Latest news with #ChristineDuffy
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carnival Cruise Line to launch new year-round cruise port
Cruise travelers in one region of the U.S. will soon have the opportunity to cruise year-round from one convenient cruise port. Carnival Cruise Line is bringing its cruise operations back to pre-pandemic levels in one port city after running a successful seasonal schedule there for the last few port will join the bigger cruise hubs of New Orleans, Galveston, Texas, and Tampa, Fla. in offering Caribbean getaways from the Gulf Coast all year long beginning in 2027. For many cruisers who live in southern states and prefer to drive to their cruise departure port, the expansion of Carnival's Gulf Coast cruise offerings is exciting will expand its cruise schedule from Mobile, Alabama beginning in spring 2027, bringing back year-round sailings that the cruise line hasn't offered from the port since prior to the pandemic. Carnival Spirit currently sails a seasonal schedule from Mobile that has been very popular with Gulf Coast cruisers. 'This is a testament to our relationship with Carnival and the incredible effort the staff at the Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal put in to making sure every passenger that comes through Mobile has an exceptional experience,' the City of Mobile wrote in a Facebook post about the news. In a video posted on Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald's Facebook page, Carnival President Christine Duffy revealed that the cruise line shared the news with Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson on his demand high for Carnival's seasonal cruises from Mobile, Mayor Stimpson and city officials have been eager to expand cruise operations from the port with Carnival, or even bring another cruise line to fill the vacancy during the months when Carnival Spirit wasn't sailing from Mobile. The city recently added a new gangway at the cruise terminal to improve the passenger embarkation experience and has even been exploring plans to increase parking capacity to allow the port to accommodate a second cruise ship. City officials have been in talks with both Norwegian Cruise Line and Margaritaville at Sea about the possibility of sending a ship to with increasing its sailings from Mobile, Carnival also plans to up its capacity in the mid-Atlantic region by moving a larger Conquest class ship to Baltimore in 2027. Expanding operations in both Mobile and Baltimore demonstrate Carnival's commitment to serving its secondary markets outside of major cruise hubs like Port Canaveral, Florida, Miami and Galveston, Texas. The cruise line is dedicated to remaining an accessible vacation option for 50 percent of the U.S. population that is within a five-hour drive of a Carnival cruise departure port. Carnival also reinforced this commitment by increasing its cruise operations from Norfolk, Va. in February, bumping the port up from seasonal to year-round sailings just like it now plans to do in Mobile. More Carnival cruise news:Although the focus on these smaller markets is welcome news to many loyal Carnival cruisers, many would also like to see the cruise line turn its attention to smaller ships as it plans for the future rather continuing the megaship trend. Along with sharing deployment updates, Carnival just announced new details on its upcoming Excel class megaships and plans for even bigger ships to come. After the cruise line's brand ambassador shared new ship news on his Facebook page, a number of passengers posted pleas for smaller ships. 'John Heald, please note how many of us want smaller ships,' Stephanie Traver Gaida commented. 'Not everyone loves the big ships: too crowded, too noisy, lack of personal service.' (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carnival Cruise Line makes surprise move with its first mega-ship
Carnival Cruise Line has been offering short cruises of 3, 4, and 5 days for many years. But it is an area of cruising where it has lagged behind a key competitor in recent years. The short cruise strategy has been a cornerstone of Royal Caribbean's plans, and something that, quite frankly, has been a strength of Carnival's main competitor. Royal Caribbean has been offering short cruises on its massive Oasis-class ships for some time, first on Allure of the Seas. It even launched a brand-new ship (Utopia of the Seas) directly into short sailings last year, and is set to start offering 3- and 4-night cruises on its popular Wonder of the Seas in the cruises appeal to people who either can't get away for an entire week or simply don't want to be on a ship for that long. And from the cruise line's perspective, short cruises often command higher fares on a per-night basis, plus they can be a great way to attract new customers to the cruise line. However, in Carnival's case, one common complaint (among some cruisers) has been that the line typically uses its oldest and smallest ships for short cruises. Not only does it not offer short cruises on its flagship Excel-class ships, but it doesn't offer short sailings on the few classes of ships that came before it. Of course, some people enjoy the smaller ships, finding the newer ones a bit overwhelming. But Royal Caribbean has proven that there's clearly a market for short sailings on the biggest and newest ships, and it appears that Carnival has taken a recent media briefing, Carnival made several major announcements, including the name and homeport of its upcoming fourth Excel-class ship. The Carnival Festivale will debut in Spring 2027 and will call Port Canaveral, Florida home. We also now know that the fifth Excel-class ship will be named Carnival Tropicale, and will debut approximately one year later, although its home port is yet to be revealed. What's particularly significant about this news is that Carnival already has one of its Excel-class ships homeported in Port Canaveral, the first-in-class Mardi Gras. More Carnival cruise news: Mardi Gras will continue to call Port Canaveral home. But once Carnival Festivale is delivered and begins sailing, Mardi Gras will begin offering short cruises. 