Carnival Corp. inks Internet deal with MTN

Posted on 22 January, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

MTN and Carnival Corp. signed a contract for Internet services on several cruise lines, including Princess, Cunard and P&O.

Also, MTN said Carnival extended their existing agreement for provision of broadcast television services. MTN Worldwide TV provides satellite television to 50 ships.

Carnival Corp. ships in Alaskan waters will continue to leverage MTN’s Terrestrial Broadband Services while in port, with the opportunity to explore the possible expansion of this service, MTN said.

Carnival will return to Norfolk

Posted on 16 January, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Cruise Lines will resume sailing from Norfolk, Va., in 2015, after pulling out of the port this year.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe made the announcement to the state assembly Monday evening. In an e-mail, Carnival confirmed that it would offer a series of spring and fall sailings next year.

“Specific ship, date and itinerary information is still being finalized, and more specific details are expected to be announced this spring,” the statement said.

Carnival Glory had been the only cruise ship offering roundtrip voyages from Norfolk. Carnival redeployed the Glory to Florida, citing the costs associated with the North American Emissions Control Area on sailings from Norfolk and several other East Coast ports.

Carnival has since said it expects to install emissions-scrubbing technology on many of its ships, easing the financial impact of compliance.

This year will be the first since 2001 that Carnival has not had a ship based in Norfolk.

Carnival introduces price guarantee for shore excursions

Posted on 16 January, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Cruise Lines is offering a best-price guarantee on its shore excursions.

Carnival said the guarantee is unprecedented and is available now fleet-wide.

Guests who find the same tour offered by another operator at a lower price than their booked excursion (before or during their cruise) can complete a claim form to receive 110% of the difference in the form of a shipboard credit.

Claims are typically processed within 24 to 48 hours, Carnival said.

Mico Cascais, Carnival’s vice president of tour operations, said the guarantee was developed based on research findings that passengers, particularly first-time cruisers, are concerned about whether they are getting the best deal.

Companies that represent excursion operators independent of the cruise lines say they can offer better prices because they work on lower markups. In many cases, passengers can buy excursions directly from excursion operators.

Carnival said that by booking through the cruise line, passengers get tickets delivered to their staterooms and “an assurance that they will receive a refund or the excursion time will be adjusted as needed based on weather or other issues affecting a ship’s scheduled port of call visit.”

To file a claim, Carnival said passengers should provide the name of the competitor offering the comparable tour, the excursion name, where the tour was advertised, the duration, price and any included items such as lunch, drinks, transportation and admission fees.