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Norwegian Cruise Ship Changing Destination Due to Weather

Norwegian Cruise Line News

Melissa Mayntz

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Feb 3, 2023

Norwegian Cruise Ship Changing Destination Due to Weather

Guests aboard Norwegian Getaway who set sail on February 1, 2023 for a cruise to Bermuda learned they wouldn’t be visiting the tropical destination after all, but instead were bound for The Bahamas due to the high likelihood of severe winter weather.

The ship will still be visiting Nassau but for just a few hours because of the greater distance the ship must travel, and guests are being offered generous compensation for the unexpected change.

Norwegian Getaway to Skip Bermuda

Guests onboard Norwegian Getaway‘s 5-night Bermuda sailing that departed New York on February 1, 2023 will not, in fact be visiting the British territory, but will instead be calling on Nassau, capital of The Bahamas. Guests were only notified of the change as embarkation was underway on Wednesday.

“As a result of a recent increase in winter weather activity, and in an abundance of caution we have made the decision to alter your voyage as a safety precaution,” the letter read.

Norwegian Getaway Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: lazyllama / Shutterstock

Norwegian Getaway was to have been docked in Bermuda from 9 a.m. on Friday, February 3 through 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, February 4. During that time, winds are predicted to range from 20-30 knots (23-35 miles per hour / 37-55 kilometers per hour), with gusts that could reach as high as 48 knots (55 mph / 89 kph).

Such high winds make navigation around Bermuda’s natural reefs a challenge, and ships risk not only damaging the delicate reefs, but also being pushed into dock facilities and potentially damaging the ship or the pier. “The safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities we visit is our top priority,” the letter explains.

This is not the first time this winter a cruise ship has diverted away from Bermuda due to poor weather. Just last week, Norwegian Gem was forced to skip calling on Bermuda during a 12-night voyage to Panama because of an anticipated storm. Earlier in January, Norwegian Gem also shortened its visit time in Bermuda because of severe thunderstorms and high wind.

Port Time Dramatically Reduced

Instead of visiting Bermuda, Norwegian Getaway will head to Nassau, but the port visit time will be a disappointment to many guests onboard. The visit to Bermuda had been planned to last for nearly 31 hours, but the ship will now only be docked in Nassau for six hours. The timing of the visit is even more disappointing – from 9:45 p.m. until 3:45 a.m.

This strange port visit time is due to two factors: port visit requirements for cruise ships out of United States ports, and the distance the ship must sail to reach Nassau.

All cruise ships that depart from a U.S. homeport are required by law to visit a non-U.S. port before returning to their homeport. For ships departing New York, the options are severely limited. In the case of Norwegian Getaway for this winter sailing, ports in Canada are not feasible because of weather, and with Bermuda no longer safe, Nassau is the only option.

The extra distance to Nassau also greatly impacts the possible time in port. To reach Bermuda, the cruise ship would have only traveled approximately 780 miles (1,255 kilometers). To reach Nassau, on the other hand, the ship must travel approximately 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers).

The maximum cruising speed of the Breakaway-class Norwegian Getaway is just over 21 knots (25 mph / 40 kph). To cover the extra 320 miles (515 km) of distance, the ship will have to sail at top speed for nearly 13 hours, one-way. This means much less time is available for the requisite port visit.

While there are many great things to do in Nassau, many options will not be available with such a late arrival and very early morning departure. Guests may be able to enjoy some late dining in Nassau or visit the Atlantis casino, but most other shore tours, shopping, and beach visits will be unavailable.

Generous Compensation Offered

Because of the changes, all shore excursions booked through the cruise line are being automatically refunded to guests. Those refunds will be processed back to guests’ onboard accounts.

Due to the dramatic change of ports and loss of port time, however, Norwegian Cruise Line is also offering guests onboard $200 (USD) per stateroom of non-refundable onboard credit, posted as $100 per person for the first and second guests in the stateroom.

Furthermore, all guests are receiving a 20% future cruise credit (FCC) based on the cruise fare paid, which can be used for any upcoming Norwegian Cruise Line voyage on any ship in the fleet through February 1, 2024.

This compensation is being provided as “a genuine acknowledgment of the inconvenience caused” by the significant changes. “Thank you for your understanding,” the letter concludes.

Whether it is winter storms or summer hurricanes, weather can always impact cruise itineraries, destinations, and port visits. Guests should always be flexible and understanding when such unavoidable changes occur, and make the most of their opportunity to enjoy everything the cruise ship has to offer, no matter where or when it sails.

