Carnival Cruise Line has achieved a new milestone in guest services by extending its Digital Debarkation program to every ship in its North American fleet.

North American Carnival Sailings Employ Digital Debarkation

After much anticipation, Carnival Cruise Line has released its Digital Debark program across the entire North American fleet. The release comes after successful trials and positive guest feedback on select ships.

Available via the Carnival Hub app, Digital Debark enables passengers to schedule their debarkation time, reducing crowds and wait times on the final morning of the cruise. It also provides passengers with more control over when they choose to leave the ship.

John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador, enthusiastically announced the full fleet rollout. “We now have the digital debarkation system available on every ship sailing from North America.”

Digital Debark began testing out the new service in late November on Carnival Spirit sailings from Mobile, Alabama; Carnival Conquest sailings from Miami; Carnival Dream sailings from Galveston, Texas; and Carnival Elation voyages from Jacksonville, Florida.

It was met with such success that Carnival Cruise Line expanded it to more ships in December, appearing on Carnival Sunrise out of Charlestown, South Carolina; Carnival Dream out of Galveston, Texas; and Mardi Gras out of Port Canaveral (Orlando), before expanding to Carnival Breeze out of Fort Lauderdale and Carnival Panorama out of Los Angeles.

The program has now expanded to all ships sailing from North America, including the new Carnival Jubilee out of Galveston; Carnival Pride out of Baltimore; Carnival Glory out of New Orleans; Carnival Radiance out of Long Beach, California; Carnival Miracle out of Los Angeles; and Carnival Liberty, which sails out of Port Canaveral, and Carnival Magic, out of Miami.

Carnival Firenze, which was just transferred over from Costa, and Carnival Paradise from Tampa, which just completed its dry dock, have also received the program. Carnival Freedom, which recently suffered damage from a fire that cancelled two sailings, will also feature the program when it is repaired.

How Digital Debark Works

Through the Carnival Hub app, guests can now effortlessly plan their debarkation by selecting from two options in the My Planner feature. Both options provide approximate debarkation windows.

“Express Debarkation” works for those carrying their own luggage who wish to leave the ship early, while “Checked Luggage” provides options for passengers who need assistance with handling luggage.

Express Debarkation participants are reminded that no luggage tags are required as they will handle their luggage personally. For passengers choosing the Checked Luggage option, detailed instructions guide them through the process of luggage tag collection, including how many luggage tags are needed, placement times of luggage outside staterooms, and debarkation day procedures.

Each option allows guests to choose multiple travelers needed to disembark, including a simple option of selecting all guests in the same stateroom at once, as well as a way to ask for special assistance.

Read Also: Boarding a Cruise Ship – All You Should Know

Passengers will be given a choice of disembarkation times with 20-minute windows. Upon scheduling debarkation through the app, guests receive confirmation of their chosen time slot and any necessary instructions for their selected option.

It’s important to highlight that the Digital Debark system does not alter the debarkation process for passengers entitled to priority debarkation privileges.

This group comprises Diamond and Platinum members of the cruise line’s VIFP loyalty program, guests staying in suite accommodations, and those who have opted for the Faster to Fun program. These passengers will continue to receive onboard letters detailing their specific debarkation instructions.

Due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, Carnival Cruise Line has announced it is temporarily moving its operations from the city to Norfolk. This already impacts at least one Carnival cruise ship.

Carnival Moves Operations from Baltimore to Norfolk

With the situation developing in Baltimore with the collapsed bridge, along with search and rescue operations, Carnival Cruise Line has moved its port operations to Norfolk, Virginia. This comes as all traffic through the port has been halted.

“Our thoughts remain with the impacted families and first responders in Baltimore,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

“We appreciate the pledge made by President Biden today to dedicate all available resources to reopen Baltimore Harbor to marine traffic as soon as possible. As those plans are finalized, we will update our future cruise guests on when we will return home to Baltimore, but in the meantime, we appreciate the quick response and support from officials in Norfolk,” Duffy added.