'With short cruises on Mardi Gras, our guests who may not have the time to take a weeklong vacation can experience all the amazing features of our Excel class," Carnival President Christine Duffy be clear, there are a lot of details yet to be revealed. For starters, we don't have any idea what itineraries Mardi Gras will be sailing once it begins its short cruise schedule. Duffy said that Carnival Festivale's itinerary details will be released this summer, so presumably we'll get a look at Mardi Gras' 2027 schedule as well. Mardi Gras will likely stop at Carnival's new private destination, Celebration Key. That port, a sort of answer to Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at Coco Cay, opens in July. Whatever the particulars end up being, this is likely welcome news for cruisers who prefer short sailings but also like to consider the ship as a destination, not just the vessel taking them from port to port. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carnival Cruise Line to resume year-round sailings from Mobile
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Carnival Cruise Line will once again set sail year-round from the Port of Mobile starting in the spring of 2027, has learned. Storm damage and flooding reported in the News 5 coverage area Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, made the announcement today and outlined the company's plans to resume regular year-round service from Mobile. This follows a successful track record of seasonal sailings. 'As one of the highest-rated ports for customer experience and satisfaction, Mobile has continued to strengthen its relationship with Carnival and invest in the passenger facilities at the Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal, most recently with a new gangway,' a news release said. Since 2023, the Carnival Spirit has offered a variety of itineraries from the port six months out of the year. 'The return to year-round sailings from the Port of Mobile is a testament to our relationship with Carnival and the incredible effort the staff at the Cruise Terminal puts in to making sure every passenger has an exceptional experience in Mobile,' Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. 'This is great news for Mobilians and the many businesses that rely on our city's thriving tourism industry.' Though Carnival has not revealed which ship will be based in Mobile for its year-round sailings, the Spirit is set to return for its usual seasonal schedule in October. Carnival's broader strategy includes serving 50 percent of the U.S. population living within a five-hour drive of one of its homeports, the release said. Clarke County shooting: 3 dead, 1 critically injured With a strong following across the Southeast, Mobile remains a key player in the cruise line's expanding regional network. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE UNVEILS AN EXCITING 'INNOVATION ITINERARY' OF NEW SHIPS, FLEET ENHANCEMENTS, DEPLOYMENT PLANS AND EXCLUSIVE DESTINATIONS
Line Lays Out Strategic Plans to Further Solidify Its Position as the Cruise Industry Innovator and Leader MIAMI, April 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on a period of expansive growth, Carnival Cruise Line is outlining its strategic plans over the next five years with the introduction of its "Innovation Itinerary," focused on three pillars: sailing the most fun fleet at sea; creating compelling experiences and destinations; and building more Carnival loyalists. The line's President Christine Duffy provided details on new ships, deployment, fleet enhancements and exclusive destinations at a media briefing today aboard Carnival Celebration at PortMiami. (To see video from the event, click here.) "Since our inception in 1972, we have defined and led the modern cruise industry and our plans for the next five years and beyond are no different," said Duffy. "The excitement and energy continue at Carnival! Having just integrated two ships into the Carnival fleet in Australia, we now stand at 29 ships, the largest global fleet in our history. Looking ahead, we have the opening of Celebration Key this July, followed by our expansion at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in 2026; the delivery of our fourth and fifth Excel ships in 2027 and 2028; and then the introduction of three ships in our new platform, Project Ace, beginning in 2029, plus fleet enhancements and new investments at some of our existing destinations. We are poised to continue our leadership position as both America's Cruise Line and the World's Most Popular Cruise Line." New Ships: At the event, Duffy revealed that the fourth ship in Carnival's award-winning Excel class ships will be named Carnival