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MSC Cruises and Formula 1 Partner for Unique Experience

MSC Cruises News

Robert McGillivray

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Mar 15, 2023

MSC Cruises and Formula 1 Partner for Unique Experience

MSC Cruises has announced a new partnership with Formula 1 to offer an unparalleled Grand Prix hospitality experience on board MSC Virtuosa during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November 2023.

As part of MSC Cruises’ partnership with Formula 1, this unique offering promises to bring the trackside thrills of the final race of the season to the cruise ship. MSC Virtuosa will serve as a hotel for race fans throughout the weekend while docked at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, just a short drive from the circuit.

MSC Cruises and F1 Take Partnership Further

MSC Cruises and Formula 1 are extending their partnership beyond the sponsorship around the races, as the cruise line has announced an exciting new collaboration that takes race weekend accommodation to the next level.

F1 and MSC Cruises will provide a fully integrated Grand Prix experience to create an unrivaled and truly memorable race experience for fans of all ages.

MSC Virtuosa will be transformed into an F1 hotel during the upcoming Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix between November 24 and 26, 2023. The cruise line offers a wide range of packages to stay onboard. MSC Virtuosa has space for 4,842 guests at double occupancy.

MSC Virtuosa Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Wayleebird / Shutterstock.com

Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, commented, “Through this exclusive hospitality offering, we are bringing together the very best of two worlds – Formula 1 and MSC Cruises. By collaborating together, we are integrating the incredible atmosphere at the track with the incredible experience on board our ships to create an unrivaled and truly memorable race experience for fans of all ages.”

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the final race of the 2023 race season, which only started last week with the race in Bahrain. Guests will be able to take advantage of exclusive insider access and all-in-one race packages while sleeping comfortably onboard the 181,000 gross tons MSC Virtuosa.

Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1, said: “We are delighted to join forces with MSC Cruises and bring fans a unique and unparalleled hospitality experience during the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix™. With luxurious accommodations, exclusive insider access, and the convenience of all-in-one race packages, we’re confident that this partnership will make the race weekend truly unforgettable.”

Formula 1 and MSC Cruises have had a successful partnership since the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022. The cruise line is the official cruise partner for Formula 1.

Race Weekend Experience

All packages include various accommodation options, including elegant cabins and deluxe suites, all with half board, complimentary Wi-Fi, and transfers to and from the track. Fans can choose from a variety of different packages that combine accommodation, race tickets, and exclusive insider access.

MS Cruises and Formula 1 — MSc Cruises and Formula 1 (Photo Credit: motorsports Photographer / Shutterstock)

Guests can even purchase a package that includes a pit lane walk, a guided track tour on a flatbed truck, Formula 1 personnel appearances, and more.

The festive atmosphere will continue aboard for guests, as the specially designed program of themed activities, parties, and entertainment, as well as a dedicated kids’ program, will keep the thrills going even after the race has ended.

MSC Partnered with Major Sporting Events Before

Utilizing cruise ships as hotels during race weekends is a wise decision by Formula 1 organizers. This approach eliminates the need to construct large hotels to accommodate the thousands of race fans who attend each race while still providing them with excellent accommodations and bonus amenities.

This is not the first time that MSC has brought the world of sports to its ships. MSC World Europa played a huge role during the FIFA World Cup, housing thousands of fans from around the world in Qatar. The ship offered guests a unique and immersive football experience, complete with live broadcasts of the matches, special guest appearances, and football-themed activities.

How to Get a Job on a Cruise Ship – 10 Pro Tips

Cruise Advice & Tips

Emrys Thakkar

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Mar 15, 2023

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How to Get a Job on a Cruise Ship – 10 Pro Tips

Many people are fascinated with the idea of working on a cruise ship. After all, you get to travel the world, meet amazing people, and live at sea, all while earning money!

How to get a job on a cruise ship isn’t widely known. The process isn’t as simple as going on a job board and emailing your resume. You need to know certain things about getting a job on a cruise ship, especially if you have no experience.

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place to learn precisely how to get a job on a cruise ship. Keep reading to discover ten tips for securing your dream job on your favorite cruise line!

