Carnival Corp. announced this week that it will begin using only cage-free eggs on all of its ships.

The transition, which should be final by 2025, is the result of a partnership between the cruise ship operator and the Humane Society of the United States, Carnival said in a news release.

“Carnival Corp. and our brands recognize animal welfare is an important issue for our guests, and addressing it is part of our ongoing commitment to how we operate,” Roger Frizzell, Carnival Corp. chief communications officer, said in the news release. “We have been working with our suppliers in this area, and look forward to continuing our efforts as we work towards our goal of 100 percent cage-free eggs.”

Carnival joins a wealth of other corporations moving toward using only cage-free eggs.

In 2012, Burger King became the first major fast-food chain to announce it would make the move to cage-free eggs and pork, according to a USA Today report on the announcement.

McDonald’s announced in September its plans to go cage-free in its North American restaurants, the Wall Street Journal said.

And in November, Taco Bell announced it will use cage-free eggs at all of its locations in the United States by 2017, CNN Money reports.

By Kristina Webb, Palm Beach Post

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Just 30 months ago, the cruise news that broke earlier today would have been unimaginable. One company’s turnaround from villain to champion has turned them into a blueprint for how to turn corporate crisis into a large-scale impetus for evolution.

No, we’re not talking about norovirus or tragedy here. This is good news for the industry and great news for Carnival Cruise Line.

Readers’ Digest readers have named Carnival America’s Most Trusted Cruise Line. More than 4,500 respondents agreed – Carnival is No. 1.

On the surface, it’s just another press release. This is the beginning of the travel award season, it's just another plaudit. But when you zoom out to Feb. 10, 2013, this news becomes a remarkable achievement.

That’s the day that an engine fire broke out in an engine room aboard the Carnival Triumph in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship was on the third-day of a four-night itinerary from Galveston to the Western Caribbean.

Dream vacations quickly evolved into a nightmare as the ship drifted out at sea for four days with more than 4,000 passengers and crew members in agony. Air conditioning, lighting, water, food and even working toilets failed one by one before it was ultimately towed back to Mobile, Alabama.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the crew set sail in February with only four of six generators fully operational – a fleetwide problem well known among Carnival crew.

The perception then was that Carnival was OK with substandard, that company officials knew this ship was prone to fires, that the faulty generators were long overdue for maintenance.

This after sister cruise line Costa suffered a fire aboard the Allegra in February 2012.

It was a public relations nightmare, not only for Carnival but a perception problem for the entire industry. The company that built its reputation on being the Fun Ships with America’s sweetheart Kathie Lee Gifford belting out jingles was suddenly showing itself to be far from trustworthy.

The company owned the mistakes, and it started an internal audit and a long road back to earning the public trust.

Carnival dedicated $300 million to a fleetwide safety upgrade. It instituted a 110%-money-back “Great Vacation Guarantee.”

From there, Carnival focused on making the guest experience better than ever. The arrival of the Breeze started a Fun Ships 2.0 drydock overhaul of the fleet, adding upgrades to the kids’ program that included the Dr. Seuss at Sea initiative, a new comedy partnership with George Lopez and new eateries such as Guy’s Burger Joint, to name just a few of the innovations.

The corporate staff enhanced their travel agent outreach efforts, creating communication channels that made the agent community feel as if they were being heard when it came to onboard changes and compensated better for selling the Carnival experience.

Carnival kept moving forward, creating the successful Carnival Live program, bringing well-known singers onboard for free shows.

They recommitted themselves to cleanliness and safety and the results showed. The three cruises I’ve taken my family on aboard Carnival ships over the last two-plus years have been among the best vacations we’ve ever had. We saw all the efforts in action, from the cleaning staff to the entertainment staff to the stewards, a "how can we make this trip magical?" attitude shined through.

The end result has been a turnaround rarely seen in any other economic sector, let alone in just 30 months. Carnival is strong financially once again, and this Readers’ Digest award is just the latest sign that they are once again beloved by the cruising public.

New CEO Christine Duffy spoke to a packed house of travel agents last week at the Agent@Home Travel Summit in Atlantic City, N.J. As she spoke gleefully of the company’s newest ship, Vista, coming online in May 2016, she said with conviction that Carnival is focused on being America’s cruise line.

Their rivals have made great strides in earning that title. Cynics might say this award is just the result of a voting public with a short-term memory. But Carnival has owned its flawed past and executed an extensive plan to earn that label once again. They have listened to their guests, worked in concert with the agent community and ultimately achieved in delivering a top-notch cruise experience.

As a result, they’ve gone from being the poster child for failure to the blueprint for success.

It’s a case study I hope U.S. airlines will follow, and quick.

By Tim Wood, Travel Pulse

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Carnival Cruise Line will provide its guests with a variety of new voyages to visit Bermuda in 2016 with nine departures that feature at least one overnight.

From April through November 2016, guests can embark on four different Carnival ships departing from five convenient U.S. homeports offering itineraries ranging from five to eight days.

Carnival’s 2016 Bermuda schedule includes:

• Carnival Pride: five-day cruises from Baltimore departing April 10 and Oct. 26, as well as seven-day voyages departing Sept. 4 and 18.
  

• Carnival Victory: an eight-day sailing from Port Canaveral departing May 19.
  

• Carnival Ecstasy: seven-day cruises from Charleston departing May 12 and Nov. 5.
  

• Carnival Sunshine: a seven-day cruise from New York departing Oct. 1, and a five-day sailing from Norfolk departing Oct. 23.
  

