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.

Splendor in Australia

When Carnival Splendor arrives in Australia in December, it won't be the same ship it was when it leaves Long Beach in October. A lengthy stop in Singapore for refurbishment will change a lot.

We've already told you about the new waterslides that will be added. Now Carnival is announcing four new restaurants that are being added to the ship, specifically to appeal to Aussie tastes.

The complete story appeared in the March 14 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Tandori Chicken at the new Masala Tiger Restaurant aboard Carnival Splendor

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise 'Line. All rights reserved. 

“Sliding” into Sydney

When Carnival Splendor arrives in her new home port of Sydney in December, she will have a somewhat different profile than when she wraps up her Mexican Riviera cruises in October and sets sail from Long Beach for Singapore.

It has become almost a Carnival Australia trademark that whenever a ship moves to Australia, they add the biggest, baddest waterslide they can, and they have plans to do the same for Carnival Splendor.

The complete story appeared in the February 11 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

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

Other Things You'll Want to Know - March 22, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• Norwegian Cruise Line opening bookings for Norwegian Encore's inaugural season beginning in November 2019.
• MSC launched a new partnership with Michelin-starred chef Ramon Freixa for the Spanish chef to develop menu items and tapas which will be available across the fleet. 
• Carnival Australia revealed the initial itineraries and opened bookings for Carnival Splendor when it is transferred "Down Under" in November 2019. It will initially be based in Sydney. 

Details appeared in the March 22 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Good-Bye, Hollywood - Hello, Sydney!

Carnival Cruise Line is growing their year round Australia-based fleet by sending the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor Down Under. The 3,900-passenger ship will represent a 66% for Carnival Cruise Line's Australia capacity.

Carnival Splendor will begin sailing from Sydney in December 2019 after a repositioning cruise from Singapore (operated under the Carnival Australia flag). Anticipating the demand, bookings will open next month.

The complete story appeared in the February 6 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

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

Carnival Splendor Not Repaired

Last week we told you Carnival Splendor was limping to Miami for repair to its propulsion system after having to miss two of its four ports just to have enough time to get back to Miami for its Sunday turnaround. The plan was to make repairs during the turnaround, but technicians were unable to fix the ship on Sunday. Consequently, it is sailing on a drastically altered itinerary while additional repairs are made this week.

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

Cruise News Daily Headlines for July 15, 2013

* Coast Guard Issues Report on Carnival Splendor Fire
The US Coast Guard issued their report today on the November 2010 fire aboard Carnival Splendor off the west coast of Mexico which disabled the ship, left it without any power, and it was subsequently towed back to San Diego, arriving three days later.


* A Success for Cayman?
We reported last week that a high-level tourism delegation from the Cayman Islands made a trip to Miami to meet with cruise line officials to talk about how committed the government is to building berthing facilities for cruise ships. They are hoping to stem their constantly decreasing numbers of cruise passengers. Cruise lines don’t want to tender at ports from their large ships, which are now the norm in the Caribbean, so those are bypassing the island. The government is hoping to eventually woo them once their cruise port is underway, but in the interim, they are hoping to at least not have any more ships withdrawn from the island. Ideally, they’d like to have more.

That’s what Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell says he got. At a news conference in Miami, he said a cruise line has agreed to have a ship add Grand Cayman to its itinerary, but neither the line nor the ship was named.


The complete articles appeared in the e-mail edition of Cruise News Daily delivered to our subscribers.

Additional Carnival Splendor Cancellations

Carnival Cruise Lines has now determined damage to Carnival Splendor from last week's fire was more extensive than originally estimated, and the line has canceled all sailings until January 16, 2011.

Affected passengers are being given full refunds along with a 25% discount on a future cruise.

Details to follow in today's edition of Cruise News Daily.

Carnival Splendor Update - Conditions improving

Updated 12:44pm eastern
Carnival Splendor is continuing under tow to San Diego after its early Monday morning fire which disabled the ship's propulsion system.

The second tug boat has arrived at the scene and is assisting in the tow, so speeds have increased some. Carnival now estimates that the ship will arrive at San Diego at midday on Thursday.

As the ship is getting closer to shore, some passengers are able to get cellular phone connections. The ship's telephone system is working intermittently, and passengers are able to make complimentary calls home.

Food and beverage services continue to be provided along with a limited schedule of activities. Carnival says that toilets continue to function in most staterooms and all public restrooms.

When the ship arrives, it will be met by a large team of Carnival employees who are arranging hotels and onward transportation home.

Original article and updates

Carnival Splendor Update - the tow has begun

Carnival Cruise Lines has changed their plans for Carnival Splendor. The tow has now begun, but instead of Ensenada, the plan it now to tow the ship to San Diego to make for a faster and easier route home for the passengers.

One tug has reached the ship and begun the tow. As other tug boats reach the ship and assist, they will expedite the process. The plan is now for Carnival Splendor to reach San Diego late on Thursday. Carnival has already booked hotels there for the passengers, and is confirming onward flights for them based on the Thursday arrival time.

