Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald has addressed and clarified the issue of service dogs on board Carnival ships in recent days, following a complaint and an unreasonable request for a refund.
In a recent Live broadcast on his popular Facebook page, Heald mentioned a group of 40 special travelers sailing on Carnival Celebration.
“I want to give a shout out straightaway if I can to a very important group of people who are sailing on Carnival Celebration,”Heald said.“I want to say hello to 40 very special people, and all 40 of them have four legs.”
Heald went on to explain that the group of travelers is a blind group with service guide dogs, and discussed what Carnival Cruise Line is doing to accommodate their needs.
On Deck 7, on both port and starboard sides of the ship, litter trays have been set up all the way forward, in a private area. Heald also noted that most of the passengers have balcony cabins, which will have a litter tray on the balcony to meet their dogs’ needs. Stateroom stewards will be refreshing and cleaning those trays.
Dog on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Zivica Kerkez)
The group also has other accommodations onboard, including being seated in the same area of the dining room and Braille bingo cards for the frequent games.
“We’re very proud to have them,”Heald said.“The challenges you have in everyday life are incomparable of course, but the fact that you have this four legged thing that takes care of you in such incredible ways is always something that I find absolutely amazing.”
Unfortunately, not everyone was pleased to hear that Carnival Cruise Line would be welcoming the group of travelers and their service animals onboard. Another passenger messaged Heald in distress, demanding compensation and accommodations of their own.
“You said there would be 40 dogs on Celebration. I am on this cruise. I am disgusted,”the guest said.“I think this is terribly unfair to the people who like me are allergic to dogs – and 50% of people are. A ship is a confined area, and a person with allergies could easily be assigned to a table near them at dinner. Even if you do not allow them to bring the dogs to dinner the owners will still smell like dog.”
It should be noted that the guest’s claim that 50% of people are allergic to dogs is false. The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology notes that approximately 10-20 percent of the world’s population has some level of dog allergy. Furthermore, not all of those allergic to dogs show the same severity of symptoms.
“Personally, I think this service dog thing has gone way too far,”the guest continued.“Dogs don’t want to [be] on a ship, and most people don’t want dogs to be in those places. I am asking for a full refund or full credit to move to another cruise.”
To be clear, Carnival Cruise Line does permit fully trained, working service dogs (not service-dogs-in-training) onboard all its ships. Service dogs perform medically necessary tasks, and are not considered pets. Emotional support animals are not service animals and are not permitted onboard.
Carnival Cruise Line Responds to Complaint
Heald did respectfully respond to the guest, but will not be offering a refund for a future cruise credit in this situation.
“We have 40 legally blind guests whose lives are dependent on these incredible animals,”Heald said.“We are of course adhering to ADA rules but also we are proud that we are able to provide these wonderful people some Carnival Fun.”
Heald noted that if anyone with an allergy sensitivity is seated near the group in the main dining room, they can easily speak with the maître d’ to be moved to a table further away. Furthermore, all cabins will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized at the end of the cruise, which is standard procedure – with or without service dogs.
“Just to make it clear, every single guest cruising in this group is blind,”Heald confirmed in a follow-up comment.“These are guide dogs. We do not at any time now allow emotional support animals. Any dog who is allowed to sell with us under ADA regulations is offering a medical service to its owner.”
As a matter of interest, Carnival Celebration can welcome 5,374 travelers at double occupancy, and up to 6,500 guests when fully booked. The 40 service dogs onboard are accompanying less than 1% of the ship’s travelers.
Other comments and responses to the guest’s concern have largely supported the service dogs onboard, noting that to deny someone their ability to travel with a service dog would be similar to not permitting wheelchairs or other assistive devices.
Incidentally, Carnival Cruise Line recently clarified its mobility scooter policy, which initially led to confusion about whether or not such scooters were banned (they aren’t, but size limitations do apply).
The cruise line has also previously addressed concerns about service dogs when a guest sailing on Carnival Horizon expressed concern about a service dog in the ship’s casino. Service dogs are permitted in all public areas of Carnival cruise ships.
While Carnival Cruise Line will not offer refunds based on medical conditions of this nature – allergies when there are service dogs aboard – private travel insurance policies may cover such cancellations or sailing changes, depending on the terms and conditions of individual policies.
For many, taking a cruise is a budget-friendly and convenient way to see several destinations in one trip, without booking and paying for multiple hotels or forms of transportation. Even when it comes to food and entertainment, you don’t need to spend even an extra dime out of pocket, if you only enjoy the “included” and complimentary meals and entertainment.
That said, as anyone who’s been on a cruise can tell you, it’s very easy to overspend on a cruise. Make a few mistakes, and suddenly, your budget-friendly cruise becomes not-so-affordable. You get to the end of your itinerary and realize that you’ve somehow spent thousands of dollars more than you expected to, on this vacation.
Despite this common occurrence — Yes! It is totally possible to enjoy a spectacular cruise without wildly overspending.
There are many reasons why overspending on a cruise can happen. Basically, though, everywhere on a cruise ship, there are things to buy and upgrades to purchase. You can usually even book your next cruise before the current cruise is even over. Reining yourself in can feel like a chore and less than fun, when you’re supposed to be having the time of your life.
However, rest assured that keeping your cruise vacation within budget and still having an amazing time can go hand-in-hand. You don’t need to feel like you’re making any big sacrifices or having a less-fun time, just because you’re making an effort not to overspend.
Ready to see how? Here’s how to make the most of a cruise without overspending.
Realistically Think About the Type of Traveler You Are
The top thing you have to do before booking your cruise, if you want to avoid overspending, is be real with yourself. What kind of traveler are you? What are your travel habits?
