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Carnival-Owned Costa Cruise Ship is Largest to Be Sold Off

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival-Owned Costa Cruise Ship is Largest to Be Sold Off

The long-debated fate of Costa Magica has finally been decided as Carnival Corporation & plc has confirmed the sale of the vessel to Seajets, a Greek ferry operator, for an undisclosed amount.

The new owner has not announced any immediate plans for the cruise ship, which has been out of passenger service since March 2020, never having resumed guest operations after the pandemic lockdown.

Costa Magica Sold

The Destiny-class Costa Magica has been sold to the Marios Iliopoulos-led Seajets high-speed ferry company. The ship’s fate has been uncertain for some time, as it was announced in June 2021 to be transferred to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet.

That plan was dismissed in mid-2022 when it was announced that Costa Luminosa would instead become Carnival Luminosa, while Costa Magica was to remain with Costa Cruises for the time being. The ship had not been sailing since the industry-wide shutdown began in March 2020, being one of the few ships to not resume guest service.

Worth Reading: Former Carnival-Owned Ship Sold to Chinese Cruise Company

In the meantime, Costa Magica was offered to house Ukrainian refugees in March 2022, with Costa Cruises reaching out to the Italian government with that proposal. Though generous and appreciated, the offer was ultimately unnecessary.

Costa Magic Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock

In late December 2022, as part of the Fourth Quarter 2022 Business Update from Carnival Corporation, it was announced that three “smaller-less efficient ships” would be removed from the corporation’s overall fleet. At that time, it was known that two of the ships would be retired from the Costa Cruises fleet, but the names of the vessels were not released.

Then, in early January, AIDAaura was confirmed to be leaving the AIDA Cruises fleet as part of those optimization plans. Now we know that Costa Magica will be another of the impacted vessels, but the third vessel is still unknown, other than the fact that it will be retired from Costa Cruises.

At this time, two additional Costa ships – Costa Serena and Costa Diadema – are still in lay up, though Costa Diadema is slated to resume passenger operations in April 2023 with Mediterranean itineraries. Costa Serena is also scheduled to resume service in December 2023, but her itinerary plans are not yet finalized and she is not listed on the Costa Cruises website any longer.

What Will Become of the Former Carnival-Owned Ship?

With Costa Magica now belonging to Seajets, her future is still murky. The company, which operates a fleet of high-speed ferries in the Aegean Sea, has purchased several cruise ships since the pandemic began, scrapping two vessels and keeping others in layup for the time being.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Scrapping – Everything You Need to Know

It is possible that Seajets has plans to begin offering cruise service, or may renovate the ships for modified ferry service of some kind. No official announcement of their plans has been made.

In addition to Costa Magica, Seajets has also purchased Holland America Line’s Veendam, P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Aria, P&O Cruises Oceana, and Royal Caribbean International’s Majesty of the Seas. Of all the ships, Costa Magica is the youngest, having first debuted in 2004. The other ships first set sail in 1996, 1994, 2000, and 1992, respectively.

Costa Magica can host 2,718 passengers and weighs in at 102,784 gross tons. This also makes her the largest gross tonnage vessel Seajets has purchased in the past two years, with one of the highest guest capacities (Majesty of the Seas is slightly higher with a 2,767 guest capacity). Of course, Seajets may do any sort of renovation to the vessel to dramatically change her size, capacity, or venues, or the vessel may yet be scrapped or resold.

Royal Caribbean to Increase Capacity at its Private Island

Robert McGillivray
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Royal Caribbean to Increase Capacity at its Private Island

Royal Caribbean Group has big plans for Perfect Day at CocoCay, its private island in the Bahamas. During the recent Q4 earnings call on February 7, CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean International President Michael Bayley revealed plans to increase the island’s capacity to 13,000 visitors daily.

Perfect Day at Cococay has quickly become one of the most popular destinations for cruise travelers. With the launch of Icon of the Seas coming and with the addition of the new Hideaway Beach, an adult-only neighborhood set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2023, the island is sure to become even more popular.

