The furry stowaway discovered onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Ovation of the Seas in late October has a new family and a new home for the holidays.
After some protracted work with animal import authorities, the oceangoing cat, now named Ovie, has been adopted by a Royal Caribbean guest service team member in Florida.
Unexpected Cat on Ovation of the Seas Gets New Home
In October, as Ovation of the Seas was finishing a one-way, 19-night cruise from Honolulu, Hawaii to Sydney, Australia, a cat was discovered onboard, with no proper biosecurity clearance for the international sailing.
The animal caused quite a sensation for both the New Zealand authorities who discovered him as well as crew members who hadn’t known about the cat’s presence onboard.
Now, however, Ovie has a new home – halfway around the world from where he was discovered. Royal Caribbean International President and CEO recently gave an update on Ovie via social media, confirming the cat’s return to the US and his newly adopted status.
“Meet Ovie! The cat smuggled onboard Ovation of the Seas by a guest,”Bayley said, sharing a photo of the traveling feline.
“When discovered the cat was not allowed off the ship in Australia or New Zealand by authorities and was supposed to be euthanized, our guest service team stepped up to the plate and after several weeks and much back and forth safely brought Ovie halfway around the world to be adopted by one of the guest service team members in Miami. Ovie is now happily living in Miami.”
Ovation of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Galactic Droids / Shutterstock)
It is believed the cat originated from Arizona, though the cruise line has not commented on this. From Arizona first to Honolulu to board Ovation of the Seas, then to New Zealand, and then to Miami, this well-traveled feline has more than 16,000 miles (25,800 kilometers) under his paws.
How Ovie Came to Set Sail
When New Zealand authorities inspected Ovation of the Seas prior to her arrival – a standard practice – the cat was discovered in a guest’s cabin. While the guest has not been identified and no charges are known to have been pressed against the passenger for violating live animal import regulation, the cat was quarantined by authorities in Lyttelton, New Zealand, on November 18.
At that time, Royal Caribbean International assumed responsibility for the animal’s expenses and its eventual return to the US, once the quarantine period ended and the cat was able to be safely transported. Quarantines are commonplace for any live animals crossing international borders to ensure no infectious diseases or unwanted pests are transported along with the animal.
To legally import a cat to New Zealand – where Ovation of the Seas visited prior to finishing her cruise in Australia – travelers must apply for permission to import the animal and meet strict requirements, including having an approved microchip implanted, meet minimum age requirements, have specific veterinary clearances, and follow other travel guidelines.
Ovie
Ovie had none of this, as the animal was smuggled aboard the cruise ship without proper permission.
“We believe that it was in the guest’s sweatshirt and we assume he must have been sedated or something and he wouldn’t beep, since Ovie isn’t metal,”explained Bayley.
It is unlikely that Ovie was smuggled aboard the ship in any luggage, since both carry-on bags as well as luggage turned over to porters is screened before being permitted on the ship, and the cat’s skeletal structure would have stood out in security imaging.
If the animal was hidden in a bulky sweatshirt, however, the guest wearing that sweatshirt could have walked through the metal detector without difficulty if the cat was not wearing a metal collar or identification tags that would have set off the alarm.
As most cats don’t necessarily tolerate such confinement for long, the idea that Ovie may have been sedated is a good assumption, but has not been confirmed. While Royal Caribbean does welcome appropriately documented service animals onboard, pets are not permitted to set sail.
As the cat has returned to the US and taken up residence in the Sunshine State, he would be in good health and ready to celebrate the holidays as an honorary Royal Caribbean International crew member.
Carnival Cruise Line has once again increased the price of one of its more popular beverages – bottled water. In less than two years, the price of a 12-pack of bottled water has increased by a whopping 141% with two separate price increases. The larger 1.5-liter bottles have also increased in price, as have the 8-packs of the larger bottles.
Water Prices on the Rise
Carnival Cruise Line guests will now need to pay even more if they wish to buy the cruise line’s bottled water to have delivered to their stateroom. The natural spring water is now listed for sale on Carnival’s website at $11.95 (USD) per 12-pack (each bottle is 16.9 fluid ounces), while the 1.5 liter (50.72 fluid ounces) bottle is now $4.50. The 8-pack of 1.5-liter bottles is now $24.95.
Just weeks ago, the 12-pack was $9.95, while the 1.5-liter bottle was $3.95 and the 8-pack of larger bottles was $20.00. This represents price increases of 20%, 14%, and 25% respectively.
Just over one year ago, however, the 12-pack of water was a mere $4.95 – making the latest increase a total of 141% in 13 months – nearly three times the original price. Carnival Cruise Line increased the 12-pack price to $9.95 in November 2022.
Carnival Cruise Line Water Prices
The 1.5-liter bottle has been at $3.95 since at least September 2020, making its price increase more understandable given the current economic climate and inflation price increases across all sorts of products on land and at sea. The 8-pack of 1.5-liter bottles has also remained at $20.00 for several years.