1. Be Sure It’s What You Want

While working on a cruise ship seems like fun and games, crew members work very hard to ensure the enjoyment and safety of guests and all passengers onboard.

Cruise ship workers tend to work long hours. What’s more, some workers work seven days a week, with few days off, if any. The pay on a cruise ship varies greatly. It can range from a few hundred dollars a month for a cleaner to over $100,000 yearly salary for a director.

If you have little to no experience, chances are that you won’t be clearing $100,000 your first year. However, many positions are flexible, with room to advance as you gain seniority onboard.

Finally, you need to understand what to expect from living conditions on a cruise ship, from what the crew quarters look like to your food, laundry, and leisure options.

2. Figure Out the Job You Want

What’s exciting about cruise ships is the large number of positions available onboard. That’s why an important consideration when figuring out how to get a job on a cruise ship is to figure out precisely what job you want.

When considering cruise ship jobs, many people only consider the positions that guests regularly interact with, such as wait staff and performers. However, there are more jobs on a cruise ship than you can imagine.

Crew Member on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Pierre Jean Durieu / Shutterstock)

For example, did you know that every cruise ship has at least one doctor? There’s also a firefighter on board, although fires on cruises are extremely rare.

While the two examples above require extensive experience, there are a variety of other cruise jobs that require little to no experience and can get you working on a cruise ship much sooner. Some of these cruise ship jobs include:

Galley (kitchen) cleaner
Bell staff
Line cook

Other positions to consider, depending on your experience and interest, include:

Bartender
Youth Staff
Activity coordinator
Lifeguard
Entertainer

3. Know the Basic Requirements

Once you know what you’d like to do on a cruise ship, you should look into the requirements to fill that position successfully.

However, there are a few basic requirements that you need to fulfill no matter what position you apply for before you can even consider working on a cruise ship. Here are some of those requirements:

Royal Caribbean Crew Members — Photo Credit: Benjamin Clapp / Shutterstock

You must be 18 or 21 years old to work on a cruise ship, depending on your country of residence
You must meet the language requirements and be fluent
Have a valid passport and proper visa/work permit
Pass a medical exam and criminal background check

Depending on the job and cruise company you apply to, there may be additional requirements that you must fulfill.

4. Get the Proper Qualifications

If you’re interested in a particular cruise job but need additional qualifications, make sure to fulfill those qualifications before you apply. This could be as simple as improving your fluency in a specific language or receiving a diploma in a particular field.

Crew Member Prepping Food — Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock)

Whether that be further education or work experience, fulfilling those requirements ensures that you’re prepared for the job.

5. Research Cruise Companies

No two cruise companies are the same, so the same position at two different cruise lines may differ significantly.

When learning how to get a job on a cruise ship, it’s essential to research the cruise ships themselves to determine which one is the perfect fit for you. Some popular cruise lines you may want to consider include:

While conducting your research for each cruise line, make sure to take note of these factors:

Job descriptions
Opportunities for advancement
Salary
Food
Any additional worker policies

6. Talk to Current Crew Members

You must understand how vital company culture is when choosing a new workplace. The same goes for cruise ships.

Another important point when choosing a cruise line to apply to is the staff culture. Every cruise ship has a different culture, and considering that you will be living on the ship, it’s crucial to ensure that that culture aligns with your values.

The best way to verify a cruise ship’s company culture is by reaching out to current and past crew members and hearing about their experiences.

You can look up crew members to learn about what it’s like to work for a specific cruise line and contact them by email or set up a phone call or video chat. This will give you the best insight into whether a cruise line is right for you.

7. Prepare Your Resume

You’ve researched, gathered your information, and know you’re qualified for the job. Now it’s time to prepare your application.

Start by updating your resume to cater to the specific job and cruise line you’re applying to. If you’re applying to more than one line, you’ll want to cater your documents to each company.

You’ll also need a cover letter that explains why you want to work for that specific cruise line and why you’re the best person for the job. Make sure to prepare any additional documents that your cruise line may require. Have someone review your documents to proofread for errors before submitting them.

