Carnival Cruise Line’s BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster has been voted the Best Cruise Ship Feature in Cruise Hive’s 2022 Cruise Ship Awards. The thrill ride garnered more votes than adventure activities on ships operated by competing cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.
BOLT Is Voted Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2022
For the second year in a row, the BOLT roller coaster currently featured on two Carnival Cruise Line ships, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, received the top votes in Cruise Hive’s Annual Cruise Ship Awards. The ride won the same award in 2021.
The thrill ride that lets guests soar 187 feet above the sea and reaches speeds of 40 MPH netted 41.16% of votes, coming in ahead of second-place winner Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Abyss and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Go-Karts.
Readers were able to type in their own feature if their favorite was not listed, to make sure the entire industry was covered. Voting opened in September 2022, with readers only being allowed to cast a single vote in each of the eight categories.
Guests pay $15 per person to ride BOLT, which can accommodate up to two riders. The rider at the front controls the speed to customize the ride experience along the 800-foot track. The roller coaster is electric-powered and is located on the ship’s open deck at the Ultimate Playground zone.
BOLT was introduced on the Mardi Gras when she debuted in July 2021; the ship won Best New Cruise Ship in the 2021 Cruise Hive Annual Cruise Ship Awards. The ride also is featured on Carnival Celebration, which entered service in November 2022.
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
Royal, NCL Thrill Rides Take 2nd, 3rd Place
Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Abyss came in second place in the best feature category of the 2022 Cruise Hive Cruise Ship Awards. It’s a twisting, turning 10-story slide that goes from deck 16 aft near the FlowRider all the way down to the Boardwalk neighborhood on four ships.
Wonder of the Seas, which debuted in 2022, Symphony of the Seas (2018), Harmony of the Seas (2016), and Oasis of the Seas, which was launched in 2008 and later retrofitted with the abyss thrill ride. The Ultimate Abyss is free to guests.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Go-Karts earned third place in the best feature category. The electric-powered race cars travel up to 30 MPH around a multi-level track on the ships’ top decks. The ride is offered on Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore. Guests pay $15 for 10 laps around the track.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Cucina del Capitano has been voted the Best Specialty Dining Venue in the 2022 Cruise Ship Awards. The dining venue received more votes than venues from rival cruise lines, including from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Cucina del Capitano is Best Cruise Line Specialty Dining Venue of 2022
The popular specialty dining venue has come out on top in Cruise Hive’s annual Cruise Ship Awards. Cucina del Capitano, an Italian-spired restaurant featured on many Carnival cruise ships, came first. The venue received more votes than over 20 other specialty dining venues, including those from rival lines.
With Cucina del Capitano coming in with the most votes for first place, it was much closer behind. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Cagney’s Steakhouse just marginally received more votes than third place Jamie’s Italian, featured on Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
Voting in this year’s awards began in September, with Cruise Hvie readers able to cast just a single vote in each of the eight categories. In this specific category, readers could type in their nominations so that all specialty dining venues would have a chance of winning. Any suspicious votes and repeats from the same IP were not counted.
This now makes the second award that Carnival Cruise Line has won. The Miami-based cruise line already came out on top with its Mardi Gras vessel becoming the Best Overall Cruise Ship of 2022.
What is Cucina del Capitano?
Cucina del Capitano is a popular Italian-inspired specialty restaurant on select Carnival Cruise Line ships. It’s a dining experience that even features the traditional red and white checkered tablecloth.
Guests can expect to enjoy well-known Italian dishes such as Pollo Parmigiana Della Cucina, Linguino, Cavatelli, and more. Each ship also features a signature dish “inspired by the Captain’s treasured family recipe that’s been handled down for generations,” as mentioned on the menu.
Currently, the specialty dining venue is featured on 10 Carnival cruise ships, including Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Vista, and Mardi Gras. Guests are not required to make a reservation, but it’s recommended to do so before the cruise in case the venue fills up.
Cucina del Capitano is not part of the cruise price and costs an additional $18 per adult and $6 for kids 11 years old and under. However, there is no cost on the new Excel-class vessels, including Mardi Gras and the new Carnival Celebration. There will also be no cost when the New Carnival Jubille debuts in 2023.
Carnival Cruise Line’s first Excel-class vessel, Mardi Gras, has come out on top in Cruise Hive’s annual Cruise Ship Awards for the second consecutive year. Readers have voted the Carnival vessel the best overall cruise ship of 2022.
The LNG-powered vessel beats out ships from other major lines, including Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Mardi Gras Comes Out On Top
With 2022 coming to an end, it’s that time to begin announcing the winners of Cruise Hive’s Cruise Ship Awards. Receiving the most votes from readers, Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras cruise ship has become the winner of the best overall cruise ship of 2022. It’s now the second consecutive year that Mardi Gras has won the category.
The first Excel-class ship for the cruise line received more votes than ships operated by rival lines and within the same fleet. Voting in the annual awards opened in September, with eight categories, including the best overall cruise ship of 2022.
Mardi Gras was up against many other ships across multiple cruise lines. There were no nominations within the category, and readers were able to type in their favorite ship.
However, Mardi Gras had some tough competition, with Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas having the second-highest number of votes. The Celebrity Cruises-operated Celebrity Solstice came in with the third-highest number of votes.