In April 2023, as more attention was drawn to the bottled water price increase, Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald made note of the change as related to inflation.
“Yes, prices did go up a bit recently with our bottled water because of inflation which I know many of you are facing on land as well,”he said.
Also, in spring 2023, Carnival Cruise Line increased prices on other pre-purchase food and beverage items, including cookies, celebration cakes, and party trays. This increase was also done with no warning to guests and was simply noticed as a quiet price hike.
Photo Credit: Steve Cukrov / Shutterstock
When a cruise line increases prices on pre-purchased items, booked guests are often notified in advance of the coming increase and given the opportunity to make their purchases at the lower rate up until a certain deadline, though this is a courtesy only and is not required. This option has not been offered to Carnival guests for any of the water price increases.
Bottled water prices are the same across the Carnival fleet, whether guests pre-purchase the water to have it waiting in their stateroom or if they order it onboard.
To ensure there are adequate supplies of bottled water onboard, however, guests are urged to pre-purchase the water, especially if it may be for a medical need.
Why Buy Bottled Water?
While the water onboard cruise ships is safe to drink – whether from the bathroom sink in one’s stateroom, dispensers at self-serve beverage stations, or served in restaurants – some guests with sensitive palates may prefer bottled water as a matter of taste.
In some cases, bottled water is a medical necessity, such as to run a CPAP machine without risk of mineral deposits or buildups that could damage the equipment.
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive
If guests have brought powdered baby formula onboard for an infant cruiser, they may also wish to use bottled water rather than risk an upset tummy for their youngster.
Will the price of bottled water make-or-break a cruise vacationer’s budget? Most likely not. The dramatic nature of the increases, however, can be concerning to many travelers as a worrying trend, and emphasizes the need for a sharp lookout on invoices and overall pricing for cruisers to be sure they are getting the best value for their vacation dollars.
Carnival Jubilee has welcomed her very first guests onboard and set sail on her inaugural cruise from Galveston, Texas, bringing bigger-than-ever fun to the Lone Star State and growing Carnival Cruise Line to new heights.
Cruise line and port executives were on hand for the momentous occasion, made even more exciting by the fact that Carnival Jubilee‘s first sailing is a very special holiday cruise that will be filled with even more special times to make fabulous memories.
New Carnival Flagship Officially Sets Sail
At 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 23, 2023, Carnival Jubilee officially set sail on her maiden voyage with more than 6,000 guests aboard. The new ship, now Carnival Cruise Line’s flagship, had arrived in Galveston on Wednesday, December 20 to great fanfare and a Texas-sized welcome for the only cruise ship in the world to proudly display the Texas Lone Star on her bow.
On hand at Galveston Wharves’ Terminal 25 were cruise line and port executives to greet guests, with formal commemorative presentations and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, as well as a special welcome to the very first family to board the ship.
“This is the start of a new era for us here in Galveston,”said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line President.“This stunning ship not only brings together our best offerings, from thrilling entertainment like the BOLT roller coaster to delicious dining options like Emeril’s Bistro, it also expands our capacity – allowing us to deliver the quintessential Carnival fun to more people sailing from Texas.”
Carnival Jubilee‘s first sailing is a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary to Roatan, Honduras as well as Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico. This is the same itinerary that the new ship will be offering year-round, but two different types of extra-special apply to this specific sailing.
Carnival Jubilee Inaugural Voyage Begins
As an inaugural cruise, all the events onboard, as well as the port visits, will be momentous firsts for the ship. Furthermore, as a Christmas cruise, there will be all sorts of special holiday offerings with themed activities, seasonal festivities, the Christmas Gala Dinner, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and much more.
“We’ll have more celebrating to do in the coming months, but for now, we’ll let our skilled team take the reins and bring to life the special holiday season cruises they’ve been preparing to deliver to our guests,”Duffy remarked.
Of course, Carnival Jubilee‘s second sailing will be equally festive as a New Year’s cruise with guests ringing in 2024 in style.
Special Firsts
Not only is the first sailing of any cruise ship a special occasion, but Carnival Jubilee has a few extra special notes that make her unique. She is the first-ever new-built ship to be homeported from Galveston, bringing greater prestige and amazing experiences to Texas cruisers.
To properly welcome the new ship and service her in style, Galveston Wharves’ Terminal 25 has undergone a $53 million renovation and upgrade. Gangway modifications were essential to accommodate the ship’s size, and other upgrades have been done to elevators, the roof, security, and more to ensure the smoothest and most efficient port operations.
Carnival Jubilee Arriving in Galveston (Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)
The 183,521-gross-ton, Excel-class ship also has exclusive firsts onboard, including the Lone Star Tailgate party and a new production show, “Dear Future Husband” that is only to be seen on Carnival Jubilee.
