,972-passenger ms Noordam will provide roundtrip voyages from Sydney, Australia, to destinations in Australia and New Zealand, including a holiday sailing that spends Christmas and New Year’s at sea.

Guests can enjoy Asian itineraries aboard the 1,964-guest ms Westerdam, homeporting in Hong Kong and Singapore with journeys to the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. A holiday voyage will find the ship in Bali for Christmas, Semarang on New Year’s Eve, and Jakarta on New Year’s Day.

Barcelona Closes Out First Half Of 2024 With Record Number Of Ship Calls

Port News

Catie Kovelman

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Jul 19, 2024

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Barcelona Closes Out First Half Of 2024 With Record Number Of Ship Calls

The popular port of Barcelona, Spain, has been inundated with an unprecedented amount of maritime traffic.

According to new numbers released by the Port of Barcelona, cruise ship calls currently make up 83% of all maritime traffic within the port, which is large enough to accommodate up to 10 large ships at once – with a brand new terminal recently opening nearby in spring of 2024.

The amount of cruise ships using Spain’s capital city as a homeport within the first half of the year has increased significantly, setting new records.

Cruise Ships Docked in Barcelona, Spain (Photo Credit: Fernando M. Elkspera)

The number of passengers has increased by 3.9%, while the current number of vessels homeporting in Barcelona represents a 20% increase over the past decade.

“The Barcelona cruise model has taken a significant leap in the first half of the year, as the weight of home port cruises has increased significantly compared to transit cruises,” said Lluís Salvadó, president of the Port of Barcelona.

In just the first half of the year, the Spanish port has welcomed 323 ships, and will likely end the year with a grand total of over 700, or even 800, calls.

Afterall, Barcelona welcomed 803 ships in 2023, which carried approximately 3.5 million passengers to the provincial city – breaking pre-pandemic records by 13.7%.

But even while reaching record highs, the number of ship calls, and particularly from ships in transit, is trending lower this year – with numbers down by 6.6%.

While the decrease in the number of calls by ships in transit is to be expected as more ships are choosing to homeport in Barcelona than ever before, the other side of the coin is that Barcelona has actually imposed limitations on cruise ships.

Beginning in October of 2023, the city banned cruise ships from docking at its northern docks – the World Trade Center area and the Muelle Barcelona Norte – to mitigate port congestion and overwhelming crowding on land.

The other purpose behind the new rule was to keep exhaust gasses and other cruise ship-caused pollution further from the city center.

Earlier in 2024, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced plans to reduce available terminals for cruise ships to further address the ongoing overcrowding within the city.

Red Sea Crisis Contributes To Surge In Port Traffic

In addition to serving as the largest cruise port in Europe, Barcelona is Spain’s third largest container port.

Echoing the growth seen from cruise tourism, the Spanish port has seen a big uptick in shipping vessels within the port – increasing by 23.6% since the beginning of the year.

There has also been a 45% rise in the number of transshipments, which is a complex supply chain process that involves transporting cargo from one vessel to another, before the goods make their way to their final destination.

But the increase in shipping traffic didn’t simply happen by chance. It’s actually a result of the Red Sea crisis that began in October of 2023.

Many cruise ships were forced to reroute or cancel voyages entirely to avoid the conflict in the Middle Eastern region and the Suez Canal out of an abundance of caution.

Likewise, many shipping companies have opted to divert from their usual routes through the Suez Canal in order to prioritize the safety of the crew members onboard and the goods they are transporting.

In light of this change, Barcelona has become a key shipping hub and a gateway for connecting destinations throughout the eastern Mediterranean.

MSC Cruises Unveils Most Popular Onboard Summer Cocktails

MSC Cruises News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jul 18, 2024

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MSC Cruises Unveils Most Popular Onboard Summer Cocktails

Many cruisers have a great time onboard when raising a glass of their favorite cocktail to toast sail away, an oceangoing sunset, a top-tier production show, a day at the pool, or another fun part of a cruise vacation.

But what are those favorite drinks? MSC Cruises has shared its favorites onboard their fleet of 22 ships and what their cruisers are enjoying most, sip by sip, along with two brand new featured cocktails the cruise line has introduced.

Up first are two brand new cocktails MSC Cruises has developed, both refreshing gin and tonic blends with infusions of unique summer flavors.

The “Jasmine & Rose G&T” features Bloom pink gin and real rose petals and jasmine flowers for a natural burst of sophisticated floral notes and sweetness, with dehydrated grapefruit and fresh rosemary as garnishes.

