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Former Carnival-Owned Vessels to Become Residential Ships

Donna Tunney
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Former Carnival-Owned Vessels to Become Residential Ships

Victoria Cruises Line, a Cyprus-based company, revealed details about its new concept for cruising – a long-term residential experience where guests rent staterooms for a minimum of six months aboard its two ships operating world cruises.

The line bills the trips as affordable lifestyles at sea while the ships, which formerly sailed for a Carnival Corporation brand, cruise the globe for about 27 months, visiting 200-plus destinations.

Former Holland America Vessels

Victoria Cruises Line announced that its two ships, operating under the names Victoria Majestic and Victoria Amazing, are due to depart on world cruises on May 1 from Fort Lauderdale and April 1 from Livorno, Italy, respectively.

Guests can rent cabins for the full 27-month sailings or for as many months as they wish, as long as they meet the six-month minimum.

Zaandam Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line

The ships are the former Holland America Line ships, with one of them confirmed as the previously named Veendam. The buyer of Veendam was SeaJets, which renamed the ships Aegean Majesty. Veendam left the Holland America fleet in August 2020 and was later sold by SeaJets to Victoria Cruises Line.

In the same fleet reduction, Carnival also sold the Amsterdam and the Rotterdam to an unnamed buyer, which was confirmed to be the British line Fred Olsen Cruises. The ships were renamed Bolette and Borealis. Maasdam was also offloaded to SeaJets and eventually was sold on to French-based Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC).

Long Stays In Port

According to the line, the ships will spend up to seven days in each port, enabling guests to immerse themselves in the destinations and local cultures.

Victoria Cruises Line CEO Olavs Zvinelis said, ”Victoria Cruises Line offers our customers a unique lifestyle that is completely new to the shipping industry. We provide rental cabins at affordable prices to clients who want to live on a boat and travel the world without any strings attached. It’s our mission to deliver a unique houseboat experience for our residents, who will live on board like a little family.”

According to the company, guests booking lowest-cost inside cabins can rent the space for $7,999 per month for two guests. Ocean-view cabins cost $10,999 per month for two people, and a suite with a veranda costs $34,999 per month for two guests.

Victoria Cruises
Photo Credit: Victoria Cruises Line

In the line’s February 15 announcement, Zvinelis said that 50% of the staterooms and suites are booked and the majority of cruisers have chosen the unlimited, undefined rental period.

Zvinelis added, ”We have no competitors. Our value for money is by far the best, even compared to classic cruise ships. Rather than the ownership option, which is too costly for many, Victoria Cruises Line is proposing an intermediate solution: chartering. This will give people a much more affordable way to travel and live on a houseboat. In summary, a houseboat lifestyle can offer much more than a classic cruise.”

He said that if the line’s first two ships are a success, the company will expand.

Victoria Majestic Open For Bookings

The Victoria Cruises Line is accepting bookings for the 57,092 gross ton, 1,350-guest Victoria Majestic, but not for the 55,575 gross ton Victoria Amazing, a search on the site found.

The 10-deck Victoria Majestic has four restaurants, two pools, spa and fitness centers, a theater, a library and casino, and sports courts. Inside and oceanview staterooms are offered, as well as suites.

The sailings will call at destinations in the Caribbean, North and South America, Asia, Netherlands Indies, Australia, Africa, Arabian countries, Europe and Greenland, the route map on its website shows.

Stateroom rentals on the ships include all dining, beer and wine, internet access, self-laundry, weekly housekeeping, all onboard facilities and medical support.

First Steel Cut for Next Royal Caribbean Icon-Class Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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First Steel Cut for Next Royal Caribbean Icon-Class Ship

Royal Caribbean International is striding quickly toward the next generation of cruise ships, and construction is now underway for the second Icon-class vessel, due to set sail in 2025.

The first steel was cut for the new ship on February 14, 2023, at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, in a traditional ceremony to mark the beginning of the vessel’s physical construction.

Steel Cutting for Next Icon-Class Ship

Little is known about the second Icon-class ship, but excitement is already high as the vessel’s construction has now officially begun. The traditional steel-cutting ceremony was attended by officials from Royal Caribbean International as well as Meyer Turku to celebrate the beginning of the venture that will further position Royal Caribbean as a world leader in oceangoing family getaways.