If you have a cocktail in your hand from the moment you put up your out of office, to the moment you arrive back home, you’re not going to be very successful at avoiding the drink packages on a cruise.
Likewise, if you always plan your vacations around relaxing as much as humanly possible, you probably don’t want to miss out on a few spa treatments. If you’re a foodie traveler to the core, you’re not going to be happy eating at the buffet day in and day out.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas Docked in Miami (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
Trying to avoid these realities and travel preferences is setting yourself up for failure — and overspending. Think about why and how you travel, and then plan your budget and cruise accordingly.
For example, if you’re a foodie traveler, plan to pay for multiple specialty dining meals or specifically book a cruise on a ship that offers a very wide selection of complimentary dining.
Newer, bigger ships are your best bets for this, such as Carnival Jubilee, which offers 14 complimentary dining options, or Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, which offers 12 complimentary dining options. Then, make a point to not spend on the stuff you don’t care about, like shopping on the cruise ship, babysitting services or pricey shore excursions.
Plan a Mix of Paid and Free Activities
Along these lines, plan a mix of paid, scheduled activities, and free, spontaneous activities.
There are two reasons to do this. One is, of course, your budget. But the other is because, believe it or not, if you pack your cruise ship itinerary with things to do, all day, every day, you’re going to regret it. You’ll end up more tired after your vacation than you were before.
Shuffleboard on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Plus, a totally packed itinerary leaves no room for spontaneity. Cruise ships always have interesting and free things going on, from classes to contests to games, and you want to be able to take advantage of those activities when you can.
So, on that note, consider a small handful of paid activities — think spa treatments and shore excursions — that you’d really like to do, but otherwise keep your plans loose. One day, you probably will want to just sit and drink by the pool all day, which is a perfectly great and (free!) way to spend a day on a cruise ship!
Watch Your Shore-Side Spending
Cruisers are big economic drivers for port cities. They just spend a lot of money. If you’re worried about overspending when you disembark at port, make a point to spend less.
Cruise Passengers in St. Lucia (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
For example, is dining out while on shore really the best use of your time? While it might be in port cities like Naples, Italy, it’s probably not going to be in some random port city in the Caribbean, where the food is a footnote compared to all the other things the destination offers.
Likewise, should you be buying lots of (very overpriced) souvenirs as soon as you step off the ship? Probably not.
Don’t Buy Everything Through Your Cruise Line
In a similar vein, don’t feel like, just because you’re on a cruise, you have to buy everything you enjoy during the cruise, from your cruise line.
Shore excursions? You can book those on your own, by yourself, without the cruise line’s help and more affordably, from local tour providers in your destination.
Carnival Fun Shops
Duty-free shopping? Yes, while it’s available on the cruise ship, you could just buy duty-free items while you’re in your port cities, at a cheaper rate.
Alcohol? While cruise line rules may differ, most will allow you to bring a limited number of bottles of wine with you, which could save you some money. Some will allow you to even bring non-alcoholic beverages on board.
Be Careful with Your Packing
One completely avoidable way you might be overspending when you’re on a cruise? Not packing your bags carefully. This is not the time to just throw what you think you’ll need into a bag, the night before you’re set to depart, and then show up at the cruise ship.
This isn’t an average, on-land vacation, where you can walk to the nearest drugstore if you’re missing something. If you need something, you can’t go anywhere else to get it. You’re in the middle of the ocean. The cruise line is aware of this and will charge you dearly for anything you might need.
Luggage on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Flowers26)
So, before you leave — and well in advance — make a list of everything you could possibly need over the course of your trip, and then pack it. You don’t want to buy it on the cruise ship unless you absolutely have to. This will ensure you have everything you need, without needing to spend extra.
Consider Your Phone, WiFi and Data Usage
Some cruisers can get away with turning their cell phones off for the duration of their vacation — and that’s definitely a good idea if you really want to save your cash for just the expenses that will enhance your cruising experience. (Don’t worry. You can still take all the vacay photos you want, but you’ll just need to wait until after the cruise to post them to social media.)
However, not all of us can do so, especially if friends and family back home may need us. That said, don’t just use the ship’s cellular at sea service, at your leisure (as this usually comes with an international roaming charge, which can really add up, depending on your cell phone plan).
Cruise Passenger Using Cell Phone (Photo Credit: Greg finnegan)
Instead, consider your options, such as the WiFi plans that many cruise lines offer, most at a rate of about $20 per line per day. Also, consider that your cell phone company may offer affordable cruise ship service.
Verizon offers a cruise ship daily pass that allows you to, for $30 per day, send and receive unlimited texts, talk on the phone for up to 50 minutes per day and use up to 0.5 GB of data per day.AT&T likewise offers cruise packages, with even more data and unlimited talk and text for a one-time fee of $100, for 30 days.
Don’t Buy the Photos
There are many experiences and things for sale on a cruise ship that, if you really enjoy or like those things, we’d say to go ahead and pay for them, and save money somewhere else during the cruise. If you like to go to the casino, go to the casino, but maybe don’t try the specialty restaurants. If you like your cocktails, buy a drinks package, but don’t go to the spa.
However, there’s one thing you should never, ever buy on a cruise ship, because they’re total rip-offs: the photos. Cruise ship employees will try to take your photo and then try to sell that photo to you, and that photo will cost a lot. Think $20 for one photo.
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
Meanwhile, you could take a photo yourself and order it from photo-printing services like Shutterfly, at a rate of about $0.25 per photo.
So, skip the photos and do what you’d do if you were traveling any other way. Take your own photos with your phone, or ask someone else in your vicinity to take the photos for you. Your fellow travelers will be more than happy to do so if you’re willing to return the favor (and you could save each other hundreds of dollars in the process!).