Other ships that received a high number of votes included the Disney Dream, operated by Disney Cruise Line; Carnival Breeze from Carnival Cruise Line and the new Rotterdam, operated by Holland America Line.
Readers were only allowed to put forward a single cruise ship once, and any suspicious votes were not counted. There were more than 200 different ships recorded, including the new vessels of Norwegian Prima from NCL and Carnival Celebration from Carnival. There were also smaller luxury vessels, including Viking Sea, Star Breeze, and Silver Dawn.
It’s not the first time Mardi Gras has come out on top in the annual Cruise Ship Awards. The vessel was voted the Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship in 2020 and 2021. She was also voted Best New Cruise Ship in 2021 and Best Overall Cruise Ship in the same year.
The First Excel Class in the Fleet
Mardi Gras is the first excel-class cruise ship built for Carnival Cruise Line and the first in the fleet fully powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). The giant vessel is 180,800 gross tons and has a guest capacity of 5,282 at double occupancy, along with 1,735 international crew members. There are 15 passenger decks, including a total of 2,641 cabins.
Photo Credit: Marc Mayntz
Mardi Gras brought new concepts and innovations to the fleet, including the BOLT roller coaster, a first-ever at sea. The all-electric thrilling ride takes guests around the iconic Carnival funnel with drops and twits of up to 50 MPH on the open deck, 187 feet above the water.
There are six themed zones on the Carnival ship, including La Pizza, The French Quarter, Grand Central, The Lido, Summer Landing, and the Ultimate Playground, where BOLT is located. Also onboard, guests can find the first Chibang! Asian restaurant, Emeril’s Bistro 1396, Rudi’s Seagrill, Loft 19, and expanded venues already seen across the fleet.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
The Carnival cruise ship was constructed at the popular Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. She underwent several major construction milestones before finally being delivered to the Miami-based cruise line in December 2020.
However, the delivery took place during the cruise industry’s global suspensions due to the pandemic. Mardi Gras remained on hold until finally setting sail on her first guest voyage on July 31, 2021, from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Ever since the maiden voyage from the Florida port, Mardi Gras has been sailing Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, including popular ports of call such as Cozumel in Mexico, Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos, San Juan in Puerto Rico and Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic.
While Royal Caribbean cruises have dining, entertainment, and other amenities included, many travelers wonder, are Royal Caribbean cruises all-inclusive?
Cruisers are attracted to paying just one price and not having to worry about additional costs, allowing them to relax and enjoy the rest of their cruise. We discuss what is and is not included on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Unfortunately, Royal Caribbean cruise ships aren’t all-inclusive – at least not in the true sense. While they may not be fully all-inclusive, they do offer guests exceptional value. The pricing model allows cruisers to receive a base experience and pay for any add-ons they may want to enjoy.
Doing things this way allows guests to customize their experience, whether cruising to Alaska, the South Pacific, or the southern Caribbean. We recommend taking a little extra money along with you or including a bit more in your budget. You can use this extra budget to buy items at a port and for shore excursions or onboard activities.
Luxury lines may be a bit more all-inclusive. However, a mass-market cruise line generally won’t include everything.
What Does All-Inclusive Mean?
An all-inclusive cruise generally means that culinary services, drinks, gratuities, and internet are included with your purchase price. You should note that culinary services will not typically include dining at specialty restaurants or exclusive drinks.
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
However, if you are going on a luxury cruise, you may find these are included in the initial price. An excellent way to find out what is included in your vacation package is to ask your travel agent for cruise deals or go to the Royal Caribbean site.
Why Not Make Things All-Inclusive?
Not making things all-inclusive allows basic packages to be more affordable and doesn’t make you pay for things you don’t really want. The most affordable cruise packages still have a lot of great perks, including access to fitness centers, onboard activities, outdoor pools and other amenities, and complimentary meal service.
If you have more money to spend or want to upgrade, there are plenty of opportunities. Even if you stay in the most basic stateroom, you can still engage in extras and add-ons that cost money but can make your cruise more special.
For example, you can play in the arcade, gamble in the casino, shop for souvenirs, treat yourself to specialty dining services, or book a spa day.
Star Class is your best option if you want something close to an all-inclusive experience on a Royal Caribbean cruise. It’s not an all-inclusive package, but there are perks to staying in qualified suites.
What Cruise Is the Closest to All-Inclusive?
Star Class is for guests who stay in the higher-end suites sailing on the newest ships. Star Class suites on Quantum and Oasis Class ships have several extras that people staying in other types of staterooms would have to pay extra for, like specialty dining, beverages, access to Wi-Fi, and other extras. But it doesn’t include everything.
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean
Even in Star Class, you will still have to pay for excursions, gratuities, spa treatments, and souvenirs. Booking Star Class may come with a lot of extras, but it tends to be the most expensive option.
What Is the Best Way to Make Things All-Inclusive?
Since there are no true ways to make a cruise into an all-inclusive resort, you can buy specific packages or use onboard credit to receive the most value while on your cruise.
Royal Caribbean provides add-ons you can purchase before you board, leaving you with lower traveling costs and even discounts. You can also purchase these packages after you have boarded the ship, but there are advantages to buying them ahead of time.
Drink Packages
The pay-as-you-go option is excellent if you only want an occasional drink. However, many cruisers quickly find they have consumed more than just a few drinks. You may also wish for unlimited drinks at a fixed price, so you don’t have to worry about costs. This is where drink packages come in handy.
