Carnival Vista Becomes First Ship to Arrive in Celebration Key

Carnival Vista Becomes First Ship to Arrive in Celebration Key

The Carnival Vista arrived in Celebration Key on Saturday morning, July 19, becoming the first cruise ship to visit Carnival’s new private island destination in Grand Bahama.

The 4,000-guest vessel docked at the new port as part of an eight-night cruise that sailed from Port Canaveral on July 12, 2025.

To mark the debut of the new private destination, Carnival held an opening ceremony attended by local authorities, travel advisors, media and partners, as well as Carnival Vista’s officers and guests.

Also present were Carnival Cruise Line’s President Cristine Duffy, who was joined by Carnival Corporation’s CEO Josh Weinstein and other members of the company’s global executive leadership team, as well as its global port destination development team led by Chief Maritime Officer Lars Loen.

“You can imagine the resources and support that it took to bring this property to life,” Duffy said, noting that the project was completed on time and on budget.

Duffy highlighted team support from both Carnival and Carnival Corporation, as well as the features of the $600 million destination, which will see further investments in the future.

Now officially opened, Celebration Key is set to welcome 20 Carnival ships sailing from 20 homeports in the United States.

The port of call was designed to host two of the company’s large ships simultaneously (and soon four) and will be able to welcome Carnival’s new Ace Class ships starting in 2029.

One million guests are expected to visit Celebration Key in 2025, Duffy said, adding that the destination will serve as an economic asset for the island of Grand Bahama.

“All of us at Carnival are proud to have hired over 1,200 Bahamians to help build and now operate Celebration Key,” she said.

Features of the private destination include the largest freshwater lagoon in the Caribbean, the largest sandcastle in the world, as well as beach clubs, bars, restaurants, and waterslides.

Carnival Executives Detail Latest Ship Sales

Carnival Executives Detail Latest Ship Sales

Carnival Corporation has sold two ships this year, as the Seabourn Sojourn will be transferred to Mitsui Ocean Cruises next year, and the Costa Fortuna will sail for Margaritaville in late 2026.

“Over time, since ships get older, we will sell them to other parties,” said David Bernstein, CFO, speaking on the company’s second quarter earnings call.

“We do not feel that those parties come back to compete against us because they are generally in different marketplaces with different brands,” he continued.

Neither Bernstein nor Josh Weinstein, CEO, would comment on the sales prices of either ship, although Weinstein said it was “nicely over book value.”

“People came to us looking for ships and gave us prices that we thought were in the best long-term interest of the company,” Weinstein said.

He also explained that the Costa Fortuna's departure from the fleet does not impact Costa’s core program in Europe, as the Serena will take its place in the market.

AIDA Orders Two New Ships From Fincantieri

AIDA Orders Two New Ships From Fincantieri

Carnival Corporation today announced an order for two new ships for AIDA Cruises, a new class of mid-sized vessels.

The agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri provides for the design, engineering, and construction of these multi-fuel-capable ships, which will be delivered in the first quarter of the fiscal years 2030 and 2032, respectively.

“With approximately 2,100 cabins each, these remarkable new ships give our guests a completely new class of ship which slot in perfectly between our 1,600 cabin Hyperion Class vessels and our more than 2,600 cabin Helios Class vessels,” said Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises. “Our next generation of ships will delight our guests with amazing new features and experiences that we will reveal over time. Its innovative technology with multi-fuel propulsion systems, including LNG, will future-proof our operations into the coming decades.”

Eichorn added that once the second ship is delivered, AIDA will have a total of 13 ships in its fleet, further expanding its leadership position in the German cruise market.

“The introduction of these next-generation ships, when combined with the AIDA Evolution program modernizing much of the existing fleet’s décor, features and technologies, will drive even more demand for our AIDA brand, which is synonymous with cruising in Germany,” said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation.

