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Second Icon-Class Ship to Call World’s Busiest Cruise Port Home

Royal Caribbean News

Melissa Mayntz

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Nov 30, 2023

Second Icon-Class Ship to Call World’s Busiest Cruise Port Home

Royal Caribbean International has announced that the already highly anticipated second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, will be homeported from Port Canaveral when she debuts in the summer of 2025.

Her first cruises will go on sale on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, though her exact itineraries have not yet been disclosed.

Star of the Seas to Homeport in Florida

Star of the Seas, sister ship to the soon-to-debut Icon of the Seas, will homeport from Port Canaveral, adding another fantastic ship to the lineup at the world’s busiest passenger cruise port.

“This is tremendous news, and we are very proud to be the homeport for this remarkable new ship. Star of the Seas will add even more excitement to the Royal Caribbean fleet that calls Port Canaveral home,” said Captain John Murray, Port CEO. “We’re looking forward to her arrival in 2025 and will be ready to welcome her and the many cruise guests who will enjoy all that she has to offer.”

Port Canaveral, US Homeport — Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock

Royal Caribbean has not yet announced what itineraries Star of the Seas will be offering, nor when her exact inaugural sailing will take place, but that information is just days away.

From Port Canaveral, it is likely the ship will offer a variety of Caribbean and Bahamas cruises, almost certainly visiting Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

New ships typically offer longer sailings – 7-night cruises are especially popular. It is also possible, however, that the new ship might offer shorter cruises, as Royal Caribbean has recently begun sailing the Oasis-class Allure of the Seas from Port Canaveral on 3- and 4-night cruises, giving travelers more choices to meet their vacation needs.

Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas — Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas

If the ship does offer shorter cruises, passengers can always arrange back-to-back sailings to create a longer cruise if they wish, giving them more time to enjoy everything the massive new ship is sure to offer.

About Star of the Seas

Little is known about the new ship as yet, and in fact her name was only announced in early October. Star of the Seas is already under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, the same shipyard that delivered Icon of the Seas just days ago.

As the second in the Icon class, Star of the Seas is sure to closely resemble Icon of the Seas at roughly 250,800 gross tons, with a capacity for 5,610 passengers at double occupancy or up to 7,600 travelers when fully booked.

Key features aboard Icon of the Seas are sure to also be onboard Star of the Seas, including the stunning AquaDome transformational space, a range of themed onboard neighborhoods, massive waterslides, multiple pools, and much, much more.

Icon of the Seas Show (Image Courtesy: Royal Caribbean)

The cruise line has already indicated, however, that Star of the Seas will be distinctive from her sister ship, with brand new features and unique experiences.

“The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand we’ve seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean, when the ship’s name was announced.

Royal Caribbean is well known for innovation and adding never-before-seen features aboard its ships, from ice-skating rinks and rock-climbing walls to the tallest observation pods at sea, carousels, surf simulators, escape rooms, skydiving simulators, robotic bartenders, and much more.

There is no telling what may be in store for Star of the Seas, but there are sure to be outstanding features and luxurious amenities that will excite any cruise traveler. Stay tuned to Cruise Hive in the months leading up to the ship’s summer 2025 debut to keep up with all the news and announcements, and be ready to reach for the stars!

Florida Port Welcomes Newest Edge Class Celebrity Cruise Ship

Celebrity Cruises News

Melissa Mayntz

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Nov 30, 2023

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Florida Port Welcomes Newest Edge Class Celebrity Cruise Ship

Port Everglades had a homecoming ceremony for the newest Celebrity Cruises ship, Celebrity Ascent, as the vessel begins homeporting from the booming South Florida cruise port.

The ceremony included a plaque-and-key presentation and other traditions to welcome the ship and cement goodwill between authorities and executives to ensure good sailing for the vessel.

Celebrity Ascent Welcomed to Port Everglades

On Wednesday, November 29, 2023, Celebrity Ascent was officially welcomed to Port Everglades with a plaque-and-key ceremony aboard the vessel, a time-honored tradition for welcoming new homeported ships.

