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Flooding Forces Royal Caribbean Embarkation Port Change

Melissa Mayntz
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Flooding Forces Royal Caribbean Embarkation Port Change

Royal Caribbean International has reached out to guests booked aboard the May 21, 2023 sailing of Explorer of the Seas to notify them of an emergency embarkation change due to flooding that has caused safety concerns at the original embarkation port.

Instead of Ravenna, guests for this sailing will instead be embarking from Trieste, but Royal Caribbean is facilitating with transfers.

Embarkation Port Changed This Weekend

The Sunday, May 21, 2023 departure of Explorer of the Seas will not be leaving from Ravenna as originally planned, due to heavy flooding in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, which includes the northeastern Italy homeport. Royal Caribbean has reached out to booked guests via email to notify them of the change.

“As a result of the flooding, Ravenna will not be prepared to safely embark guests on May 21st, 2023 and instead, we’ll now conduct our check-in at the Venezia Terminal Passegrei and departe from Trieste, Italy at 9:30 PM,” the email explained.

All guests are asked to arrive at the Venezia Terminal Passegrei during their original check-in windows, and no later than 4:30 p.m. The last transfer to Trieste will leave at 5:15 p.m.

Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas Cruise Ship
Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Rob Crandall / Shutterstock)

The Venezia Terminal Passegrei is the cruise passenger terminal in Venice, which guests can reach via shuttle (water or land) from the Venice airport. As many guests plan to arrive early for cruises from Ravenna and often spend a day or two in Venice prior to setting sail, this can be a convenient option.

Trieste is located approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) driving distance from Venice, or 75 miles (120 kilometers) via boat from the Venetian lagoon to the Gulf of Trieste. While both modes of transportation could be possible, it is unlikely that guests will be transported via boat due to luggage and additional safety concerns.

The email to guests does note that a luggage truck will be used to transport passengers’ luggage from Venice to Trieste, but that travelers should keep a carry-on or personal item with them to hold valuables, medications, travel documents, and a change of clothes for dinner if necessary.

“We’re terribly sorry for the unexpected change,” the email reads. “Your safety is always our highest priority.”

The impacted cruise is a 7-night roundtrip sailing from Ravenna (now Trieste) to Croatia and Greece. At this time, there is no information about whether or not the ship will return to Ravenna or Trieste at the end of the cruise.

Flooding in Northern Italy

The Emilia-Romagna region has been inundated with catastrophically heavy rain in the past few days, with more than 20 rivers having overflowed. More than 280 landslides have been recorded, and at least 13 people have died.

Authorities estimate that in a 36-hour period, as much as 8-20 inches (20-50 centimeters) of rain has fallen on the region. That amount of rain is typically common over a six-month period, not in a matter of hours.

The torrential rain has led to many local emergencies, daring rescues, evacuations, and more. Local events, including the popular Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola race, which was to have been held on Sunday, have been cancelled.

This is not the first time ports in Italy have been impacted by severe flooding. In November 2019, heavy flooding in Venice forced several cruise ships to find alternative ports of call.

Other Cruises May Be Impacted

While the Voyager-class Explorer of the Seas is the only vessel scheduled to embark from Ravenna this weekend, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation is due for an overnight port of call visit with embarkations and debarkations on Thursday and Friday, May 25-26.

Celebrity Constellation
Celebrity Constellation

Explorer of the Seas is due back in Ravenna on Sunday, May 28, while Enchantment of the Seas is scheduled to arrive on Monday, May 29.

At this time, there are no itinerary or port changes for additional vessels, but guests booked on upcoming sailings that visit or embark/debark from Ravenna should stay in close contact with their cruise line to be promptly notified of any adjustments.

Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with everyone devastated by the flooding, including the Italian officers and crew members who have families in the impacted region.

Carnival Cruise Ship Dry Dock Continues, Latest Photos

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Ship Dry Dock Continues, Latest Photos

New photos have been released of Carnival Pride‘s ongoing dry dock refurbishment and upgrade, and the ship is looking fantastic as every inch of the vessel is being gone over, refreshed, and revitalized. What does it look like behind-the-scenes of this month-long dry dock?