Consider an Upgrade (If It Will Pay for Itself!)
Yes, sometimes it really is cheaper to upgrade your overall cruise experience, if you’ll already be using and paying extra for the amenities and services that will come for free with that upgrade.
For example, if you plan on using the ship’s spa and wellness amenities a lot, you might opt to upgrade to a spa-class cabin. Celebrity Cruises’ Aqua Class staterooms, for example, come with access to the SEA Thermal Suite, a spa concierge, a complimentary fitness pass and preferential rates on AquaClass spa packages.
Another example? If you’re planning on booking multiple staterooms for multiple members of your family (like if you’re traveling on a multigenerational vacation), then you might book one suite to share instead of four individual cabins.
And if you really want to spend, spend, spend to your heart’s content without ever worrying about going over budget… Well, you might want to consider upgrading all the way to an all-inclusive cruise line, where just about everything you could do is already included in your initial cruise fare.
This is the case on Regent Seven Seas cruises, where you get quite a lot for once price. Think all of your dining, all gratuities, shore excursions, WiFi, all your drinks and even airfare.
Try Not to Over-Tip (Unless You Really Want To!)
Cruise ship employees work hard and deserve to be fairly compensated for their work. That said, you might not want to tip those employees 40–50%.
That’s what can end up happening if you don’t pay attention to your bills, anywhere you might normally pay gratuity, such as in salons, spas, restaurants, bars, etc.
Cruise Tipping
If you receive a bill of any kind, on a cruise ship, check to see if the gratuity has already been included. In many cases, it will be, so if you add more gratuity, you’re over-tipping. This can be a bit of a waste — unless, of course, you really did receive stellar service and want to tip that 50%!
Just Say No
Lastly, just as with the photos, keep in mind that there are tons of opportunities to upsell you on a cruise and the cruise lines are looking out for those opportunities.
While some of us have a difficult time saying no to well-meaning employees, don’t feel pressured to buy something, just because you attended a free seminar or similar activity. You’ve already paid all you need to for the cruise. You can enjoy all the complimentary activities without being guilted into buying something extra.
Yes! You Can Thoroughly Enjoy Your Cruise Without Overspending!
Enjoying a cruise doesn’t have to mean overspending. So long as you’re honest with yourself as to what’s going to make your cruise experience as fun as possible, and you budget accordingly, opting to not spend on things that don’t matter so much to you, you can have an amazing vacation that’s also affordable.
Originally floated out in 1993, the Carnival Sensation cruise ship was the third Fantasy-class cruise ship from Carnival Cruise Line, and, for a while, one of the oldest ships in the fleet.
However, as the ship approached its 30th birthday, the cruising industry was turned on its head by the COVID-19 pandemic — ultimately giving Carnival the perfect excuse to retire this ship and send it off for scrapping.
If you never had a chance to cruise on this long-standing member of the Carnival family, it was a classic 90s cruise ship, though it did receive several updates throughout its life to keep it fairly consistent with modern standards.
However, Carnival could only continue the updates for so long and, by the time Carnival sold the ship off, it was, admittedly, time.
Want to see what you missed? Here’s everything you need to know about this former Fantasy-class vessel.
While several of Carnival Sensation’s sister ships were sold off in 2020, Carnival Sensation held out a little bit longer, taking over some of the other Fantasy-class ships’ itineraries, until 2022, when Carnival announced that the ship would be retired. The ship was sold for a reported $11 million and was beached for scrapping in Aliaga, Turkey, in April, 2022.
Carnival Sensation Stats
Like all of the Fantasy-class cruise ships, Carnival Sensation was seemingly on the small side, at least compared to the mega cruise ships that cruisers are accustomed to today. Here’s how Carnival Sensation measured up.
Gross Tonnage: 70,367 GT
Length: 855 feet
Passenger capacity at double occupancy: 2,056 people
Maximum passenger capacity: 2,634 people
Crew: 920 members
Decks open to passengers: 10
The ship cost about $250 million to build and is identical in size to Carnival Fascination.
The other Fantasy-class ships included Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Elation, Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Imagination and Carnival Paradise.
The lead ship, Carnival Fantasy, launched the new class in 1990, but, as of today, most of the class has met its end. The only Fantasy-class ships still operational are Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise.
Construction
Carnival Sensation was built by Kvaerner-Masa in Helsinki, Finland. The ship embarked on its maiden voyage on Nov. 1, 1993.
The ship has four godmothers, Vicki L. Freed, Roberta Jacoby, Cherie Weinstein and Geri Donnelly. All four were Carnival vice presidents at the time of the christening.
Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock.com
Immediately after launch, the ship began offering cruises from Miami. However, it also, over its lifetime, served itineraries that departed from Tampa and New Orleans.
Carnival Sensation has sailed to a variety of destinations over its life, including the Bahamas and other Caribbean destinations, as well as Cuba in 2019. The ship was chartered by the U.S. government briefly following Hurricane Katrina, to provide housing for displaced residents and relief workers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Carnival Sensation Dry Docks
Carnival Sensation underwent several refits over its lifetime, to bring the ship up to more modern standards. Beyond mandatory dry docks that took care of basic cosmetic upgrades and maintenance, like the ship’s first dry dock, which occurred in 1998, more extensive refits also took place, including, most notably, in 2006, 2009 and 2017.
The 2006 upgrades were part of a class-wide refurbishment initiative. At this time, like its sister ships, Carnival Sensation received new features such as a 9-hole miniature golf course and upgraded children’s spaces.