Icon of the Seas Fire During Construction at Meyer Turku Shipyard

Royal Caribbean News

Robert McGillivray

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Feb 2, 2023

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Icon of the Seas Fire During Construction at Meyer Turku Shipyard

On Thursday, February 2, a fire broke out on one of the staircases of the Icon of the Seas cruise ship, which is currently under construction at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

The fire alarm was sounded at around 10 a.m., and as a precautionary measure, all 2,500 workers on board were evacuated. The fire was quickly contained and put out by the shipyard’s own fire brigade.

Minor Material Damage and No Injuries

Early on February 2, a fire broke out onboard Icon of the Seas. According to the shipyard, the material damage caused by the fire is estimated to be minor, and has only affected one of the staircases. Work on the ship resumed just over an hour after the fire alarm was raised, with the exception of the fire area, which is under investigation. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Juha Virto, Chief on Duty at the local Rescue Department, praised the shipyard’s safety measures, noting that the good safety planning reflected the fact that there were no injuries during the evacuation. He added that the security arrangements at the shipyard were well-managed.

“The fire had been contained, and it was left to the rescue services to ensure that all the people in the vicinity of the fire area had reached safety. We then used various technical devices to determine whether the fire had spread to the surrounding areas. Once this was confirmed, the mission was completed quite quickly by the rescue services.”

“The ship’s good safety planning is reflected in the fact that there were no injuries during the evacuation. The security arrangements there are quite well managed.”

The evacuation caused delays when around 2,500 workers had to leave the ship. However, they have since returned to work and authorities are investigating the damage caused by the fire. Icon of the Seas is a cruise ship under construction for Royal Caribbean International, it will be the flagship of the LNG-powered Icon class. The ship is scheduled to enter service in 2024.

Fires Onboard Cruise Ships During Construction

Fires onboard cruise ships during construction are a common occurrence due to the extensive use of welding and other hot work processes. The high temperatures generated by these activities can ignite flammable materials and cause fires to break out.

To minimize the risk of fire, shipyards and construction companies must implement strict safety protocols and use fire-resistant materials whenever possible. This includes using fireproof coatings on walls and ceilings, installing fire suppression systems, and training workers on fire safety procedures.

Meyer Turku Fire Teams — Photo Copyright: Meyer Turku

Despite these precautions, fires can still occur, and it is important for shipyard workers to be trained in fire evacuation procedures and for the shipyard to have a well-equipped fire brigade on hand to respond to emergencies.

In the case of the fire at the Meyer Turku shipyard, the shipyard’s own fire brigade was able to quickly extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading. This highlights the importance of having a well-prepared response plan in place, especially when it concerns a billion-dollar cruise ship.

Icon of the Seas Will Become Largest in the World

Icon of the Seas is set to be one of the most modern and innovative cruise ships in the world, and certainly, the largest cruise ship ever built at 1,198 feet long and 250,800 gross tons.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas — Render Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

The cruise ship is designed to offer a range of features and amenities to meet the demands of modern travelers and has been hailed as the ultimate family vacation destination.

Amenities onboard con of the Seas includes a huge range of entertainment options, the biggest waterpark at sea, and the biggest swimming pool at sea.

Just recently, Royal Caribbean released more details about the onboard offerings, such as the new family neighborhood Surfside. This stunningly beautiful and funky neighborhood offers guests a variety of pools, waterparks for kids, dining options, and the carousel popular from the Oasis-class cruise ships.

Carnival Corporation Recognized for Workplace Diversity

Carnival Cruise News

Donna Tunney

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Feb 1, 2023

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Carnival Corporation Recognized for Workplace Diversity

Carnival Corporation has earned another feather for its cap after being included on the list of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2023. Sponsored by Newsweek, the first annual listing surveyed 1,000 top-performing companies in a three-part evaluation.

Company Earns Five Stars

Carnival Corporation, the parent company of eight major cruise brands, including Carnival Cruise Line, widely known as “The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line,” was recognized for its operations, commitment to diversity, and success in cultivating an inclusive working environment on Newsweek’s list of the best workplaces for diversity. Carnival Corporation was the only cruise company to earn five stars, the highest possible score in the evaluation.

Global Chief Human Resources Officer for Carnival Corporation Bettina Deynes said, ”As a company, we have made it a priority to foster diversity, equity and inclusion throughout all aspects of our operation, so we are honored to be recognized by Newsweek alongside other companies who share our same commitment.”