New Carnival Pride Photos

Carnival Pride entered dry dock at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain on April 28, 2023, for a month-long, bow-to-stern refurbishment.

While the most visible and highly-anticipated improvements include the addition of three new popular venues – the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, the Carnival Adventures Shop, and Dreams Photo Studio – much, much more is going on while the ship is out of service.

Newly released photos show the extent of the upgrades and maintenance, and include every window on the ship’s iconic half-glass funnel being scrubbed to new brilliance, with the surrounding metal cleaned and repainted for the most vibrant colors.

New Livery Being Painted

Of particular interest is the complete exterior hull painting, which not only refreshes the ship’s colors, but is also adding the new red-white-and-blue livery to the hull, a design detail that first debuted with Mardi Gras in 2021 and has been slowly added to every ship in the fleet as each vessel undergoes dry dock maintenance.

Carnival Pride Drydock
Carnival Pride Drydock

Hull repainting is more than just as aesthetic detail, however. Proper painting ensures the integrity of the hull by resisting corrosion and the growth of unwanted organisms such as algae and barnacles that could reduce fuel efficiency and introduce unwanted creatures into delicate marine environments.

Interior Upgrades

On the inside of the ship, team members are hard at work installing new flooring, extensively cleaning the vessel, and adding new decorative details wherever necessary.

The ship’s lower-level Beauties nightclub space is also being removed and several new staterooms added in that location, including one fully-accessible cabin. The upper level of the nightclub remains intact.

Carnival Pride Drydock
Carnival Pride Drydock

Furthermore, the popular steakhouse, David’s, is being renovated to become Fahrenheit 555 in line with the familiar steakhouse aboard other Fun Ships.

Less visible details are also being upgraded aboard the ship, including new electrical upgrades and other technical adjustments that will ensure Carnival Pride is functioning at peak efficiency and optimum safety when she sets sail again.

Almost Ready to Return

Carnival Pride is scheduled to return to service with a one-way, 12-night voyage from Barcelona to Dover departing on May 28, 2023. Along the way, the ship will show off her new look and extensive upgrades at ports of call in Spain, Portugal, France, and Belgium.

The revitalized ship will spend the summer months offering 9- and 12-night sailings from Dover, UK, visiting amazing destinations in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Estonia, Finland, and Denmark, depending on the cruise itinerary and sailing date.

Carnival Pride Drydock

In September and October, Carnival Pride will offer a limited number of longer cruises from Rome to explore the Italian coast and Greek Isles, before repositioning back to the US with a 15-night repositioning sailing from Rome to Tampa that departs Italy on October 28, 2023.

After arriving in the US, the refreshed Carnival Pride will homeport from Tampa through early April 2024, offering Western Caribbean and select Panama Canal sailings. In the spring of 2024, the ship will once again reposition, this time to Baltimore for cruise to Bermuda, The Bahamas, and the Eastern Caribbean.

Carnival Pride first entered service for the cruise line in 2002, and has had numerous upgrades and renovations through her 21 years of service. The most recent major upgrade was in early 2015, when the ship received the 2.0 upgrade that included the addition of Guy’s Burger Joint, the BlueIguana Cantina, WaterWorks, and much more.

Princess Cruises Details Panama Canal Voyages

Donna Tunney
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Princess Cruises Details Panama Canal Voyages

Princess Cruises announced the deployment of three ships on Panama Canal voyages for the 2024-25 winter season. The scheduled cruises, now open for bookings, offer both partial and full transits of the engineering marvel that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Ships to Offer 26 Departures of Full, Partial Cruises

Cruisers can experience the “world’s greatest shortcut,” the manmade Panama Canal with the Pacific Ocean to its west and the Atlantic to the east, on a series of winter season cruises in 2024-25.

Three ships will offer 26 departures of varying lengths aboard Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess, both with a capacity for 3,080 guests, and the 1,970-guest Coral Princess. The Coral Princess has a special connection to the canal: She was christened there in 2003.

“Three ships will transit the historic Panama Canal during our upcoming 2024-2025 season offering full transit sailings, ocean-to-ocean or roundtrip options from Fort Lauderdale,” said Princess Cruises President John Padgett.

“We’re excited to bring Coral Princess back to the region, returning the ship to her roots where she was christened in the Panama Canal in 2003, by then-president of Panama, Mireya Moscoso,” he added.

