It’s a day to remember in cruise ship history, as Icon of the Seas has officially been delivered to Royal Caribbean International, marking the end of the ship’s construction as she joins the Royal Caribbean fleet.
The ceremony was attended by hundreds of crew members, shipyard workers, and executives at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, as the papers were signed to officially deliver the massive – and massively innovative – cruise ship.
Icon of the Seas Delivered
Just two months before she will welcome her first guests, Icon of the Seas has officially become part of the Royal Caribbean fleet as the ship was delivered to the cruise line in a remarkable ceremony in Turku, Finland on Monday, November 27, 2023.
This ends the 900 days of actual construction since the ship’s first steel was cut in June 2021, and more than seven years of design and development.
More than 1,200 crew members and shipyard workers were present at the handover ceremony, as well as Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, and Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer.
Icon of the Seas Delivery (Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean)
“Today, we are celebrating more than a new ship; it’s also the celebration of the culmination of more than 50 years of innovation and dreaming at Royal Caribbean to create the ultimate vacation experience,”said Liberty.
“Delivering Icon of the Seas represents all that can be accomplished with strong partnerships and a commitment to delivering memorable vacations responsibly, and we thank Meyer Turku and an incredible village of skilled partners for joining us on this journey.”
After final outfitting and an empty transatlantic cruise to bring her to her homeport in Miami, Florida, Icon of the Seas will welcome her first guests on January 27, 2024 with a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise to St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas
The ship will offer alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings, each time bringing aboard 5,610 guests at double occupancy, or up to 7,600 passengers if fully booked with all berths filled. Also onboard are more than 2,300 international crew members to ensure that every traveler has a truly iconic vacation with all the ship has to offer.
An Amazing Accomplishment
The ceremony marks more than just the completion of a new ship, but is also the culmination of a great deal of technical expertise and engineering skill that has made the world’s most advanced and innovative ship possible.
Several never-before-seen accomplishments were necessary to bring Icon of the Seas to life, including installing the AquaDome, the largest glass and steel structure ever to be lifted onto a cruise ship, which encloses a transformative space where the cruise line’s ever popular aqua shows will dazzle guests, including a 55-foot-tall water curtain.
Icon of the Seas also needed special engineering to bring more water onboard than ever before, with seven pools spread throughout the vessel and six unique waterslides making up Thrill Island. Splashaway Bay, Baby Bay, multiple hot tubs, and more are all onboard, giving every passenger a chance to take a dip in whatever way they enjoy best.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas (Photo Credit: Jouni Niskakoski)
“Welcoming Icon of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family is a remarkable accomplishment years in the making for thousands of innovators, engineers, architects and designers,”said Bayley.
“Seven years ago, we had an ambitious idea to create the first vacation truly made for every type of family and adventurer; now, it’s in our hands, and in this final stretch, we’ll bring it all to life for the biggest debut in our history in January 2024.”
Special engineering even had to figure in to the ship’s overall structure, resulting in an innovation now known as The Pearl to connect decks, deliver light to the ship’s interior, and create a multi-sensory kinetic art sculpture guests will love.
“It’s beautiful, it’s artistic, it’s incredibly creative. There is nothing else like it on the planet,”said Bayley.
Icon of the Seas also features behind-the-scenes innovations, not only to create amazing vacations, but to ensure efficiency and the ultimate in environmental responsibility. The ship is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), and has the first ever waste-to-energy plant at sea.
So Much to Experience
The biggest innovation of all aboard Icon of the Seas is the many ways the ship will provide the ultimate family vacation, no matter what that may mean to different families.
“The memories millions of families and vacationers will make on Icon will be our greatest accomplishment yet,”said Liberty.
From swim-up bars to the family-centered Surfside neighborhood to the exclusive Hideaway with the first suspended infinity pool at sea, to more than 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges and 28 different types of staterooms, every type of family will find their cruise vacation dreams coming true aboard Icon of the Seas.
Classic favorites aren’t forgotten aboard the ship either, with the Royal Promenade still remaining the heart of the vessel and a great gathering place night and day. Rock climbing, ice skating, the Crown’s Edge ropes course, and more are all part of the ship, with something new to discover on every sailing.
The Bimini cruise port, developed by Resorts World Bimini, has officially welcomed its one millionth cruise guests. The lucky guests were aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, which called on the destination on Thursday, November 23, 2023. What an occasion to mark Thanksgiving!
One Millionth Guest Visits Bimini Cruise Port
George and Andrea Saucedo of Plantation, Florida were expecting an amazing Thanksgiving holiday cruise when they set sail aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady on Sunday, November 19, 2023 for a 5-night Riviera Maya itinerary. The ship visited Cozumel, Mexico on Tuesday, November 21, but it was the Thanksgiving Day visit to Bimini in the Bahamas that was truly exceptional.
When the Saucedos debarked in Bimini to enjoy the tropical destination, they were greeted with balloons and a champagne toast, marking their arrival as the one millionth cruise guests to ever visit the port.
