Tag Archives: Royal Caribbean

Rhapsody of the Seas Starts Homeporting Season in Colombia

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The Rhapsody of the Seas is kicking off its homeporting season in Cartagena de Indias today.

Part of Royal Caribbean International’s return to Latin America after a seven-year gap, the operation includes 12 cruises departing from the Colombian port.

Through April, the vessel is set to offer a series of seven-night voyages to the Southern Caribbean that also feature visits to other destinations in the region, including Panama and Aruba.

While some of the itineraries also feature overnight calls at selected ports, Rhapsody’s regular itinerary sails to Willemstad, in Curaçao; Kralendijk, in Aruba; Oranjestad, in Bonaire; and Colón, in Panama.

The latter also serves as homeport for the operation, with passengers being able to embark on the cruise in both Cartagena and Colón.

Upon completing the winter program in mid-April, the Rhapsody sets sail on a repositioning cruise to Fort Lauderdale before returning to the Southern Caribbean.

Remaining in the region for the entire year, the Vision-Class ship is set to kick off a year-round program out of San Juan in late April.

The deployment includes seven-night cruises to additional destinations in the region, such as Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Croix, and Antigua.

Built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, the Rhapsody of the Seas originally entered service for Royal Caribbean International in 1996.

Extensively refurbished over the years, the 2,000-guest vessel offers several of the company’s signature features, including a rock climbing wall, an adults-only Solarium, and an array of specialty restaurants.

Among the dining venues available onboard is Chops Grille, an American-style steakhouse; Giovanni’s Table, a specialty restaurant that serves Italian food; and the self-service buffet Windjammer Café.

PortMiami Posts Busiest Cruise Year in History

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Royal Caribbean departing Port of Miami photo credit Spacejunkie2

PortMiami welcomed a total of 7,299,294 passengers during Fiscal Year 2023, setting a new record in cruise activity, the port announced in a press release.

During the period, which started on October 1, 2022 and ended on September 30, 2023, PortMiami experienced a nearly seven percent increase in cruise passenger totals compared to its previous record of 6,823,816 passengers in Fiscal Year 2019.

“Congratulations to the entire PortMiami team and its partners on its busiest cruise year ever,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

“PortMiami continues to drive our economy forward, creating opportunities for residents and businesses across our county. The Port is an industry leader, which is future ready and committed to innovative, efficient, and sustainable growth,” she added.

The 2024 Fiscal Year season is also bringing new developments, PortMiami said, which include new cruise lines and new vessels.

Among the new line-up of ships which began sailing to the facility are Oceania Cruises’ Vista, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Venezia, the Scenic Eclipse II, Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity, Explora Journey’s Explora I, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Viva; and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Grandeur.

In January 2024, Royal Caribbean Group’s Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, will also begin a year-round deployment from the port.

According to the port, dedicated partnerships and the development of new business have contributed to PortMiami’s post-pandemic recovery.

Since the pandemic, the port opened three new cruise terminals: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Cruise Terminal B, the Pearl of Miami; Carnival Corporation’s Cruise Terminal F; and Virgin Voyages’ Cruise Terminal V, the Palm Grove.

Currently under construction are MSC Cruises’ Terminals AA/AAA, which will open in 2024. Recently, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved Royal Caribbean Group’s new Cruise Terminal G, which is expected to open in late 2027.

Shore power – a partnership between PortMiami, its cruise partners (Carnival Corporation, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Group, and Virgin Voyages) and Florida Power & Light Company – is also in progress. Upon completion in 2024, shore power capability will be available at five cruise terminals with the ability to plug in three ships simultaneously. Shore power will allow a cruise ship to turn off their primary engines while docked, resulting in reduced air emissions, PortMiami said.

MSC Cruises Celebrates Grandiosa’s Maiden Season in Brazil

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The MSC Grandiosa arrived in Brazil for its first winter season in South America.

Repositioning from the Western Mediterranean, the 4,888-guest vessel docked at its new homeport in Santos on Nov. 25.

To mark the occasion, MSC Cruises invited over 2,800 guests for a celebration onboard the 177,100-ton cruise ship, which also became the largest ever to operate in Brazil.

“It is a great source of pride to have a ship like this here, bringing passengers to travel within our country,” said the company’s Brazil Country Manager Adrian Ursilli.

He also noted that the Grandiosa is MSC’s 17th new ship to arrive in Brazil since the debut of MSC Armonia in 2004.

The event included a symbolic christening of the Grandiosa that saw Marlene Ribeiro – the longest-tenured employee of MSC Cruises in Brazil – serving as godmother.

“MSC Cruises is a family company. Everyone is always together and in good spirits. The choice of the MSC Grandiosa godmother is a demonstration of this,” said Fabio Gatti, the company’s Global Director of Entertainment.

Part of a six-ship program in the region, the MSC Grandiosa is now offering a series of cruises to different Brazilian destinations.

In addition to Santos, the ship’s regular seven-night itineraries feature visits to Salvador, Maceió and Búzios.

Set to be repeated through late March, the cruise can be started at any of the ports of call, with the exception of Búzios.

The MSC Grandiosa was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France and originally entered service in 2019.

Part of MSC Cruises’ five-ship Meraviglia Class, the vessel offers several different amenities, including the Galleria Grandiosa, a 112-meter-long central promenade that features a huge LED dome.

The Grandiosa also offers a selection of bars and lounges, as well as a complete water park, and over ten dining venues.