Port Everglades CEO and Port Director Jonathan Daniels presented a plaque with the ship’s photo to brothers and Co-Captains Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis, commemorating the ship’s deployment to Fort Lauderdale. At the same time, a special gift was also presented to Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises.

In addition, all three – the co-captains and Hodges Bethge – were presented with challenge coins by Port Everglades Deputy Director Glenn Wiltshire. This military tradition symbolizes pride, camaraderie, and excellence, all qualities embodied by Celebrity Ascent, her officers, and her crew.

Port Everglades Welcomes Celebrity Ascent

Also in attendance with well wishes and good tidings for Celebrity Ascent and all who sail on her were Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy, Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steve Glassman, Port Everglades Association Executive Director Lori Baer, representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other authorities and dignitaries.

Naming Ceremony Coming Soon

While the new ship has now been officially welcomed to her new homeport, Celebrity Ascent has not yet been named. That ceremony is scheduled for Friday, December 1, 2023, with the ship’s godmothers – Captain Sandy Yawn from Bravo TV’s Below Deck, and her sister Michelle Dunham, founder of the Jacksonville School for Autism – christening the ship.

The naming ceremony will also include appropriate benedictions and other festivities, including live music and media attention as the new ship prepares to set sail for what will hopefully be a long service life as the fourth in the innovative Edge class of vessels.

Sailing With Celebrity Ascent

Celebrity Ascent will also be one of six ships homeported from Port Everglades during the winter sailing season. Her Edge-class sisters, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond, will also be sailing from Fort Lauderdale, along with Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Reflection, and Celebrity Silhouette.

During her first winter in the sunny Caribbean, Celebrity Ascent will offer alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

Celebrity Ascent at Port Everglades, Florida (Photo Credit: Lisa Bronitt)

The Eastern Caribbean cruises will visit top luxurious destinations such as St. Maarten, St. Thomas, San Juan, Tortola, and the Dominican Republic, depending on the departure date. Meanwhile, the Western Caribbean itineraries will visit such iconic hotspots as Nassau, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman.

Both itineraries will offer ample days at sea for guests to enjoy all that Celebrity Ascent offers, including world-class entertainment, the relaxing Rooftop Garden, the adults-only Solarium, and the cantilevered Magic Carpet that is the signature feature of all Edge-class ships.

The 141,420-gross-ton Celebrity Ascent can welcome 3,260 guests aboard at double occupancy, and up to 3,937 passengers when fully booked. The ship is also home to 1,400 international crew members dedicated to the cruise line’s exceptional service.

Celebrity Ascent will enjoy a full winter season in the Caribbean before her next transatlantic cruise departing Fort Lauderdale on April 14, 2024. That 13-night sailing will take the ship to the Mediterranean, where she will spend the summer visiting top European ports, before returning to Fort Lauderdale in early November.

Record Cruise Growth and Developments in Galveston

Port News

Robert McGillivray

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Nov 29, 2023

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Record Cruise Growth and Developments in Galveston

Galveston Wharves is gearing up for a record-breaking 2024, with more passengers and ships sailing from the port than ever. The projected numbers were revealed in the budget meeting held by the port authorities on November 28. The budget projects operating revenues of more than 70 million USD.

The robust financial outlook sets the stage for significant expansions and enhancements across the port. This includes the recent updates to Terminal 25 in preparation for the arrival of Carnival Jubilee, and the new Cruise Terminal 16, which will likely be used by MSC Cruises, underscoring Galveston’s growing prominence as a major cruise port.

Unprecedented Growth for Galveston Wharves

Galveston Wharves CEO Rodger Rees revealed the financial outlook for the port for 2024, one that promises to be a year of significant financial windfalls and growth for one of the fastest-growing US cruise homeports.

Although Galveston does have a relatively large sector involved in cargo and industry, the cruise portion of the port’s activities promises to be the fastest-growing sector in 2024.

The port anticipates a 30% increase in cruise passengers by the end of 2023, propelled by the addition of a third cruise terminal, higher occupancies on larger ships, and an increase in sailings.