According to Weinstein, with today’s order, Carnival Corporation’s newbuild pipeline includes eight new ships scheduled to enter service between now and 2033, including Star Princess this year and one each from 2027 to 2033.

“We’re maintaining our disciplined approach to growth and strategically directing new capacity to the highest-performing brands in our world-class portfolio like AIDA Cruises and its sister brand Carnival Cruise Line, which now account for seven of our eight ships on order. This growth plan will maximize our returns and allow us to use our strong free cash flow to continue lowering our debt balance and transferring value from debt holders back to shareholders,” he said.

“We are honored that our long-standing partner Carnival Corporation has selected Fincantieri to build ships for AIDA Cruises for the first time in our history. This milestone confirms our ability to serve the entire Carnival Corporation portfolio while ensuring long-term visibility for our shipyards. These new ships will embody the most advanced technologies for sustainability and efficiency, further strengthening Fincantieri’s and Carnival Corporation’s roles as leaders in cruise industry innovation,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri.

Key Ship Conversions in 2024

Key Ship Conversions in 2024

2024 was a strong year for the drydock and secondhand ship market, which led to a number of ships debuting for new operators.

These are some of the key conversion jobs that took place during the year:

Celestyal Discovery
Former: AIDAaura
Capacity: 1,270 guests
Year built: 2003
Previous operator: AIDA Cruises
New operator: Celestyal Cruises
Debut: March 2024

After being sold by Carnival Corporation in late 2023, the former AIDAaura underwent a conversion project before debuting for Celestyal Cruises.

Previously operated by AIDA Cruises, the 2003-built vessel saw a complete transformation for its new market.

Carnival Firenze
Former: Costa Firenze
Capacity: 4,232 guests
Year built: 2020
Previous operator: Costa Cruises
New operator: Carnival Cruise Line
Debut: April 2024

After being transferred to Carnival Cruise Line, the former Costa Firenze underwent a major refit at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz in early 2024. In addition to receiving Carnival’s branding and livery, the 4,232-guest vessel was updated with Carnival’s public areas, with various spaces converted into the company’s trademark venues, such as the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and the Limelight Lounge.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander
Former: Costa Atlantica
Capacity: 2,100 guests
Year built: 2000
Previous operator: Adora Cruises (never debuted)
New operator: Margaritaville at Sea
Debut: June 2024

After a long refurbishment at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Northern Ireland, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander debuted for its new operator in June 2024.

Villa Vie Odyssey
Former: Braemar
Capacity: 977 guests
Year built: 1993
Previous operator: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
New operator: Villa Vie Residences
Debut: September 2024

The former Braemar of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines was turned into Villa Vie Residences’ first residential ship in 2024. After a refit at the Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast, the ship emerged as the Odyssey in September, welcoming guests for a continual world cruise.

Aroya
Former: World Dream
Capacity: 3,400 guests
Year built: 2017
Previous operator: Dream Cruises
New operator: Aroya Cruises
Debut: December 2024

The Aroya entered service in December as the first cruise ship dedicated to the national market in Saudi Arabia.. According to Aroya Cruises, several venues onboard the ship were essentially rebuilt during a long conversion that included shipyard visits in the Netherlands and Germany.

Others:

• Mitsui Ocean Fuji (former Seabourn Odyssey) – now in service for Mitsui Ocean Fuji
• Celestyal Journey (former Pacific Aria) – now in service for Celestyal Cruises
• Marella Voyager (former Mein Schiff Herz) – now in service for Marella Cruises
• Ambition (former AIDAmira) – now in service for Ambassador Cruise Line
• Resorts World One (former Explorer Dream) – now in service for Resorts World Cruises
• Carnival Venezia (former Costa Venezia) – now in service for Carnival Cruise Line
• Exploris One (former Silver Explorer) – now in service for Exploris Expeditions & Cruises

Carnival Corporation Actively Managing Brand and Ship Portfolio

Carnival Corporation Actively Managing Brand and Ship Portfolio

“We’ve been actively managing the portfolio and allocating ships differently, moving vessels and winding up a brand in the case of P&O Australia,” said Josh Weinstein, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation.

