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Celebrity Beyond completes sea trials

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 February 2022 07 February 2022

The height of new luxury took one step closer to becoming a reality as Celebrity Beyond successfully completed its sea trials over the weekend and returned to the Chantiers de l’ Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. In less than 80 days, the fleet’s crown-jewel makes her highly anticipated debut on April 27, 2022, when she sets sail from Southampton, England.

The latest ship in Celebrity Cruises’ industry-changing Edge Series, Celebrity Beyond conducted her sea trials during the first week of February in the Bay of Biscay near the shipyard. Overseen by more than 50 crew members, including Captain Kate McCue, engineers and nautical experts, the ship showcased that its strength, excellence and superb sailing capabilities go beyond its breath-taking amenities. It displayed a superior level of comfort, safety, maneuverability and fuel efficiency, the latter due in part to the revolutionary design of the ship’s Parabolic Ultrabow.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have completed this important milestone as it brings us that much closer to welcoming our guests onboard to enjoy their own ‘Journey WonderFULL,’ on Celebrity Beyond,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “Beyond showed why there is so much more to her than just her looks. Like her sister ships – Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Edge – she went beyond what was needed to demonstrate she’s ready.”

“Successfully completing these sea trials was a thrill of a lifetime for me,” said Celebrity Beyond Captain Kate McCue. “Her smooth sailing and maneuverability is a testament to her innovative design and I can’t wait to take the helm of this awe-inspiring ship and take our guests to equally beautiful destinations.”

Celebrity Beyond will not only hold the title of the largest ship in the Celebrity Cruises’ fleet, but the distinction as the brand’s most luxurious vessel.

Standing at 17 decks high and 21 meters longer than her innovative predecessors Celebrity Edge (2018) and Celebrity Apex (2020), Celebrity Beyond’s look and feel has been carefully curated with newly imagined spaces and expanded versions of the brand’s popular signature spaces, including:

– The Retreat, an exclusive area for suite guests, now featuring a two-story sundeck;
– Transformational accommodations, from modern two-story villas with plunge pools to staterooms with Infinite Verandas, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living;
– An expanded Rooftop Garden and stunning resort deck featuring cantilevered float pools;
– A stunning multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar, defining the ship’s aft, from American designer Nate Berkus;
– A first-ever Daniel Boulud fine-dining restaurant at sea called Le Voyage;
– A redesigned Grand Plaza spanning three decks and flanked by the new World Class Bar and Le Voyage;
– And, the Magic Carpet, an engineering feat soaring cantilevered above the sea, offering guests uninterrupted vistas while sipping cocktails or having dinner.

Celebrity Beyond will depart on her maiden voyage on April 27, 2022 from Southampton, England, on a 10-night Western Europe cruise visiting Bordeaux, France; Lisbon, Portugal; and Seville, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, Spain.

It will then offer a variety of Mediterranean journeys including nine-night Italian Riviera and France itineraries and 10-night Greek Isles itineraries through early October, when she then heads to the Caribbean.

Carnival Spirit to return from Australia to U.S., Ecstasy and Sensation to leave the fleet

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 February 2022 05 February 2022

Carnival Cruise Line is notifying guests and travel advisors of changes to its fleet deployment plan, including two ships leaving the Carnival fleet, as it continues to implement its successful restart of guest operations in the U.S. and adjusts for the continued uncertainty of cruising in Australia.

Carnival had previously shared that Carnival Sensation’s restart was delayed, and that Carnival Ecstasy would move from Jacksonville, Fla. to Mobile, Ala. to operate what were previously planned as the Carnival Sensation itineraries, effective with the Mar. 5, 2022 restart. In addition, Carnival said that Carnival Spirit would go to Jacksonville to take over the Mar. 7, 2022 restart in Jacksonville, operating the previously scheduled Carnival Ecstasy itineraries.

Carnival is now announcing the following updates:

Jacksonville: As previously announced, Carnival Spirit will replace Carnival Ecstasy in Jacksonville. While that will happen for departures from Mar. 7 through Apr. 9, 2022, the next two cruises are being cancelled, and then a new ship will be assigned from the Carnival fleet to Jacksonville for the Ecstasy itineraries, effective Apr. 23, 2022. That announcement will be made shortly.

Mobile: Carnival Ecstasy will reposition to Mobile for departures from Mar. 5 through Oct. 10, 2022. Cruises from Mobile that were planned for Carnival Sensation from Oct. 15, 2022 through Sep. 30, 2023 have been cancelled. At a later date, Carnival will be announcing a new operating plan for Mobile cruises.

Australia: Carnival is cancelling planned operations of Carnival Splendor from Jun. 10, 2022 through Sep. 26, 2022, and of Carnival Spirit from Jun. 5, 2022 to Oct. 5, 2023. Details for a two-ship return to Australia will be announced when they are confirmed.