Five-day itineraries feature an overnight call at Bermuda; seven-day cruises spend two nights docked at King’s Wharf; and the eight-day voyage features three nights on the island.

“By offering Bermuda cruises from a variety of convenient drive-to homeports, we’re providing guests even more opportunities to experience and explore this incredible island paradise,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president.

“The island has tremendous tourist appeal and the wide range of cruises offer consumers maximum choice when planning their Bermuda vacation while providing travel agents with a sought-after destination to market to their clients,” she added.

Source: Cruise Industry News, Aug. 31, 2015 ("Carnival Offering Varied Bermuda Program in 2016”)

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Carnival Cruise Line announced this week that it has extensively expanded its shore experiences, now featuring personalized private tours, family-friendly excursions, free activities and more.

The cruise line is now offering “Only-On-Carnival” tours on select Caribbean cruises. Guests discovering Cozumel can experience the five-hour, 30-person La Casa en la Playa tour, which includes access to a five-star beach house, personal chef, cooking classes and a private beach. Guests can also indulge in the two-day Photo Safari & Beach Expedition, which includes a one-hour photography seminar, guided tours of Mexican beaches and hands-on learning at a national park.

In Ocho Rios, Jamaica, guests can indulge in the Eat, Drink & Dance tour where they will sample traditional jerk cuisine, dine at the world-famous Miss T’s Kitchen and enjoy beachside Jamaican rum cocktails. For the day, guests can also enjoy the Jamaican Home for the Day experience, which includes a private villa and beach, home-cooked meals and plenty of frozen drinks.

Guests cruising in St. Thomas can relax on Carnival’s Eat, Drink & Walk tour, which features a trip to St. Peter Mountain Great House & Botanical Gardens, island rum samples, cocktail making classes and a traditional island meal.

Carnival is also offering experiences for the whole family throughout select Caribbean, Mexico and Bahamas trips. In Freeport, guests can enjoy the Family Beach Escape, which sails families to a beachside resort where they can build sandcastles, go treasure hunting, enjoy paddle boating and water activities for the day. Guests on the Island Beach Escape for Families tour can enjoy a relaxing ride on a power catamaran and beachside activities on Passion Island for the day.

Families can also participate in Carnival’s Treasure Hunt with Lunch at Blue Lagoon in Nassau, Bahamas. To win the pirate’s booty, families must answer quizzes and search for clues before they settle down to indulge in a grilled lunch on Blue Lagoon Island.

At Seawinds Beach Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica, families can spend the day exploring the beachfront property while enjoying an all-inclusive buffet lunch, kid-friendly pools and more.

Source: Travel Agent Central, July 13, 2015 ("Carnival Launches New Shore Excursions and Family Experiences")

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A day after Carnival cruises announced it will be sailing to Cuba, the CEO of the company speaks out about the historic change between the island nation and the U.S. and what to expect in their new voyage.

Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald says this will not be your typical cruise vacation. He believes Americans are curious about Cuba and want to visit the island whether it’s on a plane or a cruise ship.

“There’s lots of pent up demand in the U.S., lots of curiosity,” said Donald. “Cuba has always been of interest, it was a great destination from the U.S. more than 50 years ago and people would love to go there.”

Carnival has gotten U.S. government approval to operate cruises to the island as a provider of cultural exchange programs.

Starting next may, the ms adonia, a 700-passenger ship, will sail to Cuba on what’s called fathom cruising, during which passengers take part in volunteer work programs and cultural exchanges.

“There’s no casino on board, no Broadway shows, this is truly a cultural immersion, cultural exchange traveler experience facilitating exchanges between U.S. Citizens and Cubans,” said Donald.

Florida Governor Rick Scott has said he opposes cruises to Cuba as long as Raul Castro is in power.

“The Obama administration is rewarding the Castro brothers for not doing the right thing. They don’t believe in democracy. They don’t believe in political freedom,” said Scott.

Donald said his cruises are intended to help the Cuban people, not the Cuban government.

“It’s already occurring. U.S. citizens are going under these guidelines and now instead of going on a chartered aircraft you’re able to go on a ship,”

By Elliott Rodriguez, CBS Miami

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Add cruise giant Carnival Corp. to the list of travel companies starting up trips to Cuba.

The parent company of Carnival, Princess and eight other cruise brands says it'll launch seven-night "people-to-people" tours to the island via ship beginning in May 2016, contingent on approval by Cuban authorities.

The cruises will be operated bi-weekly out of Miami by the company's new social impact-focused fathom brand, which will debut in April 2016 with volunteer vacations to the Dominican Republic.

"All of our research suggests there is huge pent-up demand for the Cuba experience," Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald tells USA TODAY, noting that it's been decades since cruise ships sailed from the USA to the island.

The announcement comes in the wake of the Obama administration's recent moves to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba and loosen rules for U.S. travel to the island nation.

While leisure travel to Cuba including traditional cruises still is banned under the USA's five-decade-old embargo, U.S. travelers who fall under one of 12 approved categories now can legally visit the country without needing a license in advance. The categories include traveling for educational activities such as people-to-people exchanges.

Carnival Corp. says the new Cuba cruises will be offered on fathom's single ship, the 710-passenger Adonia, and provide "cultural, artistic, faith-based and humanitarian exchanges between American and Cuban citizens" -- meeting the definition of people-to-people travel. Traveling for humanitarian projects and religious activities also are among the 12 approved categories of travel to Cuba.

