Carnival Miracle Undergoing Scheduled Drydock

Carnival Miracle Undergoing Scheduled Drydock

The Carnival Miracle is currently undergoing a routine drydock in Astoria, Portland. Part of the ship’s regular maintenance schedule, the shipyard stay was confirmed by Carnival Cruise Line in May.

In addition to regular upkeeping and class work, the Spirit-Class vessel is set to receive Carnival’s new blue, red and white livery.

Created to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary, the new hull look was inspired by officers’ uniforms and features a navy-blue bow along with red and white accents running the entire length of the ship.

After completing the drydock, the Miracle is set to resume its cruise program on the West Coast on November 17.

On the date, the 88,500-ton vessel sails from Long Beach on a short cruise to the Mexican Riviera. The five-night itinerary includes full-day visits to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada before returning to Carnival’s cruise terminal in the Los Angeles area.

During the 2022-2023 winter season, the 2,124-passenger ship is also set to offer two-week cruises to Hawaii, as well as additional three- to six-night itineraries to the Mexican Riviera and Baja California.

Closing out Carnival’s Spirit Class, the Carnival Miracle originally entered service in 2004.

Designed with a multi-deck atrium, a glass-enclosed pool deck and a large number of cabins with private balconies, the ship underwent a major refurbishment in 2015.

At the time, it received all of Carnival’s Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades, including the Alchemy Bar, the RedFrog Rum Bar and the Cherry on Top candy store.

Other features of the vessel include the Punchliner Comedy Club, a Serenity adults-only retreat, a classic American-style steakhouse, a nine-hole miniature golf course, a 14,500-square-foot health and wellness centre, and more.

In addition to the Miracle, six Carnival ships have completed scheduled drydocks in 2022, including the Carnival Luminosa

Carnival Radiance Offers Its First-Ever Cruise to Hawaii

Carnival Radiance Offers Its First-Ever Cruise to Hawaii

The Carnival Radiance is currently sailing its first-ever cruise to Hawaii.

Temporarily moving away from its regular schedule of short cruises to Baja California, the Carnival Cruise Line vessel departed Long Beach for the 14-night journey on Oct. 16.

The itinerary sails to Honolulu, Kahului, Nawiliwili and Hilo, and also includes a short call to Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to Carnival’s homeport in the Los Angeles area.

Originally set to be offered by the Carnival Miracle, the cruise was transferred to the Radiance in May.

At the time, Carnival said the change of ship was necessary due to the required drydock maintenance on the Spirit-Class vessel.

Before resuming its regular program of three- and four-night cruises to Catalina Island and Ensenada, the Radiance also replaces the Miracle on a five-night voyage to the Mexican Riviera.

Sailing from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, the cruise is set to depart on Oct. 30 and includes visits to Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas.

The Carnival Radiance debuted in December 2021, kicking off the program of short cruises on the West Coast ever since.

Formerly the Carnival Victory, the 2000-built vessel was completely rebuilt as part of a $200-million refit that included new public areas, cabins and features.

Highlights included Carnival’s latest beverage and entertainment spaces, such as Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, Bonsai Sushi and the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub.

The 101,509-ton ship also received the second sea-going unit of the Big Chicken, a restaurant created by Carnival’s Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal.

Other new features included the Heroes Tribute Bar, which salutes those that serve in the Armed Forces, and the Liquid Lounge, home to Carnival’s award-winning Playlist Productions shows.

With a capacity of nearly 3,000 guests, the Radiance is part of Carnival’s three-ship Sunshine Class.

Royal Caribbean Lifts all Vaccination Requirements for European Sailings. 

Independence of the Seas in Southampton, photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

Royal Caribbean International will not require guests to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 on certain sailings from next month.

From 5 September, passengers sailing on all European cruises and select US ports - Los Angeles, Galveston, New Orleans - will only be asked to disclose their vaccination status during check-in. Still, it will not be mandatory in order to board.

 

The line’s pre-cruise testing protocols will remain the same. 

 

Royal said it recommends all eligible guests are fully vaccinated and advised passengers to bring proof of vaccination with them should local authorities or businesses in specific destinations ask to see it.

 

In some destinations, guests will be required to prove their vaccination status in order to go ashore. In contrast, unvaccinated passengers and those not up to date with their vaccinations may need to undergo additional testing at their own expense to go ashore and disembark at the end of their cruise.