Perfect Day at CocoCay: A Growing Destination for Cruise Travelers

Perfect Day at Cococay is a private island owned and operated by Royal Caribbean that offers visitors a tropical escape complete with breathtaking views from a hot-air balloon and many exciting activities. From a waterpark to zip-lining to snorkeling and everything in between, Perfect Day at Cococay has something for everyone.

During the fourth quarter earnings call on February 7, company CEO Jason Liberty revealed the cruise line has big plans for the private island, including increased capacity due to the addition of Hideaway Beach.

Royal Caribbean Private Island
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

“In addition to our incredible new vessels, we plan to launch Hideaway Beach in the fourth quarter of 2023, an adult-only neighborhood, making Perfect Day at CocoCay more perfect and increasing capacity in the island to 13,000 visitors daily,” Liberty said during the Q4 earnings call.

Little is known about Hideaway Beach at this time, except that it will be an adults-only resort area. This new addition to the cruise line’s private island is set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2023 and is expected to bring an additional 3,000 people to the island. This will further increase the island’s capacity to 13,000 visitors daily.

Royal Caribbean Sees Increased Interest in Caribbean Vacations

The Royal Caribbean International’s North America-based itineraries, many of which visit Perfect Day at Cococay, are already booked in line with the record-breaking year 2019, indicating that the ships will be full while sailing. 

During the first quarter of 2023, approximately 80% of Royal Caribbean’s capacity will operate from North America, with the majority sailing to the Caribbean. 

This is higher than in the first quarter of 2019, especially for short Caribbean sailings, as the company has added more capacity in the region to take advantage of the incredible interest that both Perfect Day at Cococay and the upcoming release of Icon of the Seas has brought.

Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean betting big on CocoCay comes as no surprise. The cruise company’s costs for sailing to the island are reasonably low for the cruise company, while the returns are excellent. 

Jason Liberty expanded further on the importance of CocoCay for Royal during the call: “The demand for that product is exceptionally high. We have a significant increase in our overall capacity that we bring into CocoCay. And the demand not only is there from a volume perspective, but the rate is there. It’s the same with the spend for the products and experiences on Perfect Day. We’ve seen a great demand and a lot of resilience as the prices go up.”

“So, it’s a hit, and it’s very successful. We are opening Hideaway Beach in the fourth quarter of this year in preparation for Icon of the Seas. Hideaway Beach will allow us to bring an additional 3,000 people to Perfect Day.”

With the addition of Hideaway Beach, the island is sure to become an even more popular destination for cruise travelers. Royal Caribbean expects to bring 2.5 million to 3 million guests to CocoCay in 2023. This would mean between 7000 and 8000 guests visiting the island each day of the year. 

Carnival Cruise Line Introducing New Policy for Crew Members

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Introducing New Policy for Crew Members

Many travelers enjoy bringing a small gift to give their stateroom attendants or other crew members, such as favorite bartenders, youth counselors, or cruise directors in thanks for their dedicated and often personalized service.

Carnival Cruise Line is now adapting new guidelines that might mean some gifts are unacceptable. What can grateful cruisers to do to offer thanks without violating the guideline?

Not All Gifts Permitted to Crew Members

For many years, cruise travelers have brought small gifts to give to crew members as appreciation for their helpful service in creating amazing vacations. Items have ranged from treats such as cookies, candy, and snacks to more practical items like phone cards, socks, and toiletries.

Carnival Cruise Line is now introducing a policy to prohibit some gift items, however. Brand ambassador John Heald addressed the new policy on his Facebook page, in response to guests’ questions about items to give crew members.

“There is a new guideline for this,” Heald said. “Please only bring something that is factory sealed and still in the packet or box. Individual candy or cookies etc. won’t be able to be taken by the crew I am afraid. This is for their safety.”

Carnival Cruise Line Crew Member
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive

This means that any opened or homemade items will not be able to be accepted, or may be immediately discarded regardless of the item or to whom it is given.

No further details about this restriction were made immediately available, but the new guideline is intended for the safety of the crew. There are several ways that even the most well-meaning gift could be unsafe. Homemade goodies, for example, might have unknown allergens in the recipe, such as nuts that could give a crew member a dangerous reaction.

To best safeguard crew members, Carnival Cruise Line is restricting any gift items that are not in the original, factory-sealed packaging. This will ensure that items have not been tampered with and are properly labeled so their safety is confirmed.

