Tag Archives: Port Canaveral

Royal Caribbean to Expand Wonder of the Seas’ Casino

Posted on by
Reply

Royal Caribbean to Expand Wonder of the Seas’ Casino

Royal Caribbean International is expanding the casino onboard one of its Oasis-class vessels, the Wonder of the Seas.

According to a statement sent to guests, the venue will take over the area of the existing Crown Lounge on Deck 4.

As an exclusive space for guests on the higher levels of the company’s Crown & Anchor Society, the venue will be relocated to a different area on Deck 16.

“During this transition, the Crown Lounge will be closed from June 22-28, then reopen on June 29 on Deck 16,” Royal Caribbean said.

While the change takes place, eligible Crown & Anchor guests will take advantage of their perks in other parts of the ship, the company added.

“To keep the fun going, cocktail hour drinks can be redeemed at any bar or lounge. Plus, Diamond and Diamond Plus guests will enjoy extra cappuccino credits loaded onto their SeaPass cards, redeemable at Café Promenade,” Royal Caribbean continued.

Social100, Wonder’s teens’ club, will also remain closed during the transition period and is expected to reopen on June 29.

The Golden Room non-smoking casino will close on June 22 and reopen on July 13 as part of the expanded non-smoking gambling space on Deck 4.

According to the statement, the ship’s conference centres will be unavailable for guests during the construction period.

As the fifth ship in the company’s Oasis-class, the Wonder of the Seas entered service for Royal Caribbean in early 2022.

The 5,738-guest vessel is currently offering seven-night cruises to the Caribbean departing from Port Canaveral.

As the new Star of the Seas takes over the schedule from August 2025, the Wonder is set to reposition to Miami for short cruises to the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean recently added a larger non-smoking casino to another Oasis-class ship, the new Utopia of the Seas.

After entering service in 2024, the vessel saw a new gambling room take over the space of its nightclub and comedy club.

Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates 35 Years at Port Canaveral

Posted on by
Reply

Carnival Cruise Line Celebrates 35 Years at Port Canaveral

Carnival Cruise Line marked 35 years of cruises from Central Florida with a special celebration aboard its Mardi Gras on Saturday.

Carnival began sailing from Port Canaveral in 1990, and has grown its operations over the years to homeport more ships than any other cruise line and embark more than 1.2 million guests from the port annually, the company said in a press release.

To commemorate the anniversary and longstanding partnership, Carnival hosted an onboard celebration. The event included several members of the community, such as leaders from the Canaveral Port Authority, the United States Coast Guard, and Brevard County.

David German, Port Canaveral’s vice president of cruise business development, presented Carnival with a framed Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners proclamation, documenting the special resolution the board passed this week to recognize the economic growth created by the 35-year relationship.

The cruise line also announced the charitable donation of a hybrid pickup truck that will support the work of Keep Brevard Beautiful, a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental conservation in the area.

The donation coincides with the weekend of World Ocean Day, emphasizing Carnival’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Carnival, which homeports four ships year-round and another ship seasonally at Port Canaveral, recently announced it will enhance offerings further by deploying its next new ship to the port. Sister ship to the Mardi Gras, the Carnival Festival is now under construction and will bring all new features into the Carnival fleet, including music-themed zones and the cruise line’s largest-ever water park, when it debuts in 2027.

Pick up truck

“Port Canaveral has been a cornerstone of Carnival’s success for 35 years,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We’re proud to celebrate this incredible milestone alongside the community that has been such an essential part of our growth. Our exciting growth continues with the opening of Celebration Key next month, our exclusive destination that will really be a game-changer for us and for our guests.”

The Carnival Vista, which is homeported in Port Canaveral, will make the first official visit to Celebration Key for the destination’s grand opening. All Carnival ships sailing from Port Canaveral offer sailings that visit Celebration Key on Grand Bahama, which will offer guests the ultimate day in paradise.

With over 300 annual departures from Port Canaveral, Carnival guests contribute an estimated $450 million in economic impact to the region before and after cruises.

“We are proud to celebrate Carnival Cruise Line’s 35th anniversary of sailing from Port Canaveral and humbled by what this milestone represents,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “From the inaugural sailing of the TSS Carnivale in 1990 to having five year-round and seasonal vessels in their homeported fleet today, Carnival Cruise Line is our longest continuous cruise business relationship, contributing economic value over the decades for our Port community, the Central Florida region and our state.”

MSC Meraviglia Temporarily Out of Service for Repairs in Maine

Posted on by
Reply

The MSC Meraviglia is currently undergoing technical repairs after having this week’s cruise cancelled in mid-April.

Offering weeklong itineraries out of New York City, the 2017-built vessel was taken out of service ahead of the sailing that was scheduled for May 11, 2025.

According to a statement issued by MSC in late April, the Meraviglia was in need of technical repairs due to a mechanical issue.

The problem was impacting the vessel’s ability to operate at standard cruising speeds, as the company explained in a letter to affected guests.

“As a result, and with deep regret, we have made the very difficult decision to cancel your upcoming sailing,” MSC continued.

The MSC Meraviglia was set to offer a seven-night cruise to the Bahamas and Florida from its homeport at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

In addition to three days at sea, the original itinerary featured visits to Port Canaveral, Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Instead, the vessel is currently docked in Portland (Maine), where repairs are being carried out by specialised teams.

The decision to take the vessel out of service was made out of an abundance of caution, MSC added, and reflects the company’s “commitment to safety and delivering the best possible guest experience.”

In addition to offering guests rebooking or refund options, the company also noted that the technical issue never affected the safety of its crew and guests.

The MSC Meraviglia is now expected to resume service on May 18, 2025, kicking off a weeklong cruise to the Bahamas and Florida.

As with the cancelled cruise, the seven-night voyage features visits to Port Canaveral, Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Sailing from New York City on a year-round basis, the MSC Meraviglia offers seven-night cruises to Florida, the Bahamas and Bermuda.

In 2026, the 4,500-guest ship repositions to Europe for its first summer season in the Western Mediterranean in over five years.