You can buy drink packages before or after you board the cruise ship. You get unlimited drinks for whatever package you purchase. The Classic Soda Package or Refreshment Package is probably enough if you only drink soft drinks and non-alcoholic drinks, like coffee, tea, bottled water, and juice.
If you want a package that includes alcohol, you’ll need to spring for the Deluxe Beverage Package, which gets you beer, cocktails, and wine by the glass in addition to soda and other non-alcoholic beverages. The Deluxe package also includes a 40% discount on bottles of wines priced up to $100 and a 20% discount on wine around $100.
These packages are very attractive since they work as advertised with no exceptions or hidden costs. All you need to do is pay a flat fee and partake in unlimited drinks. However, there may be some exceptions as to what packages may include.
Exceptions
Exceptions include Starbucks drinks on the Oasis Class cruise ships. While they may be available on other ships, the locations on the Oasis Class of cruise ships are considered standalone. Therefore, they are not included in drink packages. The only other option is to buy a prepaid card for Starbucks.
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean
Beverages obtained through room service are not included in your drink package. Anything delivered to your room will come at an additional cost. Furthermore, drinks provided in the mini-fridge are not included in your package. Anything consumed will be charged to your SeaPass card.
Some beers are excluded from the package as well. These come with a higher cost due to their large size. Beers like Chimay Blue in 750 ml aren’t included.
Gratuities
Gratuities cover stateroom attendants and dining staff services. It’s an obligatory charge that accrues daily and gets charged per individual. You can either pre-pay gratuities before embarkation or pay while aboard the ship. The advantage of prepaying is that you can cover costs before sailing and not worry about budgeting for them while on your trip.
Wi-Fi Access
If you want to engage in social media, use the internet, message, or check in with emails, this comes at a cost. Voom, Royal Caribbean’s fastest internet, can be purchased on every ship. It is six times quicker than other onboard Wi-Fi, making it very attractive.
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean / Celebrity Cruises
While it works well on a cruise, it is not as good as on land. However, it will do the trick. How much you spend is determined by the number of people and devices using the service. It is also important to know that Royal Caribbean has already started rolling out the even faster Starlink internet, provided by SpaceX.
Pictures
There are always opportunities to document the moment when you are traveling on a cruise ship. Ship photographers can set up a spot where you and your family can pose for photos. These can include backdrops or natural scenery.
These photos come at an extra charge depending on the size you want. However, you have the option to purchase a photo package.
Specialty Dining Options
There are numerous specialty restaurants onboard Royal Caribbean ships. They are exceptionally popular, and many require pre-booking before boarding the ship or purchasing a dining package.
Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock
The UnlimitedDining Package is the closest option to an all-inclusive package. It includes daily dinners and lunch when you are at sea. The only caveat is that you must wait until after boarding the ship to make reservations. However, if reservations are booked on your first day, there generally isn’t an issue with making them.
You can make individual reservations before the cruise so you can pre-pay them. However, dining packages are the most reliable option if you plan to dine at more than two specialty restaurants.
Other Options for an All-Inclusive Stay
As mentioned, Royal Caribbean offers onboard credit. There are several ways to receive this credit, each determining how much you will receive. While you may think that this “free money” can be spent anywhere (and it can), there are ways to make your money go further.
Overall, it is advisable to put most of it toward gratuities since they are charged anyway. That way, you won’t have to worry about them at the end of the day. Other options are using onboard credit for specialty dining, drink packages, and internet packages, which are the best ways to use the credit.
Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean
Unfortunately, if you don’t use up your onboard credit while on your cruise, you will not be able to cash it out. The unused portion is returned to the card initially charged if you loaded your SeaPass. It is returned to your travel agency if you obtained it through a promotion.
Final Thoughts
If you want to know if Royal Caribbean cruise ships are all-inclusive, the answer will depend on your definition of “all-inclusive.” If you want to enjoy excursions, activities, specialty dining, drinks, etc., then the answer is no. Including these options in the initial price would increase the cost of traveling on a cruise ship, and many guests would pay for things they don’t want or won’t use.
Therefore, in the cruise industry, all-inclusive encompasses things cruisers will generally like. The “extras” usually come at an additional cost. If you want to create an all-inclusive experience, you can either use onboard credit or purchase packages.
This will enable you to pay upfront and avoid unexpected costs from the cruise line, whether you’re departing from New Orleans or Fort Lauderdale or heading to the South Pacific or the western Mediterranean.
Most people don’t mind being disconnected from the internet for a little while. You might think cruising should be a time of relaxation and socialization, but many people still want to be able to check in with loved ones at home or post about their trip on social media. This causes many people to wonder, do cruise ships have Wi-Fi?
The answer to this question is yes; cruise ships do have Wi-Fi connections and internet. Connections are also becoming more affordable and are progressively becoming faster. But there are some things you need to be aware of before you jump at the chance to get online during your cruise.
New cruisers will want to know whether the ship has Wi-Fi and at what cost. Meanwhile, experienced cruisers are aware of how temperamental some systems can be. They want to know the best way to access a faster connection across devices while reducing unnecessary expenses. Here are five essential things to know about cruise ships and Wi-Fi.
1. Connectivity May Be Slow on Some Cruise Ships
While most fleets have incorporated onboard technological improvements, some require patience. Many ships contain a direct ship-to-shore system and new satellites similar to systems found on land. However, this is different for each cruise ship.