The ship has been in the planning stages for years, and the physical construction will last many months as blocks for the ship are built and assembled, key systems are put in place, and outfitting is completed.

Royal Caribbean Icon-class Steel Cutting
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

No debut date other than 2025 has yet been announced, nor have any details about the ship’s deployment, itineraries, or special features yet been revealed.

As a sister ship to the much-anticipated Icon of the Seas, the ship will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), and is sure to have a range of amazing neighborhoods and high-energy amenities, venues, and activities for everyone to enjoy.

Statistics for the ship are not yet finalized, but its weight is estimated to be approximately 250,800 gross tons, with a passenger capacity of roughly 5,600 guests at double occupancy, similar to sister ship Icon of the Seas.

Name Yet to Be Announced

No name has been announced for the second Icon-class ship, which is currently known only as “Project NB-1401” though the name should be revealed soon.

Royal Caribbean Icon-class Steel Cutting
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

Traditionally, Royal Caribbean ships have somewhat related names, with the first vessel in each class bearing the class name. Therefore, Icon of the Seas is the first Icon-class ship.

Synonyms that could make possible names for the second ship include idol, epitome, essence, emblem, paradigm, luminary, and magnate. Of course, the name could be completely different as well.

About the Icon Class

The goal of Royal Caribbean’s new class of ships is to create a new era of vacations combining the best of all vacation types on land – resort getaways, beachside retreats, theme park adventures, and more.

To do so, the cruise line is creating innovative “neighborhoods” throughout the ship, integrating food and beverage services, onboard activities, gathering spaces, and more so that no one needs to compromise on what they prefer for their vacation.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas Cruise Ship
Render Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

While there is no guarantee that the new ship will be identical to Icon of the Seas, many of the features – such as the family-oriented Surfside neighborhood – are likely to be similar.

Further details about Icon of the Seas are being revealed in additional episodes of the cruise line’s “Making an Icon” video series, details that are sure to be similar to the second ship as well. Already, Icon of the Seas is the most anticipated cruise ship under construction, and when bookings opened, the vessel shattered single-day booking records for the cruise line.

Anticipation and excitement for the second Icon-class ship, as well as the third in the class, scheduled to debut in 2026, is sure to be high as well. Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for further updates on all of these outstanding ships!

Carnival Cruise Line Refines Upcoming Itineraries for Four Ships

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Refines Upcoming Itineraries for Four Ships

Carnival Cruise Line is continuing to refine upcoming itineraries for four more vessels, with a total of eight sailings making relatively minor changes.

The first of the cruises to be changed is not setting sail until November 2023, however, giving booked guests plenty of time to make plans for the altered sailing or change their own travel plans if they prefer.

Four Carnival Cruise Ships Impacted

Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked on several upcoming sailings of four different ships with minor itinerary changes. The impacted ships are all in different classes, sailing from different homeports on the affected departure dates, with sailings ranging from November 2023 to March 2025.

Many of these changes are similar to nine other itinerary changes Carnival announced recently, impacting other ships but with similar slight alterations.

Carnival Spirit

The first cruise impacted is the December 23, 2023 sailing of Carnival Spirit, an 8-night roundtrip itinerary to The Bahamas from Mobile, Alabama. The ship was to have visited Princess Cays, Nassau, and Freeport, but will now replace Princess Cays with Bimini, instead. The order of the ports has also been reversed.

Carnival Freedom

Five itineraries have been adjusted on Carnival Freedom, all sailing from Port Canaveral. Three different types of changes impact these cruises, as follows (listed by departure date):

Carnival Freedom Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Ruth Peterkin / Shutterstock
  • November 20, 2023 – Port order reversed and port times slightly modified.
  • December 4, 2023 – Port order reversed and port times slightly modified.
  • January 2, 2024 – Visiting Bimini instead of Princess Cays with a slight port time change.
  • March 30, 2024 – Port order reversed and port times slightly modified.
  • June 8, 2024 – Visiting Half Moon Cay instead of Princess Cays with slight changes to the port time.

