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.

Work Begins on New Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal in PortMiami

Work Begins on New Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal in PortMiami

Work has begun on the new cruise terminal being developed by the Royal Caribbean Group in PortMiami.

According to The Next Miami, the new facility will replace the current Terminal G as part of a $345 million project.

The first stage of the development project includes the demolition of the structures of the current terminal building, which first opened in 1999.

Targeting a LEED Silver certification, the new single-berth facility will be able to host up to 7,000 passengers per call.

In addition to a new building for guest operations, the project also includes the construction of a multi-story parking garage with ground-level bus parking and designated passenger drop-off areas.

According to the NV2A Group, which is working on the construction in a joint venture with Lemartec, the main building features a design that strategically separates passenger flow by floor, optimising circulation and reducing congestion throughout embarkation and disembarkation.

“This approach minimises wait times, eliminates bottlenecks and ensures a streamlined process for cruise passengers, crew and transportation services,” the company stated.

The terminal is also said to feature an architectural design aimed at contributing to the evolving skyline of PortMiami.

“The project adds significant value to the port’s existing terminal infrastructure and delivers a product that inspires civic pride and strengthens Miami’s position as a premier cruise capital,” the NV2A Group added.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the new cruise terminal will be able to accommodate Icon-class vessels and is set to open by the fall of 2027.

Royal Caribbean also operates PortMiami’s Terminal A, which was built by the company and opened in late 2018.

The facility currently hosts the company’s largest vessels, including Oasis- and Icon-class ships, welcoming over 10,000 guests per call.

In related news, Royal Caribbean is also building a new ten-story office campus at PortMiami as part of a deal that was first announced in 2019.

Located near the company’s current headquarters on Dodge Island, the new office buildings are expected to be completed by 2026.

 

A Look at the Inaugural Season of Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas

A Look at the Inaugural Season of Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas

The third ship in Royal Caribbean International’s Icon class is scheduled to offer itineraries in Europe and the Caribbean as part of its maiden season in 2026.

Cruise Industry News takes a closer look at the Legend of the Seas’ schedule, which includes seven-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean, as well as six- and eight-night itineraries departing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

First Cruise
Date: August 2, 2026
Length: 7 nights
Homeport: Barcelona (Spain)
Itinerary: Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona (Spain); La Spezia, Civitavecchia and Naples (Italy)

According to Royal Caribbean’s website, the Legend of the Seas is scheduled to enter service in early August 2026, with a cruise to the Western Mediterranean.

Sailing from Barcelona, the seven-night maiden voyage features visits to destinations in Spain and Italy, such as Palma de Mallorca, La Spezia, Civitavecchia and Naples.

Seven-Night Cruises in the Mediterranean
Dates: Multiple sailings between August and October 2026
Length: 7 nights
Homeport: Barcelona (Spain) and Civitavecchia (Italy)
Itinerary: Palma de Mallorca (Spain); Marseille (France); La Spezia and Naples (Italy)

Later in August, the Legend of the Seas kicks off a series of regular seven-night cruises to the Western Mediterranean that sail to ports of call in France, Spain and Italy.

With departures scheduled through October, the itinerary sails from Barcelona and Civitavecchia and features visits to Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, La Spezia and Naples.

Maiden Trans-Atlantic
Date: Oct. 25, 2026
Length: 13 nights
Homeports: Barcelona (Spain) to Fort Lauderdale (United States)
Itinerary: Alicante, Málaga and Cádiz (Spain)

Upon completing its inaugural season in the Western Mediterranean, the Legend of the Seas offers a trans-Atlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale.

The 13-night repositioning voyage sails from Barcelona and features visits to three additional destinations in Spain: Alicante, Málaga and Cádiz.

Eight-Night Cruise to Southern Caribbean
Dates: Multiple sailings between November 2026 and April 2027
Length: 8 nights
Homeport: Miami (United States)
Itinerary: Oranjestad (Aruba); Willemstad (Curaçao); Cabo Rojo (Dominican Republic); and Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas)

Sailing from its homeport in Fort Lauderdale, the Legend of the Seas offers different itineraries to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, including this eight-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean.

Offered between November 2026 and April 2027, the itinerary includes visits to Aruba, Curaçao, and Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic. The LNG-powered ship is also scheduled to stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

Six-Night Cruise to Eastern Caribbean
Date: Multiple departures between November 2026 and April 2027
Length: 6 nights
Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States)
Itinerary: Labadee (Haiti); Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas); and Falmouth (Jamaica)

The Legend of the Seas also offers cruises to the Eastern Caribbean that sail to ports of call in Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

As part of the six-night itinerary, the ship sails to two of Royal Caribbean’s private destinations in the region: Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The Legend is scheduled to visit Falmouth before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

Carnival Mirical in Liverpool

Carnival Miracle Arriving in the Historic port of  Liverpool on the 25th June 2025 at around 7:50am.

