Twenty students interested in various maritime-related careers got a special opportunity to tour Carnival Breeze in Galveston on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

Part of a unique summer camp for select students, the program introduces participants to career opportunities in the cruise industry from the fourth most popular cruise homeport in the US and the ninth busiest passenger cruise port in the world.

Students Tour Carnival Breeze

Carnival Cruise Line invited 20 students in the Maritime Careers Summer Camp program, sponsored by Texas A&M University and the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce, to tour Carnival Breeze as part of their exploration of maritime careers. The free, week-long camp is offered to select rising 8th to 10th grade students, and has served more than 100 Galveston County students since 2015.

“We are so proud to have been operating in Galveston for the last 23 years and are honored to do our part to support local youth with efforts like this special ship tour,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

During the tour, students not only got up close and personal experience with the 130,000-gross ton Dream-class cruise ship, but also enjoyed a presentation on careers in the cruise industry from those living the careers, including the ship’s master, Carnival Breeze Captain Gaspare Marzullo.

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President and CEO of the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce Gina Spagnola and Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees also made presentations to the students. Also, part of the day’s events was a trivia game with giveaways as well as lunch.

The Port of Galveston is a tremendous economic force in the region, and the opportunity to introduce students to the diversity of career opportunities associated with the port helps strengthen community connections.

“The Port of Galveston is an economic engine and a generator of jobs for our community,” said Rees. “These students have the fourth most popular cruise home port and a top U.S. cargo port right in their own backyards. It was a pleasure to educate them on the many job opportunities available to them in the maritime industry.”

Giving students a firsthand look at Carnival Breeze provides a very intimate, up close experience with just what a career in the industry from their very own homeport could be.

“With this summer camp, the Chamber aims to inspire the next generation of Galveston maritime professionals,” said Spagnola. “We are so appreciative of Carnival for taking part in this year’s camp and know that this tour will go a long way in making an impact on our local students.”

Carnival’s Growth in Galveston

Carnival’s participation in the summer camp is yet another way the cruise line is demonstrating its connection to Galveston and the Lone Star State, just as Carnival Jubilee demonstrated when it floated out on July 21, 2023, revealing the iconic Texas star on her bow.

“We are deeply committed to the Galveston community and that commitment will only strengthen as we expand our operations and launch our newest ship, Carnival Jubilee, later this year,” said Duffy.

Carnival was the first cruise line to commit to year-round cruising from the Texas port, and in 2023, more than 650,000 guests are expected to set sail from Galveston aboard the Fun Ship fleet. At the moment, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream are both homeported from Galveston, and Carnival Jubilee will debut from Texas in December.

In October 2024, Carnival Cruise Line is bringing a fourth ship to the homeport when Carnival Miracle begins offering longer Eastern, Western, and Southern sailings, with occasional Panama Canal voyages as well.

In addition to Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line also offer sailings from Galveston.

Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked on three upcoming sailings, each for a different vessel, about itinerary changes. Alterations include port reversal orders, a port cancellation, and adjusted times in a popular Mexican destination.

Carnival Adjusting Itineraries on Three West Coast Ships

Three different Carnival ships, including what will be the newest ship in the fleet at the time, are having select itineraries adjusted. The impacted sailings are aboard Carnival Radiance, Carnival Firenze, and Carnival Panorama. Each affected sailing has a different departure date and different changes to the itinerary.

Carnival Radiance Itinerary Change

The Sunshine-class Carnival Radiance (formerly Carnival Victory) will sail a reversed itinerary for its November 25, 2024 departure, a 6-night Mexican Riviera sailing roundtrip from Long Beach, California. The itinerary was initially planned to visit Cabo San Lucas first, followed by Ensenada.

Now, the ship will sail the route in reverse, visiting Ensenada before Cabo San Lucas. The port time in Ensenada remains unchanged from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the time in Cabo San Lucas has been adjusted by arriving an hour earlier and departing two hours earlier, a net change of just one less hour in the popular port. The call remains an overnight visit.

