Carnival Cruise Line is kicking off the summer season with the deployment shift of three ships, two of which will sail across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, while a third will embark on a Carnival Journeys cruise in the coming days.

The voyages mark the beginning of summer deployments for Carnival’s ships, which will sail to Alaska and Europe.

Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Spirit To Sail in Alaska

Carnival Cruise Line has begun preparations for the summer season with three cruise ships setting sail to their summer homeports today, April 13, and this weekend.

Carnival Luminosa departed Brisbane, Australia, on a 23-day transpacific sailing to Seattle, where she will arrive on May 4. Her arrival next month marks the first time that Carnival Luminosa is sailing in U.S. waters since joining the fleet in November 2022. From her Washington base, the former Costa Cruises ship will sail a season in Alaska.

Carnival Pride is leaving Tampa today for a transatlantic cruise to Europe. Carnival Spirit is set to sail from Miami to Seattle this weekend.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: “Guests on board Carnival Luminosa have thoroughly enjoyed all the extraordinary experiences of sailing from Australia, visiting pristine beaches, and taking in the local culture. Now, our fantastic shipboard crew members have a great opportunity to share this beautiful ship with even more guests for a new series of unforgettable cruises across Alaska.”

Carnival Spirit will depart Miami for a 16-day cruise to Seattle on Sunday, arriving just ahead of Carnival Luminosa on May 2, 2023, to begin operating in Alaska.

Guests will stop in destinations such as Santa Marta and Cartagena, Colombia; Costa Rica; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and cruise through the Panama Canal.

Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Spirit will each sail a four-month Alaska season, along with their sister ship, Carnival Miracle, which homeports in San Francisco. The ships will sail 49 Alaskan cruises, with itineraries ranging from six to fourteen days and visiting ports such as Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, and scenic cruising of Tracy Arm Fjord or Endicott Arm Fjord.

Carnival Pride Cruises to Europe

While Carnival Luminosa leaves Australia, another Carnival ship is making its way to Europe. Carnival Pride is sailing a 13-day transatlantic cruise from Tampa Bay to Barcelona, Spain. The ship will stop in Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Malaga, and Valencia, Spain.

Before guests can set foot onboard in Dover, UK; Barcelona, Spain; and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, Carnival Pride will go into dry dock.

Amongst the works scheduled for the Spirit-class cruise ship is the addition of the new Carnival livery, a red, white, and blue hull design. Carnival Pride is one of the very few Carnival cruise ships which hasn’t yet received the iconic livery.

Read Also: All Carnival Cruise Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest

There will also be the addition of a Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, and the steakhouse will be rebranded as Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and span two decks. 

Carnival Pride will sail 15 European cruises from May 28, 2023, through October 28, 2023. The ship will conclude its European season with a 15-day transatlantic voyage back to Tampa, Florida, on October 28, 2023.

Two Carnival cruise ships are poised to set off on lengthy repositioning cruises on the same day to bring them to entirely different regions for new sailing seasons.

On Thursday, April 13, 2023, Carnival Pride will depart for a transatlantic cruise, while her fleet mate, the new Carnival Luminosa, will begin a transpacific voyage.

Carnival Pride Moving to Europe

On Thursday, April 13, Carnival Pride will begin a transatlantic crossing, a 13-night cruise from Tampa, Florida to Barcelona, Spain. While the ship will not be homeported from Barcelona, this sailing does bring her to Europe for the summer season.

On the 13-night transatlantic cruise, the ship will visit just three ports of call – Ponta Delgada in the Azores as well as both Malaga and Valencia in Spain. This means nine full days will be spent at sea, giving guests an amazing time to fully immerse themselves in all the ship has to offer.

Onboard will be 1,825 guests of the Spirit-class ship’s typical capacity of 2,124, with guests from many different countries enjoying the journey.

Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald recently interviewed Carnival Pride‘s master, Captain Vito, who has been with Carnival since 1990, about what it’s like to sail a transatlantic cruise with so many days at sea, so far from other ports of call.

“No matter how many times we have done it, is always a very sobering and a moment of reflection being so far from everyone and at the same time so close to many on board,” Captain Vito said. “This is the moment that guests and crew become one….the so-called “Ship Company!”

After arriving in Spain, Carnival Pride will sail from Barcelona to Dover, stopping at ports in Portugal, Spain, France, and Belgium before arriving in England. She will remain homeported from Dover for the summer season, offering 9- and 12- night European sailings, before moving to Rome in September to spend several weeks offering additional itineraries from Italy.