The Best Gifts You Can Give

The quickest, easiest gift to give any crew member who goes above-and-beyond with excellent service is an additional gratuity, a bit of extra cash they can spend on whatever they like. While extra gratuities are never expected, they can be greatly appreciated.

Many cruise ship crew members send their paychecks home to their family members, and a bit of extra onboard cash could be spent on their favorite treat in port when they have a break. This will also ensure that even factory-sealed treats aren’t inappropriate due to allergies or personal preferences.

Carnival Cruise Line Crew Members
Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive

Read Also: How to Help Out Your Stateroom Steward

While crew cabins onboard are small and space is limited, many crew members also enjoy small tokens to remember guests by.

“The crew love to remember you so if you want to bring them something like a baseball cap, a key ring, or something that will remind them of you and the kindness you showed them then that would be marvelous,” explained Heald.

Consider small items from your hometown like local postcards, magnets, or other fun keepsakes. Other great gifts include personalized notes or a sincere, face-to-face thank you acknowledging superior service. These greetings mean a lot to crew members and can brighten anyone’s day.

Taking extra steps to make crew members’ jobs easier is another way to show thanks. This can be as easy as returning empty glasses to the nearest bar so they don’t need to be collected, discarding trash in appropriate trash cans instead of leaving it on deck, or keeping your stateroom a little neater so it can be cleaned up more quickly by the stateroom attendant.

Have you ever brought gifts to give out to crew members? Share your favorite ways to say thanks on the Cruise Hive boards!

Carnival Cruise Line Reveals 31-Day Voyage Across Three Continents

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Reveals 31-Day Voyage Across Three Continents

For the first time, Carnival Cruise Line is opening up bookings on a 31-day voyage that will take passengers across three continents, starting in Australia and ending on the US west coast. This will be one of the most unique journeys offered by the Miami-based cruise line, and will set sail in spring 2024.

Carnival Luminosa to Sail 31-Day Cruise

The recently refurbished Carnival Luminosa that transferred from the Costa Cruises fleet as part of the new “Carnival Fun – Italian Style” initiative will take guests on an epic journey spanning three continents across 31 days. It’s one of the longest and most unique voyages in the cruise line’s history and part of its Carnival Journeys offerings.

“This itinerary reads like a travel lover’s wish list. This transpacific voyage on Carnival Luminosa is a truly unique offering,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “As we continue to grow our fleet and our offerings, our team is taking every opportunity to create exceptional new experiences for our guests. This sailing is a perfect testament to that.”

The Carnival cruise ship will begin the long cruise on April 1, 2024, out of Brisbane, Australia, which is where the ship is currently based. In total, the voyage will include nine port visits and 19 sea days. There will also be one day of cruising the Hubbard Glacier for exceptional vistas and views.

Carnival Luminosa Cruise Ship
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

There will be a visit to Guam, time in Tokyo, and stops in some of the most popular Alaskan ports of call, including Seward, Juneau, and Ketchikan. Of special interest is the stop in Okinawa, Japan, which will be Carnival Cruise Line’s first-ever visit to that historic and culturally-rich destination.

The cruise will conclude in Seattle, Washington on May 1, 2024, where the ship will remain homeported through mid-September for the Alaskan sailing season, offering 7-night roundtrip itineraries to the Last Frontier. After Alaska, Carnival Luminosa will return to Australia to homeport once more from Brisbane.

One of the Freshest Ships in the Fleet

The Spirit-class Carnival Luminosa is one of the newest ships in the Fun Ship fleet, and wasn’t originally a Carnival ship at all. The ship was transferred from Costa Cruises to Carnival in November 2022, becoming the first ship of the new “Costa by Carnival” program that will also revitalize and renovate the upcoming Carnival Venezia, which will begin sailing from New York in June 2023.

Carnival Firenze will be the third ship in the fleet transfer, setting sail with Carnival in 2024 from Long Beach, California.

Carnival Luminosa in Australia
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

To prepare for the transfer, Costa Luminosa became Carnival Luminosa with an extensive refit that brought popular Carnival-branded spaces to the vessel, including the Punchliner Comedy Club, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi Express, the Chef’s Table dining experience, and the adults-only Serenity retreat.

