The Carnival Luminosa conversion is making progress in Italy. After wrapping up its Costa Cruises career earlier this month, the vessel is being prepared for its Carnival Cruise Line debut.
Currently, in drydock, the 2009-built vessel is already sporting the new hull livery of the U.S.-based brand, while its funnel has been repainted with Carnival’s traditional colours.
The former Costa Luminosa also saw a flag change, moving from an Italian to a Portuguese ship register.
Work is also underway on the ship’s interior, with public areas being adapted to offer most of Carnival’s signature experiences and spaces such as Playlist Productions, The Punchliner Comedy Club, Limelight Lounge, Piano Bar 88, Alchemy Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar, Serenity Retreat and more.
Several dining venues are also being added, including Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Chef’s Table and Bonsai Sushi Express.
After leaving the shipyard, the Carnival Luminosa is set to welcome its first guests in early November.
Sailing from Brisbane, the ship’s inaugural program includes three- to 11-night itineraries to Australia, New Zealand, the Great Barrier Reef and the South Pacific.
After completing its winter season, the vessel is set to debut in the United States in May for its first summer program in Alaska.
Departing from Seattle, it will offer seven-day sailings as well as six- and eight-day cruises to popular ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, and the scenic cruising of Tracy Arm Fjord.
In September, the ship will sail Carnival’s longest-ever cruise, a 30-day transpacific itinerary that features visits to Alaska, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.
According to Carnival, the Luminosa is a sister to its four Spirit-Class vessels. Originally built for Costa Cruises, the ship 92,000-ton ship has a capacity for 2,260 guests, in addition to 1,050 crew members.
Several cruise ships were specifically built to serve the booming Chinese market in the last decade.
Too much capacity followed by COVID-19, in addition to other factors, changing the course of the local business, all of the vessels are now sailing elsewhere.
Here’s what happened to all of the former China-bound newbuilds:
Ovation of the Seas Company: Royal Caribbean International Built: 2016 Capacity: 4,100 guests Tonnage: 158,000 Current Sailing Region: North America
The Ovation of the Seas became the first Royal Caribbean International new build to debut in China when it arrived in Tianjin in 2016.
With several custom-designed features, the Quantum-class ship continued to serve the local market until 2018.
Beginning in 2019, the ship started to alternate summer seasons in North America – where it is currently sailing – and winter seasons in Australia.
Genting Dream Company: Dream Cruises (Genting Cruise Lines) Built: 2016 Capacity: 3,400 guests Tonnage: 150,000 Current Sailing Region: Southeast Asia
With several features to cater to Chinese guests, the Genting-owned cruise ship had already been repositioned out of China when the pandemic broke in 2020.
The vessel, which later became the Norwegian Encore, would add capacity to the local market, which was already being serviced by the 2017-built Norwegian Joy.
The plans, however, were scrapped while the ship was still being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard. Instead of China, the Norwegian Encore debuted in the North American market, where it’s still sailing to this day.
The spectrum of the Seas Company: Royal Caribbean International Built: 2019 Capacity: 4,200 guests Tonnage: 168,666 Current Sailing Region: Southeast Asia
Royal Caribbean International sent a second new build to China in 2019 with the Spectrum of the Seas.
Built-in Italy, the 135,500-ton vessel offers custom-designed features, including a karaoke entertainment complex and larger casino and shopping areas.
Costa Firenze Company: Costa Cruises Built: 2020 Capacity: 4,232 guests Tonnage: 135,500 Current Sailing Region: Mediterranean
A sister to the Costa Venezia, the Costa Firenze was set to debut in China in late 2020. Also, custom-designed to serve the local market, the 4,232-guest cruise ship was equipped with several unique features.
The pandemic, however, forced Costa Cruises to change plans for the vessel. Unable to sail to Asia, the Firenze debuted in Europe in 2021 and has been serving Western markets ever since.
The wonder of the Seas Company: Royal Caribbean International Built: 2022 Capacity: 5,448 guests Tonnage: 227,625 Current Sailing Region: Mediterranean
Currently, the world’s biggest cruise ship, the Wonder of the Seas was originally bound for year-round service in China.
Featuring interior designs and concepts to appeal to the local public, the Royal Caribbean International ship was set to debut in the Chinese market in mid-2021, offering a series of cruises departing from Shanghai.
Carnival Corporation ash released its 12th annual sustainability report, detailing the key initiatives and progress made in 2021 toward its 2030 sustainability goals and 2050 aspirations.
Following the achievement of its 2020 sustainability goals, Carnival Corporation introduced its sustainability goals for 2030 and aspirations for 2050, which incorporate six focus areas that align with the key United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, according to a press release.
These areas include climate action; circular economy; sustainable tourism; good health and well-being; diversity, equity and inclusion; and biodiversity and conservation.
The company has updated the baseline year for its 2030 carbon intensity reduction goals to 2019 from its initial 2008 baseline, measured in both grams of CO2e per ALB-km and kilograms of CO2e per ALBD. Both 2030 carbon intensity reduction goals now require a 20% improvement from 2019. With the updated baseline year, the company strengthened its goal measured in kilograms of CO2e per ALBD since the initial 2030 goal would only have required a further 15% reduction from 2019 levels. Its goal measured in grams of CO2e per ALB-km remains the same. This new baseline year will help the company better communicate recent progress against its climate goals to its investors and stakeholders as well as modernize its disclosures in alignment with developing best practices and reporting standards.