The ship does share key features with her sister ships, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, such as the wildly popular Big Chicken restaurant, the amazing view from the central atrium and its wall of glass, and the distinctive zones throughout the ship. On Carnival Jubilee, the Currents and Shores zones have an ocean-inspired theme not found anywhere else in the Carnival fleet.
Of note is the fact that Carnival Jubilee is also one “last” for the moment – the last new build ship ordered for Carnival Cruise Line at least for the next couple of years, though Carnival Firenze will be joining the fleet in April 2024.
The large ship with her 5,374-guest-occupancy (double occupancy; 6,631 passengers when fully booked) does significantly expand the cruise line’s overall capacity and is sure to usher in an era of amazing cruises filled with Texas hospitality.
We think of cruise ships as engineering marvels outfitted with lavish interiors and a wide variety of amenities, but what happens to them when they are abandoned? To answer this question, we will take a deep dive into the world of abandoned cruise ships.
Not only will we explain how these once bustling ships end up getting abandoned, but we will also highlight where some of the world’s most famous abandoned cruise ships and wreckage sites are. We will even explain whether or not adventurous tourists can visit and explore some of these ghostly abandoned cruise ships.
So, if you are ready to dive into uncharted waters and uncover the mysteries of abandoned cruise ships, it’s time to get started!
Cruise ships remain incredibly valuable assets even when they are no longer serviceable. Not only do the vessels’ furnishings, amenities, and equipment retain significant value for the cruise lines that own the ships, but the scrap value of the metal and other materials that the ship is constructed from can be worth millions of dollars.
Given how valuable full-size cruise ships are, regardless of their age and condition, you might wonder why they would ever sit abandoned rather than being taken for recycling at a ship scrapping yard.
Most decommissioned cruise ships are taken for dismantling at a ship scrapping yard. After the cruise line has removed everything of value, the remaining hull of the ship is auctioned off and eventually sent to a scrap yard that can handle dismantling a vessel of that size.
However, in rare cases, retrieving and scraping a cruise ship may not be economically viable, especially if transporting that ship to a scrap yard would prove to be too expensive and complicated. In other cases, disposing of a grounded cruise ship could pose serious environmental concerns.
In these cases, the bulk of the ship may stay in a state of abandonment. In these cases, any equipment or components deemed of significant value would be dismantled on-site, but the bulk of the ship would remain behind. As we will discuss, in some instances, the decision is made to leave the cruise ship where it is, as it could make more financial sense to convert it into a floating hotel, entertainment venue, or tourist destination.
In cases where a cruise ship capsized, even surfacing the ship can prove astronomically expensive and prohibitively difficult if the sinking occurred in an economically underprivileged region. In other words, local authorities and scrapping specialists could lack the capabilities to surface such a massive and heavy vessel. In these cases, the ship would simply lay in a state of abandonment where it was capsized.
Where Are Some of the Most Famous Abandoned Cruise Ships?
While abandoned cruise ships are far from common sights, you can still find them in various locations worldwide. The following are just some of the most famous examples of abandoned cruise ships:
MS World Discoverer
The MS World Discoverer is perhaps the most mysterious and interesting of all the abandoned cruise ships in the world.
This relatively small German cruise ship struck a rocky reef near the Solomon Islands in April 2000. While the ship was safely abandoned and no crew or passengers were lost, the capsized vessel was almost immediately declared a total loss.
This was partly due to the wreck’s remote and shallow location. However, the ship could not be recovered mainly because the Solomon Islands were undergoing a violent civil war at the time of its sinking.
MS World Discoverer (Photo Credit: Tetyana Dotsenko)
In fact, when a salvage attempt was made in late 2000, a local tribe shot arrows at the salvage crew. Naturally, this quickly ended any plans to recover the MS World Discovery.
Today, the MS World Discoverer remains abandoned and lying in shallow waters. It remains beached close to shore in front of a dense jungle backdrop, adding to its mysterious and otherworldly appearance. In fact, trees and other types of plant life have even begun growing directly along the surface of the abandoned ship’s decks.
While the ship has since been stripped of all valuables by locals, it remains a popular tourist destination. Many adventurers and explorers travel out to the site of the abandoned MS World Discoverer to photograph the remaining hull.
Queen Elizabeth 2
The Queen Elizabeth 2, or QE2 for short, is a retired British cruise ship that carried out countless transatlantic voyages during her heyday. While it was considered one of the world’s most luxurious and impressive cruise ships when it was first launched in 1969, it was eventually retired in 2008. During that time, she was even requisitioned by the British army to serve as a troop carrier during the Falklands War.
Queen Elizabeth 2 in Dubai (Photo Credit: Delpixel)
Despite her storied past and reputation, it was decided that the QE2 should be sold to a Dubai-based investment company for $100 million. Following her final voyage to Dubai, which included thousands of passengers, the new owners could not decide what to do with the famous vessel.
While the ship was supposed to be refurbished and converted into a floating hotel, the 2008 global recession that followed her final voyage halted these plans. Since then, she has remained idle and abandoned. After much debate, it was determined that the ship would indeed be converted into a luxury hotel, which followed over a decade of abandonment in a very public location.