Princess Cruises has launched its “most expansive Americas season”

Princess Cruises has launched its “most expansive Americas season”

Discovery Princess will offer two 15-night Hawaii cruises for the first time

New for 2023-24 is a 32-night South Pacific Islands & Hawaii itinerary on two voyages sailing round-trip from Los Angeles onboard Sapphire Princess. The voyage will also include Fiji for the first time as well as late-night stays in Honolulu and Tahiti.

 

Meanwhile, Discovery Princess will offer two 15-night Hawaii cruises – the ship’s first-ever sailings to the island state – with overnight stays in Honolulu. Other ships offering Hawaii & Tahiti sailings include Crown Princess, Diamond Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess and Sapphire Princess.

 

Elsewhere Princess will sail again from Galveston with a series of voyages on Regal Princess to the Western Caribbean. Other departure points for round-trip cruises include Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, as well as one departure from New York

Other highlights of the new programme include 126 departures on 18 itineraries in the Caribbean ranging in length from five to 21 nights, sailing round-trips from Fort Lauderdale and Galveston.

 

The line’s Mexico programme will include eight destinations including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, La Paz and Loreto.

 

Meanwhile, Princess’s California Coast sailings feature 11 destinations in three countries, including six in California: Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Monterey, Catalina Island, San Diego and Ensenada.

 

Princess will also offer Panama Canal itineraries onboard Emerald Princess, Island Princess and Ruby Princess with two options available – round-trip from Fort Lauderdale or ocean-to-ocean between Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles or San Francisco.

 

 

Princess Cruises Expands with Year-Round Sailings from Los Angeles

Princess Cruises Expands with Year-Round Sailings from Los Angeles

According to a press release, Princess Cruises has added a series of new summer season cruises sailing roundtrips from Los Angeles in 2023.

Between May and August of next year, Princess Cruises will mark year-round sailings from Los Angeles aboard the Emerald Princess, a MedallionClass ship, to Mexico, Hawaii, and the California Coast, with cruises ranging from five to 16 days.

Guests on the Emerald Princess can use their Medallion wearable device to enable contactless boarding, geolocation, and other services. At the same time, all bookings include onboard dining and entertainment, as well as a variety of shore excursions, according to Princess Cruises.

The company has also launched a deal that offers $1 deposits and $50 onboard spending money per person, for guests that complete their reservations by July 19, 2022.

Summer 2023 Itineraries:

Mexican Riviera with La Paz - 7 days - Stops in Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Ensenada - Departure dates June 24, 2023, and July 29, 2023

Hawaiian Islands - 16 days - Stops in Hilo, Honolulu, Maui (Lahaina), Kauai (Nawiliwili), and Ensenada - Departure dates: May 4, 2023, June 1, 2023, July 6, 2023, and August 5, 2023

Classic California Coast - 7 days - Overnight in San Francisco - Stops in San Diego and Ensenada - Departure dates: May 20, 2023, June 17, 2023, and July 22, 2023

Cabo San Lucas Getaway – 5 days - Overnight in Cabo San Lucas - Departure date: May 27, 2023

West Coast Getaway with  - 5 days - Stops in San Francisco and Ensenada - Departure date: July 1, 2023

San Diego to Welcome Ships and Passengers Back

The Port of San Diego will welcome the return of cruise lines and cruise passengers on Friday, October 1, when the Disney Wonder and Grand Princess will be the first sailings out of San Diego since spring 2020. The Disney Wonder is setting sail for a four-day cruise beginning in San Diego to Cabo San Lucas and back. The Grand Princess sailing will begin in Los Angeles on September 30 and stop in San Diego on October 1 on its way to Ensenada and back to Los Angeles.

The port said it currently anticipates more than 100 cruise calls through May 2022. Those calls will primarily be from Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line.

According to a prepared statement, health and safety is a top priority. To safely resume cruising, the port said it is working with the cruise lines, along with various other local, state, and federal agencies to put extra precautions in place to minimize community spread of and exposure to COVID-19.

In conjunction with the cruise lines, precautions include that all crew members and eligible guests must be fully vaccinated (currently ages 12 and up; in special and rare cases, medical exemptions may be allowed, but Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess must maintain that at least 95% of all guests are vaccinated; Disney Cruise Line will be testing all guests on embarkation days).

All unvaccinated guests must provide negative PCR test results between three days and 24 hours before embarkation day. All persons must complete a health screening form to declare they have been vaccinated, are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, and had a recent negative COVID-19 test result (if pre-testing was required by the cruise line).