“Thanks to the dedication, support and proactive efforts of our entire global team, ship and shore, we continue to make strong progress in advancing our sustainability program across our six focus areas,” said Arnold Donald, CEO and chief climate officer for Carnival Corporation. “This effort includes our deep commitment to climate action and sustaining positive momentum toward achieving our carbon reduction goals for 2030 while working to be part of the solution to establish a path to net carbon-neutral cruising over time.”
Added Bill Burke, chief maritime officer for Carnival Corporation: “At Carnival Corporation, our highest responsibility and top priority is always compliance, environmental protection, and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, the people in the communities we touch and serve, and our shipboard and shoreside personnel. This commitment has guided our sustainability journey and approach over time throughout all aspects of our global operations as we continue to progress our environmental, social and governance focus areas each year.”
Climate Action
Carbon Emission Goal: Carnival Corporation remains on track to achieve a 20% carbon intensity reduction by 2030 relative to its 2019 baseline, measured in both grams of CO2e per ALB-km and kilograms of CO2e per ALBD. To reaffirm and strengthen its initial carbon intensity reduction goals for 2030, the company has updated the baseline year for both goals to 2019 from a 2008 baseline.
Shore Power: As of the end of 2021, 46% of the company’s fleet was equipped with shore power capabilities, enabling ships to use shoreside electric power where available while in port.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): As part of its goal to expand its LNG program, the company introduced additional LNG ships to the fleet in 2021, for a total of six cruise ships currently in operation with the ability to be powered by LNG.
Advanced Air Quality Systems (AAQS): As of the end of 2021, 90% of the fleet (excluding LNG ships) was equipped with AAQS, capable of removing nearly all sulfur from the exhaust, enabling cleaner air emissions at the port and at sea with no negative impact to the marine environment.
New Technologies: The company is investing in a first-of-its-kind lithium-ion battery storage system, installing hull air lubrication systems, testing fuel cells powered by hydrogen derived from methanol, and exploring carbon capture and storage.
Circular Economy
Reducing Single-Use Plastics: Achieved goal of reducing single-use plastic items by 50%, despite the pandemic and the need to continue using many of these types of items for public health and sanitation purposes.
Food Waste Reduction: Achieved a 24% food waste reduction per person in 2021, making great progress toward its 2022 goal of a 30% food waste reduction per person and its 50% food waste reduction per person by 2030.
Biodigesters: As of the end of 2021, the company completed the installation of over 500 biodigesters throughout its fleet, in support of ongoing food waste management efforts.
Advanced Waste Water Treatment Systems (AWWTS): Carnival Corporation remains on track to achieve its goal of increasing AWWTS coverage to over 75% of its fleet capacity, with 59% coverage of its fleet capacity as of the end of 2021.
Good Health & Well-Being
Employee Outreach and Well-Being: Increased focus on employee outreach and wellness relates to the unique needs of shoreside and shipboard employees.
Job Creation: Increased the number of employees on board a number of its ships from reduced levels during the pause in guest cruise operations, in addition to opening a significant number of shoreside positions.
Company Culture Metrics: As part of its ongoing effort to establish a measurable company culture metrics and set annual improvement targets, in 2021 the company continued an employee survey program and introduced training sessions and internal communications designed to promote its “Culture Essentials” program focused on further strengthening corporate culture.
CSMART Academy Training Update: In 2021, the CSMART Academy – officially the Center for Simulator Maritime Training Academy, part of the Arison Maritime Center – continued to provide online and onboard training to the fleet while also advancing preparations for the restart of onsite training in 2022. The CSMART team has made advances in developing and delivering online curricula through courses, tailored events such as remote ”newbuild training,” and ongoing webinars.
Sustainable Tourism
Disaster Relief: Supported disaster relief efforts to the victims of the La Soufrière volcano eruption in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as communities in Barbados impacted by volcanic ash.
Destination Partnerships: The company’s Italy-based Costa Cruises kicked off its “Traditions in the Future” project, which supports the preservation of traditional arts and crafts to a new generation of artisans.
Community Relationships: Carnival Corporation’s P&O Cruises and Cunard brands partnered with Travelife, a leading certification initiative supporting tour operations and travel agencies toward sustainable tourism. Additionally, in 2021 the company’s European brands donated over 20 tons of food items to address hunger throughout communities in need, in partnership with three regional initiatives, including the European Foodbank, UK Harvest and the Banco Alimentare.
Biodiversity & Conservation
NGO Partnerships: In the first quarter of 2022, Carnival Corporation joined the Ocean 100 Dialogues, an initiative supported by the World Economic Forum that accelerates ocean stewardship with a focus on climate change, biodiversity and equity.
Ports & Destinations: The company continued its efforts to support biodiversity and conservation, including creating a new mangrove nursery, planting trees and ornamental plants, and collecting waste through coastal cleanup initiatives in the ports it owns and operates.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Catalyst: Carnival Corporation continued to work with Catalyst, the leading U.S. nonprofit with the mission to expand opportunities for women in leadership.
Awards & Recognitions: In 2021, the company received a series of recognitions for its companywide operations and dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion, including honours from Forbes on the publication’s annual listings of the World’s Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies. The company was also recognised as a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award Winner, honouring the best 100 U.S. places to work, and on Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies, in addition to earning a fifth consecutive perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, designating the company as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.
Wetravel2u's Weblog 