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Norwegian Cruise Line Removes Months of Spirit Sailings

Norwegian Cruise Line News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jun 18, 2023

Norwegian Cruise Line Removes Months of Spirit Sailings

Norwegian Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked on many different sailings for Norwegian Spirit in 2024 and 2025 to let them know their cruises have been cancelled.

Different guests have reported months of cancelled bookings, which leaves the ship’s deployment plans in question for the next two years.

2024 Norwegian Spirit Cancellations

Just one month ago, Norwegian Cruise Line announced the cancellation of several months of Alaska sailings for Norwegian Spirit. The 12 total sailings represented nearly all of the ship’s 2024 Alaska sailing season, and the changes were made due to a full ship charter for all of those sailings.

Now, even more 2024 cruises have been cancelled for the newly renovated ship. Guests booked on sailings from May 8 through June 17, 2024 have been informed of cancellations of all cruises in that five-week window.

Norwegian Cruise Line said in a letter: “As a company, we are committed to providing exceptional vacation experiences, both aboard our ships and by taking our guests to some of the most sought-out destinations around the world. As a result of a fleet redeployment, Norwegian Spirit’s sailings from May 8, 2024, through and including June 17, 2024, have been canceled.”

Norwegian Spirit Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: ackats / Shutterstock)

This includes four separate, unique sailings that would have brought the ship from Vancouver to Honolulu, then on to Papeete, Tahiti, then return sailings back to Honolulu and back to Vancouver. The two Vancouver/Honolulu sailings were 12 nights each, while the two Honolulu/Papeete sailings were each 16 nights.

Worth Reading: Norwegian Spirit Guests Informed of Major Itinerary Change

Guests on any of these cruises are being refunded 100% of the fare paid, to be returned to the original form of payment. These refunds will process automatically but may take several weeks, depending on each guest’s financial institution.

Impacted travelers are also receiving a 20% discount as a future cruise credit (FCC) toward any alternative Norwegian Spirit cruise from June 23, 2023 through and including April 22, 2024.

Finally, an additional 10% discount FCC is being offered for any Norwegian Cruise Line sailing on any vessel from June 23, 2023, through December 31, 2024. This 10% discount cannot be combined with the 20% discount specifically for Norwegian Spirit sailings.

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

2025 Norwegian Spirit Cancellations

In addition to the months of 2024 cancellations, Norwegian Cruise Line has also reached out to guests booked for Norwegian Spirit sailings from February 8 through November 23, 2025, to inform them that all of those cruises – more than nine months’ worth of sailings – are also cancelled.

These were to have included 21 different cruises, including 12-, 13-, 14-, and 15-night sailings in Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, and Hawaii.

Guests impacted by the 2025 cancellations will receive similar compensation as for the 2024 cancelled cruises: a 100% refund of the fare paid, a 20% FCC discount for select Norwegian Spirit sailings (June 23, 2023, through, and including April 22, 2024), and a 10% discount FCC for any other published sailing from June 23, 2023 through and including December 31, 2025, not combinable with the Norwegian Spirit discount.

Why So Many Cancellations?

No detailed explanation has been given as to why dozens of cruises have been cancelled for Norwegian Spirit in recent weeks. Each email has only stated that the changes are “a result of fleet redeployment” though no new itineraries for the ship have yet been announced.

The Leo-class vessel is the oldest in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, having debuted in 1998, but only recently received a $100 million (USD) bow-to-stern refurbishment.

This massive investment to upgrade and renovate the ship does not indicate that selling the vessel may be imminent, and it is instead likely that new itineraries will be announced shortly and Norwegian Spirit will instead be sailing in different regions than initially planned.

What’s on the Bottom of a Cruise Ship?

How Cruise Ships Work

Haiyan Ma

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Jun 18, 2023

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When you board your cruise ship to kick off your vacation, chances are you aren’t thinking about the ship’s anatomy. But for those enthusiasts that get excited about the cruise ship itself, you may be curious to know about every part of it.

Everyone is always curious about their cabin or stateroom, what to do on the upper deck, and where the crew members hang out. But one part of a cruise ship that is often overlooked is the bottom.