The ship also received new gold-and-blue livery during her refit, similar to the red-white-and-blue livery that debuted with Mardi Gras and is being added to the full Carnival fleet.

With a fresh new feel and unique Italian vibes throughout, Carnival Luminosa is a stunning vessel perfect for this stunning new itinerary, with the space to welcome 2,260 guests aboard with service from 926 international crew members.

Princess Cruises Unveils Senior Officers for New Cruise Ship

Robert McGillivray
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Princess Cruises Unveils Senior Officers for New Cruise Ship

In one year, the newest addition to the Princess Cruises fleet, Sun Princess, will make her debut in the Mediterranean. The next-generation LNG-powered cruise ship will offer a host of new and exciting experiences for guests to enjoy. 

To ensure the smooth sailing of this beautiful vessel, Princess Cruises has handpicked a team of seasoned mariners to guide Sun Princess through its final stages of construction and ready her for her debut.

Princess Cruises revealed a team that brings many years of combined experience to steer the ship through its final construction phase and into the inaugural season.

Princess Reveals Sun Princess Senior Management Team

Princess Cruises revealed that Captains Craig Street and Paolo Arrigo will be in charge of Sun Princess during the final phases of construction and during the maiden season of cruises in the Mediterranean. 

“Sun Princess promises something special for everyone and we’re pleased to announce the skilled and deserving team, led by Captains Street and Arrigo, who will guide Sun Princess through the remainder of the construction phase and ready her for her shining debut in just one year,” said Princess President John Padgett.

Captain Street joined Princess Cruises as a deck cadet in 1990 after training at the Warsash Maritime Academy in England. He has since served as captain of 13 Princess ships. 

Captain Arrigo joined Princess Cruises in 1996 as a deck cadet and has since served as first officer, safety officer, and staff captain. He also served as captain during the reality-based television program “The Real Love Boat.”

Sphere-Class Sun Princess Cruise Ship
Render Courtesy: Princess Cruises

“With such an amazing opportunity to elevate the guest experience, it takes an equally talented team of revered mariners to oversee the ship’s final stages of construction at the Fincantieri shipyard, then officially take delivery of the ship and welcome the first guests onboard,” Padgett continued.

Also onboard are Staff Captains Brian Whelan and Valerio Esposito. Staff Captain Whelan, a native of Galway City, Ireland, has been with Princess Cruises for 23 years. Staff Captain Esposito, a native of Meta di Sorrento, Italy, has been with Princess Cruises for 17 years. 

The hotel department will be led by Hotel Managers Ralph D’Souza and Simona Stumberger; Chief Engineers Gaetano Guida and Davor Pavlovic-Kalifo will be in charge of the technical areas onboard. 

A New Era for Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises will launch Sun Princess in Europe on February 8, 2024. The ship, currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, will be the line’s first cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will be the largest ship ever built for the company, at 175,500 gross tons and accommodating 4,300 guests.

The Sun Princess will embark on its maiden voyage from Barcelona, Spain, visiting popular Mediterranean destinations such as Palma De Mallorca, Messina, Piraeus, Kusadasi, Santorini, Naples, and Civitavecchia.

More From Cruise Hive

After cruising the Mediterranean in the summer of 2024, Sun Princess is scheduled to reposition to Fort Lauderdale in November 2024. It is expected that the ship will offer a range of Caribbean itineraries for the winter season. In mid-2025, Princess Cruises will also debut the second ship of the Sphere class, which is currently unnamed.

Holland America Line Extends Culinary Cruise Program

Donna Tunney
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Holland America Line Extends Culinary Cruise Program

The popularity of Holland America Line’s Culinary Cruise program has prompted the line to extend the special-events sailings into 2023. The line announced on February 7 that five celebrity chefs will each sail aboard one of the cruise line’s 11 ships on itineraries around the globe.

The foodie-focused voyages will enable cruise guests to interact with the chefs, learn their cooking secrets, and enjoy specially-prepared menus in the ships’ dining venues.

