Wrapping up its inaugural summer in Europe, the Valiant Lady is starting a trans-Atlantic crossing to the United States.
The 14-night voyage departs from Barcelona today and marks the North American debut of the Virgin Voyages vessel.
In addition to the Spanish port, the one-way voyage includes visits to four European destinations, such as Ibiza and Funchal, before arriving in Miami on October 30.
Once in the U.S., the 2021-built cruise ship is set to kick off a series of week-long voyages to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
The program includes two different itineraries, such as the “Western Caribbean Charm.” Sailing to Mexico, Honduras and the Bahamas, the voyage features visits to Costa Maya, Roatán and Bimini.
Through mid-April, the Valiant also offers the “Eastern Caribbean Antilles” cruise. In addition to Bimini, the eight-night cruise sails to Amber Cove, St. Croix and San Juan.
Like the Scarlet Lady, the Valiant offers an adults-only product that focuses on what Virgin calls an intimate and elevated all-inclusive experience.
As part of the concept, the 2,770-guest vessel boasts 20 dining venues, in addition to many entertainment options. A highlight is The Manor – a two-story 1970s-style nightclub inspired by Virgin’s heritage in the music business.
Another feature is the Red Room, which, according to Virgin, is the first transformational multi-form theatre at sea.
The venue can be transformed into four different configurations – including a traditional Proscenium stage, to alley stage used in fashion shows, to a dance flat-floor configuration and finally a unique reverse stage setup.
For its first full winter season since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Celebrity Cruises is deploying a total of nine ships in the Caribbean. In addition to the new Celebrity Beyond, two other Edge-Class ships and four Solstice-Class vessels will be sailing in the region during the winter.
The season will also see the premium brand offering varied itineraries in Australia, South America, the West Coast and the Galapagos.
Cruise Industry News looked into the company’s full deployment for the Winter of 2022-2023. Here’s the breakdown:
Caribbean and Bahamas
Celebrity Millennium Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,950 guests Built: 2000 Homeports: San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Three to ten nights Itineraries: Seven-night cruises to Southern and Eastern Caribbean departing from San Juan, in addition to varied itineraries departing from Fort Lauderdale in December and January Sailing Season: October 15 to April 15
Celebrity Summit Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,950 guests Built: 2001 Homeports: Miami (United States) Length: Four and five nights Itineraries: Short cruises to Key West, Mexico, the Bahamas and more Sailing Season: October 27 to April 22
Celebrity Silhouette Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,886 guests Built: 2011 Homeport: Miami (United States) Length: Four to ten nights Itineraries: Short cruises to Key West, Mexico and the Bahamas, in addition to ten-night voyages to Eastern Caribbean visiting St. Croix, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and more Sailing Season: November 3 to April 10
Celebrity Beyond Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,260 guests Built: 2022 Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Five to eight nights Itineraries: Western and Eastern Caribbean visiting St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Honduras and more Sailing Season: November 4 to April 16
Celebrity Constellation Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,950 guests Built: 2002 Homeport: Tampa (United States) Length: Five to ten nights Itineraries: Southern, Western and Eastern Caribbean sailing to Panama, Mexico, St. Maarten, Colombia, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Grand Cayman and others Sailing Season: November 6 to April 7
Celebrity Edge Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,900 guests Built: 2018 Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Four to 11 nights Itineraries: Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal visiting St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, Bonaire, Curaçao, Aruba and more Sailing Season: November 7 to April 7
Celebrity Apex Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,900 guests Built: 2020 Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Six to eight nights Itineraries: Western and Eastern Caribbean visiting Mexico, Grand Cayman, Belize, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and more Sailing Season: November 12 to April 15
Celebrity Reflection Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,030 guests Built: 2012 Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Five to eight nights Itineraries: Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean visiting Aruba, Jamaica, Mexico, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and more Sailing Season: November 13 to April 16
Celebrity Equinox Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,850 guests Built: 2009 Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Nine to 11 nights Itineraries: Southern, Western and Eastern Caribbean visiting Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Barbados, Martinique, Antigua and more Sailing Season: Year-round
Australia and New Zealand
Celebrity Eclipse Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,850 guests Built: 2010 Homeport: Sydney (Australia) Length: Three to 13 nights Itineraries: Varied itineraries visiting New Zealand, Fiji, the Great Barrier Reef, Tasmania, Tonga and more Sailing Season: October 22 to April 19
South America
Celebrity Infinity Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,950 guests Built: 2001 Homeports: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Valparaiso (Chile) Length: Nine to 14 nights Itineraries: Brazil, Patagonia, Antarctica, Falklands and more Sailing Season: December 12 to April 4
West Coast
Celebrity Solstice Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,850 guests Built: 2008 Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: Seven and eight nights Itineraries: Mexican Riviera and Pacific Coast visiting Cabo San Lucas, Catalina Island, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, Monterey, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara and more Sailing Season: September 24 to April 22
Galapagos
Celebrity Flora Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 100 guests Built: 2019 Homeport: Baltra (Ecuador) Length: Seven nights Itineraries: Galapagos Expeditions sailing to Rabida Island, Puerto Egas, Elizabeth Bay, Las Bachas and others Sailing Season: Year-round
Celebrity Xploration Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 16 guests Built: 2007 Homeport: Baltra (Ecuador) Length: Seven nights Itineraries: Galapagos expeditions visiting Black Turtle Cove, Sullivan Bay, Calega Tagus, Punta Espinoza and more Sailing Season: Year-round
Celebrity Xpedition Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 100 guests Built: 2001 Homeport: Baltra (Ecuador) Length: Seven nights Itineraries: Galapagos expeditions visiting North Seymour, South Plaza, Santa Fé Island, Puerto Ayora, Bahia Post Office and more Sailing Season: Year-round
The Carnival Magic arrived in New York City on Thursday, marking the return of yet another homeport for the Carnival Cruise Line.
The vessel is now set to offer a series of four- to nine-night cruises to Bermuda, Canada and the Caribbean departing from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.
For its first sailing from the city since 2019, the Magic is operating a four-night itinerary to Bermuda.
In addition to two and a half days at sea, the cruise includes an eight-hour stop in King’s Wharf.
Running through late September, the New York program also features different week-long itineraries to the Caribbean visiting Grand Turk, the Bahamas, San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and more.
In September, the ship is offering two sailings to Canada as well. Sailing seven-night itineraries, the cruises feature calls in Saint John, Sydney and Halifax.
A Dream-class vessel, the Carnival Magic debuted in 2011 and offers a host of facilities and services.
In addition to traditional features such as a casino and a theatre, the vessel has the SportsSquare, an expansive sports complex with a ropes course and an outdoor fitness area, and The Lanai, a wrap-around promenade with whirlpools that extend out over the ship’s sides.
The vessel also offers an indoor/outdoor café and live entertainment venue called Ocean Plaza, as well as Carnival WaterWorks aqua park and a Serenity adults-only retreat.
Other attractions include the RedFrog Pub, a Caribbean-inspired watering hole with its own private label beer, and Cucina del Capitano, an Italian family-style restaurant that brings the heritage of Carnival’s captains to the table.
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