The bottom of cruise ships is referred to as the hull. The hull can be further broken down into other parts and features that all work together to ensure the operation and maintenance of the massive ship.

In this article, you’ll learn what lies at the bottom to understand the importance of this part and better understand how they function overall.

In This Article…

What Do the Bottom of Cruise Ships Look Like?
What Is the Bottom of a Cruise Ship Called?
Other Parts on the Bottom
FAQ
Mystery Solved

What Do the Bottom of Cruise Ships Look Like?

Before diving deeper into the specifics, let’s start by describing what it looks like.

The bottom of most cruise ships is relatively flat. A wide, flat bottom makes the ship more stable and minimizes additional movement. Cruise ships have a flat bottom, but the front part narrows into a bulbous shape, while the back is slightly elevated.

What Is the Bottom of a Cruise Ship Called?

The bottom of the cruise ship is commonly known as the hull. People usually refer to this when discussing the topic. However, the very lowest part is the Keel, the main foundation of the ship. It’s also the first main block of the vessel to be constructed.

The hull, specifically, is the watertight outer body of the vessel. This part of the ship extends down into the water and upwards to the lower open decks of the ship.

Bottom of Cruise Ship — Bottom of a Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Tawansak / Shutterstock)

The hulls of modern cruise ships consist of welded heavy steel panels to protect them from corrosion and damage. This helps these vessels sail day after day for decades.

Ships that go through polar expeditions often have additional layers of steel on their hulls to break through the ice. The lowest crew and sometimes passenger accommodations have portholes integrated into the hull as windows.

Cruise ship hulls come in different shapes. For example, to slice through the water smoothly, large oceangoing ships usually have a deep V-shaped hull.

In contrast, riverboats usually have either a shallow V-shaped hull or a flat-bottom hull so they can cruise in different depths of water. While it’s good to know what a hull is, there are other parts of the bottom that you should know. Let’s check them out.

Other Parts on the Bottom

Ships are complex and have many moving parts to operate properly. Here are other parts of the ships that you should know alongside the hull.

Bottom of Ship (Photo Credit: El Greco 1973 / Shutterstock)

Keel: The keel of a ship is the bottommost structural part of the ship, which runs from the bow to the stern along the centerline.
Bilge keels: Bilge keels are found on either side of the bottom of the cruise ship. They’re devices that reduce the ship’s ability to roll onto either side of the water.
Bulbous bow: Located at the front end of the cruise ship, the bulbous bow is designed to reduce the ship’s drag while at sea by changing how the waves affect the hull. This way, the ship ends up consuming less fuel throughout the sailing.

FAQ

How do you clean the bottom of a cruise ship?

There are two ways to clean the bottom of a cruise ship. The first way is to dry dock the ship and clean it from the outside while undergoing other maintenance. The only downside to this method is how much it costs. When the vessel is dry-docked, it is expensive for the cruise line.

A more affordable way to clean a cruise ship’s bottom is to manually clean it underwater using divers’ equipment. The only thing to watch out for with this one is not to remove invasive species and introduce them into foreign waters.

How much of a cruise ship is underwater?

About 10% of a ship’s overall height is underwater. This could end up being anywhere from 20 feet to 30 feet. That said, the larger the vessel, the deeper underwater the bottom part will be and the heavier it will be.

Mystery Solved

In conclusion, the underside of a cruise ship is referred to as the hull, which comprises several layers of steel to safeguard the massive vessel’s base.

Worth Reading: Underwater Cruise Ship Rooms – What Are They?

The bottom plays an essential role in the overall operation of the vessel and in ensuring the safety of all on board. Hopefully, this article has made you feel better about what lies at the bottom to add some peace of mind and the behind-the-scenes of a vessel.

Carnival Cruise Line Testing Dining Room Menu Changes

Carnival Cruise News

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Jun 16, 2023

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Carnival Cruise Line Testing Dining Room Menu Changes

Carnival Cruise Line will be trialing a fully revamped Dining room menu onboard Carnival Dream, with plans to roll out the changes to the rest of the fleet by the fall.

