MSC Lirica Returns from China to New Med Itinerary

MSC will expand their capacity in China next spring by sending MSC Splendida there to replace the smaller MSC Lirica. MSC has decided to return MSC Lirica to the Mediterranean, and they created a brand new itinerary for her.

The seven-night eastern Mediterranean program not only has an unusual collection of ports, but it's also going to offer more time ashore than normal in some of the destinations.

The complete story appeared in the October 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

First Down and 300 to Go

Carnival Cruise Line is the official cruise line of the New Orleans Saints, and they have partnered with the Brees Dream Foundation to send Saints fans on Carnival Cruises.

Every time the Saints pass for more than 300 yards in a game, Carnival will send one lucky fan on a Carnival Cruise.

Details appeared in the October 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Princess Selects Chefs for Culinary Cruise

The chefs have been chosen, and the pieces are falling into place for Princess' third annual Culinary Cruise. This year it will be aboard Regal Princess as it sails from Port Everglades on February 11 (2018) to the western Caribbean.

The complete story appeared in the October 19 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - October 19, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• Two more ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet get scrubbers
• Carnival raises its quarterly dividend
• Fincantieri begins construction on the sixth of eight ships for Viking Ocean Cruises. 

Details appeared in the October 19 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Fincantieri began work on the sixth ship for Viking Ocean Cruises

Photo courtesy of Fincantieri. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission. 

Can You Catch an Early Symphony?

Royal Caribbean had some surprising news about Symphony of the Seas today. The fourth Oasis-class ship was to have been delivered next spring and started her service in the Mediterranean in April. Royal Caribbean now says they will put the ship into service three weeks earlier than originally scheduled.

The complete story appeared in the October 18 edition of Cruise News Daily.

As you can see from the photos below, which were taken last Friday, the ship is nearing completion and looks like will easily be ready in five months.

Photos courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Port Canaveral Plans to Keep on Growing

Port Canaveral made their 30-year master plan public this week. While it showed a lot of transformation for the port overall, at a time when most ports are concerned about keeping the cruise ships they have or planning for modest growth, possibly through accommodating larger ships, Port Canaveral is seeing a need for three new cruise terminals by 2030.

Details appeared in the October 18 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Update to Carnival Glory Incident

There is a small update to the incident aboard Carnival Glory in which an 8-year-old girl fell to her death in the atrium last Saturday.

A witness has come forward and spoken to the Miami Herald saying that just before the girl fell, she saw her at the railing on Deck 5 standing on her “tippy toes” to see over the railing which was estimated to be more than 40 inches high. The witness, who didn't see what actually caused the girl to fall, said she was looking over the railing at the people disembarking on Deck 3. The witness said she assumes someone going by accidentally bumped into her and knocked her over.

The complete story appeared in the October 18 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Europe on Edge

Celebrity made an announcement today about Europe in the summer of 2019. No, that's not next summer. It's the summer after that. You may not have been thinking about two years from now, but cruise lines have - and well beyond.

Oh, yes. Celebrity's news. After Celebrity Edge debuts in the Caribbean during the winter 2018/2019 season, it will reposition to the Mediterranean for the summer 2019 season.

Details appeared in the October 17 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Taking Casual Friday One Step Further

Almost all of Costa Cruises' land-based employees are soon going to going to the office a little less. Costa has become Italy's first “smart cruise company” by launching “Sm@rt Working Costa - Moving Forward.”

The complete story appeared in the October 17 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Back to the Caribbean

The cruise lines have turned up the volume in their campaign to let everyone know that despite the perception the mainstream media is giving, the Caribbean is still open for business, and the vast majority of it was not damaged by the recent series of hurricanes. But our readers already knew that.

The Florida Caribbean Cruise Assn held a conference call today with Adam Goldstein and Arnold Donald to get the word out that the Caribbean is still open, and to launch their new website CaribbeanIsOpen.com that is aimed at getting that message out there.

The complete story appeared in the October 16 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Gloria Estefan Would Be Proud

What's long and floats and moves to a beat, goes on for several days and wraps all around the world?

It's the world's longest conga line at sea on Carnival Cruise Line!

In honor of World Conga Day (who knew?) more than 60,000 Carnival passengers took part - across 25 Carnival ships, in 13 countries and across seven time zones - in the longest conga line at sea.

The complete story appeared in the October 16 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Passenger Dies in Atrium Fall

A passenger aboard Carnival Glory died Saturday morning as a result of her injuries when she fell over the atrium railing.

Details appeared in the October 16 edition of Cruise News Daily.