Disney Considering a ‘Competing Port’ Ahead of Miami-Dade Meeting

Disney Cruise Line is considering “a competing port” to Miami for use with its expanding fleet.

This was reported in Miami-Dade County’s Memorandum ahead of the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Feb. 17.

“Disney has recently advised the Port that, prior to entering into a preferential berthing rights agreement with the County, it will conduct due diligence with a competing port regarding a long-term berthing agreement at that port,” the Memorandum reads.

Disney currently sails cruises seasonally from PortMiami, and is a key client at Port Canaveral, with a year-round presence.

However, by 2025, Disney’s fleet is expected to grow from four to seven – with the Disney Wish and two other unnamed ships entering the family.

If MSC Cruises signs a lease agreement with PortMiami for Berths 8, 9 and 10, Disney Cruise Line may share Berth 10 with MSC, getting preferential use rights over other cruise lines, according to the Memorandum.

It is not wholly clear which other port the cruise line is considering, although Port Everglades would be the closest major cruise port to Miami.

Carnival Sells Two Ships, Provides Further Fleet Update

Carnival Fantasy in Mobile

Carnival Cruise Line today announced it had sold the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration. A buyer was not named.

Meanwhile, the Carnival Fascination and Carnival Imagination will move to a long term lay-up status, with no specific timeline identified for a return to operation.

The company also announced that its second Excel-class ship will join the fleet in November 2022 from Meyer Turku and sail out of PortMiami as previously announced.

The Carnival Sensation will move from Miami to Mobile and take up itineraries previously assigned to the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Fascination, with guests on those two ships being re-accommodated on Carnival Sensation.

The Carnival Sunrise will move from Port Everglades to PortMiami and assume the itineraries previously operated by Carnival Sensation, providing a larger, upgraded ship for short itineraries with the many new features installed during Carnival Sunrise’s $200 million transformations completed in 2019. Guests booked on the Sunrise itineraries from Port Everglades will be automatically moved to sailings from PortMiami.

Carnival Inspiration

Carnival Inspiration.

The Carnival Fascination’s itineraries from San Juan and Barbados have been cancelled for 2020-2021 as the cruise line focuses its return to operations on mainland drive markets in the U.S., the company said.

Itineraries for the Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration from Long Beach have been cancelled through Apr. 19, 2021. Carnival Panorama will continue to operate 7-day cruises from Long Beach while Carnival Miracle will operate shorter itineraries from San Diego to Baja Mexico.

The Carnival Radiance will now move directly from Europe after its $200 million transformations and homeport in Long Beach in April of 2021, where it will assume the short Baja Mexico itineraries previously served by the Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration. Guests booked on Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration after April 22, 2021, will be re-accommodated on Carnival Radiance.

Carnival also said it notified its Australian guests that it has extended its pause of operations in that country, and has cancelled six cruises scheduled to operate between Sept. 25 and Oct. 29, 2020.

Carnival Radiance Cruise - Ship Review - Photos & Departure Ports ...
Carnival Radiance.

“We have used this pause in operations to think carefully about our fleet and to build a plan that gives our guests new choices and upgrades to current ship offerings,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We have a great variety of ships across the Carnival Cruise Line fleet and we are thrilled to have been able to confirm a delivery date ahead of what we had anticipated for our second Excel ship, which is exciting news for guests interested in sailing from PortMiami on the sister ship to Mardi Gras! At the same time, we will continue to invest in the four remaining Fantasy-class ships that we are keeping in the fleet. We have many guests who prefer our Fantasy-class ships which work so well for shorter itineraries from smaller ports that cannot accommodate our larger ships. With a fleet that gives guests lots of choices in ships, homeports, destinations and features including a multitude of dining, entertainment and accommodation choices, we are very excited about the future for Carnival Cruise Line.”

Guests and travel agents are being notified directly about impacted sailings, guest re-accommodations and cancellations. Duffy thanked guests and travel agent partners alike for their continued patience, loyalty and support during this unprecedented time for the cruise industry. “With our future fleet plan resolved, we are focused on ensuring we are ready to return to operations once it is determined that the time is right to resume cruising in the U.S.,” she said.

How Is COVID-19 Affecting New Cruise Ship Launches?

ultramarinecoviddelay

Due to complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic, new ship production has been delayed.