The company’s president, Christine Duffy, unveiled the plans during a video shot onboard Carnival Venezia. Not only is Carnival addressing portion sizing, but it will also bring dishes from the specialty restaurants to the main dining rooms and introduce many new dishes, including vegetarian options.

Carnival Announces Menu Redesign

After a long period without change, Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy announced today, June 16, a massive change to the cruise line’s dining menus. The cruise line’s fans will welcome the changes as it addresses many issues that guests have brought forward.

The upcoming changes to the dining experience, which include the introduction of nearly 60 new dishes, will be tested first onboard Carnival Dream. According to Duffy’s recent video message, the changes result from a rigorous process. You can watch the video below:

“Starting with this Saturday’s embarkation on Carnival Dream, we’re gonna be testing a new menu in the main dining room. Then the goal is that we’ll start implementing these changes across the fleet this fall.”

“Now, this was all done in consultation with our chief culinary officer, Emeril Lagasse. Where we’ve been looking at every aspect of the main dining room offerings. I think our guests are gonna be very excited as we plan to bring more variety with nearly 60 new entree presentations that will rotate through,” Duffy said in a video shot onboard the cruise line’s newest cruise ship, Carnival Venezia.

Variety and Portion Sizes

The new menu aims to bring a sense of variety to the dining room with nearly 60 new rotating entree presentations. Moreover, it’s not just the number of choices that are changing – certain dishes will now be available in larger portions, while the cruise line also plans to introduce certain specialty restaurant offerings in the main dining room.

“The menu in Main Dining the menu is gonna include offerings from our specialty dining restaurants across the fleet so that more of our guests can experience the wide variety of great food we offer no matter which ship you’re sailing on. And we’re also addressing bigger portion offerings on certain entrees based on your feedback,” Duffy noted.

However, fan-favorite dishes such as the chocolate melting cake and bitter and blanc will still be on the menu. Moreover, the enhancements will bring a broader range of dietary items, with Duffy revealing an increase in vegetarian options and the introduction of a dining entree salad with a protein component.

The menu changes also extend to the Carnival Journeys voyages. Guests aboard these longer itineraries can look forward to more variety to keep the dining experience exciting.

Christine Duffy: “We’re also gonna be offering more vegetarian options and we’ve decided to add a dining entree salad, so a nice big salad with a protein and Carnival Journeys voyages will also have more variety to keep things fun.”

Carnival Dream Takes the Lead

As Carnival Dream embarks on its 8-night Eastern Caribbean voyage from Galveston, Texas, on Saturday, June 17, it will provide the first real test for the new menu. Before returning to Galveston, the cruise includes stops at Key West, Florida, and Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau, Bahamas.

As part of the trial, Duffy encourages guests sailing on Carnival Dream this summer to enjoy the new menu and share their feedback. “So if you are gonna be sailing Carnival Dream this summer, enjoy the new menu. I know you’ll be sharing your feedback.”

With the cruise line planning to introduce these menu enhancements fleetwide soon, it will be interesting to see if the changes are indeed something guests will love.

Virgin Voyages Details One-of-a-Kind Cruise With Richard Branson

Virgin Voyages News

Donna Tunney

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Jun 16, 2023

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Virgin Voyages Details One-of-a-Kind Cruise With Richard Branson

Richard Branson is planning a big party later this summer aboard Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady to mark the Virgin brand’s 50-plus years of innovation. Cruisers can sail along with Branson, undoubtedly one of the world’s best-known entrepreneurs, as the ship island-hops through the Eastern Mediterranean.

Cruise to Mark Virgin’s Decades of Successes

Virgin Voyages announced it will sail a special cruise, “A Virgin Celebration Voyage,” with British mogul Richard Branson and other company leaders onboard, giving guests on the line’s newest ship, Resilient Lady, the chance to interact with the Virgin Group’s top brass.

The 7-night celebration voyage is roundtrip from Athens and departs on August 27, 2023, calling at Santorini, Rhodes, and Mykonos, Greece, and Bodrum, Turkey.