Coral Princess, Panama Canal
Coral Princess, Panama Canal (Photo Credit: ackats / Shutterstock)

Princess Cruises began operating transits through the canal in 1967, and was the first cruise line to experience the 51-mile-long waterway that cuts across the Isthmus of Panama. Its first set of locks opened in 1914.

The 2024-25 season of Panama Canal sailings will enable cruise guests to visit 23 destinations in 12 countries. The three ships will operate 24 transits through the canal’s newer Neo-Panamax locks and 13 transits through the historic locks. Ships sailing partial transits will use the new locks, while those on ocean-to-ocean voyages will go through the historic locks.

The latest expansion of the canal was completed in 2016. Its newest locks allow ships up to 168 feet wide to transit the canal, while smaller vessels continue to use the historic locks, which accommodate ships up to 106 feet wide.

Line Unveils New 12-Day Partial Transit Itinerary

Princess Cruises is offering one new cruise itinerary, a 12-day partial transit roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale aboard Emerald Princess.

The cruise combines the transit with Southern Caribbean port calls such as Bonaire or Curacao, depending on the departure, plus Cartegena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; Limon, Costa Rica; Grand Cayman; and a late-night stay in Aruba.

A 10-day partial transit also is offered roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. Ruby Princess, for example, will sail the itinerary in January 2024, featuring the partial transit plus port calls in Montego Bay, Jamaica; Cartagena, Colombia; Cristobal, Panama; Limon, Costa Rica; and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

Coral Princess, Panama Canal
Coral Princess, Panama Canal (Photo Credit: DAvisuals / Shutterstock)

Guests on full transit sailings can choose among departures from Los Angeles and San Fransisco. A November 2024 cruise on Coral Princess is a 16-day voyage from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, with calls at Manzanillo and Huatulco, Mexico; San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Fuerte Amador, Panama; and Aruba, plus the full transit.

The Panama Canal cruises include shore excursion options to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the Spanish Fortifications at Portobelo-San Lorenzo (from Colón), the Archaeological Site and Historic District of Panama, and the Port Fortress in Cartagena.

A limited number of Panama Canal cruises is offered during the remainder of this year, with Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess each sailing two departures between August and December.

The line’s Princess Premier plan, a value-enhancing package, is offered on all Panama Canal cruises for a per-person fee. The plan, which was launched in May 2022, covers services and amenities like two nights of premium specialty dining, reserved seating in the ships’ theaters, wellness classes, and WiFi for up to four devices, among other bonuses.

P&O Cruises Introduces Four New Drinks Packages

Melissa Mayntz
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P&O Cruises Introduces Four New Drinks Packages

British cruise line P&O Cruises has introduced more diversity to its drinks packages with four new options for guests to choose from to quench their thirst.

Each package is available on sailings of five nights or longer for a fixed price per passenger, per day, offering a great value for each traveler depending on their drink preferences.

New Drink Packages From P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises is introducing four new drinks packages, each one a different tier to cater to guests’ diverse preferences, and to ensure the best value for passengers.

It has long been a complaint by cruise guests that drink packages may be too limited, excluding coffees, juices or premium teas, milkshakes and other beverages for non-alcoholic packages, or not including the most premium spirits or wines even for upgraded alcoholic options.

Now, the new packages from P&O Cruises offer more customization in guests’ drink package choices and what is included in each one.

The “Refresh” package is the least expensive and most restrictive option, including only select soft drinks and juices. This package is just £9.85 (approximately $12.25 USD) per person, per day.

P&O Drinks
P&O Drinks (Photo Courtesy: P&O Cruises)

The next elevated option is the “Alcohol-Free” package, which includes all the beverages from the Refresh package, as well as a greater selection of sodas, coffee, and premium teas, for £22.45 ($27.91 USD).

For guests who do want to enjoy more spiritous beverages, the “Classic” package is priced at £40.45 ($50.29 USD) and includes select spirits, wine, and classic cocktails, as well as all beverages from the previous two package options. A 20% discount on any not-included drinks is also part of the package, giving guests a further discount on more expensive beverages.