Five Chefs on Five Holland America Ships

Holland America Line will again bring celebrated chefs onboard five of its ships this year in an extension of the Culinary Cruise program that debuted in 2022. All of the participating chefs from last year will return in 2023, and all are members of the line’s elite Culinary Council.

They include famous Chef Rudi Sodamin, who serves as Master Chef for Holland America Line and last year was named Head of Culinary Arts for sister line Princess Cruises. Both lines are Carnival Corporation brands.

Holland America Line Vice President of Food, Beverage and Guest Services Michael Stendebach said, “Our Culinary Cruises have proven to be popular with our guests who appreciate having access to these amazing chefs, and we’re excited to have our Culinary Council members back on board in 2023. We strive to cultivate unique experiences for our guests, and to learn from a renowned chocolatier or the world’s foremost sushi master is something we hope they will always remember.”

Holland America Line
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock

Guests sailing on Culinary Cruises can watch cooking demonstrations by the chef featured on their ship and are invited to take home recipes from the demos. They also can meet the chef at a “coffee chat,” and enjoy special, reservation-only dinners at specialty restaurants Pinnacle Grill, Rudi’s See de Mer, and Nami Sushi.

Signature dishes by each chef will be featured in various restaurants during the cruises, and one dinner in the main Dining Room on every cruise will offer a collection of dishes from the Culinary Council members. All of the culinary-related events are free to guests except for the reservation-only specialty restaurant dinners.

Meet the Chefs

The elite group of chefs returning to Holland America Line ships this year include:

Ethan Stowell

Ethan Stowell will sail aboard the 2,650-guest Koningsdam during a 35-day Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas cruise from February 18 to March 25, roundtrip from San Diego.

Stowell is known for his creative use of flavors from the Pacific Northwest in recipes featuring sustainably sourced Alaska seafood. His dishes also are featured at New York Pizza and Lido Market across the Holland America fleet. Stowell is founder and CEO of ESR (Ethan Stowell Restaurants), which operates multiple restaurants in Washington State and in New York City.

Andy Matsuda

Andy Matsuda will sail on the 2,106-guest Nieuw Amsterdam during her 14-day Great Alaskan Explorer May 7 to 21, operating roundtrip from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Holland America Line Dining
Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line

The Japanese-born chef oversees the sushi offerings at Holland America Line’s Nami Sushi, Tamarind, and Lido Market venues. The chef also runs the Matsuda’s Sushi Chef Institute in Los Angeles.

David Burke

David Burke will join the 2,104-guest Eurodam for her 20-day Panama Canal cruise from April 9 to 29, cruising from Fort Lauderdale to Seattle. According to the line, he will enhance the menu at Pinnacle Grill with contemporary flavors and signature recipes.

Burke, who has been featured on “Iron Chef America” and “Top Chef Masters,” has five restaurants. His #FeedtheHeroes program prepared 100,000 meals to frontline workers and charities during the pandemic.

Jacques Torres

Jacques Torres will bring his expertise to the 1,432-guest Zaandam on her 11-day Atlantic Coast cruise from April 18 to 29, sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal, Canada.

The French-trained artisan chocolatier and master chef specializes in chocolate desserts and will guide the onboard Chocolate Surprise parade. The former executive pastry chef at Le Cirque, in New York, has a chocolate factory and several retail outlets in the city. He is a James Beard Award winner.

Rudi Sodamin

Holland America Line Dining
Photo Courtesy: Holland America Line

Rudi Sodamin, who created Holland America Linen’s Culinary Council and is in charge of shipboard dining across the fleet, will join the 2,666-guest Nieuw Statendam on her 14-Day Northern Isles cruise from June 18 to July 2, sailing roundtrip from Copenhagen.

Sodamin, who hails from Austria, has written several cookbooks. His most recent is an art table book titled “Food Faces.” Each chef will be aboard their designated “Culinary Cruise” for four to 14 days, the line said.

Holland America Cruise No Longer Visiting Popular Alaskan Port

Melissa Mayntz
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Holland America Cruise No Longer Visiting Popular Alaskan Port

Holland America Line has reached out to guests booked aboard one of this spring’s 14-night Alaskan itineraries aboard Nieuw Amsterdam to notify them of an itinerary change.