“I think it’s setting ourselves up to really put the assets where the highest returns are in the immediate term and the medium term, while we help all the brands who aren’t yet where I think they should be, get to those levels,” he continued, speaking on the company’s year-end and fourth-quarter earnings call.

“At a base level, it’s a continuation of all of those things in the commercial space and having those great brand leaders really lean in even further. We’re investing in our people. We’re investing in our tools, our revenue management tools, to make sure that we are utilizing the technology effectively to optimize the yields.”

Weinsten also pointed to strength in onboard spending.

“We’ve got a good amount of runway to continue the progress we’ve been making around pulling forward the spend, which as everybody knows, opens up the second wallet and the more people spend before they get on the cruise, the more they spend on the cruise. So our brands are again working hard to continue that and we’re nowhere near what the cap could be on those types of efforts.”

Carnival Corp. Sets 2024 Q2 Earnings Date

Carnival Corp. Sets 2024 Q2 Earnings Date

Carnival Corporation has scheduled a conference call with analysts for Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at 10 a.m. (EDT); 3 p.m. (BST) to discuss the company’s second-quarter financial results which are expected to be released that morning.

The call will allow company executives to go over the quarter, talk about an all-important third quarter and then take questions from Wall Street analysts.

A simulcast of the call will be available via the company’s websites at www.carnivalcorp.com and www.carnivalplc.com.

Carnival Cruise Line to Absorb P&O Australia in 2025

Carnival Cruise Line to Absorb P&O Australia in 2025

Carnival Corporation today announced that in March 2025, the company will sunset the P&O Cruises Australia brand and fold the Australia operations into Carnival Cruise Line, according to a press release.

The Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure ships will be rebranded and operated by the Carnival Cruise Line brand while the Pacific Explorer will exit the fleet in February of 2025, the company said.

This change is the latest in a series of what Carnival said were strategic moves designed to increase guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, the company’s flagship brand and the highest-returning brand in Carnival Corporation’s global portfolio, the company said.

This will result in the addition of eight new ships to Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet in 2021, including the shift of three vessels from sister brand Costa Cruises. In addition, the company recently placed its first new ship order in half a decade for two new Excel-class cruise ships to join Carnival Cruise Line in 2027 and 2028.

“Despite increasing Carnival Cruise Line’s capacity by almost 25% since 2019 including transferring three ships from Costa Cruises, guest demand remains incredibly strong so we’re leveraging our scale in an even more meaningful way by absorbing an entire brand into the world’s most popular cruise line,” said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation.

“In 2019, Carnival Cruise Line was 29% of our total capacity, and when we complete this move early next year, Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – will make up approximately 35% of our total global capacity. While our company’s overall growth between 2019 – 2028 is projected to be less than 2% (CAGR), the majority will be for Carnival Cruise Line, which will grow by approximately 50% over that period.”

In addition to further optimizing the composition of Carnival Corporation’s global brand portfolio, the realignment will strengthen the company’s performance in the South Pacific through numerous operational efficiencies, the company said in a statement.

“P&O Cruises Australia is a storied brand with an amazing team, and we are extremely proud of everything we have accomplished together in Australia and the broader region,” said Weinstein. “However, given the strategic reality of the South Pacific’s small population and significantly higher operating and regulatory costs, we’re adjusting our approach to give us the efficiencies we need to continue delivering an incredible cruise experience year-round to our guests in the region. Carnival Corporation & plc remains committed to Australia and we will continue to be the largest cruise operator in the region with 19 ships calling on 78 destinations and representing almost 60% of the market.”

For P&O Australia, current itineraries will operate business as usual, and guests will be notified in the coming days of any changes to future bookings as a result of this announcement.

When the transition is complete next year, Carnival Cruise Line will have four ships in the market, including Sydney-based Carnival Splendor and Carnival Luminosa sailing seasonally from Brisbane, in addition to their new sister ships Encounter and Adventure.