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
In 2009, Carnival gave Carnival Sensation the Evolutions of Fun treatment. The $250-million fleet-wide initiative revamped all of Carnival’s ships. Over more than a month, Carnival Sensation was refurbished to include fun features like the Carnival WaterWorks water park. The ship also received about 100 new balcony cabins, something that was sorely needed, as all of the Fantasy-class ships were very low on balcony staterooms.
Finally, in its very last dry dock, in 2017, Carnival Sensation was brought up to the Fun Ship 2.0 Carnival standard, which meant that the ship, for the last few years, boasted some of Carnival’s newest entertainment venues and restaurants, including Guy’s Burger Joint by Food Network star Guy Fieri, BlueIguana Cantina and the Alchemy Bar.
What Were the Cabins Like?
Carnival Sensation offered a range of stateroom options, from smaller, budget-friendly interior staterooms to larger, grandiose suites with plenty of space, both inside and outside.
The staterooms’ designs were, admittedly, a little on the dull side. The staterooms had a color palette primarily made up of shades of red, beige and brown.
Cruisers could choose from an interior stateroom, interior upper/lower stateroom, porthole stateroom, ocean view stateroom, balcony stateroom, aft-view extended balcony stateroom, junior suite with obstructed views, junior suite, grand suite or extended grand suite. The extended grand suite was the largest option and could fit up to five travelers.
As mentioned, oddly, there were very few balcony staterooms on this ship, both when it first premiered and even after its refits. Whereas today’s modern cruise ships put balcony staterooms first, and often have more balcony staterooms than any other type of stateroom, balcony cabins were few and far between on Fantasy-class ships.
What Venues Did the Ship Have?
Carnival Sensation’s venues included the basic offerings that you can still find on Carnival cruise ships today.
There were two main dining rooms, one for early and late-seat dining and one for sit-down breakfasts and flexible dining times. There was the ship’s buffet, with a 24/7 pizzeria and deli. The newest dining options included Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina. A free room service menu was also available.
Guy’s Burger Joint, Carnival Cruise Line
Otherwise, premier dining options were really mostly limited to dining experiences rather than a wealth of luxury restaurants, like steakhouses or sushi bars. Carnival Sensation offered the cruise line’s Chef’s Table experience, where cruisers enjoyed a small, intimate meal hosted by the ship’s master executive chef.
The dinner took place in the ship library and was only open to 14 guests at a time. There was also the family-friendly, Dr. Seuss-inspired green eggs and ham breakfast. Upgraded room service selections were available for a fee, and coffee and pastries were available for a fee at the ship’s cafe.
In contrast, Carnival Sensation had quite a few watering holes, for its size. The Atrium Bar was a standard atrium-situated venue with a pretty standard menu of beer, wine and cocktails, with lots of live music, both night and day.
Carnival Sensation Atrium Bar (Photo Credit: Rob Bixby)
The sing-along piano bar called Touch of Class was a popular spot for music-lovers. Mirage Bar sat outside the ship’s casino and was — uniquely — the only spot on the ship where smoking was permitted. Michelangelo Lounge and Kaleidoscope Nightclub offered nightlife experiences.
A few bars and lounges were added during the most recent refit, including Alchemy Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar and RedFrog Rum Bar. When it came to outdoor fun, there were options for both families and adults only.
For the kids, there was the WaterWorks aqua park, with a waterslide that circled around the ship’s port side and plenty of loungers.
The final ship upgrades added the Serenity Retreat, an adults-only space that’s now commonplace across Carnival’s fleet. The space offered two hot tubs, lounge chairs and lots of spots to sun or sit in the shade with a drink.
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
The large main pool was on Deck 10, alongside four hot tubs. Sun decks with lots of loungers were also situated on Deck 10, as well as on Decks 12 and 14, which overlooked Deck 10.
For entertainment indoors, the ship’s two-level theater hosted classic cruise theater shows, such as tribute music concerts and, as alluded, there was also a casino.
Camp Carnival catered to kids, and spaces for teens were also added. The small Spa Carnival provided your typical treatments and relaxation perks, like massages and saunas.
What Was Carnival Sensation’s Decor Like?
All of the retired Fantasy-class cruise ships were fairly outdated, décor-wise, by the time they met their fates.
While these ships, including Carnival Sensation, had been updated to a degree, and received new venues, like new restaurants and bars, the cabins and public spaces weren’t exactly overhauled and given brand-new life. As such, the cabins and most public spaces still retained most of their 1990s-esque décor.
Carnival Sensation Atrium (Photo Credit: Jeff K)
Think lots of red, orange, beige and tan, plus light wood tones, in the cabins, and bold patterned carpet in the restaurants, or “fun” fonts on the signs hanging over lounge and bar entrances.
That said, the décor could certainly be dingier and more depressing (we’ve seen it on other ships from this era); for those who are more accustomed to sailing on cruise ships built in the 2010s or later, though, they probably wouldn’t have found this ship’s aesthetic to their liking.
Carnival Sensation Scrapping
In 2020, Carnival began clearing out the Fantasy class, retiring multiple ships during the months following the cruise industry’s shutdown.
As such, Carnival Sensation was moved around a bit, as the cruise line intended Carnival Sensation to fill in for some of its retired sister ships. Carnival Sensation was slated to cover both Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Fascination that summer after the latter was sold.
Photo By: Selçuk Ateş
However, Carnival Sensation didn’t get to stick around very long. In early 2022, Carnival announced it would retire Carnival Sensation and yet another Fantasy-class cruise ship, Carnival Ecstasy, with Sensation going first. The ship sold for $11 million in February 2022, and was sent off to Aliga, Turkey, in March. The ship was beached in April.
Was Carnival Sensation a Good Ship?
