The island paradise of St. Kitts welcomed the Celebrity Beyond for the first time. The ship’s inaugural visit to this Caribbean destination is the first of several taking place during the 2023-2024 cruise season, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between Celebrity Cruises and the small country.
Celebrity Beyond’s Inaugural Visit To St. Kitts
On the morning of December 8, 2023, Celebrity Beyond, part of Celebrity’s Edge-class fleet,arrived in St. Kitts for her inaugural cruise call.
The Celebrity Cruises ship visited the small Caribbean country as part of its 10-night Southern Caribbean cruise, which also included Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Roseau, Dominica; Bridgetown, Barbados; and St. Johns, Antigua.
St. Kitts is part of the dual-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, which is located in the Eastern Caribbean. The ship docked in Basseterre, which is the capital and the gateway to popular tourist destinations like South Friar’s Bay, Independence Square, and the Victorian Berkeley Memorial Clock Tower.
Celebrity is one of many cruise lines visiting St. Kitts during the island country’s unusually busy winter season. The Caribbean cruise port expects 342 ships to dock on its shores this winter, marking an unprecedented surge in tourism, with bigger and newer ships adding St. Kitts to their itineraries.
Photo Copyright: Doctor Alonso / Shutterstock
The vesselreceived a warm welcome from the locals and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority alike. With more port calls on the horizon in the 2023-2024 cruise season, St. Kitts Tourism Authority is looking forward to strengthening its relationship with Celebrity Cruises and showing guests what the island has to offer.
“The arrival of Celebrity Beyond marks a significant milestone in our flourishing partnership with Celebrity Cruises. We are delighted to introduce our island paradise as a premier destination on this ship’s itinerary. St. Kitts boasts an unparalleled combination of natural beauty, rich heritage, and warm hospitality, and we look forward to showcasing the best that our island has to offer to all Celebrity Beyond passengers,” says Hon. Marsha T. Henderson, Minister of Tourism.
The island will be included as part of Celebrity’s 10-night “Ultimate Southern Caribbean” voyages onboard Celebrity Beyond, which are offered on select dates between January and April in 2024 and depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Along with St. Kitts, the luxury ship will also be sailing to Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados; and St. Johns, Antigua.
Future Sailings To St. Kitts
Celebrity Cruiseswill return to St. Kitts’s pristine shores several more times in the 2023-2024 season, as well as in the years beyond.
Photo Courtesy: St. Kitts Tourism
For cruisers who like to plan ahead, Celebrity has also released seven-night itineraries onboard Celebrity Beyond that include St. Kitts, beginning in October 2025 through April 2026. These cruises will set sail from Miami, Florida, and explore St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Puerto Plata.
Celebrity Ascent, the most recent addition to Celebrity’s Edge-class fleet, will also follow its sister ship’s lead. The Celebrity Ascent will make her own inaugural cruise call to St. Kittsat the end of December after completing her maiden voyage, which began on December 3.
Like the Celebrity Beyond, the Celebrity Ascent also has itineraries scheduled through 2026 that include St. Kittsas a port of call.
Modern cruise ships are true engineering marvels. From their immense scale and powerful propulsion systems to their luxurious interiors and charming amenities, these magnificent vessels capture the imagination like no other form of transportation.
While they are certainly enchanting, many wonder what happens to them when they are no longer fit for service. Behind the scenes of the cruise industry is an equally fascinating world of cruise ship disposal and recycling. Like automobiles and airplanes, even cruise ships eventually find themselves at the scrap yard.
Today, we will dive into the unfamiliar world of the cruise ship graveyard. We will uncover where these once glorious vessels end up and explain the disposal and recycling process used to break these massive ships down. We will also answer questions about the lifespan of a typical cruise ship and whether or not their disposal has environmental implications.
So, if you are ready to uncover the secrets of the cruise ship graveyard, let’s get started!
Before we explore the concept of a cruise ship graveyard, it is worth explaining how long a cruise ship lasts and why all vessels must be taken out of service at some point.
Typically, a full-size cruise ship can remain in service for roughly 30 years; however, the exact lifespan will depend on the needs of the cruise line operating each ship. Some luxurious cruise lines will take their ships out of service and either sell them off or send them off to be scrapped.
Other cruise lines will extend the typical lifespan of their ships by refurbishing them. This can be simple updates to interior décor and furnishings or more substantial technological upgrades. If a cruise ship is maintained and updated properly, it could be in service for as long as 40 years.
What Happens When a Cruise Ship Is Decommissioned?
When a decision is made to take a cruise ship out of service, it must undergo a meticulous decommissioning process. This process involves more than simply powering down the engines and locking the doors.