Carnival Lists Miami Headquarters for Sale; Looking to Downsize

Carnival Lists Miami Headquarters for Sale; Looking to Downsize

Carnival Corporation has listed its headquarters in Miami for sale, after owning it for nearly three decades.

According to Bloomberg, the company is now looking to downsize to about 300,000 square feet of new office space in the Miami area in the next two years. 

Cruise Industry News understands many Carnival employees work fully remotely following the pandemic.

A spokesperson confirmed that the company is “exploring options for new office facilities,” according to the Bloomberg story. 

Located 15 miles from the Port of Miami, the 470,000 square feet Doral headquarters has served as Carnival’s base since it was acquired in 1983. The Miami space is being listed with commercial real estate broker Cushman & Wakefield Plc.

AIDAnova Celebrates Five Years in Service

AIDAnova Celebrates Five Years in Service

The AIDAnova is completing its fifth year in service this month. After being delivered by the Meyer Werft shipyard, the LNG-powered vessel joined AIDA Cruises fleet on December 12, 2018.

As the first in a series of LNG-powered cruise ships built by Carnival Corporation, the AIDAnova introduced a new generation of vessels for AIDA.

Now sharing the title of largest ship in the fleet of the German operator along with its sister ship AIDAcosma, the 5,200-guest vessel spent its inaugural season in the Canary Islands.

Soon after being delivered, the AIDAnova welcomed guests for its inaugural cruise in St. Curz de Tenerife on Dec. 19, 2018.

On that day, the vessel departed on a seven-night cruise that sailed across the Spanish archipelago and also included a visit to Funchal, in Portugal’s Madeira Island.

In late April 2019, the AIDAnova repositioned to Southern Europe for a summer season in the Western Mediterranean.

Sailing from Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, in Spain, the ship’s regular seven-night itinerary featured three additional ports in Italy and France: Civitavecchia for Rome, La Spezia for Florence, and Marseille.

Currently sailing from Hamburg, in Germany, the AIDAnova is offering a series of cruises to Northern and Western Europe during the 2023-24 winter.

Different itineraries will be offered through late April, including seven-night voyages to Norway and Denmark, and week-long cruises to Germany, England, Belgium, the Netherlands and France.

The cruises can be combined to create a single 14-night cruise that visits Western Europe, the North Sea and Scandinavia.

The AIDAnova remains in the region during the 2024 summer, offering different itineraries to the Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia and more departing from the German port of Kiel.

Celestyal Acquires AIDAaura; To Sail as Celestyal Discovery

Celestyal Acquires AIDAaura; To Sail as Celestyal Discovery

Celestyal has confirmed the acquisition of a second new vessel this year as the Celestyal Discovery follows the recent arrival of the Celestyal Journey, signaling a fleet refresh and further commitment to significant investment into the customer proposition, the company said.

The Celestyal Discovery will now join the Celestyal Journey in Athens, where they will both undergo multimillion-euro winter refurbishment programs ahead of the new season, which starts in 2024.

The Discovery takes over the Olympia’s program starting next March. Cruises will go on sale in December.

Built in 2003 for the Carnival Corporation, the ship has been sailing for the AIDA Cruise brand throughout her career to date.

The company said that the Celestyal Discovery is a mid-sized vessel, allowing Celestyal to continue offering its signature unique blend of marquee destinations and more secluded gems that characterize the company’s itineraries. She offers 633 staterooms, 62 of which feature balconies, in total accommodating up to 1,266 guests.

“Given strong market and business conditions, we are thrilled to have expedited the renewal of our fleet to welcome the Celestyal Discovery into the Celestyal family,” said Chris Theophilides, CEO. “Celestyal Discovery joins the Celestyal Journey to undergo an extensive refurbishment program over the winter period, signifying further our intent to keep delighting our customers. As a confident challenger brand, our team is excited to continue to make waves across the industry next season, with a refreshed fleet, brand, network, and a renewed sense of direction.”