Norwegian Prima in Galveston, Texas — Photo Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line

The surge in passenger traffic – from one million in 2022 to an estimated 1.4 million by the end of 2023 – is expected to continue into 2024, with a projected 14% increase to 1.6 million passengers. The passengers will arrive in Galveston during one of the 388 expected cruise calls in 2024.

All in all, the new budget for 2024 projects an operating revenue of $72.5 million. This is then broken down into $35.5 million in operating expenses, and a net income of $37 million.

Enhancing Terminal Capacity for Larger Vessels

Several major developments are central to this growth. The expansion of Cruise Terminal 25 and the introduction of Carnival Jubilee later this year play a major role in the financial gains for 2024. A significant investment of $53 million is being channeled into upgrading Cruise Terminal 25, to accommodate Carnival Jubilee, larger than any of the current Carnival ships at Galveston Wharves.

In tandem with these developments, the construction of a new terminal for Royal Caribbean International has been completed. This $125 million, 161,334-square-foot facility has, despite some early start-up problems, been operating successfully with Harmony of the Seas sailing year-round from Galveston.

Plans are also in motion for the construction of a $140 million fourth cruise terminal and additional parking at Pier 16, marking another milestone in the port’s ongoing expansion. The Pier 16 cruise terminal will likely be used by the third-largest cruise operator worldwide, MSC Cruises.

Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO: “We’re reaping the rewards of our long-range plan to increase revenues and reduce costs to reinvest cash reserves in port improvements.”

“Next year will be a landmark year in the port’s 198-year history thanks to $42.3 million in state grants, the support of our Wharves Board and City Council, investments by our cruise partners and hard work by our great staff.”

Other investments and changes that Galveston Wharves is making include internal roadway improvements, and the expansion of the Express Lot for onsite parking at cruise terminals 25 and 28.

As the port gears up for a record-breaking year, the developments mean more options, larger ships, and enhanced services for guests, making Galveston an attractive destination for cruise passengers and a viable alternative to the massive cruise ports in Florida.

Carnival Cruise Brands Pull Out Over Melbourne Port Taxes

Robert McGillivray

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Nov 29, 2023

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Carnival Cruise Brands Pull Out Over Melbourne Port Taxes

Melbourne, once a bustling hub for cruising, is facing a significant shift as two cruise lines, Princess Cruises and Cunard, announce their withdrawal from the city’s ports starting in 2025.

This decision, a response to Ports Victoria’s recent hike in port charges, is concerning for the local tourism industry as together, the two cruise lines have around 40 calls scheduled each year.

Rising Costs Lead to Strategic Withdrawal

Carnival Australia has announced it will be withdrawing at least two cruise lines from calling at Melbourne’s Station Pier in 2025, Princess Cruises and Cunard.

The decision to withdraw Princess and Cunard from Melbourne is directly linked to the increase in port charges implemented by Ports Victoria. Effective January 1, the port charge was raised from $28.50 to $32 per passenger. The move has been criticized for its sudden nature and potential impact on the cruise sector.

The withdrawal is a major blow to the local tourism industry. In 2024, the two cruise lines are expected to account for approximately 40 port calls – 32 by Princess and eight by Cunard. Together, the two bring in 100,000 guests and annual revenues of A$379.5 million to the local economy. In 2025, this number will drop to zero.

Teresa Lloyd, Carnival Corporation’s Chief Strategy Officer, highlighted the significant economic contributions of the cruise industry to Victoria: “Our economic benefit to Victoria is immense and we appreciate the importance of maintaining our ports but to be expected to carry a 15 per cent increase with no notice is unreasonable.”

Queen Elizabeth Ship in Brisbane, Australia (Photo Credit Dans Destinations)

According to Lloyd, the decision is not based on the popularity of Melbourne as a cruise port, one that has been high on the must-visit list of many cruise aficionados. However, the sudden increase in fees is unacceptable to Carnival Australia.