Environmental Hazard Removal
For starters, the cruise ship’s massive fuel tanks must be emptied completely. This is for environmental purposes, as it helps reduce the risk of a fuel spill during the salvaging process.
Decommissioned cruise ships must also undergo a detailed environmental assessment from a neutral party. The entire ship is examined during this process to ensure all hazardous materials are accounted for. Once the fuel tanks have been emptied safely, the fuel lines are drained to ensure no environmentally hazardous material is left behind.
Other potentially hazardous materials, such as asbestos, mercury, hydrocarbons, and various corrosive heavy metals, are accounted for during the assessment. These will need to be removed and disposed of in accordance with all of the relevant environmental regulations.
Stripping of the Interior
The interior can be fully stripped once the decommissioned cruise ship has been assessed for potential environmental hazards and its remaining fuel and other engine fluids have been removed safely.
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
During this process, all interior furniture and equipment are removed. In some cases, it can be auctioned off so it can be repurposed or scrapped so the materials can be repurposed.
Some interior components, such as artwork, kitchen appliances, high-end furniture, and even chandeliers, can generate significant income for the cruise line during auction. This helps cover some expenses of sending the ship to be scrapped at a cruise ship graveyard.
This process is important for financial purposes and helps reduce the environmental impact of disposing of such a massive vessel.
Salvaging of Valuable Equipment and Materials
Finally, the decommissioned cruise ship is broken down and stripped at a scrap yard specializing in large-scale ship disposal. Not only are the engines and other significant components removed, but the ship’s steel hull is broken down so the metal can be melted down for repurposing.
It will not surprise you that full-size cruise ships are constructed from massive amounts of high-grade, non-corrosive metal. When recycled correctly, this metal and electrical wiring can be worth an incredible amount of money, especially if it is not overly corroded. This is what makes the cruise ship scrapping industry profitable.
Even the thousands of windows on a cruise ship can be removed and recycled like any other type of glass.
Where Does This Take Place? – Introducing Cruise Ship Graveyards
Given the immense size of a cruise ship, the salvaging and dismantling process cannot occur at a typical scrap yard. This is where ship graveyards come into play.
These specialized scrap yards are equipped to deal with large ships. They have massive ports where the decommissioned ships can be towed. From there, crews can work with breaking down the ships and salvaging materials and components for recycling.
In many cases, luxury cruise ships are demolished and scrapped alongside large ships, like cargo ships, tankers, and research vessels.
Where Are the Cruise Ship Graveyards?
The most notable cruise ship graveyards tend to be in poorer countries where labor is inexpensive. These include the following:
1. The Alang Ship Breaking Yard in Alang, India
The Alang Ship Breaking Yard is considered to be the world’s largest scrap yard for decommissioned ships. The facility is home to 183 full-sized ship dismantling yards and has numerous docks where retired ships can be towed in for the first stages of scrapping.
The Alang Ship Breaking Yard handles cruise ships and has dismantled everything from oil tankers to aircraft carriers.
2. The Aliağa Ship Recycling Yard in Aliağa, Turkey
The Aliağa Ship Recycling Yard on the coast of Turkey has gained international recognition for its more environmentally friendlyapproach to recycling cruise ships and other types of vessels.
Thousands of workers work harmoniously to recycle steel and other valuable materials from decommissioned ships. This recycling facility also gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, as lockdown measures particularly impacted the cruise industry. Numerous cruise lines sold cruise ships to Aliağa for recycling and demolition.
3. The Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard in Faujdarhat, Bangladesh
This enormous ship scrap yard handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s decommissioned ships, so it is a massive operation. In fact, the Chittagong facility employs over 200,000 people at any given time.
While it handles all forms of ship demolition, the facility’s main specialization is steel recovery. While it was once seen as a major tourist attraction in Bangladesh, it had to close access to the general public due to safety concerns. Sadly, the Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard has come under international scrutiny for its poor safety record, with reports claiming that roughly one worker dies per week.
4. Gadani Ship Breaking Yard in Gadani, Pakistan
The world’s third largest ship scrapping yard is located along the coast of the Arabian Sea in southern Pakistan. At any given time, the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard can handle 125 full-sized ships, including full-size cruise ships.
Although the facility has reduced its size and number of employees in recent years, it still handles numerous cruise ships every single year, especially those originating from the Mediterranean Sea.
The Economics of Cruise Ship Graveyards
You might be wondering how the ship graveyard industry works financially. While you may assume that cruise lines would have to pay vast sums of money to dispose of such giant objects, it turns out that scrapping cruise ships is fairly profitable, especially in countries where the average hourly income is relatively low.
