Tag Archives: Cruising

MSC World Asia to Feature Industry’s Longest Dry Slide

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MSC World Asia to Feature Industry’s Longest Dry Slide

The new MSC World Asia will feature the largest dry slide onboard a cruise ship, MSC Cruises said in a press release.

According to the company, the Tree of Life @ The Spiral will serve as a signature architectural feature of the vessel, which will be the third in the company’s World class series.

In line with the ship’s Asian-inspired interiors, the slide was designed after the trees of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.

As the industry’s longest dry slide, the feature will be 81.3 meters long, offering a thrilling ride that lets guests glide between 12 decks in seconds.

The Tree of Life @ The Spiral will be part of the ship’s World Promenade, an open-air area that will also feature bars, restaurants and other entertainment spaces.

Other new features coming to the area include a new Pan-Asian specialty restaurant, as well as an expanded dessert shop.

As the third ship in MSC’s World Class series, the MSC World Asia is set to enter service in December 2026.

Following the MSC World Europa and the MSC World America, the LNG-powered vessel is currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France.

As with the previous ships in the class, the new ship will pay homage to a region visited by MSC’s ships, featuring a series of subtle design elements that reflect Asia’s culture, art and landscapes.

For its maiden season, the MSC World America is scheduled to offer seven-night cruises around the Western Mediterranean.

Sailing from multiple homeports, the weeklong itineraries will be offered through the 2026-27 winter season and feature visits to destinations in Italy, Spain, France and Malta, such as Genoa, Barcelona and Valletta.

The 205,700-ton ship will continue to sail in the region during the 2027 summer, offering similar itineraries to countries in Southern Europe.

AIDA Cruises Donates to the Nurse Club Foundation

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AIDA Cruises Donates to the Nurse Club Foundation

AIDA Cruises has given 5,000 euros to the Nurse Club Foundation, which focuses on creating unforgettable moments for people with special needs, such as families in palliative situations.

The company said in a press release that many of the families have faced difficult times where life revolved around illness and worries.

Various projects of the foundation offer them escape routes from everyday life.

“At AIDA Cruises, we live diversity and inclusion. Promoting social initiatives is an important concern for us, especially when it comes to enabling participation for all,” said Alexander Ewig, AIDA’s SVP of marketing and sales, at the donation handover.

The Nurse Club Foundation’s long-term goal is to create a completely accessible beach section in Warnemünde so that tourists with disabilities can enjoy their vacation on the Baltic Sea.

“Rostock should show that inclusion is possible, and at the highest level,” said Julian Sturm-Schneider, one of the founders of the non-profit foundation.

AIDA said that with its support, the foundation can further advance its vision and realise new projects.

The company added that it has adapted for many years to the requirements of people with individual and health-related impairments.

Since May 2022, an accessibility expert council established under the patronage of Kristina Vogel has advised the company to make vacations on AIDA ships even more accessible.

Carnival Cruise Line to Launch New Loyalty Program in 2026

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Carnival Cruise Line to Launch New Loyalty Program in 2026

Carnival Legend arriving in Liverpool, photo credit Spacejunkie2 Flickr account.

Carnival Cruise Line announced today it will launch its new loyalty program, adding new features, new ways to earn status, new reward categories and a new name: Carnival Rewards.

The new program will take effect in June 2026, providing guests plenty of time to learn about the changes while they continue to earn status in the current Very Important Fun Person (VIFP) program that will be their entry point into the new program, the company said in a press release.

Carnival Rewards is introducing a dual-earning structure where guests accumulate both Carnival Rewards points that can be redeemed on Carnival purchases and status-qualifying stars that will determine a guest’s tier status.

Instead of focusing solely on the number of nights guests sail, which is the model Carnival currently follows under its VIFP program, Carnival Rewards will offer more opportunities to earn rewards and achieve higher status levels based on spend, including cruise fare and onboard activities, the company said.

The new program will be closely tied to everyday spending on the co-branded credit card with Barclays – the Carnival Rewards Mastercard – allowing cardmembers to earn points and status even faster.

“The evolution of our loyalty program to Carnival Rewards represents our commitment to creating more meaningful recognition for our valued guests. Our current VIFP program has served us well for many years, and while we’ve enjoyed truly extraordinary growth in our loyal customer base, it has become challenging to deliver the exceptional experience our Diamond and Platinum members deserve,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “

By introducing a points-based system, we’re enabling greater flexibility so guests can personalise their rewards in ways that matter most to them. This transition honours our past while building a future where loyalty is recognised through both cruising frequency and overall engagement with the Carnival experience, bringing Carnival Rewards into the top tier of travel loyalty programs that provide our guests with ways to earn status and points through their everyday spending on the Carnival Rewards Mastercard.

Guests will earn Carnival Reward points as well as status-qualifying stars on every eligible Carnival purchase, including cruise fares and onboard purchases. The dual structure gives guests more control over their rewards and status.

  • Points can be redeemed for almost anything Carnival offers, including onboard activities, spa treatments, speciality dining and even toward a future cruise.
  • Stars introduce a new way to unlock higher status among the four tiers: Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Status is earned over two years and retained for the following two years.

As part of the transition to Carnival Rewards’ launch on June 1, 2026, members’ existing status will carry over and serve as a new entry point into the program for two years through May 31, 2028.

Diamond members will retain their status for six years through May 31, 2032. This ensures that all current loyalty statuses are honoured while giving members time to familiarise themselves with the enhanced rewards. Guests will continue earning VIFP status as usual until the new program launches. In addition, upon launch of the Carnival Rewards program, current cardmembers, as well as any new cardmembers between now and the launch of the updates, will have the balance of their Fun Points converted to Carnival Rewards points in their Carnival Rewards account.