“We want to be in Melbourne and remain open to finding a long-term solution together with Ports Victoria and the Victorian Government. However, the decision to homeport these popular cruise lines in other markets is in no small part due to the recent decision made by Ports Victoria to significantly and unexpectedly increase fees and charges.” Lloyd continued.

Whether the decision to remove Cunard from Melbourne is fully down to the increase in port fees is debatable. Cunard announced on November 3, 2023, that it would remove all Australia sailings for all of its vessels after 2025.

Port Authorities & Local Government Unfased

According to the local government, the increase is only modest, and Carnival has merely made the decision out of a commercial perspective.

Ports Minister Melissa Horne said the gaps that have opened up by the ships leaving the port have already been filled, with 105 ships already booked for 2025-26. The increased fees are intended for the maintenance of Station Pier, the cruise pier, which can accommodate four cruise ships at a time, has been in a state of disrepair, according to various reports.

Grand Princess Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Dans Destinations)

“Let’s get a bit of perspective here, this is a highly profitable industry that has not had any (fee) increases in two-and-a-half years,” Ms. Horne said to the Canberra Times. “This is Carnival making a commercial decision and other operators have well and truly filled the market.”

For now, the fact remains that out of the nine Carnival cruise brands, only Princess and Cunard have decided to leave Melbourne. Seabourn, Costa, AIDA, P&O Australia, Holland America Line, and Carnival Cruise Line all have calls scheduled for 2025.

If Carnival Corporation were to respond to the port fee increase by withdrawing all its vessels from Melbourne’s Station Pier, the move could have a serious financial impact. However, this burden would not fall on the cruise operators, but rather on the port itself, turning into a significant loss of business.

Carnival Cruise Line Reveals New 2024 Loyalty Pins

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Nov 29, 2023

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Carnival Cruise Line has released the first images of the 2024 loyalty pins, collectible gifts given to Gold, Platinum, and Diamond level members of the cruise line’s “Very Important Fun Person” loyalty club.

The designs are quite a departure from the look of the pins in recent years, with a simpler style that evokes the ocean while highlighting the classic Carnival whale tail.

New Loyalty Pins Revealed

Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald has announced the new “Very Important Fun Person” (VIFP) club loyalty pin design for 2024, a subtle but lovely style Carnival fans are sure to appreciate.

“Starting in January, all of the ships will be distributing the new Gold and Diamond and Platinum pins for 2024,” Heald said. “The VIFP pins (Diamond and Platinum) will be ship specific. The gold pin is generic, but beautiful still.”

The new design is a simple circle reminiscent of a ship’s porthole, with the year and “VIFP CLUB” on the outer circle. The gold pin just says “CARNIVAL” while the Diamond and Platinum pins will have each individual ship’s name.

The center of each pin has the classic red, white, and blue Carnival whale tail funnel on the lower right, the instantly recognizable design found on every guest’s Sail-and-Sign card.

The Gold pins feature a stylized sunset (or sunrise) and waves in the background, while the Diamond and Platinum pins – they share the same design – have curving waves in different shades of blue. The Gold-level pins are appropriately gold in color, while the Diamond and Platinum pins are silver.

The pins are complimentary gifts to Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members of the VIFP club on every sailing. Guests can pick up their pins from the Pixels photo gallery onboard, and there is a limit of one per person. Names are checked off a list as guests pick up their pins.

Passengers who are not interested do not need to pick up the pin, but it should be noted that on sailings with a large number of loyalty guests, there have been cases where the supply runs out. This is rare, but travelers who collect the pins will want to be sure to visit the photo gallery early in their sailing to be sure they are able to collect their pin.

It should be noted that the collectible pins are in addition to other VIFP gifts, such as the trio of navy blue, red-trimmed bags that have been distributed in recent months.

Evolution of VIFP Pins

The new, classically simple design is a departure from the more colorful pins Carnival has given to VIFP guests in the past couple of years.

The 2023 Platinum and Diamond design, for example, still features the classic whale tail funnel, but also has a pink flamingo and a palm tree in the background, while the more generic Gold design has the funnel outlined as if in neon on a black background, with “VIFP CLUB” as a stylized neon sign in the background.

