Carnival Panorama to Have Funnel Removed Before Drydock in Portland

Too tall for the bridges of the Columbia River, the Carnival Panorama will have its funnel removed before entering drydock in Portland, Cruise Industry News confirmed.

Facing propulsion issues, the Carnival Cruise Line vessel is currently docked in Victoria, Canada, to get the work done before heading to the Vigor Shipyard in Oregon.

The Panorama will then undergo repairs and a technical overhaul before resuming service on Dec. 23, 2023.

On Dec. 23, the 2019-built ship is scheduled to sail from Long Beach on a seven-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera that features visits to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

After experiencing an issue affecting its maximum cruising speed in early November, the Carnival Panorama saw four of its scheduled cruises cancelled.

“Unfortunately, we will be unable to operate the voyages, as it is necessary to remove the ship from service to complete the required repairs,” Carnival said at the time.

The ship then spent a week docked in Astoria, while the company arranged all the details of the repairs.

Two additional week-long cruises were cancelled on Nov. 17, Carnival said, pushing the vessel’s service resumption to late December.

“While we have secured one of the limited number of drydock facilities on the West Coast for the work to be done, we do not have immediate access to the shipyard and will need more time to complete the work,” the company explained in a statement shared at the time.

The third and final ship in Carnival’s Vista Class, the Carnival Panorama entered service in late 2019. Based on the West Coast, the 4,000-guest vessel sails from Long Beach on a year-round basis.

The program features a series of six- to eight-night cruises to Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera, with visits to La Paz, Mazatlán, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, and ore.

Carnival Miracle Undergoing Scheduled Drydock

The Carnival Miracle is currently undergoing a routine drydock in Astoria, Portland. As 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

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 San Francisco – 5 days – Stops in San Francisco and Ensenada – Departure date: July 1, 2023