In addition, the couple was presented with a gift certificate for a 2-night stay at the Hilton Hotel at Resorts World Bimini, including free ferry transportation to and from Fort Lauderdale aboard the Balearia.
1 Millionth Cruise Passenger (Photo Credit: Resorts World Bimini)
This is an exceptional milestone for the cruise port, which only began welcoming guests just over two years ago. While other ports in the Bahamas are much busier – Nassau is the busiest in the Bahamas, welcoming more than 3.5 million guests annually – Bimini is growing in popularity and is a fine destination for cruise passengers to enjoy.
Cruising to Bimini
While the one millionth guests were traveling with Virgin Voyages, several other cruise lines also call on Bimini.
Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Holland America Line all have voyages that include Bimini, and other lines also occasionally visit the relatively new and intimate destination.
Bimini is included not only on Bahamas itineraries, but may be featured on cruises visiting other Eastern Caribbean or Western Caribbean destinations.
Ships departing from Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, and even as far away as Mobile, Alabama; Charleston, South Carolina; and Baltimore, Maryland, can all easily reach Bimini on cruises from 3-8 nights in length, with some longer and more specialized itineraries also including the port of call.
While visiting Bimini, guests can enjoy outstanding natural beauty, some of the world’s best snorkeling and scuba diving, pampering at world-class resorts, challenging sportfishing, and much more.
Cruise Port Celebrations
Many cruise ports offer celebrations when reaching significant milestones of guests, whether they are ports of call or cruise ship homeports.
Just recently, the homeport of Jacksonville, Florida celebrated its 3 millionth cruise passenger, while multiple cruise ports – Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, Victoria, and others – are expecting record numbers of travelers in 2023 or looking ahead to 2024.
Even private destinations, such as private cruise ports in the Bahamas – Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay, and Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay – are seeing record numbers of guests.
Some ports mark the occasion of a special number of guests with free gifts, media attention, live music, and greetings from local authorities. For other ports, the record-breaking milestones might not be noted until official passenger counts are tallied after ships have visited.
All these records and passenger growth numbers show the great boom throughout the cruise industry, and demonstrate how travelers enjoy the ease and convenience of cruise travel. Furthermore, new destinations are always popular as they offer new experiences and opportunities for both novice and experienced cruisers to try.
Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal is now the busiest cruise port in the world. In 2022, this popular Florida cruise port served 4,072,396 cruise passengers and for the first time, it overtook PortMiami.
This modern cruise port currently has six main cruise terminals to smoothly serve tens of thousands of embarking and disembarking cruise passengers every day.
If you’re cruising out of Port Canaveral for the first time, or have not sailed out of the port recently, we’ll fill you in on all the details you need to know, including the huge new CT-3 building.
We outline each of the terminals, locations and amenities. We also cover which cruise lines use terminals at Port Canaveral and give easy directions for how to get there. All you have to do is book your cruise, follow our directions, and have a fabulous luxury cruise experience.
As well as being the busiest cruise terminal in the world, Port Canaveral was also voted the Best U.S. Cruise Homeport. It received this prestigious award as part of Cruise Hive’s Annual Cruise Ship Awards. This annual event recognizes the best of the best in the cruise industry.
As the popular port has been awarded “Best Homeport” for three consecutive years in a row, and there are many reasons for this top-ranking status:
Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal is easy to reach by road and air.
It has excellent facilities, including a wide choice of cruise parking options. As well as parking garages serving each terminal, there are also offsite cruise parking companies with a shuttle service to and from the port.
There are many hotels near Port Canaveral offering Cruise, Park and Stay packages for cruisers at reasonable cost. These include complimentary shuttles, a night’s stay and parking for the duration of your cruise.
Port Canaveral has an ideal climate for winter cruises around the Caribbean, Bahamas, Transatlantic, East Coast of Mexico, and further afield.
Port Canaveral cruise terminal is conveniently close to Orlando theme parks, Cocoa Beach, Kennedy Space Center, and other top tourist destinations for those who want to enjoy a pre- or post-cruise stay.
Navigating Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal Locations
There are currently six Port Canaveral Cruise Terminals along the North and South sides of the channel. There are three “A” Terminals along the north side of the channel (Terminals 5, 6 and 8) and three “B” Terminals along the south side (Terminals 1, 3 and 10).
Port Canaveral also hosts the Victory Casino ship that departs from Terminal 2 twice a day.
The port’s north side has three large turning basins for these huge ships to turn around before exiting past Jetty Park and into Canaveral Bight and the Atlantic Ocean.
Port Canaveral, Florida (Photo Credit: YES Market Media)
From the SR-529, take Exit 54A for the A terminals and use Exit 54B for the B terminals.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of each Port Canaveral cruise terminal facility and which cruise companies use which terminal. However, it’s important to note that cruise terminal assignments can change, the cruise line may use different terminals for various sailings, or may make changes over time.
Cruise Terminal #1
The address for the terminal is 9050 Discovery Road, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.
Located between terminals 3 and 10, Cruise Terminal 1 was specially built to accommodate some of the largest cruise ships in the world, including Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. Cruise Terminal 1 is right next to The Cove, which features restaurants and refreshments.