One port of call is being swapped for another and three other port visits are changing days, but the cruise line is adjusting shore excursions as necessary to accommodate the changes.

14-Night Alaskan Itinerary Changed

The May 7, 2023 sailing of Nieuw Amsterdam will not be the same itinerary as advertised when guests initially booked their cruise aboard the Signature-class ship. The cruise line reached out today to notify guests that there are several changes to the cruise, including one complete port of call change and several port visits being moved to different days.

The impacted voyage is a 14-night sailing, roundtrip from Vancouver, Canada, with several amazing Alaskan ports of call and cruising through the majestic Glacier Bay, one of the top must-visit sites in the Last Frontier.

“Please be advised that due to operational reasons, Nieuw Amsterdam will no longer call to Skagway, Alaska,” the email explained. “[We] will instead call to Victoria, British Columbia.”

Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: WESLEY FOULDS / Shutterstock

The visit to Skagway was to have been on Tuesday, May 16, while the new port visit to Victoria will be on Saturday, May 20. To accommodate this change, the ship’s visits to Sitka, Ketchikan, and Prince Rupert will all be moved up by one day in the itinerary, and May 19 will now be a day at sea.

Ports of call earlier in the itinerary – Kodiak Island, Anchorage, Valdez, and Glacier Bay – are not impacted by the change. Likewise, the ship’s return to Vancouver is the same as originally planned.

Holland America Line is automatically refunding shore excursions for Skagway that have been booked through the cruise line, and those refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment.

Updated information for the remaining ports of call, as well as tours for the new visit to Victoria, British Columbia, will be available on the cruise line’s website within two weeks.

What Operational Reasons Caused the Port Change?

No details have been provided about the “operational reasons” that make removing Skagway from the itinerary necessary, but it is possible the change is due to ongoing difficulties with rockslides along the dock at that popular port.

During the 2022 sailing season, several dangerous rockslides caused damage to one of the main cruise ship docks, and the dock was closed for several weeks as emergency repairs were made. While additional repairs have been planned, if those repairs are not complete, it may mean more cancellations or port changes for other cruise ships.

Skagway, Alaska
Photo Credit: Georgy Sukhanov / Shutterstock

This could be especially true during the height of the summer season, when multiple ships each day may be scheduled to visit Skagway. On May 16, five ships were scheduled for the port.

Along with Nieuw Amsterdam, Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess and Grand Princess, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice, and Holland America Line’s Koningsdam are all planned for Skagway that day.

In all of May 2023, there is only one other day when five ships are scheduled in Skagway – Thursday, May 25, when ships from Viking Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, and Disney Cruises are all scheduled.

Travelers planning an Alaskan cruise this year should stay in touch with their cruise line if Skagway is on the itinerary, just in case additional adjustments are necessary.

Who Owns Silversea Cruises?

Emrys Thakkar
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Who Owns Silversea Cruises?

In July 2020, Royal Caribbean Group acquired 100% of Silversea Cruises. Its acquisition was a process that began in July of 2018, at which point RCG took a 67% share of Silversea Cruises. That entry point was RCG’s springboard into the luxury cruise line market via Silversea’s preexisting fleet and successful enterprise. The newly injected economic vitality was welcome, given the cruise industry had been on pause due to the pandemic. 

RCG knew exactly what it was doing. Leveraging the pause in cruises led RCG to be even more aggressive in closing the deal. The downtime allowed RCG to finance new ships, reinject vitality into ones already in development, and plan what’s next on the horizon.

In This Article…

What Is Silversea Cruises?

As a wholly owned subsidiary and the “jewel in the crown” of the Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea is known for its all-inclusive lifestyle, diversified destination portfolio, and the finest luxuries you could imagine on a cruise ship: from 24/7 on-demand sustainable caviar to butler services throughout each suite category to fine libations from around the world in concert with its 900+ destination travel portfolio.

Silversea owns and operates five ultra-luxury ships and six classic vessels. RCG’s new ownership helped generate three new ships since 2020: Silver Origin, Silver Dawn, and Silver Moon.