The challenge of internet access on cruise ships is that connectivity can be really slow. Guests often complain about clicking on websites only to be frustrated by how long it takes to load–if it even loads at all.
If you are curious about the reason for the slow speeds, it is due to the absence of an internet cable directed to a cruise ship. Every data packet downloaded is delivered over satellite, which is neither fast nor inexpensive.
Photo Copyright: SvetikovaV / Shutterstock
Companies have been attempting for years to speed up connectivity on cruise ships. So far, solutions involve introducing additional satellites and linking systems to land-based towers that connect to cruise ships as they are closer to shore.
While this all sounds positive, there are limitations. Ships require clean lines of sight to satellites for there to be a data exchange, which doesn’t always occur. In some areas, satellite signals are lost due to surrounding mountain ranges.
In some places around the globe, coverage is either non-existent or thin. While service is improving, it is far from what you are accustomed to on land. All this might make you wonder if there is any good news about the internet at sea.
2. Fast, Slow, and Everything In Between
Some ships have improved signal strength so much over the years that guests can now frequently stream Netflix in their cabins. A few years ago, this would not have been possible.
The change came with the introduction of new satellite systems and significant investments in on-ship technology. In 2014, Royal Caribbean formed a partnership with O3b Networks generating a new system touted to be six times faster than that of other cruise ships.
The system is called Voom, and it reaches satellites from Medium Earth Orbit run by O3b. They could shoot beams directly to cruise ships as they passed by. The fastest option is the Surf + Stream at three megabits per second. While it may be slower than at home, you should be able to watch your favorite shows. The only downsides are that videos can be grainy, and you may have buffering issues.
Carnival Cruise Line has an internet that supports streaming services by incorporating a hybrid system combining networks of land-based towers and quicker satellite connections. While most people can watch streaming shows, the experience may not be as smooth.
3. Starlink
Cruise lines know they have a reputation for having less than reliable Wi-Fi, and one way that the industry is trying to combat this is by using Starlink, high-speed broadband internet engineered by SpaceX. Hurtigruten Expeditions has already installed Starlink across its entire fleet, and other cruise lines, like Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, are following suit.
Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean / Celebrity Cruises
Cruise lines with multiple Starlink setups can dramatically increase download speeds, significantly improving the Wi-Fi experience, but how much this will affect costs for guests is yet to be determined.
4. Costs for Internet Have Decreased
Previously, guests had to pay a lot to access the internet. The basic rate began at $0.75 USD per minute. To use the internet for an hour cost people about $45. Eventually, the pay-by-the-minute plan was replaced by affordable browsing plans using several lines.
Now, the highest internet speed on Voom (by Royal Caribbean) is $24.99/day/device. Additionally, a slower speed on this cruise ship costs $19.99/day/device. While it doesn’t support streaming, it does allow users to browse the internet. Furthermore, discounts are available when you connect more devices or buy your package before embarking on your cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line also reduces costs with their Social Wi-Fi plan for $10.20/day. Their Value Wi-Fi plan offers email and website access to each passenger for $14.45/day.
Some cruise lines offer free internet access. Viking, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises have unlimited internet access included in their base cost. With some lines, there may be an additional cost for quicker service.
5. Paying Less for Wi-Fi
You can further reduce costs by joining loyalty programs or using onboard credit. For mid-to-upper-tier customers, you can often enjoy free Wi-Fi or discounted prices for internet packages. With onboard credit, you can apply it to internet service and use it for free.
Use an App
Furthermore, some cruise lines have created apps for Android and iOS phones. These apps allow you to book reservations for restaurants, spa treatments, and other services on the ship.
These apps often have a daily activity schedule, deck plans, and maps to help you navigate the ship. Some will also allow you to message others on your cruise through the app.
Royal Caribbean Cruise App (Photo Credit: Jeff Whyte / Shutterstock)
The apps allow guests to keep track of their onboard statement. Celebrity Cruises Edge Class will enable guests to use the app to remotely open cabin doors, turn off lights, and change television channels.
Despite working off Wi-Fi, they do not require guests to purchase an internet plan to operate them. Additionally, most don’t have an added fee for most of the features.
Use Airplane Mode
Whether you decide to use Wi-Fi or not, remember to switch your phone to airplane mode shortly after departure. It should be left this way the entire time you are at sea to avoid roaming charges.
If you don’t use airplane mode, you may receive substantial data charges, and many guests have discovered this the hard way after racking up exorbitant phone bills. Be aware that international phone plans may not apply to cruise ships. For some, if you permit your phone to roam, you can be charged $2.05/megabyte of data.
Providers like AT&T offer a cruise talk, text, and data plan. A talk-and-text plan costs $100 for 30 days or $5/day. The former includes unlimited talk and text with 200 MB of data. Overage costs are charged at $2.00/MB. The latter plan has 50 minutes of talk time, with overages costing $2.00/minute. Texting is unlimited.
While you may only be able to use it on some cruise ships, over 170 cruise ships are in the program.
If you need cell service, disable apps operating in the background. They only end up consuming data and increasing costs. Also, disable the auto-check on email.
Truthfully, putting the phone in airplane mode is more efficient. You can reactivate Wi-Fi once you have purchased an internet plan.
