The Carnival Radiance is currently sailing its first-ever cruise to Hawaii.
Temporarily moving away from its regular schedule of short cruises to Baja California, the Carnival Cruise Line vessel departed Long Beach for the 14-night journey on Oct. 16.
The itinerary sails to Honolulu, Kahului, Nawiliwili and Hilo, and also includes a short call to Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to Carnival’s homeport in the Los Angeles area.
Originally set to be offered by the Carnival Miracle, the cruise was transferred to the Radiance in May.
Before resuming its regular program of three- and four-night cruises to Catalina Island and Ensenada, the Radiance also replaces the Miracle on a five-night voyage to the Mexican Riviera.
Sailing from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, the cruise is set to depart on Oct. 30 and includes visits to Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas.
Formerly the Carnival Victory, the 2000-built vessel was completely rebuilt as part of a $200-million refit that included new public areas, cabins and features.
Highlights included Carnival’s latest beverage and entertainment spaces, such as Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, Bonsai Sushi and the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub.
The 101,509-ton ship also received the second sea-going unit of the Big Chicken, a restaurant created by Carnival’s Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal.
Other new features included the Heroes Tribute Bar, which salutes those that serve in the Armed Forces, and the Liquid Lounge, home to Carnival’s award-winning Playlist Productions shows.
With a capacity of nearly 3,000 guests, the Radiance is part of Carnival’s three-ship Sunshine Class.
Discovery Princess will offer two 15-night Hawaii cruises for the first time
New for 2023-24 is a 32-night South Pacific Islands & Hawaii itinerary on two voyages sailing round-trip from Los Angeles onboard Sapphire Princess. The voyage will also include Fiji for the first time as well as late-night stays in Honolulu and Tahiti.
Meanwhile, Discovery Princess will offer two 15-night Hawaii cruises – the ship’s first-ever sailings to the island state – with overnight stays in Honolulu. Other ships offering Hawaii & Tahiti sailings include Crown Princess, Diamond Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess and Sapphire Princess.
Elsewhere Princess will sail again from Galveston with a series of voyages on Regal Princess to the Western Caribbean. Other departure points for round-trip cruises include Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, as well as one departure from New York
Other highlights of the new programme include 126 departures on 18 itineraries in the Caribbean ranging in length from five to 21 nights, sailing round-trips from Fort Lauderdale and Galveston.
The line’s Mexico programme will include eight destinations including Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, La Paz and Loreto.
Meanwhile, Princess’s California Coast sailings feature 11 destinations in three countries, including six in California: Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Monterey, Catalina Island, San Diego and Ensenada.
Princess will also offer Panama Canal itineraries onboard Emerald Princess, Island Princess and Ruby Princess with two options available – round-trip from Fort Lauderdale or ocean-to-ocean between Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles or San Francisco.
Six months after the restart, Princess Cruises has added a total of eight ships back in service, including the new Enchanted Princess, which welcomed its first guests in November.
Back in Action in the Caribbean, West Coast and Hawaii
Pursuing a phased restart plan, Princess grew its active fleet to eight ships in the past six months.
The premium brand is now offering cruises in the Caribbean, West Coast and Hawaii, sailing from three different homeports.
Here are the details:
Majestic Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since July 25, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Mexican Riviera
Regal Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since July 31, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 5 to 7 nights Itinerary: Eastern and Western Caribbean
Sky Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since August 30, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Western and Eastern Caribbean
Grand Princess Capacity at 100%: 2,600 Date: In service since September 25, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: 10 to 15 nights Itinerary: Mexican Riviera, Sea of Cortez and Hawaii
Emerald Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,100 Date: In service since October 15, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 14 and 15 nights Itinerary: Panama Canal and Southern Caribbean
Ruby Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,070 Date: In service since October 31, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: San Francisco (United States) Length: 15 nights Itinerary: Hawaii and Panama Canal
Enchanted Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: In service since November 10, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 10 nights Itinerary: Southern and Eastern Caribbean
Caribbean Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,100 Date: In service since November 28, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Western and Eastern Caribbean
Most of the Fleet Set to Return by May
As Princess returns to additional destinations in 2022, more vessels are resuming service. According to the company’s current restart plans, most of the fleet is set to be sailing again in May, in time for summer seasons in Alaska and Asia.
Here are the planned service resumption dates:
Discovery Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,660 Date: March 27, 2022 Region: West Coast Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: 7 nights First itinerary: Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta
Island Princess Capacity at 100%: 1,950 Date: April 27, 2022 Region: Panama Canal Homeport: Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles (United States) Length: 14 nights First itinerary: Cartagena, Panama Canal (old locks), Puntarenas, San Juan del Sur, Huatulco and Puerto Vallarta
Diamond Princess Capacity at 100%: 2,600 Date: April 28, 2022 Region: Asia Homeport: Yokohama (Japan) Length: 6 nights First itinerary: Nagasaki, Busan and Kagoshima
Royal Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,600 Date: May 2, 2022 Region: Alaska Homeport: Vancouver (Canada) Length: 12 nights First itinerary: Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, Ketchikan and Victoria
Crown Princess Capacity at 100%: 3,070 Date: May 7, 2022 Region: Alaska Homeport: Seattle (United States) Length: 7 nights First itinerary: Juneau, Glacier Bay Park, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria
Sapphire Princess Capacity at 100%: 2,600 Date: August 28, 2022 Region: Asia Homeport: Hong Kong to Fremantle (Australia) Length: 12 nights First itinerary: Nha Trang, Phu My, Singapore and Lombok
Coral Princess Capacity at 100%: 1,950 Date: September 3, 2022 Region: Australia Homeport: Sydney (Australia) Length: 35 nights First itinerary: New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific
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