In late October, the ship will return to Tampa via another 15-night transatlantic crossing, returning to her Caribbean home for the winter season.

Carnival Luminosa Setting Sail for Alaska

At the same time, Carnival Pride sets sail for Europe, the newest ship in the Carnival fleet, Carnival Luminosa, will depart her first homeport to reposition via a transpacific cruise to Alaska.

The renovated and rebranded ship, formerly Costa Luminosa, debuted with Carnival homeported from Brisbane, but on April 13, she will begin moving north to Seattle. The transpacific sailing is an epic 21-night journey with amazing ports of call in New Caledonia, Fiji, French Polynesia, and Hawaii, before arriving in Seattle on May 4.

During the sailing, Carnival Luminosa will cross the International Date Line, always a special event for both crew and guests, no matter how many times they may have passed that marker.

A full 15 days will be spent at sea during the cruise, giving guests ample time to enjoy everything unique and distinctive about Carnival Luminosa and her Italian flair.

For the summer, the ship will offer 7-night roundtrip sailings from Seattle, visiting top Alaskan ports such as Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, as well as scenic cruising along the dramatic Inside Passage.

When Carnival Luminosa returns to Brisbane in the fall, the transpacific crossing will be an even more astonishing 31-night cruise, first heading north to Alaskan ports and then moving south to ports in Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. That sailing departs Seattle on September 14, and arrives in Brisbane on October 15.

About Transoceanic Cruises

Transoceanic cruises are one-way journeys across oceans that reposition ships to new markets in distant regions. In some cases, cruise lines rotate ships to new homeports to drive local interest and attract new travelers who may have already cruised frequently on the same homeported ship.

In other instances, transoceanic cruises are seasonal movements to take ships to different areas of the world with more limited cruise seasons. This can bring vessels to popular markets during vacation periods or times when weather cycles are more clement for comfortable, amazing cruises.

Some cruise ships may make transoceanic crossings multiple times a year while other ships only make these monumental journeys infrequently, but no matter when they sail, which ocean they cross, or where they are going, the sailings are amazing experiences for every traveler.

More Repositionings to Come

While these two ships are setting sail on very special journeys on the same day, they aren’t the only repositioning cruises coming up this week. On Sunday, April 16, Carnival Spirit will leave her Miami homeport for a Panama Canal sailing that will take her to Seattle for the Alaska season, where she will arrive two days before Carnival Luminosa.

Have you ever cruised across an entire ocean? Share your experiences on the Cruise Hive boards!

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator, released its annual sustainability report today, showcasing the company’s efforts to achieve its goals for 2030 and 2050. 

Sustainability has become a big business in the cruise industry in recent years, and for a good reason. For many years the cruise lines took a liberal approach to environmental concerns. However, before 2050, the cruise industry has agreed to become fully carbon neutral, a goal that seems achievable for the cruise company.

Carnival’s Aggressive Roadmap

In Carnival Corporation’s annual sustainability report called ‘Sustainable from Ship to Shore,’ the cruise company reports it is well underway to achieve its 2030 goals, a part of the greater 2050 aspirations. In 2022, as almost 100% of Carnival Corporation’s full fleet returned to guest cruise operations, the company made sustainability a prime goal.

Carnival achieved a 50% single-use plastic item reduction in 2021, achieved a 30% food waste reduction per person in 2022. That same year, there was a 50% reduction in tiny particles released into the air compared to the amount released in 2015.

“As the global leader in the cruise industry, we are setting the pace with the industry’s smartest solutions for sustainable cruising that will help deliver on our aggressive roadmap to reduce our carbon impact, maximize our use of resources and further enhance our operations to be even more efficient by 2030,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO and chief climate officer for Carnival Corporation. 

“Our future depends on us being good corporate citizens and stewards of the environment, because without the incredible communities, healthy marine ecosystems, and scenic spaces we operate in, it would be impossible to deliver unforgettable happiness to our guests through extraordinary cruise vacations.”

Advancements in Decarbonization Pathway

Carnival has been adding new ships and guest capacity at breakneck speed since 2011. Yet, it has managed to create a situation where it now produces fewer greenhouse gases than in 2011. According to the sustainability report, the company is the only one to do so.

It means that Carnival Corporation is now well underway to achieve a 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 versus the results achieved in 2008. There will even be a 20% reduction in 2023 compared to the emissions produced per unit in 2019.