Resilient Lady Cruise Ship (Photo Courtesy: Alex Anderson / Maritime Filming UK)

Branson launched Virgin Voyages in 2021, but his other major businesses date back decades, starting with Virgin Airways. Besides Resilient Lady, which debuted just last month, Virgin Voyages also operates Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. A fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, is due to enter service in December 2023. All four are identical, carrying 2,770 guests.

The celebration cruise will feature fireside chats with Virgin Group leaders and influencers, special performances, culinary programs, and other notable experiences. The cruise is expected to be a draw for members of the cruise line’s loyalty program, called Sailing Club.

In fact, the cruise was designed with Virgin brand loyalists and Sailing Club members in mind, with the line offering a “Red Hot Savings Offer” of 30% off the fare to those guests.

“When we launched our Sailing Club last year, we knew we wanted to offer a unique loyalty program that provided Sailors with irresistible benefits and exclusive access to special brand moments,” said Tom McAplin, CEO of Virgin Voyages.

“A Virgin Celebration Voyage is a great example of this and benefits not only our Virgin following, but our incredible Sailing Club members. It’s an exciting time to be a real brand loyalist,” he added.

Richard Branson, Virgin Voyages — Photo By: Virgin Voyages

The cruise line said the special voyage will “break down all of the stuffy corporate barriers and offer a candid look into one of the most ground-breaking, recognizable and respected brands of all time.”

Those brands are spread across multiple business sectors besides travel, such as music and entertainment (think Virgin Records), media, financial services, and space, Branson’s latest adventure – the Virgin Galactic space-flight company.

The Virgin Galactic brand, in fact, announced earlier this week that it has set a launch window of June 27 to June 30 to operate its first commercial space flight.

About the Virgin Voyages Ships

Resilient Lady launched her inaugural season from Athens on May 14, 2023, and will sail to ports in Greece and Turkey through October. In early November, the ship will reposition to Melbourne, Australia, offering a series of Australia sailings roundtrip from Sydney and Melbourne.

The ship originally was slated to include New Zealand ports on her itineraries, but the line altered those plans last week, attributing the change to guest and travel partner feedback calling for shorter cruises.

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock

The line’s fourth sister ship, Brilliant Lady, is in her final outfitting stages following her float-out in November 2002 from the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy.

Brilliant Lady will sail her maiden voyage from PortMiami on December 24, 2023. The 5-night Caribbean Holidays cruise will call at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St Croix, US Virgin Islands; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

All Virgin Voyages ships are adult-only, with a minimum age of 18 required to book a cruise. The brand diverts from traditional cruise lines in several ways, among them the lack of a main dining room.

On Virgin ships, cruisers have a choice of some 20 dining venues, many of them themed and all included in the base fare.

New Princess Cruise Ship to Feature First Rollglider at Sea

Princess Cruises News

Emrys Thakkar

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Jun 15, 2023

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New Princess Cruise Ship to Feature First Rollglider at Sea

Princess Cruises has revealed further details about its hugely anticipated and largest-ever cruise ship, Sun Princess.

Even though the new vessel is still at the shipyard, the cruise line is already teasing new features, including the first rollglider at sea! The new feature is part of a new top family deck unveiled today and new spaces for younger guests.

Sun Princess Park19 Family Deck With First Rollglider

The cruise line has teased more about its new Sphere-class Sun Princess cruise ship, a new class LNG-powered vessel currently under construction in Italy and debuting in early 2024.

Princess Cruises has detailed the ship’s new Park19, a new top-deck family activity zone that also features the first rollglider on a ship, named Sea Breeze.

“Park19 as the name suggests is a new space created for all our guests, including activities to bring together multi-generational travel families in a location with spectacular views and fun outdoor activities for all,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president.

The space for the entire family to have some fun spans decks 19, 20, and 21. The main highlight of the space will be Sea Breeze, allowing guests to glide safely above the deck, offering stunning panoramic views.

A passenger will be safely harnessed to an electric roll glider and can reach speeds of up to 11 mph via an overhead track. The exclusive ride, the first on any ship, lasts up to 90 seconds and is ADA-accessible.