Conclusion
So, in answering the question of whether cruise ships have Wi-Fi, the answer is yes, they do. However, there are factors involved that may make you reconsider whether purchasing an internet package is beneficial.
Some cruise ships offer fast connectivity. However, they still don’t run as smoothly as those available on land. The cost is charged per person and device.
You can purchase packages with your cell phone provider, but they may be more expensive than packages on board. You will also need to know whether the cruise line participates in this plan, which can make things challenging.
If the cruise ship doesn’t have free Wi-Fi, the second-best option tends to be using onboard credit. This allows you to communicate for free without paying out of pocket.
While it may seem morbid to think about, you may wonder if cruise ships have morgues. What happens if someone dies while aboard a ship?
Where could a body possibly be kept? Even though it probably (or hopefully!) won’t cross your mind when you’re gearing up for your next vacation, it is a question of curiosity for some.
The answer to this question is, yes, cruise ships do have morgues. Since cruise ships are like portable, miniature cities, having a morgue along with various other services makes perfect sense.
While no one likes to think about someone dying while cruising the open seas, death is a natural process that can occur at any time. Therefore, cruise ships are prepared for this possibility.
While we may picture the young, adoring family taking their first magical cruise, the truth is that many cruisers are mature in age. Additionally, with the number of people traveling each year in the tens of millions, it is not uncommon for a small number of people to die while at sea. Thankfully, those who do pass away usually do so of natural causes, most commonly a heart attack.
While cruise ship deaths are tracked by federal governments, they may not publicize the statistics. However, if you are concerned aboutcrime on cruise ships, these stats are published and nominal.
Why Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues?
When sailing, there are several considerations when someone dies, including the policies governing different ports along with the ship’s itinerary. These determine whether a body can be repatriated during the next port, whether it needs to be removed, or whether it should remain on the cruise ship until its final destination.
Cruise Ship Morgue
If the body needs to remain on the ship until it reaches its final port, it is placed in the morgue on the cruise ship. The body can be stored this way for about one week. Federal regulations dictate that cruise lines must carry body bags on the ship during each voyage.
Where Is the Morgue Located?
The morgue is usually found on the lowest ship deck, away from guests. It is a refrigerated room made of stainless steel with individual compartments. Generally, the bigger the ship, the more shelves are found in the morgue. Morgues tend to be small and can typically hold three to six bodies. Ships are also required to maintain the morgue.
What Are the Protocols Surrounding a Death?
When someone dies at sea, a trained crisis team will help the deceased’s companions make decisions regarding the logistics of returning the person’s body to the home country so it can be buried. The cost generally falls on the deceased’s family members. Therefore, it is essential to purchase travel insurance that covers repatriation.
When a guest dies on a ship, a person from the Guest Care Team is assigned immediately to assist the deceased person’s friends and family. They have received special training in dealing with grieving individuals; however, these people are not grief counselors.
Passengers on Cruise Ship
Their job is to assist with details of repatriating the deceased passenger and contacting a funeral home. They help families work with the local authorities, deal with insurance, and make travel arrangements. The Guest Care Team also gives free phone and internet while onboard, allowing loved ones to make arrangements.
They can drive the travel companions to a nearby hotel if they want to disembark and remain with them until they return home. A post-cruise follow-up is also scheduled.
How Does the Deceased Get Home?
The most significant concern regarding death at sea is returning the body home. Where the body remains, as mentioned, depends on several factors. With each factor, the family must work with the cruise line to ensure the body arrives home.
Factors include where the ship was at the time of death, the port being visited, and the ship’s Flag State (where the cruise ship is registered). Cruise Lines International Association states that the ship’s location and the visiting port contain requirements regarding off-loading a dead body. It may also preclude the cruise line from its ability to offload a dead body.
Remains are frequently kept in the morgue until the ship reaches the United States. Then, a death certificate is formally issued by a local medical examiner’s office. Additionally, port authorities on any port the ship visits have the right to require examination of a dead body and off-loading the body.
If the body is far from a homeport or has no homeport, it must be repatriated from some location. For example, if someone passes away in the South Pacific, the body tends to remain in the morgue until it returns to a major port, as few islands can handle repatriation. Authorities in third-world infrastructures can refuse to allow the remains off a ship. Alternatives can easily be found when needed.
The body tends to be removed when the cruise ship visits the first large port. From there, it goes to a medical examiner and is then repatriated. However, each country contains its own specific regulations regarding accepting bodies, naming a cause of death, and repatriation of remains.
Consular offices are handy in this instance. They, along with local authorities, can help the family make a plan for the remains. They can also be a provisional conservator for the estate if no one else is available.
Conclusion
If you are curious if cruise ships have morgues, the answer is yes. Each vessel is required to carry body bags in addition to maintaining a morgue. While it is morbid to consider someone dying on a cruise ship, the crew is well-prepared to deal with such an event. They will also aid the family or friends of the deceased cruise passenger in returning the body home.
Morgues are usually kept on the lower level, away from guests, and can accommodate three to six bodies at once. A cruise ship and its crew are always prepared for any type of instance that can occur and always strive to take care of it in a professional, dignified manner.
There has been a lot of press in recent months about unruly behavior on cruise ships, but disorderly conduct isn’t limited to passengers on mega-ships.
In an incident captured on video and posted to social media, several construction company employees, including the manager of the company, have damaged property aboard the cruise ferry MS Baltic Princess, and may now be facing criminal charges.