As part of this deployment plan, Carnival Sensation will not restart guest operations and Carnival Ecstasy’s last cruise in guest operations will be the Oct. 10, 2022 departure from Mobile and both ships will leave the Carnival fleet.

“Our guests have remained passionate and supportive throughout the restart and 2022 gives us plenty of reasons for enthusiasm and excitement as we reach full operations in the U.S., prepare for our 50th birthday celebration, and await the arrival of Carnival Celebration this fall,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Our very loyal guests, our vibrant homeport strategy and our fleet of popular ships are strengths to our advantage as we adapt to changing opportunities and circumstances.”

Ambassador plans third ship, Carnival to axe two - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 February 2022 04 February 2022

Ambassador Cruise Line, the new UK based company that unveiled the acquisition of its second ship last week, is said to be planning to introduce a third ship, while Carnival Cruise Line are planning to axe two Fantasy class ships, Travel Weekly reports on its website.

“We’ve got ambitions to grow the fleet when the opportunity arises and when we have capability to sell the ships to the guests. We see demand for this project as being very strong. The next addition is for sure on the horizon and one we’re looking at,” Ambassador Cruise Line CEO Christian Verhounig was quoted by Travel Weekly as saying.

The company has bought the 1999 built AIDAmira that it plans to introduce next year as Ambition, while Ambiance, its first ship, is due to commence operations in the spring.

Meanwhile, the 1991 built Carnival Ecstasy will leave the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in October, while Carnival Sensation that is two years younger would not be reactivated from lay up,Travel Weekly reported.

The two are members of the eight strong, 70,000 gross ton Fantasy class of ships that were built in Finland between 1990 and 1998.

Omicron hit Royal Caribbean Group first half outlook, second half brighter

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 February 2022 04 February 2022

Disruptions from the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus intensified during the holiday season and in early January, with the spread of the variant, and impacted the company's cancellations and bookings for near-term sailings, Royal Caribbean Group said in a statement.

“Load factors for sailings in the first half of 2022 are expected to remain below historical levels, consistent with the company's return to service schedule, which includes the impact from Omicron. Load factors for sailings in the second half of 2022 continue to be booked within historical ranges, at higher prices with and without FCCs. (Future cruise credits),” the company said.

However, bookings have since recovered to pre-Omicron levels at the same time as the pace of cancellations is slowing down.

Two new ships, Wonder of the Seas and Celebrity Beyond.are scheduled to enter service this year. “These new ships add to the six new ships that joined the fleet over the last 20 months and are expected to be important contributors to yield growth and profitability,” Royal Caribbean Group said..

As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately $3.2 billion in customer deposits. This represents an improvement of about $400 million over the previous quarter despite the significant quarter-over-quarter increase in revenue recognition and near-term cancellations due to Omicron, both of which reduce the customer deposits balance.

The customer deposit balance at year-end for Q2 2022 forward sailings was higher than the balance held at the end of 2019 for Q2 2022 forward sailings. Approximately 32% of the customer deposit balance is related to FCCs compared to 35% in the prior quarter, a positive trend indicating new demand, the company said.

Royal Caribbean Group reports deep 2021 loss

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 February 2022 04 February 2022

Royal Caribbean Group, the world’s second largest cruise shipping company, has reported a deep loss for both the final quarter and full year 2021 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Net loss amounted to $1.36 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021, little changed year on, while revenues increased to $982.4 million from a mere $34.1 million.

For the full year 2021, the Miami based company reported a loss of $5.26 billion compared to a $5.78 billion loss in 2020. Revenues decreased to $1.53 billion from $2.21 billion.

"2021 marked the beginning of our return to our mission of delivering the very best vacation experiences," said Jason Liberty, president and chief executive officer of the Royal Caribbean Group in a statement. "During 2021, we made significant progress toward our recovery with over 85% of our capacity returning to operations and delivering safe and memorable experiences to approximately 1.3 million guests at record guest satisfaction scores. Our team has worked tirelessly to execute our successful and healthy return, and we are grateful for their extraordinary efforts.”

In the fourth quarter, 12 additional ships returned to service. The company is thoughtfully ramping up the fleet and load factors while emphasising industry-leading health and safety standards, world-class guest experiences and financial prudence.

Ships that operated the Group's core winter itineraries in the fourth quarter achieved a load factor of 65%. Core itineraries exclude sailings during the early ramp-up period of up to four weeks and exclude new itineraries implemented during the COVID period. 

Fourth quarter total load factor was 59%. Total revenue per Passenger Cruise Day in the fourth quarter was up 10% versus record 2019 levels driven by strong onboard revenue performance. Despite the impact from Omicron, total cash flow from ships in operation turned positive in the fourth quarter, the company said.