Credit: 2020 Quark Expeditions

This month was supposed to see the launch and naming of Princess Cruises’ newest Enchanted Princess, but the vessel and many others have been delayed due to the ramifications of the current COVID-19 pandemic. As shipyards around the world have had to temporarily close, arrivals of several exciting cruise ships have been pushed back.

So far there is little talk of halting the production of new ships, but any ships that are not already finished or under construction are certainly subject to that. For the time being, though, these are the most noteworthy ships facing delays.

Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex, the sister ship to Celebrity Edge, was finished and ready to set sail in March, but its festivities were pushed back. Now the ship has no voyages scheduled until this coming August. Third, in the Edge class, Celebrity Beyond is still scheduled for a 2021 debut.

Crystal Endeavor, Crystal Cruises

Not as lucky on the delivery front is Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Endeavor. The expedition vessel was originally delayed to November, but the ship has now been pushed back to 2021 due to closures at the MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany.

Enchanted Princess, Princess Cruises

The ship’s naming ceremony was initially scheduled for June 30 in Southampton, England, but no new launch date has yet been set. In the meantime, all of its cruises have been cancelled through July 31.

Evrima, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Last of the small ships for a while, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s new Evrima had already been delayed until June of this year. Then COVID-19 pandemic forced the ship and new line into 2021. According to Cruise Critic, neither will debut until April 22, 2021.

Fridtjof Nansen, Hurtigruten

Like the Silver Origin, Hurtigruten’s latest Fridtjof Nansen — sister ship to the recently launched Roald Amundsen — was supposed to be sailing from March onwards. However, the entire line is currently on hold until June 16.

Le Bellot, Ponant

Even new expedition ships such as Ponant’s Le Bellot, which according to Seatrade Cruise News also already launched in the first quarter, are having to temporarily hold tight. In fact, Ponant and its subsidiary Paul Gauguin Cruises are suspending service until further notice, leaving future sister-ship Le Jacques Cartier up in the air as well.

Mardi Gras, Carnival Cruise Line

Also showing from November onwards is Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ship ever, the new Mardi Gras. The ship was previously delayed by the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland even before COVID-19. At this time, it is unknown if the pandemic will cause any further delays.

National Geographic Endurance, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

The new National Geographic Endurance from Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has not yet had its moment to shine either. The ship successfully finished its sea trials back in February anticipating an April launch, but the line’s operations are now paused until July.

Odyssey of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

Later in the fall, Royal Caribbean International was preparing to launch the Odyssey of the Seas as its second Quantum Ultra-class vessel. It is not entirely clear if the ship will be delayed at all, but for now, it is still on pace to debut in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in November.

Scarlet Lady, Virgin Voyages

Before the viral outbreak led to widespread sailing suspensions, Virgin Voyages’ first ship, Scarlet Lady, was completed and making the rounds in the U.K. Now the ship is anchored off Fort Lauderdale, Fla., awaiting its North American debut, which has now been rescheduled for Oct. 16. The brand-new line’s second ship, Valiant Lady, is still on the calendar for 2021.

Sea Cloud Spirit, Sea Cloud Cruises

Cruise Industry News is reporting that Sea Cloud Cruises’ Sea Cloud Spirit, which was initially slated for an Aug. 29 maiden voyage, has now been delayed until further notice from the cruise line.

Seven Seas Splendor, Regent Seven Seas Cruises

TravelAge West was scheduled to sail on Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ latest Seven Seas Splendor, but the first wave of the pandemic caused the luxury line to postpone the preview voyage. Regent is planning to resume service in August.

Silver Moon, Silversea Cruises

Silversea’s upcoming Silver Moon — sister ship to Silver Muse — was set to debut in August. The luxury line has had to push that back further, though, due to delays at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy. All its inaugural sailings have been cancelled until Oct. 2, but that date is subject to change.

Silver Origin, Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises’ new Silver Origin expedition ship set for the Galapagos was supposed to be operating already. Although not yet sailing in its target destination, the shipyard was able to finish building it for delivery to the luxury line this month.

Ultramarine, Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions’ latest Ultramarine has now been pushed back to a 2021 debut as well, but it too is chugging along at the Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia. Just last month the new expedition ship was floated out ahead of final outfitting.