It was one other hectic week for cruise information, nevertheless it’s straightforward to remain well-informed with Cruise Hive, the chief in cruise trade protection. On this week’s replace, we’ve tales from Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean.
Cruise Information Replace
Let’s dive into the massive cruise headlines of the previous week on Cruise Hive, together with a Carnival Cruise Line ship experiencing her second funnel fireplace, Carnival Cruise Line asserting a fifth Excel-class ship, flooding inundating cabins and public areas on Carnival Dawn, Norwegian Cruise Line cancelling a raft of sailings on seven ships, Norwegian Viva planning venue enhancements throughout her upcoming transatlantic cruise, and two main cruise traces dealing with the closure of the Port of Baltimore, the place they had been home-porting ships.
Funnel Fireplace Impacts Carnival Freedom
For the second time in lower than two years, the enduring funnel atop Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Freedom caught fireplace, this time because the ship sailed off the coast of the Bahamian island of Eleuthera. Injury to the smokestack pressured the cancellation of the ship’s subsequent two cruises.
On March 23, 2024, the Conquest-class vessel was crusing by means of extreme climate, which had already prompted the cancellation of a port name to Princess Cay. The ship as an alternative visited Freeport, Bahamas.
The cruise line is investigating the incident, however there have been eyewitness reviews {that a} lightning strike could have broken the funnel. The ship, which was crusing a 4-night Bahamas cruise, returned to her homeport at Port Canaveral on March 25, 2024, and her subsequent two cruises — each 5-night voyages departing on March 25 and March 30, 2024, had been nixed.
After disembarking her company, Carnival Freedom sailed again to Freeport, the place she is present process repairs at a Bahamian shipyard. Friends booked on the cancelled sailings got full refunds and a 100% future cruise credit score.
The ship’s funnel had been broken in Might 2022, when it caught fireplace whereas the vessel was docked in Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. The funnel was partially repaired and the ship was capable of sail till everlasting repairs may very well be made throughout a dry dock the next yr.
Carnival Cruise Line to Construct Fifth Excel-Class Ship
The information that Carnival Cruise Line will construct a fourth Excel-class ship had simply barely sunk in when it was introduced {that a} fifth vessel within the class has been ordered.
Mum or dad firm Carnival Company introduced it has reached an settlement with Meyer Werft to assemble the ship, which is slated to enter service in 2028. The deliberate development of the fourth Excel-class ship was revealed in mid-February. That ship is scheduled to launch in 2027.
Each are sister ships to the road’s first three Excel ships, Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee, all mega-ships that may accommodate greater than 6,000 company apiece at full capability.
Like the prevailing Excel-class vessels, the fifth ship will probably be powered by LNG (liquified pure fuel) and weigh in on the 180,000-gross ton vary. Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy predicted that the quintet of well-liked ships will delight company and supply the road with working efficiencies.
Mardi Gras launched in 2020, Carnival Celebration in 2022, and Carnival Jubilee in 2023. Every ship sported new actions and options. Mardi Gras, as an example, debuted the cruise trade’s first curler coaster at sea.
Carnival Dawn Floods on Remaining Evening of Voyage
Widespread flooding impacted Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Dawn on March 23, 2024 because the ship headed again to her homeport in Miami following a 5-night Western Caribbean crusing.
The two,984-guest ship had encountered rain within the neighborhood of the Bahamas, and the ship’s captain later indicated that climate was partly in charge. He didn’t present different particulars, however the results had been plain to see, as company uploaded movies of flooded cabins and corridors to social media.
A number of decks had been flooded, as had been stairwells and staterooms, and a few out of doors areas had been closed off. One visitor posted a video exhibiting 4 to five inches of water in his cabin, whereas one other shared video exhibiting water as much as his ankles. Different movies filmed company ready within the ship’s foyer and theater, a few of whom had donned life jackets.
Carnival Dawn returned to Miami on schedule, on March 23, 2024, and departed on her subsequent cruise on time. That 5-night crusing known as at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, Princess Cays, and Nassau, Bahamas, and returned to Miami on March 28, 2024, with no flooding points reported.
Cruise ships sometimes handle flooding issues in a short time, utilizing industrial-strength followers to dry carpets and fabric earlier than the subsequent set of company board the ship.
Redeployments Influence Seven NCL Ships
The cancellation of quite a few 2025 cruises aboard seven ships operated by Norwegian Cruise Line was introduced to booked company and journey brokers. The explanations behind the choices differ, together with redeployments to areas the place demand is robust, a dry dock, full-ship charters, and ongoing unrest within the Crimson Sea.