Finally, the “Deluxe” package for £49.45 ($61.48 USD) is the most inclusive package of all, including all drinks in the previous three packages, an extended range of cocktails, spirits, and wines, and a 20% discount on any non-included beverages.

All prices are per person, per day, for pre-cruise purchases. If purchased onboard the ship, each package will be slightly more expensive per day. All packages must also be purchased for the complete duration of the cruise, and are not available on a pro-rated day-by-day basis.

Guests who purchase the “Classic” or “Deluxe” packages will also receive a free “Refresh” package for any children age 16 years or younger traveling in the same party.

Limitations Still Apply

In addition to the limitations for each type of package based on the types of drinks included, there are other standard limits that apply to each package.

For example, all adults in the same cabin must purchase the same beverage package, despite any differences in their personal drink preferences.

P&O Cruises Ship
Photo Credit: Smeerjewegproducties / Shutterstock

This will make the most expensive packages much less of a value, for example, if one adult does not drink alcohol but their traveling partner does, because both individuals must purchase one of the higher-priced packages.

Read Also: Should You Get a Cruise Line Drinks Package

All packages are also limited to 15 drinks in any 24-hour period. This type of limitation is common for drink packages that include alcohol as a way to minimize dangerous or disruptive overindulgence, but is not as often applied to non-alcoholic packages.

The drinks-per-day limits also help to curb any unauthorized sharing of drinks on the packages.

All Packages Coming Soon

The new drinks packages are first being introduced aboard P&O Cruises’ Iona, as well as Ventura, from May 20, 2023.

The new options are expected to be available aboard the remaining five ships in the fleet by July, beginning with the line’s newest ship, Arvia, from May 28; Arcadia from June 6, Brittania from June 9, Aurora from June 22, and Azura, the last in the fleet to get the new packages, from July 7.

It is possible tweaks to the schedule may be made depending on guest responses to the new packages and the popularity of the different options.

Carnival Cruise Ship Involved in Rescue After Boat Capsizes

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Ship Involved in Rescue After Boat Capsizes

Carnival Dream spotted a small capsized craft near Belize on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, and assisted in the rescue of all 17 people in distress. The cruise ship was not significantly delayed in its route and there have been no changes to its current 6-night itinerary.

Carnival Dream Spots Boat in Distress

Carnival Dream was leaving Belize City after visiting on Wednesday, May 17, when the ship’s officers spotted a capsized boat with a large group in distress.

The incident occurred in the Belize Channel, the narrow waterway between the Belize mainland and the offshore barrier reef. While the exact time of the encounter has not been reported, Carnival Dream was scheduled to be in Belize City until 5 p.m. that evening, and so the rescue must have been shortly thereafter.

Carnival Dream Rescue
Carnival Dream Rescue

The cruise ship immediately contacted the Belize Coast Guard about the craft in distress, and lowered one of the ship’s tenders to begin rescuing the stranded individuals. Local Belize tenders also assisted, and all individuals were then transferred to the Belize Coast Guard.

The overturned craft appeared to be overcrowded, though there was sufficient lifesaving gear distributed to all individuals, male and female. There is no indication of whether the incident involved a local tour boat, recreational vessel, or migrant craft.

A total of 17 people were rescued, with no injuries or serious medical conditions. Everyone was reported to be in good condition.

No Delays for the Cruise Ship

After ensuring the rescue of all individuals in distress, Carnival Dream was able to continue on its way to its next port of call, Cozumel, Mexico, approximately 230 miles (370 kilometers) north-northeast of Belize City.

Carnival Dream Rescue
Carnival Dream Rescue

Because the incident occurred so early in the evening, the cruise ship would have easily been able to adjust its sailing speed overnight en route to Cozumel, and there was no delay in reaching the port destination on time.

Carnival Dream spent Thursday, May 18 in Cozumel as planned from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday will be a day at sea, and the ship will return to Galveston, Texas on Saturday, May 20, ready for its next sailing – an 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that will visit Key West, Florida as well as Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau in The Bahamas.

Lots of News Headlines for Carnival Dream

This is the third time in recent weeks that the 130,000-gross-ton Carnival Dream has made news headlines.