Recycling scrap metal on such a massive scale can be very lucrative. In particular, the high-grade steel that can be recovered from the outer hull of a cruise ship can be a precious commodity in a resource-poor nation.
Photo By: Selçuk Ateş
As such, ship scrap yards bid on decommissioned cruise ships and purchase them from the cruise lines. While cruise lines may have to pay certain environmental fees when they decommission a ship, much of this money can be recovered when it is sold.
Cruise ship graveyards can be profitable and sustainable enterprises and provide much-needed job opportunities in countries and regions with low employment rates.
While they certainly can be good for local economies, ship scrap yards can also be extremely dangerous places to work, which is why there has been a recent crackdown on workplace safety standards. Certain countries have also demanded stricter environmental standards for the scrapping industry, making operating a full-scale ship scrap yard more expensive.
Is it Possible to Visit a Cruise Ship Graveyard?
While seeing the skeletons of once glamorous cruise ships may appeal to some adventurists, most cruise ship graveyards are off-limits to the general public. This is simply due to safety concerns and certain regulations requiring individuals to undergo strict training before entering one of these types of facilities.
While certain facilities used to be open to the public, like the Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard in Bangladesh, most have now closed their doors. To feed the curiosity of locals and tourists alike, some of these cruise ship graveyards will hold occasional guided tours and photography events, but they are usually reserved for days when the scrap yard is inactive.
Some of these ship graveyards have even been featured in major Hollywood movies, such as Avengers: Age of Ultron, which contained a scene that was featured in a South African shipyard.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are cruise ship graveyards subject to environmental regulations?
Yes, most cruise ships are now subject to environmental standards, particularly regarding waste disposal. Where ship scrap yards were far less eco-friendly in the past, most countries have now introduced recycling initiatives that ensure even less valuable materials are recycled appropriately.
International regulatory bodies are also beginning to introduce regulations regarding the sustainability of the ship-breaking industry.
How much is a decommissioned cruise ship worth?
Given that ship scrap yards purchase decommissioned cruise ships from cruise lines, you might wonder what they are actually worth.
In general, the value of a cruise ship will depend primarily upon its weight in tonnage, as well as the quality and condition of the steel that ship was constructed from. A well-made, mid-sized cruise ship might weigh somewhere between 60,000 to 120,000 tons.
Most of this weight would be steel. Assuming the steel was not overly corroded and the ship had been used relatively recently, it could be worth roughly two million dollars in scrap value. Naturally, larger ships can be worth even more.
Rather than set a specific price for the ship, most cruise lines will actually auction off their decommissioned and stripped ships. Allowing various ship graveyards to bid on the ship makes the final price difficult to predict. There is also the fact that scrap metal values can fluctuate over time, so, in many ways, the global market dictates the value of a decommissioned cruise ship.
What is the average lifespan of a cruise ship?
For the most part, a typical cruise ship will be in service for 25 to 30 years. As you would expect, proper maintenance and upgrades ensure that a cruise ship can be serviceable for longer.
For larger ships that are regularly updated and properly maintained, the life span can be as long as 40 years. It is important to note that older ships need to undergo more frequent safety inspections to ensure that they are not at risk of breaking down while carrying passengers.
Final Words
While the world of cruise ship graveyards can be fascinating, relatively few people understand how it works. Many assume unserviceable cruise ships remain still and simply erode, but they are quickly broken down and recycled.
Even after their days of transporting eager passengers through the world’s most exciting waters are over, these enormous ships are still incredibly valuable.
In many ways, the stripping and recycling of a cruise ship is the final phase of its life span. From being built by thousands of skilled workers and carrying for up to 40 years to eventually being broken down and scrapped, the lifecycle of a cruise ship is truly fascinating.
The fact that so much of a cruise ship is repurposed and recycled after all those years of service is a testament to the modern cruise industry’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald has addressed a pair of food-related rumors recently, confirming one and debunking the other.
The rumors relate to buffet service onboard all Carnival ships, as well as the options for customized omelettes available both at the buffet and during the popular Sea Day Brunch.
Is Carnival Buffet Service Changing?
The first rumor is related to self-service versus served lines at the casual dining Lido Marketplace buffet. Concerned cruisers have asked Heald whether or not the buffet lines will become served – with crew members dishing out portions – or if they will remain self-serve, with guests choosing their own portions.
The questions are asked both with respect to food waste, as well as health and sanitation concerns over shared serving utensils.
“We are not, repeat not, changing from self service to a served buffet,”Heald confirmed.
Heald also asked a poll on his popular Facebook page about whether or not the buffet should remain self-serve or move to served dining. Carnival Cruise Line does take into account guest feedback whenever possible.