Carnival Firenze Itinerary Change

Just months after she joined the Fun Ship fleet in May 2024, Carnival Firenze is having the itinerary adjusted for the ship’s November 29, 2024 departure. That particular sailing is a 3-night voyage roundtrip from Long Beach, visiting Ensenada, Mexico.

The port day was originally to have been on Sunday, December 1, but instead will now be on Saturday, November 30. Sunday, the last full day of the short weekend getaway, will now be a day at sea. No change has been made to the in-port visit hours, which remain from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Carnival Panorama Itinerary Change

The Vista-class Carnival Panorama will not be sailing the originally planned itinerary for her November 30, 2024 departure. The impacted cruise is a 6-night Mexican Riviera sailing with calls in Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada.

The changes for this cruise are very similar those for Carnival Radiance, with reversing the order of calls to enjoy Ensenada prior to Cabo San Lucas and adjusting the times in Cabo but still keeping the overnight visit.

The original itinerary had the ship in Cabo San Lucas from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. the next day, while now the visit will be from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. None of the three impacted sailings have their homeport times – setting sail or returning home – changed.

Why So Many Changes?

There has been no explanation given for the itinerary changes for these three ships, all on the same week. Because Ensenada is the port most impacted, port operations may be a factor, such as other marine traffic, pier maintenance, channel dredging, or similar work that may impact when ships can safely visit.

Because the changes are being made more than a year in advance, booked guests have ample time to change any independent tour arrangements they may have already planned. Many tour operators will not even confirm reservations so far in advance, so any difficulties should be minimal.

During the same time period during late November and early December 2024, ships from Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Norwegian Cruise Line are also scheduled to visit Ensenada, and it is possible they may see similar itinerary changes.

The changes to Cabo San Lucas – leaving the port earlier than planned – are likely an operational decision to ensure the cruise ships can safely make their way back to Long Beach without overstressing their engines. Cabo San Lucas is approximately 925 miles (1,490 kilometers) sailing distance from Long Beach. Easier cruising speeds also promote better fuel efficiency.

Just days after floating out and touching water for the first time, Carnival Jubilee has received her iconic red-white-and-blue winged funnel, giving her that very classic Carnival look that has adorned every ship since Tropicale. This brings the ship one step closer to her debut and marks the ongoing construction of her finishing details.

Cranes Lift and Place Carnival Jubilee Funnel

The winged funnel, designed in the early 1980s by longtime Carnival Cruise Line designer Joe Farcus, was lifted into place on Carnival Jubilee on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

The addition took place as the ship is now docked alongside the outfitting pier at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, where on Friday, July 21, Carnival Jubilee was first floated out and entered the next phase of her construction. At that time, it was revealed that the ship also sports a Texas star on her bow, a first-in-fleet distinction for Carnival Cruise Line.

“Seeing Carnival Jubilee sport the Carnival funnel, the quintessential symbol she’s a ship made for fun, is a gratifying milestone that builds on the excitement after just watching her float out and reveal another important symbol – the Texas star on her bow that signals her Texas pride,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Finishing construction now continues aboard Carnival Jubilee as the ship prepares for her first sea trials, predicted to happen in August. Those tests will thoroughly examine all of the ship’s technical operational systems, including propulsion, navigation, maneuvering, and safety features.

In the meantime, the BOLT roller coaster is being installed around the iconic funnel, and other details are being completed such as decking, painting, exterior awnings, and interior design.

New Features Aboard Carnival Jubilee

A jubilee is a fun and festive celebration, and guests will certainly find a lot to celebrate aboard Carnival Jubilee when she sets sail in December 2023, offering 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries with as many as 5,374 guests onboard at double occupancy, or up to 6,631 travelers when fully booked.

The 183,521-gross ton ship will be home to Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse’s third restaurant at sea, Emeril’s Bistro 717, joining the spectacular Emeril’s restaurants already found on Carnival Jubilee‘s Excel-class sister ships, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. Two new immersive zones have also been designed exclusively for Carnival Jubilee – Currents and Shores.

Popular favorite venues also return aboard Carnival Jubilee, including delicious dining like Rudi’s Seagrill and Cucina del Capitano, Guy’s Burger Joint, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, and Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken restaurant.