Earlier this month, an 86-year-old male guest was evacuated from the ship with “side effects from ingesting a battery,” an unusual reason for any cruise medical evacuation.

Carnival Dream Cruise Ship
Photo Copyright: Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

At the end of April, the ship had another medical evacuation during which a sudden squall blew in and nearly caused the catastrophic crash of a US Coast Guard helicopter, though the aircraft was able to recover and return to base safely. After the weather cleared, a second crew was dispatched to complete the evacuation.

It is a credit to the ship’s officers and crew that they are alert to such diverse situations and safely able to attend to those in need, whether onboard guests or other mariners in distress.

Carnival Dream is currently homeported from Galveston, offering 6-night Western Caribbean sailings and 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruises, with the occasional longer Journeys cruise on its schedule. The ship is scheduled to remain sailing from Galveston through at least April 2025.

Cruise Hive commends Carnival Dream and wishes the ship smooth sailing in the weeks to come!

Norwegian Cruise Line Causes Confusion Over Alcohol

Robert McGillivray
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Norwegian Cruise Line Causes Confusion Over Alcohol

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has decided to prohibit the sale of alcohol on its ships while in UK ports. This applies to all Norwegian cruise ships visiting the UK. Passengers who have purchased drinks packages or Free at Sea packages, are also affected.

The exact reason for the ban is unclear, with NCL blaming the UK port authorities for requesting license payments with short notice.

The New Rule and Its Implications

Norwegian Cruise Line has stopped selling and serving of alcohol onboard its ships calling on any UK port. The move has caught many guests off guard. In fact, most guests did not find out what was happening until notices in bars and lounges were put up onboard ships.

Guests who purchased drinks packages or opted for Free at Sea fares, which also include a drinks package, are not exempt from this recent ban.

The precise reason behind this sudden change remains unclear, with NCL attributing the restriction to the UK port authorities’ sudden demand for license payments. Parallels to this restriction have also been spotted in certain Italian ports, and NCL had previously enforced a similar ban in Greek ports in 2022.

Norwegian Cruise Line Ship
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz

One point of criticism has been NCL’s communication, or lack thereof, regarding the prohibition and how they plan to address it. The statement issued by Norwegian Cruise Line says:

“Please be advised that in accordance with the laws and regulations of select ports, the sale Of duty-free goods, including alcohol beverages, is not permitted while the vessel is in port or proximity thereof. However, in certain ports of call, which will be specified onboard. guests who have pre-purchased any of NCL’s beverage packages may be served. “

The fact that Norwegian Cruise Line is now banning alcohol sales, as well as the serving of alcohol while in port, suggests that the cruise line is currently not willing to levy taxes on guests or shoulder the burden itself. While this decision may save NCL the cost of taxes, it is causing dissatisfaction among their guests.

Moreover, NCL’s lack of clear communication about the ban and the reasons behind it has led to widespread confusion. While the cruise line attributed the ban to sudden demands for license payments by UK port authorities, the existing regulations suggest that this could be a move to avoid paying duty and VAT.

To add to the current confusion, some guests who are booked on a Norwegian sailing report that they have received confirmation from the cruise line that they are allowed to be served alcohol while in port.

Cruise Hive has reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for further clarification and will update this post as more details emerge.

The Norwegian Fleet in the UK

NCL’s decision to halt alcohol sales at UK ports directly impacts several of its ships operating in the area. For instance, the 92,250 gross tons Norwegian Dawn, which has a guest capacity of 2,340 guests, has several upcoming sailings throughout the British Isles through October 14, marking the end of its European stint for the year.

Similarly, the Norwegian Getaway has cruises scheduled from Lisbon to Southampton and vice versa, wrapping up its European sailings with a voyage from Southampton to New York, on October 22.

Norwegian Getaway Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Bjoern Wylezich / Shutterstock

The new Norwegian Prima, the company’s flagship vessel, will also operate itineraries from Southampton with cruises to Reykjavik and Barcelona through October 1. Finally, Norwegian Star has seven cruises that call on or sail from UK ports through October 23.

Rules & Regulations

The UK government has regulations that allow cruise ships with an international itinerary to serve duty-free alcohol during the voyage if passengers and crew are the only ones permitted onboard. However, for cruises that do not call at any other ports besides those in the UK, duty must be paid on the quantities consumed.