The poll results – with more than 4,700 votes counted – clearly show a preference for self-service, with 88% of guests agreeing that self-serve should be the way to go. Just 8% of votes would rather see the buffet served by crew members when possible.
Heald does acknowledge that served dining was the order of the day as part of health and safety precautions related to the pandemic, but it is unlikely that the service would change now unless there were a severe outbreak onboard a ship. Either way, some guests are always unhappy with how a buffet is served.
“If we were to say that the buffets were not self service and that a crew member must do it for you there would be some grumbling,”Heald explained.
At times, different cruise lines do shift to served buffets if there is an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness onboard. Some buffet items are always served regardless of the situation, such as meat carving stations or dessert options like cakes or hand-scooped ice cream.
As for food waste being a concern with self-serve buffets, guests can always opt to take smaller portions and simply get a second serving after they finish the first if they would like more.
“It will remain an all you can eat buffet and I should, with food waste in mind, remind myself and others that an all you can eat buffet is an offer not a challenge,”Heald commented jokingly.
Omelette Options Onboard
The second rumor Heald has addressed in recent days is a change in omelette options. Guests onboard recent sailings of different Carnival ships have noted that omlettes are no longer able to be customized during the popular Sea Day Brunch.
Instead, guests have a choice of three omelette varieties – cheese, ham-and-cheese, or vegetable omelete with bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes. The only customization available is a choice of either cheddar or mozzarella cheese.
The Lido Marketplace omelette stations are also serving only the three types of omelettes, without additional customization. Previously, omelettes could be made with a variety of different ingredients, including bacon, mushrooms, arugula, spinach, and other types of cheese, including feta and swiss.
Omelette At the Cruise Ship Buffet (Photo Credit: Reel creative)
Several explanations have been given for this change. Fewer selections allows omelettes to be prepared more quickly, speeding up Main Dining Room brunch service and shortening lines at the buffet stations. Because of this, Heald has confirmed that for the time being, the new omelette options will remain.
“One of the reasons we are changing the slightly is to speed up the process,”he explained.“There are no plans to change back at this time.”
More pessimistic travelers are concerned that this may signify a permanent loss of options, but it is equally likely that this is simply a test of a new dining option that may yet be tweaked in the coming weeks and months. Heald has confirmed that the omelette stations on the buffet are not being eliminated entirely.
“You can still have a freshly made omelette of three different varieties made on the Lido,”he said.
It should also be noted that there are plenty of other breakfast options available, both in each ship’s Main Dining Room as well as breakfast burritos from BlueIguana Cantina. Other types of eggs are always available at the Lido Marketplace, including scrambled eggs, eggs benedict, and other options, depending on individual selections each day.
During dry dock in Bremerhaven, Germany, significant issues have been uncovered that will prohibit Ambience, the former Regal Princess, now sailing for Ambassador Cruise Line, from returning to service soon.
The announcement comes ahead of a busy season of sailings, with thousands of guests booked onboard the vessel. With that in mind, Ambassador Cruise Line has taken the controversial decision to swap itineraries between Ambience and its other cruise ship, Ambition.
Major Maintenance Needed for Ambassador Cruise Ship Ambience
Ambassador Cruise Line informed guests and travel agents on December 7, 2023, that Ambience will be out of service through early January. Ambience requires extended maintenance due to unexpected damage found on the vessel’s prop shafts during dry dock in Bremerhaven, Northern Germany.
The maintenance work, which involves repairing propeller shafts and stern bearings damaged by metal grinding, is crucial to prevent potential environmental risks. Both propeller shafts and the bearings will be transported by sea to Denmark where they will be repaired by a specialist company.
Christian Verhounig, Chief Executive Officer for Ambassador Cruise Line: “The two propeller shafts (each 20m long weighing over 30 tonnes each), together with their bearings have been transported by sea to a specialist metal repair shop in Denmark.”
Ambience Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis)
Ambience had been in dry dock for regularly scheduled maintenance, however, this will be taking much longer than initially anticipated.
“Regrettably, we were informed yesterday that the additional maintenance works will not be concluded in time to operate our itineraries onboard Ambience as scheduled, with the ship only able to return to the UK in early January ahead of Ambience’s Grand Round The World Cruise.”
The unplanned maintenance has far-reaching consequences for the cruise lines, which is forced to cancel several cruises scheduled to set sail onboard Ambience, and also affects cruises booked onboard the cruise line’s second cruise ship, Ambition.
Ambience Propeller Shaft Damage
Significant Impact on Scheduled Cruises
The extended maintenance on the Ambience has necessitated the cancellation and alteration of several cruises planned for December. The cruise line stated that Ambition will replace the Ambience for these voyages, affecting 6,600 guests booked onboard Ambience, and a further 800 guests booked onboard Ambition.