The Carnival Seaside Theater will showcase blockbuster movies, the two-story Jubilee Theater will offer spectacular production shows, and the expansive Serenity area will be a calm and relaxing adults-only retreat, along with much, much more.

A Classic Carnival Symbol

The classic “whale tale” winged funnel has been an instantly recognizable feature of every Carnival cruise ship since the line’s first new build, Tropicale, joined the fleet in 1982.

The three earlier ships that began the cruise line, Mardi Gras, Carnivale, and Festivale, were purchased from other cruise lines and did not have the winged funnel, though their straight funnels still sported the red-white-and-blue coloration.

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Today, only one ship in the Carnival fleet temporarily lacks the funnel – Carnival Freedom‘s funnel was damaged during a fire while the ship was docked in Grand Turk in May 2022. The damage was repaired but for now the ship has a straight funnel reminiscent of those on the earliest Carnival ships. A new whale tail will likely be installed when the ship enters its next dry dock.

Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked aboard two upcoming cruises on Carnival Dream that the port of call visit in Jamaica has been changed.

While the ship will still be visiting the tropical island nation, it will be arriving at a different port than originally scheduled. Furthermore, on one of the sailings, port time at another stop has been adjusted.

Itinerary Changes for Carnival Dream

Guests setting sail on the 130,000-gross ton Carnival Dream on the October 21, 2023 and January 13, 2024 departures have received notification of a slight itinerary change to their cruises, with port swaps for both sailings in Jamaica.

The October 31 cruise is a 14-night Eastern Caribbean sailing from Galveston, Texas, calling on Key West, Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, St. Croix, and Jamaica. The original port planned for Jamaica was to have been Montego Bay, but that has now been swapped for Falmouth.

Likewise, the January 13 cruise is a 14-night sailing as well, with plans to visit Jamaica, Aruba, Curacao, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, and Cozumel, Mexico.

For this sailing, the original Jamaica port was to have been Ocho Rios, but will now be Falmouth as well. Another change to this itinerary is a slight modification for the port times in Colon, Panama, though the ship is still visiting the port.

No explanation is given for these changes, but it is not unusual for cruise lines to tweak itineraries to provide the best possible experience for their guests. Such port swaps may be due to an overcrowded port, when another port has fewer ships and can therefore offer a more exclusive visit.

In general, Falmouth is the least-visited of the three Jamaican ports, but still welcomes cruise ships year-round.

Port construction or pier maintenance projects, harbor dredging work, and other operational needs may also impact whether or not a cruise ship can keep an original itinerary, and those needs may not be known when the cruise is initially planned and offered for booking.

Carnival Cruise Line is making adjustments for impacted shore tours as well.

“Pre-purchased Carnival shore excursions will be automatically adjusted based on these changes,” the email read. “If a port was cancelled, they will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment.”

Guests who have booked independent excursions will need to contact their tour provider for cancellation options or to see if arrangements can be made for the different port arrival. Because the ports of call are not too distant from one another, alterations may be possible depending on the tour operator’s service range.

About the Jamaican Ports of Call

While Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, and Falmouth are all on Jamaica’s northern coast, they are significant distances from one another.

Montego Bay is the westernmost port destination, and is approximately 21 miles (34 kilometers) from Falmouth. Depending on the shore excursion and exact time in port, many options for guests may be preserved with this port swap.

Ocho Rios, however, is the easternmost of the three ports. It is roughly 45 miles (73 kilometers) from Falmouth, which means more excursions and shore tour options may be impacted for the swap on the January 13, 2024 sailing.

All three ports of call do offer fun options for visiting cruisers. In Falmouth, top tours and things to do include historical tours of the town’s amazing architecture, rafting on the Martha Brae River through the mangrove forest, visiting the iconic Dunn’s River Falls, rum factory tours, or enjoying the region’s spectacular beaches.

Carnival Cruise Line regularly visits all three ports in Jamaica. In the next few months, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Vista, Carnival Glory, and Carnival Paradise all have Jamaica on their coming itineraries.