The company says it has been granted necessary approvals for the voyages from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Commerce and hopes to have approval from the Cuban government soon.

Carnival Corp. didn't release details of the itinerary it plans for the Cuba trips, citing the need for Cuban government approval. But U.S. travelers can reserve a spot on a voyage starting today by putting down a $600 deposit. Fares initially will begin at $2,990 per person plus taxes and port fees -- more than triple the starting price for a typical seven-night Caribbean sailing with Carnival Corp.'s flagship Carnival brand. The fare will include all on-board social impact-related activities and some on-the-ground cultural immersion activities.

The announcement comes just two weeks after package tour giant Apple Vacations announced plans to start people-to-people tours to Cuba, joining a growing number of land-based tour companies offering such trips. But what Carnival Corp. will be offering with its trips on fathom's Adonia will be unique, says Donald, citing the ship's high-quality accommodations and on-board experience.

The venture also could help position Carnival Corp. for the day when the U.S. embargo of Cuba is lifted and the company's mass-market brands such as Carnival and Princess can begin offering traditional-style cruises to the island.

"We think this experience as a standalone (business venture) is warranted unto itself, but clearly ... it will give us a much more intimate understanding (of operating in Cuba) to prepare ultimately for whenever the embargo is lifted," Donald says.

"It's hopefully a precursor to what's to come," Donald adds. "We can only do so much under the cultural exchange (style of travel). Right now we only have the one ship. Once the embargo is lifted you will have many, many ships going."

By Gene Sloan, USA Today

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Carnival Corporation today announced it has finalized a multi-billion dollar contract to build four next-generation cruise ships with the largest guest capacity in the industry.

The contract with Meyer Werft is part of larger previously announced strategic memo of understanding with shipbuilders Meyer Werft and Fincantieri S.p.A for nine new ship orders between 2019 and 2022.

The four new ships will also feature a new “green cruising” design. The ships will be the first in the cruise industry to be powered at sea by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

The company said two of the ships will be manufactured for AIDA Cruises at Meyer Werft's shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Additional information about the ships, including which new ships will be added to each brand, will be made available at a later date.

Based on Carnival Corporation’s innovative new ship design, each of the four next-generation ships will have a total capacity of 6,600 guests, feature more than 5,000 lower berths, exceed 180,000 gross tons and incorporate an extensive number of guest-friendly features. A major part of the innovative design involves making much more efficient use of the ship's spaces, creating an enhanced onboard experience for guests, said Carnival.

The four new ships will be the first in the cruise industry to use LNG in dual-powered hybrid engines to power the ship both in port and on the open sea. LNG will be stored onboard and used to generate 100 percent power at sea.

Using LNG to power the ships in port and at sea will eliminate emissions of soot particles and sulfur oxides.

In addition to the two ships being built in Germany, Meyer Werft – which had the capacity to accommodate these four ship-building orders in its production schedule -- will also build the two additional ships detailed in today’s announcement at its shipyard in Turku, Finland.

Each new ship will be specifically designed and developed for the brand and the guests it will serve, underscoring the company's goal to consistently exceed guest expectations and provide first-time and repeat guests with the vacation experience of a lifetime on each and every cruise.

Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald said the contract is consistent with the company’s measured capacity growth strategy to replace ships with less efficient capacity with newer, larger and more fuel efficient vessels over time.

"We are looking forward to executing on the next step in our fleet enhancement plan," said Donald. "At a cost per berth in line with our existing order book, these new ships will enhance the return profile of our fleet. These are exceptionally efficient ships with incredible cabins and public spaces featuring a design inspired by Micky Arison and Michael Thamm and developed by our new build teams." Arison is chairman of the board of directors for Carnival Corporation & plc and Thamm is CEO of the Costa Group, which includes AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises.

Added Donald: “It will be exciting to see our shipbuilding team bring these new ships to life. Every step of the way, our focus is on designing state-of-the-art ships that provide a vacation experience our guests will love, and we are putting all of our creative energy and resources into making sure we achieve that goal.”

“These ships will expand our leadership position for the Costa Group, the market leader in all the major European markets,” said Thamm. “These will be spectacular ships designed specifically for our guests who sail on our Costa Group brands.”

The new ship order will allow the Costa Group to continue to build on its leadership position in the European cruise market – a market in which five out of 10 cruise guests in 2014 sailed onboard a Costa Group ship. The Costa Group – along with Princess Cruise Lines, also part of the Carnival Corporation family -- also occupies the leading position in the rapidly growing cruise market in China.

Source: Cruise Industry News, June 15, 2015, "Carnival Next Gen Ship Details-LNG, 180,000 Tons, 2 for AIDA")

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Carnival Cruise Line is implementing a ban on most bottled beverages in an effort to keep passengers from smuggling alcohol disguised as bottled water aboard ships.

Starting July 9, the cruise line announced that passengers will no longer be permitted to bring bottled beverages onboard at embarkation, reports USA Today. The new rule permits a single bottle of wine or champagne per passenger.

Unopened beverages packed in cans or cartons including water, soda, or juice will be permitted but passengers are limited to a 12-pack in carry-on luggage.

"We sincerely apologize for any disappointment these changes may cause," in a letter signed by Arlene Marichal, senior director, solutions and special services that will be distributed to cruise passengers. "However, we firmly believe this will result in a safer environment while also improving the embarkation process and the overall guest experience."