The “Skinny Lemongrass & Ginger G&T” is another brand-new cocktail available exclusively aboard MSC Cruises ships. This drink blends Whitley Neill lemongrass and ginger gin with Fever-Tree aromatic tonic, fresh lime juice, and a touch of honey syrup for sweetness. The dehydrated lemon and fresh ginger garnish gives the drink even more summery elegance.

Two other gin and tonic beverages also top the list of MSC Cruises’ most popular summer drinks. The “Elderflower GT” combines fruit and flowers with a heady blend of BUSS N°509 Elderflower Gin, Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic, dehydrated orange peel, a cinnamon stick, and cloves, ensuring an iconic depth of flavor.

Meanwhile, the “Passion Fruit 0.0 GT” is an alcohol-free option for tipplers who don’t want to tipple too much. BUSS N°509 passion fruit 0.0 gin is sweetly blended with fresh passion fruit puree, lemon juice, and Fever-Tree light tonic, topped with dehydrated lemon, passion fruit, and for an extra burst of flavor, coriander seeds.

Classic favorites are also remaining popular onboard, and MSC’s expert bartenders are always happy to whip up an Aperol Spritz, margarita, pina colada, strawberry daiquiri, or mojito as guests wish.

Each ship and different themed bars also offer unique variations on classic cocktails, ensuring that everyone aboard can raise a glass with a beverage they love—including alcohol-free options.

Special Beverages on Each Ship

Every MSC Cruises ship also offers some unique and exclusive options for travelers. For example, the Helios Wine Bar on MSC Euribia creates an immersive, digital experience for wine lovers, but there are also 20 other bars onboard the 184,011-gross-ton, Meraviglia-plus class ship to choose from.

On MSC World Europa, the cruise line’s biggest ship at 215,863 gross tons, guests can indulge in the Gin Project with more than 70 craft gins on order. If beer is preferred, the Masters of the Sea microbrewery onboard offers special brews from desalinated seawater.

For more futuristic fun, guests aboard the 181-541-gross-ton MSC Virtuosa can meet Rob, the first-ever humanoid robotic bartender at sea who will mix up all their favorite drinks.

Finally, for extra special summer toasts, MSC Cruises has introduced six months of special pop-up bars onboard MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia, with unique mixology options from April through September.

What are your favorite onboard beverages? Share your summer drink must-haves on the Cruise Hive boards!

Variety Cruises Launches First-Ever Uncharted Cruise

Cruise News

Lissa Poirot

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Jul 18, 2024

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Variety Cruises Launches First-Ever Uncharted Cruise

Variety Cruises, a family-run small-ship cruise line, has announced its first-ever Unchartered Cruise, taking adventurous travelers on a mystery journey through Greece.

The Uncharted Cruise promises immersive experiences, delving into local history and culture at mystery destinations revealed 24 hours before arrival.

The 8-day limited-edition cruise departs from Athens, Greece, on August 23, 2024, visiting Greek islands and offering interactive workshops, shore excursions, and swimming stops.

Variety Voyager (Photo Credit: Variety Voyages)

“Our maritime legacy dates back to 1949, and on this cruise, we’re bringing that rich heritage to life in the style of shipping legends like Aristotle Onassis,” said Filippos Venetopoulos, third-generation CEO of Variety Cruises.

He continued, “Not knowing the exact stops ahead of time allows for a true exploration of the season, the weather, and the winds, enabling us to follow the best course Greece has to offer.”

The cruise takes place on Variety Voyager, a mega yacht accommodating just 72 passengers. The four-deck yacht weighs 1,593 gross tons and features 36 staterooms.

The cruise includes cabin accommodations, daily breakfast, one meal, a welcome cocktail, a Greek Night evening, a BBQ, a Captain’s Dinner, fishing and snorkeling equipment use, and shore excursions with meals at local restaurants.

All proceeds from the cruise will go to Variety Cares, the cruise line’s nonprofit foundation that supports clean oceans, gender equality, and education initiatives.

Mystery Voyages Grow in Popularity

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Variety Cruises operates eight small ships and offers 7-night cruises in Greece, the Seychelles, Italy and Adriatic Sea, Malta, Tahiti, Cape Verde, and West Africa.

The Uncharted Cruise, which sails with Venetopoulos onboard, is set to offer a unique and immersive travel experience. Guests can enjoy Variety Voyager’s 360-degree Sun Deck, premium bar and lounge, and a spa and fitness suite with gym equipment.

Its main dining room, located on the upper deck, is an indoor and outdoor space that seats 50 passengers for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

When not taking passengers on an Uncharted adventure, the cruise line also operates new Ionian Islands voyages aboard its 21-cabin Harmony G. With limited sailings accommodating just 44 guests through August 2024 and itineraries available June through August 2025, the roundtrip journey from Athens explores Corinth Canal, Kefalonia, Paxos, Ithaca, Corfu, Agistri, and Aegina.