Festivale, continuing the tradition of giving these ships the names of the first Carnival ships that popularized cruise vacations for so many Americans. Debuting in spring 2027, Carnival Festivale will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida. Reservation and itinerary details will be released this summer. In the meantime, those who want to be the first know can be notified by signing up here. Carnival Festivale will keep in the Carnival tradition of bringing innovation and fun with each new ship and will debut three brand new zones; two of which on Decks 6, 7, and 8 will celebrate music with new music-themed venues and immersive experiences, representing the ways in which music brings people together. One zone is inspired by the process of creating music, using cutting-edge media, interactive moments, immersive sound and transformative lighting to activate it throughout the cruise, while the other zone on deck 8 symbolizes the energetic vibes of outdoor music performances. Carnival sails more families than any other cruise line, welcoming one million children per year; and to better serve those families, Carnival Festivale will feature 1,000 interconnecting rooms, nearly 70% more than on the first three Excel ships. The expansion of the interconnecting rooms is in lieu of the Family Harbor staterooms on the existing Excel ships. Carnival Festivale will also introduce a dedicated space for Carnival's Turtles program which is for children six months to two years, and more experiences for them on the open decks. Overall spaces for Carnival's youth programs will also be enhanced to support additional programming. Carnival Festivale will also feature a new outdoor zone on the top three decks, named Sunsation Point, that is a vibrant and exhilarating family fun zone that promises endless entertainment and unforgettable memories for guests of all ages. On Deck 18, a main feature of Sunsation Point is Carnival Waterworks Ultra, the most family friendly water park at sea and the ultimate destination for splashy excitement. This new area will replace BOLT, the Ultimate Seacoaster that is the top deck feature on the existing Excel ships. The expansive water park will feature six exhilarating slides, four of which are new to Carnival, including two family raft slides and, in the spirit of catering to all ages, slides that allow guests as little as three feet tall! Two different splash pads offer endless aquatic playtime with kids' slides and spray toys, while dedicated baby splash areas that will let even the littlest cruisers get in on the fun. The treehouse inspired elevated adventure trail and toddler areas provide dry play activities with plenty of shaded seating nearby. A sports court, ropes course and jogging track along with a new miniature golf course, outdoor games and themed arcade spaces are also included in this zone. In the evening, Sunsation Point bursts with vibrant illumination and the fun continues into the night with special evening events that have extended water park hours, in addition to a DJ and other activities. This is a first for Carnival to open Waterworks at night and activate multi deck zones for guests of all ages to enjoy together in the evening. Since this ship will be sailing from Port Canaveral alongside Mardi Gras, there will be new dining options. Carnival's Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse is working closely with the Food and Beverage team to develop new concepts, including a new dining outlet that will replace ChiBang! But guests don't have to worry as fan favorites Guy's Burger Joint, Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse and Big Chicken are a few of the staples that will continue. More details on dining options will be available in the coming months. Duffy also revealed that the name of the line's fifth Excel class ship will be Carnival Tropicale, also one of the original names of early Carnival ships. The homeport and open for sale date will be unveiled well ahead of the scheduled delivery of the ship in spring 2028. Many of the new features on Carnival Festivale will also be included on Carnival Tropicale, as well as some new concepts and theming. Looking further ahead, Carnival's exclusive new ship platform, currently called Project Ace, includes three ships at 230,000 gross tons each being built by Fincantieri that will be delivered in 2029, 2031 and 2033, respectively. With over 3,000 guest staterooms, the new ships will be the largest in the Carnival Corporation global fleet and will be able to deliver fun to more guests than any ship in the world when carrying almost 8,000 guests at full capacity. "These ships clearly represent the next generation of Fun ships. They will be experiences unto themselves, and, partnered with itineraries that call in part on our exclusive destinations, will provide amazing cruise vacations for guests," said Duffy. "This class will introduce new dining outlets, entertainment, and re-imagined outer deck amenities. Our New Build team is in the midst of designing these vessels, so stay tuned for more as we get closer to delivery." Deployment Updates: When Carnival Festivale is delivered in spring 2027 and begins sailing from Port Canaveral, Mardi Gras will move to offering short cruises from the same homeport. "As new ships are introduced, this will allow us to upgrade capacity and hardware in key markets, with a particular focus on short