It’s time to take a deep dive into the highest cruise information headlines of the previous week. Cruise Hive has all of them lined, with developments from the Port of Nassau, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and MSC Cruises.
Cruise Information Replace
Don’t miss a beat in terms of cruise information you should know. On this week’s replace, Cruise Hive has full protection of the Port of Nassau breaking its cruise arrivals file, Carnival Cruise Line urging respect amongst friends, Princess Cruises changing a port name on the maiden voyage of Solar Princess, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas arriving at PortMiami to nice fanfare, MSC Cruises deploying a ship to Galveston in 2025, and Royal Caribbean’s Final World Cruise altering its route on the best way to Antarctica.
Port of Nassau Shatters Arrivals Document
The Port of Nassau, Bahamas, has formally set a brand new file for cruise arrivals. In 2023, the port welcomed 4,490,802 cruise friends, and that represents a 14% improve versus the earlier file, set in 2019.
In all, 1,210 ship calls have been made to Nassau in 2023 by nearly each main cruise line. They included Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Worldwide, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Movie star Cruises, and others.
With six berths and the power to accommodate the trade’s largest ships, the Port of Nassau additionally broke day by day customer data in 2023. It set a one-day excessive for cruise arrivals in March 2023, when 28,554 friends have been welcomed in a single day, then it broke that file on December 27, 2023, when 29,316 cruise guests arrived.
Waiting for 2024, the port is hoping to welcome 5.6 million cruise friends. Royal Caribbean’s new-build, Utopia of the Seas, is about to homeport at Nassau after her launch in summer season 2024. The ship could have capability for six,500 friends, and would possibly assist the port attain its objective.
Cruise Line Tackles Mobility Scooter Points
Some disagreeable interactions onboard its ships have prompted Carnival Cruise Line to handle the difficulty of mobility scooters, particularly in terms of accommodating them on elevators.
The road desires all friends to point out respect to others, when they’re inside an elevator and whereas ready for an elevator. Some friends who depend on scooters to get round their ships have requested the cruise line to designate an elevator, or a number of elevators, to be used by these driving scooters, and even assign a crew member to direct non-scooter friends to different elevators.
Nonetheless, Carnival Cruise Line Model Ambassador John Heald responded to that concept on social media, saying the road doesn’t have the manpower to station a crew member at elevator banks. Heald steered that almost all friends are respectful of those that journey scooters.
Reserving a single elevator for scooter-riding friends would probably do little to assist the scenario, relying on how many individuals are utilizing them on a specific ship. Usually one elevator can accommodate simply two scooters at a time.
A second space of concern cropped up, too — aggressive driving. Some friends have reported being bumped, and in some circumstances, injured by scooters. Those that drive mobility scooters can assessment the cruise line’s pointers on habits. The coverage states that friends should drive at a secure velocity to make sure their very own security and the protection of others on board.
Port Name Swap for the New Solar Princess
Princess Cruises has canceled a port of name on Solar Princess’ inaugural cruise, departing on February 8, 2024 from Barcelona and crusing to Rome. A scheduled name on the Greek island of Santorini on February 15 was nixed and changed with Crete, Greece.
The explanation for the port name swap is the non permanent closure of the Santorini Cable Automobile, which can be out of service for upkeep. The cable automobile is the first mode of entry into the village of Fira, situated on the island’s cliff tops some 700 ft above the harbor.
With the cable automobile out of service, friends must climb 500 steps to succeed in the city. Donkeys are sometimes used to convey guests up the steep stairs, however there isn’t any assure that service could be obtainable.
The brand new name at Crete will present friends with a full day on the island, from 7 a.m. to five p.m. The Santorini name was to have prolonged to six p.m. All excursions in Santorini booked by way of the cruise line are being refunded, and new land excursions in Crete are being created.
Different ports of name on Solar Princess‘ maiden voyage are Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Messina and Naples, Italy; Athens, Greece; and Kusadasi, Turkey.