Mystery cruises, while not available on every cruise line, are growing in popularity. The U.K.’s Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, also a family-operated company, has been operating surprise itinerary cruises for years.

Its next mystery cruise, taking place on the 1,404-passenger Borealis, is an 11-night voyage between Southampton and Portsmouth, England, in November 2024. The cruise line is keeping every destination a secret so guests don’t know where they are going until they arrive.

Another mystery voyage is slated for December 2025 aboard the 1,338-passenger Bolette. The 7-night adventure provides a roundtrip cruise from Liverpool, England.

Windstar Cruises is getting in on the fun, as well, turning its 2025 President’s Cruise into a mystery. Inspired by a recent cruise that had to quickly reposition due to a typhoon – to the thrill of the guests – the 8-day voyage will be a first for the cruise line.

The roundtrip journey from Athens will only reveal its destinations 24 hours before arrival. It takes place on the 312-passenger Star Legend.

Celebrity Cruises Adjusts Blue Chip Club, Clarifies After Guest Feedback

Celebrity Cruises News

Lissa Poirot

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Jul 18, 2024

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Celebrity Cruises Adjusts Blue Chip Club, Clarifies After Guest Feedback

Celebrity Cruises announced significant updates to its Blue Chip Club program in an email to loyalty members on July 16, 2024.

Blue Chip Club members were quick to find fault with the changes, from members losing drink packages and casino credits to unlimited digital images.

The email also caused an uproar by stating, “Tier Credits for all members will reset to zero on August 1, 2024, initiating a new 12-month tracking period.”

Celebrity Cruises casino — Celebrity Cruises Fortunes Casino (Photo Credit: JJava Designs)

Following guest feedback, Celebrity Cruises clarified on July 17 to address confusion and extend current benefits.

“Yesterday, we announced some changes to the Celebrity Blue Chip Club program. The feedback we received from you in the last 24 hours made it clear that we did not roll out these changes the way we should have,” the cruise line stated. “We are very sorry for the stress this may have caused you and would like to share how we are addressing this.”

The clarification states that current Blue Chip Club members will retain their existing Tier Status for the next 12 months, starting August 1, 2024, until July 31, 2025. During this period, members will continue to have the same FreePlay benefits, beverage package perks, and prepaid gratuity benefits originally associated with their current tier.

The benefits apply to bookings fully paid and confirmed before August 1, 2024, with a sail-by date on or before July 31, 2025, for sailings of four nights or longer.

Meanwhile, the Tier Credits will continue to reset on August 1, 2024, but will be used to determine new tier status for the program from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026. The new tier benefits will not take effect until sailings on and after August 1, 2025.

Changes to the Blue Chip Club

The Blue Chip Club, Celebrity Cruises’ loyalty program for casino players, is divided into multiple tiers – Pearl, Onyx, Amethyst, Sapphire, Sapphire Plus, and Ruby – with increasing benefits at each level.

Members earn reward points based on their casino play, which they can redeem for onboard amenities such as FreePlay, complimentary dining, shore excursions, and spa treatments.

With the new program, all tiers retain the ability to redeem points for FreePlay as well as folio credit with a minimum of 10,000 Reward Points. Each tier also receives instant cruise rewards certificates with bonus FreePlay.

What has changed is the amount of FreePlay and promo chips automatically awarded to higher-tiered guests. Amethyst members originally received $100, Sapphire members $500, Sapphire Plus members received $1,000, and Ruby members received $2,500.

Now, the program introduces Effy Boutique credit, with members able to spend $200, $250, $350, and $550, respectively, in the boutique.

Celebrity Cruises Ship (Photo Credit: NAN728)

The new offering also removes drink packages, which started at the Sapphire level with Classic and increased to Premium for Sapphire Plus and Ruby. Instead, all tiers can receive complimentary drinks in the casino.

Where passengers beginning at Amethyst received unlimited digital photo packages, the policy has reduced the benefit. Amethyst now receives one digital photo download, both Sapphire tiers receive two, and Ruby members receive three.

Priority embarkation, debarkation, tenders, and shore-side concierge, originally granted to Sapphire through Ruby levels, are now offered only to Ruby levels. However, access to Blue Chip Club VIP events and the annual cruise benefit remain the same.

The Wi-Fi packages have also been adjusted under the new program. Where Amethyst members received 60 minutes of high-speed Xcelerate Internet, they now receive 30 percent off the enhanced Starlink-powered Wi-Fi. Each Sapphire level retains one free access, but Ruby increases from two devices to four.