Across the board, all of the Fantasy-class cruise ships were considered quite good for their time, when they first premiered in the 1990s.
In fact, they could even be considered top of the line, contemporary and borderline luxurious. The Fantasy class helped cement the Carnival brand during this decade as a fun vacation option.
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
However, these ships were so fully entrenched in the 1990s aesthetic that they quickly became outdated. While multiple refits did ensure that the ships had a handful of the venues and amenities that the newer Carnival ships came with, automatically, like water parks, the Serenity adults-only space, and newer dining venues, there was still little that could be feasibly done to make the ships competitive with those that joined the Carnival fleet in the 2010s and later.
As such, when it was finally time for Carnival Sensation to retire, it was truly time, no matter that the ship was perfectly suitable in its heyday. It will be no surprise whatsoever when the remaining Fantasy-class ships, Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise, meet a similar fate.
Carnival Sensation FAQ:
How many pools were on the Carnival Sensation?
There was only one main pool on the Carnival Sensation cruise ship. The pool was located on Deck 10 (Lido Deck). There were multiple hot tubs throughout the ship, though, both on Deck 10 and in the adults-only Serenity section of the ship.
What class is the Carnival Sensation?
Carnival Sensation was a Fantasy-class cruise ship, which means it shared many similarities with other Fantasy-class cruise ships, including Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise.
How large was the Carnival Sensation cruise ship?
Carnival Sensation weighed in at 70,367 GT, with a length of 855 feet. It featured 10 decks and a capacity for 2,056 passengers at normal capacity, though it could fit 2,634 passengers. Passengers were served by a crew of 920 individuals.
Did the Carnival Sensation have a water slide?
Yes, Carnival Sensation had one water slide at its WaterWorks water park.
How fast could the Carnival Sensation go?
Carnival Sensation reported a speed of 21 knots, which comes out to 24 miles per hour, or 39 kilometers per hour.
Holland America Line will extensively test biofuels during its sailings in the Norwegian World Heritage Fjords in 2024. The project began with the ship bunkering the sustainable biofuel produced by the Dutch enterprise FincoEnergies before departing from the Port of Rotterdam on April 27, 2024.
The biofuel used by ms Rotterdam is sourced from organic waste and residues such as fats, oils, and grease, which typically remain after feedstock processing. The fuel significantly reduces the greenhouse gas emissions from the ship, up to an estimated 86%.
The initial phase of this biofuel test will include testing the fuel on one of the main engines onboard Rotterdam during its current cruises in Norway, Ireland, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. If successful, the program will expand to include running all four main engines on biofuel throughout the summer season in the fjords of Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord.
Holland America Rotterdam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock)
Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line:“Holland America Line is committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and we are excited to demonstrate a next-generation fuel source that can help us toward our pursuit of net zero emissions.”
“Converting items such as food waste into fuel is an innovative way to meet environmental challenges and we thank the Dutch government for its support.”
The biofuels produced by FincoEnergies under its brand GoodFuels are well suited to be used onboard cruise ships, as the consistency of the fuel is very similar to conventional fuel oil. Besides the cruise industry, Goodfuels has done similar successful trials in the offshore industry, onboard car transport ships, and onboard container vessels.
Johannes Schurmann, Commercial Director International Marine at FincoEnergies:“The GoodFuels MR1-100 fits the existing practice in shipping where heavier fuels are already used today. Together with our clients, we optimize sustainability and cost of the biofuel, while not jeopardizing the performance in the engine and fuel system.”
The World Heritage Fjords Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord are two of the most spectacular fjords in Norway, and both are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. The fjords were designated as World Heritage Sites in 2005 due to their natural beauty and the geological processes that shaped them.
Combatting Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The choice of biofuels for the Norwegian World Heritage Fjords is not entirely down to Holland America Line’s environmental goals. Norway has mandated that ships sailing in the fjords can sail 100% carbon neutral by 2026, aiming to protect the fragile environment while allowing the hugely popular cruises to the region to continue.
Holland America Rotterdam Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock)
Alf Tore, Acting Director General of Shipping and Navigation at the Norwegian Maritime Authority: “There is a need to look at all good alternatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the future and we see biofuels as one of the alternatives that, with the right use and origin, will contribute to emission reductions, which we welcome.”
Combatting greenhouse gas emissions has become a hot topic across the cruise industry. It has set goals to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Similarly, national and local governments are placing more demands on cruise ships and restrictions on the pollution they can cause.
Holland America Line’s Rotterdam is not the first in its fleet to undergo biofuel tests; Volendam also participated in similar sustainability trials, resulting in greenhouse gas emission reductions of 78%. AIDA Cruises, which also operates under the Carnival Corporation flag, has done similar trials using GoodFuels.
The 99,500 gross tons, 2668-guest flagship Rotterdam will operate in western and northern Europe throughout the summer, focusing on the Norwegian Fjords, sailing to Iceland, and several cruises to the United Kingdom.
State authorities have launched an investigation following allegations that Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge sailed dangerously close to the Nā Pali Coast on the north shore of the island of Kauai, potentially violating state regulations.
According to Hawaii News Now and community advocates, the ship was observed approximately 1,000 feet from shore, an area renowned for its pristine environmental and cultural significance to the local Hawaiian community. This proximity is considerably less than the 3,000 feet stipulated by Hawaiian administrative rules for commercial vessels carrying more than 50 passengers.
The cruise ship tracker showed Celebrity Edge circumnavigating Kauai, with the ship moving close to Nā Pali coast, a protected state wilderness park. The tracker shows the ship turning around in the area, where local residents and tour operators took to social media to share images of the ship near the shore. Aerial footage indicated the ship was disrupting the seabed for an immediate environmental impact.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the State Department of Transportation are currently assessing the situation. Jason Redulla, chief of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE), indicated that multiple reports have been filed and are being actively investigated by officials in Kauai and Honolulu.