All persons must wear a face covering while inside the cruise ship terminal.

Whenever possible while in the cruise terminals, all persons are strongly encouraged to social distance from other persons, not in their own travelling party.

To prevent an influx of passengers and to help ensure social distancing, the cruise lines have implemented a passenger appointment system for check-in/screening times.

The port will be fully cleaning and disinfecting the terminals immediately following each embarkation and disembarkation, plexiglass partitions have been installed in some areas, and hand sanitiser will be available throughout the terminals.

San Diego is California’s third busiest cruise port behind Long Beach and Los Angeles. And, according to the port, each homeported cruise has an economic impact of $2 million. While a single in-transit call (one stop on the cruise itinerary) generates a total impact to the region of nearly $600,000.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line to Redeploy Eight Additional Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that it will resume operations from additional U.S. and international ports this fall with eight more ships in service.

Guests will once again sail aboard Norwegian Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Pearl, Jewel, Sun, Spirit and Norwegian's Pride of America.

Voyages expected to operate in the U.S. are contingent on obtaining a Conditional Sailing Certificate from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Today the company announced its redeployment plans for the following ships:

• Norwegian Joy will cruise from Miami beginning Oct. 19, 2021, with five to 11-day Caribbean voyages.
• Norwegian Breakaway will cruise seven-day itineraries to Bermuda from New York beginning Oct. 24, 2021.
• Pride of America will offer seven-day Hawaii interisland voyages from Honolulu beginning Nov. 6, 2021.
• Norwegian Bliss will cruise from Los Angeles for seven-day Mexican Riviera voyages beginning Nov. 7, 2021.
• Norwegian Encore will offer seven-night itineraries from Miami to the Caribbean beginning Nov. 14, 2021.
• Beginning Nov. 20, 2021, Norwegian Escape will cruise for the first time from Orlando (Port Canaveral), Fla., offering seven-day itineraries to the Caribbean.
• Norwegian Pearl will sail from Miami offering Panama Canal, Bahamas and Caribbean cruises beginning Dec. 23, 2021.
• Beginning Jan. 20, 2022, Norwegian Jewel will be the first ship in the fleet to offer roundtrip Panama Canal cruises from Panama City (Colón and Fuerte Amador).
• Norwegian Sun will sail for the first time in Asia beginning Jan. 28, 2022, offering a five-day Japan itinerary from Hong Kong, before sailing a variety of 11-day cruises from Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.
• Norwegian Spirit will cruise 12-day Australia and New Zealand voyages from Sydney, and Auckland, New Zealand beginning Feb. 9, 2022.

Further redeployments will be announced in the near future.

"When we first welcome our guests aboard Norwegian Jade this July, it will be exactly 500 days since our ships last sailed," said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "I am so happy that we're finally getting back to what we love the most, and I'm very proud that we continue to redeploy our fleet methodically. We always said we wouldn't rush to sail again, but that we'd get back to it when we felt we could do so safely while maintaining our incomparable guest experience. Our efforts to resume cruising safely will continue to be slow and steady, guided by the science-backed protocols of our SailSAFE™ health and safety program and in collaboration with our destination partners as well as with a variety of governing bodies. We cannot wait to see our guests rediscover the world and make memories with their loved ones again."

In conjunction with today's redeployment announcement, the cruise line has cancelled all voyages on Pride of America through Oct. 30, 2021; Norwegian Escape through Nov. 2, 2021; Norwegian Jewel through Jan. 9, 2022; Norwegian Pearl through Dec. 7, 2021; Norwegian Spirit through Jan. 28, 2022; Norwegian Sun through Jan. 18, 2022; and the Oct. 24, 2021 itinerary aboard Norwegian Bliss.

USNS Mercy Arrives in Los Angeles

The hospital ship USNS Mercy arrives at the Port of Los Angeles to assist area medical facilities during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in San Pedro, California, U.S., March 27, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The hospital ship USNS Mercy has arrived at the Port of Los Angeles bringing with it 1,000 hospital beds, 800 medical staff, emergency rooms and ICUs to provide relief for shore-based hospitals overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The USNS Mercy, operated by the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, departed Naval Base San Diego on Monday with over 800 Navy medical personnel and support staff and over 70 civil service mariners. 

The ship will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients.

