What's happening in the world of cruise ships? Here's a rundown of this week's top cruise news stories.
We got a preview of some new cruise ships, new deployments were announced, and more ships are returning to service.
Miami-themed zone on Carnival Celebration
Carnival unveiled what the new area on deck 8 of the Carnival Celebration cruise ship will look like.
The zone is called "820 Biscayne" and is named after the address of Carnival’s original headquarters, 820 Biscayne will celebrate the culture, architectural styles and flavors of the home city where the line was founded in 1972.
820 Biscayne will feature:
• Bar 820 – a half inside, half outside retro-inspired bar that will feature a “vintage cool” design with grab-and-go Cuban and specialty coffees for early risers on their way outside for some morning sunshine, as well as Miami-inspired tropical frozen drinks and creative martinis day and night.
• Deco Deli – designed as a nod to Miami’s Art Deco mecca with colorful fonts and signage, the space will serve more than the classic deli sandwiches with an expanded menu that also highlights Miami staples including the Cubano (pork, ham, swiss cheese and mustard), a croqueta sandwich (ham and cheese croqueta, shaved ham and pickles), and pan con lechon (slow cooked pulled pork, melted onion and mojo sauce) all on Cuban bread.
• Miami Slice – continuing to give guests the 24-hour pizza they know and love, the always-popular walk-up spot will offer authentic, fresh-from-the-oven and hand-tossed slices of cheesy goodness amid a contemporary and vibrant décor reminiscent of the late-night eateries on Miami’s bustling Ocean Drive.
Passengers will find beautiful artwork and fun photo opportunities like posing with flamingoes on skateboards.
Carnival Celebration will be the second Carnival ship to be powered by a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion system and will begin sailing in November 2022 from the new cruise Terminal F in PortMiami.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on Disney Wish
The new cruise ship for Disney Cruise Line will the signature salon for giving guests a princess makeover.
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will be available to kids 3 to 12 years old,. where they can get work done on their hair and makeup, and get different costumes to finish out the look.
In addition to princesses and pirates, kids can also choose to become Captain Minnie Mouse and Captain Mickey Mouse for the first time.
There will also be a new Ariel costume for the first time, which fits the "Little Mermaid" stage show onboard.
Walt Disney Imagineers created a storybook-inspired salon for Disney Wish featuring wood detailing, chandeliers with candle-esque lights, and design elements inspired by Cinderella.
Royal Caribbean announces Australia cruises for 2023-2024
A new array of Australia cruises are available to book for the 2023-2024 season.
Royal Caribbean released new sailings on three ships from down under, including Ovation, Quantum and Enchantment of the Seas.
Quantum of the Seas – Cruising from Brisbane
Headlining the line-up in Australia is Quantum, returning for an encore after its first summer season sailing from Brisbane in 2022. Holidaymakers can choose from 3- to 13-night cruises to explore Queensland’s stunning coast, including destinations such as Airlie Beach and Cairns, Queensland; or discover the untouched beauty of the South Pacific by visiting places like Port Vila, Vanuatu, and Noumea, New Caledonia.
Ovation of the Seas – Cruising from Sydney
Ovation, one of the most tech-forward ships, will set sail on its fifth season in the region. Holidaymakers can choose from a mix of 20 cruises, including 9- to 11-night sailings that visit destinations along New Zealand’s rugged coastline like Milford Sound, Wellington and Bay of Islands. Guests can also pick from a series of 3- to 9-night getaways around Australia to visit Hobart, Adelaide and Eden; as well as cruises to the South Pacific islands.
Enchantment of the Seas – Cruising from Sydney
Highlights of Enchantment’s inaugural season in Australia include new destinations for Royal Caribbean: Kangaroo Island and Gladstone, Australia. Holidaymakers can escape to the South Pacific on 8- to 11-night sailings and visit Isle of Pines, Mare and Noumea, New Caledonia; Lifou, Loyalty Islands as well as Port Vila in Vanuatu. A series of special cruises are also on deck, including an 11-night South Pacific and Fiji Christmas cruise, and longer sailings of 16 and 18 nights to locales along Australia’s Top End and West Coast, such as Darwin, Exmouth and Fremantle. Guests can combine the two itineraries back-to-back to enjoy a 34-night Australia and New Zealand adventure.
Grand Cayman welcomes back cruise ships
Cruise ships are once again visiting Grand Cayman.
The Disney Magic arrived earlier this week as the first ship to get to Grand Cayman since the COvid-19 pandemic began.
Martyn Roper, Governor of the Cayman Islands, stated, “Today marks the arrival of the first cruise ship to Grand Cayman in over two years, a significant milestone for Cayman’s tourism industry. Congratulations to Minister Bryan and the Ministry of Tourism for their hard work in traversing the complexities of the return of cruise tourism.”
“I am grateful for the opportunities and return of livelihood for many tourism workers who are dependent on this aspect of our tourism as we continue to gradually ease regulations and open our borders whilst living with Covid-19."
The Carnival Paradise, Carnival Glory, and Carnival Sunrise arrived in Grand Cayman a few days later.
Matt Hochberg
Matt loves to cruise, and started Cruise.Blog as a place to share different cruise experiences, advice, and what to know before going on a cruise.
He lives in Florida with his wife and two daughters, where he can be found on any given day trying to convince his wife they "need" to book another cruise.