This SMART terminal covers 188,000 square feet. It has over 1800 parking spaces with automated payment machines just a short walk from the ship. You can go from vehicle to vessel in around 8 minutes! Luggage can be deposited at the parking garage, where it is transported by a huge covered conveyor directly to the ship to be scanned, security checked and loaded.
Cruise Terminal 1 (Credit: Port Canaveral)
Expedited check-in desks are on the ground (first floor) level of the terminal with scanning stations, U.S. customs desks and passport control. Elevators, ramps and escalators transport cruisers and their hand luggage to the second floor where they will go through the check-in process.
The waiting area has 1,800 seats and monitors to keep cruisers updated with information about the boarding process. A separate VIP area has comfy sofa seating for a further 250 guests. The terminal has 160 security cameras, energy-efficient lighting, and many more features.
Cruise Terminal 1 has two covered elevated gangways for embarking and debarking passengers to use. These automated movable walkways connect with the second-floor loading bridge of the passenger terminal. There is also a separate gangway and processing area for the ship’s crew.
Allure of the Seas at Port Canaveral
This relatively new cruise terminal is used mainly by some of Royal Caribbean’s biggest cruise ships, including Harmony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Independence of the Seas. Adventure of the Seas and Allure of the Seas were added to the Port Canaveral home fleet in late 2023, along with Voyager of the Seas from 2024.
Cruise Terminal #3
220 Christopher Columbus Drive
Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal 3 has been recently redeveloped and is used mainly by Carnival Cruise Line. It is on the port’s south side next to Jetty Park Viewpoint and closest to the channel exit.
This huge terminal covers 185,000 square feet, handles 10,000 pieces of luggage at any one time, and costs $155 million to build. It was specifically designed to serve as homeport to Carnival’s huge Mardi Gras cruise ship, which carries 6,500 passengers.
The new CT-3 terminal is the largest single-construction project ever at the port. The work included dredging of the port, bridge work, upgraded berth construction for larger ships, road widening, and several new buildings, including a new cruise parking garage onsite.
Terminal 3 (Credit: Port Canaveral)
This state-of-the-art terminal was completed in 2020 and adjoins a dedicated 1,800-vehicle parking garage with elevators and a drop-off point for luggage and passengers. The third-floor parking garage is dedicated to handicapped parking and those who need special assistance with step-free access to the second floor of the terminal.
The terminal includes the latest high-tech features to enable U.S. Customs and Border Control to scan thousands of cruisers and their luggage faster and more efficiently.
There is a smooth security and check-in process using screens within the Embarkation Hall. The waiting area has restrooms and 1,200 airport-style seats and benches. It includes phone charging points. There is a 500-seat VIP area with more space and luxury seating around a bar.
Covered walkways transport cruisers along ramps between the terminal building and the ship. When debarking, there is a huge luggage hall with stainless steel tables, increasing the required space for thousands of bags.
Cruise Terminal #5
The terminal address is 9245 Charles M. Rowland Drive. This older cruise terminal at Port Canaveral is now used mainly by Norwegian Cruise Line ships and Marella Discovery. It has on-site parking for 1,200 vehicles.
Cruise Terminal 5 (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)
Cruise Terminal #6
Guests can locate the terminal at 9241 Charles M. Rowland Drive. Carnival Cruise Line mainly uses Cruise Terminal 6. Carnival Glory will also be home-porting out of Port Canaveral starting in Spring 2024. The terminal has onsite parking for 1,200 vehicles.
Cruise Terminal 6 Far Back (Photo Credit Ihor Koptilin)
Cruise Terminal #8
The cruise terminal is located at 9155 Charles M. Rowland Drive. Cruise Terminal 8 is used by three Disney cruise ships. It’s the ideal home port for these ships, being so close to Orlando theme parks for a combined Disney-themed vacation and cruise. The terminal has parking for 1,500 vehicles.
This terminal can be found at 9005 Charles M. Rowland Drive, Cape Canaveral. Terminal 10 is primarily used as a home port by MSC cruise ships, including MSC Divina and MSC Meraviglia. MSC Seaside will join them for part of the 2023 season. The MSC Seashore cruise ship arrived in November 2023.
MSC Seaside in Port Canaveral (Photo Courtesy: Port Canaveral)
Some Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) cruises also sail from Terminal 10. Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Epic will join Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Getaway in 2024. The terminal has parking for 2000 vehicles.
The remainder of the port’s north side is off-limits as it accommodates the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the U.S. Army Transportation Base and the Container Port.
Which Cruise Lines Use Port Canaveral as a Homeport?
All the main cruise lines use Port Canaveral as their homeport for some of their ships. These include Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International.
Port Canaveral is currently homeport to 20 ships, including Carnival, Disney, MSC, Norwegian (NCL), Royal Caribbean and Marella Cruises. Carnival Cruise Line is the longest of any of the cruise partners and has been sailing out of Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal since 1990.