“The new area was tailored based on guest feedback for more family and group activities spaces,” Padgett added.

Park19 has even more ways to bring the fun on the open decks. An engaging climbing structure with access will start on decks 19 to 20. What’s being named Coastal Climb, guests must manage through obstacles high above the deck below.

When guests reach the top of the climbing structure, they will be met with The Lookout, an open-air observation deck with 360-degree views of the ocean and the Sun Princess cruise ship. There will also be The Net, above deck 19, with guests having to make their way across, along with a balance and climbing nets.

Sun Princess will continue offering the chance for an amazing view on the open deck with Infinite Horizon. Guests can look at the decks below through these tilting glass panels.

As part of Park19 is also a Hammock Area for guests to relax, a Splash Zone with water sculptures, a jogging track that wraps around the activity deck, and a recreational court offering all kinds of sports and wellness options.

Spaces for Teens and Youth on Sun Princess

There will be some dedicated spaces for the younger passengers on decks six and seven. Each venue will be for a specific age, ranging from six months to 17 years old.

“These expanded offerings give younger cruisers plenty to explore and enjoy aboard Sun Princess, creating an even more family-friendly experience with something for everyone regardless of age,” Padgett added.

The Firefly Park will be open for only the youngest passengers, from six months to seven years old. However, their family members can also attend the venue to interact and play with their younger family members. Kids can be dropped off to enjoy various activities, while the parents can have a break and enjoy other parts of the Sun Princess.

The venue will have a dedicated play area for babies up to three years old to crawl and engage. A babysitting service is available during the after-hours between 10 AM and 1 AM, but this will cost $5 per hour and only for kids aged three-12.

There’s the Neon Grove space and The Underground for the older kids. These are two separate venues depending on age, are located on deck seven. Both venues feature chillout areas, different gaming consoles, and some games like air hockey. The staff will also put on various activities to keep them busy.

Sun Princess Debuts in Early 2024

The new Sun Princess is currently under construction at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard in Italy. The ship has already celebrated its float out onto the water for the first time in March 2023. The main focus is outfitting all the interior spaces ready for the big debut in February 2024.

Once completed, the first Sphere class cruise ship for Princess Cruises will be 175,000 gross tons, making her the largest ever built for the Carnival-owned cruise line. She will be fully powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The passenger capacity will be 4,300.

The ship’s first guest voyage will be out of Barcelona, Spain, on February 8, 2024. The inaugural voyage will be for ten nights around the Mediterranean, including ports in Spain, Greece, and Italy. Sun Princess will sail a full inaugural season in Europe before redeploying to the Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November 2024.

Carnival Venezia Makes Long-Awaited Debut From New York City

Carnival Cruise News

Robert McGillivray

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Jun 15, 2023

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Carnival Venezia Makes Long-Awaited Debut From New York City

The latest addition to the Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Venezia, has embarked on its inaugural voyage from New York City today. The arrival of the first ‘Carnival Fun Italian Style’ has been eagerly anticipated by fans of the cruise line and those eager to sail onboard the former Costa Cruises ship from the Big Apple.

Carnival Venezia set sail to Bermuda after a spectacular and Fun naming ceremony on Wednesday evening, hosted by the first-ever Godfather for Carnival Cruise Line, Jay Leno.

Special Inaugural Event Sets Sail

The latest addition to the Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Venezia, embarked on its inaugural voyage from New York City today, June 15, 2023.

The first cruise will sail to King’s Wharf, Bermuda, where she arrives on June 17. She will return for her next cruise, an 8-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, on June 19. The newest cruise ship in Carnival’s fleet made her grand arrival in the city on June 13.

Carnival hosted a welcome event at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal to commemorate the ship’s maiden voyage from New York. The festivities began on Wednesday evening with a naming ceremony onboard and continued into Thursday morning with the boarding of the first guests.

The event was highlighted by a special blessing from Father Enrique Salvo of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The 135,500 gross tons cruise ship also received a visit from Jay Leno, the acclaimed comedian and Late-Night television host, who has been named the first-ever godfather of a Carnival ship.