The Newsweek list was created with market research firm Plant-A-Insights Group, and scoring was based on evaluations of public data, interviews with human resource professionals and an anonymous survey of employees at companies with at least 1,000 workers.

Carnival President Visits the Crew — Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

The survey was conducted online and addressed corporate culture, empowerment of women, the working environment, LGBTQ issues and other related workplace topics.

She added, “With a diverse workforce of over 160,000 team members from approximately 150 different countries, we know firsthand the power of diversity, equity and inclusion. We understand that our team members are at the heart of inspiring unforgettable happiness for our guests, so we strive to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment where people from different backgrounds, experiences and walks of life can succeed.”

Carnival Corporation brands had won praise for their efforts to support crew members during the pandemic shutdown. With its diverse crew hailing from countries around the globe, primarily the Philippines and India, but also Eastern European and African countries, and others, it was a massive undertaking.

Carnival Cruise Line Repatriation — St. Maarten was just one of many Caribbean nations that assisted Carnival Cruise Line in its crew repatriation effort. Here crew members from Carnival Pride wait to board busses to join flights to return to their home countries.

Carnival Cruise Line alone had about 29,000 crew members on board when the line paused operations in mid-March 2020. Within about a month, 20,000 had been repatriated, the line said, and the remainder followed except for staff needed for safe operational reasons.

In April 2020, 18 Carnival ships met in the Bahamas to coordinate the return of crew members to their home countries via air charters or ship departures.

An Abundance of Honors For Carnival

Carnival Corporation’s inclusion on the Newsweek diversity list follows several other achievements and honors the company has received in recent years.

In 2022 it was named by Forbes as one of the World’s Best Employers and one of the Best Employers for Diversity. Latino Leaders Magazine named it one of the Best Companies for Latinos, and it earned the top score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index.

As a result, the foundation designated Carnival Corporation as the Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality. It was the sixth consecutive year the company earned that designation.

Carnival Corporation’s brands, in addition to Carnival Cruise Line, are AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia and UK), Princess Cruises and Seabourn.

A Month of Sailings Cancelled for One Carnival Cruise Ship

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Feb 1, 2023

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A Month of Sailings Cancelled for One Carnival Cruise Ship

Carnival Cruise Line has begun reaching out to booked guests and travel agents to let them know that due to a dry dock, a full month of sailings must be cancelled for Carnival Glory. The impacted sailings include departures in March and April 2024, giving impacted guests plenty of time to adjust their travel plans as they prefer.

Carnival Glory Cruises Cancelled

Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald confirmed today that a number of sailings must be cancelled for Carnival Glory in spring 2024, as the ship will be entering dry dock for maintenance. The impacted sailings include all departures from March 24, 2024 through and including the April 28, 2024 sailing.

“I do apologize for this of course and we will though be excited to have her back looking stunning inside and out after her dry dock is completed,” Heald said.

The cancelled cruises occur at a time when the Conquest-class vessel is planned to move homeports. Right now, Carnival Glory is homeported in New Orleans, offering mostly 7-night roundtrip Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, with a few different select voyages on her schedule.

Carnival Glory in Montego Bay, Jamaica — Photo Credit: The Port Authority of Jamaica

After the dry dock, the ship will reposition to Port Canaveral, where she will offer 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas, a great getaway option from central Florida. Each of those sailings will visit ports such as Nassau, Bimini, and Princess Cays, the cruise line’s private island destination, depending on the cruise length and departure date.

Compensation for Guests

Carnival Cruise Line is reaching out to booked guests via email to inform them of the cancellations. Full refunds of guests’ cruise fares, as well as any pre-purchased items such as pre-paid gratuities, drink packages, specialty dining reservations, and shore tours are being automatically processed back to the original form of payment.

If guests choose to rebook on another comparable sailing, whether aboard Carnival Glory or any other ship in the Carnival fleet, guests’ cruise rate will be protected. The new reservation should be in a similar stateroom and the cruise length cannot be longer than the original (now cancelled) sailing.

Guests who do rebook for another Carnival cruise will also receive a $50 (USD) onboard credit per person, maximum of $100 per stateroom, as an added bonus for their new cruise.

Refunds will be processed after February 15, 2023, and may take up to three weeks to process through guests’ financial institutions. This gives impacted guests plenty of time to decide on their cruise travel plans, and make different vacation arrangements if preferred.

“We sincerely apologize for this change and thank you for understanding. We look forward to having you sail with us,” the email concludes.

Dry Dock Upgrades

The nature of the dry dock and anticipated repairs has not been disclosed, but is likely to include routine hotel upgrades and refreshment of public spaces, such as new flooring, painting, and other work.

