Tag Archives: carnival

Ideal Carnival Vista destinations

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Ideal Carnival Vista destinations

With more than two years to go until the energy-efficient Carnival Cruise Line’s new ship, the Vista enters service; the news on her progress has been rather thin on the ground. We know her first steel was cut earlier this year, although her Keel is yet to be laid. Seeing as though the Carnival Vista progress is still in the early stages, there is not much news about.

Having said that, it does not stop cruise lovers from contemplating the ideal Carnival Vista destinations. There will be websites out there that come up with misleading titles suggesting they already know the Carnival Vista itinerary, along with her inaugural cruise, but none of this information has been made available, and so do not pay any attention to these.

We would like to know where it is you would prefer to go on the Vista, this could be a current destination, or if you would like Carnival to add a new one?

The usual suspects would be to choose anywhere in Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean Eastern, Caribbean Southern, Caribbean Western, Eastern Seaboard, Hawaii, and Mexico.

However, would you like to see Carnival Cruise Line reach out to another region, the thought of Carnival Vista Mediterranean cruises for 2016 – 2017 does sound appealing?

Galveston deems Carnival passenger no public health threat

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By Tom Stieghorst
The Galveston Public Health Authority said it has reviewed all available information regarding a potential Ebola contact voluntarily isolated on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship returning to the Port of Galveston.

In a statement posted on its website, the authority said it has concluded there is no evidence of a public health threat to cruise ship passengers or Galveston County from the passenger.

The Carnival Magic returned to Galveston on Oct. 19 after a seven-night cruise. The passenger in question worked at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital as a lab supervisor where she handled test samples from a patient who died from Ebola infection.

She was voluntarily isolated on the ship after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed Carnival of her status on Oct. 15. Authorities in Belize declined to let the supervisor and a traveling companion off the ship to be flown back to the U.S. Carnival skipped a subsequent port of call in Cozumel after delays in getting clearance to dock.

The Galveston health agency said upon Carnival Magic’s arrival the passenger and her travel partner were allowed to disembark without restrictions.

The agency said its assessment was based on the fact that the person was confirmed to have remained asymptomatic. Also, a blood sample obtained from the woman on Oct. 18 and flown for screening by the Department of State Health Services lab tested negative for Ebola.

Carnival said the Magic is expected to depart as normal on its next scheduled cruise.

Carnival moves toward shipbuilding in China

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By Tom Stieghorst
Carnival Corp. said it signed a memorandum of understanding that could lead to a cruise ship being built in China.

The memo is an agreement between Carnival Corp. and the China State Shipbuilding Corp. (CSSC) to explore the formation of a joint venture.

The goal of the venture would be to construct a modern cruise ship in China together.

China State Shipbuilding Corp. is the largest shipbuilder in China, according to a Carnival Corp. announcement.

The Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri could partner in the joint venture should it be formed, Carnival Corp. said.

There is no firm agreement to build yet, nor is it clear who would own or operate any ship that results from the joint effort.

Carnival Corp. said the venture is “aimed at accelerating the development and growth of the Chinese cruise industry.”

The agreement was made official at an Oct. 14 signing ceremony at the ninth China Cruise Shipping and International Cruise Expo in Tianjin.

“This really is a breakthrough day for all of us at Carnival as well as our friends at the CSSC,” Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald said.

Carnival Corp. said its contribution to the venture would be to use its design and shipbuilding expertise to create the “vision, definition and overall specifications” for the China-built cruise ship.

The memorandum also includes the exploration of other possible joint venture opportunities with CSSC including the potential to form a domestic cruise company, port development, talent development and training as well as supply chain and logistics, Carnival Corp. said.

No major cruise line has ever built a ship in China, although a few have been built in Japan.

A Chinese Ministry of Transport forecast estimates there will be 4.5 million cruise passengers sourced in China by 2020.

Two Carnival Corp. brands, Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises, are already selling cruises in China. Carnival said it will have 220 port calls from five brands in China in 2014.