Photo Credit: Robert Michaud / Shutterstock
In 2024, Princess Cruises will begin to homeport the iconic “love boat” cruise ship, the Caribbean Princess, at Port Canaveral. It will offer Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
In total, Port Canaveral offers easy access to more than 50 destinations, including the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Eastern and Western Mexico. Other cruise lines visit Cape Canaveral as a port of call. These include Costa Cruises, Cunard, Oceania, P&O, Tui, and Regent Seven Seas.
Restaurants and Amenities for Passengers at Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal
The Cove is located between Terminals 1 and 10. It is just off George King Blvd at Port Canaveral cruise port. The Cove has several restaurants serving the B cruise terminals on the south side of the port. These include Fishlips Waterfront Bar and Grill, Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar, Gators Dockside Sports Pub, Subway, Rising Tide, and Grills Tiki Bar.
There is also an Exploration Tower at Cruise Terminal B as part of the 200,000 sq. ft. retail, dining and entertainment space. This 7-story landmark has interactive exhibits and observation decks along with a theater, cafe and gift shop to explore before you sail away.
Restaurants and Amenities at Port Canaveral (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)
The landmark black-and-white Canaveral Lighthouse is nearby. Built in the 1800s, it offers tours with superb views for those willing to climb eight floors to the top.
Located near Terminal 3, Jetty Park is a 4.5-acre sandy park and beach that offers excellent views of cruise ships arriving and departing. You can also view NASA rocket launches from here. The park has a fishing pier, pavilions, playground, a concession stand and a bait and tackle shop.
Getting to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal
From I-95
If you are traveling to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from South Florida, North Florida or the northern states, the best way to reach the port is on the I-95, which runs north-south down the East Coast.
From I-95: Take exit 205 East.
Join SR-528 East toll road (Beachline Expressway).
Drive 11.5 miles east.
Exit onto SR-401 North.
Drive one mile north, then exit right and follow signs to the Charles M. Rowland Drive and Cruise Terminal Drive.
From Orlando (MCO) International Airport
The journey from Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral is about 45 miles and takes at least 45 minutes for the trip. The best way to drive from Orlando to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminals is on SR-528 (Beachline Expressway), a toll road.
Take the North Exit out of the airport.
Keep right following signs for SR-528 East toll road (Beachline Expressway).
Head east on SR-528.
After crossing over the I-95, drive a further 11.5 miles.
Exit onto SR-401 North.
Drive one mile north, then exit right and follow signs to the Charles M. Rowland Drive and Cruise Terminal Drive.
Getting to the Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal
Located in Brevard County, midway down Florida’s East Coast, Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal is just 46 miles east of Orlando International Airport. The SR-528 toll road, also known as the Bee Line or Beachline Expressway, makes the journey quick and easy, taking motorists less than 45 minutes to go from city to coast.
Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock
Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal is a mere 15 miles from Junction 205 on the I-95. This major interstate runs for almost 2000 miles from Miami in Southeast Florida to the Canadian border in Maine. If you’re driving to Port Canaveral for your cruise, you’ll probably drive part of the journey on one of the two highways mentioned above.
If you’re flying into Florida in preparation for your cruise departure from Port Canaveral, there are several international airports within easy reach of the cruise terminal. These include:
Melbourne International Airport (MLB) – 28 miles from Port Canaveral Cruise Port
Orlando (MCO) International Airport – 46 miles
Sanford (SFB) Airport – 65 miles
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) International Airport – 196 miles
Miami (MIA) International Airport – 214 miles
See a NASA Rocket Launch from Port Canaveral Cruise Port
Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal takes its name from Cape Canaveral, one of the most well-known barrier islands along Florida’s East Coast. The cruise port is immediately to the south of Cape Canaveral, better known as the home of the NASA Kennedy Space Center.
Falcon 9 Rocket Launch from Cape Canaveral
You can actually see the famous rocket launch site from the Exploration Tower in Port Canaveral. Check the KSC events calendar, as you may have the chance to see a satellite or rocket launch during your visit to Cape Canaveral Cruise Terminal.
Cruises regularly depart from Cape Canaveral cruise terminal to Bermuda, The Bahamas, Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean itineraries, Transatlantic, and other destinations for cruise vacations further afield.
Sustainable Environmental Initiatives at Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral continues to expand, but it does so in the context of sustainable tourism. The surrounding waters are a haven for marine life, including endangered manatees, plants and migratory birds.
For over 30 years, Port Canaveral has managed a water quality monitoring program. All stormwater at the Port is treated for nutrient reduction and is then discharged as clean water into Canaveral Harbor rather than the Banana River. The new terminals all use low-energy lighting.
Future Plans for Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal
Port Canaveral continues to expand with proposals for a new cruise terminal that would open in late 2026 on the port’s south side.
Those plans were revealed in an amended five-year capital budget plan by Canaveral Port Authority commissioners. The new terminal will cost an estimated $175 million. The move comes as Port Canaveral anticipates the addition of several new cruise ships to the homeport lineup in late 2024.
A beautiful day at a highly rated private island in the Bahamas could have become a tragic event if not for the actions of an MSC Cruises officer from MSC Meraviglia. A woman fell between the dock and the cruise ship, but the officer jumped into the water to assist her and help her stay calm and reach the rescue team.