Guests on the June 8 sailing should note that both Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays are private island destinations operated by Carnival Corporation, and will therefore offer similar experiences to enjoy.

Carnival Vista

Only one cruise is changed for Carnival Vista, a 6-night Eastern Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral departing on March 3, 2024. For this one voyage, the ship will now be visiting Princess Cays rather than Half Moon Cay as originally planned. The remaining ports on the itinerary – Grand Turk and Amber Cove – remain unchanged.

Mardi Gras

Even the Excel-class Mardi Gras is not exempt from itinerary changes, as guests on the March 29, 2025 sailing are being notified (yes, more than two years in advance).

Carnival Mardi Gras Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz

The change for the 7-night Exotic Eastern Caribbean sailing is minimal, however, simply reversing the order of ports of call from the originally planned route. The ship will still be visiting Grand Turk, Amber Cove, and Nassau, however. In addition to the reversed order, port times have also been slightly modified.

Cruise Contract Covers Changes

While guests may be frustrated or disappointed to learn that the cruises they have originally booked are being modified, Carnival Cruise Line is clear in its cruise ticket contract that the cruise line has the complete authority to make such changes.

In section 8(d), the contract clearly states, “Carnival may change the duration and/or itinerary of the cruise at any time,” which includes the ability “to omit or change any or all port calls, arrival or departure times, with or without notice, for any reason whatsoever.”

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

While all cruise lines do attempt to keep to their originally published itineraries, it is not uncommon to make slight adjustments as port schedules are refined, berthing space is adjusted for dock maintenance, or ship deployments are shifted, especially far in advance of sailings.

Given that the first of these altered itineraries is more than nine months away, guests have plenty of time to adjust their plans as needed or preferred.

MSC Cruises Increasing Presence in Spain, With 500 Calls

Donna Tunney
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MSC Cruises Increasing Presence in Spain, With 500 Calls

Spanish ports will figure prominently in MSC Cruises’ itineraries in 2023, when its ships will make more than 500 calls at popular destinations such as Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Malaga, Cádiz and Tarragona.

The cruise line’s focus on Spain follows double-digit growth in the Spanish market last year and includes the home-porting of the mega-ship MSC World Europa in Barcelona this summer.

500 MSC Cruise Calls to Spanish Ports

MSC Cruises’ port call schedule this year reflects a 23% increase in visits to Spain compared to 2022, and will deliver 2 million-plus cruisers to Spanish ports, MSC said in a virtual press briefing on February 14.

20 MSC cruise ships will make 384 this summer out of more than 500 port of calls in Spain by the cruise line in 2023. During the summer, MSC will cruise to 140 destinations in 40 countries.

MSC Cruise Ships
Photo Credit: Luciavonu / Shutterstock

General Director of MSC Cruises in Spain Fernando Pacheco said, “Last summer we saw a growth of 20% in the Spanish market – compared to 2019 – and, with this excellent figure in mind, for this year we set ourselves the objective of expanding the number of departures from Spain.”

He said MSC is the only shipping company with seven embarkation ports in Spain, a distinction that reflects its commitment to bring Spanish ports closer to national cruise passengers.

Worth Reading: Cruise Port Operator Expands Reach With 2025 Successes

Pacheco added, “To achieve this, collaboration with port and local authorities has been essential. We have also developed an air connection plan to bring other destinations closer to our passengers.”

MSC World Europa to Sail From Barcelona

MSC World Europa was inaugurated in Doha, Qatar, on November 13, 2022. The cruise line’s first LNG-powered ship, built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, is operating 7-day winter cruises between Doha and Dubai, and longer voyages from Doha to Mediterranean ports.

MSC World Europa
MSc World Europa

The 6,850-guest ship will reposition to Barcelona for the summer series. Port calls from Barcelona will include Marseille, France; Genoa, Naples and Messina, Italy; and Valletta, Malta.

Port of Barcelona President Lluís Salvadó said, “We highly value the commitment that MSC makes both in terms of environmental sustainability and to increase the number of cruise passengers from the base port in Barcelona. Undoubtedly, this commitment will be reinforced shortly, since the company is expected to have its new terminal in Barcelona operational by 2024.”