The UK Government’s website reads: “Where a cruise ship calls at multiple UK ports as part of a wider international itinerary, the bars, and restaurants may continue to serve excise duty-free stores throughout the cruise. This is on the condition that the only passengers and crew allowed on board are those traveling on an entitled journey outside the UK.“

“Intra-UK cruises: These cruises do not call at any port other than those situated in the UR. Duty-free stores can be Ioaded for these Journeys but the quantities consumed must be duty-paid.“

Southampton Cruise port

This regulation is not new. One person made a Freedom of Information request to HM Revenue and Customs in 2015; the letter posted online states:

“I have just traveled from Hamburg to Southampton with Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) aboard its new brand new ship Norwegian Escape. I arrived in Southampton on 27th October and up to then had been billed for purchases made at the advertised price plus a service charge of 18%.”

“On the evening of the 27th, the ship left port and sailed in the English Channel before returning to Southampton this morning. Overnight all bills now also had VAT additionally applied and also duty tax for alcohol.”

The implications of this situation for NCL are yet to be seen. The choice to cease alcohol sales in UK ports is significant, and how NCL handles the backlash will be a major topic of discussion in the coming days and weeks.

Royal Caribbean Meteorologist Moves On, No Replacement Hired

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Meteorologist Moves On, No Replacement Hired

Popular social media personality and chief meteorologist for Royal Caribbean International, James Van Fleet, has confirmed that he is moving on from his position with the cruise line and no replacement will be hired.

What will this mean for keeping guests updated about weather conditions impacting their cruises?

James Van Fleet Moving On

As of May 1, 2023, James Van Fleet is no longer with Royal Caribbean International to report on storm systems or weather updates as the cruise line’s Chief Meteorologist. The update was shared on Van Fleet’s popular Twitter feed, where he has more than 27,000 followers.

“Hey friends, quick life update, just wanted to make it official and let you know as of May first I am no longer with Royal Caribbean,” Van Fleet said, while thanking the cruise line for an amazing work experience. “That was so much fun, I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Van Fleet also thanked guests for their trust over the past 6.5 years as he provided storm updates and other information about how different weather conditions would impact their cruise vacations.

Van Fleet started with Royal Caribbean in January 2017 as the first meteorologist employed by any cruise line, and over the years has updated cruise guests and interested fans about weather-related ship diversions, itinerary changes, port cancellations, delays, and more.

Prior to working with Royal Caribbean, he worked as a meteorologist for local television channels in both Tampa and Orlando, as well as stations in Texas, giving him more than 20 years’ experience in areas with the most popular cruise ship homeports.

Keeping Guests Informed

In comments to his video announcement, Van Fleet confirmed that Royal Caribbean will no longer have a staff meteorologist, but that does not mean the cruise line will fail to notify guests of weather-related changes to their cruises.

Many cruise lines use digital apps to keep guests informed of any itinerary changes, as well as text messages, emails, and onboard announcements and communication from each ship’s captain when changes or diversions are necessary.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Hendrickson Photography / Shutterstock

While Van Fleet was a comfortable and familiar “face” for such announcements, the cruise line is sure to continue keeping guest, crew, and ship safety at the forefront when weather conditions may impact cruise travel. All ship captains and operations officials at the cruise line’s Miami headquarters continue to receive updated weather information at all times.

Some guests on social media are speculating that Van Fleet’s departure may be a cost-cutting maneuver by the cruise line, eliminating a position that may not be deemed essential. There is no confirmation, however, that financial considerations were in any way a factor in the employment change.

Hurricane Season Set to Begin

Van Fleet’s departure from Royal Caribbean International comes just days before the 2023 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season is set to begin. The official hurricane season runs annually from June 1 through November 30, though dangerous storms can occasionally form outside those dates.

Caribbean Hurricane
Photo Credit: Drew McArthur / Shutterstock

The outlook for the 2023 season predicts a “challenging” season. While a strong El Nino is possible to develop, which would generally lessen the number of tropical storms, a very warm Atlantic Ocean would indicate an increase in storms.