Royal Caribbean Group

RCG prides itself on an entrepreneurial spirit at sea. Ever dedicated to innovation and creative risk-taking, it offers a diverse array of programs, initiatives, and features to underscore its inimitable emphasis on the finest service.

Royal Caribbean Group
Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock

Royal Caribbean Group fully owns three cruise brands, but also has joint ventures with two cruise brands in Europe.

  • Silversea Cruises: The ultra-luxury cruise line launched in 1994 and officially became part of the Royal Caribbean Group in July 2018. The company then purchased all remaining shares to incorporate in July 2020 fully.
  • Royal Caribbean International: This cruise line, the largest by revenue globally, has a comprehensive set of travel packages and several regular deals on its website, from North America, South America, Europe, and everywhere in between.
  • Celebrity Cruises: From delectable and nearly infinitely varied fine dining to accouterments that provide peace of mind, Celebrity Cruise Line tops Travel and Leisure’s World’s Best 2022 Awards. 
  • TUI & Hapag Lloyd Cruises: These two German cruise lines are tailored to Europeans who want to commence their voyage in Europe and end up wherever their hearts may lead them. Royal Caribbean Group has a 50% ownership in the two cruise lines.

History of Royal Caribbean

Dating back to 1968, hospitality entrepreneur Ed Stephan and his esteemed colleagues Sigurd Skaugen, Gotaas Larsen, and Anders Wilhemsen – all Norwegian shipowners – synergized ideas and created a cruise line that would go to the Caribbean. The nod to royalty was emblematic of the service these gentlemen would provide their guests – uncompromisingly high standards.

The first ship in the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line was Song of Norway, which in 1970 commenced its voyage from Miami, setting sail for the Caribbean. 

Song of Norway

Song of Norway was founded on sound principles of the then-cutting-edge technology of the Norwegian marine industry. The ship was also outfitted with the highest safety and security standards, and the designers ensured that the ships could disassemble into quick and easy evacuation.

Song of Norway, Legendary Cruise Ships
© Tony Garner/Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 4.0

The craftspeople who designed the ship also accounted for fuel economy and efficiency, quickly helping the Song of Norway to shape up to be in its own class of excellence in all arenas. 

RCG in the Present and Future

Royal Caribbean Group has built upon those steadfast and sturdy principles which made its early ships titanic successes. It has continued providing innovation in safety, technology, hotel and dining entertainment, and a diversified travel portfolio for guests of all tastes. 

Who is Silversea Cruises CEO?

The current Silversea President and CEO is Barbara Muckermann, who was promoted from Chief Commercial Officer starting in 2023. Muckermann has 25 years of experience in the travel industry and she first joined the luxury cruise brand in 2011.

Silversea CEO and President Barbara Muckermann
Silversea CEO and President Barbara Muckermann

Michael Bayley is the CEO and President of Royal Caribbean International, one of RCG’s foremost cruise lines. Former Silversea CEO Roberto Martinoli now oversees Project Invictus, an ambitious expansion plan for ultra-luxury expedition cruising.

Read Also: Who Owns Royal Caribbean – All You Need to Know

Royal Caribbean Group has an estimated market cap of $14.34 billion and a revenue of $1.53 billion. With 60 ships in its robust fleet, it is run by CEO and President Jason Liberty. He took over the reins from long-time Royal Caribbean leader Richard Fain, who stepped down in early 2022.

Does Royal Caribbean Group Have Stock?

RCG has a bountiful amount of stock, listed on the NYSE as Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd./RCL. The price per share of stock has been slowly rising since July of 2022, which makes sense as this was when many pandemic restrictions were eased, if not lifted altogether.

Nearly Half of Princess Cruises’ Fleet Will Sail Alaska in 2024

Donna Tunney
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Nearly Half of Princess Cruises’ Fleet Will Sail Alaska in 2024

Princess Cruises has announced it will deploy seven ships, nearly half of its fleet, to Alaska in summer 2024, when it will mark its 55th year sailing the Last Frontier state. Bookings for cruises and cruisetours have opened, with 14 unique itineraries visiting 17 Alaskan destinations.