The 130,818-gross-ton Celebrity Edge is currently navigating Hawaiian waters on a 10-night cruise that departed from Honolulu, Oahu, on May 1. It is expected to call on Hilo, Hawaii, on May 3, and Kailua Kona, Hawaii, on May 5 before sailing to Vancouver. The ship is not expected to resume its Hawaiian cruises until late September.
Nā Pali Coast Significance and Environmental Concerns
The Nā Pali Coast of Kauai, with its dramatic cliffs and pristine waters, is not just a popular tourist destination but also a sacred place deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture. The backdrop to movies such as Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean, the Nā Pali Coast is only accessible by boat, helicopter, or hiking in via the Kalalau Trail.
Hawaii Administrative Rules 13-256-41 specifies,“In no case shall a commercial vessel having a passenger carrying capacity of fifty or more passengers be permitted to operate with Na Pali Coast Ocean Waters.”
Celebrity Edge has the capacity to hold 2,908 passengers, as well as more than 1,300 crew members.
Napali Coast (Photo Credit: Barbarajo)
The incident brings to the forefront ongoing concerns about the balance between tourism and the preservation of Hawaii’s natural and cultural heritage.
This concern is reflected in broader state policies aimed at managing tourism sustainably. For instance, pre-pandemic, the Mayor’s Task Force in Maui recommended limiting the number of cruise ships in Lahaina and Kahului Harbors to mitigate overcrowding and environmental degradation.
Similarly, the pre-Pandemic Kauai Strategic Plan highlighted resident concerns over overtourism, which they feel has surpassed the island’s capacity.
Global Ports Holding (GPH), the cruise port management firm headquartered in the UK, officially took over the operation of Port Castries, St. Lucia, on April 30, 2024. The island nation signed a memorandum of understanding with the port operator in the fall of 2022, and after 18 months of negotiations, the agreement is now finalized.
The pact bolsters GPH’s expansion into the Caribbean, following similar management agreements with San Juan, Puerto Rico; Antigua; and Nassau, Bahamas.
Saint Lucia accommodates cruise ships at two terminals. The main facility is the Pointe Seraphine Cruise Port Terminal, which is about a 20-minute walk from downtown, while the smaller La Place Carenage Cruise Port Terminal is located closer to downtown.
Port Castries, Saint Lucia Cruise Port Ceremony
Under the 30-year concession contract, GPH will invest in a series of upgrades and improvements to cruise facilities at Pointe Seraphine. The management firm has not revealed the financial terms of the deal or the amount of its investment in the redevelopment of the port.
The port operator is known for expanding and upgrading facilities once it takes over management. In Nassau, Bahamas, for instance, GPH has invested $187 million on port infrastructure.
At St. Lucia’s Pointe Seraphine, GPH’s plans indicate that at least one cruise ship berth will be expanded to accommodate the world’s largest ships. Currently, these include Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class and Icon-class vessels, all of which exceed 1,100 feet in length.
Also, at Pointe Seraphine, two additional berths will be realigned, and a boardwalk will be constructed to provide easier access to the town of Castries from the cruise terminal. Also, a new vendor arcade and ferry facility will be built at Fishermen’s Village at Banannes Bay.
“What we have is a new economic arrangement. We will get the best of both worlds – we let you develop the infrastructure in exchange for a “rental” of the cruise port for 30 years, but you will pay us. You will employ people and you will improve the quality of life of the people of Saint Lucia. That is what is most important to me,” said Philip Pierre, prime minister of St. Lucia.
Port Operator Hopes to Reach 1 Million Annual Cruise Arrivals
St. Lucia is a port call on many Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries, and reached a record in cruise arrivals in 2019, when 790,000 cruisers visited. With the planned cruise terminal improvements, along with marketing and other efforts, GPH expects the cruise passenger volume to exceed 1 million annually.
Cruise Ships in St. Lucia (Photo Credit: Dennis MacDonald)
Like other Caribbean destinations, St. Lucia’s high season begins in October and continues through March. Cruise ship calls during summer significantly drop off, but several ships are scheduled to call in summer 2024, including Disney Cruise Line’s 2,700-guest Disney Magic, Royal Caribbean’s 2,000-guest Rhapsody of the Seas, Princess Cruises’ 3,100-guest EmeraldPrincess, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 700-guest Seven Seas Mariner. Rhapsody of the Seas is slated to call weekly at St. Lucia on 7-day cruises offered roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
GPH officials pointed to the need for St. Lucia to be able to accommodate the world’s largest ships if the port is to substantially grow.
“Enhancements to the berth at Pointe Seraphine in Castries will assist in reaching our passenger traffic targets by accommodating the world’s largest cruise ships. These days, cruise lines are constructing vessels that are wider and longer than ever before. It’s imperative that we modernize our port infrastructure to welcome these new ships and maintain our competitiveness as a premier cruising destination,” said Lancelot Arnold, director of GPH Eastern Caribbean and general manager of Saint Lucia Cruise Port.
The management company has not provided a timeline for completion of improvements to the St. Lucia cruise terminals and port area, but said it would work closely with local government and other stakeholders as the project moves forward.
Princess Cruises unveiled plans for its 2026 world cruise, a 114-day journey aboard the Coral Princess, set to cover an impressive 35,000 nautical miles across six continents. The announcement detailed a route that will take passengers to 52 ports in 28 countries, marking it as the most destination-rich voyage the cruise line has ever offered.
