Word on the Caribbean Street

If you are sailing from Florida on one of the Carnival brands, it seems you'll probably have a new port to visit in the not-too-distant future. Caribbean media is reporting that Carnival Corp is on the verge of announcing a new cruise port on Grand Bahama Island.

Carnival has confirmed to CND that the project is moving forward, but they aren't ready to talk about details at this point.

The complete story appeared in the August 23 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Go to Court. Go Directly to Court. Do Not Pass Go.

Last month we told you that federal prosecutors were accusing Carnival Corp of violating their probation in a 2017 case in which Carnival pleaded guilty to violating environmental laws and discharging oily waste into the sea. Carnival paid a record $40 million fine in that case and was put on probation for five years. Last month, prosecutors charged that Carnival had been violating the terms of that probation essentially from the first day.

Judge Patricia Seitz made it clear she was unhappy with the situation and made it clear that she was disposed to punishing Carnival Corp severely at next month's hearing. One of the things she proposed is prohibiting Carnival brands from using US ports for a period of time.

Since then, Carnival Corp has retained new Miami-based attorney, David Markus, and last week prosecutors announced they had reached an agreement with Carnival and it will be presented for Judge Seitz' approval at a June 3 hearing.

Details appeared in the May 28 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - May 3, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• Oasis of the Seas left the Cadiz yard where it was repaired after "extensive" damage it received in the Grand Bahama Shipyard accident. 
• Carnival has chosen a name for the big green waterslide that will be added to Carnival Splendor.
• Carnival Corp has been sued by the Americans who claim ownership to Cuban cruise facilities.

Details appeared in the May 3 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Record-Breaker Down Under

While much of the industry discussion has been focused on China, and its growth (or declining rate of growth), there's a market that's been steadily growing and continues to do so: Australia.

The complete story appeared in the April 23 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - April 18, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• An update on the situation with cruises to Cuba with relation to the latest Trump administration announcement.
• Carnival declares a dividend

Details appeared in the April 18 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Judge Proposes Severe Penalty for Carnival Brands

A federal judge has proposed a severe penalty for the Carnival brands for violating their probation in a 2017 pollution case and not taking the probation seriously.

Prosecutors say Carnival brands are not only continuing to intentionally pollute but taking corrective measures just in advance of inspections, despite their agreement not to.

The complete story appeared in the April 12 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Two More Ships on Order for Princess

Carnival and Fincantieri have finalized a contract for two 175,000-ton ships for their Princess brand which will be delivered in late 2023 and the spring of 2025. An MOA was signed for the ships last July.

The ships will be a next-generation design (probably indicating there will be further orders by Carnival) carrying approximately 4,300 passengers and powered by LNG.

Details appeared in the March 27 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - January 17, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• Genting Hong Kong expanded MV Werften with the acquisition of Neptun Ship Design
• Carnival declared a quarterly dividend

Details appeared in the January 17 edition of Cruise News Dailiy. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - December 6, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• MSC detailing the unique Cirque du Soleil shows that will debut with MSC Bellissima
• Delta Queen to sail again
• Carnival Corp to produce a second season of "La Gran Sorpresa."

Details appeared in the December 6 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Carnival Corp to Operate Tenerife Cruise Terminal

Following a new agreement with the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Corp will acquire an interest in the two-year-old cruise terminal at Santa Cruz de Tenerife and manage it, as they do in a number of other ports.

The complete story appeared in the December 5 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Carnival Continues Push into China

The contract creating CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Ltd has been finalized between China State Shipbuild Corp (CSSC) and Carnival Corp. The joint venture was first announced in 2015. The purpose of the new company is to launch the first multi-ship cruise brand specifically designed to serve the Chinese cruise market.

The new company will be launched with two ships that will be built in China and two ships purchased from Carnival's Costa Group.