Carnival Cruise Line Pins — Carnival Cruise Line VIFP Pins (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)

The 2022 design was similarly colorful, with hearts, stars, stripes, and polka dots all incorporated into the Platinum and Diamond pin. The 2022 Gold design was much simpler, with just the funnel and a large VIFP CLUB on the pin.

In past years, the pins have always included the funnel, but have varied with different nautical touches such as stylized waves, portholes, ropes, compasses, and ship’s wheels.

Many loyal Carnival cruisers collect the pins and show them off on every sailing. Popular options include stringing the pins along a lanyard or attaching them to a hat, vest, jacket, beach bag, or other travel gear. Pins can also be attached to luggage, worn on a scarf, or mounted in a display as great momentos of every cruise.

Carnival Cruise Line Is Testing a New Debarkation Procedure

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Nov 29, 2023

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Carnival Cruise Line is testing a new debarkation procedure using the Carnival Hub app, with the hopes that it will help streamline the process and minimize crowds while still giving guests plenty of options for how they choose to leave the ship at the end of their cruise vacation.

Luggage Tag Distribution to Change

In an effort to further smooth the debarkation process, Carnival Cruise Line is introducing a way to for guests to use the Carnival Hub app to choose their debarkation time and receive notifications about when they can leave the ship.

“We always want debarkation to be as easy as possible. Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not,” said John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador. “I wanted to let you know that we are rolling out a new debarkation system for those guests who put their luggage outside of their cabin door and want to choose what time they will disembark.”

Rather than having thousands of guests head to Guest Services to choose luggage tags, passengers will now be able to select their debarkation time and the number of luggage tags they need via the Carnival Hub app. The appropriate tags will then be delivered to their stateroom.

Carnival Dream Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt / Shutterstock)

On debarkation morning, a notification will be sent through the app to alert guests that their luggage is ready and they can leave the ship.

The new process is called “Digital Debark” and is currently being piloted aboard four ships: Carnival Spirit sailing from Mobile, Alabama; Carnival Conquest from Miami, Florida; Carnival Dream from Galveston, Texas; and Carnival Elation from Jacksonville, Florida.

Heald has indicated the new procedure will be gradually rolled out to other ships in the fleet, but no timeline has been confirmed for when different Carnival cruise ships will offer Digital Debark.

What About Self-Assist and VIFP Guests?

The new Digital Debark luggage tag distribution will not impact guests who prefer to use Carnival’s Self-Assist debarkation option. Those guests carry off all their luggage themselves, without the need for any luggage tags at all. Self-Assist guests will still be among the first to debark the ship, as soon as the vessel has cleared immigration and debarkation can begin.

Similarly, guests at the Diamond and Platinum levels of Carnival Cruise Line’s “Very Important Fun Person” (VIFP) loyalty program who have earned priority debarkation as a perk will also not be impacted, as their top level luggage tags will be delivered to their staterooms without the need to select any digital option.

Carnival Cruise Terminal — Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock

The same goes for guests who have purchased Faster to the Fun or who are staying in suites, which also include priority debarkation as a benefit.

Furthermore, guests who prefer not to use the Carnival Hub app, whether they do not have a smartphone, have trouble connecting to the ship’s onboard wireless signal for full app usage, or who simply prefer to unplug while on vacation, can still visit the display set up near Guest Services to choose their luggage tags in person.

Heald does warn, however, that collecting luggage tags may not continue to be an option in the weeks and months to come, hinting that even more functionality will be coming to the app.

“We really believe that [Digital Debark] will help and eventually move away completely from the system of having to collect tags from the board which we all know is not perhaps the best,” Heald explained. “This is another reason to download the Hub App and there will many more reasons to do so in the days to come.”

Multiple Uses for the Carnival Hub App

The Carnival Hub app was first introduced in 2015 aboard Carnival Breeze, and was quickly rolled out fleetwide to offer guests an easy, convenient way to know what is going on during their cruise with event and activities lists, times, and locations.