This impacts guests of the Spirit-class Carnival Legend, including those on upcoming sailings. The current sailing, which departed Baltimore on March 24, will no longer return to the homeport as originally scheduled. The vessel will now return to Norfolk instead on Sunday, March 31.

The seven-night Bahamas itinerary still features all the original calls, including Bimini on March 27 and Freeport on March 29. When the Carnival Legend docks in Norfolk, the cruise line will provide passengers with a complimentary bus back to the Port of Baltimore, which is approximately 376km north (3.49-hour ride via vehicle).

How Will Carnival Pride Be Impacted?

Like Carnival Legend, Carnival Pride could also be impacted by the aftermath of the bridge collapse. Carnival Pride, one of the oldest ships in the fleet, is scheduled to sail to Baltimore in April after it concludes a series of Western Caribbean cruises based out of Tampa, Florida.

Beginning on April 7, the 2,124-guest ship is meant to embark on a 14-night Southern Caribbean sailing that visits Aruba, Barbados, Antigua, and St. Maarten before arriving in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 21. The Spirit-Class ship is then supposed to alternate between a series of 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas cruises roundtrip from Baltimore.

Read Also: Most Ideal Hotels Near Baltimore Cruise Port

Given the severity of the damage, it’s unclear when the Baltimore Cruise Port will reopen for cruise traffic, but it could be weeks to months. As of the time of publication, Carnival has not commented on whether Carnival Pride’s future sailings will be re-routed at this time.

What Caused The Bridge Collapse?

In the early morning of Tuesday, March 26, 2024, a large shipping vessel named Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which is an integral part of the port’s infrastructure. The incident unfolded shortly after midnight when Dali deviated from its course and hit the bridge.

The video of the collision shows the 948-foot-long container ship losing power in the moments before the crash. When the lights came back on, smoke exuded from the vessel. Perhaps because the ship also lost its navigational capacities during the power outage, it immediately crashed into the bridge, which collapsed upon impact.

The cause of the incident is currently under investigation and the port is closed to cruise traffic until further notice. Search and rescue operations are also currently underway.

In the early morning hours of March 23, cruisers onboard Carnival Sunrise awoke to an unpleasant surprise. Many passengers found themselves displaced after their staterooms flooded with several inches of water – and the videos of the event are taking over social media. 

Carnival Sunrise Deals With Unexpected Flooding

As Carnival Sunrise was sailing back to Miami, Florida, to conclude a 5-night Western Caribbean sailing that had called on Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and George Town, Grand Cayman; the cruise experienced an unexpected crisis. Overnight and into the early morning of Saturday, March 23, 2024, multiple decks of the Sunshine-class cruise ship ended up flooded.  

The flooding, which continued overnight, impacted many staterooms, with disgruntled guests posting videos of their water-logged cabins on social media platforms. The corridors were also full of water, and water flowed down stairwells as crew members worked to manage the situation.

The ship’s captain did update passengers onboard about the situation, stating that the weather was part of the cause of the flooding. Some outdoor areas were also closed off, but the ship’s arrival home was not impacted.

For example, one user shared a video of their stateroom, which they identified as room 2293, as it was filled with 4 to 5 inches of water and a trash can floated through the room. Another shared pictures of the water reaching up to their ankles and displaced passengers resting in the ship’s lobby and theater, with some wearing life jackets. 

“Not a single announcement was made while the water level continued to rise & the scare increased. Then the Captain comes on almost 4 hours later after the flooding began and says everything is “operating normally.” Reallyyyy? This is normal to y’all????,” wrote one Facebook user who was onboard. 

Cruise Hive has reached out to Carnival Cruise Line and will update the post once more details are known.

What Happened and Will Carnival Sunrise’s Next Cruise Be Impacted?

Although the incident has not yet been confirmed by Carnival, passengers posting on social media say that the flooding was either caused by a burst pipe or bad weather, as Carnival Sunrise was sailing through a storm on her way back to Miami, Florida, from Grand Cayman in the Western Caribbean.

