It’s been one other energetic week for cruise information, and now it’s time for Cruise Hive’s weekly recap of the highest tales. Our briefing contains protection of Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises.
Cruise Information Replace
Let’s get going with this week’s assessment of the cruise trade’s main developments, together with Carnival Cruise Line’s choice to convey again a favourite recipe; Royal Caribbean providing single complement reductions for some visitors; Carnival Cruise Line including a premium adult-only space to Celebration Key; Norwegian Encore heading for a dry dock refit; Disney Cruise Line revealing particulars about new-build Disney Future; and MSC Splendida deploying to South American in December 2024.
Carnival Cruise Line Settles French Fry Controversy
Carnival Cruise Line visitors who appreciated the scrumptious hand-cut French fries served at Man’s Burger Joint might be completely satisfied to know that they’re again, because of widespread demand.
The cruise line apparently had opted for a shortcut in making ready the fries, by not hand-cutting them, and visitors observed. A number of introduced up the difficulty with the road’s Model Ambassador, John Heald, who routinely converses with visitors by way of his Fb web page.
“[For] these of you commenting in regards to the fries, you’ll have observed that on some ships we’ve returned to the unique recipe hand-cut fries and might be doing this all through the fleet within the days and weeks forward,” Heald wrote.
He attributed the return to hand-cut fries to a senior-level meals and beverage government, who heeded the visitors’ considerations.
The response to the change was fast, and constructive, with one visitor telling Heald: “So completely satisfied they’re going again to the unique hand-cut fries. They had been superior!”
Man’s Burger Joint was created in partnership with superstar chef Man Fieri and debuted on Carnival Liberty in 2011. In 2023, a complete of 10.5 million burgers had been served from Man’s Burger Joint throughout all Carnival Cruise Line ships.
Royal Caribbean Unveils a Change for Some Solo Visitors
Efficient on Aug. 1, 2024, Royal Caribbean lowered the only complement cruise fare on some voyages for sure members of the Crown and Anchor Society, the cruise line’s loyalty membership.
Cruisers who’re Pinnacle Membership and Diamond Plus members who’ve earned greater than 340 factors can pay a single complement fare of 125% — moderately than the same old 150%, on transatlantic, transpacific, and Panama Canal voyages.
Cruise strains usually cost solo vacationers hefty dietary supplements, normally double the printed fare, or 200%, to make up for different income they’d have acquired with a second visitor within the cabin. (In Royal Caribbean’s case, the elite members already had been having fun with the lowered 150% fare.)
Pattern cruises that qualifying members of the loyalty membership can e book with the lowered solo charge embody a 13-night Journey of the Seas transatlantic voyage departing Barcelona on November 24, 2024 and arriving in Port Canaveral.
In addition to lowered solo fares, Pinnacle Membership and Diamond Plus members obtain many perks and advantages corresponding to precedence entry and seating at ship venues, different stateroom reductions, and beverage package deal reductions, for instance.
Grownup-Solely Seaside Membership Unveiled for Celebration Key
Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s new non-public vacation spot set to open in July 2025 on Grand Bahama Island, will characteristic a secluded, adult-only space known as Pearl Cove Seaside Membership.
The premium area, which might be accessible to visitors who pay a surcharge, will provide an 11,000-square-foot infinity pool with swim-up bar and water loungers, a DJ, and a non-public seashore with meals and beverage service.
Three day-pass choices had been introduced, with per-person charges. An “Entry Solely” cross offers entry to the membership and one rum punch for $99.99. An “Open Bar” cross offers entry and as much as 10 drinks for $139.99 per particular person, and an “All-Inclusive” cross options entry plus 10 drinks and lunch.
The day-pass costs are topic to alter and may differ relying on the go to date, which ship a visitor is crusing on, and total recognition. Carnival Cruise Line has opened reservations for the membership, initially on sailings by January 2, 2026.
In addition to the adult-only seashore membership, Celebration Key may also provide themed zones, together with Lokono Cove, a Bahamian-focused retail space; a family-friendly portal with swimming pools, waterslides, and sports activities courts; and Calypso Lagoon, a free-entry adult-only area with lagoon and seashore cabanas.