Rowdy Behavior Onboard
According to the Helsinki newspaper Iltalehti, during a voyage in early December, employees from the Finnish construction company Pimura Oy were unruly and disruptive onboard MS Baltic Princess.
The company’s 25-year-old manager was part of the onboard party, and even filmed the poor behavior and posted it to his TikTok account. He later deleted the video, but not before it was uploaded to Twitter by other individuals.
The unruly behavior followed a full day of drinking, and included throwing several chairs, cushions, and a small table off an aft-facing stateroom balcony, while others in the party filmed the actions and laughed.
Rakennusliike reissussa, buffet ei ilmeisesti miellyttänyt joten hytin kalusteet mereen. Puupäät. pic.twitter.com/AA5U7OrR8A
The members of the same party reportedly also urinated in one of the ship’s saunas and were “inappropriate” at the ship’s bar, though details of that behavior have not been clarified.
Tallink Silja, the company that operates MS Baltic Princess, has charged the partygoers for the cost of the furniture, as well as other incidental charges.
“They have had to pay for the furniture thrown into the sea already there, and an additional bill has followed,”said Marika Nöjd, communications manager from Tallink Silja.
The cost of the furniture has not been disclosed, but because it is made to fire-safe standards for use onboard the vessel, it is more expensive than standard furniture would be. Additional fines may also be levied, and local police have been asked to investigate the matter.
More Than Just a Fine
The cost of the damaged property is not the only concern. Littering at sea is a grave offense, as any cruise ship passenger knows from onboard signage and safety messages that prohibit throwing anything into the water, even small items.
The cruise ferry line is considering additional charges that may include a criminal filing as they continue to review the incident.
“We are shocked by the incident, especially by the littering of the Baltic Sea where we hope that even cigarette butts will not end up into the seas,”said Nöjd.“We have not yet filed a criminal complaint, but we will review this incident during the week. However this is certainly an environmental crime.”
Furthermore, the passengers’ poor actions could have had much more severe consequences. The video shows some of the furniture bouncing off the ship’s hull, potentially causing cosmetic damage.
Once in the water, the overboard items cause a hazard in the already delicate Baltic Sea and can be dangerous to smaller craft in the area, as well as to local wildlife.
According to news outlet Yle, as a response to the overall incident, all passengers involved have been banned from all ships operated by the ferry service for at least the next year.
The MS Baltic Princess
MS Baltic Princess is a cruise ferry, a small type of ship that, while not constructed for large-scale passenger operations, does offer short, local getaways with amenities similar to a cruise ship.
Onboard are familiar venues such as various bars and eateries, a smoking lounge, a main show lounge, pools, duty-free shopping retailers, spa facilities, and a casino. In addition to passenger service, cruise ferries also carry vehicles and cargo.
MS Baltic Princess first entered service in 2008, and today is operated by Silja Line, which is in turn owned by Tallink. Four vessels are part of the line, and together transport approximately three million passengers and 200,000 vehicles annually.
Currently, MS Baltic Princess is operating a route between Turku and Långnäs in Finland as well as Kapellskär in Sweden, a route of approximately 125 miles (200 kilometers) one-way. The vessel can welcome approximately 2,500 passengers at once, along with 600 cars and up to 75 trucks or trailers.
A major management shake-up has hit one of the industry’s biggest names. Executive leadership changes were announced by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises. At the same time, the company revealed a 9% reduction in its shoreside workforce, calling the move a rightsizing.
New Presidents Named for Regent, Oceania
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is making some high-level organizational changes, effective January 1, 2023, at its Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises brands.
In an announcement on December 15, the company said that Regent president Jason Montague will be replaced by the line’s chief sales and marketing officer, Andrea DeMarco, and Oceania president Howard Sherman will be replaced by Frank A. Del Rio, Oceania’s chief sales and marketing officer. Del Rio is the son of Frank J. Del Rio, president and CEO of the holding company.
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock
Both Montague and Sherman will serve as special advisors to the company, to ensure a smooth and seamless transition, the announcement said. Montague was named Regent president in 2016. Sherman became Oceania president in January 2002. According to the company, the changes are part of its succession planning process.
Holding company president and CEO Frank Del J. Del Rio said,“We are grateful to Jason and Howard for their significant contributions to our Company’s success and their tremendous achievements at Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises. We look forward to continuing to partner with them in their new roles as special advisors and benefitting from the wealth of knowledge, experience and strategic relationships they have accumulated as leaders in the cruise industry for over two decades.”
He continued:“Our entire management team and Board of Directors are confident that Andrea and Frank are the right executives to succeed as presidents of Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, respectively. In their current roles as chief sales and marketing officers for their brands they have worked side-by-side with Jason and Howard, proving time and again their leadership acumen, strategic mindsets and ability to deliver top notch results.”
Workforce Cuts ‘Align With Strategic Priorities’
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said the decision to reduce shoreside staff by 9% is one of the company’s “prudent actions across our business to align with our strategic priorities.”
A statement from the company said,“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to restructure and rightsize our shoreside workforce, reducing our current and planned shoreside roles by approximately 9%. This action is part of a broader and ongoing effort to improve operating efficiencies, including cost minimization initiatives, to strengthen the foundation for sustained, profitable growth.”