In addition to his godfatherly duties, Leno performed a unique comedy show exclusively for the event attendees.

In her remarks, Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, celebrated Leno’s participation, stating, “By highlighting his own Italian heritage, Jay is helping us celebrate the Italian theming guests will experience when they cruise on this beautiful ship.”

On Thursday morning in the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Christine Duffy held a special event to receive guests boarding the newly named cruise ship. Accompanied by Captain Claudio Cupisti and a group of early boarders, Duffy led a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the official start of the embarkation process.

Given the strong historical ties between New York City and Italy, Carnival Cruise Line could not have picked a better place to homeport its first-ever ‘Italian Fun Ship.’

“We’ve heard great reviews from guests who sailed on the ship’s transatlantic crossing, and now I am so happy to welcome our first guests joining us from New York to enjoy what’s in store for them,” Duffy said.

Carnival Venezia: Fun Italian Style

Carnival Venezia, a Vista-class cruise ship, was formerly a part of the Costa Cruises fleet, destined to sail in China. After an extensive refurbishment, the vessel now boasts popular Carnival favorites while maintaining its unique Italian flair, offering guests an experience of American spirit blended with Italian elegance.

It marks the introduction of Carnival’s innovative “Fun Italian Style” concept, which integrates the line’s signature fun-filled elements with Italian design reminiscent of her past.

Carnival Venezia Cruise Ship (Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line)

Following her inaugural cruise, Carnival Venezia has a summer schedule packed with four-, five-, six-, and eight-day sailings.

Destinations include the Caribbean, Bermuda, and ports in Canada and New England. After the summer, from September 29, 2023, the ship will embark on eight- to 12-day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, and The Bahamas from Port Canaveral.

Highlights include Saint Thomas, San Juan, Aruba, and four of Carnival’s private destinations: Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk.

Carnival Venezia is the first of three new cruise ships joining the Carnival fleet over the next year. Next up will be Excel-class LNG-powered Carnival Jubilee, which is expected to make her debut on December 23 from Galveston, Texas.

Carnival Firenze will be handed over to Carnival by Costa Cruises later this year and will debut from Long Beach, California, on May 2, 2024.

MSC Cruises Details Future Shore Power Strategy

MSC Cruises News

Donna Tunney

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Jun 14, 2023

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MSC Cruises Details Future Shore Power Strategy

MSC Cruises has identified more than a dozen ports where its ships will soon be able to use shore power while vessels are docked, substantially reducing emissions. The cruise line’s ships are already using shore power or are testing the system at several European ports.

Line Identifies 15 Ports For Local Grid Connection

MSC Cruises announced the next phase of its shore power plan on June 14, identifying 15 additional ports in Europe and the US where its ships will be able to connect to shore power between 2024 and 2026.

The plan includes five ports in Italy; Barcelona and Valencia, Spain; Stavanger and Norfjordied, Norway; Miami; Copenhagen, Denmark; Marseille, France; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Valletta, Malta, and Stockholm, Sweden.

MSC Cruises Funnel — Photo Credit: Fitria Ramli / Shutterstock

Shore power connections have been installed on all of MSC Cruises’ new ships constructed since 2017, and other vessels have been retrofitted with the system, making 67% of the MSC Cruises fleet currently equipped with the technology.

Additionally, all ships in the cruise company’s new luxury brand, Explora Journeys, will be fitted with shore power capabilities. Explora Journeys’ first ship, Explora I, is due to enter service in July 2023, with five additional vessels to follow in the next five years.

MSC Cruises Moves Toward 100% Net-Zero

The ability to connect to shore power allows cruise ships to turn off their engines while in port while continuing to run hotel services on board.

MSC Cruises said it intends to use shore power at every port where it is available as part of the line’s goal to be 100% net-zero on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“We have invested heavily in hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems to substantially reduce local air quality emissions and we now need more ports across Europe and beyond to introduce shore power as quickly as possible,” said Linden Coppell, MSC Cruises’ vice president of sustainability.