MSC Euribia to Debut in June

In other updates at the briefing, MSC Cruises noted that its newest ship is set to debut in June 2023. The MSC Euribia, also powered by liquefied natural gas, will debut in Copenhagen and spend her maiden season in Northern Europe, sailing 7-night Norwegian fjords cruises.

Port calls will include the German port of Kiel, plus Hellesylt, Alesund and Flam, all in Norway, and other destinations. The 6,327-passenger ship will be the line’s third Meraviglia-Plus class ship and a sister ship to MSC Grandiosa, and MSC Virtuosa.

MSC Euribia Cruise Ship
Render Courtesy: MSC Cruises

According to Pacheco, “Together with MSC World Europa, MSC Euribia will play a key role in achieving our commitment to reach zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It is a unique ship, the second in our fleet powered by LNG, and will use a system advanced wastewater treatment system, as well as an underwater radiated noise management system to minimize the effects of vibrations on marine life.”

With its 2023 ship deployments, MSC Cruises said it will contribute the most capacity growth to the industry worldwide, representing a total capacity of 32.7%. With many of its ships calling at different Spanish ports, the company noted it will contribute to the local economies of the destinations.

Line Expands Air Services

MSC Cruises offers air service bookings to its embarkation ports, and this summer it will add direct flights from Valencia and Malaga for cruises in Northern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, expanding its existing air offers from the Madrid and Barcelona airports.

More From Cruise Hive

An MSC statement said, “The included flights service allows cruise passengers to choose itineraries that start far from their location with a more affordable price and favoring a more comfortable and flexible way of traveling for the passenger, since transfers from the airport to the port are included. These advantages will make it even easier for Spanish travelers to book a worry-free holiday at sea.”

The cruise line said that it expects to transport some 60,000 Spaniards via its air booking service. Also, MSC Cruises’ “Stay & Cruise” pre-sailing package will continue to provide up to three nights of hotel accommodation in 4-star properties in Madrid and Barcelona.

Do Cruise Ships Provide Towels?

Emrys Thakkar
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Do Cruise Ships Provide Towels?

When packing for your first cruise, you might be uncertain about what you can and can’t bring. What is included in your cabin? What is allowed onboard, and what is prohibited? What can you find in the cruise ship’s onboard shops?

One question many first-time cruise passengers have is, do cruise ships provide towels? Towels take up a lot of space in your limited luggage, so you don’t want to pack some just to find that there will be fresh towels in your cabin waiting for you when you embark.

If you’re wondering whether you should pack a towel or gain extra space, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, you’ll learn whether cruise ships provide towels and how you can ensure that you always have a way to dry off during your trip.

In This Article…

Do Cruise Ships Provide Towels?

In general, cruise ships provide all of the towels you need. This means that you don’t only get bath, hand, and face towels for your cabin, but you’ll also be provided with beach towels for both swimming in the pool and swimming on your beach day excursions offshore.

Towels on Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: vvoe / Shutterstock

Towels will be handed out to you when embarking on a port if requested. However, you are responsible for bringing the towel back onboard; if you don’t, you may be subject to a towel fee. For example, on a Royal Caribbean cruise, this unreturned towel fee is $25. For Carnival Cruise Line, it’s $24.95.

How Often Do You Get Fresh Towels?

Cruise ships provide you with fresh towels as often as you’d like. You can get fresh towels daily by placing your dirty ones in a pile. The housekeepers will replace them when they clean your room.

The same goes for a beach towel. You can hand in your wet or dirty towels for fresh ones as often as you’d like. However, suppose you want to be environmentally conscious and minimize the amount of laundry that needs to be done on the ship. In that case, you might consider using fewer towels and only seeking replacements when necessary.

Can You Purchase Towels On a Cruise Ship?

Sometimes, it’s nice just to have your own towel. So if you don’t want to grab a new towel every day, the question may not be “do cruise ships provide towels,” but whether or not you can buy a towel on your cruise ship.

For the most part, many cruise ships do sell towels in their shops. Carnival Cruise Line, for example, sells towels for $24.95 USD. The only issue is that the towel you purchase on a cruise ship may not be up to your standard.