Future Fuel: What Is an LNG-Powered Cruise Ship?

Those results come from various initiatives that Carnival has introduced in the last years, including fleet optimization, such as getting rid of older, polluting vessels; introducing energy efficiency; making itineraries more efficient; and introducing new technologies and alternative fuels.

Carnival also made significant investments into making ships more efficient and eco-friendly by introducing upgrades to HVAC automation, variable speed drives on pumps and fans, and smart LED lighting, which add up to an expected 5% fuel saving per ship and $100 million in annual savings.

57% of Carnival’s fleet is now capable of using shore power. At the same time, more ships are outfitted with the Air Lubrication System, which helps ships glide on a curtain of air bubbles with about 5% less friction, generating fuel consumption savings and reduced emissions. Five ships have ALS installed, six are in progress, and eight are on order.

It’s not just upgrades to ships, Carnival is actively participating in creating and trying out new technologies. 

Pioneering New Technologies & Alternative Fuels

To achieve their ambitious 2050 goals, cruise lines must explore innovative ways to power their ships. One such approach is using LNG, with Carnival leading the way with eight LNG-capable ships in service and three more on order.

Additionally, Carnival is piloting the world’s largest battery installation on a passenger ship, using a first-of-its-kind lithium-ion battery storage system on AIDAprima, and pioneering fuel cell technology that utilizes methanol-derived hydrogen on AIDAnova.

The company is also testing biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels, with successful trials underway on AIDAprima and Holland America Line’s Volendam.

Reducing the Amount of Waste Generated by Cruise Ships

Of course, reducing the emissions from cruise ships is one thing. However, cruise ships remain a consumer paradise known for excessive consumption. Here as well, Carnival is making significant efforts to reduce the amount of waste that ships produce each day.

“Our approach to sustainability is backed by science and driven by data, which allows us to take decisive actions that make a truly meaningful impact and inspire real change,” said Weinstein. 

Carnival reduced food waste per person by more than 30% in 2022 compared to 2019 and set a new goal to reduce food waste by 40% per person by 2025. The cruise company installed over 600 food biodigesters on ships to break down and liquefy uneaten food and installed 25-plus food dehydrators across the fleet, which reduces waste volume by upwards of 90%.

The use of single-use plastics has also been reduced by more than 50%, removing over 500 million single-use items since 2018 and replacing them with eco-friendly alternatives. 

Weinstein: “It is a monumental undertaking that requires collective focus and tireless dedication of our entire organization. We are incredibly proud of the considerable progress we have made so far and look forward to continuing our collective work together toward a sustainable future for cruising and tourism.”

Carnival Corporation has indeed set a course toward a much more sustainable future. However, there is still a long way to go before we can start calling the cruise industry a green industry. 

Carnival Cruise Line has quietly increased prices for several food items guests can purchase prior to setting sail, making these popular treats more expensive but without any corresponding changes to the size or quantity of the items.

Among the now-more-costly treats are celebration cakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, freshly baked cookies, and assorted party trays.

Online Shopping Price Increases

Carnival Cruise Line offers a variety of decadent sweets and treats available for pre-cruise purchase through the online Fun Shops, but guests are noticing prices that aren’t quite as much fun as several items have become more expensive in recent weeks.

For example, the popular 6-inch cake – available in “Happy Anniversary,” “Bon Voyage,” “Happy Birthday,” and other celebratory sentiments, is now priced at $12.50, compared to a price of $10 as recently as January 2023. The very similar 9-inch cake is now available for $17.50, whereas it used to be priced at just $14.

Freshly baked cookies, available in chocolate chip, chocolate chunk, honey oatmeal raisin, and macadamia nut are now $10 for four cookies, compared to the previous pricing of $6 for the same cookies.

The fruit and cheese party tray, an assortment of small bites great for snacking or as a delicious appetizer before dinner, now starts at $30 for the small tray, but used to be $26 in February 2023.

Read More: Carnival Cruise Line Addresses Another Recent Price Increase

Orders of chocolate-covered strawberries, popular for formal nights or to celebrate special moments onboard, have also increased in price, from $15 to $18 for a small tray (six decorated berries) and from $27 to $30 for a large tray (12 decorated berries).

Pastry trays and other party trays have also increased along similar lines, as have many other food items. Beverages, including soda and bottles of alcohol, have not increased at this time.

Why Price Increases?