Mercy’s medical treatment facility staff is made up of medical personnel from the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. The MSC mariners are responsible for operating and navigating the ship, including load and off-load mission cargo. 

The USNS Mercy was met at the Port of Los Angeles’ “Angels Gate” entrance at 0730 hours this morning by the FOSS maritime tugs Alta June, Bo Brusco, and Arthur Foss, along with Foss sister company AMNAV providing the tug Patricia Ann. The tugs escorted her to a security sweep location before finally assisting her into the Port of Los Angeles Berth 93, where she will remain for the foreseeable future. The vessel was declared “All Fast” to the dock at 0930 hours.

The largest hospital in L.A.: #USNSMercy? at the Port of Los Angeles. #AmericasPort pic.twitter.com/F0tbgYldpA

— Port of Los Angeles (@PortofLA) March 27, 2020

USNS Mercy’s arrival at the Port of Los Angeles comes only ten days after the Trump administration indicated it would be deploying the two U.S. Navy hospital ships in support COVID-19 response efforts in the United States.

USNS Comfort is currently being readied in Virginia and is expected to depart Saturday for arrival in New York Harbor on Monday, President Trump said Thursday.

The two Mercy-class hospital ships are equipped with 1,000 hospital beds, 11 general operation suites, 15 patient wards and 80 intensive care beds, according to the Navy’s website. 

The Mercy-class ships’ mission is to provide an afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facility to the U.S. military, as well as full hospital services to support U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide.

Mercy is a converted San Clemente-class supertanker that was delivered to the Navy’s Military Sealift Command Nov. 8, 1986. USNS Mercy has not been deployed in response to a natural disaster since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that devastated places in South East Asia. 

USNS Comfort previously deployed with the Venezuelan refugee crisis in 2018, and for Atlantic hurricanes including Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Hospital Ship ‘Mercy’ Steaming to Los Angeles to Assist with COVID-19 Response

The USNS Mercy, a Navy hospital ship, departs the Naval Station San Diego and heads to the Port of Los Angeles to aid local medical facilities dealing with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, in San Diego, California, U.S., March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy departed her homeport at Naval Station San Diego today and is now underway to Los Angeles in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response effort. 

USNS Mercy left port with over 800 Navy medical personnel and support staff who will help treat non-COVID-19 patients aboard, and relieve local hospitals ashore by providing medical care including general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults, the Navy said in a statement.

“This will allow local health professionals to focus on treating COVID-19 patients and for shore-based hospitals to use their Intensive Care Units and ventilators for those patients,” it said. 

Mercy is the first of two Mercy-class hospital ships operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command. It’s primary mission is “to provide an afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facility to the U.S. military that is flexible, capable and uniquely adaptable to support expeditionary warfare. Mercy’s secondary mission is to provide full hospital services to support U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide.”

The Mercy-class hospital ships are equipped with 1,000 hospital beds, 11 general operation suites, 15 patient wards and 80 intensive care beds, according to the Navy’s website. 

A crew of over 70 civil service mariners operate and navigate the ship, load and off-load mission cargo, assist with repairs to mission equipment and provide essential services to keep the “medical treatment facility (MTF)” up and running. Mercy’s MTF is an embarked crew of medical personnel from the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, which is responsible for operating and maintaining one of the largest trauma facilities in the United States.

“This global crisis demands the whole of government response, and we are ready to support,” said Capt. John Rotruck, Mercy’s Military Treatment Facility commanding officer. “Mercy brings a team of medical professionals, medical equipment, and supplies, all of which will act, in essence, as a ‘relief valve’ for local civilian hospitals in Los Angeles so that local health professionals can better focus on COVID-19 cases. We will use our agility and responsiveness as an afloat Medical Treatment Facility to do what the country asks, and bring relief where we are needed most.” 

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, as of Monday, there have been 536 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, including seven deaths and 90 hospitalizations. 

“We’ve seen a dramatic increase over the last 48 hours and sadly, we expect positive case counts to rise dramatically over the next three weeks,” said Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Public Health Director.

Statewide, California now has 1,733 confirmed cases and 27 deaths.  

Trump: Arison Will Make Carnival Ships Available

President Donald J. Trump said that Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison told him that Carnival's cruise ships will be available if the government should need them amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"I spoke with Micky Arison of Carnival Cruise Lines and he is going to make ships available," Trump said, in a White House press conference on Thursday. "So in addition to the big medical ships you have coming, if we should need ships with lots of rooms, they will be docked in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, different places."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is no stranger to chartering cruise ships for temporary housing, having done so following Hurricane Katrina, and hurricanes in 2017. Both times FEMA worked with Carnival. 