MS Mediterranean Sky
The Mediterranean Sky started sailing in 1953 under her original name of MS City of York after being constructed at the Vickers Shipbuilding complex in the UK. The ship operated for Ellerman Lines, which eventually was sold off to other shipping companies until the cruise line’s name fully disappeared in 2004.
MS Mediterranean Sky (Photo Credit: Aerial-motion)
The vessel was eventually sold in 1971, along with three sister ships named City of Port Elizabeth, City of Exeter and City of Durban. Under the new name of Mediterranean Sky, she was fitted out to become more of a passenger vessel. She operated her final sailing in 1996, but eventually started to list during lay-up. The ship was finally towed in 2002 to be beached in Greece. The ship is listed to one side and remains partially sunk in Elefsina.
MS Astor
The MS Astor was launched in 1987 and served until 2020. While there were plans that the ship would continue to cruise the Mediterranean and French coast, the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted the cruise industry, forcing the ship’s owners, Cruise & Maritime Voyages, to enter administration.
The ship was sold at auction to a scrapping company as part of the administration process. Due to pandemic-related issues, she then sat abandoned along the coast of Wales for nearly three years.
MS Astor (Photo Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis)
Since the ship was decommissioned so suddenly, the interior was hardly touched. Many urban explorers, adventurists, and photographers explored and photographed the ship’s uniquely preserved interior.
Many who explored the abandoned ship have described its interior as a time capsule due to its relatively pristine condition. Even glassware and bedding remain as she awaits her final voyage to a scrap yard.
SS United States
We don’t need to introduce you to this once iconic vessel, which now remains abandoned and hollow in Philadelphia. SS United States was built in 1951 and departed on her maiden voyage in 1952 for United States Lines. The ship is the largest ever ocean liner built in the US and still holds the blue ribbon for the fastest ocean line crossing the Atlantic.
Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock
With SS United States being full of records and firsts, it’s been sad to see her rust away since first arriving in Philadelphia in 1996. The good news is that interest remains in bringing back the iconic US vessel, mainly thanks to the SS United States Conservancy organization never giving up. Norwegian Cruise Line showed interest in the ship by adding her to the fleet; there was also interest in using the vessel as a waterfront complex; however, none of these came to fruition.
It costs $60,000 per month to dock and maintain the SS United States, and despite continued interest in redeveloping her, the conservancy group had to start looking at the possibility of scrapping the iconic ocean liner. Crystal Cruises even got close to purchasing the ship to transform her, but that eventually fell through.
SS United States Concept
Finally, in 2023, a plan was announced to restore the SS United States by RXR Realty and MCR Hotels. The plan is for the ship to hold 1,000 rooms onboard, along with a restaurant and a range of features that guests can enjoy. The plan also includes the SS United States being permanently moored in New York City. Let’s hope this plan moves forward and the ship returns to life.
Is it Legal to Explore Abandoned Cruise Ships?
Exploring abandoned cruise ships has enticed all sorts of adventurists and explorers. With that said, the activity is not always legal. Even though many abandoned cruise ships look like they belong to nobody but the ocean or sea itself, most are still private property, either owned by the original cruise line or auctioned off to scrapping companies and awaiting transport to a suitable scrap yard.
This means entering the ship would be a form of trespassing. Aside from the legal ramifications of exploring an abandoned cruise ship, it can also be hazardous. Decaying metal can cause severe structural damage to the ship, meaning trespassers could easily hurt themselves as they wander the eerie halls of the ship.
Abandoned Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Sashiko)
Then, of course, there are the environmental risks. If someone is exploring a partially capsized vessel, there is always the chance that they will get trapped and drown. More remote abandoned cruise ships, like the MS World Discoverer, are even treacherous to get to. Hostile locals, a dense jungle-lined coast, and a rocky reef could all pose life-threatening hazards to inexperienced explorers.
In short, unless the abandoned ship is serving as an organized and legal tourist attraction, it is unlikely that exploring it would be lawful or safe.
Are There a Lot of Abandoned Cruise Ships?
Put simply, no. Abandoned cruise ships are incredibly rare. As we discussed, decommissioned and wrecked cruise ships still retain incredible value, especially to scrapping companies.
Since they are so valuable, the owners rarely allow them to sit abandoned. Regarding smaller ships, like ferries and fishing vessels, abandoned hulls are far more common, as the scrap value of these types of crafts is significantly less. In these cases, removing them is not always economically viable or practical.
What Is the Environmental Impact of Abandoned Cruise Ships?
While abandoned cruise ships can almost act as artificial reef sanctuaries for marine life in the short term, they can also pose serious environmental risks if they deteriorate for too long.
This is because cruise ships are often constructed of materials that can contaminate marine environments over time. This is particularly true of older vessels regularly made with hazardous materials like asbestos and lead.