Carnival Glory first entered the Fun Ship fleet in 2003, and has had several dry dock refurbishments in her 20 years serving guests. Her last dry dock was in June and early July of 2021, when cosmetic enhancements were made and the ship received the new red, white, and blue hull livery that first debuted with Mardi Gras.

Carnival Glory Livery — Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

In early 2022, the ship also had a “wet dock” refurbishment, which included routine hotel maintenance, renaming and rebranding Creams’ Cafe to the JavaBlue Cafe, adding the Carnival Adventures Store, and expanding the casino.

Because the 2024 dry dock is a month-long repair schedule, a fair few projects are sure to be going on at once, and when the ship reenters service, she will undoubtedly look better-than-new and be ready to welcome guests for fabulous cruise vacations.

Carnival Glory weighs in at 110,000 gross tons, with 13 passenger decks. The ship can welcome 2,980 guests when booked at double occupancy, or as many as 3,806 passengers when fully booked with all berths filled.

Have you ever sailed on Carnival Glory? Share your glorious cruise vacation moments on the Cruise Hive boards!

Royal Caribbean Previews Details on New Family Neighborhood

Royal Caribbean News

Melissa Mayntz

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Feb 1, 2023

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Royal Caribbean Previews Details on New Family Neighborhood

With Icon of the Seas scheduled to debut next year, Royal Caribbean International has revealed new details of the first-of-its-kind family neighborhood, Surfside. The details come in the latest episode of the behind-the-scenes “Making an Icon” series, offering exciting insights to the hotly anticipated new vessel.

New Making an Icon Episode Released

The fifth episode of Royal Caribbean’s “Making an Icon” video series aptly named “Creating Surfside” as it is all about the new family-friendly Surfside neighborhood, the first signature neighborhood dedicated to younger families.

“Icon is going to be the best family vacation in the world,” said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer. “You can’t have an ultimate family vacation without a purpose-built neighborhood for families.”

All the details of Surfside, from activities to eateries to associated staterooms to overall theme and décor, have been carefully planned to provide opportunities for families to enjoy their cruise vacations together, rather than splitting spaces in different areas of the ship.

“Younger families make up quite a large, significant proportion of Royal Caribbean guests and we see that number increasing over time,” said Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “This is a space that’s very much dedicated towards a younger family.”

Royal Caribbean has researched cruise guests’ preferences and relied on families’ feedback to help plan Surfside, without compromising experiences for either parents or children.

Envisioning Surfside

First came the overall design of Surfside and the instant appeal it would have to young families. “It’s colorful, it’s vibrant, it’s bright, it’s reminiscent of a surfer town,” said Emily Ritter, Senior Product Owner, Product Development. “That evokes a lot of fun and imagination, but it also evokes this place where you can relax.”

Surfside is filled with bright tropical colors and fun decorative elements like palm trees, surfboards, wave-like curves, picket fences, and more. This gives the space a fun and festive atmosphere, ideal for an exciting family vacation.

Features of Surfside

The new neighborhood is filled with features all members of the family can enjoy. In keeping with all the fantastic water features found on Icon of the Seas, three unique water experiences are part of Surfside.

The first is Splashaway Bay, designed for kids with smaller waterslides, a splash bucket, play structure, fountains, and wading areas. Nearby is Baby Bay for much younger cruisers, with toddler-friendly depths.

Icon of the Seas Water’s Edge pool — Render Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

Water’s Edge is at the very aft of the ship and is a stunning infinity pool, providing outstanding views and an amazing place to chill out while still keeping a watchful eye on the youngsters. Water’s Edge includes in-pool loungers, varying depths, and shaded spaces.

All three water areas are connected with crossover bridges and pathways for easy access so families can enjoy the entire space together.

Surfside is much more than water features, however. The popular carousel, first introduced on the Oasis-class ships, has been reimagined for Icon of the Seas with a tropical theme and eight new whimsical characters chosen by kids, including a flamingo, giraffe, and octopus.

Also in Surfside is a classic arcade with more than 30 different games, providing exciting fun for all ages.

All the youth spaces onboard Icon of the Seas, including Adventure Ocean and Social 020 are connected to Surfside, making the neighborhood convenient for everything young cruisers could want.

“It’s truly been designed to make sure that everything is connected,” said Jennifer Goswami, Director, Product Development. “No one needs to leave their experience to make sure someone else is okay.”

