It’s straightforward to remain updated on the massive cruise headlines with Cruise Hive, the place we’ve acquired full protection of all main developments. On this week’s replace, examine Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line.
Cruise Information Replace
Let’s get going with this week’s high cruise information tales from Cruise Hive, together with Princess Cruises elevating its web charges massive time, Norwegian Cruise Line presumably home-porting a ship in Jacksonville, Florida, the gala christening of Icon of the Seas, Carnival Cruise Line changing a Dr. Seuss breakfast occasion, the cancellation of Solar Princess’ maiden voyage, and Norwegian Cruise Line deploying two ships to US homeports.
Cruise Line Hikes Web Charges, Pushes Bundling
In what seems to be an effort to promote extra bundled packages of onboard companies, Princess Cruises is mountaineering the worth of its web plans — however provided that a plan is purchased independently of different packages, like eating or beverage plans.
In a notification to journey brokers, Princess Cruises stated visitors shopping for a WiFi plan for one gadget can pay $24.99 per day, a hefty enhance of 65% in comparison with the present price of $14.99 per day. The fee enhance for a four-device plan will rise to $44.99 per day, up from $39.99. The brand new charges took impact on pre-cruise purchases beginning January 22, 2024.
The elevated prices are designed to make it financially unwise to purchase solely an web plan. Beneath the Princess Plus package deal, as an example, visitors pays about $60 per day for a plan that covers not solely limitless WiFi but additionally drinks, crew gratuities, specialty eating, room service, health lessons, and different companies and perks.
Any visitor booked to sail who has already pre-paid for an web plan is not going to be charged the brand new charges. Web companies onboard Princess Cruises’ ships, like most others within the trade, now use Starlink satellites from SpaceX, which give a lot sooner entry than earlier companies.
Is a Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Certain For JAXPort?
It seems probably that Norwegian Cruise Line is taking a look at Jacksonville, Florida, as a possible homeport for one in every of its cruise ships.
Cruise insiders noticed a brand new touchdown web page on the cruise line’s web site, displaying sailings from Jacksonville marked “Coming Quickly.” Additionally, native media experiences point out that an official of the port, referred to as JaxPort, not too long ago informed the port authority’s board that a cruise line is expressing curiosity in home-porting a ship.
JaxPort CEO Eric Inexperienced didn’t disclose the title of the line, however stated it isn’t Carnival Cruise Line, which at present homeports its 2,190-guest Carnival Elation at Jacksonville.
The ship sails 4- and 5-night cruises to the Bahamas year-round. Different blue-water cruise traces that typically name at Jacksonville embody Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Crystal, and American Cruise Strains affords river cruises from Jacksonville.
The port, in northern Florida about 165 miles from Port Canaveral, may very well be departure port not just for Caribbean and Bahamas sailings but additionally Bermuda and even New England/Canada cruises.
There’s a peak restrict for ships coming into JaxPort, because the metropolis’s Dames Level Bridge requires vessels to be below 180 toes from the water line to be able to go below it.
World’s Greatest Ship, Icon of the Seas, Is Christened
It was a festive and gala occasion at PortMiami on January 23, 2024, when celeb footballer Lionel Messi formally christened the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Reside-streamed throughout social media, the ceremony was hosted by American actor Mario Lopez.
In a position to accommodate 7,600 visitors at full capability, the 248,663-gross ton ship is the primary of the road’s revolutionary Icon class. Her christening featured maritime traditions reminiscent of blessings from clergy, a bagpiper, and the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” whereas including some new components, together with movies of crew members speaking concerning the ship and performances by the ship’s leisure employees.
Royal Caribbean executives attended the occasion together with PortMiami and Miami-Dade County officers, plus representatives of the Meyer Turku shipyard that constructed the vessel.
The ship will depart on her inaugural voyage on January 27, 2024, crusing a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise calling at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and Royal Caribbean’s non-public island vacation spot, Good Day at CocoCay.
Icon of the Seas will function alternate 7-night Western and Japanese Caribbean voyages, with Japanese Caribbean cruises slated to name at St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Good Day at CocoCay. Port calls will depend upon the departure date.
New Seuss Breakfast Occasion Begins Rolling Out
Carnival Cruise Line is saying goodbye to its Dr. Seuss Inexperienced Eggs and Ham Breakfast and hiya to a brand new Seuss-inspired meal, the Factor 1 & 2 Birthday Breakfast. The swap has already rolled out on the road’s latest ship, Carnival Jubilee, and will probably be launched fleet-wide via early Might 2024.