Departures are scheduled from Fort Lauderdale on January 5, 2026, and Los Angeles on January 21, 2026, providing flexible starting points for global travelers.
“This 2026 World Cruise addresses a growing interest in longer voyages that make stops at more exotic destinations, and the urge to do it as part of a more all-inclusive experience,” said Terry Thornton, chief commercial officer for Princess Cruises.
Coral Princess, Panama Canal (Photo Credit: ackats / Shutterstock)
“Our 2026 World Cruise offers our most destination-rich itinerary ever so guests can immerse themselves in a global experience rich with landmarks, ancient ruins, unique landscapes, wildlife, gastronomy, cultures, and heritage,” he said.
The expansive itinerary, which includes stops at several exotic locations and 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is now open for bookings. It will feature late-night calls in 13 ports, including Singapore, Sydney, and Honolulu, as well as an overnight call in Hong Kong.
The cruise will also be jam-packed with entertainment and educational programs to further immerse passengers in local cultures. Traditional folkloric shows and themed parties will celebrate respective locales, and the schedule is filled with guest lecturers and destination ambassadors, including representatives from Hawaii and Māori cultures.
Princess Cruises’ Longest Journey Itinerary
The Coral Princess 2026 World Cruise departs on a roundtrip journey from Fort Lauderdale on January 5, and will be available to book in various segments. The first leg for the 91,627-gross-ton ship will travel to Cartagena, Colombia, and pass through the Panama Canal en route to Los Angeles, calling in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and Puerto Chiapas, Huatulco, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The second embarkation point for the World Cruise will launch in Los Angeles on January 21, traveling to Honolulu and Kauai (Nawiliwili), Hawaii, and crossing the International Date Line as it sails to Western Samoa; Suva and Dravuni Island, Fiji; and Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Dunedin, and Fjordland National Park, New Zealand.
Coral Princess will arrive in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia, on February 18 and 20 respectively, continuing on to Rabaul, New Guinea, and an inaugural call in Boracay, Philippines, with an overnight in Hong Kong on March 4. From there, the voyage continues in Asia, calling in Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Singapore; Phuket, Thailand, and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Photo Credit: Dans Destinations / Shutterstock
The 2,000-passenger and nearly 900-crew-filled Coral Princess will spend seven days at sea before transiting through the Suez Canal on March 23 and 24, 2026. From there, the European portion will bring passengers to Limassol, Cyprus, and Rhodes, Crete, Athens, and Santorini, Greece.
The voyage continues to explore Kotor, Montenegro; Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Corfu, Greece; and Valletta, Malta, before enjoying a tour of Italy. Here, passengers will explore Sicily, Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence, and Pisa in early April.
The cruise then travels to Toulon/Provence, France, and Barcelona and Ceuta, Spanish Morocco, Spain. It travels around the Iberian Peninsula and heads north, calling on Lisbon; Paris; Bruges, Belgium; and Dover for London, England, arriving at the latter on April 19.
The final 11 days of Crown Princess’ journey will be all sea days with the exception of an April 23 call in the Azores of Portugal. It will conclude in Fort Lauderdale on April 30, where Los Angeles passengers will have to secure transportation back to L.A.
Guests booked on Carnival Legend‘s next sailings can look forward to some upgrades and additions to the 22-year-old vessel when she completes her dry dock update. The ship is now out of service for the next month, and Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald has announced what updates are coming to the vessel.
Several spaces will be removed while new spaces will be added to the 88,500-gross-ton, Spirit-class ship, and both public areas and guest staterooms are scheduled for extensive work.
First, the ship’s nightclub, Medusa’s Lair Dance Club, currently portside on Decks 1 and 2, will be transformed from two levels to just one level, with new ADA-accessible cabins added in the removed space. Prior to the refit, Carnival Legend only had 17 accessible staterooms.
Additional work to further enhance Carnival Legend‘s accessibility will also be completed, particularly to add more ADA-compliant spaces to various bars and other public areas.
Also coming to Carnival Legend are several brand new spaces, including a dedicated Chef’s Table venue. The exclusive dining experience is wildly popular, and the new space may give more guests the opportunity to enjoy the unique menu and entertaining interaction with the ship’s culinary staff.
A new Heroes Tribute Bar and Lounge will also debut on Carnival Legend after her month-long dry dock. The patriotically-themed venue was first featured on Carnival Panorama when that ship joined the fleet in 2019, and has proven so popular that it is being added to older ships as they are renovated.
The ship’s casino is also being completely redone and new slot machines will be added to offer guests updated gameplay. The biggest announcement for public spaces is a welcome new addition to Carnival Legend, one that guests of all ages will be able to enjoy.
“On this particular ship we will add a Seaside Theater dive-in movie big screen as well,”Heald confirmed.
The big screen is a popular feature on other Carnival ships, offering regular first-run movies, sporting events, and visual enhancement to pool deck activities and events such as the Sail Away party, other deck parties, and sea day contests.
Other aspects of the ship’s public areas will also be redone, as is standard during dry dock renovations. All new carpeting, updated lighting, decking replacement, upholstery refreshing, painting, and other maintenance will all be completed to ensure Carnival Legend looks her very best when she welcomes guests again. It isn’t just the ship’s public areas that will be updated during her weeks in dry dock, however.
“All the balconies will be completely redone and looked after and repainted and look brand new with the glass all shiny and fabulous,”Heald said.
Carnival Legend features 632 balcony staterooms, as well as 50 different suites that also have balconies. Balcony staterooms are often the most popular for travelers to book, offering not only amazing ocean views, but also a private space to enjoy when public decks may seem a bit crowded.