North America Push

“The new Celestyal Discovery is a significant upgrade from the Olympia, in both guest-facing spaces and below deck,” said Brandon Townsley, vice president and managing director, North America. “It offers a variety of restaurant outlets, entertainment spaces, and we are very excited about the conference and meeting facilities it offers.”

The ship also has a better mix of premium accommodations and 62 balcony cabins, Townsley told Cruise Industry News, noting that per diems should be on the rise with the more modern ship.

The new Discovery joins the Celestyal Journey, which replaced the older Crystal earlier this year, marking a quick complete fleet transformation for the brand.

“It’s a testament to the efforts and initiatives to position the brand as a small, premium ship experience with upgraded hardware and an upgraded range of accommodations,” said Townsley.

Carnival Corp Named One of the World’s Best Employers for Third Time

Carnival Corp Named One of the World’s Best Employers for Third Time

Carnival Corporation was named one of the World’s Best Employers for 2023 by Forbes for the third consecutive year.

Carnival Corporation was recognized among 700 international employers spanning more than 20 industries for cultivating a positive workplace environment, work-life balance, career advancement opportunities and employee diversity, according to a statement. 

Presented by Forbes and Statista, the World’s Best Employers list was determined via a survey that involved more than 170,000 employees from 55 countries working part-time or full-time. Participants were asked if they would recommend their employers to friends and family, and to anonymously rate their workplaces based on criteria such as image, economic footprint, talent development, gender equality and social responsibility.

Employees could also rate other companies in their industries and countries. Based on these factors, only the top 700 companies out of thousands of organizations were recognized as the World’s Best Employers by Forbes.

“Our highly talented global team of shipboard and shoreside employees are at the heart of everything we do and we want to make sure we are fostering an environment where people from all different backgrounds, experiences and walks of life can thrive,” said Bettina Deynes, global chief human resources officer for Carnival Corporation.

“As we continue to prioritize a positive company culture and drive initiatives to grow each of our team members’ careers, we are honored to be recognized once again by Forbes for our efforts and commitment to be the employer of choice for hospitality, travel and leisure careers.”

Carnival Corporation has over 160,000 employees, who represent 150 countries.

MOL to Launch New Cruise Brand, Mitsui Ocean Cruises

MOL to Launch New Cruise Brand, Mitsui Ocean Cruises

Seabourn Odyssey Photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr photo account) 

MOL Group today announced the launch of a new cruise brand named Mitsui Ocean Cruises.

The Japanese shipowner also revealed that the name of its new cruise ship will be Mitsui Ocean Fuji.

Set to enter service for the new brand in December 2024, the 32,000-ton luxury vessel was acquired from Seabourn Cruise Line in March 2023.

According to a press release, the Mitsui Ocean Fuji will become MOL’s second passenger ship, sailing along the 1990-built Nippon Maru.

Onboard the new-to-the-company vessel, MOL said, passengers will be able to experience the combination of Japanese high quality “Omotenashi” service with a western-style luxury hardware.

Currently sailing as the Seabourn Odyssey, the all-suite vessel was originally designed to offer an international upscale cruising experience in regions such as the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

Built in Italy by the Fincantieri shipyard, the 450-guest vessel first entered service in June 2009.

Mitsui Ocean Cruises also announced that the Mitsui Ocean Fuji will embark on an Around the World Cruise in April 2025.

Sailing roundtrip from Yokohama, the 100-day voyage will visit 24 yet-to-be-revealed ports of call around the globe.

As part of its new management plan named Blue Action 2035, the MOL Group plans to continues to invest in the cruise business as a way to offset commercial shipping volatilities.

Diversifying its portfolio, the Japanese company plans a “heavy focus” on the cruise industry, with the expansion of its travel businesses and the creation of an international customer’s base.