Carnival will also be restricting the size of coolers that can be carried on board to 12 in by 12 in by 12 in or less. Passengers will not longer have the ability to tag beverages as checked luggage during embarkation.

Carnival says that the new policy is an effort to combat passengers from bringing “unauthorized alcohol” aboard cruises. Some recent episodes “bad behavior” have been traced back to illicit alcohol and the inspection of a rising number of bottles was slowing down the boarding process.

To help offset the cost for passengers, the cruise line announced it has lowered the price of bottled water—if purchased in advance of the itinerary. A $4.99 12-pack of 500 mL bottles will cost $2.99 if purchased in advance

By FOX News

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Sometimes the smallest things are the most touchy for clients. The onboard beverage policy – involving carry-on beverages and corking fees – is one of those. Passengers often rant and rave on the Facebook pages of a multitude of lines. Any small change or even the basic policies themselves cause a lot of noise from booked guests or potential cruisers.

Today, Carnival Cruise Lines is gingerly wading into those waters with a policy change. Booked guests are receiving a letter and agents are being notified.

Essentially, guests will no longer be able to bring any water, sodas, juices and other non-alcoholic beverages onboard in bottles. Carnival cites instances of alcoholic beverages being smuggled in those bottles – causing safety and security concerns. In turn, the line has reduced its price for bottled water to 12 bottles for $2.99, providing the water is reserved in advance. The price is comparable to what guests would pay in the grocery store.

To receive that price, the guest must reserve the bottled water online in advance; it will then be delivered to the room. If guests wait to buy it onboard, the price is $4.99 per 12 bottles. The line says it will basically break even with the new fee structure, if that.

Carnival stresses that people can still bring up to 12 cans or cartons (per person) containing juice, sodas and other nonalcoholic beverages. But bottles are not permitted. The carry-on wine policy and onboard corkage fee remains the same.

Carnival says some safety issues onboard have been investigated and found to be caused by guests' use of smuggled alcohol. Guests are also bringing what Carnival considers as "excessive amounts" of bottled water - thus slowing down embarkation as inspections must occur.

Not suprisingly, much of the abuse cited by the line is occurring with boarding in the U.S. for Caribbean itineraries. That said, all North American ports have a high complement of "drive market" guests -- who bring coolers and cart cases of water and other beverages, as they're not restricted by airline regulations or baggage fees.

To a lesser extent, this happens in Europe or elsewhere, but the policy changes made by Carnival today are being implemented fleetwide for all itineraries, the line said.

John Heald, Carnival's veteran cruise director who writes a personal blog and has a web site, told his readers today about this additional detail on the water front. He said:

• We will allow guests to bring their own distilled water if they are bringing a CPAP machine.

• We also allow nursery water for families with babies. You must have a baby with you.

For the full range of policy changes, here’s the exact letter sent by Arlene Marichal, Carnival’s senior director, solutions and special services, to guests:

Source: Susan Young (Travel Agent Central, June 9, 2015, "Carnival Bans Bringing Bottled Water Onboard")

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Embodying Carnival Cruise Line’s motto of Fun For All, All For Fun, the new Carnival Vista will offer family members of all ages the ultimate vacation experience, according to Carnival Cruise Lines, debuting a variety of one-of-a-kind on-board features when it enters service next spring.

From a suspended cycling experience called SkyRide and the Family Harbor staterooms and suites featuring a “family concierge” to cruising’s first IMAX Theater, Carnival Vista promises fun for the whole family.

“Carnival is the number one cruise line for families carrying more than 700,000 children annually and Carnival Vista will build upon our leadership position in this area with incredible outdoor attractions and engaging indoor spaces specifically designed with families in mind,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president.

Carnival Vista will take cruising to new “heights” – with SkyRide, a first-of-its-kind aerial attraction. Here, adventure seekers pedal hanging recumbent-like cycles at speeds of up to 18 miles an hour across an elevated 800-foot-long track, while enjoying panoramic views to the sea 150 feet below. There will be no charge for Sky Ride.

Adjacent to SkyRide is SportSquare, an open-air recreation area for all ages with a 270-foot-long suspended ropes course, a two-level miniature golf course, a 700-foot-long jogging track, a variety of outdoor fitness equipment, and the new Clubhouse, a modern indoor sports hangout with mini-bowling, ping-pong, sports-themed video games, arcade-style sports games and more.

When it’s time to cool off, the young – and the young at heart – can check out WaterWorks, the largest aqua park in the fleet highlighted by Kaleid-o-Slide, Carnival’s first inner-tube slide. Riders can zip down 455 feet of corkscrew turns enhanced by music and kaleidoscopic effects. And no Carnival water park is complete without the Twister slide, offering 300 feet of high-speed fun, as well as the PowerDrencher, a 300-gallon tipping bucket. A kiddie area with 30 different water spray toys and mini-racing slides will be available for younger cruisers.

Carnival stated there will be indoor thrills, too, with the cruise industry’s first IMAX Theater with a three-deck-high screen that brings an immersive cinema experience to sea with the latest Hollywood blockbusters and family favorites, IMAX classics and IMAX documentary content. The 182-seat IMAX Theater is part of the Carnival Multiplex, which includes Thrill Theater, a multi-dimensional experience where seats move back and forth and side to side and viewers are sprayed with water and bubbles to make them feel like they’re part of the movie.

The Warehouse, featuring video and arcade games, is located next door. And no trip to the multiplex is complete without popcorn and other movie favorites, available at a nearby concession stand.