Both the guest and the officer are safe and the ship’s itinerary was not impacted by what could have been a very distressing incident.
Frightening Moments at Ocean Cay
One family has a great deal to be thankful for as tragedy was averted at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve on Thanksgiving Day – November 23, 2023.
According to Crew Center, while debarking MSC Meraviglia for a visit to the island as part of an 8-night Bahamas cruise, a woman accidentally fell into the water between the cruise ship and the dock as her children and husband were shocked nearby.
Immediately, Officer Giuseppe Ruocco jumped into the water to offer assistance to the woman. He helped keep her calm and keep her head above water as the pair moved along the dock to the aft of the ship, where there was sufficient space for the rescue team to react with lifesaving gear.
The ship’s emergency man overboard signal was used and onboard teams quickly responded, ensuring adequate help to assist the woman, manage the crowd, and keep the situation under control.
The whole incident only took a few minutes, but they are sure to have been distressing ones for everyone involved. As Ruocco and the woman were helped to safety, the crowd – and the ship’s captain – offered lengthy applause for Ruocco’s heroism and the successful rescue.
There are no details available as to how the woman fell into the water, whether she had ventured too close to the dock’s edge or slipped in some other way. An investigation is likely to be held to be sure such incidents can be avoided in the future.
MSC Cruises Private Island (Photo Credit: Victor Maschek / Shutterstock)
MSC Meraviglia had departed from New York on Sunday, November 19 for the 8-night cruise, and Ocean Cay was the ship’s second port of call, after a visit to Miami on Wednesday, November 22. The ship visited Nassau the following day – Friday, November 24 – and will spend two days at sea returning to New York.
The 171,598-gross-ton ship can welcome 4,428 guests at double occupancy, or as many as 5,642 travelers when fully booked with all berths filled. Because of the holiday week, it is likely the passenger count aboard was closer to full at the time of the incident.
Also onboard are more than 1,500 international crew members, including Ruocco.
Heroic Act Recognized
In recognition of Ruocco’s act of bravery, MSC Cruises HR leaders all received notification of the incident to share with crew members, exemplifying the cruise line’s values and commitment to care for guests as well as the MSC Cruises’ family.
“Today at Meraviglia’s port of call at Ocean Cay, a guest accidentally fell into water between the ship and dock and without a second thought, our Training Officer Giuseppe Ruocco jumped into the water to help the distressed guest. Man overboard signal was given and our fully trained team was present in no time to help the guest out of water,”the statement read.
“We wish our guest a speedy recovery as the incident was controlled in just a couple of minutes because of Giuseppe’s brave reaction in no time. He risked his life to save a life. Giuseppe proudly resonates the MSC Value ‘We CARE for our people.'”
Ruocco’s commendation is well deserved, as the incident could undoubtedly had a much worse outcome. Now, the family involved as well as everyone aboard MSC Meraviglia was able to have a very Happy Thanksgiving with much to be thankful for.
Nautilus International has shared a commitment from Carnival UK – part of Carnival Corporation & plc that owns P&O Cruises and Cunard Line – that the company will not use the perceived threat of firing and rehiring employees as contract negotiations progress.
This is welcome news for the more than 900 maritime employees who may have been affected by such a harsh strategy.
Carnival UK Withdraws Threatening Strategy
As negotiations move forward between Carnival UK and Nautilus International, the union representing 919 maritime employees who may be subject to significant contract changes as soon as January 2024, Carnival UK has officially withdrawn a threat of firing and rehiring employees under new contract terms.
Nautilus International had received a copy of Carnival UK’s HR1 form submitted to the Insolvency Service on Wednesday, November 22. That form stated that the company might consider “dismissal and re-engagement” if new contract terms could not be reached.
The two companies came together for discussions to help avoid such a coercive stance, which Carnival UK originally denied as a possibility. Carnival UK has now committed to withdrawing that form, assuring the union that such tactics will not be used.
P&O Iona Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: E.R. Images)
“This is a welcome move from Carnival UK and a positive indication of their commitment to engage in a meaningful consultation with us over changes to members’ terms and conditions,”said Martyn Gray, Nautilus executive officer.“We thank them for their commitment to not dismiss and re-engage and look forward to working with them to come to a negotiated settlement in the interests of all parties.”
It must be noted that with these contract negotiations and the – now-annulled – consideration of firing and rehiring, employees’ job performance was not a factor. The negotiations are addressing such topics as work contract lengths and overall salaries.
“This is an annual pay review process with our maritime officers onboard our ships which will ensure alignment,” said Carnival UK. “This will empower our staff, deliver the right teams across our fleet and attract and retain talent to work on our ships.
Should Such Strategies Be Completely Outlawed?
Nautilus International is urging the UK government to fully prohibit any type of fire-then-rehire strategies by employers. These tactics strip workers of their negotiating power and lead to bad faith communication.
“Fire and rehire – or dismissal and re-engagement – should never be an option for any employer to force changes to terms and conditions and the UK government should commit to outlawing this,”said Gray. “A statutory code of practice is not enough.”