8. Apply for an Open Position

Once your application is prepared, you can apply for your dream job! For some cruise lines, you can apply directly to their head office online. Others use an agency to recruit talent. Beware, however, as some fraudulent companies pretend to be cruise lines.

Make sure you understand the application instructions for the specific company you’re applying to and know the deadlines.

9. Prepare for the Interview

If all goes well with your application, the cruise line will contact you for an interview. You may be subject to a screening session before an official interview to verify that you meet all the job requirements.

Carnival Cruise Ship Crew — Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock

Interviews are held in person or online, although online interviews have become more and more common. The key is to be prepared for the interview. Show up on time and as if you researched the cruise company and the job itself. Prepare for the most general interview question, as well as to ask any questions you may have yourself.

Don’t forget to show enthusiasm and explain why you’re excited to work on that specific cruise line.

10. Celebrate and Prepare to Embark!

By this point, celebrations are hopefully in order as you’ve landed your dream cruise ship job!

Now all that’s left is to pack your bags and prepare for the start of your contract date as a crew member. Be sure to fulfill any final requirements that your new employer may ask of you, such as up-to-date vaccination.

Conclusion: Getting a Job on a Cruise Ship Is No Vacation

If you’re ready to get paid to visit ports around the world, then what are you waiting for? Now that you know how to get a job on a cruise ship, nothing is stopping you from landing that dream position and traveling the world. There’s a position onboard a cruise ship for everyone, no matter your profession, experience level, or passion. If you want a further look into what working on a cruise ship is really like, check out this article.

Carnival Cruise Line Reveals New Beverage Options

Carnival Cruise News

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Mar 14, 2023

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Carnival Cruise Line Reveals New Beverage Options

Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new range of non-alcoholic cocktails, offering guests an alternative to traditional alcoholic beverages. The drinks are based on some of the most popular cocktails served at Carnival’s Alchemy Bar, a destination for cocktail enthusiasts on almost every Carnival ship sailing from the US.

The cocktails are created using non-alcoholic spirits produced by Lyre’s, a leading brand in the emerging market of non-alcoholic spirits, which has been called the ‘finest range of non-alcoholic spirits the world has ever seen.’

Carnival Announces Partnership with Lyre’s

Carnival Cruise Line announced the release of a new line of non-alcoholic cocktails today, March 14. The new cocktails are created using non-alcoholic spirits produced by Lyre’s, a worldwide trendsetter in non-alcoholic spirits. With this partnership, Carnival becomes the first cruise line to offer a full range of alcohol-free cocktails.

According to Zachary Sulkes, Carnival’s senior director of beverage operations, the partnership with Lyre’s gives guests who want non-alcoholic cocktails a great option to enjoy a cocktail onboard.

Carnival Alcohol-Free Cocktails — Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Zachary Sulkes, Carnival’s senior director of beverage operations: “Our new partnership with Lyre’s gives guests who want non-alcoholic cocktails the best options at sea. We’ve seen the popularity of non-alcoholic cocktails grow rapidly, so to meet that trend, our mixologists have been working to craft alternative versions of our most popular cocktails with none of the alcohol but all the flavor.”

Lyre’s uses all-natural flavors, including essences, extracts, and distillates, to match the aroma, taste, and appearance of time-tested classics. The company’s spirits have been awarded multiple times and have earned recognition as the world’s most-awarded line of non-alcoholic spirits.

The new range of non-alcoholic cocktails is based on seven popular Alchemy Bar cocktails, including the Martini Seduction, Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini, The Remedy, Hearts of Fire, Restorative Basil Drop, The Perfect Storm, and Cucumber Sunrise.

These cocktails have been reimagined using Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirits to offer guests a similar experience as their alcoholic counterparts.

Alchemy Bar: The Place to Be

Alchemy Bar is a prominent feature of Carnival cruise ships, with a dedicated focus on crafting and serving cocktails. It distinguishes itself from typical bars on Carnival Cruise Line ships and other cruise line’s ships by providing a personalized experience where guests can engage with their bartender and witness the creation of bespoke cocktails.

The bar offers a diverse selection of premium cocktails, carefully crafted from fresh ingredients by highly skilled bartenders.

