Tag Archives: carnival

Key Ship Conversions in 2024

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2024 was a strong year for the drydock and secondhand ship market, which led to a number of ships debuting for new operators.

These are some of the key conversion jobs that took place during the year:

Celestyal Discovery
Former: AIDAaura
Capacity: 1,270 guests
Year built: 2003
Previous operator: AIDA Cruises
New operator: Celestyal Cruises
Debut: March 2024

After being sold by Carnival Corporation in late 2023, the former AIDAaura underwent a conversion project before debuting for Celestyal Cruises.

Previously operated by AIDA Cruises, the 2003-built vessel saw a complete transformation for its new market.

Carnival Firenze
Former: Costa Firenze
Capacity: 4,232 guests
Year built: 2020
Previous operator: Costa Cruises
New operator: Carnival Cruise Line
Debut: April 2024

After being transferred to Carnival Cruise Line, the former Costa Firenze underwent a major refit at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz in early 2024. In addition to receiving Carnival’s branding and livery, the 4,232-guest vessel was updated with Carnival’s public areas, with various spaces converted into the company’s trademark venues, such as the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and the Limelight Lounge.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander
Former: Costa Atlantica
Capacity: 2,100 guests
Year built: 2000
Previous operator: Adora Cruises (never debuted)
New operator: Margaritaville at Sea
Debut: June 2024

After a long refurbishment at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Northern Ireland, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander debuted for its new operator in June 2024.

Villa Vie Odyssey
Former: Braemar
Capacity: 977 guests
Year built: 1993
Previous operator: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
New operator: Villa Vie Residences
Debut: September 2024

The former Braemar of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines was turned into Villa Vie Residences’ first residential ship in 2024. After a refit at the Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast, the ship emerged as the Odyssey in September, welcoming guests for a continual world cruise.

Aroya
Former: World Dream
Capacity: 3,400 guests
Year built: 2017
Previous operator: Dream Cruises
New operator: Aroya Cruises
Debut: December 2024

The Aroya entered service in December as the first cruise ship dedicated to the national market in Saudi Arabia.. According to Aroya Cruises, several venues onboard the ship were essentially rebuilt during a long conversion that included shipyard visits in the Netherlands and Germany.

Others:

  • Mitsui Ocean Fuji (former Seabourn Odyssey) – now in service for Mitsui Ocean Fuji
  • Celestyal Journey (former Pacific Aria) – now in service for Celestyal Cruises
  • Marella Voyager (former Mein Schiff Herz) – now in service for Marella Cruises
  • Ambition (former AIDAmira) – now in service for Ambassador Cruise Line
  • Resorts World One (former Explorer Dream) – now in service for Resorts World Cruises
  • Carnival Venezia (former Costa Venezia) – now in service for Carnival Cruise Line
  • Exploris One (former Silver Explorer) – now in service for Exploris Expeditions & Cruises

Carnival Salutes America’s 250th on 10 Sailings

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Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled details about 10 sailings for 2026 that will commemorate America’s 250th birthday.

The sailings comprise ship meetups and unique patriotic experiences, the line announced in a press release.

The cruises include itineraries ranging from three to eight days. They will sail from six homeports: Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville, New York City, Long Beach, and San Francisco.

On July 4, 2026, America’s 250th birthday, seven ships sailing from east coast homeports will meet up near Celebration Key for a celebration at sea, while three ships will unite off the west coast near Ensenada.

During the meetups, each ship will host patriotic birthday-themed deck parties. The cruises will also feature patriotic entertainment and food and drink offerings.

“We’re America’s cruise line, and we’re commemorating this milestone in a big way! Uniting our ships will multiply the fun and make America’s 250th birthday even more memorable for guests who celebrate at sea,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

From the East Coast, guests can choose from short getaways that include sailings on the Carnival Conquest or the Carnival Glory, both departing on July 3, 2026. These will offer three-day escapes to Celebration Key at Grand Bahama from Miami and Port Canaveral respectively.

Departing July 2, 2026, the Carnival Sunrise will sail a four-day Bahamas cruise from Miami, and the Carnival Elation will sail to the Bahamas on a four-day cruise from Jacksonville.

Guests looking for a longer sailing can select a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Celebration from Miami, departing on June 28, 2026. They will visit Celebration Key, Nassau, Amber Cove and Grand Turk.

An eight-day Eastern Caribbean sailing on Carnival Vista from Port Canaveral, departing on June 27, 2026 – calling at San Juan and St. Thomas – is also available.

For northeastern guests, the Carnival Venezia will leave New York City on July 1, 2026, for an eight-day cruise that visits Celebration Key, Nassau, and Half Moon Cay.

Guests can join the celebration from the West Coast with three cruise options departing from California.

On July 3, 2026, the Carnival Firenze will sail a three-day Baja Mexico cruise from Long Beach over the July 4th weekend, while the Carnival Luminosa sails a four-day option, departing July 2, 2026, from San Francisco. Each feature stops in Ensenada.

On June 30, 2026, the Carnival Radiance will sail a five-day Mexican Riviera cruise from Long Beach, visiting Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. The three ships will also unite at sea on July 4, 2026.

Florida Cruise Ports Smash Passenger Records as Industry Makes Comeback

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PortMiami and Port Everglades have reported record-breaking passenger numbers for fiscal year 2024 as cruisers returned to the high seas en masse following the pandemic.

PortMiami, the nation’s busiest cruise port and often called the “Cruise Capital of the World,” has set a new record with an astounding 8.2 million cruise passengers in fiscal year 2024, marking a 12.79% increase from the previous year’s record.

Meanwhile, Port Everglades in Broward County has also surpassed its previous records, welcoming 4,010,919 cruise passengers in the same fiscal year. This represents a remarkable 39% growth in passenger numbers and a 23% increase in cruise ship calls compared to the previous year, demonstrating the port’s rapid recovery and expansion. Of note, Port Everglades achieved passenger records with just 648 calls, highlighting the growing size of cruise ships.

Both ports’ fiscal years run from October 1 through September 30.

“Cruising is in high demand, and our cruise line partners are poised for greater gains with new itineraries and a variety of sailing dates,” said Joseph Morris, CEO and Port Director of Port Everglades.

Both ports are looking ahead to even more growth. PortMiami is preparing to welcome several new cruise ships in the upcoming 2024-2025 season, including vessels from Explora Journeys, Virgin Voyages, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Oceania. The port is also expanding its infrastructure, with MSC Cruises’ new Cruise Terminal AA set to become the world’s largest cruise terminal.

Meanwhile, Port Everglades expects the new record to be short-lived, with a whopping 4.4 passengers expected across its terminals in FY2025.

PortMiami also launched its shore power project in June, allowing cruise ships to plug into landside electrical power while docked, reducing emissions and noise. This initiative, a collaboration between the port and major cruise lines, positions PortMiami as the first major cruise port on the U.S. eastern seaboard to offer shore power capability at five cruise berths.