In March 2022, P&O Ferries used exactly this type of strategy, firing 800 workers without notice and causing massive disruptions in ferry service and travel continuity. Various reports at the time indicated that P&O Ferries intended to replace the fired workers with cheaper employees.
Photo Credit: Ian_Stewart / Shutterstock
“As Britain’s favourite cruise line, your loyalty, advocacy and support has always meant the world to us. P&O Cruises has been part of Carnival Corporation & plc for over 20 years and has no connection to P&O Ferries,”P&O Cruises stated in response to that incident.
P&O Ferries is a privately-owned shipping company operating passenger and freight service around Dover, Portsmouth, and Southampton, as well as throughout the Irish Sea and the North Sea.
P&O Cruises, on the other hand, is a passenger cruise line operating a fleet of seven cruise ships for vacations rather than ferry service. The cruise line is part of the Carnival Corporation & plc family that also owns Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and other lines.
Each cruise line in the Carnival family operates independently, including for contract negotiations between unions and the cruise line.
Life at Sea Cruises has officially cancelled its ambitious three-year cruise, disappointing passengers who had booked the voyage. The cancellation comes after a series of delays and logistical challenges, leaving behind guests who have spent thousands of dollars on what now appears to be a fairytale turned nightmare.
At the base of the problems for Life at Sea Cruises and its parent company Miray Cruises, is the fact that there is no and never was a ship. While there have been multiple candidates and pretty drawings, the actual vessel never materialized.
The cruise, which attracted attention for its unique duration and affordability, was initially set to depart from Istanbul, Turkey. However, the departure faced several postponements and changes, eventually leading to its cancellation.
The initial departure date for the cruise, set in Istanbul, Turkey, was scheduled for November 1, 2023. Subsequently, this was postponed to November 11. In a further change, Life at Sea Cruises notified guests that the ship would depart from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, instead.
The departure was then rescheduled for November 30, again from Amsterdam. However, in an unexpected turn of events, guests received notice on November 17, 2023, that the cruise had been cancelled.
Unexpected Development for Life at Sea Cruises’ Guests
This development was surprising to passengers, some of whom had already arrived in Istanbul in preparation for the original departure date of November 1.
However, all this time, and despite issuing multiple renderings of how the vessel would look, Miray Cruises failed to inform guests that they had yet to purchase a ship, let alone do all the renovations and inspections needed to perform such a cruise.
Image Credit: Miray Cruises
The cancellation has left many passengers in a challenging position. Some passengers find themselves without a clear plan, having sold or rented out their homes in anticipation of the cruise. The financial implications are significant, with passengers now seeking refunds for their bookings.
Acquisition of AIDAaura Falls Through
At the center of the cancellation was the unsuccessful acquisition of a ship. Life at Sea Cruises had intended to purchase AIDAaura and rename the vessel MV Lara for their voyage.
However, after a period of uncertainty, Celestyal Cruises announced the purchase of AIDAaura, leading to mounting issues for Life at Sea Cruises.
Vedat Ugurlu, owner of Miray Cruises, the parent company of Life at Sea, expressed regret over the situation. He cited financial constraints and geopolitical factors as contributing to the inability to secure a vessel for the cruise. The company’s efforts to acquire an alternative ship were also unsuccessful.
Photo Credit: Bjoern Wylezich / Shutterstock
However, this is not the first time Miray Cruises has been unable to procure a suitable vessel for Life at Sea Cruises. MV Gemini was the original vessel that would have undertaken the three-year voyage, but this was marked by significant challenges and concerns.
There were serious doubts about the ship’s seaworthiness, leading to multiple refund requests and safety concerns. In May 2023, a former director at Life at Sea Cruises reported that the ship, capable of carrying up to 1,074 passengers, was deemed ‘unseaworthy’ by an engineer, raising doubts about its ability to complete the three-year journey.
Although MV Gemini was not officially classified as unseaworthy by flag state or port state control, it did raise significant concerns. Strangely enough, MV Gemini has been sailing around the Mediterranean again since March 2023.
Will Refunds Materialize?
Life at Sea Cruises has communicated plans to issue these refunds in monthly installments starting mid-December 2023. The company also says it intends to pay for accommodation for those passengers already in Istanbul, and who now find themselves without a home to go to.
“There’s a whole lot of people right now with nowhere to go, and some need their refund to even plan a place to go – it’s not good right now,” said one passenger to CNN.com.
Image Credit: Miray Cruises
In terms of seeking refunds, guests are encouraged to formally request a refund from Life at Sea Cruises. The likelihood of receiving a refund can vary based on the financial stability of the cruise line, the terms and conditions of the booking, and any applicable travel insurance policies.
Unfortunately, Life at Sea has not published its terms and conditions on its website. Instead, the page redirects to a booking page, which is still open for the November 30 sailing. Its brochure, a poor attempt made with images from other cruise ships and cruise lines, also does not mention legal terms and conditions that guests can hold the cruise to.
If the cruise line faces financial difficulties or bankruptcy, the process of obtaining a refund can become more complex and uncertain. In such scenarios, guests may need to seek legal advice or consider alternative routes such as claiming through credit card chargebacks or travel insurance.
