Tag Archives: Victoria

Carnival Panorama Gets Funnel Back After Drydock

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Getting ready to resume revenue service, the Carnival Panorama recently returned to Victoria, in Canada, to have its funnel reinstalled following its drydock.

According to an update shared by Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald, the ship is now set to soon return to its homeport in Long Beach, California.

Out of service since mid-November, the Carnival Panorama underwent repairs at the Vigor Shipyard in Oregon.

Too tall to fit under the fixed bridges of the Columbia River, the 2019-built vessel needed to have its funnel removed before entering the drydock of the facility in Portland.

The Carnival Panorama is now set to resume service on Dec. 23 for a seven-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera. Sailing roundtrip from Long Beach, the itinerary features visits to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

After experiencing an issue affecting its maximum cruising speed in early November, the Carnival Panorama saw a total of six cruises cancelled to undergo repairs.

The third and final ship in Carnival’s Vista class, the Carnival Panorama entered service in late 2019. Based on the West Coast, the 4,000-guest sails from Long Beach on a year-round basis.

The program features a series of six- to eight-night cruises to Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera, with visits to La Paz, Mazatlán, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, and more.

Carnival Luminosa Kicks Off Inaugural Season in Alaska

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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.

Canada implements cruise restriction

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Alaska cruises from Seattle must call in Victoria, B.C., in accordance with U.S. cabotage laws.
Alaska cruises from Seattle must call in Victoria, B.C., in accordance with U.S. cabotage laws.

Canada’s government will restrict cruise ships with more than 500 passengers from calling at its ports until at least July 1, delaying the start of the Alaska cruise season for most large ship lines.

The decision will impact Alaska cruises from Seattle that have to call in Victoria, B.C., in accordance with U.S. cabotage laws requiring foreign-flagged ships sailing from U.S. ports to call in a foreign port before returning to the U.S.

Small-ship lines that operate in Alaska with U.S.-flagged ships such as Lindblad Expeditions, Alaska Dream Cruises, Uncruise Adventures and American Cruise Lines will not be impacted.

The restriction won’t impact Canada/New England cruise itineraries, as that season starts after July 1.

More than 140 cruise ships from 10 countries docked in Canada last year, Canada said, bringing at least 2 million travellers to the country. The country also deferred all cruise vessel calls in the Canadian Arctic for the entire cruise season this year, citing the limited public health capacity in Canada’s Northern communities.

Canada’s chief public health officer has already issued a health advisory recommending that Canadians avoid going on cruise ships.

“There is no immediate solution to allow cruise ships to operate in Canada while adequately containing the public health risk associated with Covid-19, other than delaying the start of the cruise ship season,” said Canada Minister of Transport Marc Garneau. “We do not take these decisions lightly and will continue to reassess as the situation evolves.”