An abandoned cruise ship’s primary environmental concern is the risk of a major oil spill when the ship’s fuel tanks and fuel lines eventually corrode. The MS World Discoverer is the most notorious example of this concern, as environmentalists are worried that the deteriorating ship’s fuel tanks and engine parts will eventually leak oil into the surrounding water.
New environmental regulations and pressure from local governments may reduce the number of cruise ships allowed to remain in a state of abandonment. As international regulatory organizations crack down on environmental regulations, cruise lines may face severe penalties if they do not remove their wreckage and damaged vessels in a timely manner.
Even the cruise industry is committing to becoming more environmentally friendly, which could put pressure on individual cruise lines to deal with abandoned ships before they pose an environmental risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do some abandoned cruise ships get repurposed?
While most are eventually removed and broken down for scrap, some abandoned cruise ships can get repurposed. Some have been turned into maritime museums, floating restaurants, unique hotels, and even Hollywood filming locations.
The Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, is a famous example. After sitting in a state of abandonment and neglect for decades, the city of Long Beach paid millions of dollars to renovate the old ship and transform it into a floating hotel with accommodations replicating the exact look and feel of a luxury liner. During the day, they also host ship tours and temporary exhibits, which allow guests to feel like they have traveled back in time.
Is it safe to explore abandoned cruise ships?
How safe it is to explore an abandoned cruise ship will depend entirely upon the ship’s condition. While some are maintained in a way that allows them to act as tourist attractions, others are in a state of deterioration and disrepair that would make them extremely dangerous to ill-equipped explorers.
The ship’s structural integrity can be questionable, and it can be filled with jagged pieces of corroded metal. If the ship was abandoned in a remote location, seemingly insignificant injuries could prove to be life-threatening. There is also the fact that visiting some abandoned cruises is prohibited by local authorities, so that you could risk fines and more serious penalties.
How many cruise ships are decommissioned each year?
While decommissioning a cruise ship is not the same thing as abandoning one, in some cases, a decommissioned ship can remain in a state of abandonment for many years before it is hauled to a suitable ship scrapping yard.
About 20 cruise ships will typically be decommissioned and dismantled each year, but that also depends on industry trends. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a significant decline in passenger numbers. This forced many cruise lines to decommission and scrap ships they could no longer afford to keep in operation, so the number of decommissioned ships increased substantially.
Final Words
The world of abandoned cruise ships is undoubtedly fascinating, but these once-luxurious vessels can also pose significant environmental risks if they are not disposed of responsibly. On the other hand, they can become interesting tourist attractions for those interested in maritime history and mechanical decay.
Ideally, a cruise ship would be dismantled and recycled or altogether repurposed, so it can continue to serve a useful purpose beyond life as a sophisticated form of travel. If you want to see an abandoned cruise ship for yourself, we encourage you to visit one of the many repurposed ships, where you can enjoy guided tours or even spend the night in a floating hotel.
With any luck, the cruise industry will continue to evolve and find new and more efficient ways to recover and dispose of abandoned cruise ships so they do not threaten the marine environments that help make taking a cruise so magical.
Guests booked on various sailing dates for Norwegian Sky are learning that their itineraries have been altered, with some ports of call being completely changed and others having times shifted.
While most of the changes are relatively minimal, it can still be disappointing to travelers, especially if a port of call is cancelled and pre-booked shore excursions are no longer available. But why are so many changes being made?
Multiple Cruises Changed for Norwegian Sky
Norwegian Sky, one of the oldest and smallest ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, is having multiple itineraries adjusted for her 2023-2024 winter sailing season in the Caribbean.
The cruise line has reached out to travel agents and booked guests to notify them of the changes, which vary depending on the exact itinerary. The following cruise departure dates all have similar changes:
January 29
February 12, February 26
March 11, March 20
April 10, April 20
The impacted sailings range from 9- to 14-nights depending on departure date and overall itinerary.
Norwegian Sky Cruise Ship
“We are committed to providing the best vacations at sea and have been working tirelessly to continue to elevate the quality of our offerings and overall guest experience while driving a positive impact on society and the environment,”the notification letter read.“As we optimize itineraries for fuel efficiencies, we have modified Norwegian Sky’s itinerary.”
Norwegian Cruise Line has made similar itinerary changes to other vessels, including for sailings aboard Norwegian Encore in January and February 2024.
Types of Itinerary Changes
The itinerary changes vary for different sailings, but all have similar adjustments. For example, each cruise is now departing Norwegian Sky’s homeport – La Romana in the Dominican Republic – at 8:30 p.m. rather than 5:30 p.m. as originally scheduled, in order to accommodate flights for incoming passengers.
In some cases, ports of call are cancelled and replaced with alternatives. For instance, on the ship’s February 12, 2024 departure, the very first port of call – which was planned as Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic – has been replaced with Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic instead.