A much-beloved cruise director at Carnival Cruise Line, Jonathan “Cookie” Adams, has decided to step down from his post.
Scores of supporters and past cruisers posted tributes about the upbeat and outgoing personality, who helped to make great Fun Ship experiences for many guests.
Jonathan “Cookie” Adams Leaves Carnival
Jonathan “Cookie” Adams, a well-known and popular cruise director on Carnival Cruise Line ships, announced on social media on November 24, 2023, that he is leaving his position. Adams was due to begin an assignment onboard Mardi Gras in November, and remain on the ship until early February 2024.
“Well… it comes with a heavy heart that I have officially decided to announce that I’m stepping down from my position as Cruise Director here at Carnival Cruise Lines. This was a decision made by me for me. No I wasn’t fired, no I wasn’t forced to do it, I decided after 9 years of giving myself to everyone around me it’s now time to focus on me and what I want for my next chapter,” Jonathan “Cookie” Adams posted on social media.
Jonathan “Cookie” Adams Carnival Cruise Director
The cruise director, who joined Carnival Cruise Line in 2014, thanked the cruise line and his fellow crew members.
“To Carnival THANK YOU for allowing me to grow into this amazing human and accepting all aspects of me. To all of the cruisers THANK YOU for just loving and supporting every bit of “COOKIE” for the past 9 years. To my crew members, THANK YOU for showing me how beautiful this world can truly be and smashing every cruise with me,” Adams said.
An Outpouring of Support From Past Cruisers
Scores of social media replies from friends and supporters show how much past cruisers admired and respected Adams.
Some said he was the best cruise director they had experienced, others said it was a big loss for the cruise line, and all wished him well. Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald commented on social media about Adams’ decision to leave the line.
“You are incomparable. I wish you nothing but joy, happiness and spandex,” posted Heald.
Cruise directors are responsible for planning and implementing entertainment and activities for guests, such as stage productions, musical and cabaret events, and social programs, and for making sure everyone has a great time.
The well-liked cruise director joined Carnival Cruise Line in 2014 as cruise director and remained in the post on various ships until February 2020, when the pandemic hit.
With the cruise industry on its pause, Adams worked as a recreation coordinator at Margaritaville in Conroe, Texas. He returned to the cruise industry when ships began sailing in 2021, and was assigned to Carnival Breeze.
Adams was most recently serving as cruise director on Carnival Venezia, the brand’s first ship operating under the Fun Ship Italian Style concept. Carnival Venezia, a 4,200-guest ship that was transferred from Costa Cruises, entered service in 2019.
Carnival Venezia Sailing (Photo Credit: Mariusz Lopusiewicz)
Following renovations to add Carnival Cruise Line’s Fun Ship concepts onboard, she began sailing under the Carnival brand in June 2023, offering year-round Caribbean voyages from New York.
Had he taken his Mardi Gras assignment, Adams would have joined the ship at her Port Canaveral homeport and sailed a series of Eastern Caribbean cruises during winter 2023-24. The ship can accommodate 6,500 guests — enough to keep any cruise director on his toes.
Williams joined Chris “Donkey” Salazar and Mike Pack in the fleet cruise director position, which is a management and training post that interacts with cruise directors across the fleet.
Cruise arrivals to Turks and Caicos rose substantially in the first 10 months of 2023, and total visitors by air and sea broke the 1 million mark, an achievement that local tourism officials say bodes extremely well for the upcoming winter high season.
Cruise Guests Jump By 30% Versus 2022
The Grand Turk Cruise Center welcomed 677,943 cruise arrivals between January and October 2023, reflecting a remarkable 30% increase compared to the same time frame in 2022, when 519,418 cruise guests visited.
Together with tourists arriving by air, which numbered 535,893, the Eastern Caribbean destination recorded about 1.2 million visitors in total, according to the island nation’s Ministry of Tourism.
The air arrivals are notable because they represent a 4.8% hike over 2022, and a very encouraging 18% spike versus the same time frame in pre-pandemic 2019, when 450,443 air arrivals were recorded.
“We are very pleased to see the increased number of visitors to the Turks and Caicos Islands by air and cruise for 2023. The Turks and Caicos Islands is renowned for its pristine turquoise waters and white sand beaches, world-class resorts and villas, culinary diversity, cultural experiences and natural beauty,” Josephine Connolly, Turks and Caicos Minister of Tourism said.
“As a multi-island destination, we are also diversifying the product experience and encouraging our visitors to experience the culture, heritage and activities for day tours and/or overnight stay beyond Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos,” added Connolly.
Carnival Cruise Ships at Grand Turk (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Data shows that the US is the island nation’s top source market, delivering 434,343 visitors between January and October 2023. Canada sent the second-highest number, 35,606, followed by the UK, with 8,541 visitors.
The robust cruise arrivals numbers Turks and Caicos is experiencing is due in large part to the steadfast presence of Carnival Cruise Line, which created and operates the Grand Turk Cruise Center. The cruise line initially invested $50 million to build and open the center in 2006, and in 2021 announced it would spend another $25 million on upgrades to the facility.