“By making major reductions to emissions in ports, we are fulfilling our responsibility to the ports and coastal communities that our ships visit and serve,” he added.

Two MSC Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: Damitha Rukshan / Shutterstock)

MSC Cruises’ ships since early this year, have used local grid shore power at Southampton, UK, and Kristiansand, Norway. In summer 2023, the line will test shore power at the Norwegian port of Haugesund, and later this year, shore power trials are slated at the ports in Bergen and Alesund, Norway, and at Warnemunde, Germany.

Read Also: What Fuel Do Cruise Ships Use?

The cruise line’s ships will connect to shore power at two other German ports, Hamburg in the winter of 2023 and Kiel in the summer of 2024.

MSC Cruises also hopes to advance the installation of shore power at Baltic Sea ports, and last year signed an agreement with Cruise Baltic to have shore power widely available in ports in the region by 2024.

MSC Euribia Considered Most Energy Efficient

MSC Cruises last week launched its newest ship, MSC Euribia, which features the most energy-efficient technology in the industry. The ship operates on liquified natural gas (LNG) and low-sulfur marine gas oil.

In addition to her LNG-powered engines, MSC Euribia is designed to incorporate future environmental sustainability innovations, such as carbon-neutral synthetic and alternative fuels. The ship was built with advanced onboard wastewater treatment and waste management systems.

MSC Euribia Cruise Ship (Photo Courtesy: MSC Cruises)

MSC Euribia was christened in Copenhagen on June 8. The 184,011-gross-ton ship accommodates up to 6,334 guests. The ship will spend her inaugural season in Northern Europe this summer, operating 7-night cruises from Kiel, Germany and Copenhagen to the Norwegian Fjords.

Explora Journeys, meanwhile, has committed to green technologies for its future ships. While the luxury brand’s first two ships will be traditionally powered, Explora III and Explora IV will be powered by LNG and hydrogen, eliminating many air pollutant emissions.

Explora V and Explora VI also will be powered by a combination of LNG and hydrogen, and will contain a six-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell, a technology that eliminates all emissions while ships are in port.

Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels Call to Alaskan Port

Norwegian Cruise Line News

Robert McGillivray

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Jun 14, 2023

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In an unexpected move, Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the cancellation of its stop at Valdez, Alaska, this week on its cruise aboard the Norwegian Spirit.

The shift in the itinerary has sparked rumors online about Valdez being permanently scrapped from the ship’s routes. Norwegian Spirit will sail in Alaska through August this year, after which it will be repositioning to Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.

UPDATE: It has now been confirmed that the cruise line has canceled a full season of calls to Valdez in Alaska. You can read the new development right here.

Norwegian Spirit‘s Altered Itinerary

Norwegian Cruise Line has informed guests booked onboard the 7-night Alaska cruise onboard Norwegian Spirit departing today, June 14, that it has removed the port call to Valdez, Alaska.

Norwegian Spirit, which weighs 75,390 gross tons and has a passenger capacity of 2,018 guests, is currently sailing a series of seven and 14-day cruises to Alaska from Vancouver and Seward. However, as communicated in a recent letter to its guests, the cruise line has had to revise its itinerary due to reasons beyond its control.

“We are committed to delivering incredible vacation experiences. While we try to maintain original itineraries as much as possible, unfortunately, at times, there are circumstances outside our control that require us to make adjustments. “ the cruise line said in the letter.

“While we understand the disappointment this itinerary change may cause, we assure our guests that our other offerings will provide equally thrilling experiences.”

The Norwegian Spirit‘s itinerary was initially set to cruise from Seward to Valdez on June 14, with the call to Valdez scheduled for June 15.

The new itinerary has replaced the Valdez stop with a cruise through Hubbard Glacier, followed by a stop at the replacement for Valdez, Icy Strait Point, on June 16. Shore excursions booked for Valdez will be automatically canceled, and a full monetary refund will be issued.

Valdez, known for its diverse range of activities, is considered less popular than other Alaskan ports but still has many activities to enjoy. From adrenaline-filled activities like ice climbing and river rafting to various arts, entertainment, family activities, and natural attractions, the destination has much to offer its visitors.