The affected ships are Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Sky, and Norwegian Viva.
Booked company will obtain full refunds and a ten% Future Cruise Credit score that will probably be out there beginning April 4, 2024. Full particulars of the redeployments are anticipated to be supplied inside about two weeks, and within the meantime, the road is providing recommended various cruises for company whose sailings are cancelled.
4 2025 cruises aboard Norwegian Viva, the road’s latest ship, have been cancelled, for instance —together with departures on Might 18 and 27, and September 20 and 29. No cause was supplied for the cancellations.
The cancellation of a number of 2025 voyages aboard Norwegian Jade was on account of redeployments to extra in-demand locations, together with the Bahamas and Panama Canal. The impacted voyages had been to depart on February 20, and March 4, 13, and 24.
Norwegian Pearl had essentially the most cancellations of any of the ships — six, with no particular cause supplied.
Norwegian Viva to Get Upgrades Throughout Transatlantic Cruise
Cruisers booked on a Norwegian Cruise Line transatlantic voyage in early April discovered that a number of leisure areas onboard their ship can be closed in the course of the crusing.
A collection of venue enhancements on Norwegian Viva, which solely simply entered service in late 2023, will shut off some well-liked public areas whereas the ship operates her repositioning cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Lisbon, Portugal. The departure date is April 7, 2024.
Booked company acquired a discover detailing the off-limits areas, they usually embrace the Speedway Bar, which will probably be transformed into Entourage, a devoted area for kids ages 13 to 17.
Additionally shutting down for enhancements will probably be a part of the ship’s Galaxy Pavilion, a digital actuality sport area; The Bull’s Eye, a digital darts sport area; The Stadium, one other gaming area; The Wave, a well-liked water slide; and the Tee-Time mini-golf course.
The cruise line didn’t specify what the enhancements are however famous that many different actions will probably be out there in the course of the crossing, which options 5 full days at sea. These well-liked areas embrace the Speedway go-karts, The Drop and The Rush water thrill rides, and the Aqua Park.
The three,100-guest ship will spend the summer time season within the Mediterranean and return to San Juan in November 2024.
Cruise Traces Cope With Baltimore Port Closure
Cruise traces working from the Port of Baltimore are making mandatory itinerary and operational adjustments, because the port’s harbor stays closed and inaccessible following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024.
Each Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have, not less than quickly, organized to homeport ships in Norfolk, Virginia, fairly than Baltimore.
Carnival Cruise Line had been homeporting its Carnival Legend in Baltimore. The ship had departed from the port two days earlier than a cargo ship rammed the bridge, inflicting it to break down. Carnival Legend was on account of return to Baltimore on March 31, 2024, however the cruise will now conclude in Norfolk and company will probably be transported by bus again to Baltimore.
The ship’s March 31, 2024 cruise will depart from Norfolk, as nicely, and company had been notified that scheduled embarkation occasions for the crusing are pushed again, because of the distance between the 2 ports. Norfolk is about 230 miles south of Baltimore. Carnival Cruise Line is offering a shuttle bus service from Baltimore to the non permanent homeport in Norfolk.
Carnival Satisfaction is scheduled to function a 14-night Caribbean cruise from Baltimore on April 7, 2024. No adjustments have been introduced by Carnival Cruise Line but relating to that voyage.
Royal Caribbean has one ship based mostly in Baltimore, Imaginative and prescient of the Seas, which left the port on March 23, 2024, for a 12-night Caribbean crusing. The cruise was on account of return to Baltimore on April 4, 2024, however will as an alternative conclude in Norfolk.
The cruise line has switched Imaginative and prescient of the Seas’ homeport to Norfolk, quickly. Cruisers planning to sail on the ship’s subsequent two 8-night Bahamas cruises, departing on April 4 and April 12, will embark and debark in Norfolk.
Extra Cruise Headlines
Cruise Hive has much more cruise information and developments from the previous week, equivalent to Regent Seven Seas Cruises unveiling the world’s most costly voyage, Movie star Cruises rolling out a collection of quick Caribbean cruises for 2025 and 2026, Cunard revealing a traditional stage manufacturing aboard its new-build Queen Anne, the port of Antigua posting a record-breaking cruise arrivals day, and Oceania Cruises providing a free, pre-cruise lodge keep on choose voyages.
