Latest news with #CruiseLine
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Carnival Cruise Line shares weather warning with passengers
Carnival Cruise Line shares weather warning with passengers originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Although a disaster like the sinking of the Titanic is highly unlikely to happen today thanks to significant advancements in technology, ship construction, and other factors, it's a tragic event that the world will likely never forget. Naturally, anytime ice is mentioned in relation to a ship, some minds undoubtedly gravitate to the where many Carnival cruisers' minds went recently when they learned that one of the cruise line's ships was about to face treacherous icy waters on an adventurous voyage to the world's biggest island (and one of the iciest). Carnival Pride left Baltimore on May 25 to sail a 14-day Greenland and Canada cruise — one of the cruise line's specialty Carnival Journeys sailings — but shortly before passengers set off on their bucket-list adventure, they received a worrisome notification.'Captain Vito Giacalone and the entire Carnival Pride team are looking forward to welcoming you aboard for a voyage that will take you to the majestic landscapes of Greenland and Canada,' the cruise line began in an email to Carnival Pride passengers. Carnival wanted to notify passengers of precautionary measures being taken due to extra icy sea conditions present along their intended route. 'Ahead of embarkation Sunday, May 25, we are sharing the steps that are being taken to ensure your comfort and safety throughout the voyage. At present, in areas along our intended route, there is a significant presence of sea ice which could impact the itinerary,' the cruise line cruise line assured passengers that their experienced captain is aware of the conditions and well equipped to handle them. 'With support and guidance from our Fleet Operations center, Captain Giacalone has been closely monitoring real time sea conditions and weather forecasts for the region,' Carnival continued. 'He has much practice sailing the waters in the area, but he will also have experienced local pilots from Greenland on board.' Carnival also wanted passengers to know that the captain may need to alter their cruise itinerary as a result of the sea ice. 'Should any changes be necessary, Captain Giacalone will communicate them promptly. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we navigate this remarkable part of the world."Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald also addressed the icy situation on his popular Facebook page where he responds to hundreds of cruiser questions and concerns each day. 'Obviously we will see how the situation unfolds, but for now, the brilliant Captain Vito will do his very best to make sure guests get to Greenland where the locals are ready to welcome them,' Heald wrote. 'There is no better Captain to do this than my friend Captain Vito, but he will never ever put the ship's safety in jeopardy.' A few cruisers who made this awe-inspiring journey to Greenland with Captain Vito in the past also commented on the post to help reassure and encourage Carnival Pride passengers. More Carnival cruise news:'We were on this cruise last year, and Captain Vito and his ice pilots could not get us to land, but we were able to navigate a magnificent fjord in Greenland. We also were fog-bound in St. Anthony and were unable to shuttle to shore. But our stops in Corner Brook and Sydney were lovely, and Captain Vito (who may be the funniest man in Carnival's employ!) kept us safe and informed,' Jim Lee wrote. 'Qaqortoq was amazing. A Journey cruise is like sailing on an adventure to the New World but with all of the comforts of home and more. Sailing in style that explorers could only dream of,' Chris Idenouye added. 'Go with the flow, savor every moment, accept the unexpected with grace and dignity. You are experiencing something that millions can only dream of.' Passengers making this year's voyage seem to be well prepared to embrace the adventure — and its challenges. 'We have been told from the beginning that there is a chance we might not make a port or two. We understand safety comes first. I'm sure it will be a wonderful 14 days, no matter what,' Lilly N Dave's Adventures noted. (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. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on May 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Forget Nassau, Royal Caribbean, Carnival find new island homes
As a long-time cruiser and Florida resident, I've visited my fair share of Bahamas cruise ports — from multiple private cruise line destinations to the busy Nassau cruise hub. Although I'm very familiar with The Bahamas and what its beautiful islands offer to visitors, one Bahamian cruise destination really took me by surprise when I visited for the first time last Nassau, this cruise port has gotten a bad rap – mostly because it's not the kind of Bahamian port where you can walk off the ship and right onto a beach. The island is home to a number of stunning beaches, however. You just need transportation to get to them from the port. To improve your overall cruise port experience in this Bahamian destination, booking a shore excursion is a good call — whether you're looking for a relaxing resort-style beach day or an adventure to explore the wonders of the island's impressive national park. But with a burst of new development projects aimed at attracting more cruise passengers to this underrated Bahamian island, experiencing the charms of the destination is about to get much Cruise Line was the first to recognize Grand Bahama's potential as a cruise destination, signing