This creates greater uncertainty for storm season predictions, but overall, a total of 13-15 named storms are expected, with 6-7 becoming hurricanes and 2-3 strengthening to “major” storms. This amounts to an average hurricane season, but there is no predicting how, when, or where storms may make landfall or impact cruise travel at this point.

Read Also: How a Hurricane Could Affect Your Cruise

Cruise travelers should always monitor weather conditions as their sailing date approaches, and be prepared for alternative travel plans and flexible cruise expectations if weather does impact their voyage.

Norwegian Cancels Months of Alaska Season for One Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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Norwegian Cancels Months of Alaska Season for One Ship

Norwegian Cruise Line has reached out to booked guests and affiliated travel partners to notify them that nearly all of Norwegian Spirit‘s 2024 Alaska sailing season has been cancelled for a full ship charter.

A total of 12 7-night sailings are impacted, which amounts to all of the ship’s regular Alaska season, with only longer cruises left open for bookings.

Norwegian Spirit Booked for Months of Charter Sailings

In an email sent to booked guests and travel partners, Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the cancellation of most of Norwegian Spirit‘s 2024 Alaska cruise season.

“As a result of a full ship charter, Norwegian Spirit’s sailings from July 3, 2024 through and including September 18, 2024 have been canceled,” the email read.

These cancellations include all of the ship’s planned 7-night sailings for Alaska in 2024, both northbound and southbound itineraries. In total, 12 cruises are impacted.

Norwegian Spirit
Norwegian Spirit (Photo Credit: Ian Dewar Photography / Shutterstock)

The email does not indicate what company may be arranging so many charter sailings, but Norwegian Cruise Line works with a wide variety of businesses to offer full-ship charters.

One of the cruise line’s most prominent charter partners is Sixthman, which arranges music festivals on cruise ships as well as land-based resorts. In the past 20 years, Sixthman has arranged more than 130 music festivals at sea, bringing unique bands, artists, athletes, comedians, and other performers together with fans for unforgettable getaways.

It is also possible that more than one company is involved in the unprecedented number of charter sailings that are removing Norwegian Spirit from public booking for nearly three months.

It is important to note that because these are charter sailings, the ship is not being removed from service and will continue to host guests, but those bookings must go through the appropriate charter arrangements rather than directly through Norwegian Cruise Line.

Generous Compensation Offered

These cancellations will impact more than 24,000 guests, as Norwegian Spirit can welcome 2,032 guests when booked at double occupancy. It is common for Alaska sailings to be family cruises booked over 100% with 3-4 guests per cabin.

To compensate guests whose cruises are now cancelled, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering generous compensation with multiple credits available.

Norwegian Spirit Cruise Ship
Image Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line

First, all impacted guests will automatically receive a full refund of the fare paid, returned to the original form of payment. If the cruise fare was paid with a future cruise credit (FCC), that credit will be returned to the guest’s Latitudes loyalty account.

Second, guests have the option to take advantage of a 50% discount for select 2023 Alaska sailings, which will be issued as a new FCC and may be applied for either Norwegian Jewel sailings (May 22, 2023 through and including September 25, 2023) or Norwegian Spirit sailings (May 24, 2023, though and including August 23, 2023).

Finally, all guests will also receive a 10% FCC for any future voyage from May 22, 2023 through December 31, 2024, on any ship cruising to any destination. The 10% discount cannot be combined with the 50% 2023 Alaska discount offer.

“We sincerely appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you aboard very soon,” the email concluded.

Alternative Options

While it will be disappointing to many guests to have their Alaska cruises cancelled, by notifying impacted travelers more than 13 months in advance, there is plenty of time to make different arrangements for an amazing cruise to the Last Frontier.

Guests could take advantage of the 50% discount to sail on Norwegian Spirit this year, if they are able to accelerate their travel plans, or they could enjoy the slightly larger Norwegian Jewel for a 2023 Alaska cruise.

The 10% discount could also be applied to other Norwegian cruise ships in Alaska for 2023: Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Sun.

Norwegian Joy in Alaska
Photo Credit: EB Adventure Photography / Shutterstock.com

If guests would still prefer to set sail in 2024, Norwegian Spirit will be offering longer itineraries that do visit Alaska that summer. The April 22 and May 8 departures are both 16-night sailings that include not only top Alaskan ports of call, but also Hawaiian destinations – an amazing combination for an unforgettable itinerary.