Families can also enjoy all-ages comedy shows at the 385-seat Punchliner Comedy Club presented by George Lopez as well as the audience participation in Hasbro, The Game Show. New for Carnival Vista will be an ice cream parlor within the Cherry on Top confection store where patrons can select their favorite ice cream and mix-ins and watch as their frozen creation is made right before their eyes.

Exclusive to Carnival Vista is Family Harbor, located within a dedicated family zone aft on Deck 2 with 96 specially designed “family ergonomic” accommodations, including extra-large family suites accommodating five guests and featuring two bathrooms.

The Family Harbor Lounge is a secluded space designed as the ultimate family hangout with large screen TVs, board games and complimentary breakfast, cookies and other snacks. An exclusive family concierge maximizes the fun on board, assisting with dining, spa and shore excursion reservations, registering kids for the youth programs and making recommendations on and off the ship for families with kids of all ages.

Family Harbor staterooms include kid-friendly toiletries, bathrobes and slippers while suites feature separate sleeping quarters for parents and children and a walk-in closet. Guests in Family Harbor staterooms also receive a number of exclusive benefits and privileges, including 24/7 card key access to the Family Harbor Lounge, free meals for kids under age 12 in specialty restaurants, and one free evening in Night Owls, a late-night activities program held in Camp Ocean.

Carnival Vista will also feature Dr. Seuss Bookville, a family reading and play venue featuring iconic décor and funky furniture inspired by the world of Dr. Seuss. Here, kids and their families can read Dr. Seuss books, enjoy arts and crafts, toys and play Dr. Seuss-inspired games. Dr. Seuss Bookville is part of Seuss at Sea, a fleetwide program that also includes the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in the Hat and Friends, and Seuss-a-Palooza Parade and Story Time.

Carnival Vista will also include a 4,000-square-foot Camp Ocean play area where, the cruise line said, kids ages 2-11 can be immersed in the wonders of the sea through a variety of age-appropriate, fun-filled and engaging experiences and activities.

Camp Ocean includes Party Reef, a common area for all ages, as well as a breakout room for arts and crafts called Creative Cove. Just outside Camp Ocean are two outdoor playgrounds: Camp Ocean Playground featuring climbing, tactile and exploratory activities for the little ones, while the interactive NEOS® Play Zone offers high-tech physical fun for older kids. For early teens, there’s Circle “C,” designed as the ultimate chill space for 12- to 14-year-olds, as well as Club O2, a cool hangout just for 15 to 17 year olds.

Carnival Vista is scheduled to enter service from Europe May 1, 2016, then reposition to New York for a series of voyages in November 2016 followed by the launch of year-round Caribbean service from Miami later that month.

Source: Cruise Industry News, May 26, 2015

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Today the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) celebrated the return of the newly renovated Carnival Cruise Lines ship Pride to the Port of Baltimore. Carnival will offer five to 14-day cruises onboard the Carnival Pride year-round from Baltimore to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

“Maryland values our long-standing relationship with Carnival and we are delighted to welcome the Carnival Pride back to her home port at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary, Pete K. Rahn. “Governor Hogan is focused on building Maryland’s reputation as a place that’s open for business, and today we are pleased that the Carnival Pride is once again open for business in Baltimore.”

“We are thrilled to be returning to Baltimore which is such a fantastic cruise departure point for people in Mid-Atlantic States, the northeast and beyond,” said Carnival President Christine Duffy. “Carnival Pride has just undergone a massive enhancement program that added a variety of great new features which, when combined with a wide range of itinerary options, makes this ship an excellent vacation choice for consumers and a great selling opportunity for our valued travel agent partners.”

In 2014, nearly 200,000 passengers sailed on 89 cruises from the Port of Baltimore.

Source: Cruise Industry News (“Carnival Pride Back in Baltimore”)
 


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Carnival Cruise Lines is all set to bring its Fun Ship 2.0 features and amenities to travelers across the East Coast in 2016.

The cruise line announced on Monday that it will offer 20 voyages ranging from two to 10 days from New York aboard the Carnival Sunshine from June 2016 to October 2016. Carnival also announced a series of sailings aboard the Carnival Sunshine from ports in Charleston, South Carolina and Norfolk, Virginia, during the summer and fall of 2016.

The announcement is significant in that it marks the first time a "Fun Ship 2.0-equipped ship" will offer voyages to so many different destinations from New York.

The Carnival Sunshine will operate eight different voyages from New York spanning two to nine days, and four different cruises from Charleston and Norfolk each. The longest cruise offered is a 10-day sailing from Charleston to the Caribbean departing on May 30, 2016.

"Carnival Sunshine has an extraordinary array of guest features and facilities and will provide consumers and our valued travel agent partners with a wide range of itinerary choices from these highly attractive East Coast homeports," said Carnival president Christine Duffy in a statement.

The 3,000-guest Carnival Sunshine will replace the Carnival Splendor on departures from New York and Norfolk. The latter will operate a series of cruises from those ports in 2015.

Following voyages from New York, Charleston and Norfolk, the Carnival Sunshine will return to its home port of Port Canaveral where it will sail eight different Caribbean voyages in the winter of 2016 and spring of 2017.

Carnival Sunshine recently received a $155 million makeover and boasts an adults-only retreat that includes a pool and waterfall. Plus, the vessel features a variety of dining options, a waterpark and an outdoor recreation area as well as unique bars.