Dining in Surfside

In designing the family neighborhood, Royal Caribbean has also taken into consideration the different food and beverage tastes of different ages. Dining options in Surfside are varied, with delicious, easy options for every member of the family.

Surfside Bites offers quick grab-and-go dishes, while Surfside Eatery is Royal Caribbean’s first buffet just for families, with options for all tastes.

Pier 7 is a new specialty restaurant that offers a beachside, boardwalk-type experience. The Lemon Post Bar has both adult beverages and kid-friendly mocktails, a first in the travel industry – a bar designed for families.

More details on Surfside restaurants and dining options, including menu previews, is likely to be announced in the coming months as the ship’s debut draws closer.

Staterooms for Families

Finally, the Surfside neighborhood will also have stateroom options that keep families close to the fun but with their own private space to relax. A variety of cabin options are available, with larger staterooms that can welcome families 3, 4, 5, or even 6 members.

Infinite balcony cabins, interior cabins, and suites are all available, with living spaces for everyone to enjoy. “Families are looking for their own space and also the ability to connect within the room,” said Sean Treacy, Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations. “We’ve put that all into our thinking around these new rooms, such as the Surfside Suites.”

Icon of the Seas Surfside Family Suite — Render Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

The Surfside Suite stateroom is new to Icon of the Seas, and features a kids’ nook as well as great views of the neighborhood. Split baths, larger spaces, extra televisions, and other details make each of these staterooms ideal for families.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is a 3-story townhouse on the aft starboard side of the ship, with slides connecting between decks and space for up to 8 family members, with private access to Surfside. As the ultimate family living space, the townhouse has a private patio with family games, a karaoke setup, and much more.

With so much for the whole family, Icon of the Seas will undoubtedly be the ultimate family vacation at sea. The new ship is scheduled to debut in January 2024 and will be the largest ship in the world, weighing in at approximately 250,800 gross tons and with the capacity to welcome as many as 7,600 guests at full occupancy.

Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for more details and insider looks at Icon of the Seas in the coming months!

Carnival Cruise Line Advisory Reminds Guests to Behave

Carnival Cruise News

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Feb 1, 2023

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Carnival Cruise Line Advisory Reminds Guests to Behave

Carnival Cruise Line has begun sending pre-cruise reminders of various onboard policies to booked guests, focusing on various safety and guest behavior guidelines. This has generated great speculation among guests, and concern about the need for these reminders.

Carnival Advising Guests About Behavior Policies

Carnival Cruise Line has begun sending “Guest Advisory” guidelines to booked passengers ahead of their upcoming cruises, with detailed reminders about behavior guidelines and safety policies onboard every Fun Ship.

“We are looking forward to welcoming you on board!” the email begins. “As part of our commitment to create the best environment to provide you with a fun and memorable vacation, we want to remind you of our Safety First! guidelines.”

The email proceeds to detail a variety of behavior and conduct policies and their consequences, such as smoking policies, bringing alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages onboard, and general disruptive behavior.

While the policies covered in the email have always been available on the cruise line’s website, this new outreach ensures that all guests have multiple reminders of the code of conduct, and offers additional explanation where necessary.

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

For example, the discussion of marijuana smoking explains that “cruise lines are required to follow U.S. federal law, which strictly prohibits possession and use of marijuana and other illegal substances.” This means that even medical marijuana is prohibited on Carnival ships, regardless of the policies of the state where guests embark.

Similarly, the details on the beverage policies are carefully outlined, explaining what types of beverages guests may or may not bring onboard at embarkation, how the beverages must be packaged, and what overall quantities are permitted. Guests in violation of the beverage policy will have drinks “confiscated and discarded, and no compensation will be provided.”

Other onboard policies discussed are the use of speakers and radios, which are prohibited onboard in public spaces unless using earphones. This includes any music, shows, or movies listened to or watched on cell phones, tablets, or laptops.

Finally, the email also reminds guests that saving seats, whether sun loungers by the pools or seats in the various onboard lounges and other venues, is not permitted at any time, as all seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Respectful Conduct Emphasized

In addition to outlining policies, the email goes on to emphasize “Carnival Values.” “Our experience has taught us that everyone has a better time when children are supervised, noise in the hallways is kept to a minimum, guests follow queues, and that a spirit of community and neighborliness is shown by all,” the email explains.

Carnival Cruise Ship Deck — Photo Credit: Ruth Peterkin / Shutterstock

The email clearly outlines consequences for unruly or disruptive behavior, which can include a fine of $500 and additional expenses related to confining or disembarking guests if necessary.