Cruise ships could supply temporary housing for a quarantine facility, or serve as housing for medical or government workers, or in some cases, have been suggested as sites for surge hospital capacity.

Ships also provide a secure environment. Authorities would know who is on the ship at any time and can restrict access and movements relatively easily, compared to a land-based site.

Carnival Corporation owns nine brands with approximately 105 ships across its fleet.

Los Angeles Plans Two New Cruise Terminals

The Port of Los Angeles has floated ideas for a new cruise terminal at Berths 46 and 50 in the Outer Harbor, said Marketing Manager Chris Chase.

The new facility will be able to accommodate cruise ships longer than 1,100 feet carrying more than 5,000 passengers. Due to the port’s seasonal cruise business, the new cruise facilities are expected to accommodate alternative uses when no cruise ships are in port. These alternatives may include filming, conferences, events and more.

‘Two Terminals’
“The idea is at this point two new terminals to handle the largest ships out there – minimum design is 5,000-plus passengers,” Chase said. “The work we’re doing is: How do we handle these larger ships in the future, and more of them?”
The 13-acre Outer Harbor site is on the tip of a peninsula just past a repair yard. It currently contains Berth 46 and Berth 50, used only in overflow situations. The two large berths will require “some work” but will be the focal point of the development.

Berth 46 is a 900-foot concrete wharf with at-berth water depth exceeding 45 feet. Berth 50 is up to 1,400 feet with minimum at-berth water depths of 35 to 45 feet.

“Ten years ago we identified this location for our waterfront environmental document., so it’s not a new revelation. We just finally appear to have a business case to justify having some investment in that location,” Chase said.
The new facilities will need to offer shoreside power. It will also feature 14 acres for off-site parking.

Numbers
Los Angeles has seen a jump in cruise calls and passenger numbers over last year – 650,000 in 2019 from 124 ship visits. That’s up from 518,904 on 111 calls in 2018. Estimates for 2020 top 705,000 on 126 calls.

Looking forward, the port expects 775,000 passengers by 2022 from 135 calls. The port expects to break 1 million passengers by 2025. It’s a mark LA hasn’t reached since 2008 when 1,195,897 passengers arrived on 265 sailings.

 

New Princess ship to be called Discovery Princess

Princess Cruises said its sixth Royal-class ship due in November 2021 will be named the Discovery Princess and will be the first new ship in Princess history to be homeported in Los Angeles.

Cruises open for sale Oct. 8, with itineraries set in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and South America before Discovery Princess arrives for its West Coast debut sailing to Mexico and the California Coast on March 1, 2022.

The 143,700-gross-ton, 3,660-passenger Discovery Princess is under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. 

Princess' repeat guests are eligible for a special promotion when booking early. A reduced deposit of 10% is available through Feb. 29, 2020. Guests booking the 50-day South America Connoisseur voyage will receive onboard credit, complimentary gratuities and complimentary WiFi. 

Los Angeles: 'Large Ship Opportunity'

Los Angeles: 'Large Ship Opportunity'

Princess Cruise's in Port of Los Angeles.

The Norwegian Bliss will call the Port of Los Angeles home on seven occasions in 2018, and become the biggest cruise ship ever to dock there.

“We’re very optimistic to see this type of ship entering the Alaska market, which has a symbiotic relationship with us,” said Chris Chase, marketing manager for the port. “It will also fit right into the Mexican Riviera market; it’s very opportunistic. After some years of difficulty, the Mexican market is looking to be strong enough to support something of this nature.”

There is also a major update to the port’s shore power system set to debut this year that will provide more electricity for bigger ships.

“It will allow larger ships to plug in,” said Chase. “As you look at the order book, they do not build small ships for our market. It behoves us to ramp it up a little bit.”

The port is still hoping to attract year-round business back, but in the near-term, as more ships enter the fleet, Chase sees the immediate opportunity in up-sizing current ships.

“On the horizon, looking at 2020 and beyond, there is a lot of hardware coming into the market, much of it is very large and that is our opportunity,” Chase said.