Based on weather reports from the night of March 23rd, rain and thunderstorms were occurring off the coast of Florida and into the Bahamas. The 2,984-guest vessel did sail through an intense storm, and lightning was occurring at the time.

Read Also: From Mishaps to Maydays – Cruise Ship Accidents

“We went through a pretty bad storm Friday night. So bad that for about 20-30 minutes the boat was at an angle with the even room side of the boat higher than the odd. Driving rain made it into the rooms and some rooms had their balcony doors open somehow,” wrote one redditor. 

On the same day, Carnival Freedom was similarly caught in bad weather while sailing off the coast of Eleuthera Island in The Bahamas. At approximately 3:15 p.m. local time, one of the ship’s exhaust funnels caught fire after a suspected lightning strike. 

But while the Conquest-class ship had to cancel its next two sailings to fix the fire damage, Carnival Sunrise is back at sea without a delay. The 101,509-gross ton ship embarked on another 5-night Eastern Caribbean sailing as scheduled on the evening of March 23. 

So far, the ship called on Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, on March 25, 2024, with no reported issues. The ship will also visit Princess Cays, Bahamas – the private destination used by Princess Cruises and its sister companies – and Nassau, Bahamas, before returning to Miami on March 28. 

Cruise ships are equipped with qualified staff who are capable of making repairs at sea, so it’s likely that crew members have been able to address damages without delaying subsequent sailings.

Some were worried that the water damage might seep into the carpet and cause the affected areas to smell, but most modern ships are also equipped with big industry fans to dry the wetness. 

Carnival Cruise Line and JAXPORT have agreed to extend their collaboration, ensuring Carnival cruises will continue to sail from Jacksonville, Florida, through 2026. The agreement includes options to renew through 2030.

A Continued Voyage out of Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) and Carnival Cruise Line have officially announced an extension of their partnership, guaranteeing Carnival Elation will continue its year-round Bahamas cruises from Jacksonville’s North Jacksonville Cruise Terminal.

The new agreement extends the service for an additional two years with the possibility of four one-year extensions, keeping the cruise line in Jacksonville through at least 2026 and potentially until 2030.

Eric Green, CEO of JAXPORT, highlighted the significance of the extension, saying, “JAXPORT has a longstanding partnership with Carnival, and we are grateful for their commitment to serving Jacksonville and providing even more reasons for tourists to visit our great city.”

The partnership’s extension includes JAXPORT committing to further terminal upgrades to improve the passenger experience. These enhancements include a new parking area, an upgraded VIP Lounge, and an improved boarding platform that allows passengers to board the ship at the Promenade level.

Carnival’s cruise operations over the past 20 years have seen more than 3 million passengers embark from Jacksonville, significantly contributing to the city’s tourism and local economy.

Said Green, “The continued growth of our cruise program is another way we create jobs and economic impact for our region and state.”

The cruise industry’s economic contribution in Jacksonville supports nearly 800 jobs and generates over $187 million in annual economic impact for Northeast Florida. The contribution is further amplified by the city’s status as an expanding drive-to cruise market, with more than 98 million consumers situated within driving distance of the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal.

Jacksonville’s Carnival Elation

Carnival Elation currently offers 4 – and 5-night voyages to the Bahamas. These roundtrip cruises explore Nassau, Bimini Islands, and the exclusive retreat of Princess Cays, Carnival Cruise Lines’ private island.

With a capacity to host 2,130 passengers at double occupancy, Carnival Elation is a mid-sized cruise ship boasting a gross tonnage of 71,909. Despite being the oldest vessel in the Carnival fleet, constructed in 1998, Elation receives dry dock renovations every three years.

Read Also: All Carnival Cruise Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest

Dining options onboard include two main dining rooms, complemented by casual dining at the buffet, BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Bonsai Sushi Express, The Chef’s Table VIP dining, Swirls ice cream, and the 24-hour offerings at Pirate Pizzeria.

Theater and comedy shows provide nightly entertainment, with an onboard water park, pool, mini golf course, and other outdoor activities rounding out the amenities.