The app is much more than just a digital version of the Fun Times onboard newsletter, however. It has been updated and expanded over the years to include the ability to make dinner reservations, book shore excursions or spa treatments, preview menus, view deck plans, check-in for a cruise, chat with others in your travel party, check onboard accounts, view photos taken by ship photographers, and more.

The Carnival Hub app is compatible with both iOS and Apple devices, and is free to download through the Apple app store and similar distribution sites.

Guests should download the app well before setting sail, or if they already have the app but haven’t used it in several weeks or months, check to be sure they have the most updated version and can log in correctly so they will be able to use all its interactive features and really make the most of everything their cruise offers.

Cruise Line’s Black Friday Sale Eclipses Past Records

Holland America Line News

Donna Tunney

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Nov 29, 2023

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Cruise Line’s Black Friday Sale Eclipses Past Records

Holland America Line’s Black Friday booking incentives have again set impressive new records, with double-digit increases in booking volume not only for the single shopping day but also for the holiday weekend, through Cyber Monday. It was the second consecutive year of substantial gains, and again eclipsed holiday sales of the pre-pandemic years.

Bookings Surge During Annual Holiday Promotion

In a sure sign that the cruise industry’s post-pandemic rebound continues to expand and grow stronger, Holland America Line posted Black Friday booking volumes that are 20% higher than the 2022 holiday sale, which also was a record-breaker.

The sale, which began on November 17, 2023 and continues to December 1, 2023, also saw record booking volumes for the four-day span between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when sales spiked by 23% compared to the same time frame last year.

Destinations that exceeded 2022 booking volumes included Alaska, Europe, and Canada/New England voyages, with many cruises booked for summer 2024.

“While some see Black Friday as a sign that winter is coming, our guests were dreaming about exploring summer destinations like Alaska, Iceland and Greece,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.

“Breaking Black Friday records two years in a row tells us that not only are guests excited to plan ahead for travel, but that they value Holland America Line’s award-winning service and carefully crafted itineraries that visit more than 100 countries,” added Antorcha.

Holland America Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line

Looking back to 2022, Black Friday reservations rose nearly 20% compared to pre-pandemic 2019, and again, Alaska cruises were a top choice. In fact, Alaska bookings in the US spiked 60% versus 2019. Across the full holiday weekend last year, total bookings were up about 10%, while Alaska bookings rose by a significant 25%.

Holland America Line’s 2023 Black Friday promotion offers substantial savings and perks on more than 800 cruises with departures between 2023 and 2025. Deposits are as low as $25, depending on the voyage.

The sale includes up to 30% off cruise-only fares for cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Antarctica, and other destinations. The discounts extend to the cruise segment of the popular Alaska Cruisetours, which combine a cruise with an overland journey to Denali National Park and Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Holland America Line also offers a prepaid crew appreciation component, which can add savings of up to nearly $112 per person for a seven-day cruise and up to $688 for a 43-day sailing.

Guests can combine the Black Friday savings with the line’s Have It All premium cruise package, which includes up to three shore excursions, and beverage, dining, and WiFi packages.

New Experiences Await Holland America Cruisers in 2024

In 2024, Holland America Line will deploy six ships to Alaska. Scenic cruising in Glacier Bay is a key component of most voyages, and some 180 shore excursions are offered to guests. The cruise line’s Canada/New England itineraries provide explorations to traditional ports as well as destinations farther afield, such as Iceland and Greenland.

Holland America Line in Alaska (Photo Credit: Jennifer G. Lang)

Guests booking Holland America Line ships will experience several new dining programs and concepts, including Morimoto By Sea, the new Asian cuisine restaurant that will debut in December 2023 as a permanent venue on Nieuw Amsterdam. It also will be featured as a pop-up eatery on other ships.

The restaurant was created by Japanese Chef Masaharu Morimoto, the star of “Iron Chef” and “Iron Chef America,” who recently entered a partnership with Holland America Line. Along with running his new venue, Morimoto will also serve as the line’s Fresh Fish Ambassador.

