More News

International Cruise Summit forecasts a cruise boom in 2022

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 November 2021 17 November 2021

The cruise industry is back with a bang in 2022 after a 2021 transition in which 50% of the fleet has been able to sail implementing the world's most comprehensive and safest Covid-19 protocols.

The prestigious International Cruise Summit, which will hold its eleventh edition on 17 and 18 November in Madrid, will bring together the entire industry to debate and analyse the future of the sector and the new post-pandemic scenario.

Companies are seeing an exceptional level of bookings for 2022, especially in the second half of the year, because after two summers of travel restrictions and difficulties living with the virus, consumers are keen not only to travel, but also to travel lavishly, indulging in luxuries with the money they have saved. To this end, they will have 33 new ships to choose from, of which 13 will be mega ships of over 100,000 gross tonnage, equipped with the latest technologies available to minimise their environmental impact. In fact, six of them will already use Liquefied Natural Gas as fuel, which eliminates 100% of sulphur oxide emissions and 30% of CO2.

Currently, all passengers embarking on cruise ships are now required to have passed a coronavirus test beforehand, and in many cruise lines, only fully vaccinated people are allowed to embark.

Top executives, international cruise line executives, port authorities, travel agents and companies and experts from the sector will be present at one of the most important cruise congresses in the world. The event will feature speakers from the top management of cruise companies such as Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Crociere; Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises; Ferdinand Strohmeier, CEO of Mystic Cruises; Ben Bouldin, Vice President EMEA of Royal Caribbean International, Jo Rzymowska, Vice President and Managing Director EMEA of Celebrity Cruises; and Bob Dixon, Director EMEA & Latin America of Cunard Line, among others.

During the two days, several panel discussions and presentations will debate the recovery of the cruise industry and tourist destinations, the challenges to re-recruit all the workers the sector needs and how to recover the pre-pandemic levels of sales and prices. Sustainability and the environment will be very much in the spotlight at this ICS which sets its sights on a new future for the industry.

Windstar Cruises adds all-inclusive pricing

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 November 2021 17 November 2021

U.S. headquartered Windstar Cruises is changing the way it sells cruises. Previously the small ship line had a base cruise fare, with an option to add things like alcohol, gratuities, and other onboard services on top.

“In an effort to be more in line with other luxury offerings in the cruise industry, particularly with the rollout of our newly transformed all-suite Star Plus Class yachts, we’re now giving the option of an all-inclusive price for all of our sailings,” said Windstar President Christopher Prelog. “We didn’t want to take away the à la carte option from guests who enjoy going that way. We want our guests to have the choice based on their preference, what they need on board, and their general vacation philosophy.”

The all-inclusive prices are now listed on Windstar’s website and all sales materials, along with the base cruise fares, which are listed per person in U.S. dollars based on double occupancy. For Windstar, all-inclusive means unlimited wine, beer, and cocktails; Wi-Fi; all gratuities; as well as the cruise fare. The new fare is available for the Wind Class yachts as well.

“We thought about only offering the all-inclusive fare on the newly transformed Star Plus Class yachts,” said Prelog. “But after talking and listening to our repeat guests and valued Travel Advisors, we found some like to go à la carte and only purchase amenities as they go. After discussing internally, we all came to the same conclusion – why not offer both on all our yachts? We offer a choice between sailing yachts and all-suite yachts, and now a la carte or all-inclusive. That seems to fit the Windstar brand.”

Windstar’s Beyond Ordinary Care health and safety plan requires guests and crew to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Beginning January 1, the line’s policies include a free COVID-19 antigen test at the pier for embarking guests. To ease travel back home at the end of the cruise, guests may also choose to purchase antigen ($69) or PCR tests ($135) in advance of their cruise or on board to take prior to departure from the yacht to comply with CDC policies currently requiring negative tests prior to flying into the United States. Any additional testing required by specific ports during the cruise may be purchased on board for guests’ convenience.