For cocktail enthusiasts, a visit to Alchemy Bar is highly recommended. Observing the bartenders at work is a unique experience and makes the bar a top destination for enthusiasts who enjoy seeing a professional mixologist at work. While beer and soda are not available at Alchemy Bar, the exceptional cocktails more than make up for it.

The new non-alcoholic versions of popular cocktails will be available at the Alchemy Bar on ships homeported in the United States immediately and on the Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Splendor cruise ships in Australia at a later date.

Along with the full range of non-alcoholic cocktails offered at Alchemy Bar, Carnival’s main dining rooms now serve Lyre’s alcohol-free prosecco.

MSC Cruises Teams Up with Guinness World Records

MSC Cruises News

Robert McGillivray

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Mar 13, 2023

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MSC Cruises Teams Up with Guinness World Records

MSC Cruises has partnered with Guinness World Records to elevate its onboard entertainment offerings. Officials will be on hand to allow guests to test their skills and break records during their cruise vacation.

To add to the excitement, guests who do break a record will be awarded a genuine, official Guinness World Records certificate to show off with.

Expanding Onboard Entertainment with Guinness World Records

MSC Cruises announced a partnership with Guinness World Records today, March 13. The worldwide authority for incredible record-breaking titles is the cruise line’s new partner for a new element to the onboard entertainment offerings. This unique program allows guests to test their skills and attempt to break Guinness World Records.

The new partnership is part of MSC Cruises’ strategy to expand its onboard entertainment programs for guests. According to Steve Leatham, Global Head of Entertainment at MSC Cruises, the aim is to take entertainment to the next level and provide guests with unique and enriching experiences at the highest level.

MSC Cruises Ship — Photo Credit: Nate Hovee / Shutterstock

Steve Leatham, Global Head of Entertainment at MSC Cruises: “We’re delighted to join forces with Guinness World Records. We’re always on the hunt for new and engaging concepts for our guests. This partnership provides unique and enriching entertainment at the highest level, and we look forward to continuing to offer a dynamic range of exciting experiences for guests of all ages.”

Activities will include live shows, inviting guests to attempt to break Guinness World Records and make their way into the record books. The highlight of the program is the Records Show, an onboard version of the Guinness World Records TV show, featuring a range of record-breaking activities from audience participation, individual guests, and even the ship’s crew.

Marco Frigatti, SVP Consultancy at Guinness World Records, said: “There’s no better way to bring the magic of Guinness World Records to life than to host a live show like this. Families exploring the world on an MSC Cruise can explore the incredible world of record-breaking at the same time – and even become a part of it too!”

Guests can also participate in a trivia challenge to test their knowledge of Guinness World Records through the Guinness World Records Facts program. Meanwhile, younger guests can enjoy a variety of action-packed children’s programs, including entertaining challenges, quizzes, and educational shows, providing endless engaging entertainment for both children and teens.

Available onboard Three Cruise Ships

The Guinness World Records activities are now available on board MSC Seascape and MSC World Europa, as well as the highly-anticipated newest flagship, MSC Euribia, starting in June of this year.

MSC Seascape is sailing 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami, with stops in Ocean Cay and Nassau in the Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

MSC Seascape Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: MSC Cruises

Meanwhile, the spectacular MSC World Europa operates from Doha, Qatar, through March 24. Afterward, she will embark on a 19-night MSC Grand Voyage from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas, Muscat, Oman; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Naples, Civitavecchia; and Genoa, Italy. She will then spend the summer in the Mediterranean.

MSC Euribia will join the MSC fleet in June this year. After her inauguration in Copenhagen, the LNG-powered cruise ship will embark on a series of cruises sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, Kiel, Germany, and Rotterdam, The Netherlands, to various ports around Northern Europe.

Guests onboard any of these cruise ships can participate in the Guinness World Records program and attempt to break world records. A Guinness World Record Official Adjudicator will verify any new record breakers and award guests a genuine Guinness World Records certificate.