Click on the Above Image to Watch YouTube

Name	Carnival Miracle
Owner	Carnival Corporation & plc
Operator	Carnival Cruise Line
Port of registry	Panama City,  Panama
Builder	Kvaerner Masa-Yards Helsinki New Shipyard Helsinki, Finland
Cost	US $375 million
Yard number	503
Launched	June 5, 2003
Sponsored by	Jessica Lynch
Christened	February 27, 2004
Completed	2004
Maiden voyage	February 27, 2004 (Bahamas)
In service	2004–present
Homeport	Long Beach, CA
Identification	Call sign: H3VS IMO number: 9237357 MMSI number: 354277000
Status	In active service
Notes	[1]
General characteristics
Class & type	Spirit-class cruise ship
Tonnage	88,500 GT
Length	963 ft (294 m)
Beam	105.7 ft (32.2 m)
Draft	25.5 ft (7.8 m)
Decks	12 decks
Installed power	Six diesel engines 62,370 kW (combined)
Propulsion	Two ABB Azipods (17.6 MW each)
Speed	22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity	2,124 passengers
Crew	930

Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates 35 Years at Port Canaveral

Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates 35 Years at Port Canaveral

Carnival Cruise Line marked 35 years of cruises from Central Florida with a special celebration aboard its Mardi Gras on Saturday.

Carnival began sailing from Port Canaveral in 1990, and has grown its operations over the years to homeport more ships than any other cruise line and embark more than 1.2 million guests from the port annually, the company said in a press release.

To commemorate the anniversary and longstanding partnership, Carnival hosted an onboard celebration. The event included several members of the community, such as leaders from the Canaveral Port Authority, the United States Coast Guard, and Brevard County.

David German, Port Canaveral’s vice president of cruise business development, presented Carnival with a framed Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners proclamation, documenting the special resolution the board passed this week to recognize the economic growth created by the 35-year relationship.

The cruise line also announced the charitable donation of a hybrid pickup truck that will support the work of Keep Brevard Beautiful, a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental conservation in the area.

The donation coincides with the weekend of World Ocean Day, emphasizing Carnival’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Carnival, which homeports four ships year-round and another ship seasonally at Port Canaveral, recently announced it will enhance offerings further by deploying its next new ship to the port. Sister ship to the Mardi Gras, the Carnival Festival is now under construction and will bring all new features into the Carnival fleet, including music-themed zones and the cruise line’s largest-ever water park, when it debuts in 2027.

“Port Canaveral has been a cornerstone of Carnival’s success for 35 years,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We’re proud to celebrate this incredible milestone alongside the community that has been such an essential part of our growth. Our exciting growth continues with the opening of Celebration Key next month, our exclusive destination that will really be a game-changer for us and for our guests.”

The Carnival Vista, which is homeported in Port Canaveral, will make the first official visit to Celebration Key for the destination’s grand opening. All Carnival ships sailing from Port Canaveral offer sailings that visit Celebration Key on Grand Bahama, which will offer guests the ultimate day in paradise.

With over 300 annual departures from Port Canaveral, Carnival guests contribute an estimated $450 million in economic impact to the region before and after cruises.

“We are proud to celebrate Carnival Cruise Line’s 35th anniversary of sailing from Port Canaveral and humbled by what this milestone represents,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “From the inaugural sailing of the TSS Carnivale in 1990 to having five year-round and seasonal vessels in their homeported fleet today, Carnival Cruise Line is our longest continuous cruise business relationship, contributing economic value over the decades for our Port community, the Central Florida region and our state.”

 

PortMiami Posts Busiest Cruise Year in History

PortMiami Posts Busiest Cruise Year in History

Royal Caribbean departing Port of Miami photo credit Spacejunkie2

PortMiami welcomed a total of 7,299,294 passengers during Fiscal Year 2023, setting a new record in cruise activity, the port announced in a press release.

During the period, which started on October 1, 2022 and ended on September 30, 2023, PortMiami experienced a nearly seven percent increase in cruise passenger totals compared to its previous record of 6,823,816 passengers in Fiscal Year 2019.

“Congratulations to the entire PortMiami team and its partners on its busiest cruise year ever,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

“PortMiami continues to drive our economy forward, creating opportunities for residents and businesses across our county. The Port is an industry leader, which is future ready and committed to innovative, efficient, and sustainable growth,” she added.

The 2024 Fiscal Year season is also bringing new developments, PortMiami said, which include new cruise lines and new vessels.

Among the new line-up of ships which began sailing to the facility are Oceania Cruises’ Vista, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Venezia, the Scenic Eclipse II, Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity, Explora Journey’s Explora I, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Viva; and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Grandeur.

In January 2024, Royal Caribbean Group’s Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, will also begin a year-round deployment from the port.

According to the port, dedicated partnerships and the development of new business have contributed to PortMiami’s post-pandemic recovery.

Since the pandemic, the port opened three new cruise terminals: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Cruise Terminal B, the Pearl of Miami; Carnival Corporation’s Cruise Terminal F; and Virgin Voyages’ Cruise Terminal V, the Palm Grove.

Currently under construction are MSC Cruises’ Terminals AA/AAA, which will open in 2024. Recently, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved Royal Caribbean Group’s new Cruise Terminal G, which is expected to open in late 2027.

Shore power – a partnership between PortMiami, its cruise partners (Carnival Corporation, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Group, and Virgin Voyages) and Florida Power & Light Company – is also in progress. Upon completion in 2024, shore power capability will be available at five cruise terminals with the ability to plug in three ships simultaneously. Shore power will allow a cruise ship to turn off their primary engines while docked, resulting in reduced air emissions, PortMiami said.