Carnival Elation is currently the only large cruise ship that calls Jacksonville its home port, underscoring its significance to JAXPORT.  However, a recent agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) will bring the cruise line to the area for the first time in November 2025 with the arrival of Norwegian Gem. 

Norwegian Gem will also sail to the Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean on 11- and 12-day roundtrip cruises between November and April 2025 through 2028 in an agreement to operate out of Jacksonville for three years.

Jacksonville’s cruise sector will be further enhanced by upcoming visits from Crystal Cruises during Crystal Serenity’s “Americas & Caribbean” cruise sailing between Quebec and Bridgetown, Barbados, in November 2024, and German cruise line Phoenix Risen’s Amera, which will call in 2025 during its “Great Winter Journey to America” from Bremerhaven.

In a surprise announcement, Carnival Corporation revealed it will build a fifth Excel-class ship for its Carnival Cruise Line brand. The disclosure came just six weeks after the parent company signed an agreement to construct a fourth ship in the class for its flagship cruise line.

Latest New-Build to Enter Service in 2028

Carnival Corporation, operator of nine global cruise brands, signed a contract with Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard to construct a fifth Excel-class vessel for Carnival Cruise Line, with a scheduled entry to service in 2028.

The ship, as yet unnamed, is the second Excel-class new-build to be announced in just over a month. In mid-February 2024, Carnival Corporation revealed it signed an agreement with the same shipyard to build the brand’s fourth ship in the class — a sister ship to existing Excel vessels Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. The fourth in the series is due to launch in 2027.

“Carnival’s Excel-class fleet will soon be a quintet of these very popular ships that provide outstanding guest amenities and tremendous operating efficiencies,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. 

“Since the introduction of Mardi Gras in 2021 and the subsequent expansion with Carnival Celebration in 2022 and Carnival Jubilee in 2023, these Excel-class ships are driving excitement, demand, and strong guest satisfaction ratings,” Duffy added.

The Excel-class ships, all with gross tonnage exceeding 180,000 and powered by LNG (liquified natural gas), pioneered new onboard spaces and activities, such as the first rollercoaster at sea on Mardi Gras. Ships in the class accommodate 6,400 guests with all berths occupied, and 1,800 crew.

Worth Reading: Carnival’s Family Lounge Will Be Missed on the New Excel-Class Ships

The newly announced fifth in the class will be the 11th Excel ship across the full Carnival Corporation fleet. Other Excel-class ships include P&O Cruises’ Arvia and Iona, for instance.

Executive Hints at More Fleet Changes Coming

Carnival Corporation brands reported robust financials in 2023, with revenues beating expectations and spurring future growth. In the third quarter of last year, the company posted total revenue of just over $6 billion, and net income of $1.07 billion.

“Carnival Cruise Line continues to perform at an outstanding level, and we are focused on adding capacity across the company where it aligns with demand and our position in the marketplace,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation.

The top executive added that the latest ship order for Carnival Cruise Line shows the company’s commitment to growth. Moreover, he indicated there will be more “fleet plans” in the coming months to meet capacity demands across the company’s brands.

Shipyard executives hailed the new ship order, which is contingent on financing and expected to be finalized later in 2024.

Read Also: All Carnival Cruise Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest

“We are proud of the role the Excel-class from Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku has played in contributing to the success of Carnival Corporation for many years now. We look forward to continuing this success story together,” said Bernd Eikens, CEO of Meyer Group.

Carnival Cruise Line’s existing Excel-class ships are all operating from US ports. Mardi Gras is based at Port Canaveral. The 180,000-gross ton ship operates 6- to 8-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

Carnival Celebration, home-ported at PortMiami, weighs 183,521 gross tons and sails 6- to 8-day Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries.

The 182,800-gross ton Carnival Jubilee, voted Best New Cruise Ship of 2023 in Cruise Hive’s annual awards, sails 7-day Western Caribbean cruises from Galveston, Texas.