Solar Princess, beneath development on the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, would be the line’s largest ship when she debuts. The ship will accommodate 4,300 friends in double occupancy.
PortMiami Celebrates Icon of the Seas’ Arrival
It was a grand welcome for Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas as the brand new ship, now the world’s largest, arrived at PortMiami on January 10, 2024.
Pilot boats, tug boats, hearth boats with water cannons, planes overhead with welcome banners, marching bands, cheerleaders — even drones all have been available to provide the ship a festive and memorable welcome.
A celebration on the Perez Artwork Museum Miami, close by the port on Biscayne Bay, drew large crowds keen to observe the Icon of the Seas arrive at her new homeport. These not lucky sufficient to attend the large occasion might watch it on social media, since Royal Caribbean live-streamed the festivities on its Fb web page and different websites.
The ship, which can be christened on the port on January 23, 2024, with soccer star Lionel Messi serving as godfather, will sail her inaugural voyage on January 27, 2024. With a capability for 7,600 friends, Icon of the Seas left the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on November 27, 2023, and made her manner throughout the Atlantic Ocean after present process closing outfitting in Cadiz, Spain.
Previous to arriving in Miami, the ship visited Royal Caribbean’s personal island vacation spot, Good Day at CocoCay, within the Bahamas, the place an enormous get together was held for the ship’s crew.
MSC Cruises to Deploy First Ship to Galveston
MSC Cruises will start home-porting MSC Seascape in Galveston, Texas, beginning in November 2025, shifting the 5,200-guest ship from its present base in Miami. It can mark the primary time that the cruise line has supplied sailings from the Lone Star State.
The ship will sail 7-day Western Caribbean voyages, with port calls that embrace Roatan, Honduras, and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. The ship’s maiden voyage from the port is slated to depart on November 9, 2025.
The announcement that MSC Cruises will increase operations to Texas will not be a shock to cruise watchers. The cruise line and Port of Galveston have been in talks for months relating to the home-porting of a ship in addition to a potential partnership to construct one other cruise terminal.
Norwegian Cruise Line can also be stated to be a possible accomplice within the undertaking, which is described as a redevelopment of Pier 16, the positioning of a former cargo warehouse. The deployment of 1 MSC Cruises’ ship to Galveston might be seen as a primary step towards the road’s long-term dedication to the port.
Considered one of MSC Cruises’ largest ships, the 170,400-gross ton MSC Seascape provides friends 11 eating venues, a number of stage reveals, six swimming pools, and the favored thrill journey ROBOTRON.
Final World Cruise Attempting For a Smoother Journey to Antarctica
Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas, only a month into her 274-night Final World Cruise, is attempting to get forward of the climate as she navigates the notorious Drake Passage on her method to Antarctica.
Visitors have been informed that this week’s itinerary was being revised — and a port name postponed — in order that the ship might keep away from tough climate. Somewhat than name at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, earlier than crossing the Drake Passage, the ship made the crossing earlier so friends might get pleasure from scenic cruising within the Gerlache Strait, Paradise Bay, Schollart Channel, and Dalhan Bay this weekend.
Underneath the revised itinerary, the ship will arrive in Port Stanley on January 15, 2024. Had she maintained her authentic routing, the ship would have crossed the Drake Passage as winds approached 40 miles per hour.
The Drake Passage separates Cape Horn, South America from Antarctica and is infamous for its sturdy currents and winds, and huge ocean swells. The two,500-guest Serenade of the Seas is scheduled to go to 150 ports of name in 65 nations throughout her world voyage, which left Miami on December 10, 2023.
Extra Cruise Headlines
However wait! There’s extra! Cruise Hive has a lot extra information articles you received’t wish to miss. Try our protection on record-breaking cruise arrivals on the port for Athens, new European river cruises from Disney, Australia’s cruise trade poised for main progress, and a Scottish port gearing as much as welcome the brand new Cunard liner. Additionally, an insider’s look into how Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, now the world’s largest ship, got here to be a actuality.