There has been no official announcement or explanation for these increases, but they are likely related to overall economic concerns and the impact of inflation on foodstuffs, including the ingredients necessary to make many of the treats.

Cruisers and non-cruisers alike are most definitely noticing the rise of grocery and restaurant prices, and continued shortages in different regions may make it difficult to get proper ingredients for some items.

Delivery of ingredients to cruise ports, the labor to create fresh-made gourmet treats, and arranging delivery of the items to individual staterooms also impacts overall costs.

Other Recent Price Increases

These shopping increases come just as Carnival Cruise Line guests are also noticing other cost increases, such as dramatic increases for private beach rentals at Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas as well as at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic.

Carnival Cruise Line has also recently increased the costs for Wi-Fi access and gratuities for all guests, changes that took effect on April 1, 2023.

The frequency of the price increases and how many items are being increased is of concern to cruise guests who may feel the Carnival is not necessarily offering the best value for their vacation dollars.

Yet, with the cruise line recently reaching the monumental milestone of 100 million guests, it is clear that Carnival continues to dominate the cruise market, and will likely keep that momentum as additional ships join the Fun Ship fleet in the coming months, with Carnival Venezia debuting in May 2023, followed by Carnival Jubilee in December 2023 and Carnival Firenze in May 2024.

Carnival Cruise Line recently increased the cost for private beachside rentals at Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas, and similar price hikes have now been noted at the cruise line’s other semi-private destination, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic. The increases at Amber Cove are not quite as drastic, but are significant nonetheless.

Price Increases at Amber Cove

Amber Cove, which opened in 2015, has a gorgeous beach ready and waiting for cruise ship guests, and private beach retreats are a popular rental for visitors. Now, those retreats are coming with a much higher price tag than just a few months ago.

This comes right after significant price increases – roughly 50% more – have been noted at Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas. Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic has similar beach rentals, though the costs are different.

Guests have four choices of private cabana rentals at Amber Cove, each one offering a unique and luxurious experience, but at high prices.

The “Hillside Cabana” is the least expensive, and the only option without direct water access. Tucked high on the hillside with exceptional views, these air-conditioned cabanas include private hot tubs, snacks, lounge chairs, water, soda, and other amenities, including an hour’s rental of two water sports (kayak, stand up paddle board, or aqua cycle). Up to 8 guests can enjoy the cabana for one excursion cost.

Both the “Poolside Cabana” and the “Ocean Cabana” can also accommodate up to 8 guests and offer similar amenities, snacks, and nearby servers for food and drink orders. Neither one has a hot tub, but the Poolside Cabanas are directly alongside Amber Cove’s 300,000-gallon pool, while the Ocean Cabanas are build directly over Maimon Bay.

The “Grand Cabana” is the most luxurious option, and can welcome up to 20 guests for a single excursion cost. These 1,000-square-foot bungalows are built over the ocean and include two water sport rentals for two full hours, as well as a personal hot tub and a dedicated server to take food and drink orders.

All four types of cabanas are all-day rentals and guests can come and go at their leisure throughout the day. The Hillside Cabana rents for $479.99, the Poolside and Ocean Cabanas for $499.99, and the Grand Cabanas commanding a grand price tag at $1,999.99.

These prices are significantly higher than the costs in January 2022, when the Hillside Cabana rented for $309.99, the Poolside Cabana for $324.99, the Ocean Cabana for $344.99, and the Grand Cabana for $1,169.99.

The price differences between January 2022 and April 2023 – just 15 months – equate to increases of 35% for both the Hillside and Poolside Cabanas, 31% for the Ocean Cabana, and a whopping 42% for the Grand Cabana.

These increases are similar to the price hikes for beachside rentals at Half Moon Cay. While the destinations are different, the amenities offered at the private retreats are similar in both locations.

More Choices at Amber Cove

Guests who want to enjoy Amber Cove do not need to pay for the exclusive retreats – like all shore excursions, they are entirely optional and there are many other choices to enjoy.

Lounge chairs, hammocks, and beach access are free for all guests, and the crystal clear waters are always amazing for swimming, water sports, snorkeling, and other aquatastic fun. Pool access is also free, along with the waterslides and lazy river.

Read Also: Cruise Line Private Islands You Must Escape To

If guests do want to try out other shore tours, popular options at Amber Cove include swimming with dolphins, exploring local waterfalls, catamaran sailing trips, deep sea fishing, horseback riding, ATV adventures, ziplines, and much more.