Carnival Towel
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line

If, by chance, your cruise ship does not sell towels, you have other options. One fun idea is to purchase souvenir towels at the different ports your ship stops at, starting with the port of call.

There are several benefits to doing this: You don’t have to worry about packing towels, you get your own towel to use, and you get a fun souvenir to keep!

Other Towel Tips to Know

As mentioned, you must return your beach towels if you bring them ashore on your excursions, or else you may be subject to a towel fee. However, there are a few other essential towel tips to know.

If you do want to save your towel to use again, you’ll want to hang it to dry. However, it is prohibited to hang your towel off of your balcony. Not only will it likely just blow away, but it can also become a fire hazard. Make sure to hang them in your bathroom or cabin.

Chances are you’ll want to hang your towel off your chair while you lounge at the pool. If this is the case, you’ll want to secure it somehow. You can do so with towel clips that will prevent your towel from blowing away.

These clips are a great way to identify your towel, as cruise ship towels are often only one color for everyone, making it easy to lose track of yours.

Towels on Cruise Balcony
Towels on Cruise Balcony (Photo Credit: tose / Shutterstock)

While towel clips are a great tool to have, they’re mainly used to identify your towel on your lounge chair, not to keep your lounge chair. You don’t want to get too comfortable with towel clips.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Laundry – What You Need to Know

This means that if you plan on being away from your chair for a long time – say, to get lunch – you should remove your towel to allow others to sit. Limited lounge chairs are on the deck, and being a chair hog will not give you a good reputation on your ship.

Conclusion: You Can Leave Your Towel at Home

To conclude, do cruise ships provide towels? Yes, they do. On your cruise, you’ll have access to all the bath towels, washcloths, hand towels, and beach towels you need. You can even bring a beach towel with you on your beach day shore excursion!

So pack light for your cruise vacation, and make sure to use this extra room for souvenirs from the ports you’ll be stopping at!

New Carnival Cruise Ship Hits Another Construction Milestone

Robert McGillivray
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New Carnival Cruise Ship Hits Another Construction Milestone

Meyer Werft, the shipyard responsible for building the Carnival Jubilee, provided an update on the ship’s construction progress on February 14, 2023. The ship is the third Excel-class vessel in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet and is currently under construction in Papenburg, Germany.

According to the update, the construction of the Carnival Jubilee is progressing well, with the shipyard recently completing the installation of the last large block. The stern of the ship is now complete, marking a significant step towards the completion of the cruise ship. Meyer Werft is now focusing on the interior areas of the Carnival Jubilee.

Steady Progress for Carnival Jubilee

Carnival Jubilee is a 182,800-gross-ton cruise ship being built for Carnival Cruise Line at the Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Construction of the vessel began in March 2022, with the official cutting of the first steel. The keel was laid down in July 2022, and construction is progressing at an incredible speed.

Carnival Jubilee at Meyer Werft
Carnival Jubilee at Meyer Werft (Photo Credit: Meyer Werft)

According to the update from Meyer Werft: “The Carnival Jubilee has reached another important milestone: The last large block has been put in place. Now the stern is also complete, and an important step towards the completion of the cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line has been taken. 

“With a lot of commitment and shipbuilding passion, we are now concentrating on the work in the interior areas of the Carnival Jubilee because we are proud to build this great ship in Papenburg.”

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Line’s New Ship is All Shiny in Latest Update

The last large block has been placed, meaning the vast majority of metal works are now completed, and the ship now has much of what will be her final layout. Cruise ships are built in blocks to simplify the construction process.

Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: Meyer Werft

Large sections of the ship, such as cabins, engine rooms, and public areas, are built separately and then assembled together, like a giant Lego set, in a dry dock. This approach allows for more efficient construction.

The shipyard will now be able to start work on interior outfitting, including laying down vast amounts of cables, building up cabins, lying down carpeting, furnishing the vessel, and much more. However, a big part of that will not happen in Papenburg.

Ems River Passage

Carnival Jubilee will go through a few more steps than usual for other shipyards. Carnival Jubilee will sail from the Meyer Werft down the Ems river to Bremerhaven for her final outfitting. 