“Any guest whose conduct affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety or well-being of other guests or crew will be disembarked at their own expense and banned from sailing on Carnival in the future,” the email warns.

Enforcing Policies Onboard

While the “Guest Advisory” outlines various consequences such as fines and confiscation for different policy violations, it also emphasizes that the ship’s officers are the ultimate authorities onboard.

“The captain and our officers have the authority to enforce our policies and make decisions in order to provide for a fun and safe environment for all,” the email reads.

Guests are urged to contact Guest Services onboard with concerns, so any violations of policies or confusion about guidelines can be addressed and clarified as necessary.

Why the Email?

These new emails have sparked a great deal of speculation on discussion boards, online forums, and social media about why Carnival Cruise Line finds it necessary to “remind” guests about proper behavior and onboard policies.

Some guests have noted an increase in disturbances onboard Carnival ships in recent months, and while not every incident makes news headlines, even a small altercation can create an uncomfortable and unpleasant atmosphere for other passengers. This can lead to fewer return cruisers, as travelers may prefer to sail with other cruise lines rather than have such incidents mar their vacations.

The email may also simply be another step to ensure that all guests are fully informed about policies before setting sail, so enforcement of said policies is not interpreted as a surprise or unjust application of the guidelines.

It must be noted that the vast majority of Carnival cruisers follow onboard policies and enjoy their cruise vacations without incident. By ensuring everyone is aware of policies and consequences, the cruise line is carefully establishing expectations for appropriate behavior, and helping keep all cruisers safe and having a good time on their oceangoing getaways.

Virgin Voyages to Part Ways With Major Cruise Retailer

Virgin Voyages News

Donna Tunney

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Jan 31, 2023

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Virgin Voyages to Part Ways With Major Cruise Retailer

Virgin Voyages broke new ground when it came to the retail spaces onboard its Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady cruise ships, offering more than 50 first-at-sea, high-end-brand shops operated by Harding, a cruise retail specialist.

But now the two companies are parting ways, and going forward, Virgin with work with Starboard Cruise Services, an LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton company.

Harding’s Withdrawal to Begin in April

Harding, the global cruise retail specialist that operates 300-plus retail shops on more than 100 cruise ships, said its partnership with Virgin Voyages will come to an end this year, with the withdrawal of its retail services starting in April.

Worth Reading: Disney Cruise Line to Debut New Retail Spaces on Disney Adventure

The company has provided retail services to Virgin Voyages since its first ship, Scarlet Lady, debuted in 2021. It also operates the retail spaces on Virgin’s second ship, Valiant Lady, which entered service in March 2022.

Scarlet Lady at Virgin Voyages Miami Terminal — Photo Credit: Virgin Voyages

The retail spaces aboard Virgin ships are sprawled across some 6,000 square feet and feature innovative products like limited-edition vinyl records and luxury items from top brands such as Bulgari, Chanel and Vivienne Westwood. All told, Harding said it sells about 100 brand items on the two Virgin ships.

Worth Reading: Virgin Voyages Partners for Special Rides and 61 Free Cruises

Harding CEO James Prescott said, “We have had great fun leading the cruise retail proposition and working as two innovative companies with shared values for six years. But sometimes we need to part as friends and make some tough choices together around what’s right for business and commercial models.”

He added, “We wish everyone at Virgin Voyages the very best, and will be working hard to redeploy the Harding+ team members who have been part of the Virgin ship teams elsewhere into our community.”

Virgin Voyages Harding Store (Photo Credit: Harding)

Virgin Voyages said the cruise line and Starboard will collectively curate the portfolio of brands, and custom-designed collections guests will discover on Virgin’s ships.

Virgin Voyages Associated Vice President of Hotel Partnerships Sally Barford said, ”For more than six years, we’ve enjoyed an incredible partnership with Harding and their team, but we’ve mutually decided that it’s time for both brands to explore what’s next.”

New Opportunities for Harding

In recent years Harding has expanded its cruise line contacts and found new business. In 2020 it signed contract extensions to 2027 with P&O Cruises and Cunard.

In 2021, Princess Cruises decided to outsource its retail operations and partnered with Harding to handle retail across its fleet as cruises ramped up following the pandemic suspension.

Prescott noted, “We have 13 new ships launching with Harding as their retail partner and have many more opportunities for onboard teams, so we feel extremely positive those new roles will be found as our business continues to grow at pace and we continue to innovate in all aspects of cruise retail operations. We of course remain focused on achieving our business plan.”