The cruise center is a 13-acre complex located on the southern end of Grand Turk, and features shops and restaurants, and the Caribbean’s largest Margaritaville — the famous Jimmy Buffet dining and entertainment venue.
The port can accommodate up to three ships at a time. With Carnival Cruise Line’s exclusive agreement to operate the cruise center, cruise guests will often see multiple ships from the line’s fleet visiting the port.
Carnival Cruise Line a Huge Presence on the Island
In the next few weeks, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Magic, Carnival Vista, and Mardi Gras are all slated to call. Other ships with a regular presence at the port include Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam, and Rotterdam, and Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess. Both Holland America and Princess Cruises are sister lines to Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, which at full capacity can accommodate 6,500 guests, includes Turks and Caicos on its 7-day Eastern Caribbean winter series in 2023-24 from Port Canaveral, Florida. The ship calls at Nassau, Bahamas; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; and Grand Turk.
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive
Shore excursions offered on the sailings include Snorkeling and Stingray Adventure, Island Vibes Bus Tour and Beach Getaway, Island Exploration by Hummer, and ATV Off-road Adventure, among others.
Turks and Caicos in 2021 appeared to be in talks with Royal Caribbean regarding future ship calls. Washington Misick, the island nation’s premier, had indicated that his government was in negotiations with Royal Caribbean.
Industry watchers were doubtful such an agreement could be reached, given the island nation’s longterm partnership with Carnival Cruise Line and its operation of the cruise terminal. Currently, no Royal Caribbean ships offer port calls to Turks and Caicos.
Two Carnival-owned cruise lines, P&O Cruises and Cunard Line, may be considering firing then rehiring more than 900 UK-based crew due to renegotiations of contract terms, including salary cuts.
The two parties, the union employees and the employment firm managing the contracts, seem at odds with what to call the situation, and the end result seems unclear. However, P&O Cruises and Cunard Line have denied any redundancies.
P&O Cruises and Cunard Line May Fire Hundreds
P&O Cruises and Cunard Line, both of which work through a Bermuda-based management company for employee contracts, may be firing as many as 919 maritime professionals in the next few weeks, including a number of ship officers, as union negotiations fail to reach a compromise.
“We continue to urge Carnival UK to withdraw their threat of fire and rehire and engage in meaningful negotiations,”Garry Elliot, Senior National Organiser for Nautilus International, said.
“We also call on the UK government to learn the lessons from P&O Ferries and outlaw the coercive practice of fire and rehire. Employers cannot be allowed to treat their employees with contempt and force through fundamental changes to terms and conditions by playing with their employees’ livelihoods.”
P&O Ferries, which used a similar strategy in 2022, is not affiliated with P&O Cruises or Carnival UK. Carnival UK has denied this tactic, claiming it is “not making any redundancies.”
P&O Cruises and Cunard Line stated: “There have been media reports today which are factually inaccurate and damaging. We are categorically not making any redundancies and we will not dismiss and re-engage staff. In fact we have significantly increased our headcount across our fleet.“
There have been media reports today which are factually inaccurate and damaging. We are categorically not making any redundancies and we will not dismiss and re-engage staff. In fact we have significantly increased our headcount across our fleet.
In the workplace, a redundancy is a reasoning for firing an employee that has nothing to do with that employee’s performance. For example, if a poor economy forces a company to downsize, the eliminated positions would be considered redundancies.
The difficulty here is that the employees’ performance is not in question, but rather the terms of the contract renegotiations, which may include reduced salaries and a change in work contract lengths. If new terms for existing contracts cannot be reached, it may be possible that employees would be fired so they could then be rehired under new contracts with the new terms.
Carnival Corporation UK Office (Photo Credit: P.Cartwright / Shutterstock)
“We are categorically not making any redundancies and we will not dismiss and re-engage staff,”Carnival UK stated.“This is an annual pay review process with our maritime officers onboard our ships which will ensure alignment. This will empower our staff, deliver the right teams across our fleet and attract and retain talent to work on our ships.”
Potentially impacted staff are on both P&O Cruises ships as well as Cunard Line ships, though the exact numbers and positions of crew members within each fleet who could be affected by these tactics have not been disclosed.
Would Cruises Be Affected?
It is possible that if these contract negotiations cannot be resolved, the cruise lines might be left struggling to fill positions, which could impact some cruise operations.
Because multiple vessels across both lines may be affected by such staffing changes, it is unlikely that any one ship would have the bulk of the impacted employees on its crew manifest.
Photo Credit: Peter Titmuss / Shutterstock
Even if one ship were more dramatically impacted, new crew members could be quickly hired to fill in gaps, or crew members could be shifted from other vessels to help balance staffing while the situation is resolved.
Cruise passengers are unlikely to see any day-to-day changes in their oceangoing vacations, though there may be fewer officers present for onboard events such as gala parties, cocktail meet-and-greets or other activities, or their favorite ship’s officers may be rotating to different vessels to fulfill the most critical positions.