Cruise ships are moved from the Papenburg shipyard to Bremerhaven for interior outfitting because Meyer Werft does not have a harbor that connects directly to the ocean. Instead, the shipyard is located on the Ems River, which is not deep enough to accommodate large ships at full capacity. 

The Ems River has several bridges and locks that would need to be modified or removed to allow the passage of large fully-loaded cruise ships, which is not feasible. The transit is a complex and time-consuming process that requires the ship’s funnel and other structures to be removed and reattached.

Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship
Rendering Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Another reason is that the port facilities in Bremerhaven are better equipped to handle the outfitting and testing of large cruise ships. Bremerhaven has more extensive and more advanced shipyard facilities and deep-water berths that can accommodate the large draft of cruise ships. 

This allows for easier and more efficient loading and unloading of materials and equipment and the safe and secure docking of the vessels during outfitting and testing.

Delay in delivery

Carnival Cruise Line announced in December last year that the delivery of Carnival Jubilee would be slightly delayed due to supply chain disruptions. The ship’s maiden voyage was originally scheduled to sail from Southampton in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2023. 

However, all sailings from October 30, 2023, through and including December 16, 2023, sailing have been canceled. The new maiden voyage of Carnival Jubilee is now scheduled to sail from Galveston, Texas, on December 23, 2023. 

The ship will be based year-round in Galveston and will operate seven-day cruises to the Western Caribbean, departing every Saturday. The ports of call include Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Mahogany Bay on Isla Roatan, Honduras.

Carnival Jubilee will have the capacity to welcome 5,347 guests at double occupancy and as many as 6,631 guests when fully booked. She is the sister ship of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. The cruise ship will be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which is considered cleaner than traditional marine fuels.

Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates Its Largest Vow Renewal at Sea

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates Its Largest Vow Renewal at Sea

Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating love on Valentine’s Day with the cruise line’s largest-ever vow renewal at sea, taking place fleetwide with thousands of couples symbolically renewing their vows with Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal virtually officiating the ceremony.

The celebrations include onboard receptions and are a great way for cruise-loving couples to spend Valentine’s Day together, along with other onboard fun for February 14.

Onboard Renewals for All

Valentine’s Day is a holiday dedicated to romance, and there is no better way to celebrate with your partner than renewing your vows and demonstrating that you remain committed together. Onboard Carnival cruise ships, guests have a fun opportunity to do just that in the cruise line’s largest-ever vow renewal ceremony on February 14, 2023.

The special onboard ceremonies are being virtually officiated by Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal via each ship’s big screen on deck, whether during a Fun Day at Sea or while docked in planned ports of call.

Carnival Cruise Line Valentine's Day
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

After the vow renewal, onboard receptions are being held for all participating couples, with DJ music, dancing, and a champagne toast to celebrate every loving relationship.

Read Also: How to Enjoy Romantic Valentine’s Day Cruises

Throughout the day, additional Valentine’s-themed activities are part of every ship’s schedule, including special trivia competitions, romantic Dive-In Movies for a great date night, or the ever fun and flirtatious Love & Marriage show.

Specialty dining reservations, decadent desserts, and sunset kisses out on deck are also sure to be popular with all couples on board.

Carnival Weddings and Vow Renewals

While the mass renewal is a fun and quirky event to celebrate Valentine’s Day, couples in love can turn to Carnival Cruise Line any day of the year to plan their special ceremony with an official wedding or personalized recommitment ceremony.

“Our wedding and vow renewal offerings are expansive, and our dedicated team of professional planners can help handle every detail with care, from the music and decor to the dessert,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Carnival Cruise Line Valentine's Day
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Thousands of guests each year choose to say their “I dos” onboard Carnival ships through the cruise line’s Weddings by Carnival program, which offers a variety of packages for different group sizes, along with personalization options and extra luxury to make the couple’s day memorable for many happy anniversaries.

Read Also: 8 Tips for the Ultimate Honeymoon Cruise

Private onboard venues, ceremony music, a honeymoon dinner, keepsake wedding certificate, shipboard decorations, photography services, and more are all part of the various packages. Different customization options include wedding cake flavors, entertainment choices, venue locations, and more, and a dedicated wedding planner will help every couple coordinate their special day to ensure everything is flawless.

