Discovery Princess Arrives in Asia for the First Time

Discovery Princess Arrives in Asia for the First Time

Sailing in the region for the first time, the Discovery Princess recently arrived in Asia as part of a repositioning cruise.

The ship embarked on a 29-night itinerary between Seattle and Singapore following its summer season in Alaska.

The month-long repositioning voyage departed from North America in late September and included visits to four destinations in Alaska before crossing the Pacific.

For its Asia debut, the Discovery Princess visited ports of call in the Far East and Southeast Asia, such as Shimizu, Kochi, and Kagoshima in Japan; Keelung in Taiwan; and Nha Trang in Vietnam, as well as Hong Kong.

The Royal-class ship is also scheduled to offer a single short cruise in the region before entering drydock in early November.

Sailing roundtrip from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Center, the five-night sailing features visits to three destinations in Malaysia: Port Klang, Langkawi and Penang.

The Discovery Princess is then set to enter drydock before heading south for its inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand.

Starting in late December, the deployment includes a series of three- to 14-night cruises departing from Sydney.

In addition to a series of destinations in New Zealand, the itineraries feature visits to ports of call in Southern Australia, Queensland and the South Pacific.

Highlighted destinations include Mystery Island in Vanuatu, Kangaroo Island in South Australia and the Fiordland National Park in New Zealand.

The season runs through early April, when the vessel is scheduled to return to North America via Hawaii and French Polynesia.

As the sixth and last vessel in a series of ships that started with the Royal Princess in 2013, the Discovery Princess entered service in March 2022.

The 3,600-guest ship was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and spent its maiden season sailing in Alaska, the U.S. West Coast and the Mexican Riviera.

Carnival Luminosa Kicks Off Inaugural Season in Alaska

The Carnival Luminosa is kicking off its inaugural season in Alaska today.

After joining the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in late 2022, the 2009-built ship is also embarking on its maiden cruise in the United States.

Sailing roundtrip from Seattle, the vessel’s first Alaska voyage features visits to three ports in Alaska: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.

Before returning to its Washington homeport, the seven-night cruise also includes scenic cruising at the Tracy Arm Fjord, in addition to a visit to Victoria, in Canada’s British Columbia.

The itinerary is set to be repeated through mid-September – when the Carnival Luminosa sails to Australia via a 30-night transpacific cruise.

Part of Carnival’s three-ship summer program in Alaska, the 2,260-guest vessel is set to offer a total of 19 cruises in the region.

Sailing from San Francisco and Seattle, respectively, the Carnival Miracle and the Carnival Spirit will also spend the next months in the Last Frontier.

Transferred from the Costa Cruises fleet, the Carnival Luminosa spent its inaugural season with Carnival in Australia.

Between November 2022 and April 2023, the ship offered a series of itineraries to South Pacific, New Zealand and more departing from Brisbane.

Before debuting, the Carnival Luminosa was subjected to a refit that added Carnival’s signature features to its public areas and staterooms.

Among the new additions are extra dining venues, including the company’s Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and the upscale Chef’s Table.

The Luminosa also received the Bonsai Sushi Express, as well as Carnival’s new blue, red and white hull livery and different new entertainment venues.

Among them are The Punchliner Comedy Club, the Limelight Lounge, the Piano Bar 88 and the Alchemy Bar.

Other new venues added to the 92,700-ton ship include the RedFrog Rum Bar, the adults-only sundeck Serenity Retreat and the Cherry on Top candy shop.

Carnival Publishes Luminosa’s First Itineraries

Carnival Cruise Line just published the first itineraries of the Carnival Luminosa. Currently, in service for Costa Cruises in Europe, the vessel will join the fleet of the U.S.-based operator this November.

After a winter schedule in Australia, the 2009-built ship is set to cross the Pacific Ocean ahead of its first stateside deployment in Alaska.

According to Carnival’s website, the Luminosa is debuting on November 6, 2022. On that day, the ship embarks on a seven-night cruise departing from its new Australian homeport in Brisbane.

Sailing to the Great Barrier Reef, the itinerary includes visits to Airlie Beach, Cairns and Port Douglas. Before returning to Brisbane, the vessel also sails by Willis Island, where guests can enjoy scenic cruising.

Continuing its inaugural season in Australia, the Luminosa is offering additional weeklong cruises to the region, in addition to eight- to 11-night itineraries to New Zealand and the South Pacific. Among the visited destinations are Wellington, Port Chalmers, Mystery Island and Noumea.

The schedule also includes three- and four-night getaway cruises that feature stops in Airlie Beach, in addition to sea days.

On April 13, 2023, the Carnival Luminosa starts a transpacific cruise to Seattle. Also departing from Brisbane, the 22-night voyage sails to five destinations, including Papeete, in Tahiti; Suva, in Fiji; and Honolulu, in Hawaii.

Once in the U.S., the ship kicks off its inaugural season in Alaska and Canada, with a series of seven-night voyages.

Sailing roundtrip from Seattle, the itineraries will be operated through October and feature some of the region’s most popular destinations, such as Juneau, Skagway, Victoria, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan and more.

All of the departures also feature scenic cruising in the Tracy Arm Fjord.

Bringing Carnival to the Far East, the Luminosa concludes its first Alaska season with a special 30-night sailing to Brisbane.

Visiting five ports in Japan and additional destinations in the United States, the Philippines and Indonesia, the cruise departs Seattle on September 14, 2023.

Between October 2023 and April 2024, the vessel is set to offer a second season in Australia, with varied itineraries sailing from Brisbane.