The complete story appeared in the November 6 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - November 2, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• Carnival Corp receiving three patents for the technology used in their Ocean Medallion program
• Port Canaveral achieving record passenger numbers

Details appeared in the November 2 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - October 17, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• NCL rebuilding schools in the Caribbean
• Carnival declaring a dividend

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

Other Things You'll Want to Know - October 16, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• Windstar Captain Belinda Bennett was awarded the 2018 Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service, the 19th person to receive the award and the second at Windstar.
• Three Carnival Corp ships have been chartered to house delegates to the APEC Sumit in Port Moresby in November.

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

A Most Generous Donation

Most of us cannot begin to imagine being able to tell someone to write a $5 million check for us to give away, but thankfully people like Micky and Madeleine Arison can and do.

The Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation will make an immediate donation of $5 million to Save the Children and Direct Relief to support the urgent relief needs in communities affected by Hurricane Florence in North and South Carolina, Super Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines and the recent Indonesia earthquake and resulting tsunami.

Details appeared in the October 5 issue of Cruise News Daily.

He's Got a Ticket to Ride

Rank has its privilege. Carnival Corp CEO Arnold Donald got to go for a special ride last week. Carnival brought the new Carnival AirShip (a/k/a blimp) to Miami for the Miami inaugural of Carnival Horizon. As part of the Miami launch, it circled the ship a number of times, entertaining passengers and Miami residents. How often do you actually see a blimp right above you, let alone one painted like a cruise ship?

How often do you get to ride in one? While the AirShip was visiting Miami as part of its own inaugural tour of the Southeastern United States, Carnival CEO Arnold Donald got to go for a ride. During the flight, the pilot took him over local landmarks and beaches at altitudes of up to 1,000 feet.

This item appeared in the September 28 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Carnival Corp CEO Arnold Donald takes off from Miami aboard the Carnival AirShip

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

Back for another Season

Carnival Corp's Ocean TV's three original series have been picked up for a third season by ABC and NBC, and the new seasons will begin on October 6. The new episodes will air on Saturdays through the fall of 2019.

The complete story appeared in the September 24 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Videos courtesy of Carnival Corp.

Carnival Talking about AIDA's Innovative Ship

As you read in Friday's edition, AIDAnova was named in the Meyer Werft yard Friday night during a really splashy party, and it will go into service in November. That's something you don't see much anymore. (Remember how ships used to be built on dry land and you would see them slide down the rails into the water? Christening them with the champagne bottle is usually what triggered them sliding down the rails.) Then the interior work would be done, and months later they would be finished and go into service.

AIDA is a rather unusual Carnival brand in that it is marketed only in a relatively small geographic area, but it is one of Carnival's strongest brands because that area (Germany) is Europe's strongest travel market.

So Carnival Corp is promoting the arrival (shortly) of  AIDAnova and getting the word out because it is a rather important and unusual ship. It is the first cruise ship powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) both at sea and in port. LNG is the cleanest burning fossil fuel, so it is going to be operating much cleanly than other ships of the same sizes (180,000 tons).

The complete story appeared in the September 4 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Third Carnival Brand Receives Approval to Sail to Cuba

Seabourn has received permission to sail to Cuba on cruises from Miami and San Juan, beginning with a cruise on November 4, 2019.

Seabourn joins Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line as Carnival brands approved to operate between the US and Cuba, meaning that Carnival will be able to offer cruises to Cuba each market segment, mass market, premium and luxury.

The complete story appeared in the August 9 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Carnival Orders Two New-Generation Ships for Princess

In addition to the three Royal-class ships Princess has on order with Fincantieri, as of this morning, they now have two additional - even larger - ships in the pipeline. Carnival has signed a MOA with Fincantieri to build two 175,000-ton ships for Princess that will be dual-fuel powered, primarily by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).

The ships will have approximately 4,300 lower berths and are scheduled for delivery in late 2023 and the spring of 2025.

The complete story appeared in the July 23 edition of Cruise News Daily.