Four Embarkations Ports

Princess Cruises will offer 158 departures during its just-revealed 2024 summer season in Alaska, allowing cruisers to embark at Anchorage (Whittier), Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, or San Francisco. The 2024 season includes 86 visits to Glacier Bay National Park, giving Princess the distinction of bringing more guests to the iconic park than any other line.

Scenic cruising in Glacier Bay will be featured on most Voyage of the Glaciers itineraries between Anchorage and Vancouver, and on many Inside Passage cruises sailing roundtrip from Seattle, San Francisco and Vancouver.

Princess Cruises in Alaska
Photo Credit: casa.da.photo / Shutterstock

Five glacier viewing experiences will be offered on the seven ships deployed to Alaskan waters. The last time Princess devoted that many ships to the destination was in 2019, when it celebrated its 50th anniversary sailing to the Great Land.

Princess Cruises President John Padgett said, ”As the leading cruise line in Alaska, we deliver unforgettable vacations and we’re also the most recommended line by travel advisors to their trusted clients. We’re celebrating our 55th anniversary in 2024 cruising to this must-see destination, so whether it’s your first or fifth time visiting Alaska, we are ready to help guests make inspiring memories to last a lifetime.”

Ship Deployments Set

Three ships will operate 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruises, including the 142,229 gross ton, 3,560-guest Royal Princess; the 115,875 gross ton, 2,670-guest Sapphire Princess, and the 107,517 gross ton, 2,600-guest Grand Princess.

The itinerary, between Anchorage and Vancouver, features two glacier-viewings on each cruise, and northbound cruises include a late-night stay in Juneau, Alaska’s capital.

Princess Cruises in Alaska
Photo Credit: Stories In Light / Shutterstock

Seven-day Inside Passage voyages will operate roundtrip from Seattle aboard the line’s newest ship, the 145,000 gross ton, 3,660-guest Discovery Princess, and the 143,700 gross ton, 3,560-guest Majestic Princess. These cruises also feature a late stay in Juneau.

From San Francisco, Princess will offer 11-day Inside Passage cruises aboard the 113,561 gross ton, 3,080-guest Crown Princess, while the 113,561 gross ton, 3,080-guest Ruby Princess operates 7-day Inside Passage voyages from Vancouver.

Cruisetours Up To 10 Nights

Cruisers who wish to extend a Voyage of the Glaciers cruise with land-based experiences can choose from a variety of cruisetours from 3 to 10 nights, with accommodations at one of the line’s five Princess Wilderness Lodges.

Every cruisetour includes a visit to Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park, and some feature the line’s Direct to Wilderness rail trip from Whittier to the Denali region. The line’s 17-night Ultimate Princess Connoisseur cruisetour allows guests to stay two nights at each of the lodges. These include:

  • Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, an 85-room lodge bordering the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve.
  • Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, the first of the Princess Alaska lodges, and located in Denali with 656 rooms.
  • Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge, a 326-room lodge on the Chena River.
  • Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, located on the banks of the Ken River in Cooper Landing and offering 86 rooms.
  • Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, a 460-room lodge on 146 acres inside Denali State Park.

Enrichment Onboard And Ashore

The line’s North to Alaska enrichment programs onboard Princess voyages and during shore excursions will feature a combination of local experts, culture and seafood. Princess will again offer its Wild for Alaska Seafood program.

Introduced in the summer of 2022, several featured locally-sourced dishes bring the tastes of Alaska into the ships’ main dining rooms each night and support Alaskan economies and culture. Cruisers can choose from among 30 Alaska seafood specialties such as salmon, cod, halibut, Dungeness crab, and razor clams.

Read Also: How Much Does an Alaskan Cruise Cost? – What to Budget

Cruise guests will be able to interact with sled dog pups during the Puppies in the Piazza activity offered during the Skagway port call, while excursions will feature flightseeing and landing on top of glaciers, helicopter tours, dog-sledding, whale-watching, and wildlife and brown bear searches.

Fishing excursions will feature the line’s Cook My Catch experience, whereby fish caught by guests can be prepared onboard their ship or at their lodge.

Cruisetour guests staying at the Mt. Mckinley lodge can explore its Exclusive Treehouse accommodation, featured on the TV series “Treehouse Masters.” For youngsters, the line will operate its onboard Junior Ranger Program.

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