Carnival Horizon Completes Five Years in Service

The Carnival Horizon is completing five years of service in March.

After being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Vista-class vessel was delivered to Carnival Cruise Line on March 28, 2018.

After leaving its building dock, the 4,000-passenger ship repositioned to Barcelona, Spain, where it departed on an inaugural Mediterranean cruise a few days later.

First, in a series of four sailings from the European port, the 12-night voyage included visits to different ports of call in Italy, Croatia and Malta.

After the short season in the Mediterranean, the Carnival Horizon crossed the Atlantic for the first time in May.

The vessel then spent the remainder of the summer, offering a schedule of four-night Bermuda and eight-night Caribbean sailings departing from New York City.

Before kicking service from the Big Apple, the Horizon was officially christened by its godmother musical artist and actress Queen Latifah on May 28, 2018.

After receiving raising donations both onboard and ashore, Carnival also donated $100,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during the ceremony.

In late September, the ship repositioned to Miami – its current homeport – for a year-round program of six- and eight-night cruises to the Southern, Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Following the Carnival Vista, the Carnival Horizon debuted as the second in a series of three ships known as Vista Class.

According to Carnival, the vessels in the class were designed to connect guests to the ocean while offering “sweeping views and plenty to do both outdoors and indoors.”

Among the unique features of the Vista Class ships are the SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience, and the Dreamscape, a three-deck-high LED sculpture in each vessel’s atrium.

In addition to these elements, the Horizon introduced two firsts for Carnival Cruise Line: the brand’s first Teppanyaki Restaurant and the first unit of Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse and Brewhouse.

Chinese Eye 80,000-Ton Cruise Newbuild

n 80,000-ton cruise newbuild concept in China has obtained a China Classification Society in Principle approval certificate, a key item needed in moving forward with the construction process.

The ship was designed and developed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and its CSSC Cruise Technology Development subsidiary.

CSSC announced last week that its homegrown domestic Chinese brand, in partnership with Carnival Corporation, will launch service soon under the name Adora Cruises.

While two 135,000-ton Vista-class new ships are slated for Adora Cruises, this 80,000-ton ship could also join the brand should construction commence.

According to a statement, the ship is 293.5 meters long and features a high proportion of balcony cabins with approximately 70 per cent of accommodations featuring a balcony.

Next, CSSC will complete the basic design of the ship and submit plans to the China Classification Society for final approval.

Carnival Panorama to have SkyZone trampoline park

The new Carnival Panorama will be the line’s first ship to have a SkyZone trampoline park.

The 3,000-square-foot Cruise X SkyZone will occupy space on Decks 7 and 8. It will have a “challenge zone” equipped with a climbing wall, balance/jousting beam, Sky Ladder climbing apparatus, dodge ball games and SkyHoops (an above-the-rim basketball experience).

Developed in partnership with trampoline park chain SkyZone, the indoor park will be open all day on sea days and in the late afternoon and evenings on port days.  

Sessions will be offered for toddlers, youths and adults. During “toddler time,” cruisers ages 6 months to 5 years can participate in the bouncy fun, accompanied by an adult. The fee is $5 per child and $5 per adult. 

Kids ages 6 to 15 can book 1-hour sessions for $12, which includes a pair of keepsake socks.

At night, an all-ages blacklight glow party will cost $18 and include a T-shirt. 

The Panorama is the last of three Vista-class Carnival ships and the only one that doesn’t feature a two-deck Imax theatre.

Regular year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach to Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas begin Dec. 14.