Viking Comes Home, Names New Ship

PHOTO: Viking Cruises' Viking Sun makes its inaugural call on Los Angeles, California. (photo by Jason Leppert)

On its first-ever world voyage, Viking Cruises just made its inaugural call on Los Angeles. For a company that started as a river line based in the California city, the event marks a full circle for what has become a very successful ocean line as well.

During a day tour of the line’s newest Viking Sun, Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, also announced the next name for its ocean ships.

In 2019, Viking Jupiter will embark on a pair of fresh South America itineraries. The 22-day Southern Atlantic Crossing will head from Barcelona to Buenos Aires twice a year stopping in Morocco, Senegal, Brazil and Uruguay along the way. The 18-day South America & the Chilean Fjords one will visit Uruguay, the Falkland Islands and Chile around Cape Horn from Buenos Aires to Santiago six times a year. The new routes are on sale now.

The ship will be the sixth sister-ship following the Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Sun and upcoming Viking Orion launching in June 2018. By the time Jupiter is introduced in February 2019, Viking will be the largest small ship cruise line.

Remarkably, four more yet-to-be-named sisters are set to follow in January 2021, February 2022, September 2022 and April 2023—making for a total fleet of ten—and apparently, the company does not intend to stop there.

It's no secret Viking was pursuing hydrogen as a possible fuel source for future ships. While we originally suspected that might be a new form of propulsion for one of the currently scheduled ships, Hagen has now indicated that any alternative form of propulsion will potentially be implemented for ship number 11 and beyond.

While zero-emission hydrogen is clearly preferred, he said methanol and LNG are being considered as well. A final decision on which direction future vessels take is expected in the next year or so.

Either way, several additional ships are likely on their way. A photo of Hagen with Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, shows the two holding up their hands—each with every finger extended, in celebration of the first 10 options ordered. Between the two of them, twenty fingers can be counted in total, which may foreshadow many more.

The message is clear no matter how it all plays out: Viking Cruises is now a major ocean operator.

“We have always been a travel company that focuses on exploration and cultural immersion,” added Hagen, in a press release.

“In the last two decades we have led the industry in river cruising, and as we become the leading small ship ocean cruise line we have an opportunity to introduce many new travellers to the Viking way of exploration. Our new ‘Did You Know?’ campaign is aimed at inspiring people who may not yet know what makes us so different in the industry, why we are the most award-winning cruise line and how we can provide more included value than any other cruise company.”

While all the ocean ships are advertised as identical—and they nearly are—there are a few small differences. The Sky was modified a bit from the Star and Sea mostly with a larger fitness centre and smaller salon, plus a few retail and sports deck reconfigurations, and the Sun carries those over. Upon very close inspection, the newest ship has also newly added table tennis to the latter and retooled the Cruise Consultant desk a tad.

Specifically for the world cruise, there’s one of six ageing casks of “Linje” Aquavit on display in The Viking Living Room atrium as well as special merchandise available to buy in the gift shop. A cool new “Nordic Style” coffee table book further showcases the ships’ signature Scandinavian decor.

Carnival gets OK to expand Long Beach Cruise Terminal

The Long Beach Cruise Terminal and the Queen Mary Hotel. Photo Credit: TrekandShoot/Shutterstock

Carnival Cruise Line has inked a deal to nearly triple the size of its terminal in Long Beach, Calif., from approximately 66,000 square feet to 142,000 square feet.

The deal between the cruise line and landlord Urban Commons and the City of Long Beach will enable larger ships to use the port.

Carnival has operated the Long Beach Cruise Terminal since 2003, using an area of the Geodesic Dome. The agreement gives Carnival 100% use of the Dome, not only allowing for larger ships but also providing the space required for both arriving and disembarking guests to access the terminal.

Carnival president Christine Duffy said the expansion will make Long Beach one of Carnival’s largest homeports.

Construction is slated to be completed in late 2017. During the construction period, measures will be taken to “ensure a continued smooth operational flow and high standard of customer service for cruise guests,” Carnival said.

Earlier this year, the city selected Urban Commons, a real estate company, to assume the lease of the nearby Queen Mary, the former ocean liner now serving as a floating hotel. Urban Commons plans to renovate the Queen Mary’s guestrooms and restaurants over the next year and redevelop 45 shoreside acres into an entertainment district. Its plans call for a hotel, restaurants, shops, a marina, an amphitheater and a Ferris wheel.

Carnival said it is working with Urban Commons on enhancements to the area surrounding the dome and the Queen Mary, as well as ways to increase parking.