With plans to launch several new cruise ships in the future, the group will also focus on bringing foreign guests for cruises in Japan, while keeping an eye on expanding its domestic customer reach.

According to MOL, the cruise industry is a “stable and profitable” segment that “is not affected by the same market conditions” as other shipping areas.

 

Weinstein: ‘Costa On The Rebound’

Weinstein: ‘Costa On The Rebound’

Costa Favolosa entering the port of Liverpool, photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr Account)

“Costa is one of those brands that’s really on the rebound,” said Josh Weinstein, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation, speaking on the company’s third-quarter earnings call.

Weinstein credits Costa President Mario Zanetti with leading the turnaround of the Italian brand, which is launching a new marketing campaign.

“Their research based on their market and the segment that they’re trying to hit in their market was all about experiences and leaning into particular messaging in particular ways to convey it because the product for Costa is already fantastic,” Weinstein said.

He continued that Costa and AIDA posted solid numbers for August, with occupancy coming in at 119 per cent, above the 109 per cent average number Carnival reported for its nine brands.

“In fact, in Q3, AIDA and Costa delivered higher yields than 2019,” he said, noting they did this with the absence of Saint Petersburg in what would have been high-yielding Baltic itineraries.

Carnival: ‘Fuel Surcharge Not Off The Table

Carnival: ‘Fuel Surcharge Not Off The Table

Carnival Pride passing the Seacombe Ferry in Liverpool photo credit Spacejunkie2

With fuel prices on the rise, a fuel surcharge is not off the table at Carnival Corporation, according to Josh Weinstein, president and CEO.

Cruise lines typically reserve a right to add a fuel surcharge to ticket pricing, should the price of oil go over a set amount. Most cruise companies have rarely used this option

“It’s certainly not off the table. We wouldn’t take anything off of the table. It’s not something we’re planning to implement in the near-term, although that could certainly change,” said Weinstein, speaking on the company’s third quarter earnings call.

“There are certainly considerations that have to be made about what’s the norm in society with the expectations of our customer,” he continued. “Obviously, you don’t go retroactively too. So you’re talking about forward bookings.

“But I wouldn’t take anything off the table. I would reiterate, though, even a fuel surcharge is temporary. And really, the one thing that we can do, no matter what, is use less fuel and that’s where our focus is. And we estimate it saved us about $375 million on the bottom line this year versus what our profile looks like in 2019 because of all those efforts.”

Carnival Corp Posts 109% Occupancy in Third Quarter

Carnival Corp Posts 109% Occupancy in Third Quarter

P&O one of the Carnival Group, photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr account)

Carnival Corporation’s nine brands enjoyed full ships in the third quarter of 2023 as the company delivered a profit of over $1 billion and record revenue.

The ships on average were 109 percent full. Cruise ship occupancy is calculated by having two people in each stateroom, bringing a ship to 100 per cent. Any additional guests, such as children, will push a ship over the 100 per cent mark.

The company said that the 109 per cent occupancy number was better than its own expectations and marked a return to historical levels, compared to just 84 per cent in 2022 and 113 per cent in 2019, the last normal year prior to the pandemic.

“On the European front, occupancy came in better than anticipated for Costa and AIDA, with both brands hitting 119 per cent occupancy in August. Not to be outdone, P&O Cruises achieved its highest occupancy in over a decade,” said Josh Weinstein, president and CEO, on the company’s third-quarter earnings call.

“And so I can’t say that their yields were higher. But I can tell you that their occupancy is back, and they are well on their way, and that’s absolutely as expected,” said Weinstein, commenting on the company’s P&O brand.

MOL Plans Cruise Expansion, Newbuilds

MOL Plans Cruise Expansion, Newbuilds

Seabourn Odyssey photo credit for Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

With the purchase of the Seabourn Odyssey, MOL Group, which operates Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. in the domestic Japanese market, plans to operate two ships in 2024, it said in a press release. Sales terms were not disclosed.