Norwegian Encore to Obtain Main Refit in November
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore, a Breakaway Plus-class ship that entered service in 2019, is headed for a two-week dry dock that may alter eating venues, add an adult-only space, repurpose areas into extra staterooms, and broaden suites within the ship’s unique space, The Haven.
The dry dock is about for November 18, 2024 to December 2, 2024. The refit had been lengthy deliberate however not introduced, as cruise watchers famous that the road had not scheduled any sailings throughout that timeframe.
A serious change would be the addition of the road’s Spice H20 adult-only outside lounge, the place visitors can take pleasure in scorching tubs, cooling swimming pools, and a bar.
The eating venues Los Lobos and Coco’s are being faraway from the ship, and their former areas used to broaden Cagney’s Steakhouse and Teppanyaki. One other eatery, Ocean Blue, might be nixed in favor of Palomar, a Mediterranean seafood venue widespread on different ships.
In The Haven, lodging within the Premier Proprietor’s Suites with Giant Balcony class might be expanded from two bedrooms to 3, and dwelling areas might be renovated.
Norwegian Encore additionally will obtain 24 extra balcony staterooms and two membership balcony cabins from repurposing a part of a lounge. This variation will enhance the double occupancy visitor depend from 4,004 to 4,052.
Disney Cruise Line Reveals New-Construct’s Homeport, Venues
Disney Cruise Line made a number of main bulletins in regards to the new-build Disney Future, because of enter service in 2025. Together with detailing new venues, leisure, and suite choices, the cruise line revealed that the 4,000-guest ship might be based mostly at Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The ship, with a “Heroes and Villains” theme, will debut a brand new penthouse lodging known as Future Tower Suite, providing 2,000 sq. toes of dwelling area with a design impressed by “Iron Man.”
Different new cabin selections embody VIP ocean-view staterooms located simply above the bridge, and 4 royal suites with themes tied to Disney movies “The Incredibles” and “Hercules.”
Marvel characters might be properly represented onboard the vessel, together with within the design of the Grand Corridor, which is impressed by the “Black Panther” films. At The Sanctum, characters from “Physician Unusual” will entertain.
Amongst new eating venues might be The Satisfaction Lands: Feast of The Lion King. Primarily based on “The Lion King” film, the restaurant could have a savanna theme that may use lighting and particular results to convey animal depictions to life.
Disney Cruise Line is anticipated to disclose Disney Future’s itineraries quickly, now that her homeport has been revealed. The ship is beneath building at a German shipyard and is the road’s third vessel within the Want class.
MSC Cruises to Deploy Sixth Ship to Brazil
MSC Cruises’ 3,300-guest MSC Splendida will deploy to South America for the 2024-25 winter season, crusing a sequence of 7-night voyages from her seasonal homeport of Santos, Brazil.
The deployment, which replaces earlier plans to place the ship in Asia for the winter, begins on December 13, 2024 and continues to March 21, 2025.
Port calls are deliberate at Balneário Camboriú and Itajaí, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Punta Del Este, Uruguay. Itajaí might be another embarkation port as properly.
MSC Splendida will be a part of 5 different MSC Cruises’ ships crusing within the area, providing a complete or 120 voyages from varied ports in Brazil, together with Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Maceió, Itajaí, and Paranaguá.
Different MSC ships deployed to South America embody the two,620-guest MSC Armonia, the 4,842-guest MSC Grandiosa, MSC Orchestra and MSC Poesia, each accommodating 2,550 visitors, and the 4,132-guest MSC Seaview.
MSC Cruises didn’t present any purpose for the shock deployment. The cruise line simply three months in the past confirmed that MSC Splendida would sail from Shenzhen and Xiamen, China, between December 2024 and April 2025.
The cruise line already has one ship working Asia voyages between Taiwan and Japan, the 4,500-guest MSC Bellissima. MSC Splendida is a Fantasia-class ship that entered service in 2008. She is presently based mostly within the Mediterranean.
Extra Cruise Headlines
These had been simply among the cruise tales we lined at Cruise Hive this week. Don’t miss our tales about Margaritaville at Sea increasing its free cruise program for heroes; a Scottish port welcoming the largest ship ever to name; Norwegian Cruise Line reporting new monetary outcomes; Explora Journeys marking its first yr anniversary with a particular deal; and TUI Cruises’ new ship, Mein Schiff 7, unveiling a brand new retail area.