Carnival Cruise Line Receives Recognition for Team Members

Carnival Cruise News

Donna Tunney

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Mar 13, 2023

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Carnival Cruise Line Receives Recognition for Team Members

Carnival Cruise Line has won kudos for being among the top companies for Latino employees. An award from Latino Leaders Magazine follows several other honors the cruise line and its parent company have received for employee diversity and inclusivity.

Carnival is a Top Company for Latinos

Carnival Cruise Line was named one of the top 25 Best Companies for Latinos to Work in 2023 by the editors of Latino Leaders Magazine. The Fun Ship line is featured in the February edition of the publication, along with other industries on the prestigious list. The magazine showcases and promotes leadership in the Latino community.

The criteria for receiving the honor is inclusivity-focused, and is based on outreach and recruitment initiatives; career opportunities; internal support programs to promote and retain Latino team members; leadership development efforts; diversity representation in the boardroom and C-Suite; percentage of Hispanic employees; and community service.

Carnival Crew — Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive

Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy said, “Every day we are committed to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion for our team members, as well as our guests, and to a welcoming environment that allows everyone to feel valued and respected.”

Duffy added, “Carnival is a daily reminder of how travel and tourism help break down barriers, build friendships, and promote a greater understanding among people, so we’re very grateful and honored to be recognized as a top employer for Latinos.”

The cruise line’s parent company, Carnival Corporation, boasts a long list of employment-related awards in recent years. In February 2023, the parent company Carnival Corporation was added to the list of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity.

In 2021 and 2022, Carnival Corporation was named one of the best places to work for Latinos by Latino Leaders Magazine. Also, in 2022, Carnival received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index, designating the company as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality for the sixth consecutive year. In 2021, it was named by Forbes as one of America’s Best Large Employers and one of the World’s Top Female Friendly Companies.

In addition to Carnival Cruise Line, the company’s brands include Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Cunard.

Crew Hails From 100 Countries

Carnival Cruise Line employs about 40,000 staff across its 24-ship fleet, with crew hailing from 100-plus countries. The far-flung home countries of its crew members posed a challenge for the line when the pandemic forced cruise lines to suspend operations in 2020 and repatriate their crews.

In April 2020, the Miami-based cruise line launched a major effort to return crew members to their home countries. The plan called for 18 Carnival ships to rendezvous in the Bahamas, where some 10,000 crew members from international countries were assigned to board one of nine ships designated to take them to their home countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, India and Latin America.

Crew Quarters on a Cruise Ship – How Do They Look?

Cruise Cabins & Staterooms

Emrys Thakkar

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Mar 13, 2023

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Crew Quarters on a Cruise Ship – How Do They Look?

Cruises can allow you to see so much more of the world in a large, interesting vessel. Have you ever thought about the parts of a cruise ship you don’t get to see?

One of those parts is the crew quarters. If you’re curious to learn the ins and outs of a cruise ship, you might be wondering what the crew area looks like. Well, you’ve come to the right place to find out. Keep reading to find out what it’s really like to live on a cruise ship.

In This Article…

Crew Quarters On a Cruise Ship – The Features
Crew Quarters on a Cruise Ship – How It Works
Conclusion

Crew Quarters On a Cruise Ship – The Features

You need to know a few things about crew quarters on a cruise ship to get the whole picture. Here are some of the key points.

Size

The first thing you need to know about crew quarters on a cruise ship is that, for the most part, they are quite small. In fact, some of them can be described as tiny.

While the size of cabins varies based on the ship, cruise line, and even the type of crew cabin, the size of a crew’s quarters is around 120 square feet. In comparison, the average hotel room is about 300 square feet.

Crew Cabin on Cruise Ship — Photo Copyright Cruise Hive

What’s more, at least two crew members typically share one cabin. However, in bigger rooms, more than two crew members may be bunking together.

Finally, some crew are given more cabin space, or even their own cabins, depending on what their job is. They may even be given their own stewardess. Crew members who get this privilege include those in:

Entertainment
Shops
Spas
Casinos

Of course, crew members that are very high up, such as department heads, typically get their own cabins.

What’s Included

With two people in a 120-square-foot space, most cabins are usually furnished with a bunk bed to make use of the small space. Some crew members get curtains for additional privacy in their bunk bed quarters.