Other adjustments include things like shifting time in ports of call by an hour or trimming some time off longer port visits. The ship’s visit to Bonaire on the same itinerary, for example, will now be from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. rather than from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, and the visits to both Roseau in Dominica and Pointe-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe are likewise trimmed by an hour – now leaving port at 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.
These types of shortened visits can allow the ship to sail at slightly slower speeds between port destinations, which can improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock
In case the changes – whether port cancellations, substitutions, or timing changes – impact shore excursions, any tours pre-booked through Norwegian Cruise Line will be adapted to the new time where possible. If the tours cannot be adjusted, guests will be given a full refund of the tour costs.
No further compensation is being offered for the itinerary changes, as cruise lines have full authority to make such operational changes.
Sailing on Norwegian Sky
The 77,104-gross-ton, Sun-class Norwegian Sky will remain homeported from La Romana through late April, 2024. At that time, the ship will move to Miami, Florida, where she will be offering Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from 5- to 9-nights, with visits to top ports such as Key West, Cozumel, Great Stirrup Cay, San Juan, St. Thomas, and more.
In September 2024, Norwegian Sky will move to New York for a series of autumn Canada & New England sailings, very popular itineraries for spectacular fall foliage. After that deployment, the ship will move to an Asian deployment with departures from New York, Barcelona, Haifa, Dubai, and Mauritius along the way.
A new and delightful experience is appearing for a limited time aboard Oasis of the Seas – the first-ever holiday marketplace aboard a Royal Caribbean International ship.
Filled with seasonal cheer (and appearances from some very special holiday guests!) the new pop-up marketplace will only be on one ship and just through the holiday sailings, but will offer all guests a unique opportunity to find mementos and gifts for everyone on their holiday shopping list.
Holiday Marketplace Introduced on Oasis of the Seas
Guests sailing aboard Oasis of the Seas will have a very unique opportunity never before see on any Royal Caribbean ship – the Oasis Holiday Marketplace.
The limited-time event is running only through January 7, 2024 and can be found on Deck 8. Travelers will find a wide variety of Christmas ornaments, home décor, sweet treats, holiday toys, and themed attire – perfect options for gift-giving or special souvenirs of a memorable holiday cruise.
Inspired by the wildly popular European holiday markets, the pop-up Oasis Holiday Marketplace is being brought to guests in partnership with Starboard Cruise Services, which offers a wide variety of duty-free merchandise onboard cruise ships worldwide.
“The Oasis Holiday Marketplace is a terrific example of Starboard’s passion for ‘retailtainment’, offering families onboard engaging shopping experiences during magical holiday sailings,”said Claudia King-McWilliams, VP General Manager of Royal Caribbean.
Holiday marketplace pop-up aboard Oasis of the Seas
Many cruise travelers like to collect holiday ornaments as mementos of their sailings, or a new ornament to commemorate each year. What better option than to pick up a special ornament right onboard?
In addition to curated seasonal merchandise, the Oasis Holiday Marketplace will also bring guests together with Santa Claus for photos, creating very special memories and moments parents will want to capture to share with family and friends.
This limited time special shop is only onboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. If successful, it is possible the new concept may be introduced on additional vessels for future holiday cruises, and could be expanded to additional sailings for all the holiday season.
Visiting the Oasis Holiday Marketplace
Oasis of the Seas is currently homeported from Miami, Florida, offering a variety of Western and Southern Caribbean sailings through the holiday season.
Because the Oasis Holiday Marketplace is a limited-time special event, just a few cruises will have the special shop onboard.
The ship’s December 22 departure is a very special 7-night Christmas cruise, visiting Falmouth, Jamaica; Labadee, Haiti; and Nassau and CocoCay in the Bahamas before returning to Miami on Friday, December 29. Guests onboard will be able to finish their holiday shopping onboard at the Oasis Holiday Marketplace just in time for Christmas.
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas (Photo Credit: Palephotography / Shutterstock)
The New Year’s cruise – departing December 29 – is a 9-night Southern Caribbean cruise, visiting the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, as well as Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; and Falmouth, Jamaica before returning to Miami on January 7, 2024. This is the last sailing that will feature the Oasis Holiday Marketplace this year.
The first of the Oasis-class vessels, the 226,838-gross-ton Oasis of the Seas joined the Royal Caribbean fleet in 2009. The ship can welcome 5,606 passengers when booked at double occupancy, or up to 6,699 guests when fully booked with all berths filled.
Also onboard are approximately 2,200 international crew members to ensure everyone has an enjoyable cruise, during the holidays and all year long.
Because holiday sailings are very popular for family getaways, the ship is more likely to be fully booked at this time of year. Guests interested in the Oasis Holiday Marketplace should plan to shop early, in case their favorite souvenirs and gifts run out of stock.
Of course, a wide range of holiday events – in addition to special seasonal shopping – are also onboard at this time of year, including themed trivia contests, special entertainment, caroling parties, a gingerbread village, and much more to celebrate the season.
Most people celebrate their birthdays with a night out on the town or by hosting a party with friends and family. But one cruise ship entertainer rang in his 50th year by saving a passenger’s life.