Verhounig said: “We have taken the difficult decision to switch Ambition and Ambience’s itineraries over the next month.With over 6,600 guests due to be on board Ambience in December and 800 booked on Ambition, it made operational sense to cancel the one sailing over this period on Ambition than all Ambience’s planned itineraries, which limits the impact on most guests with forward bookings.”
Ambition is the former AIDAmira, which was sold to Ambassador Cruise Line in 2022. The 48,200 gross tons cruise ship first sailed as Mistral for Festival Cruises in 1999, then as Grand Mistral with Ibero Cruises, and as Costa neoRiviera with Costa Cruises.
Ambassador’s Ambition Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: The Bristol Port Company)
December cruises that have been impacted include the December 10 sailing, a German Christmas Markets cruise that will now sail on Ambition. This cruise will be reduced from 5 nights to 4 and Hamburg is being replaced by Antwerp.
The December 17 cruise, a Festive Market Getaway sailing on December 17 onboard Ambience, will now be sailing on Ambition. Further, Ambience‘s Christmas & New Year Voyage scheduled for December 21 will now take place on Ambition.
To make the changes possible, Ambassador Cruise Line has cancelled Ambition‘s West Indies cruise scheduled to set sail on December 11, 2024.
“It is never an easy decision to change or cancel any Ambassador sailing, particularly at this time of year, and I would personally like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. I fully understand that an apology does not cover what many of you may be feeling right now,” said Verhounig.
If the maintenance and repairs can be completed without further delays, Ambience is expected to return to the UK in early January, in time for its Grand Round The World Cruise.
Ambassador Cruise Line did not make any mention of compensation it would be offering guests booked on one of the cancelled or rescheduled cruises. Guests will be receiving more news about the options available to them through email, according to the cruise line.
Carnival Cruise Line is bringing back an amazing – though occasionally controversial – statue as a focal point, but on a new cruise ship. The upcoming Carnival Firenze will showcase the piece when the ship debuts in April 2024 as a new ship in the cruise line’s Carnival Fun, Italian Style rebranding.
Statue of David to Return on New Carnival Ship
The statue in question is the recreation of Michelangelo’s famous David that was previously installed on Carnival Pride as a centerpiece in the ship’s steakhouse. When Carnival Pride debuted, the steakhouse was named David’s, but the specialty dining venue was rebranded in May 2023 during the ship’s revitalization drydock.
As the steakhouse aboard Carnival Pride is no longer themed to the spectacular piece of Renaissance art, the statue was removed and hasn’t been seen since.
Now, Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald has hinted at the statue’s return, sharing a photo of the cruise line’s president, Christine Duffy, recently standing in the lobby of what is still, for the moment, Costa Firenze.
“Last weekend our President Christine Duffy went to visit the Costa Firenze which next year will become the Carnival Firenze. Christine reported that the ship was really beautiful and I am sure that everyone on the West Coast will be excited to see her sailing from Long Beach,”Heald said.
“Now, take a look at the photo and the Christmas Tree because when the ship becomes Carnival Firenze there will be something else standing where that tree is now. It’s an old friend from another ship. Can you guess what it is that will have pride of place there?”
Christine Duffy on Costa Firenze
While Heald has not definitively confirmed that the new addition to the ship will be the David statue, the hints are clear – “an old friend from another ship” and “pride” strongly suggest the statue will be returning.
Many guests have commented on Heald’s hint, happy that the statue will be returning and eager to set sail on Carnival Firenze next year.
It is even more appropriate that David will be showcased aboard Carnival Firenze, as the ship’s name is “Florence” in Italian, and that iconic Italian city is where the original David is permanently housed in Galleria dell-Accademia art museum.
About David
While the original statue of David is a 17-foot marble masterpiece carved from 1501-1504, the statue Carnival Cruise Line owns is not quite an exact replica.
When Carnival Pride debuted in 2002, the statue was an exact recreation of the famous sculpture. Over the years, however, various complaints from more conservative cruisers led the cruise line to add a fig leaf over the anatomically-correct statue’s more private bits.
Michaelangelo’s masterpiece David (Photo Credit: David L. Brown)
Interestingly, it is not uncommon for works of art to be similarly adjusted, and many famous pieces have been altered to more modern modesty and privacy standards many years after they may have originally be sculpted or painted.
There is no word on whether or not the statue will maintain its fig leaf modesty when it is reinstalled aboard Carnival Firenze.