The Seabourn Odyssey will be renamed and sail alongside the Nippon Maru, according to the company, which has hired a new Senior Executive Advisor in Anthony Kaufman, who has extensive knowledge and expertise in the cruise ship business, having held key positions with Carnival, Holland America Group and Princess Cruises, where he played a major role in the development of the inbound and outbound markets in Japan.

In a press statement, MOL Group said it “positions the cruise ship business as a new growth area,” and plans to build an additional two new 600-guest ships.

The Seabourn Odyssey will join the fleet in 2024 after a refurbishment, the company said. A new name for the ship will be announced this summer, along with other details.

“By increasing the number of cruise ships operated by MOPAS to two, they will be able to significantly increase the number of departures and arrivals in various parts of Japan and globally, and will be able to provide a wider variety of itineraries and experiences that meet our customer’s needs,” the company said in a statement.

In the near term, MOL will open a “Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business” brand as well as a new “Cruise Business Innovation Project Unit.”

Carnival Corporation Sells Seabourn Odyssey to MOL Group

Carnival Corporation Sells Seabourn Odyssey to MOL Group

Seabourn Odyssey photo credit for Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

Carnival Corporation and its luxury Seabourn brand have announced the sale of the 450-guest, 2009-built Seabourn Odyssey to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), which currently operates a one-ship Japanese cruise line with the Nippon Maru.

Following the sale, Seabourn will continue to operate all published voyages through August 22, 2024, under a charter arrangement.

The Seabourn Odyssey will then be delivered to MOL after the charter agreement.

Of note, it’s the 26th ship to exit the Carnival Corp. fleet since 2020.

“We are proud that Seabourn Odyssey carried our guests across the world for the last 14 years and are happy to see her join a great company, MOL,” said Seabourn President Natalya Leahy. “As we prepare to say farewell to Odyssey in September 2024, I am excited to further optimize our fleet as we grow our expedition business. With the addition of Seabourn Pursuit this summer, Seabourn will have one of the most modern fleets in the ultra-luxury segment with an average age of just seven years.”

The company said that Seabourn’s fleet expansion into the ultra-luxury expedition market allows for a more diverse offering of deployment opportunities, which will lead to new and exciting itineraries across all seven continents with a higher guest capacity compared to 2019 even after Seabourn Odyssey’s departure.

“With this elite, modern fleet, Seabourn continues as the leader in ultra-luxury travel, providing highly curated and immersive experiences and unique ‘Seabourn Moments’ for our guests,” Leahy said.

Costa Magica Sold to Seajets

Costa Magica Sold to Seajets

The Costa Magica has been sold to Seajets, a Greek ferry operator, according to Greek media reports and multiple industry sources.

The ship represents another Carnival Corporation vessel leaving the Costa fleet as the world’s largest cruise operator continues to shed less economical capacity.

Of note, it is the newest and biggest vessel to exit a Carnival-owned brand, with the Magica having the capacity for 2,720 guests at double occupancy and having been built in 2004 at a cost of $400 million. It was one of three ships Carnival said would leave the fleet in December. The AIDAaura will also be retired, and a yet-to-be-named Costa ship will follow.

The Marios Iliopoulos-led Seajets has purchased multiple secondhand cruise ships since the start of the pandemic. A handful of ships have since been scrapped, while the former Maasdam was sold to French start-up CFC and will soon enter service.

The Magica will soon join a number of other ships in a layup in Greece under the control of Seajets, including the former Veendam, Pacific Area, P&O Oceania and Majesty of the Seas.

While the former Maasdam was sold to CFC, Seajets has also retired some ships for scrap value including the Columbus and Magellan, two ships that it bought at auction following the demise of Cruise & Maritime Voyages

Carnival Corporation 2023 Preview

Carnival Corporation 2023 Preview

Carnival Corporation is set for an eventful year in 2023 with a new product and new builds entering service.

Cruise Industry News looks into the most anticipated events taking place across the company’s nine brands over the next 12 months.