Virgin, meanwhile, has two more ships scheduled to enter service this year. Resilient Lady was scheduled to debut in Athens in August 2022 but was delayed due to supply chain issues and crew shortages. The ship is slated to begin sailing in May 2023. Brilliant Lady is expected to enter service in late 2023.

Cruise Cancelled Due to Food and Beverage Issues

Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

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Jan 30, 2023

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Cruise Cancelled Due to Food and Beverage Issues

Marella Cruises is cancelling a 7-night sailing of Marella Discovery 2 due to technical problems impacting food and beverage service, and all guests booked on the impacted sailing will be flown home as needed.

Special aircraft are being brought in to accommodate the cancellation, which will affect a number of cruisers on the current voyage who had planned back-to-back voyages.

Next Cruise Cancelled

Marella Cruises’ Marella Discovery 2 is currently finishing up a 7-night “Flavours of the Caribbean” cruise that set sail from Montego Bay, Jamaica on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. Along the way, the ship called on the deliciously decadent ports of Cozumel, Mexico; Havana, Cuba; and Georgetown, Grand Cayman.

Guests onboard have been notified, however, that the next sailing – a 7-night “Pride of Panama” sailing – must be cancelled due to technical reasons affecting food and beverage service. That cruise was scheduled to depart Montego Bay on January 31, visiting Kingston, Jamaica; Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.

Marella Discover 2 Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: WILLIAM RG / Shutterstock)

“Due to an unforeseen technical issue that will impact our ability to deliver our full food and beverage offering, we’re very sorry to tell you that we’ve taken the difficult decision to cancel our next sailing, our Pride of Panama itinerary,” a letter delivered to guests onboard reads. “It’s not a conclusion we’ve come to lightly, but we’re not able to offer a suitable alternative cruise.”

The ship, which had suffered from thruster issues earlier in the current sailing, is planned to arrive back at its homeport in Jamaica on schedule at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31.

On that day, the cruise line will begin flying guests home via chartered aircraft from parent company TUI Group, and may also purchase additional commercial seats to ensure everyone is able to travel home as efficiently as possible.

The cruise line has warned passengers, however, that they may be arriving at different airports than their departure airport, and airport transfers will be provided. Guests onboard have also reported they have the option to remain in Jamaica until their previously scheduled flights home.

Compensation Offered

Guests are being refunded for the cancelled cruise in full at a “pro-rata per night rate.” The cruise line is also offering £300 ($370 USD) per adult and £150 ($185) per child in vouchers for a future cruise, as a “gesture of goodwill.”

Refunds will be processed back to the original method of payment, and may take several weeks to be fully processed.

Marella Cruises Funnel — Photo Credit: JulieStar / Shutterstock

Similarly, refunds are being made for all excursions booked for the now-cancelled cruise. How those refunds are processed will depend on how guests booked the tours, with onboard purchases being returned to guests’ onboard accounts before they leave the ship. Tours booked via the cruise line’s website are also being processed automatically.

If guests booked excursions through a TUI store, however, they should return to that store upon arriving home, using the letter provided as proof of cancellation to have refunds issued back to the original method of payment.

Why the Cancellation?

While no cruise line wants to cancel a full sailing for any reason, different causes such as severe weather, emergency repairs needed for engine issues, or accidents with the vessel – such as when Norwegian Escape ran aground in March 2022 – can require cruises to be cancelled.

“Food and beverage service” is a less frequent cancellation reason, however, but an equally valid one.

If the vessel suffered some power system failure that impacted freezers or refrigerators, for example, the food available onboard would no longer be able to be used, and it may be impossible to fully resupply the ship before the next cruise is due to begin.

Likewise, necessary repairs to cooking ranges, ovens, dishwashers, or other kitchen equipment could lead to an inability to provide the full culinary experience expected onboard. This would be far different than simply closing a dining venue or single bar location, as equipment malfunctions can impact multiple locations.

Marella Discovery 2 is a Vision-class ship capable of welcoming 1,836 guests onboard. The ship has seven restaurants onboard, including a Sushi Bar, buffet, main dining rooms, an Italian restaurant, the Surf & Turf Steakhouse, and Kora La, a pan-Asian a-la carte restaurant featuring a wide variety of Asian dishes, from Indian food to Indonesian cuisine.

How Many Doors on a Cruise Ship?

How Cruise Ships Work

Emrys Thakkar

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Jan 30, 2023

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How many doors do cruise ships have? It sounds like a debate you may have when drinking with friends. Knowing how many doors are on a cruise ship takes some real educated guessing, whether you’re talking about Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, or Norwegian Cruise Line.