From Cruise Ship Entertainer To Hero
Pete Matthews, a comedian and juggler, was celebrating his 50th birthday with a week of performances on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas as part of a seven-day cruise to the Bahamas.
On December 12, 2023, Matthews was grabbing a drink for his wife between shows when he happened to be in the right place at the right time. The entertainer was on his way back to his cabin when he heard a commotion coming from a nearby hallway.
“These guys, probably in their 30s, were shouting ‘dad, dad, don’t die, dad.’ It was a real panic, and I ran down the corridor, dressed and ready for my show, and saw this chap on the floor, slumped against the wall,” Matthews recalled to the Daily Echo.
The comedian stumbled upon 58-year-old Joe Kutza in cardiac distress. By the time Matthews arrived, the man had turned purple from lack of oxygen. Matthews immediately sprang into action and began administering CPR and chest compressions with the help of another passenger until medics arrived around 5 minutes later.
Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Wayleebird / Shutterstock)
“I was assisted by a firefighter and EMT called Justin and the doctors and medical staff did an amazing job in reviving Joe and getting him medivac’d off the ship in the early hours. I believe Joe has since had a pacemaker fitted,”Matthews commented on his Facebook page.
Luckily for the distressed passenger and his family, Matthews was well versed in first aid and CPR as part of his Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) course, a subject he first started pursuing over 20 years ago.
Once help arrived, Matthews had to turn his attention to his next performance, but couldn’t keep his mind off the ailing passenger. The entertainer’s hands shook throughout his set.
“The most surreal moment of it all was the fact that 15 minutes after this happened, I’m on stage cracking funnies and making an audience laugh, and they were oblivious to the fact that that had just happened,” Matthews told the Daily Echo.
After his performance, a crew member informed Matthews that Kutza was recovering in the hospital and that the entertainer’s quick actions saved his life. Matthews immediately burst into tears of joy and relief.
Pete Matthews
Matthews later visited Kutza in the hospital, where he shared a joyful reunion with Kutza and his family. The entertainer even shared a celebratory drink with Kutza’s loved ones.
“I met the man, Joe, now wired up with a breathing mask on, and was introduced as the man that saved his life,” says Matthews. “He just keeps saying that I was his guardian angel.”
Following the incident, Kutza has returned home to Pennsylvania where he is recovering and continues to stay in touch with Matthews.
Pete Matthews Will Be Back At Sea Early In 2024
Pete Matthews, who hails from West Parley, has been juggling and entertaining professionally since he was a teenager. The UK native, who can be found on social media as The Crazy Juggler, primarily performs on cruise ships.
Matthews has sailed all over the world on a variety of different cruise lines, and will be back at sea early next year.
The comedian announced on his Facebook page that he will be part of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas’ inaugural sailings beginning at the end of January 2024. Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world and is scheduled to embark on her maiden voyage on January 27, 2024.
According to the entertainer’s website, Matthews will be back onboard Anthem of the Seas multiple times throughout 2024, as well as several other ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Over the course of the year, he will also perform on Jewel of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.
The Hurtigruten expedition ship MS Maud was damaged by a rogue wave while sailing in the North Sea between Norway, Denmark, and the UK on Thursday, December 21, 2023.
Windows were broken in the incident and the ship lost power for a brief time and was temporarily adrift. No serious injuries have been reported, and the ship is now receiving navigational assistance.
Hurtigruten Ship Hit By Rogue Wave
MS Maud, finishing a 14-night “Northern Lights” expedition cruise roundtrip from Tilbury, UK, was struck by a rogue wave at approximately 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 21, 2023. The wave broke out several windows on the ship’s bridge, which caused a temporary loss of power and navigational ability, setting the ship briefly adrift.
Authorities were quickly alerted to the emergency, and multiple nearby vessels and rescue personnel responded to the situation.
“In line with our robust operational protocols, the crew immediately carried out thorough safety checks and technical assessments, in addition to making sure that everyone on board is as well as the conditions allow,”a statement from the cruise line read.“Further assessments are now being made for onward sailing.”
No serious injuries have been reported and the ship is considered in stable condition, though unable to navigate independently. The vessel is being steered manually from the engine room. Tow assistance is being arranged as soon as it is safe to do so.
Satellite tracking data shows the 16,151-gross-ton cruise ship moving at just 2-3 knots (2-4 miles per hour / 4-6 kilometers per hour). At the ship’s current location, wind is reported at approximately 35 knots (40 mph / 65 kph).
Hurtigruten MS Maud (Photo Credit: Bjoern Wylezich)
Guests onboard have shared video of the ship’s extreme rocking motion, though the vessel does remain safe – if not as comfortable as passengers would like.
In situations like this, guests would be asked to remain in their staterooms rather than moving around the corridors or public areas, in case sudden motion would make moving about the ship dangerous. The ship’s captain would provide updates as often as possible.