For years the inexperienced eggs and ham occasion has been held as soon as per cruise in every ship’s fundamental eating room. The road prices $10 for adults and $8 for youngsters, however charges for the brand new occasion will rise to $15 for adults and $10 for youngsters.
Factor 1 & Factor 2 are characters from the Seuss guide “The Cat within the Hat.” Breakfast meals on the brand new menu provide delights reminiscent of Who-Ville Purple Velvet French Toast and a Who Roast Beast Omelet. A inexperienced eggs and ham platter additionally will probably be obtainable.
The revamped breakfast occasion will debut on Carnival Cruise Line ships on varied dates via Might 7, 2024, when the ultimate introduction will probably be made on Carnival Firenze. Some key roll-out dates embody March 16 for Mardi Gras, March 17 for Carnival Celebration, April 5 for Carnival Venezia, and April 6 for Carnival Vista.
The Dr. Seuss Inexperienced Eggs and Ham Breakfast will proceed to be provided on the ships till every vessel’s swap date.
Maiden Voyage of Solar Princess Is Cancelled
Visitors booked to sail aboard the maiden voyage of Princess Cruises’ new Solar Princess had been disillusioned to be taught that supply of the ship from the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy is delayed and the inaugural voyage is cancelled.
The ten-night “Grand Mediterranean” cruise from Barcelona to Rome was to depart on February 8, 2024 and make port calls at Palma de Mallorca, Messina, Athens, Ephesus, Crete, and Naples.
Neither the shipyard nor the cruise line has provided a motive for the delay, however cruise watchers counsel that offer chain obstacles, labor shortages, or inspection points may very well be among the many challenges.
Up to now, solely the maiden voyage has been cancelled. The ship’s second scheduled voyage, a 10-day cruise roundtrip from Rome, continues to be slated to depart on February 18, 2024.
Visitors booked on the maiden cruise will obtain refunds of their cruise fare, port prices and taxes, and any pre-paid purchases reminiscent of eating or drink packages, excursions, spa therapies, and different comparable companies.
The cruise line is offering as much as $200 per particular person towards flight cancellation or change charges, and is providing all booked visitors a future cruise credit score equal to 50% of their cruise fare. The credit score have to be put towards a brand new reserving by November 30, 2024, for cruises departing no later than December 31, 2025.
Cruise Line Deploys Two Extra Ships to Caribbean
Norwegian Cruise Line revealed it would base two extra ships at US ports for Caribbean sailings in fall of 2024, providing new itineraries from New Orleans and Port Canaveral, Florida.
With the shift, the cruise line could have a dozen ships plying Caribbean waters in fall 2024 and into winter 2025.
Citing robust demand for cruises to warm-weather locations, the cruise line will homeport the 4,000-Norwegian Getaway and the 4,100-guest Norwegian Epic in New Orleans and Port Canaveral, respectively.
Beginning on October 20, 2024, Norwegian Getaway will sail 7-night Western Caribbean cruises from the Massive Simple with port calls at Harvest Caye, Belize; Roatan, Honduras; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
Norwegian Epic, crusing from Port Canaveral, will launch her collection of cruises on October 30, 2024, providing a number of 7-day itineraries within the Caribbean and Bahamas. Port calls will fluctuate by departure date, and can embody Nice Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and George City, Grand Cayman, amongst others.
The repositioning of Norwegian Getaway has resulted within the cancellation of seven Europe sailings. Booked visitors have been knowledgeable and cruise fares are being refunded. The cruise line has not but introduced any cancellations of Norwegian Epic’s Europe sailings, nevertheless it seems at the least three voyages will probably be impacted.
Extra Cruise Headlines
Prepared for extra? Cruise Hive has extra cruise trade new tales you received’t wish to miss, reminiscent of Viking opening up all of its 2026 ocean voyages on account of robust demand, Disney Cruise Line unveiling new outfits for Mickey and Minnie at its new non-public vacation spot, luxurious line Regent Seven Seas Cruises including in a single day stays in each port on six itineraries, and Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Bolette gearing up for her first world voyage in 2025. And don’t miss a particular perception article about retiring on a cruise ship.