Sailing Carnival Firenze
While the ship is still currently Costa Cruises’ Costa Firenze, the vessel will undergo an extensive dry dock when it is rebranded to join the Fun Ship Fleet. The same happened to Carnival Venezia prior to that ship’s transfer, with Carnival-branded venues added to the ship.
Costa Firenze‘s final sailing is a unique 1-night cruise from Marseille, France to Savona, Italy on January 20, 2024 before the ship will enter dry dock for her renovations. The ship is currently offering diverse Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona, Marseille, Savoa, and Valencia.
Upcoming Carnival Firenze Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Mlle Sonyah)
Carnival Firenze is scheduled to debut at the end of April 2024, sailing from Long Beach, California. That debut has been controversial, as the schedule was adjusted and a new “inaugural” sailing added earlier than originally planned. The first inaugural cruise is now scheduled to depart April 25, 2024.
The ship will be offering 4-, 5-, and 7-night Mexican Riviera and Baja Mexico itineraries, visiting vibrant destinations such as Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and Ensenada. Some sailings also include a visit to Catalina Island.
Whether sailing in the Mediterranean or visiting Mexico, the 135,225-gross-ton ship is sure to offer guests an amazing taste of Italy onboard, welcoming 4,126 guests aboard at double occupancy, or as many as 5,245 travelers if fully booked. Meanwhile, the ship’s 1,400 international crew members are sure to provide service everyone, even David, will enjoy.
Tropical Cyclone Jasper, now strengthened to a severe Category 3 storm, is forcing more changes for Royal Caribbean ships sailing in Australian waters.
First it was changes for Quantum of the Seas, and now Brilliance of the Seas is dramatically changing its December 8, 2023 sailing to steer clear of the dangerous storm.
Brilliance of the Seas Itinerary Change
Brilliance of the Seas will not be sailing her planned 11-night Great Barrier Reef cruise departing Sydney, Australia on Friday, December 8. Because of the influence of Severe Tropical Cyclone Jasper, the ship will instead be heading south to completely different Australian and Tasmanian ports of call.
This is similar to the complete change of itinerary already announced for Quantum of the Seas, sailing from Brisbane. Guests were notified of the change the day before departure, with a completely updated itinerary.
“We’ve been monitoring adverse weather along our intended path caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper. To ensure a safe and comfortable sailing, and after exploring all options, we’ve decided to change up our itinerary,”the notification read.
The ship was originally scheduled to spend two days at sea, then enjoy Airlie Beach on Monday, December 11 and Cairns on Tuesday, December 12. Another day at sea was to follow, then a stop in Port Douglas on Thursday, December 14 and Willis Island on Friday, December 15. After two more days at sea, Eden would be the last stop on Monday, December 18 before the ship returned to Sydney on Tuesday, December 19.
Now, Eden is the only port of call remaining from the original itinerary. The ship will spend the first day at sea before visiting Eden on Sunday, December 10. Days at sea are interspersed throughout the new itinerary, with full, 10-hour visits to Adelaide on Tuesday, December 12 and Melbourne on Thursday, December 14.
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock
An overnight call in Hobart, Tasmania is the last port of call and will stretch from 8 a.m. on Saturday, December 16 until 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 17. The cruise will still conclude as planned in Sydney on Tuesday, December 19.
“We’re terribly sorry for the last minute change caused by the weather – your safety is our top priority,”the email concludes.
Guests who have made independent tour arrangements in ports of call will want to contact their tour operators as soon as possible for cancellation and refund options. Pre-paid tours booked through Royal Caribbean International should be fully refunded.
Brilliance of the Seas began her Australian season on October 22, and the ship is scheduled to spend six months offering diverse sailings Down Under.
The 90,090-gross-ton ship can welcome 2,142 guests at double occupancy, or as many as 2,543 guests when fully booked. Also onboard are approximately 850 international crew members to ensure that everyone has a brilliant cruise, no matter what ports of call they visit.
Update on Severe Tropical Storm Jasper
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (ABM), Severe Tropical Storm Jasper is currently spinning 1,100 miles (1,767 kilometers) north-northeast of Brisbane, and moving slowly south-southwest.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Jasper (Credit: Australian Bureau of Meteorology)
The storm is predicted to strengthen over the next day or two, potentially as high as a Category 5 storm with winds over 123 miles per hour (198 kilometers per hour), though it may weaken somewhat over the weekend.
The storm is expected to make a turn toward the west in the coming days, which will bring it to the Queensland coast for landfall early or mid-next week.
Any travelers with South Pacific or Australia cruises in the next few days will want to stay in touch with their cruise line about possible itinerary changes and updates.
Icon of the Seas is on her way to Spain following her delivery at the end of November, and along the way the massive ship has crossed a momentous landmark by passing beneath the Great Belt Bridge.