an agreement with the island's government back in 2017 to build its flagship cruise destination there. It took quite a while for the cruise line's vision for the destination to come to life, however. The highly anticipated new $600 million cruise destination, Celebration Key, finally opens this July. Although it's intended to feel like a cruise line private island, Celebration Key is located in a secluded part of Grand Bahama, about 20 miles from the island's existing Freeport cruise port. Royal Caribbean has long been interested in Grand Bahama, too, but past plans to develop a resort-style cruise destination on the island fell finally this April, Royal Caribbean Group moved forward with a new plan to acquire a 40-acre Grand Bahama resort property with intentions to develop it into a private destination for Celebrity Cruises, according to local Tribune Business media reports. Also in the plans for Grand Bahama is a project that will build a new cruise port and water park at the Freeport Harbour, developed as a partnership between Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises. First announced in 2020, that port project once included plans for Royal Caribbean to purchase a Bahamian government-owned resort property, but the deal later fell through due to government concerns about the timeline and years later, the Bahamian government finally reached a deal to sell that Grand Bahama resort property to be developed into a cruise destination, just not by Royal Caribbean. On May 15, Concord Wilshire Capital signed a deal with the Bahamian government to acquire Grand Bahama's Grand Lucayan Resort, a 56-acre beachfront resort and 160-acre Reef Golf Course, for $120 million. The Miami-based developer will invest a total of $827 million to transform the property into a 36-acre cruise ship destination resort with a capacity of 10,000 passengers per to be completed in 2028, the new cruise destination will be open to all cruise lines, resort guests, and local residents. It will feature much of what cruise passengers can find at an exclusive cruise line destination like a water park, adult lagoon, private club with premium amenities, dining options, beach access, water activities, entertainment venues, and more. The new Grand Lucayan Resort will also include a free-standing, indoor and poolside casino, a branded hotel and residential resort, a new Greg Norman Championship Signature Golf Course, and a mega-yacht marina. (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
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Couple Went on Cruise to Celebrate 25th Wedding Anniversary. They Were Shocked When They Saw Daughter Onboard (Exclusive)
To celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, Daniel and Melissa Figueroa booked an eight-day cruise to the Bahamas. They were "disappointed" when their daughter, Shailyn Torres, told them she couldn't join them because the cruise sold out In reality, Shailyn and her husband had already booked the cruise and were planning on surprising them onboard "It was honestly one of the most rewarding feelings I've ever had. Being able to give them that kind of joy, especially for such a milestone, meant everything," Shailyn tells PEOPLEOne couple celebrating their wedding anniversary were shocked when their daughter crashed the party. In honor of their 25th wedding anniversary on May 19, Daniel and Melissa Figueroa booked an eight-day cruise to the Bahamas. Although Daniel, 47, and Melissa, 46, were excited to set sail for their Caribbean getaway, Melissa especially had hoped that their daughter, Shailyn Torres, would join them and was "disappointed" when she told them that the cruise had sold out. "Little did she know, I had already booked the cruise a week before it actually sold out!" Shailyn tells PEOPLE. Shailyn, 30, and her husband, Sergio Torres, 33, kept the surprise a secret from Daniel and Melissa for about two months. "My husband and I cruise often, but we told my mom we weren't fans of Carnival [Cruise Line] just to throw her off," Shailyn explains. "We made up excuses so she wouldn't suspect a thing." Even though Shailyn's mother and stepfather are "usually good at picking up on surprises," this time, "they had no idea." The day before Daniel and Melissa's milestone anniversary, they were sitting at the bar of the cruise ship, waiting to sail away from the Baltimore Cruise Port. That's when Shailyn and Sergio quietly snuck up behind them before announcing themselves. Once they realized who was behind them, Daniel and Melissa immediately began gasping and screaming in excitement before getting up from their barstools to hug Shailyn and Sergio. "They were so surprised and incredibly happy," Shailyn remembers. "They couldn't stop smiling or talking about how I managed to pull it off." The moment was just as meaningful to Shailyn. "It was honestly one of the most rewarding feelings I've ever had," she says. "Being able to give them that kind of joy, especially for such a milestone, meant everything. I was so happy, emotional and proud that the surprise worked perfectly." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She recorded the sweet surprise and posted it on TikTok that day, writing in the caption: "POV: You show up unannounced on your parents' cruise to surprise them for their 25th wedding anniversary. 💖🚢.Their faces = priceless 🥹. 25 years of love, and we couldn't let them celebrate without a family twist. Here's to love that lasts and surprises that hit just right! 🥂✨." In the video, several onlookers at the bar looked just as moved by the surprise. "People around us were super curious," Shailyn recalls. "My mom was screaming with joy and everyone was laughing and smiling." All of the commotion even caught the DJ's attention. He stopped the music to ask what was going on and after learning about the heartwarming reunion, he announced the 25th wedding anniversary surprise. "The whole room started clapping," Shailyn says. "Strangers were coming up to us saying how beautiful and heartwarming it was." Shailyn and Sergio joined Daniel and Melissa for the entire trip. Even "more special" was that the group resided on the same floor, Deck 7. Read the original article on People
