Tag Archives: Carnival Cruise Lines

Cruise lines have mixed success on sanitation inspections in 2014

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The cruise industry had fewer ships in 2014 that received “not satisfactory” grades after inspection by the U.S Centers for Disease Control, but also fewer that scored a perfect 100.

Twelve vessels failed to grade out at 85, the minimum score needed to achieve a satisfactory rating, during inspections conducted in 2014.

Most were smaller, older ships carrying less than 1,000 passengers. Only one of the ships, the 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star, carried more than 2,000 passengers. The Star received an unsatisfactory grade on Feb. 16, then received a 95 on its next inspection on April 25.

The Bahamas Celebration, operated from West Palm Beach by Celebration Cruise Line, was the only ship to receive an unsatisfactory grade twice in 2014. It also did once in 2013. It was recently replaced by Grand Celebration, operated by a reorganized company, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line.

Un-Cruise Adventures, an operator of smaller ships along the U.S. West coast, had two ships receive unsatisfactory grades in 2014, the Safari Endeavor and Safari Quest. The 86-passenger Safari Endeavor also did once in 2013.

The newly launched Pearl Mist operated by Pearl Seas Cruises was graded 61 in an inspection on July 15.  Pearl Seas is a new cruise line that hadn’t operated ocean cruise ships before.

The low score of 31 was given to Schooner Zodiac, a 26-passenger two-masted tall ship sailing out of Belllingham, Wash.

Following their unsatisfactory grades, the Bahamas Celebration received a 90 on Sept. 3, the Safari Endeavor a 93 on Sept. 7, and the Safari Quest an 87 on July 18. The Pearl Mist submitted a nine-page corrective-action report but has not been reinspected. The Schooner Zodiac has not submitted a corrective-action report and has not been reinspected.

This year, 26 ships received perfect scores, down from 39 in 2013. Carnival Cruise Lines had eight ships that got perfect 100s, and Royal Caribbean International had six. Other lines with ships getting perfect scores were Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line.

Last year, 17 ships received unsatisfactory scores below 85, according to CDC records.

Plans to revamp a cruise ship terminal in Southampton have been unveiled.

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Plans to revamp a cruise ship terminal in Southampton have been unveiled.

In a bid to ensure Southampton remains the UK cruise port of choice, Associated British Ports (ABP) has announced its £6 million investment into renovating the Mayflower cruise terminal.

The work follows ABP signing an agreement with Carnival Cruise Lines – the operator of P&O Cruises and Cunard.

It will include a complete redesign of the check-in, departure, security and passenger lounges, as well as the drop-off and pick-up areas.

Not only this, but the internal space of the terminal will also be revamped by undergoing an expansion. This will involve the removal of 100 tonnes of blockwork walls and floors, and the installation of 500 tonnes of steelwork frames to create a reception area of 35,000 sq ft.

Furthermore, a 46-person capacity lift, ten new toilet facilities and heating ventilation will benefit the thousands of passengers who enter the terminal each hour.

The renovation will be carried out by more than 200 staff, who will have a time period of 22 weeks to complete the project between the last ship departing from the terminal and the first vessel returning.

Steven Young, director of port services and government affairs at Carnival Cruise Lines, said: “Cruising out of Southampton forms the core part of our offering to the UK cruise market which in terms of volume is second only to the US.

“This particularly appeals to those who prefer not to fly and who appreciate the ability of being able to drive to the terminal door, hand their keys to a valet parker and then have their luggage delivered to them, for a stress-free travel experience.”

The turnaround of each cruise ship is estimated to deliver around £2 million to the economy.

Nick Ridehalgh, director of ABP Southampton, believes that the new improvements will not only serve frequent and new cruise passengers, but will also benefit groups and businesses across the city, including taxis, hotels and restaurants.

The renovation is due for completion by April next year, in time for the start of the summer cruise season.

Carnival Corp. posts ad concepts for consumers to vote on

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Carnival Corp. has posted six ad concepts for its next marketing campaign, with tools for consumers to vote for the one or ones they like best.
The ad ideas are featured on the revamped WorldsLeadingCruiseLines.com website, along with a new tool to help consumers sort out what kind of cruiser they are and information about Carnival’s various brands.

Each ad concept runs about 90 seconds, including a 20-second introduction by comedian Cedric the Entertainer. The concepts are presented like advertising storyboards, black-and-white sketches accompanied by narration and sometimes background music.

In one, entitled “Unicorn,” a pair of unicorns watch other animals getting on the boat as it starts to rain. The unicorns run through the reasons not to go — too crowded, boring, bad food. The viewer sees scenes of other animals living it up on the ship. The narrator calls the unicorns “clueless,” and says “they think the rain is letting up but we know better.”

Another ad, “Cruise Virgin,” is full of light sexual double entendre and seems tailor-made for a Carnival Cruise Lines audience. “No Robots” turns the obstacles to enjoying a cruise into a series of annoying, intrusive robots.

Coincidentally, Carnival rival Royal Caribbean International features a pair of robot bartenders on its newest ship, Quantum of the Seas.

“Message In A Bottle” and “Getaway” seem to embody some of the themes of Princess Cruises’ current campaign, “Come Back New,” that plays on emotional connections.

In “Message in a Bottle” a fairy tale atmosphere prevails in which the narrator remarks “I can’t believe this is a cruise ship.” A young girl finds a message in a bottle and magical things happen, such as “people become young with a touch” voiced against an image of a massage.

“Getaway” speaks to the need to escape the stresses of life, get away and connect with what matters. Everyday life is represented by a mob of angry, noisy people trying to prevent a cruise ship from sailing, while onboard everything is soothing and relaxed, a playground of oblivious people reconnecting with themselves and loved ones.

The final ad, “Mystery Spot” shows and describes the wake of a cruise ship in lyrical terms. A vaguely Hawaiian melody plays in the background. The narrator says there is a big surprise hidden in the spot. “Let your imagination take over. Check it out,” he says.

Carnival says it will use audience input to pick which of the six concepts will be turned into a first quarter digital and television ad campaign for the company’s nine brands.