The line’s fresh fish program, launched in September 2023, sources fresh seafood from a network of global providers in 60 ports where Holland America Line ships visit.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Overbooked, Guests Left Behind

Royal Caribbean News

Melissa Mayntz

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Nov 29, 2023

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Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Overbooked, Guests Left Behind

A number of guests booked aboard Quantum of the Seas were denied boarding in Brisbane, Australia through no fault of their own.

The cruise line had overbooked guarantee staterooms, and without available cabins, several guests were denied boarding and left behind as the ship set sail on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

Quantum of the Seas Overbooked

Several guests hoping to set sail with Quantum of the Seas were not permitted to board and instead were left behind when the ship set sail on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. The 8-night South Pacific cruise is a round-trip itinerary from Brisbane, calling on ports in New Caledonia and Vanuatu before returning to Brisbane on Wednesday, December 6.

Unfortunately, several guests received unexpected letters at the cruise terminal, alerting them to the unusual situation.

“We regret to inform you that currently we have been unable to allocate a stateroom number to your reservation,” the letter read.

There was no explanation as to why staterooms were unable to be allocated, but most likely this is an overbooking situation, as the impacted guests were reported to have booked “GTY” or “guarantee” cabins. Those reservations are made without specific stateroom numbers, but are usually assigned a few days before departure.

The 168,666-gross-ton Quantum of the Seas can welcome 4,180 guests at double occupancy, or up to 4,905 passengers with all berths filled. The ship is homeported from Brisbane for the Australian summer cruise season, and will reposition to Seattle, Washington in April 2024 for the Alaska sailing season.

Alternatives Offered

Royal Caribbean did offer several alternatives for impacted guests.

“The time and effort you took to plan your cruise is important to us, and we apologize for the inconvenience. Every aspect of your time with us should be enjoyable, so we have put together some alternate options that we hope will work for you,” the notification read.

The first option was for guests to remain on standby for their booked sailing, in the hope that a stateroom might be able to be assigned at the pier before the check-in window closed. Staterooms could become available if other guests were unable to reach the cruise in time and never checked in on embarkation day.

Guests who chose to remain on standby would receive a $100 (USD) onboard credit if they were in fact able to sail. If no cabin became available, however, the guests would receive a full refund as well as a 25% future cruise certificate based off the cruise fare paid for their now-cancelled vacation.

Quantum, of the Seas Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Venturelli Luca / Shutterstock

The next options were for impacted guests to switch to similar itineraries on different dates. One such sailing offered is the January 29, 2024 departure of Quantum of the Seas, a 9-night South Pacific cruise. That cruise is visiting the same ports of call, but with one additional day at sea to enjoy.

There would be no additional charge for guests switching to the 9-night January cruise, and a free stateroom upgrade would be offered where available.

Similarly, guests could shift to any alternate 7- or 8-night sailing with price protection and a complimentary upgrade, where possible.

Finally, affected guests could simply cancel their cruise for a full refund, and would also receive a 25% future cruise certificate as compensation for the inconvenience.

According to social media posts, several guests were able to be accommodated on the ship at the very last minute, but others had to remain behind with no available cabins.

Overbookings Not Common

Overbooked cruise ships are not a common situation, but they do occasionally happen. Royal Caribbean, in particular, had several overbookings aboard Wonder of the Seas in late 2022 and early 2023.

In those situations, guests were notified in the days leading up to their cruise and given various options, such as cancellation or moving to an alternate sailing.

It is not clear why guests booked on Quantum of the Seas were not notified sooner so the oversold situation could have been resolved before embarkation day.

There is also no indication that further sailings are expected to be impacted, though guests booked in guarantee cabins may want to stay in close communication with the cruise line or their travel agent in case of updates, especially if their stateroom is not assigned as their departure date approaches.

Norwegian Viva Christened and New Terminal Display Revealed

Norwegian Cruise Line News

Melissa Mayntz

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Nov 29, 2023

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Norwegian Viva Christened and New Terminal Display Revealed

The newest Norwegian Cruise Line ship and second in the award-winning Prima class, Norwegian Viva, has been officially christened in a glittering ceremony with both modern and traditional elements in Miami, Florida on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

The event also included paying homage to the cruise line’s history and dedicating a new installation at the Norwegian Cruise Line Terminal in Miami.