Carnival Fun Italian Style
Carnival Fun Italian Style is debuting in 2023, with the introduction of the Carnival Venezia in May.

Originally built for Costa Cruises, the vessel is set to offer a unique product, combining Carnival’s experience with special touches from the European country.

Following the Venezia, which will sail year-round from New York, the Carnival Firenze is also set to join the concept in 2024 and launch service from California.

Two Newbuilds
Two new builds are entering service for core Carnival Corporation brands in 2023.

Originally ordered for AIDA Cruises, the new Carnival Jubilee is currently being built in Germany by the Meyer Werft shipyard. Joining the Mardi Gras and the Carnival Celebration, the XL-Class ship will debut during the fourth quarter, offering Western Caribbean cruises out of Galveston.

A sister to the Seabourn Venture, the Seabourn Pursuit is set to become Carnival Corp’s second expedition ship. Under construction in Italy, the vessel is scheduled to enter service in October, ahead of a winter season in Antarctica.

In addition is a yet-to-be-named new build for Adora Cruises, Carnival’s joint venture in China.

More Efficient Fleet
While new ships enter service, Carnival continues to withdraw smaller and less efficient ships from its fleet.

In 2023, at least three vessels are set to be retired by the brands, including the AIDAaura, which will bid farewell to AIDA Cruises in September.

Two more ships from Costa Cruises are also expected to be withdrawn. The exits are part of an effort to right-size the brand in light of the continued closure of cruise operations in China – where Costa had significant capacity before the pandemic.

More Passengers Onboard
Carnival Corporation is expecting more passengers onboard its ships in 2023, with an aimed average occupancy rate of 90 per cent across its nine cruise brands in the first quarter.

The number is up from 54 per cent occupancy in the first quarter of 2022 when cruise operations were still being restarted across the globe.

Return to Asia and World Cruises
Following a three-year gap, several Carnival brands are returning to Asia in early 2023.

While Seabourn is set to offer a series of Southeast Asia itineraries during the entire winter season, Princess and Holland America are returning to Japan in the spring.

Several brands – including P&O, Cunard, Costa, Princess and Holland America – also resumed their world cruise itineraries in January, offering long global voyages that visit several international destinations and countries.

China Joint-Venture Debut
After years in the making, Carnival’s joint venture with CSSC is set to launch service in China in 2023.

Named Adora Cruises, the new brand will serve the local market, offering itineraries from several Chinese homeports.

In addition to two ships acquired from Costa, the joint venture is set to operate a pair of new builds, which are currently being constructed at a shipyard in Shanghai and are scheduled for 2023 and 2025 deliveries.

 

 

China Cruise Line Staffs Up, Anticipating Restart

China Cruise Line Staffs Up, Anticipating Restart

The Chinese cruise industry may be ready to start sooner than later, as CSSC Carnival China Cruise Shipping, which will operate as Adora Cruises, is staffing up in the sales department.

The company is a joint venture between China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and Carnival Corporation.

The company announced the appointment of Chen Yinglan as the sales director of the East China region, Lin Binbin as the sales director of the South China region, and Sun Wen as the sales director of the North China region.

Chen Ranfeng, CEO of CSSC Carnival, said in a translated statement: “The three are ‘senior cruise people’ who have been deeply involved in the industry for many years. They are also leaders in the cruise sales field. They have rich experience in marketing and a solid industry foundation in their respective regions. Maintain long-term and good cooperative relations with partners in the same industry. I believe they will play an important role in the market expansion of CSSC Carnival.”

The company said it will use a multi-vessel multi-homeport operation strategy and operate international routes in East Asia and Southeast Asia throughout the year. The company will focus on homeporting ships in China but is also committed to selling international departures as well, according to a statement.

As far as ships, the Costa Atlantica and Mediterranea previously transferred to Carnival’s joint venture in China prior. A new building is scheduled to be delivered from a shipyard in Shanghai this year.