cruises," explained Duffy. "With short cruises on Mardi Gras, our guests who may not have the time to take a weeklong vacation can experience all the amazing features of our Excel class." Carnival has always been a leader in offering short cruises which appeal to first-time cruisers and families with more limited vacation time. Carnival offers short cruises from all of its homeports in the U.S. and Australia, with the exceptions of Baltimore and Seattle. Duffy also reiterated Carnival's commitment to serving the line's secondary markets which are an important part of its portfolio as America's Cruise Line by continuing to be an accessible vacation for 50 percent of the U.S. population that is within a five-hour drive of a Carnival cruise. As part of this commitment, Carnival will return to year-round operations in Mobile, Alabama beginning in spring 2027. Carnival previously sailed year-round from Mobile and currently sails seasonally. In addition, Carnival is exploring moving a larger Conquest class ship to Baltimore in 2027 that can accommodate about 1,000 more guests than Carnival Pride, the Spirit class ship currently deployed from Baltimore. Guest Experience: Since first introducing Fun Ship 2.0 in 2011, Carnival has continually sought to enhance the guest experience on its ships. In order to continue to innovate, Carnival will be evolving the guest experience on its existing ships by making strategic enhancements. Changes will include décor modernization, new dining, beverage and entertainment experiences that will draw from features and concepts that will be introduced on its new ships. More details will be revealed as dry dock and enhancement plans are finalized. Destinations: It's not just ships that are part of the Innovation Itinerary, it's also about exclusive destinations. Carnival Corporation already has the largest collection of cruise destinations across the Caribbean and Mexico that are utilized by many of its corporate brands. Carnival Cruise Line, as the largest year-round operator in these regions, is the line that frequents these destinations the most. Given this, the destinations are being enhanced and will be marketed as the new Paradise Collection by Carnival and include: The first exclusive destination that has been designed for Carnival guests, Celebration Key is a game-changer, opening in July. It offers guests the ultimate day in paradise. Twenty Carnival ships from 10 U.S. homeports on more than 1,400 sailings are already open for sale and will make visits to Celebration Key through 2027, with more to come. The line recently announced the expansion of RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, which has been consistently rated as one of the top destinations in the Caribbean. The addition of a pier that can support Excel class and Project Ace ships will allow Carnival to bring its largest ships to this beautiful destination. The expansion is focused on unlocking more of the beach paradise Carnival guests love, making sure to preserve the pristine beach and lush, natural beauty of this island paradise. The destination's enhancements will begin to be completed by summer 2026 and continue through the end of the year. Coming in 2026, Mahogany Bay, Carnival's destination in Roatan, Honduras, will be renamed Isla Tropicale and expanded to include a pool with a swim up bar and cabanas. Future enhancements will also include an expanded beach and a beach club. Loyalty: Duffy rounded out the event by confirming that Carnival will be enhancing its existing loyalty program, the details of which are expected to be announced this summer, with enhancements taking effect in 2026. "Carnival has an incredibly loyal and passionate fan base who are advocates for our brand, our crew and the amazing vacations we deliver. We've had our existing VIFP loyalty recognition program in place since 2012 and as our fleet and business has grown, so has the VIFP program," she said. "As we continue to grow, we are modifying the program to unlock greater value and engagement for our loyal guests." Duffy said updates will be announced this summer, giving guests and travel advisors plenty of time to learn about the changes. For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation on Carnival, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site. ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 13 U.S. and two Australian homeports, as well as seasonally from Europe and employs more than 50,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival's fleet of 29 ships reflects an exciting period of growth that continues with the addition of five ships through 2033: a fourth and fifth Excel class ship scheduled for 2027 and 2028 respectively; followed by three additional new ships from an innovative new class currently under development. Carnival's next new guest offering will be the all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, set to debut on Grand Bahama this summer. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carnival is opening a private resort for cruise passengers. See what's in the works