This week’s cancellation has sparked rumors online with the suggestion that Norwegian Spirit will no longer call Valdez for this season. However, this has not currently been confirmed by Norwegian Cruise Line. Each of Norwegian Spirit’s cruises through August includes the port in its itineraries.

Future Plans for the Norwegian Spirit

The Norwegian Spirit is set to sail in Alaska until August this year. From there, she will reposition to the Pacific Ocean, with future cruises including a 16-night Alaska to Hawaii itinerary from August 30 to September 15, followed by several Hawaii and Pacific Ocean cruises and, from December, cruises between Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand.

Norwegian Cruise Line disclosed the cancellation of most of Norwegian Spirit’s 2024 Alaska sailing season due to a full ship charter in May 2023 and has also cancelled various cruises due to dry docks and other reasons.

While these changes may disappoint some guests, Norwegian Cruise Line has plenty of alternative options. Guests can choose to sail on other Norwegian ships in Alaska, such as Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Sun.

Additionally, Norwegian Spirit will offer longer itineraries in 2024 that include visits to Alaska alongside Hawaiian destinations.

Carnival Cruise Ship Diverts Due to Lack of Fresh Water

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jun 14, 2023

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Carnival Cruise Ship Diverts Due to Lack of Fresh Water

Guests aboard Carnival Elation have had an unexpected visit to Port Canaveral because the ship is currently unable to produce adequate fresh water. The onboard engineering and maintenance team is working to repair the issue, but it was necessary for the ship to call on Port Canaveral to take on more fresh water.

As a result, the ship’s current 5-night itinerary must be adjusted and the port time in Nassau, Bahamas, may be modified.

Carnival Elation Water Supply Issues

Guests onboard Carnival Elation have been notified by the ship’s master, Captain Vittorio Marchi, that the ship’s fresh water production system needs repair and as a result, it was necessary for the ship to divert to Port Canaveral to resupply.

“The ship has developed an issue that is impacting the production of fresh water,” the letter to guests read. “While we were able to take on a full supply of fresh water in Jacksonville, it is necessary for us to divert to Port Canaveral to replenish.”

The Fantasy-class vessel was in Port Canaveral to take on more fresh water on Tuesday, June 13, the first full day of its current sailing. The day was originally planned to be a day at sea on the way to Nassau, The Bahamas.

Carnival Elation Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Due to the unexpected stop, the ship’s time to Nassau is impacted, and Carnival Elation will be arriving to the capital of The Bahamas later than initially planned.

The port of call to Nassau was to have been from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14. Now, tracking data estimates the ship’s arrival to be approximately 11 a.m., but that may be updated as the ship gets closer to the destination.

The captain is keeping passengers onboard apprised of changes. “We are sorry for this change of plans and thank you for your understanding,” the letter concluded.

No mention was made of adjusting shore excursion times, though the onboard shore excursion teams is undoubtedly making appropriate arrangements to reschedule tours or cancel excursions if necessary.

The next port visit for the ship is Princess Cays on Thursday, June 15, which is not expected to be impacted.

Repairs Underway

Even as Carnival Elation has diverted to resupply with fresh water, the ship’s technical team is working on repairs. No details have been shared about what issue has developed, but the onboard engineers are well able to correct the problem.

It is possible that conservation measures may be taken onboard until repairs are completed, such as restricting ice or not having as much water available at dining venues or bars, unless bottled water is used.

Water in the ship’s pools and whirlpools is saltwater, and use of those facilities should not be affected.

Carnival Elation is one of just two Fantasy-class ships left in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet and is the oldest ship still sailing for the cruise line, having first debuted in March 1998.

The 71,909-gross-ton vessel can welcome 2,190 guests aboard at double occupancy, or as many as 2,697 passengers when fully booked with all berths filled. An international crew of approximately 800 team members is also aboard to offer fantastic fun service.

Homeported in Jacksonville, Florida, Carnival Elation offers 4- and 5-night sailings to The Bahamas with port visits to Nassau, Bimini, Princess Cays, and Freeport depending on the cruise length and sailing date.