The Carnival Inspiration and the Carnival Imagination currently operate three- and four-day Baja cruises year-round from Long Beach. The Carnival Miracle sails seven-day voyages to the Mexican Riviera and 14- and 15-day cruises to Hawaii and Alaska from Long Beach.  

Princess puts a tagline on ship investments

LOS ANGELES — Princess Cruises has grouped a package of initiatives and ship upgrades into a program called “The Come Back New Promise.”

The program will encompass $450 million of investments in premium bedding, new restaurants, Broadway shows and other improvements it will make through partnerships with outside innovators.

“Our promise is to provide guests with joyful, memorable moments,” Princess President Jan Swartz said at a dockside function aboard the Ruby Princess here.

Many of the investments, such as a new customized bed and a specialty restaurant by Australian chef Curtis Stone, have been previously disclosed.  

Other elements are the Salty Dog Gastropub designed by Argentinian chef Ernesto Uchimura, the “Magic to Do” show crafted by composer Steven Schwartz, a version of “The Voice” singing competition called “The Voice at Sea” and the Chocolate Journeys program of confections from pastry chef Norman Love.

Further, the program includes “Festivals of the World” with shipboard parties, activities and musical performances themed to festivals such as Rio de Janeiro's Carnival and its partnerships with regional brewers to produce custom beers for individual vessels.

Crystal Cruises to open Miami office

Crystal Cruises, newly acquired by Genting Hong Kong, said it will open a branch office in Miami on June 1.

The headquarters for the cruise line will remain in Los Angeles. The Miami office will bolster Crystal’s presence on the East Coast, said CEO Edie Rodriguez. It will also help Crystal source experienced cruise talent, create partnerships and foster existing business relationships in the region, she said.

Crystal said the Miami branch office, located at 1501 Biscayne Blvd. in the Omni Building, will be home to newly created management positions at Crystal while serving as a secondary location for Los Angeles-based executives to conduct business as needed. 

It will also feature a reservations call center, which will begin to accept bookings in summer 2015, and provide support on both coasts for Crystal to serve the domestic and international markets. 

First world cruise for Chinese guests departs Shanghai

Costa Atlantica departs Shanghai

By Tom Stieghorst 
Costa Atlantica departed Shanghai on March 1 on what Costa Cruises describes as the first world cruise by a ship specially for the Chinese market.

The voyage will span 86 days and 28 destinations in 18 countries. 

Costa Group CEO Michael Thamm was among the group of dignitaries on hand to see the ship off.

Given the Chinese preference for short itineraries, the launch of a world cruise is a particular milestone. The Atlantica will visit a number of destinations in the Mediterranean and the United States, including a three-day call in New York and a two-day stopover in Los Angeles.

American-US Airways merger deal valued at $11 billion

By Jerry Limone

US Airways stockholders will end up owning 28% of the combined airline. The remaining 72% will be owned by stakeholders of AMR and its debtor subsidiaries that filed for relief under Chapter 11, American’s labor unions and current AMR employees.

The merger is conditioned on approval by the bankruptcy court overseeing American Airlines' Chapter 11 reorganization and US Airways' shareholders. The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division also needs to review the deal.

The airlines expect that the merger deal will be completed in the third quarter of 2013. During the period between the signing and closing of the transaction, a transition-planning team made up of leaders from both companies will develop an integration plan.

US Airways CEO Doug Parker will become CEO of the combined airline, which would be the world's largest, edging out United.

American CEO Tom Horton will become nonexecutive chairman through the combined airline’s first annual meeting of shareholders. Parker will assume the additional position of chairman after Horton’s tenure concludes.

The board of directors will initially be made up of 12 members: three from American, including Horton; four from US Airways, including Parker; and five representatives of AMR creditors.

The new American Airlines will maintain all hubs currently served by both airlines, the carriers said. These include American hubs Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and New York Kennedy, and US Airways hubs Philadelphia, Washington Reagan National, Phoenix and Charlotte.

US Airways and American say that their combination is expected to generate more than $1 billion in annual net synergies in 2015. The airlines expect transition costs of approximately $1.2 billion, spread over the next three years. 

American Airlines parent AMR Corp. and US Airways Group made their merger agreement official on Thursday, with the airlines valuing the deal at $11 billion based on the price of US Airways stock on Feb. 13.

The combined carrier will fly as American Airlines, with headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.