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
First look: Royal Caribbean's $600 million new private destination in Mexico
Giant sombreros and the longest lazy rivers and waterslides in the world have been revealed among key features of Royal Caribbean's latest private destination for passengers. The cruise brand is opening a new exclusive destination for its sailors on the Caribbean coast of Mahahual in Mexico. Royal Caribbean is reported to be spending $600 million redeveloping the land in Costa Maya. The 200-acre area will open in autumn 2027, welcoming 20,000 visitors daily for a Perfect Day experience where cruisers can enjoy the ship's facilities, such as food and entertainment, while relaxing on the beaches and exploring the area. Royal Caribbean already has a private island in the Bahamas that hosts its Perfect Day in CocoCay experience, featuring a waterpark and beautiful beaches, during Caribbean sailings. The Perfect Day Mexico experience will be available on western Caribbean cruises sailing from Galveston, New Orleans and all ports in Florida, with bookings opening this autumn. By 2027, Royal Caribbean said 90 per cent of its Caribbean cruisers will experience both a Perfect Day at CocoCay and Perfect Day Mexico during their sailings. Like CocoCay, it will be free to enter, but passengers will have to pay for extras such as the waterpark and beach club entry. Here is what passengers can expect during a Perfect Day Mexico experience. Royal Caribbean's ships will dock in Fiesta Plaza, where passengers will be greeted by live music and dancers. The area will host what is described as the world's largest sombrero atop the Tipsy Sombrero bar, welcoming visitors with margarita cocktails and beers. Guests will be able to discover 12 regionally inspired dining options, and most are complimentary. There are also 24 bars, including six swim-up bars, Mariachi performances, art installations, and local artisan shops for souvenir shopping. Loco Waterpark Similar to CocoCay, cruisers will be able to enjoy more than 30 waterslides across five towers. The waterpark will have the tallest waterslide tower – and waterslides – across North and South America, Royal Caribbean said. This includes the 170-feet-tall Jaguar's Peak duelling slides that last for two minutes and a raft slide designed for four to six people at a time. Additionally, the waterpark has hydrolaunch slides that shoot riders into the air and the world's first sombrero slide, modelled after Mexico's iconic sombrero. Younger passengers can also relax in adventure pools, a wave pool and mini slides. There will be a fee to enter this area. Splash Cove The site's central neighbourhood is called Splash Cove and will feature the longest lazy river in the world. There are multiple entry and exit points along the way, as well as float-up bars and a cupholder in every tube to stay hydrated The river also features an optional section with waves, rapids and spins. Other parts of Splash Cove include a 100,000 square foot pool – just one of Perfect Day Mexico's more than 10 expansive pools that together span the size of four football fields. Little ones also have their own area at Royal Caribbean's largest Splashaway Bay. Unlike the waterpark, this area will be free for passengers. El Hideaway If you want to get away from your own or other people's kids, you will be able to escape to the El Hideaway adults-only neighbourhood. It has a swim-up bar and an in-pool DJ station. You could even book an ultimate party cabana for 20 guests. Costa Beach Club Most of the beaches and swimming pools will be free for passengers, but you can also upgrade to a private cabana at Costa Beach Club. This will give you access to white sand beaches, a heated infinity pool and premium dining, as well as a personal cabana attendant. Chill Beach There will be almost two miles of white sand beaches at Chill Beach to just relax on, with complimentary loungers, umbrellas and towels. Michael Bayley, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, said: 'We're bringing our demonstrated history of unparalleled service and revolutionary innovation, everything our vacationers know and love, into our collection of destinations that offer more locally inspired perfect days and beachfront getaways. 'Perfect Day Mexico is bigger and bolder than anything we have done to date. This destination will be the ultimate vacation for families, and we cannot wait to welcome adventurers from around the world to Mexico for an experience only Royal Caribbean can provide.'
Travel Weekly
18-05-2025
- Travel Weekly
Explora Journeys schedules first Alaska season
Explora Journeys will sail Alaska itineraries for the first time in 2027. The Explora III, a ship debuting in August 2026, will sail Alaska cruises from early May to early September. Sailings will embark from Vancouver or Seward, Alaska. "Bringing its blue-ice glaciers, verdant forests and life-filled waters into Explora Journeys' collection of destinations is a major milestone in the brand's onward expansion," Explora said. The line's fourth ship, Explora IV, is also coming in 2027. In the summer, it will sail western and northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada.