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz
Details regarding how the workforce reduction would affect the operations of the company’s three brands were not provided. Norwegian Cruise Line is a mainstream line catering largely to families. Oceania Cruises is an upmarket line, and Regent is one of the top luxury lines operating today.
The planned cuts in shoreside staffing come on the heels of fee and gratuity increases the company has announced in recent weeks. Guests onboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships are now being charged a new $4.95 service fee for continental breakfast room service. While many cruise lines have rolled out room service fees in recent years, classic continental breakfast offerings have typically remained free of charge.
Gratuity charges have changed onboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships, too. The Haven and Suite guests, who book the highest level of accommodations on the ship, will now be charged $25 per day per person. Previously, the charge was $20 per day. Club Balcony suite guests and all other guests now pay $20 per day per person. It represents a $2 increase from the previous gratuity charge of $18 per day for Club Balcony suite guests and a $4 increase for guests staying in all other cabin categories.
New Leadership Set to Take the Helm
With the new year, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises will undergo top-level management changes.
Regent’s DeMarco has nearly 20 years of cruise industry experience. She has served as chief sales and marketing officer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises since September 2021. Previously she was senior vice president of Investor Relations, Corporate Communications and Environmental, Social and Governance for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
DeMarco said,“I am honored to lead the world’s leading luxury cruise line. The hard-working and talented team at Regent is truly unrivaled, and I look forward to contributing to the line’s future growth and success, particularly as we prepare for the addition of our newest ship, Seven Seas Grandeur, in 2023.”
Photo Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania’s Frank A. Del Rio began his career in the cruise industry in 2003. He has served as chief sales and marketing officer for Oceania Cruises since March 2022. Previously he was senior vice president, Port Destinations and Onboard Revenue. He also has pursued entrepreneurial opportunities in the private equity, finance, and tech spaces.
Del Rio said,“I look forward to building on the incredible momentum we are experiencing at the renowned Oceania Cruises brand. I am truly humbled and thankful to lead the world-class team at Oceania and I am excited for the bright future we have ahead of us at the brand and the company.”
With a combined fleet of 29 ships with 60,000 berths, the brands offer global itineraries to some 500 destinations. Several new ships are scheduled for delivery through 2027. Five of the new ships are included in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima-class vessels.
Initially founded in Naples, Italy, in 1989, MSC Cruises is now located in Geneva, Switzerland. They have 19 cruise ships in their fleet and employ about 30,000 people. These statistics make this company one of the most rapidly growing global cruise brands. We explore in depth who owns MSC Cruises and its history.
MSC Cruises provides luxury accommodations with a relaxing and upscale experience on board. It is most known for its European hospitality. It attracts a slightly younger crowd, with the average age being 45 years, while other cruise lines average those who are 46 years of age.
Until recently, MSC Cruises generally catered to Europeans, with most customers coming from Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
MSC Cruises is an upscale cruise ship line designed to catch the attention of luxury travelers, withMSC Yacht Club being at the top of its fleet. The MSC Yacht Club has a pool, private lounge, restaurant, and sun areas. They also have a 24-hour butler with a dedicated concierge.
In 2017, they expanded their fleet to create a location in North America. Previously, they only had one vessel in North America. However, they now have three MSC cruise ships that are based out of United States ports.
They are currently building MSC cruise ships that are large and resort-like to cater to the North American crowd. They provide various forms of entertainment ranging from race car simulators to huge waterparks.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is the owner of MSC Cruises. They are the second-largest business in the container shipping industry. They have 570 container ships. Mediterranean Shipping Company includes these divisions:
Mediterranean Shipping Company – cargo shipping
MSC Cruises – holiday cruises
Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) – ferries
Società Navigazione Alta Velocità (SNAV) – ferry operation
Terminal Investment Limited – port operations
MSC Ship Management Limited – shoreside and onboard crew
MEDLOG – inland logistics
The Founder
Gianluigi Aponte is the person who owns MSC Cruises, alongside his family: wife Rafaela, daughter Alexa, and son Diego. Aponte is an Italian billionaire and MSC’s owner, founder, and chairman. His family is involved in crucial roles throughout the business.
Gianluigi and Rafaela Aponte have a net worth of $13.2 billion, making them one of the wealthiest couples in the shipping industry. They are also known to be the 126th richest people in the world.
Gianluigi Aponte (Photo: MSC)
Gianluigi was born June 27, 1940, and owned the Mediterranean Shipping Company, which was the parent company of MSC Cruises. MSC operates 510 cargo ships.
Gianluigi started out as a ship captain and entered the shipping industry in 1970 with his wife alongside. Since then, MSC has grown to be the second-largest shipping company globally by vessel capacity, only slightly behind AP Moller Maersk.
In terms of their cruise line, they rank fourth largest behind Carnival Corporation, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Royal Caribbean Group. Gianluigi retired from his position as CEO of MSC in 2014, becoming chairman. Diego, his son, took over the role from his father.
Is MSC Cruises Privately or Publicly Owned?
Other cruise lines are publicly traded and owned by shareholders. On the other hand, MSC Cruises is privately owned by the Aponte family and is one of the world’s largest privately owned cruise lines.
Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock
Since the company is privately owned, it does not have stock. People cannot buy shares in this company as they can with Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line.
The current CEO of the business is Gianni Onorato. Gianni Onorato has 30 years of experience within the cruise ship industry, having previously been the president of Costa Cruises, and has held the position since 2013.