The 20-deck-tall ship had just feet to spare as she sailed smoothly beneath the span. Before doing so, Icon of the Seas had to perform an engineering feat that has not been done since the Oasis-class Allure of the Seas sailed beneath the bridge in 2010.
Icon of the Seas Clears Bridge on First Journey
Icon of the Seas was officially delivered on November 27, 2023, in Turku, Finland, two months to the day before she will welcome her first guests in Miami, Florida. The nearly 6,700-mile-journey (10,780 kilometers) between the shipyard and the ship’s official homeport, however, has several milestones the ship must cross.
The first major seagoing landmark is the Great Belt Bridge (Storebæltsbroen in Danish), a major connecting bridge in Denmark. The total length of the span is 11 miles, including a railway tunnel section, and the clearance is just 213 feet from the surface of the water.
On Friday, December 1, 2023, Icon of the Seas approached this landmark at good speed, passing beneath the span with just feet to spare between the deck of the bridge and the ship’s funnels, communication and radar towers, and the impressive AquaDome.
To make the passage safely, the ship’s funnels were lowered and secured, giving extra clearance to ensure there would be no contact between the ship and the bridge.
“The entire crew contributed their expertise in innovation and engineering to ensure the ship cleared the bridge safely,”Royal Caribbean stated in an impressive video of the momentous passage.
On final approach to the bridge, crew members onboard gathered in the AquaDome and along the decks to celebrate the historic moment. Cheers erupted as the bridge’s span passed over the tremendous glass dome.
The last massive ship to pass beneath this landmark was Allure of the Seas in 2010. Wonder of the Seas, the largest of the Oasis-class vessels and the current title holder as largest cruise ship in the world – until Icon of the Seas welcomes guests – never passed under the span, as Wonder of the Seas was built in France rather than Finland.
All of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-class, Quantum-class, and now Icon-class ships have retractable funnels so they can pass beneath bridges more safely, no matter where in the world they may sail.
Where Icon of the Seas Is Heading Next
While Icon of the Seas will debut in January 2024 in Miami, the ship is not heading immediately to Florida.
Instead, Icon of the Seas is now in Cadiz, Spain, where she will continue final outfitting before her maiden voyage. Additional supplies will be loaded and more crew members will also join the ship in Spain, before she makes her first journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
The massive 250,800-gross-ton ship will arrive in Florida in late January. On Saturday, January 27, 2024, she will welcome her very first guests with great celebration and fanfare for what is sure to be a gloriously iconic vacation.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas (Photo Credit: Jouni Niskakoski)
Icon of the Seas can welcome 5,610 passengers at double occupancy. The ship has many family-friendly features, however, including the Thrill Island waterpark with six record-breaking waterslides, the dedicated family Surfside neighborhood, the expansive Central Park, and much more.
When fully booked with all berths filled, Icon of the Seas can host as many as 7,600 travelers. Also onboard are 2,350 international crew members.
From January, the ship will offer both Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries, with all the 7-night sailings, including a visit to the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at Cococay.
Carnival Corporation announced significant strides in its quest to minimize the amount of food waste produced onboard its ships, an important part of the company’s sustainability goals. The company is inching ever closer to an ambitious 40% reduction by 2025 and sets the stage for a 50% reduction by 2030.
Food waste refers to the food items that are prepared but not consumed by guests and crew, and later discarded. Excess food from buffets, uneaten meals in restaurants, spoilage of perishable items, and over-prepared dishes, all contribute. Food waste is a significant operational and environmental challenge on cruise ships, where thousands of meals are served daily.
Food and cruise ships have become synonymous with each other, with the last 30 years seeing an abundance of food served onboard. However, this also means that certain efficiencies have long been neglected, leading to waste, which in turn has a significant impact on the environment.
Carnival Corporation achieved a significant milestone in its commitment to minimize the amount of food waste produced onboard its ships, with a 38% decrease in food waste per guest compared to the baseline figures of 2019.
This means substantial progression towards the goal of reducing food waste by 40% per person by 2025. The company operates a total of nine different cruise lines and owns the most cruise ships in the world. In all, Carnival Corporation set a goal for a 50% reduction in food waste by 2030.
Carnival Cruise Line Waste (Credit: Carnival)
“One of the many ways we create unforgettable happiness for our guests is through world-class food and dining experiences on our ships,” said Bill Burke, chief maritime officer for Carnival Corporation.
“Our food tells a story and it’s a labor of love to serve amazing meals to millions of guests each year while making sure we manage it in the most sustainable way possible. It’s a virtuous cycle from start to finish that reduces our environmental footprint while ensuring the extraordinary guest experiences that make our world-class cruise lines stand out.”