Similarly, the June 17, 2024 Norwegian Spirit cruise sails from Honolulu to Vancouver, visiting the Hawaiian ports of Kauai, Maui, and Hilo before sailing to Alaska to visit Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.

More From Cruise Hive

At the end of the 2024 Alaska season, Norwegian Spirit will offer one final Alaska-to-Hawaii cruise of the year, departing on September 25 for a 16-night cruise from Vancouver to Honolulu.

In addition to the remaining Norwegian Spirit 2024 Alaska cruises, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Jewel, and Norwegian Sun will again be deployed to the region next year, offering a wide range of itineraries and departure dates to choose from for any guests interested in sailing Alaska.

Mexico’s Cruise Arrivals Soar to Record Heights

Robert McGillivray
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Mexico’s Cruise Arrivals Soar to Record Heights

Mexico’s cruise industry has hit a new milestone, with an unprecedented 2.9 million passengers arriving in the first quarter of 2023, according to a report from the Ministry of Tourism. 

This impressive figure marks an increase of more than 80% compared to the same period in 2022 and an increase of nearly 10% compared to the first quarter of 2019, the busiest cruise year in history.

A Surge in Cruise Arrivals and Economic Impact

Mexico’s cruise tourism industry is experiencing an unprecedented boom, with a record-breaking 2.9 million guests arriving in the first quarter of 2023. This represents a stunning increase in arrivals and economic impact as the country’s investment in tourism pays off.

Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marqués, reported that the arrival of 995 cruise ships in this period has resulted in a foreign exchange income of 241 million dollars, marking an increase of 104% compared to the same period of 2022.

This surge in arrivals is about more than just numbers. It signifies an impressive recovery and growth of Mexico’s tourism sector, with the average expenditure of cruise passengers increasing to 80.9 dollars, a jump of 10.1% from the 73.5 dollars registered in the same period of 2022.

Top Destinations

Mexico is home to the busiest cruise port in the world, Cozumel, but that’s not all the country has to offer. Both the Caribbean side as well as the Pacific coastline are incredibly popular destinations for cruise ships. 

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Photo Credit: Aberu.Go / Shutterstock)

Certain destinations have seen particularly significant growth. Cozumel and Costa Maya on the Caribbean side, as well as Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, and Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific side, were the ports that received the highest number of cruise passengers, accounting for a staggering 88.3% of the total.

Cozumel saw 409 arrivals and over 1.28 million guests. This is 18.9% more cruise ship arrivals and 115.1% more cruise passengers than in 2022. Despite receiving fewer vessels than Cozumel, Costa Maya reported 145 arrivals with nearly half a million guests, an increase of 48.5% over the first quarter of 2022.

On the Mexican Riviera, Cabo San Lucas welcomed 100 vessels with over 300,000 guests, showing a 26.6% in ships and a 132.4% increase in passengers compared to 2022. 

Puerto Vallarta saw the arrival of 72 cruise ships with over 220,000 guests, a growth of 28.6% and 113.8% compared to the first quarter of 2022.

Cruise Ship in Ensenada
Cruise Ship in Ensenada (Photo Credit: David J. Mitchell / Shutterstock)

Ensenada, with 92 cruise ship arrivals and 274,352 passengers, dramatically increased 253.8% and 506.1% in the number of ships and guests compared to the same period in 2022. The massive increase in Ensenada can be attributed to the unrest that spoiled much of the cruise season last year.

Mexico Heading for a Record-Breaking Year

All in all, Mexico could be heading to the biggest year in history, possibly beating the impressive arrival numbers of 2019. In that year, Mexican ports received 2,951 cruise ships; these ships brought with them 8,926,617 passengers. 

With the 995 cruise ships that visited Mexico in the first three months of the year and the 2,9 million passengers, the country’s ports are well underway to surpass those numbers.

Worth Reading: When is the Best Time to Cruise the Mexican Riviera?

However, the initial months of the year typically witness a peak in arrivals, with the summer months seeing a slowdown. This pattern is due to the popularity of Alaska and European cruises during the warmer months. Still, the data suggest that Mexico’s ports are on a promising course to a record-breaking year.

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