Carnival Cruise Line Valentine's Day
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Couples can even have different choices of where they wish to marry to help create their very best memories with those who matter most.

“Guests can choose ceremonies at sea, in port at beautiful destinations, or even at the ship’s homeport ahead of their cruise so friends and family who aren’t sailing can attend the event,” said Duffy.

More From Cruise Hive

Carnival even offers onboard engagement packages, private vow renewal ceremonies, and of course, honeymoon cruises, ensuring that couples can celebrate their love at sea in every way they desire, from the first moment they promise themselves to one another to their wedding, honeymoon, and many happy anniversaries to share in the years to come.

Nine Carnival Cruise Itineraries Changed for Two Ships

Melissa Mayntz
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0
Nine Carnival Cruise Itineraries Changed for Two Ships

Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests aboard nine different sailings – three for Carnival Dream and six for Carnival Sunshine – with news of itinerary changes that include swapped ports, modified port times, and changes of port orders, but nothing has been said about why such changes are being made.

As the earliest impacted sailings are in November, booked guests have plenty of time to adjust their travel plans if preferred.

Itineraries Changed on Two Ships

A total of nine cruises with dates ranging from November 2023 through November 2024 are being altered, with sailings on both Carnival Dream and Carnival Sunshine affected.

For the applicable dates, Carnival Dream is sailing from Galveston, Texas, while Carnival Sunshine is homeported from Charleston, South Carolina.

Carnival Dream Itinerary Changes

Three 2023 sailings are being changed for the 128,250-gross ton Carnival Dream, one in November and two in December. All three impacted cruises are 8-night Eastern Caribbean voyages, and all are scheduled to call first on Key West, Florida, followed by Freeport in The Bahamas. All three cruises also have a call in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas.

Carnival Cruise Line Ship
Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt / Shutterstock

It is the third port of call that is being impacted, however, in the following ways (listed by 2023 departure date):

  • November 4 – Princess Cays is being replaced with Half Moon Cay
  • December 22 – Half Moon Cay is being replaced with Princess Cays
  • December 30 – Half Moon Cay also replaced with Princess Cays

Port times for the altered visits are also being slightly adjusted, though not significantly.

Both Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay are private island destinations developed by Carnival Corporation for use by any of their vessels, and both offer a variety of watersports, beach activities, and other options for guests to enjoy.

Carnival Dream can welcome 3,646 guests, and is home to more than 1,300 international crew members who seek to provide excellent service on every sailing.

Carnival Sunshine Itinerary Changes

A total of six sailings for the 102,853-gross ton Carnival Sunshine are being adjusted, though somewhat more dramatically than the changes made for Carnival Dream.

Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Depending on the sailing date, private islands are being swapped, port times modified, and port orders reversed. The impacted cruises are all 5-night cruises to The Bahamas, with changes as follows (listed by departure date):

  • November 6, 2023 – Port order reversed, Half Moon Cay replaced with Bimini
  • November 11, 2023 – Port order reversed
  • February 3, 2024 – Port order reversed and Half Moon Cay replaced with Princess Cays
  • March 25, 2024 – Half Moon Cay replaced with Freeport
  • June 8, 2024 – Port order reversed, visiting Princess Cays instead of Half Moon Cay
  • November 9, 2024 – Replacing Princess Cays with Bimini

The port times are being “slightly” modified for all the adjusted sailings.

Carnival Sunshine is the first in her modified “Sunshine” class, having originally been Carnival Destiny before a massive refit in 2013 that gave her a completely new look and ultimately, a new name. The ship can welcome 3,000 guests for amazing, fun-filled vacations.

Why the Changes?

The itinerary change notice sent to affected guests gives no explanation about why these cruises have been adjusted, but it is not unusual for cruise lines to modify itineraries somewhat as schedules are refined in the months before sailing.

Read Also: Former Carnival Cruise Ships, Where Are They Now?

As the earliest modified cruise is still more than eight months away, booked guests have plenty of time to make adjustments to their travel plans or even change their sailing if they prefer.

“Thank you for your understanding,” the email reads. “We look forward to welcoming you aboard for a FUN and memorable cruise.”