A Cloud 9 Spa and comedy club are among the other onboard highlights.

According to a press release from the cruise line, three Carnival Sunshine voyages, including the nine-day voyage departing Aug. 25, 2016 from New York, "are part of the line’s recently announced Carnival Journeys series that feature exceptional ports and unique on-board experiences showcasing local cuisine, entertainment and cultural opportunities."

Source: Patrick Clarke (TravelPulse, "Carnival Sunshine Headed to the East Coast in 2016")

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Carnival Cruise Line has launched a series of longer voyages with unique shipboard experiences throughout the Caribbean, Central America, Hawaii and Mexico.

The new Carnival Journeys program includes nine- to 15-day seagoing on several ships, including the Carnival Dream, Sunshine and Glory.

“We have received a tremendous amount of feedback from our guests and travel agent partners about the importance of consistently offering new Carnival cruise experiences,” said Carnival President Christine Duffy.

“Carnival Journeys was created to offer our existing customers even more options while helping us to attract those guests who have not had the opportunity to sail with Carnival and may be enticed by these longer, more exotic itineraries.”

The new program will debut with an 11-day cruise on Carnival Dream departing New Orleans on Oct. 4 and sailing to San Juan. The program will run through Nov. 27, 2016, with 28 departures from eight North American homeports including Los Angeles, Galveston, New Orleans, Miami, Port Canaveral, New York, Baltimore and San Juan. Cruises will operate either round-trip or one-way between these ports and San Juan.

Carnival Journeys include calls at less-visited ports such as Tobago, Grenada, La Paz, Martinique, Bonaire and Ixtapa.

Unique onboard activities include local entertainment such as calypso and soca, enrichment sessions in topics such as cooking, arts and crafts, digital photography and celestial navigation.

A “Throwback Seaday” will rekindle the 1980s with retro pool and deck games, dining options like Baked Alaska and the midnight buffet, movies from that era, and a circa 1987 version of the Carnival Capers shipboard newsletter.

The new “Authentic Eats” program will feature onboard cooking demonstrations with by local chefs and the chance to dine at their restaurants ashore for a nominal fee. Guests also can accompany the chef to local markets.

Another new program will let guests learn more about shipboard life through question-and-answer sessions hosted by the ship’s captain, cruise director, hotel director and others.

Source: Theresa Norton Masek (TravelPulse, "Carnival Introduces Longer, Unique Voyages")

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Carnival Cruise Line’s new 133,500-ton Carnival Vista will operate six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises year-round from Miami starting in December 2016.

The announcement settles speculation about the year-round homeport and itineraries for what will be Carnival’s biggest ship. Word leaked out last week that the ship was bound for Miami, but now exact itineraries are revealed, along with other ship repositionings.

The Carnival Breeze and Carnival Liberty will replace Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph, respectively, in Galveston in 2016, joining Carnival Freedom, which arrives in Galveston on Feb. 14. Details on new homeports for Carnival Magic and Triumph, as well as year-round departures from San Juan, will be revealed in coming weeks.

Carnival Vista will kick off its schedule from PortMiami with a four-day cruise to Grand Turk departing Nov. 29, 2016. The ship then will launch year-round six- and eight-day cruises beginning with an eight-day voyage departing Dec. 3, 2016.

Six-day cruises will visit Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, while a mix of different eight-day itineraries visit a number of Caribbean ports of call, including Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Kitts, St. Maarten and La Romana, Dominican Republic.

Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Carnival Vista will introduce ground-breaking features such as a suspended open-air cycling experience, the world’s first IMAX Theater on a ship, a water tube slide, and an onboard brewery in the RedFrog Pub. The ship also will feature family accommodations with a family concierge and lounge, a Seafood Shack serving lobster rolls and crab cakes, and outdoor dining at the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi and Cherry On Top with a new premium ice cream bar.

Carnival Vista will enter service in May with a summer of Mediterranean cruises before sailing to New York for several cruises before moving to Miami.

Meanwhile, in Galveston, Carnival Liberty will launch year-round four- and five-day cruises to Mexico beginning March 21, 2016. Four-day “long weekend” cruises depart Thursdays and stop at Cozumel, while five-day voyages depart Mondays and Saturdays visiting Cozumel and Progreso.

Carnival Breeze, currently the line’s newest ship, will offer three week-long itineraries beginning Dec. 11, 2016. Western Caribbean voyages call at either Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel or Belize, Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan) and Cozumel. A Bahamas/Florida route includes Nassau, Freeport, and Key West.

Before their new deployments, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Breeze will each operate a 12-day cruise. Carnival Liberty will cruise from San Juan to Galveston March 6-18, 2016, calling at St. Thomas, Barbados, Tobago, Grenada, Aruba and Grand Cayman. Carnival Breeze will depart Miami Nov. 27, 2016, and arrive in Galveston Dec. 9, 2016, after visiting St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Curaçao, Aruba and Cozumel.

Source: Theresa Norton Masek (Travel Pulse, February 12, 2015)

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The brewpub craze that has been sweeping the nation in recent years is now heading to the high seas.

Industry giant Carnival on Thursday said its next ship, the Carnival Vista, will have a pub with a working brewery -- a first for a North American line.

The 4,000-passenger vessel's RedFrog Pub will serve up three house-made beers that passengers can watch being made in tanks behind a wall of glass, the line's vice president for beverage operations, Eddie Allen, tells USA TODAY.

"Our guests love beer, and they love trying new things," Allen says, noting that the line also has been rolling out more craft beers across its fleet.