Crew Cabin — Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive

Here’s what you can expect to find a crew’s cabin:

Mini fridge
Shelving and storage space
A television
A closet

In addition, there is also a private bathroom. Other items you might find in a crew’s cabin include a desk and a side table.

The Bathroom

Every cabin has its own bathroom. That said, the bathroom is utilitarian as it is smaller than the small cabin. The bathroom typically only has space for a sink, toilet, and shower, and they’re usually pretty cramped together, making the space feel very tight.

Crew Cabin Bathroom (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)

Crew Quarters on a Cruise Ship – How It Works

As mentioned, most cabins are shared by at least two cruise ship employees. But there are a few other moving parts regarding how crew quarters on a cruise ship work.

Crews Have More Than Their Own Cabins

A crew’s quarters include more than just their cabin. As crew members are on cruise ships for sometimes months at a time, they need the usual facilities that anyone else would need to live. Some facilities are similar to those guests have access to, but crews usually must do much of the work themselves.

Cruise Ship Laundry Room — Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive

This includes a laundry room resembling a laundromat for the crew to wash and dry their clothes, the need to sort and throw out their trash in their own trash facilities, and shared rooms for the crew to hang out. They may also have hair salons and other grooming facilities.

Some cruise ships also include crew gym facilities to work out and stay healthy, although they aren’t as extensive as the guest gyms on board. You can almost think of it as a college dorm situation!

Their Own Cafeteria

Crew quarters on a cruise ship also have a separate cafeteria, mess hall, or buffet for the crew to eat at. The buffet times are set, and the food may vary. Typically, the crew mess buffet’s food differs from the guest buffet.

Carnival Cruise Line Crew Mess — Crew Mess (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)

In addition to a central mess hall, there may also be a crew cafe where they can order refreshments such as coffee and juice throughout the day.

Routine Inspections

Every crew member is expected to keep their cabin in good shape. To ensure that this is the case, crew members can expect routine inspections of their cabins.

These inspections typically happen before the beginning of every cruise, depending on the cruise line. The department head, the head of housekeeping, and a senior officer will often do these inspections. They will ensure there are no confiscated items and that the cabin is clean. Ensuring the cabin’s safety aspects are working and hygiene aspects are also looked at.

Form a Bond

Being at sea for months and having to share small spaces causes you to get close to your coworkers. Crew quarters on a cruise ship are designed to have crew members spend a lot of time together and create a bond while not working.

Carnival Cruise Line Crew Area — Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive

Crew cabins are often split up into several different floors, and those on the same floor sometimes form their own little community.

During their free time, the cruise ship crew members socialize and hang out on their floors in the crew bar. They even have after-hour parties and partake in different games. They may also have their own private front and back crew deck; in some cases, there may even be a crew pool.

Conclusion

A cruise ship can have hundreds, if not thousands, of crew members on board, which makes the crew quarters on a cruise ship quite an essential part of the ship.

Crew members need to live on the ship for months at a time, which means they need to be able to eat, stay fit, and have time for leisure. That’s why you’ll find a variety of crew facilities below deck to help them enjoy their life onboard as cruise staff.

To a certain extent, crew quarters on cruise ships have many of the same features that cruise ship guests can access.

Cruise Passenger Tackles Magician During Performace On Stage

Royal Caribbean News

Emrys Thakkar

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Mar 12, 2023

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Cruise Passenger Tackles Magician During Performace On Stage

During a recent Royal Caribbean cruise, a cruise passenger tackled a magician on stage during a performance, which was caught in video footage. It comes as the magician was doing a magic trick with a female guest, who was invited on stage.

Quantum of the Seas Magian Tackled on Stage

Guests on a recent Quantum of the Seas cruise in Australia witnessed something they did not expect during an onboard performance. Magician Ben Murphy was performing on stage on March 1, 2023 towards the end of a five-night voyage.

While Murphy was performing one of his tricks on stage, he invited a female passenger to take part, something which is common during magician shows. He was doing the trick with folded cards in his mouth and the invited female guest’s mouth.