Including balcony, oceanview, and interior staterooms, Carnival Legend can welcome 2,124 guests at double occupancy before her refit.
Setting Sail on the New Carnival Legend
Carnival Legend will remain in dry dock until approximately May 29, at which time she will move to Barcelona to welcome her first post-refurbishment guests on Thursday, May 30 to begin the ship’s European summer season. That first sailing is an 9-night roundtrip journey from Barcelona, visiting Malta, Sicily, Naples, Rome, Pisa, and Toulon before the ship returns to Barcelona on June 7.
Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock
The next Barcelona departure will move the ship to Dover, where she will offer a selection of 9- and 12-night itineraries calling on ports around the British Isles and Iceland, depending on the departure date.
In mid-August, Carnival Legend will reposition to Rome to spend the remainder of the summer and early fall offering eastern Mediterranean cruises to the Greek Isles, Turkey, and top ports in Italy.
On October 26, the ship will sail a transatlantic cruise to Tampa, where she will spend the winter months offering Caribbean itineraries and the occasional Panama Canal cruise. In 2025, Carnival Legend will move to homeport first in San Francisco and later to Galveston.
With so many homeports and a diverse array of itineraries planned for Carnival Legend, travelers will have plenty of amazing opportunities to experience all the new enhancements on the popular ship, no matter where or when they want to set sail.
Just weeks after eight guests were late to return to the cruise terminal and were left behind in western Africa as their Norwegian Cruise Line ship departed, an elderly couple has experienced a very similar situation on a different Norwegian ship in Spain.
The couple, Richard and Claudene Gordon of Salt Lake City, Utah, were aboard the 10-night, one-way sailing on Norwegian Viva that departed Lisbon, Portugal on Friday, April 26.
When the ship called to Motril along Spain’s southern coast on Monday, April 29, the couple enjoyed an independently arranged shore tour to the historic city of Granada, 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of the cruise port.
Driving time between the cruise port and Granada is approximately 50-60 minutes one-way, depending on traffic and weather conditions. Unfortunately, the tour bus with the Gordons was delayed by a rainstorm while returning to the port, and the guests realized they would not make the stated 5:30 p.m. all-aboard time.
Norwegian Viva Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: GEORGE STAMATIS)
The couple was able to contact a relative onboard the ship – they were sailing with family and friends to celebrate Richard’s 85th birthday – at about 5:45 p.m., who was then able to alert Norwegian Viva‘s crew members about the delay.
Unfortunately, the ship does have to maintain a set schedule with port departures, and was unable to wait for the couple. The Gordons claim to have arrived at the cruise port just after 6 p.m., when the vessel had been scheduled to depart, and expressed frustration that previous departures in the sailing had not left promptly.
“Our cruise began in Lisbon and we departed from Lisbon about one and a half hours after the scheduled departure at 4 p.m.,”the couple told CNN.“Then the next night or two, at least a half-hour late from the dock, so it is clear that they do not always leave on the exact moment scheduled.”
Prior to arriving in Motril, the ship had already visited Gibraltar and Cadiz. Mediterranean itineraries are generally port-intensive, and Norwegian Viva has no days at sea on the 10-night itinerary before she arrives in Civitavecchia, Italy on Monday, May 6.
The Gordons were unable to locate a representative from Norwegian Cruise Line on the pier and instead, visited a local police department for assistance. The cruise line, meanwhile, attempted several times to contact the couple at the phone numbers and emergency contact information provided, but without success.
Norwegian Viva Cruise Ship
It is unknown whether the couple had the appropriate calling plan on their phones so the cruise line could contact them, or if their phones were out of battery power or otherwise unable to get a signal.
Catching up with the cruise ship has proven more challenging, as the Gordon’s daughter wasn’t able to find a way for the couple to reach Ibiza on Tuesday to meet the ship. Instead, they flew to Palma de Mallorca to return to Norwegian Viva on Wednesday, May 3.
Norwegian Cruise Line provided a taxi from the couple’s hotel in Palma de Mallorca to the cruise port, and they were escorted back onboard.
Similarities to Previous Incident
This week’s “left behind” saga from Norwegian Viva is somewhat similar to the recent incident involving Norwegian Dawn. On March 27, eight passengers failed to return to the ship on time in Sao Tome and Principe and spent several days – and thousands of dollars – traveling through different African nations to catch up to the vessel.
The common denominator in both cases is that the impacted travelers chose to arrange independent shore tours, rather than selecting tours through the cruise line.
Norwegian Dawn Docked at Port (Photo Credit: MNStudio)
If tours are arranged through the cruise line – in partnership with local companies that have been vetted for safety, comfort, expertise, and other factors – a ship will generally either wait for travelers to return in case of a delay. If waiting is not possible due to weather, tidal forces, or other factors, or the cruise line will make arrangements for guests to rejoin the ship, covering essential expenses along the way.
Exact policies vary by cruise line and the individual circumstances of such unfortunate incidents.
Ultimately, every cruise traveler is responsible for returning to their ship by the all-aboard time. While some passengers prefer independent tours for greater variety or lower costs, it is always a risk that even a very reputable, highly recommended company might experience delays due to weather, vehicle trouble, blocked traffic, or other out-of-their-control circumstances.
Furthermore, it is critical to have one’s contact information updated, particularly for international travel, in case it is necessary for the ship to contact you. This isn’t always due to a delay, and could occasionally be due to unforeseen circumstances.
For example, in August 2023, Carnival Pride was visiting Cork, Ireland when severe weather arrived earlier than expected, forcing the ship to recall passengers earlier than the planned departure time. Updated phone numbers make that type of contact easier and can help ensure everyone is able to reach the ship as quickly as possible.