Norwegian Viva Christened

The new Norwegian Viva has been officially named and welcomed into the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. The traditional ceremony, which included breaking the celebratory bottle of champagne over the ship’s hull for blessings and good luck, was held at PortMiami at the cruise line’s dedicated terminal.

“To christen Norwegian Viva in Miami is incredibly special to many of us at NCL, not only because Miami is our hometown, but also because we can share this moment with our local family and friends,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.

The ship’s godfather, Luis Fonsi, did the honors of breaking the champagne bottle.

Fonsi has a particular connection to the ship not only because he is based in Miami, but because the Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, and musician is a native Puerto Rican.

Norwegian Viva Christening (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)

Norwegian Viva will be homeported from San Juan from mid-December 2023 through early April 2024, and will return to Puerto Rico in fall 2024 after the Mediterranean sailing season ends.

“It is so exciting to celebrate the magnificent Norwegian Viva in true Latin-style in Miami and alongside fellow A-list Latino entertainers,” said Fonsi. “We are giving her a proper despedida before she makes her debut in my hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico.”

Also part of the festivities were traditional blessings and welcoming speeches, live entertainment from additional performers with Miami and Latin roots, and thanks given to all who helped bring the new ship to life.

David J. Herrera, Norwegian Cruise Line President (Photo Credit: Alexander Tamargo / Norwegian Cruise Line)

“Launching a ship is no solo endeavor. I am overwhelmed with gratitude towards the entire NCL team, our partners and especially our amazing crew who have contributed to bringing Norwegian Viva to life and who care for and deliver exceptional vacation experiences for our guests,” said Herrera.

Living It Up Aboard Norwegian Viva

Since her debut in August 2023, Norwegian Viva has already been delighting guests and offering the world-class cruise vacations Norwegian Cruise Line is known for.

“The addition of Norwegian Viva further elevates our world-class fleet, providing our valued guests with another incredible way to vacation, discover new experiences and create unforgettable memories,” said Harry Sommer, president & chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

“Since she launched in August, Norwegian Viva’s initial guest satisfaction scores have outshined any newbuild in the history of the NCL fleet, a testament to not only how stunning this ship is, but also the exceptional level of service and attention provided by our amazing crew on board.”

Norwegian Viva Cruise Ship (Photo Copyright: Robert McGillivray / Cruise Hive)

The 142,500-gross-ton ship can welcome 3,099 guests at each sailing, with 1,500 crew members aboard to provide exceptional service.

Onboard, passengers can enjoy outstanding features such as the Indulge Food Hall with 11 distinct eateries; the interactive “Every Wing Has a Silver Lining” artwork at the Metropolitan Bar; the 3-story Viva Speedway go-kart track; the racing slides The Drop and The Rush; the luxurious Mandara Spa; high speed Starlink internet service; and much more.

After limited sailings from Miami, Norwegian Viva will set sail from San Juan beginning on December 15, 2023 with various 7-night Caribbean itineraries to top tropical ports of call such as the Virgin Islands, Antigua, Barbados, and more.

Terminal Addition Also Introduced

The christening ceremony took place with more than 1,500 guests in attendance at Norwegian Cruise Line’s LEED Gold certified Miami terminal, which also included the unveiling and dedication of the Knut Kloster Hall.

Knut Kloster Hall (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)

The hall is a tribute to Norwegian Cruise Line’s founder, Knut Kloster, and walks visitors through the cruise line’s 57-year history of innovation and creativity in the cruise industry. Displays include a timeline of all Norwegian Cruise Line ships from the original Sunward to Norwegian Viva, including the gross tonnage, guest occupancy, godparent, and years of service of each vessel.

A list of the cruise line’s leadership and a brief biography of Kloster is also part of the terminal. Guests will especially enjoy the detailed models of ships on display, as well as the graphic timeline of the cruise line’s history.