Video footage by someone in the audience captured the passenger swiftly approaching the stage and tackling the magician as he was close to the invited guest. Murphy was tackled to the floor in front of the audience in the main show theater.

The footage, which was posted by Murphy, is now trending across social media. On his TikTok and Instagram, he said, “Entertainment, comedy, and magic are NOT contact sports.” Despite the incident, Murphy continued on with the show and posted, “finished the show (25 minutes remained. And did 2 more shows 4 nights later).”

The incident occurred on the February 26 sailing, out of Brisbane, Australia. The voyage included visits to Eden and Sydney before returning to Brisbane on March 3. The ship is one of two Australia-based vessels, as sister ship Ovation of the Seas is operating out of Sydney.

Ben Murphy is a popular Australian magician and does not just perform onboard cruise ships. According to his personal website, he had over five international primetime special tv shows, performed a season at The Pullman Reef Hotel and Casino in Cairnes, shows in Melbourne, a full season in the US, and even performed for royalty.

Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Mohd Syis Zulkipli / Shutterstock

Royal Caribbean has not yet commented or released a statement about the incident on Quantum of the Seas. According to multiple reports, the male guest who made the tackle was allowed to continue enjoying the cruise. Murphy also posted, “This guest should not have been allowed to enjoy the rest of his cruise.”

The cruise line has a strict guest conduct policy across the entire fleet, which covers onboard a cruise ship, going ashore, and in the terminal. Within the policy, the cruise line states, “Inappropriate or abusive behavior is not permitted. This includes: uninvited physical contact.” Royal Caribbean lists eight actions that could be taken, depending on the incident.

Norwegian Cruise Line Touted For Beverage Programs

Norwegian Cruise Line News

Donna Tunney

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Mar 10, 2023

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Norwegian Cruise Line Touted For Beverage Programs

Norwegian Cruise Line has received two prestigious awards that recognize the quality of its onboard beverage programs. The line was honored with two 2023 Vibe Vista Awards, one for its wine program and another for its alcohol-free beverage menu.

NCL Gains Two Vibe Vista Awards

The 2023 Vibe Conference, a top gathering of beverage industry professionals, and the L’Academie Culinaire de France, a leading culinary organization, bestowed Vibe Vista Awards to Norwegian Cruise line during the annual event, held in San Diego in late February.

The cruise line was awarded Best Wine Program and Best Adult Alcohol-Free Program at the industry event, which recognizes top performers in chain and hotel beverage programs.

Norwegian Cruise Line has won nine Vibe Vista Awards in the last five years. In 2019 and 2022, the line was awarded Best Overall Beverage Program.

NCL Vibe Vista Awards Ceremony (Photo Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line)

Norwegian Cruise Line Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations Mark Ansley said, “The foundation of our guest first philosophy is built on continuously innovating the onboard experience and further developing our award-winning food and beverage programs.”

Vibe Conference said it recognized Norwegian Cruise Line’s wine portfolio for its organic and biodynamic wine menu, a curated, vintage wine program and the Meet the Winemaker series, which offers guests exclusive opportunities to meet top winemakers, attend wine tastings and wine-paired dinners, and purchase hard to find wines. In fact, Norwegian announced last month that it plans to continue its popular Winemaker series for a seventh season.

Norwegian’s Adult Alcohol-Free Program was honored for its dry bar menu and low-alcohol cocktails initially featured at Vibe Beach Club on the line’s newest ship, Norwegian Prima, which entered service in August 2022.

Vibe is an exclusive, adults-only area that’s also available on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Joy. Entry passes to the VIP retreat space are limited and can be reserved before cruise departure.

Culinary Honors, Too

Additionally, L’Académie Culinaire de France recently inducted two Norwegian Cruise Line officials into its organization. Norwegian Cruise Line Director of Culinary Operations Eric Bilodeau and Fleet Executive Chef Patrice Mick were inducted at a ceremony held in the French Consulate in New York.