History of MSC Cruises
Despite MSC Cruises being founded in 1989, the Aponte family was involved in the shipping industry much earlier than this.
The first known record of their involvement was in 1675, with shipping going in and out of Naples, Italy. This operation included the ship felucca Giovannina, which went around the Sorrento Peninsula for many years.
The cargo division of the Mediterranean Shipping Company began in 1970 when Gianluigi borrowed money to buy his first ship, the Patricia, then the Rafaela, and founded the company. Gianluigi started the first route between the Mediterranean and Somalia.
In 1989, MSC purchased Lauro Lines and was renamed StarLauro Cruises with the two ships, Achille Lauro and Monterey. Achille Lauro originally founded Lauro Lines during the 1960s. It began operating the MS Achille Lauro and MS Angelina Lauro. Mr. Lauro was a mentor to Aponte. This marked MSC’s first cruise line.
In 1979, Angelina Lauro sank at a pier in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. This event spiraled the company (then Lauro Lines) into financial challenges. The fleet remained at two ships until Achille Lauro caught fire in December 1994. It sank off the coast of Somalia while it was headed to South Africa. The financial difficulties allowed the company to be open to being purchased by MSC.
Photo Credit: beagle84 / Creative Commons
In 1995, the cruise line again changed names to MSC Cruises. That same year, they bought the Cunard Princess, renaming it MSC Rhapsody. They also purchased MSC Symphony. Melody joined the MSC Cruises fleet in 1997, bringing the company to four cruise ships.
Fifteen years later, the company invested 5.5 billion euros in building 12 new cruise ships to establish the most modern fleet. In 2014, they again invested 5.1 billion euros for seven new ships, along with the enlargement of four pre-existing vessels.
Two years later, they invested 3.9 billion euros for four world-class ships and paid 2.6 billion euros for another three vessels the following year. This year, MSC Cruises announced it would create an additional cruise terminal in Miami for these ships. It is to be an expansion of their North American program, which was originally slated for completion in 2022, but is now expected to be completed in December 2023.
Render Courtesy: MSC Cruises
Later that same year, MSC unveiled they had purchased four luxury ships that were 64,000 gross tons. These cruise lines were to be ultra-luxury vessels based on the luxury concept of MSC Yacht Club. The first of these ships will launch during the spring of 2023.
The year 2019 marked the beginning of a 100-year lease on an island called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. They opened their doors that year to receive guests and announced the first virtual cruise assistant called ZOE. Harman International created this artificial intelligence device, featured on MSC Grandiosa and MSC Bellissima. It will also be on future builds once delivered.
After the pandemic in 2020, MSC Cruises was the first large cruise line to restart operations, thanks to their industry-leading protocols in health and safety.
In January 2021, MSC announced MSC Grandiosa would begin a seven-night cruise and that MSC Magnifica would resume ten-night cruises in February. Both cruises were in the Mediterranean and only open to Schengen countries.
Photo Courtesy: MSC Cruises
In June, MSC stated it was beginning a luxury brand called Explora Journeys along with four ships beginning with Explora. They also unveiled the first robotic bartender found at sea called Rob. It appeared on the MSC Virtuosa.
MSC Cruises is registered in Switzerland, with its headquarters in Geneva. It has operational offices in Venice, Genoa, and Naples. The company provides cruises on a global scale, catering to different nationalities. Therefore, it has many languages spoken while guests are on board. Announcements are frequently made in German, French, Spanish, Italian, and English.
They have recently signed a deal spanning several years with Formula 1 as an official cruise partner. They are in the middle of a significant expansion, building four mega-ships designed to weigh 200,000 tonnes. Each of these ships will carry 6,761 passengers.
MSC Cruises will build another class of large ships that will arrive later this decade, along with a series of smaller luxury cruise lines operating under separate divisions. The onboard entertainment centers around visuals like acrobats, dancers, or music.
Where Are MSC Cruise Destinations?
While it sails everywhere globally, the MSC group is mostly concentrated in Europe, where it is the largest cruise operator. During the summer, they deploy most ships in Northern Europe or the Mediterranean. Recently, they have run two ships in Florida over the summer months to the Caribbean islands and the Bahamas.
Photo Credit: Luciavonu / Shutterstock
During winter, more ships are added to the Bahamas and Caribbean routes. Four ships will also be sent to South America, although there are plans for a fifth. Vessels are also deployed to go to the Middle East and South Africa.
Interesting Facts
Sophia Loren was asked if she was interested in being MSC Lirica’s godmother for its launch in 2003. Since then, she has christened every fleet vessel up until the MSC Virtuosa.
Regrettably, because of the COVID pandemic, she did not christen the MSC World Europa and MSC Virtuosa, but Zoe Vago, Aponte’s granddaughter, did.
Conclusion
Who owns MSC Cruises? The cruise line is still proudly owned by the Aponte family, whose family members work in various capacities within the business. It has an interesting history of success and steady growth, making it the fourth-largest cruise fleet in the world.
MSC Cruises FAQ
When did MSC Cruises begin?
MSC Cruises was established in 1988, starting with the cruise ship Monterey. Previously, the cruise line was known as Lauro Lines.
Are MSC Cruises privately owned?
Yes, MSC Cruises is a privately owned company based in Geneva, Switzerland. The cruise line is part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company, founded by Gianluigi Aponte.