If they can't maintain speed, Carnival says they can revert to the plan to tow the ship to Ensenada and bus the passengers back to Southern California.

Carnival says passengers are able to move about the ship. Limited food and beverage service, along with some shipboard programming, including children’s activities and entertainment, are being provided.

Engineers are continuing to work trying to restore power to other hotel services.

Original article and updates

Carnival Splendor Update - Nov 14 sailing canceled

Carnival has decided to now cancel Carnival Splendor's next cruise on November 14, 2010.

Passengers on that sailing will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and transportation costs. They will also receive a 25% discount on a future cruise.

“We sincerely apologize to our guests for this unfortunate situation and offer our thanks for their patience and cooperation during this challenging time," said Carnival president Gerry Cahill. "We also apologize for having to cancel the next voyage of the Carnival Splendor. We realize how much guests look forward to their vacations and we know how disheartening it is to have their plans disrupted."

Original article and updates

Update on Carnival Splendor - Military involvement

The tugs are still several hours away from the Carnival Splendor and the towing process is expected to begin in the early to mid-afternoon, Pacific time, meaning the operation is on track to reach Ensenada mid-to-late afternoon on Wednesday.

According to the US Coast Guard, when the ship reaches Ensenada, all passengers will disembark, and the ship will then be towed to Long Beach. The US Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau will remain with the ship where it is adrift, approximately 200 miles south of San Diego, and then accompany it throughout the towing process until it reaches Long Beach to ensure the health and safety of passengers and crew.

Meanwhile, the US Navy has diverted the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan from its training maneuvers to a position south near Carnival Splendor to facilitate the delivery of needed supplies.

Beginning at 7am this morning (Pacific time), 35 pallets of supplies (food, water and hygiene supplies) were loaded onto VRC-30 Carrier On-board Delivery aircraft and flown to the Ronald Reagan. That part of the operation will take two or three trips of the aircraft and should wrap up in the late morning (Pacific time). Once aboard the Ronald Reagan, the 35,000 pounds of supplies will be repackaged into smaller loads and flown to Carnival Splendor on the carrier's helicopters this afternoon.

Original article and updates

Carnival Splendor Update from Coast Guard - 7am

Updated- 9am eastern
The ordeal for passengers and crew aboard Carnival Splendor is not now likely to be over until later on Wednesday, according to Coast Guard spokesperson Lt Chris Johns. Johns is aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau, which arrived on the scene at approximately 1:00 am (Pacific time).

Carnival Splendor is currently about 80 nautical miles west of Baja California and about 90 miles away from Ensenada.

Johns said the master of Carnival Splendor has told the Coast Guard that the ship is still operating only with their auxiliary generator which is powering all navigation equipment, emergency detection and suppression systems and basic systems such as sewage and water. There is still no propulsion. There was no structural damage to the vessel from the fire, and there is no flooding.

(Update 9am eastern time - Carnival reports that last night the ship’s engineers were able to restore toilet service to all cabins and public bathrooms, as well as cold running water. They are continuing to work to restore other services.)

They are expecting the arrival of two oceangoing tugs from Ensenada late this morning which will tow Carnival Splendor the 90 miles back to Ensenada, where arrangements are being made for passengers to return home. Johns said once the two begins it will take about 24 hours to cover the distance to Ensenada, but as of now, this appears to be the safest way to get the passengers to land.

Original article and updates

Update on Carnival Splendor - Tugs en route

Carnival has dispatched tugboats to Carnival Splendor's location to tow the ship to Ensenada. Engineers have been unable to restart the ship's main generators (and therefore, propulsion system) since this morning's fire.

They are still working to restore at least enough power to operate some key hotel systems including air conditioning, hot food service, flushing toilets and telephones. None are presently working. Bottled water and cold food is being provided on deck.

Passengers will receive a full refund for the cruise and transportation costs. They will also receive a complimentary future cruise equal to the amount paid for this voyage.

Original article and later updates

Fire Disables Carnival Splendor

At 6:00 am this morning (Pacific time), a fire was reported in the aft engine room of Carnival Splendor while it was en route from Long Beach to Puerto Vallarta. The US Coast Guard reports that the fire was extinguished by the ship's fire crew at 9:10am, but the ship still has only emergency power this evening. There were no injuries to passengers or crew.

The ship is safe, but Carnival has canceled the rest of the voyage.

Carnival Splendor is currently 55 miles west of Punta San Jacinto, Mexico, about 150 miles south of San Diego. Sea conditions are currently calm.

A 965-foot container ship, Dresden Express, responded to Carnival Splendor's emergency call and was first on the scene. The US Coast Guard responded with a C-130 aircraft which arrived on the scene about 3pm. Three US Coast Guard cutters will arrive at approximately 7:00pm (Pacific time). The Mexican navy responded with a 140-foot patrol boat and an aircraft.

Engineers are working to restore power. If the propulsion system can be restored, Carnival Splendor will return to its home port of Long Beach under its own power. Carnival has tugboats standing by to assist the ship to port if power cannot be restored.

Carnival has established a phone number to provide information to family members. That number is 1-888-290-5095 or 305-406-5534.

All updates