Odyssey of the Seas named in Fort Lauderdale

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 November 2021 17 November 2021

Royal Caribbean International celebrated its newest game-changing ship, Odyssey of the Seas, during the ship’s naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday, Nov. 13. The Caribbean-inspired occasion culminated in the moment Odyssey’s Godmother and the first Bahamian paratriathlete to compete in the Paralympic Games qualifiers, Erin Brown, bestowed a blessing of safekeeping on the ship and all those who sail on it for decades to come.

Brown was joined on board by Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain and Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley. The occasion also marked a historic moment for the decades-long Godmother tradition as Brown becomes the cruise line’s first Bahamian Godmother.

“Today, we get to show the world what imagination and determination look like when they come together,” said Fain. “All of what our teams have done over the past 20 months has led us to this moment when we can finally show the innovation and beauty of Odyssey of the Seas.”

A 17-year change agent for those living with disabilities in The Bahamas, Brown is a mother and cancer survivor. The life-long athlete was diagnosed with stage 4 osteosarcoma – bone cancer – in 2004. It was more than a year later, after receiving treatment, when Brown made the decision to amputate her leg above the knee. Having watched her own mother battle lupus linked to cancer for five years, Odyssey’s Godmother was determined to come back stronger than ever for herself, her family and others who could be inspired to fight. Brown went on to become the first Bahamian paratriathlete to train in the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and compete in a Paralympic Games qualifier. In addition to her athletic achievements, Brown is a longtime advocate for those living with disabilities and works at the University of The Bahamas as the compliance officer and counselor championing the increase of access and opportunities for students living with disabilities.

“It’s our honor to welcome Erin as our first Bahamian Godmother,” said Bayley. “She is an incredible individual who pushes to change the status quo, making her the perfect choice for a ship as innovative as Odyssey of the Seas. It’s also fitting because The Bahamas has been our great partner and neighbor since Royal Caribbean first set sail to the islands more than 50 years ago.”

Royal Caribbean cruises have visited The Bahamas and the Caribbean for 52 years and counting. Year after year, guests of all ages can set sail to explore the regions’ stunning destinations. In June, The Bahamas was where Royal Caribbean’s first cruise back in the western hemisphere set sail after more than a 15-month pause.

On full display during the official naming ceremony was Odyssey itself. The first Quantum Ultra Class ship in North America features a combination of new, thrilling experiences and signature adventures guests know and love. Highlights include a vibrant resort-style pool deck inspired by the Caribbean, the new Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, Teppanyaki, the restaurant serving up Far East flavors and making its North America debut; and one-of-a-kind entertainment that pushes the bounds of imagination in the high-tech venue Two70 and the Royal Theater.

“I am immensely grateful to have been selected as Godmother to Odyssey of the Seas,” said Brown. “As a proud Bahamian, it is an honor to also represent The Bahamas and share my story with so many others. My experiences have empowered me to reinvent myself and transform my life, and I’m committed to helping ensure others can do the same.”

This winter and early 2022, Odyssey is welcoming families and travelers of all ages on 6-night and 8-night cruises to the eastern, western and southern Caribbean as well as the cruise line’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay. In April 2022, the new, innovative ship will head to its summer home in Rome to sail along the sun-soaked shores of the Mediterranean.

Carnival Cruise Line's third Excel-class ship to operate from Galveston

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 November 2021 17 November 2021

On the heels of the rave reviews of its newest ship Mardi Gras, Carnival Cruise Line recently announced that its third Excel-class ship – to be named Carnival Jubilee – will be delivered in 2023 and based in Galveston, Tex.

The announcement about Carnival Jubilee was made the same day that Carnival confirmed that all 22 of its U.S.-based ships will be back in guest operations by March 2022. Nineteen ships had been confirmed by February, and now Carnival Sensation will restart from Mobile, Ala. effective Mar. 5, Carnival Ecstasy will restart from Jacksonville, Fla. effective Mar. 7, and Carnival Paradise will restart from Tampa, Fla. effective Mar. 12.