Carnival Corp. is putting the finishing touches on, not a new ship but a new destination for cruise passengers. Beginning in July, Doral-based Carnival will send ships between PortMiami and Celebration Key, a private development in the Bahamas. Described by the cruise ship company as 'a new destination from the ground up,' Celebration Key is on the southern side of Grand Bahama island and about 17 miles northeast of Freeport. When finished, the resort will have its own pier with two berths where Carnival's largest ships can dock. In 2026, the pier at Celebration Key will add two more berths so a total of four Carnival ships can dock at the same time. The resort will feature water slides for kids, scuba diving and other sports, and excursions. And there will be restaurants and bars that passengers can reach by walking or swimming. Costing $600 million, the destination is the latest in major cruise carriers betting big time on private islands or resorts built from the ground up. The new stops give cruisers more beach time, expand group activities and bring in more money. Royal Caribbean, also based in Miami, is developing a third private space in Mexico that's expected to be ready in 2027. The company's other two private resorts are in Labadee, Haiti, and Coco Cay in the Bahamas. Norwegian Cruise Line has Great Stirrup Cay, also in the Bahamas. Carnival is so keen on Celebration Key that 20 of its 27 ships plan to sail there, including all five ships that call PortMiami home: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Magic. Ships sailing from Baltimore, New Orleans and Galveston will also head there this year. Carnival Conquest, which does three-and four-day trips to the Bahamas, will be the first PortMiami-based ship to visit Celebration Key, departing South Florida on July 18. 'Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival and its construction builds on our close partnership with the Bahamas,' Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement. 'Seeing it transform from vision to reality is incredible.' Duffy visited the under-construction Celebration Key in February, along with Carnival Corp. Chief Executive Officer Josh Weinstein and Chief Maritime Officer Lars Ljoen. The cruise executives joined leaders from the organization Plant a Tree and replanted about 1,000 sabal palms, a nod to the role their industry needs to play in increasing sustainability. Duffy also took part in 'the ceremonial filling of one of two expansive freshwater lagoons, the largest in the Caribbean.' These will be sustained by Celebration Key's desalination system that converts seawater into freshwater. The lagoons span over seven acres and hold about seven million gallons of water. Carnival broke ground on the project less than three years ago. About 500 Bahamian workers are on the 65-acre site around the clock to make sure the resort is ready by July. The cruises from Miami that will stop at Celebration Key range from a three-day weekend cruise on Carnival Conquest to a 13-day trip starting from Barcelona on Carnival Journeys. Carnival Celebration will offer a variety of seven-day cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean that stop at the new resort. The resort expects to have more than 30 restaurants and bars, from full-service sit-downs to self-ordering food trucks. The development is broken down into different areas. Paradise Plaza is the welcoming area. Starfish Lagoon has recreation and relaxation. Calypso Lagoon has an adult-only area with a DJ island and a large swim-up bar. Pearl Cove Beach Club is a premium adult-only space with an infinity pool and beachfront cabanas. Pearl Cove Beach Club will offer beachfront daybeds, private cabanas and Super Villas, each of which includes access to the club's open bar service, infinity pool, full-service restaurant and beachfront. Here is a rundown on the food and drinks: Calypso Lagoon ▪ Mingo's Tropical Bar & Kitchen, named after the Bahamas' national bird the flamingo, is a full-service, Carnival-run restaurant offering Bahamian favorites including fried fish and conch fritters, as well as burgers, seafood, tacos, steak and sandwiches. Mingo's bar will serve tropical frozen drinks and cocktails. ▪ Mingo's Express food truck, just outside the restaurant, has self-ordering kiosks and shaded seating, and to-go hamburgers, salads and fish sandwiches. ▪ Surf N' Sauce BBQ & Brews is a full-service dining spot serving slow-smoked meat prepared in an outdoor smoker. A full-service bar pours craft beer from Bahamian breweries. Starfish Lagoon ▪ Gill's Grill, a full-service restaurant and full bar, cooks up Caribbean seafood including seafood baskets, local fish, lobster, steamed crab and shrimp, chicken, burgers and kids' meals. ▪ Captain's Galley Food Hall features five outlets serving burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, pizza, Mediterranean bowls, tacos and burritos. ▪ Food trucks with self-ordering kiosks offer chicken sandwiches, burgers and conch fritters. Pearl Cove Beach Club ▪ Pearl Cove Beach Club restaurant in an area for guests 18 and older. Calypso Lagoon ▪ Long Necks Bar is where you can grab one of 100 seats and order a frozen drink, beer or Bahamian cocktailwhile aDJ spins tunes. ▪ The Sunshine Swings Bar has 40 swings and offers a 'chill vibe.' ▪ The Parrotfish Swim Up Bar has seating in-water and out-of-water and serves frozen cocktails and mocktails with tropical fruit juice. Pearl Cove Beach Club ▪ An infinity pool overlooks the beach and a swim-up bar Paradise Plaza ▪ A welcome area where you can get your caffeine fix or energy boost with coffee and ice cream. You can book sailings taking place into 2027. To learn more about their sailings and make reservations, visit the Carnival website at