Here, we tell you about the ins and outs (pun intended) of the number of passengers that can fit on a cruise ship and how many doors these towering vessels have.

In This Article…

How Many Passengers Are on a Cruise Ship?
How Many Total Doors Are on a Cruise Ship?
Identifying Doors and Other Door Issues
Conclusion

How Many Passengers Are on a Cruise Ship?

The average cruise ship can hold between 3,000 and 6,000 passengers. Using some deductive reasoning, we can assume that there are likely 2,000 to 2,500 staterooms aboard a typical cruise ship that houses 3,000 passengers, depending on the cruise line.

How Many Total Doors Are on a Cruise Ship?

Each cruise cabin has a front door, but it also has doors to bedrooms and bathrooms, and if we’re getting technical, we should even count refrigerator and cupboard doors.

If there are 2,000 to 2,500 staterooms on an average cruise ship, each one has one stateroom door. Each stateroom has a bathroom, so that’s another 2,000 to 2,500.

Deck Door on Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Steve Bower / Shutterstock)

We’re already at a range between 5,000 and 10,000! Each stateroom likely has between four and six cupboard doors, though some cruise lines may vary, and if we average that out at five, that’s another 10,000 to 12,500 doors.

Refrigerator doors count, as well. Add another 2,000 to 2,500. We have a sizable number for our inner-cabin door count alone: between 16,000 and 20,000 doors!

There are a lot of other types of doors to consider, too. Some sections in the lower part of the ship have a watertight door in case of emergencies, and inside hallways may be divided with a sliding door or automatic door.

Then there are entrance doors, doors to each crewmembers’ quarters, storage doors, doors to each of the bars, restaurants, and gyms aboard the ship, and much more.

If each crew member shares a bunk bed with another, and around 1,000 crew members work aboard an average cruise ship, that’s 500 doors. Now add the doors to the selection of restaurants, bars, and fitness clubs – say two dozen for your average cruise ship – and that’s 24 more doors. Not many, comparatively, but they do add up, don’t they?

Now, how many decks are there on your average cruise ship? Here are the facts: there are between 12 and 16 decks on your average cruise ship. The doors to each of these add another 12 to 16 doors to each ship.

There are then galley doors, doors to the engine room, and elevator doors. If there are a dozen restaurants and bars on your average cruise ship, that’s a dozen galley doors–one for each kitchen. Add one more for the engine room and two for each elevator. Fifteen is our final number!

But wait…there’s one last door and a very important one: the wheelhouse, where the captain steers the boat!

Our final total is 16,552 to 20,556! That’s the range of the number of doors on your average cruise ship. Holy smokes! And remember, that is just a ballpark estimate. The bigger the cruise ship, the higher this number will be.

Identifying Doors and Other Door Issues

On a cruise ship with 20,000 doors, it can be tricky to identify which ones are which, particularly if you’ve had a few drinks. Stateroom doors are particularly hard to identify because they all look exactly the same.

Regardless of what kind of cabin you’re staying in, your stateroom door likely looks exactly like the ones on either side of it, which is why a lot of people decorate their cruise ship cabin doors.

Adding some character with cruise door decorations makes your room stand out, and there are a whole host of options for what you can do, from character magnets on a Disney cruise to countries’ flags to soccer jerseys of star players for a given country’s team and more. Choose a door decoration that makes your cabin door stick out so you can easily find your way back to your room.

You can also ask a crewmember to direct you to where you need to go or consult a map of the ship’s deck plan if you get turned around. Many public doors are labeled or are easy to identify. For example, most cruise lines ensure doors to restaurants or lounges are clearly marked.

Crew and guest areas are typically kept separate, and you’ll likely never see doors to the crew area on the ship. That said, if you find yourself in a hallway with a muted color scheme and plain-colored unmarked doors, you may have wandered into a crew area.

Cruise Ship Crew Only — Photo Credit: Turn_Mug / Shutterstock

Parts of the ship meant for the crew are not as colorful as the public areas, but they still have a lot of doors to consider. You can always ask a crew member if you want to know more.

They may be able to tell you more about the lower levels of a modern cruise ship so you can get a better idea of how many doors are in the parts of the ship you don’t see.

Conclusion

There are thousands of doors on your average cruise ship, though the exact number will depend on the cruise line and deck plan. These ships are like miniature cities on the sea, so in conceptualizing the number of doors, you have to think about how you would travel through a city with multiple “houses” and restaurants, etc. If you want to compare your stats with ours, you can always try to count them all on your next cruise.