“Carnival was the first cruise line to offer year-round cruising from Galveston in 2000, and we have continued to grow our presence and support of the Port of Galveston’s expansion, so we are thrilled to bring our brand-new Carnival Jubilee to Texas and the greater southwest region,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “This beautiful, innovative ship will bring an entirely new cruise experience to our guests, and we’ve got some great surprises to fun it up in ways we know they are going to love.”

Carnival Jubilee will be the third in the Excel-class for Carnival, joining sisters Mardi Gras, sailing from Port Canaveral since earlier this year, and Carnival Celebration, which will be delivered in late 2022 and based in Miami. The ships utilize a liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology platform. Carnival Corp. pioneered the introduction of LNG fuel in the passenger cruise sector as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and compliance throughout its global operations. Mardi Gras is the first LNG-powered cruise ship to operate in North America, and more information about the technology can be found in this video.

However, this new Excel-class ship will not be the first Jubilee to sail from Galveston. As it gets ready to celebrate its 50th birthday in 2022, Carnival has resurrected some of the names of its previous ships that were popular with guests at the company’s inception – such as Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and now, Carnival Jubilee. Celebration was the first year-round ship positioned in Galveston in 2000 and was soon joined by Jubilee in 2002. So now, just more than 21 years later, this new Carnival Jubilee – four times larger than her predecessor – will make her debut at the port ushering new ways for the next generation of cruise enthusiasts to have fun.

The announcement was made at the annual CruiseWorld travel advisor conference in Miami Beach, Fla. Creating an extra special moment during the event, Duffy was joined on stage by a seven-foot cowboy who had been positioned around the convention for the previous 24 hours teasing that “something big is coming to Texas.” The more than 1,000 travel advisors in attendance cheered as the Carnival team revealed the news and passed out Texas-themed goodies and trinkets.

“We love Texas, and Texas loves Carnival. Galveston is one of our most popular homeports, and we draw guests to Texas from across the Midwest, southwest and western U.S. Bringing a brand-new ship to a market is a big commitment, and it’s one we gladly make for the greater Galveston community and entire region,” said Duffy.

Carnival Jubilee will arrive at 182,800 gross tons, with a capacity of more than 5,400 guests and 1,700 crew. She’ll be sailing seven-day western Caribbean itineraries and will include features from her sister ships that guests know and love including the BOLT roller coaster on the top deck, expanded dining options, new designs for suites and staterooms, and a stunning, three-deck atrium on the starboard side of the ship that overlooks the ocean and converts to an entertainment venue at night. The ship will also have six fun-filled zones like her sisters, two of which will be brand-new concepts to be revealed at a later date. Details on these just-for-Jubilee firsts and other exciting news will be shared over the coming months.

Carnival Jubilee will be open for sale in early 2022.

Royal Caribbean International may reintroduce second ship to UK

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 November 2021 16 November 2021

Royal Caribbean International may reintroduce a second ship to the UK after a gap of several years, following the success of Anthem of Seas this summer and autumn, a senior company official was cited as saying.

“I would say that is a given. I would say fairly confidently we will be increasing capacity in the UK… We’ve got quite a portfolio of wonderful ships so I don’t know which ship it would be, but I feel pretty good that we’ll be adding capacity into the UK,” Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley was quoted by Travel Weekly as saying.

The company is part of the Royal Caribbean Group.

Independence of the Seas mostly served the UK market in the previous decade, often with a second ship. However, the company had scheduled Anthem of the Seas to operate alone in the UK in 2020, a few years after the ship’s brief previous deployment on the UK market, but these cruises had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic

In 2022, Anthem of the Seas will be the only Royal Caribbean International ship in the UK, but itineraries for2023 have not been published yet.

“The UK is, was and will continue to be a phenomenally important key market for Royal Caribbean, and I don’t think that’s ever going to change. Like all markets, it’s going to have its bumps in the road. I see the UK market continuing to grow and I see Royal Caribbean continuing to play a big part of that,” Bayley was quoted as saying.