It is possible that the cruise line is simply seeking to balance schedules in order to ensure the best possible experience for guests, especially at private islands where exclusive visits are often preferred to minimize crowding.

Port maintenance may also be a factor in the changes, though this is unlikely as the changes are so minor and visits to all the affected ports of call are continuing.

Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas Skips Private Island Visit

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas Skips Private Island Visit

Windy weather and strong currents were enough to keep the world’s largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, from docking at CocoCay as planned on Monday, February 13, 2023.

Instead, the 236,857-gross-ton vessel will enjoy an extra day at sea as it makes its way to the next scheduled port of call, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.

Wonder of the Seas Cancels CocoCay

Wonder of the Seas had been scheduled to visit CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in The Bahamas, on Monday, February 13, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

High winds in the area, however, made it impossible for the ship to safely dock, and after waiting several hours for the winds to subside, the decision was made to cancel the port of call altogether and the ship moved off.

At the time the Oasis-class cruise ship was to have been docking, winds around CocoCay were steady at 18 knots (20 miles per hour / 33 kilometers per hour), with gusts recorded up to 27 knots (31 mph / 50 kph).

This is too dangerous for the ship to dock safely, as the movement of the vessel could cause gangway problems for guests and damage to the pier.

Rather than immediately cancel the visit, however, the ship’s captain opted to hold off just northwest of the island and wait to see if conditions improved.

While the overall wind speeds were falling throughout the morning, gusts still remained well over 20 knots (23 mph / 37 kph), and by 11 a.m. it was decided to move on with sea day plans.

Oasis-Class Cruise Ship At CocoCay
Oasis-Class Cruise Ship At CocoCay (Photo Copyright: Solarisys / Shutterstock)

This is the safest decision, as even if the ship could dock safely, an unexpected wind gust could have very unsafe consequences, such as when an MSC Cruises ship recently broke free of its moorings due to high winds during a sudden squall.

Wonder of the Seas was the only ship scheduled for CocoCay on Monday, and there are no ships scheduled for visits on Tuesday, February 14.

Two vessels – Serenade of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas – are planned to be docked on Wednesday, and may be facing similarly high winds. Forecast predictions for Wednesday at CocoCay show sustained wind speeds of 14-16 knots (16-18 mph / 26-29 kph) with gusts as high as 22 knots (25 mph / 40 kph).

Read Also: Royal Caribbean to increase Capacity at Its Private Island

Of course, predictions can always change, and each ship’s captain will make whatever decisions are best for the safety of the vessel based on weather conditions at the time.

What to Do on Board?

With Wonder of the Seas now enjoying a sea day instead of a port visit, what can guests expect? Shore excursions booked for CocoCay will be refunded, and extra activities will be quickly added to the day’s schedule to give all guests more options for a fun day. Trivia contests, games, and live music are sure to be available throughout the day.

Wonder of the Seas View
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

Furthermore, Wonder of the Seas has an amazing array of onboard activities to enjoy, from pools, whirlpools, and spa facilities to the ship’s rock climbing wall, the FlowRider surf simulator, the Wonder Dunes story-based miniature golf course, the Wonder Playscape for kids, and the Ultimate Abyss slide for those brave enough to plunge 10 stories down on the tallest slide at sea.

Bars and the casino will be open, and new shopping deals may be made available as well, along with fitness classes and much more for all ages to enjoy.

Winter Weather in The Bahamas

Winter weather can always involve strong winds in The Bahamas as storm systems move from the United States into the southeast Atlantic Ocean.

This is not the first time ships have cancelled calls to CocoCay or other private islands in The Bahamas because of unsafe conditions. Guests should always be prepared for weather-related itinerary changes.

At the end of January, for example, Norwegian Escape needed to cancel a visit to Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay, because of high winds. Great Stirrup Cay and CocoCay are just 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) apart.

Bermuda has also been dramatically impacted by winter weather, and earlier this month Norwegian Getaway had to completely cancel an overnight call on Bermuda due to high winds.

High winds, tropical storms, severe waves, and other weather conditions can impact cruise ships sailing anywhere in the world at any time of year, and cruise travelers should always be flexible with their port expectations when poor weather interferes.

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