Allen says the Carnival Vista brewpub will feature holding tanks for the house-made beer located near its entrance that passengers will be able to touch as they walk in. The fermentation tanks where the beer is brewed will be in the back behind the glass, and the line also is building a grist mill on a lower deck to process the grains needed for the brewing process.

"We're milling everything on site," Allen says. "We want to be sure we're putting our heart into this beer and making the best product we can."

Allen wouldn't say if Carnival is partnering with an existing brewer to operate the brewery. But he said the brewery will have its own dedicated brewmasters, and at least one of the house-made brews is likely to be a wheat beer.

The freshly-made beer will be available on tap at the pub's bar and through innovative tabletop taps that allow guests to pour their own beer, he says. The pub also will offer an array of Caribbean-inspired cocktails, beers and rums. It'll have indoor and outdoor seating and feature live music. Brewery tours and tastings also are in the plans.

Only Germany-based Aida Cruises, which caters to the German-speaking market, has a working brewery on a ship.

Carnival's brewpub announcement comes just seven months after the line announced a partnership with Tampa-based craft brewery Cigar City to serve its beers on 13 ships sailing out of Tampa and four other Florida ports. The move is part of an effort to bring more local craft beers onto ships that also has included the addition of Hawaii-made beer from the Maui Brewing Company to vessels sailing to Hawaii and Louisiana-made beer from the Abita Brewing Company to ships sailing from New Orleans.

Allen says mass-market brands Corona and Bud Light continue to be the top sellers on Carnival ships. But the craft beer movement that has swept the nation definitely has spilled onto the line's ships, and cruisers are asking for more variety. Indeed, the trend is for beer drinkers to jump from brand to brand during a single sitting.

"They're not necessarily drinking the same beer back to back to back," he says.

Scheduled to debut in spring 2016, the Carnival Vista will spend the summer of 2016 in Europe before sailing to New York for a series of cruises.

The Carnival Vista will build on the design of the line's last new ship, the Carnival Breeze. For a deck-by-deck tour of the Carnival Breeze, click through the carousel below.

By Gene Sloan, USA Today

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Carnival Cruise Lines' newest cruise ship comes with a view - quite a few views actually, and that's probably why they named it the Carnival Vista.

The line revealed some major details of the 3,936-passenger ship that's due in spring 2016 including the first IMAX movie theater at sea and SkyRide, an open-air cycling experience in which riders are suspended above the upper decks for a view that's 150 feet above the sea.

"Carnival Vista celebrates the connection to the oceans on which we sail and gives our guests amazing seascapes around every corner and more ways to enjoy every moment of sun and fun during their cruise vacation," said Mark Tamis, Carnival's senior vice president of guest operations.

Also unique to the Vista will be a an expanded water park, the centerpiece of which will be a raft-riding slide called the Kaleid-O-Slide that sends riders down a 455-foot twisted, visually stimulating tube.

Two other new features will be a New England-inspired eatery called the Seafood Shack and the line's first onboard brewery connected to the RedFrog Pub.

The SkyRide is the latest salvo in above-deck options various cruise lines have offered to give cruisers a unique view of the ship and its surroundings. Disney Cruise Line gave us the AquaDuck water slide and Royal Caribbean offered up the North Star pivoting arm ride on Quantum of the Seas. Now Carnival's SkyRide lets riders tool around 800 feet of suspended track on a recumbent bicycle. It will be adjacent to the line's ropes course as part of the activity park that also includes a sports hangout with mini-bowling, ping-pong, arcade basketball and sports video games.

The IMAX theater will span three decks, offering the latest new films as well as classic IMAX offerings. It will be adjacent to the Thrill Theater, a short, theatrical 3D attraction that features moving seats and other special effects. Both will be part of the Carnival Multiplex, offering a concession stand with traditional moviegoing fare.

The line also plans to introduce indoor/outdoor seating for many of its dining venues similar to the Waterfront concept on Norwegian Cruise Line. Those venues include Seafood Shack, Fahrenheit 5555, Bonsai Sushi, Library Bar, Cherry on Top, RedFrog Pub and Havana Bar.

Havana Bar, which transforms at night into a Latin music dance venue, will also spill over to a new Havana Pool area with whirlpools and relaxation area. Havana Cabanas with private patios with chairs and hammock will be a new amenity as well.

Also new to accommodations will be Family Harbor staterooms that can hold up to five family members and access to the Family Harbor Lounge with large-screen TVs, games and complimentary breakfast and snacks and access to a concierge desk.

The Fun Ship 2.0 amenities that have been rolled out to the Carnival Breeze and other ships in the fleet will be on hand aboard the Vista as well including Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina and Tequila Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar, Alchemy Bar, Cloud 9 Spa, HASBRO the Game Show and Punchliner Comedy Club.

The Vista will also be getting the full Seuss experience, which includes the Dr. Seuss Bookville reading and play space as well the Seuss at Sea program, Green Eggs and Ham with The Cat in the Hat and Friends character breakfast, Seuss-a-palooza Story Time and Parade.

The 133,500-ton, 1,055-foot-long ship is currently under construction at Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. The 25th and largest ship in Carnival Cruise Lines' fleet will debut May 1, 2016 to sail the summer on a series of Mediterranean voyages before relocating to New York in November.

By Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel

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Carnival Cruise Lines has announced the soft launch of a new Internet package and a smartphone app to take advantage of the access.