While MS Maud can welcome 532 passengers, only 266 are onboard at the moment. Also onboard are 131 crew members who will do everything possible to ensure all guests remain comfortable in these challenging conditions.
Impact on the Next Cruise
MS Maud‘s next cruise, a 13-night Christmas Expedition to various ports in Norway, is reported as cancelled so the damage to the vessel can be assessed and repaired.
That holiday sailing was to have departed Tilbury on Saturday, December 23. Now, it is not yet confirmed where MS Maud will be docking, as the ship may be taken directly to an available shipyard in Denmark or Germany for immediate repair work. Those arrangements have not yet been finalized.
Cruise Ship Hurricane (Photo Credit: PHkorsart)
If this is the case, guests would likely be flown home as soon as possible, depending on what arrangements can be made when the ship is docked. The severe weather in the North Sea is likely to hamper when the ship can return to port, though all efforts will be made for a timely arrival.
Until the damage can be assessed, there is no way to know whether or not only one future sailing is impacted. Guests booked on MS Maud in the next few weeks will want to stay in close contact with the cruise line or their travel agent to stay updated about any changes or cancellations.
Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with all passengers and crew onboard MS Maud for a safe sailing that is as smooth as possible, and with all emergency personnel responding to this tense and challenging situation.
Royal Caribbean International has released a new behind-the-scenes video detailing the concept, importance, and artistry behind the Pearl, a first-of-its-kind feature on Icon of the Seas. The impressive orb is much more than just a structure, and from concept to implementation, the Pearl required intense innovation to come to life.
Behind the Scenes of the Pearl
A new “Icon Extra” episode, continuing the popular “Building an Icon” series, has gone behind the scenes of the Pearl, revealing this innovative structure and what it provides to the world’s largest cruise ship.
The Pearl is located midship on the port side of Icon of the Seas, stretching from Deck 5 to Deck 8, with a staircase through the interior for guests to move from the Royal Promenade on Deck 5 up to the Pearl Cafe on Deck 6. But what exactly is this massive structure, what does it do, and how was it developed?
“As we were designing the Royal Promenade and we were focused on how do we bring light and water into that space, which is not something that’s easy to do because there’s not superstructure to support it,”said Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.“That actually gave birth to the Pearl.”
The Pearl is 52.5 feet (16 meters) in diameter, and serves as the load-bearing superstructure to support the ship’s port side, while simultaneously bringing in a sense of space and light to provide an airy, open feel to the interior public spaces.
More Than Structure
The Pearl, however, is more than just functional superstructure in Icon of the Seas‘ overall design, and adds so much more than just light to experiences aboard the new, massive ship.
“The Pearl has a lot of different purposes,”said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer for Royal Caribbean International.“It’s a bit art, a bit sculpture, a bit experience, a bit wow – but all in an architectural marvel.”
The Pearl goes beyond the skylight structures familiar aboard other Royal Caribbean ships that bring light into the Royal Promenade. Just like many other features of Icon of the Seas, the giant orb is a completely new design that required innovation and ingenuity to bring to life.
The design evolved from having pillars through the Pearl to removing bulkheads and turning the entire surface of the globe into architectural support.
Courtesy: Royal Caribbean
“The Pearl is a fundamental piece of the ship’s structure,”said Jay Rosser, Manager of Product Development for Royal Caribbean International.“It is supporting all of the staterooms above it, Central Park which is on Deck 8 – that 16 meter sphere of steel is taller than the Hollywood Sign in California.”
The open structure of the sphere lets the sunlight in from the adjacent 4-deck-high panoramic glass wall, bringing amazing amounts of light into the ship’s interior.
Kinetic Art and Experience
The Pearl is the world’s largest kinetic art sculpture, which has taken great innovation just to construct. The structure was pre-outfitted before being installed onboard, which saved time and effort in the long run to ensure it was fully function and construction timelines were met.
The interior of the Pearl is composed of kinetic tiles with color-changing light and reflection effects that will evolve throughout the day and with different activities of the ship.
Royal Caribbean’s icon of the Seas (Photo Credit: Jouni Niskakoski)
“The Pearl was designed to create this ever-changing experience within itself, but also within the guests’ mindset,”said Jennifer Goswami, Director of Product Development for Royal Caribbean International.“It’s a vibe. There’ll be a daytime experience, nighttime, sea day, Perfect Day, a goodbye experience… The Pearl herself will feel very moody and will really bring Icon to life.”
Great detail was taken to ensure the artwork aspects of the structure worked well together, from the tile’s base color and gloss level to shimmer effects and the overall programming to ensure all the tiles flowed seamlessly together.
Undoubtedly, different effects will also be used at different times, coordinating the experience of the Pearl with ongoing activities along the Royal Promenade.
Since the giant sphere was first spotted, there has been great speculation about what the Pearl really is. Now, the truth is revealed – just one month before the very first guests will step aboard Icon of the Seas to experience the Pearl for themselves.