However, the program also introduces a few new benefits. For example, a spa discount is available, and Amethyst members receive 10 percent off all services. Ruby members receive 20 percent off, and both Sapphire levels receive 15 percent off.

Sapphire levels and higher also receive exclusive rates for family and friends staying in additional staterooms, and all members receive exclusive offers with partnership casinos.

Still, Ruby members receive the bulk of the new benefits, which include unlimited complimentary room service, a welcome lunch in the main dining room, reserved seating at shows in The Theatre, priority luggage delivery, and an onboard credit based on cruise duration.

Ruby members receive $50 on 3- to 4-night sailings, $75 on 5- to 6-night sailings, and $100 on sailings of 7 or more nights.

Again, the changes will not affect current members until August 1, 2025. New Blue Chip Club members will begin under this program.

Celebrity Cruises is also extending the dates for its top-tier Captain’s Club members. Elite members have until October 30, 2024, to book, Elite Plus members have until January 31, 2025, and Zenith members have until July 31, 2025, to book to retain their current status. All sailings must take place on or before July 31, 2025.

Carnival Cruise Line Shuts Down One Popular Balcony Request

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jul 18, 2024

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Carnival Cruise Line Shuts Down One Popular Balcony Request

Relaxation is a key part of any cruise vacation, but Carnival Cruise Line has once again had to remind guests that one popular form of balcony lounging is not permitted on any of its ships.

Despite guest stories that apparently contradict official policy, hammocks are not permitted to be hung on Carnival cruise ship balconies.

This clarification comes from the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, in response to guest inquiries and internet rumors on his Facebook page, where he responds to hundreds of questions, comments, and concerns every day.

Carnival Cruise Line Balconies (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)

“A topic came up … about hanging a hammock on the balcony,” one commenter explained. “Many said that is against the Carnival rules. Others stated they could find nothing on Carnival saying this is not allowed. Can you please answer this question? Hammocks allowed or not allowed?”

It is true that hammocks are not listed on Carnival Cruise Line’s Prohibited Items list, and it is possible that travelers could easily bring along their own hammock for use during a beach day in port.

Furthermore, brightly colored woven hammocks are often found for sale in different ports of call and can be fun souvenirs of a tropical getaway. However, hammocks cannot be used onboard the ships.

“I’m glad that you’ve asked for clarification,” Heald responded. “The answer is no this is not allowed for safety reasons and they would be removed if anybody tried to put one up.”

Another commenter chimed in on the conversation, noting that the individual (not reaching out to Heald) who had originally posted about hammocks claimed that her cabin attendant had helped her set it up on her balcony.

“I think it’s one of those things where you don’t believe everything in the internet,” Heald explained. “I can tell you that if that was the case then that cabin attendant would probably not be working with us.”

While cabin attendants – also known as stateroom stewards – are generally helpful and always willing to do what they can to make guests’ cruise vacations as enjoyable as possible, they are not permitted to violate safety standards and protocols.

Hanging a hammock on a ship balcony could cause concerns in several ways. First, there would be no way of knowing about weight capacities, proper load-bearing connections, and other safety features, especially for family cruisers.

Furthermore, a loosely hung hammock could be at risk of blowing overboard if it becomes untied, which would be a violation of environmental policies.

Heald has addressed the issue of hammocks in the past, and this prohibition is not a new policy for Carnival Cruise Line.

“We are doing this for the safety of the guests. And we do not allow hammocks,” Heald clarified to another guest as far back as 2022.

It should be noted that there are a variety of lounging options onboard Carnival ships. In addition to chairs or sun loungers on private balconies, there are numerous loungers and sunbeds available on the open decks, the thermal suites on some ships, and in the adults-only Serenity areas throughout the fleet.

As a matter of interest, Virgin Voyages ships do have hammocks available on guest balconies, but these are properly installed and tested for safety on the adults-only cruise line.

Virgin Voyages' Hammocks — Virgin Voyages’ Hammocks (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)

Other Items Not Permitted to be Hung Onboard Carnival Ships

Hammocks aren’t the only hanging things not permitted in Carnival cruise ship staterooms. While guests often get creative with magnetic hooks, storage pouches, and hanging organizers to make the most of small cabin spaces, travelers are not permitted to jury-rig a ceiling fan to keep their stateroom cool. Small travel fans are permitted, but must be used properly and not hung from cabin ceilings.

Similarly, guests cannot create their own movie-theater experience, complete with hanging projector and a screen, for a stateroom cinema. Instead, travelers should try the Dive-In Movies at Carnival’s Seaside Theaters or other entertainment onboard.

In both these instances – which guests have actually tried to do – the items were promptly removed for safety concerns, as they could damage the stateroom sprinkler systems or create other hazards for anyone in the stateroom, including guests and crew members.