The cruise line announced that it will offer enhanced Internet access aboard the Carnival Freedom, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Sunshine. The improved service will not only increase bandwidth and speed, but include a social media package providing unlimited access to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and other popular social sites.

During the testing period, the basic social media package will cost $5 per day or $25 per voyage.

"Consumers expect a high level of connectivity even while on vacation and these new enhancements provide our guests not only with helpful tools for getting the most out of their cruise but also a convenient and cost-effective way for keeping in touch with their family and friends while on board," said Carnival's senior vice president of guest commerce Gus Antorcha in a statement.

"We recognize the increasingly important role that technology plays in people's daily lives and the launch of this application and new Internet packages provides us with a strong platform for introducing additional innovations and ways to use technology to enhance our guest experience even further," he added.

Guests that want more access and the ability to check mail and surf the Web can buy the value package for $16 per day or $60 per cruise. And if guests want the fastest connection available, for using more bandwidth-heavy apps such as video calling sites like Skype, they can buy the premium package for $25 per day or $99 per cruise.

That's significantly less than Carnival's current plan, which runs $29 for 45 minutes, $59 for 120 minutes, $89 for 240 minutes and $159 for 480 minutes. Those plans will continue to be offered on the rest of the fleet.

Streaming video sites like Netflix and Hulu will not be supported with the new plan, the company said. Carnival said additional functionality will be added over time.

The new shipboard app, to be tested on the Breeze only for now, includes a day-by-day schedule of onboard events, information on dining options, searchable deck plans, itinerary details and real-time information regarding guests' account balance, among other features.

"In creating both the Internet plans and the app, we spent a lot of time listening to our guests to understand their needs and develop these products accordingly," said Carnival's vice president of guest technology and photo Gabriela Gonzalez.

"While we trusted the plans and the app would be well received, we are stunned by how quickly and widely they have been embraced during the pilot period. We’re excited to bring these innovations to more ships over the coming months while we continue to work to make them even better."

The app and pilot Internet plans will be rolled out fleetwide over time, the company said.

Source: Patrick Clarke (Travel Pulse, "Carnival Cruise Lines to Test New Internet Plans, New Phone App”, Jan. 15, 1955)

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Add name confusion to the list of issues at cruise giant Carnival.

Since its first sailings in 1972, the brand has been known officially as Carnival Cruise Lines. But in recent weeks, the name Carnival Cruise Line (singular) has been popping up in some -- though not all -- company communications.

While there has been no official announcement of a name change, parent company Carnival Corp. & plc refers to "Carnival Cruise Line" in a Dec. 17 press release about a new CEO. Ditto a Dec. 19 missive about a new ship order. Still, a separate announcement the same day about company earnings falls back on "Carnival Cruise Lines," and Carnival's brand and parent company websites show no sign of a switch.

So which is it? For now, apparently, both.

When asked about the discrepancy, a Carnival spokesman says that, indeed, a name change is in the works. But it's not happening overnight.

"Yes, we are gradually changing the name to Carnival Cruise Line (singular)," spokesman Vance Gulliksen tells USA TODAY. "This is a gradual change that is more closely tied to how Carnival Corp. & plc refers to its other brands."

By Gene Sloan, USA Today

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Carnival Cruise Lines is boosting the gratuity amount it suggests passengers give crew as tips.

The line is raising the amount by 50 cents, from $11.50 to $12 per passenger, per day, effective Oct. 9. The gratuities are automatically added to passengers' shipboard accounts — though there is the option of increasing or decreasing the amount at the purser's desk.

"This marks the first time in nearly three years that Carnival has increased its recommended gratuities guidelines and places Carnival's recommended gratuities in line with other major cruise operators," the cruise line said in a statement.

The tips are divided among crew including housekeepers and waiters. Gratuities make up an important part of their compensation.

Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises (in the Caribbean) are among lines suggesting tips of $12 per day. Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, both owned by Carnival Corp., continue to suggest $11.50 as the standard gratuity.

Carnival passengers who pre-paid their gratuities as of July 7 will not be impacted by the increase, the line said.

By Fran Golden, Special for USA TODAY

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Passengers and crew on the German cruise ship AIDAdiva witnessed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict first-hand on Monday evening. As the 2050-passenger ship left the port of Ashdod, Israel, rockets were firing and some shrapnel landed on the cruise ship's deck.

There were no injuries and there was no damage to the ship. "All 2,700 guests and crew members of AIDAdiva are doing well," the cruise line said in a statement. AIDA is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.

Small particles were found on the passenger deck, which the cruise line said were believed to have come from missiles — though it was unclear who fired them. The shrapnel was examined by experts and determined to pose no danger, and the material was removed by crewmembers.

The ship's officers informed guests of the incident, and the AIDAdiva continued sailing to its next port of call, Crete, where it is scheduled to arrive tomorrow as planned.

"We are very sorry that the guests of AIDAdiva were witnesses to this incident," said Hansjorg Kunze, vice president of communications & sustainability for the cruise line. "We assure all our guests that for AIDA Cruises safety of guests and crew is our top priority at all times."

Kunze added that the cruise line has been constantly analyzing the security situation in Israel and said that Germany does not have a travel warning currently in place for Ashdod.

The US State Department currently has a travel warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

It was unclear if the shrapnel incident would impact itineraries of other ships scheduled to visit ports in Israel. The AIDAdiva is scheduled to visit Ashdod again later this month.

By Fran Golden, Special for USA TODAY

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