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Carnival Cruise Line publishes more details on phased in restart of operations

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 January 2021 25 January 2021

Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc, has released plans for additional ship deployments as it continues to refine its phased in approach to a return to guest operations for 2021, resulting in some ship-specific cruise cancellations and movements.

Those plans include:

Related to already-announced dry dock plans for Carnival Magic, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Valor, those ships' return to operations will be delayed until November 2021. Consequently, voyages on Carnival Magic from Norfolk (embarkations from Sept. 29-Oct. 30), Carnival Paradise from Tampa (embarkations from June 5-Oct. 28) and Carnival Valor from New Orleans (embarkations from Sept. 16-Oct. 28) have been cancelled.

Carnival Miracle's planned seasonal service from San Diego has been suspended until further notice, and sailings out of San Diego that were available for sale through April 2023 have been cancelled, with the exception of seven voyages to Hawaii, which will move to Long Beach.

Carnival Radiance's dry dock and transformation has been moved to September, with a planned arrival to Long Beach in November 2021.

With Carnival Miracle's reposition to Long Beach, the ship will assume the three- and four-day itineraries for Carnival Radiance from May 3-Nov. 1, 2021 as well as the seven Hawaii Carnival Journeys referenced above. In addition, Carnival Miracle will launch a new program of four- and five-day cruises to Mexico during the winter season, beginning November 2021 and continuing through April 2023.

“Carnival is advising guests and travel agents of these changes. Where possible, West Coast guests are being accommodated in a transfer to Carnival Miracle (from Carnival Radiance), or the retention of their Hawaiian itinerary via a Long Beach embarkation instead.”

“With this change, Carnival will eventually run a three-ship operation from its port facility at Long Beach: Carnival Panorama sailing seven-day Mexican Riviera itineraries and Carnival Radiance operating three- and four-day itineraries year-round, with Carnival Miracle operating four- and five-day Mexico and 14-day Hawaii itineraries during the winter,” the company said in a statement.

Costa Crociere postpones restart in Italy to 13 March

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 January 2021 25 January 2021

Costa Crociere, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, said that following a careful evaluation of the measures contained in the Italian government decree currently in force in the country, it has decided to postpone the restart of its ships to March 13, 2021.

“All cruises originally scheduled on Costa Deliziosa, Costa Firenze and Costa Luminosa between February 1 and March 12, 2021, are cancelled. The new programs for these three ships will be announced shortly. Costa is in the process of informing travel agencies and guests affected by the changes,” the company said in a statement.

This marks a contrast with the decision of MSC Cruises, whose MSC Meraviglia resumed operations on 24 January. It makes seven night cruises from Italian ports that also include a call at Valletta in Malta.

Costa Crociere said it believes that the current set of restrictive measures does not allow its guests to enjoy an adequate on-shore experience and the ability to fully explore the itinerary's destinations.

“Costa will resume operations on March 13 with Costa Smeralda, which will sail guests to some of Italy's most beautiful destinations with 3- and 4-day mini-cruises, or a 7-day cruise, calling at Savona, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina and Cagliari,” it said in a statement.

Carnival announces further cancellations, delays Mardi Gras start date to end of May

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 January 2021 22 January 2021

Carnival Cruise Line is notifying guests of additional cruise cancellations, extending its pause in U.S. departures through April 30, 2021, and cancelling Australian operations through May 19, 2021.

In addition, Carnival has cancelled the European itineraries for Carnival Legend which were to begin this May through Oct. 31, 2021, and moved the start date for Mardi Gras from Port Canaveral, with the first cruise now set for May 29, 2021.

Booked guests and travel agents are being notified directly of the cancellations and their options for a generous future cruise credit and onboard credit package, or a full refund.

“Our guests and travel agent partners continue to express their loyalty to Carnival and their desire to get back on our ships as soon as they can, and we are heartened by the booking demand and activity we continue to see. We are certainly committed to welcoming them back as quickly as possible, but unfortunately we have determined it’s going to take a while longer, and the situation in Europe will also impact Mardi Gras’ departure to the U.S., and Carnival Legend’s itineraries in Europe,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

CLIA appoints Pierfrancesco Vago Global Chairman

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 January 2021 22 January 2021

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, has been appointed to a two-year term as Global Chairman of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Vago will assume the Global Chairmanship effective immediately and he follows Adam Goldstein in this role, CLIA said in a statement.

“On behalf of the entire CLIA community, including both our staff and our members, I would like to welcome Mr. Vago and congratulate him on his appointment as CLIA Global Chairman,” said CLIA president and CEO Kelly Craighead. “Mr. Vago is a visionary leader within the global cruise community. We will benefit tremendously from his ideas, insights, and direction as we look to overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and support the restart of the cruise industry internationally and in the United States in particular.”

Vago will be the first European to serve in the role of CLIA Global Chairman. He previously served as Chairman of CLIA Europe in 2014.

“This is a highly critical juncture for our industry globally. I am honored and grateful for the support and trust of my peers as we work to resume the business of creating unforgettable experiences for our treasured guests, as well as generating economic impact and job opportunities benefitting millions of people worldwide who are touched in so many ways by our industry,” Vago said in the statement. “

“With over 200 sailings that have taken place since last summer in various markets around the world, all with strict measures in place to promote public health, we have proven that a return to cruising is possible. I look forward to working with CLIA leadership and our partners in the industry to continue down this path and help secure a vibrant future for all who depend on it,” he said.

Princess Cruises sells Pacific Princess

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 January 2021 22 January 2021

Princess Cruises, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, said it had sold the 1999 built Pacific Princess of 30,277 gross tons to an undisclosed buyer.

The sale of the smallest ship of Princess Cruises is in line Carnival group’s plan to accelerate the removal of less efficient ships from its fleet.

Pacific Princess was built as R3, as one of eight similar ships to the now defunct Renaissance Cruises in France and it joined Princess Cruises’ fleet in 2002.

“The boutique-style ship offered an intimate cruising environment, with a total of just 670 passengers, but incorporated many of the dining and entertainment options available on the cruise line’s larger cruise vessels,” Princess Cruises said.

At one point. Princess Cruises operated three of the former Renaissance Cruises’ ships. Carnival said recently that it would axe 19 older ships from its fleet, one more than previously planned, of which 15 had left its fleet at the time.