How Carnival has minimized the amount of food waste onboard its ships is not just down to producing less food, it’s down to a range of technological advancements.
Using Tech to Enhance Food Efficiency
Food waste generated onboard cruise ships has a two-fold effect. One, excess food waste means food is being produced, but not used, using up valuable resources, which in turn has a profound effect on the environment. However, food waste also harms the back end, where unused food needs to be discarded again.
If this food is discarded ashore, it produces greenhouse gasses. Carnival Corporation has actively implemented several strategies to reduce food waste across the lifecycle.
Biodigesters, of which some 600 have been installed onboard the ships, and food dehydrators have been instrumental in this process, allowing the company to naturally break down and responsibly dispose of unused food.
Photo Copyright: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive
The company’s initiatives to cut food loss include monitoring and analyzing guest dining trends using AI technology. This optimization extends through the entire food lifecycle on its ships, from ingredient purchasing to meal preparation and presentation.
Some vessels have even begun donating surplus food to local communities, Costa Cruises being a prime example.
The reduction of food waste is one area where Carnival is putting significant efforts, as it has a meaningful impact on the company’s ability to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing food waste, together with using less impactful fuels, bubble technology to reduce hull drag, and several other measures, will help Carnival achieve its 2050 goals of becoming a net-zero greenhouse gas company, which also includes building ships that do not need to discharge to the ocean or air, and ensuring 100% of waste is converted to energy.
MSC Cruises has opened sales for its 2026 World Cruise aboard MSC Magnifica, a voyage that will take guests to 32 countries, cross the equator twice, and travel 36,000 nautical miles. The extraordinary journey offers multiple embarkation ports in Europe.
MSC Magnifica to Sail 119-Night Journey
MSC Magnifica, a 92,128-gross ton ship and with a guest capacity of 3,000, will depart on the line’s 2026 World Cruise on January 4, 2026. A newly designed 119-day itinerary will call at 47 ports and provide overnight stays in seven popular destinations.
Guests can book their stateroom starting December 6, 2023, and select from four embarkation ports — Rome (Civitavecchia) and Genoa, Italy; Marseille, France; and Barcelona, Spain.
Incentives include 15 complimentary shore excursions, and a dine and drink package. MSC Voyager Club members at Classic level and higher receive a 5% discount on the booking price.
Moreover, the line will triple the value of points obtained from the World Cruise and apply them to the voyage, bringing extra perks to those cruisers.
MSC Magnifica Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Stefan Lambauer)
MSC Magnifica, a Musica-class ship that entered service in 2009, will launch her World Cruise will port calls in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal before a transatlantic crossing to the Caribbean and Central America.
After transiting the Panama Canal, the ship will sail to the US West Coast before heading to Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand.
Port calls in Asia will include Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Middle East destinations on the itinerary feature Dubai and Oman. The ship will return to the Eastern Mediterranean with calls to the Greek Isles, before concluding in Genoa, Italy.
Itinerary Highlights Offer Cultural Explorations
Itinerary highlights on MSC Magnifica’s World Cruise include Central American rain forests, tropical Hawaiian paradises, and cosmopolitan cities in Asia. Some of the main attractions will include Puerto Limón, Costa Rica, where world cruisers can experience the lush rainforests of the country’s Tortuguero Canal, tour the city’s historic neighborhoods, and visit plantations.
In Hawaii, a port call at Honolulu offers guests a wide range of excursion options and includes an overnight stay, giving visitors more time to explore the island’s heritage and historic sites, such as Pearl Harbor.
While the ship calls at Shanghai, China, cruise guests can experience one of East Asia’s top business centers, with its skyscrapers, designer stores, renowned restaurants, and more.
MSC Cruises World Cruise
Guests can check out the artistic hub of Da Nang, Vietnam, and see the tallest Buddha in the country at the city’s Linh Ung Pagoda.
Greek history will come into focus during the ship’s port call in Heraklion, Greece, on the island of Crete, where guests can visit the Palace of Knossos and the Palace of Phaestos.
Onboard the ship, MSC Magnifica features multiple specialty dining venues, L’Edera Restaurant and Quattro Venti Restaurant, along with two main dining rooms, Sahara and L’Oasi.
The ship has nine bars, three pools, and a 1,200-seat theater. Guests can relax and enjoy a variety of treatments at the MSC Aurea Spa.
MSC Magnifica offers four stateroom categories, including interior, oceanview, balcony, and suites that can accommodate up to five guests. The ship does not feature the line’s MSC Yacht Club, the all-inclusive, ship-within-a-ship luxury accommodation.
