Cruise News on Cruise Lines, Ships & Ports

Table Of Content

• I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise
• #8 – Cruise Couple Receives Damaged Cabin on Royal Caribbean Ship
• Carnival Mardi Gras Crew Honored for Rescuing 16 People at Sea
• #3 – Carnival Cruise Cancels All Ports, Now Cruising to Nowhere
• #4 – Passenger Captured Fishing From Carnival Cruise Ship Balcony
• American Cruise Lines Expands Coastal Cruising with New Class of Ships
• Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer

For the second time, Princess Cruises has cancelled the inaugural cruise of its new ship, Sun Princess, due to the need for additional technical work to be completed. The 175,000-gross-ton vessel was officially delivered to the line by the Fincantieri shipyard on February 14, 2024. Carnival Cruise Line is continuing to expand its roster of fleet cruise directors, and this time the promotion goes to Erin Weigand, who will soon become the line’s first female to hold the post. Royal Caribbean has not disclosed details about the new Oasis-class ship order, but the vessel is expected to be roughly the same size as the existing ships in the class, which can accommodate about 5,600 guests in double occupancy. The Oasis class introduced the line’s popular neighborhood concept, including Boardwalk, with its AquaTheater, arcade, and carousel, and Central Park, a leafy, open space with thousands of live plants and a choice of restaurants and bars. It’s time for another cruise news update from Cruise Hive, your best bet to keep up with all of the major cruise developments you need to know about.

I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise

The vessel is now in preparation for the December 23, departure from Long Beach, California. Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald confirmed the positive news, expressing gratitude to everyone involved in the swift repairs. Carnival Panorama faced engine trouble in early November, leading to the cancellation of six cruises.

#8 – Cruise Couple Receives Damaged Cabin on Royal Caribbean Ship

Fincantieri Delivers Cunard Line's First New Cruise Ship in 14 Years - The Maritime Executive

Fincantieri Delivers Cunard Line's First New Cruise Ship in 14 Years.

Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 21:36:06 GMT [source]

While no further details have been released, the ship will most likely feature similar amenities as her sister MSC World Europa, which include a new microbrewery, gin bar, healthy juice bar, coffee emporium, and teahouse. TUI Cruises is a German brand whose vessels are all named Mein Schiff (My Ship in German) and numbered. So you guessed it, Mein Schiff 7 is the seventh ship of the fleet and identical to her two predecessors. At 111,500 tons, it will feature everything you’d find on any big ship – a main dining room, a buffet, a pizzeria, and specialty restaurants such as a steakhouse and Asian cuisine. Standard accommodations include inside, oceanview, balcony, and suites, as well as several inside and oceanview cabins designed for single occupancy.

Carnival Mardi Gras Crew Honored for Rescuing 16 People at Sea

The upcoming winter months promise heightened activity, with eight new ships, including Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, set to dock at the port. Despite the controversy, Carnival remains resilient amidst food-related issues, emphasizing the challenges cruise lines face in navigating passenger expectations and preferences. Carnival Cruise Line is grappling with guest discontent following recent modifications to its made-to-order omelet options during breakfast service. The cruise line now offers only three fixed omelet choices – cheese, ham and cheese, and a veggie option – restricting customization compared to the previous diverse ingredient selection.

#3 – Carnival Cruise Cancels All Ports, Now Cruising to Nowhere

The second Prima Plus class vessel has been ordered for delivery in 2026, no further details have been released. The yet-to-be-named ship will be TUI’s second ship of the InTUItion class and will be the sister ship to the Mein Schiff Relax that is slated to enter service in March 2025. The third Icon-class vessel has been ordered, with a delivery date set for Spring 2026. Richard Branson’s adults-only (18+) cruise line will launch its fourth “Lady Ship” sometime in 2024 (the ship was delayed from its original launch date of late 2023) or in early 2025. Passengers eagerly anticipating Carnival Panorama’s Christmas and New Year’s sailings will be delighted to hear that the emergency repairs to the ship’s engines have been completed. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Caya lauded the achievement, emphasizing PortMiami’s pivotal role in driving economic growth.

My favorite amenities on Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas cruise ship - Business Insider

My favorite amenities on Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas cruise ship.

Posted: Sat, 20 Apr 2024 10:58:00 GMT [source]

With its inaugural Caribbean journey just nine days away, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas dwarfs even historical giants like the Titanic. Spanning an impressive 1,200 feet, this colossal vessel is ready to host nearly 10,000 passengers. The Icon of the Seas boasts 18 decks and six waterslides, and it can accommodate more than 5,500 passengers. The cruise industry continues to express its strong enthusiasm and strong outlook for the business.

Second Icon-Class Ship Will Have a Furry Family Member

Join us as we unveil all the stories that have hit the headlines in the cruise industry. Carnival Cruise Line is expanding its new “Digital Debark” program, initially launched as a pilot, to additional vessels after positive feedback from guests. The program, accessible through the Carnival Hub app, streamlines the debarkation process, offering passengers more control over their departure times and reducing crowds. While local residents and businesses do not want to completely ban ships, frequent visits of larger vessels can be overwhelming to the main port in the region, Kirkwall, which has a population of just over 10,000 residents. On some days during the busy 2023 season, Kirkwall saw as many as 7,000 cruise ship guests or more visiting in a single day. Mein Schiff Relax will be the first of German line TUI Cruises’ next generation of ships called the InTUItion class, powered by LNG.

Additionally, guests who have already traveled to Europe for the maiden voyage will receive reimbursement of their roundtrip airfare plus money toward hotels, meals, and other costs incurred while making travel plans to return home. Guests booked on the cancelled cruise are receiving a full refund of their cruise fare and all pre-paid services. The line also is offering a 50% future cruise credit for any future Princess Cruises sailing booked by November 30, 2024 and sailed by December 31, 2025. Cruise directors are crucial to the operation of every cruise, and at Carnival Cruise Line they are tasked with making sure guests enjoy the line’s Fun Ship vibe.

The cruise line has not revealed what kind of technical work must still be completed before the ship can operate her first voyage. The next sailing date on the cruise line website is February 28, 2024, when the ship will operate a 10-day “Grand Mediterranean” voyage from Rome to Barcelona. Carnival Cruise Line, in the last two years, has promoted three cruise directors to fleet cruise director posts.

PortMiami, widely recognized as the Cruise Capital of the World, achieved a historic milestone by hosting over 7.2 million passengers in the 2023 Fiscal Year. The port witnessed a nearly 7% increase in cruise passenger totals, reclaiming its esteemed position in the industry. While the decision aims to expedite service, many guests have expressed dissatisfaction on social media platforms. Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald clarified that rumors about eliminating omelet stations or restricting egg options are untrue.

Norwegian Star is sailing a 14-day South America cruise roundtrip from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Port calls include destinations in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Shetland Islands, and Falkland Islands The itinerary also originally included scenic cruising in Paradise Bay, a well-known cove off Antarctica’s mainland. An irate guest sailing aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Star is calling attention to an itinerary change she says is ruining her vacation at sea. Posting videos on TikTok using the name “ruinedvacation,” the woman’s complaints have attracted more than 3 million views.

Sailing in the Caribbean, it will become the line's fourth new flagship to be deployed in the region. The design features a Y-shaped aft structure that leads to a nearly 350-foot long promenade, which is half open and half covered. Cunard's first new-build ship since the launch of Queen Elizabeth in 2010, the next-generation Queen Anne will become the largest in the fleet (by passenger capacity) when it debuts in 2024.