L'Academie Culinaire de France - Eric Bilodeau and Patrice Mick — L’Academie Culinaire de France – Eric Bilodeau and Patrice Mick (Photo Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line)

Bilodeau assists with hotel operations and is the line’s Executive Pastry Chef, while Mick assists with culinary operations and the training and development of shipboard culinary members, according to the cruise line.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Ansley added, “We are thrilled to share the accomplishments of our skilled onboard culinary and beverage professionals whose talents continuously showcase NCL’s commitment to excellence and innovation in creating unique dining experiences for our guests.”

The organization inducts culinary professionals based on their background, career, passion for French cuisine and dedication to culinary education. Previous Norwegian Cruise Line inductees were Corporate Executive Chef Didier Lailheugue and Senior Director of Culinary Christian Pratsch.

Celebrity Cruises Protecting Whales With Itinerary Changes

Celebrity Cruises News

Robert McGillivray

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Mar 10, 2023

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Celebrity Cruises Protecting Whales With Itinerary Changes

Celebrity Cruises is taking an important step towards protecting the wildlife of the Pacific Northwest by adjusting the sailing speed of the Celebrity Millennium to safeguard migrating whales. As a result, Celebrity Cruises has made several changes to an itinerary that departs in May 2023 from Los Angeles to Vancouver.

Celebrity Cruises has been working closely with the NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) to protect whales on their migration routes along the west coast. The cruise line has now joined an additional voluntary program that has the consequence of sailing slower.

Itinerary Changes for Celebrity Millennium

Celebrity Cruises is taking part in a voluntary initiative to adjust the sailing speed to safeguard whales during their migration. Celebrity Cruises has been following the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) best practices for years and is now taking an additional measure to keep the whales safe.

This means that the cruise line has been forced to change the itinerary of Celebrity Millennium on May 6, 2023, a repositioning cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, Canada.

As part of the itinerary changes, the overnight call to San Francisco has been canceled, which reduces the time in the popular port from two days to one day. The time in port has been rescheduled from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Celebrity Millennium Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Macklin Holloway / Shutterstock

Furthermore, the timing of Celebrity Millennium‘s arrival at Catalina Island has been changed from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM to 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The ship’s arrival time in Victoria, British Columbia, has also been changed from 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM.

Celebrity Cruises explained the changes in a letter sent to guests booked onboard the Celebrity Millennium: “Annually, from February to May, whales travel northbound in their migration patterns along the Pacific Northwest Coastline.”

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“For years, we have followed NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) best practices for protecting their journey, and now, as an additional measure to keep these majestic animals safe as they migrate, we have joined a voluntary program to adjust cruising speeds in this area, which will slightly modify your sailing’s itinerary.”

The Importance of Protecting Marine Life

The move by Celebrity Cruises to adjust the sailing speed of the Celebrity Millennium to protect migrating whales is an important step towards preventing ship strikes, which have been a leading cause of death for threatened and endangered whales off the California coast.

The issue has become increasingly concerning, with hundreds of endangered whales killed in the past few years due to collisions with fast-moving ships. Despite a recommended speed limit of 10 knots off the San Francisco coast during peak whale months, some shipping companies regularly exceed this limit, putting the lives of whales in danger.

Protecting marine life has been on several cruise lines’ agendas lately. MSC Cruises announced it would introduce a special training program for deck officers to protect wildlife.

Celebrity to Reimburse Shore Excursions

Guests who have purchased shore excursions through Celebrity in San Francisco on May 8, 2023, will receive a full refund. However, guests with independent arrangements may not be reimbursed for additional costs due to the canceled overnight call to San Francisco.

The Celebrity Millennium sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver is part of the ship’s repositioning between its winter season, which was spent in the Caribbean, to its summer season in Alaska.

Before the cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, Celebrity Millennium will sail a 15-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, sailing through the Panama Canal and visiting Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; Panama Canal (Cruising Canal); Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

After arriving in Vancouver, the 90,940 gross tons Celebrity Millennium will embark on a series of cruises to Alaska from Vancouver to Seward and Seward to Vancouver. The itinerary will include visits to Seward, Alaska; Hubbard Glacier, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Icy Strait Point, Alaska; Ketchikan, Alaska; and Vancouver, Canada.