Carnival Reroutes Two Ships to Avoid Hurricane Matthew

(Saturday, October 1, 10an) In addition to the two Royal Caribbean sailings we covered yesterday, Carnival has now decided to reroute two ships to avoid Hurricane Matthew.

Carnival Splendor's six-night western Caribbean cruise from Miami on October 2 was scheduled to go in a clockwise pattern around the western Caribbean. Carnival has rerouted it to go the opposite direction, but visiting the same ports. It will now visit Cozumel on Tuesday, Grand Cayman on Wednesday, Ocho Rios on Thursday, and Carnival will add a call at Freeport on Friday.

Carnival Sensation's five-night cruise to the Bahamas and Grand Turk on October 1 is now going to the western Caribbean visiting Costa Maya (on Monday) and Cozumel (on Tuesday).

More changes will likely follow.

Matthew Is Ready to Become a Problem

As storms go, Hurricane Matthew has been relatively well behaved. It's stayed out of the way of most cruise ships and hasn't been particularly strong. Suddenly, however, Matthew has strengthened to a Category 5 storm - the first in the Atlantic basin since 2007 - and it is getting ready to turn northward from its location off the Caribbean coast of South America and move rapidly up north.

By Monday it is forecast to pound Jamaica while still at Category 5 strength, then cross Cuba and by Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday move northward through the Bahamas. At this point, it shouldn't directly affect South Florida as it passes. So far, only one line has told us of their plans to move ships out of the way. Other lines should be expected to follow suit by Monday.

Details appeared in the September 30 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

The Show behind the Show

The show backstage in the Two70 lounge and showroom aboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum-class ships may be as fascinating as the one on stage. That's because technically there is no BACKstage with this stage. “Backstage” in Two70 is below the stage and above the stage.

It's part of a new format of entertainment created for this class of ship that includes live action from a cast of 18 performers, a 12K 115-foot by 23-foot high video screen and six robotic video screens.

The complete story appeared in the September 30 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Video courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved.

Remember When

Remember sailing on the Sunward? Remember before they were Norwegian Cruise Line, they were Norwegian Caribbean Line? Do you remember what you were doing on December 19, 1966?

That's when Norwegian's first ship, M/S Sunward, sailed from Miami, and NCL (as they were also known then) was born - 50 years ago. And they want everyone to stroll down Memory Lane with them.

Details appeared in the September 29 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Puerto Rico Regaining Position in Cruise Industry

Puerto Rico is making a comeback in the cruise industry. After 9-11 when flying got lots less convenient (and much more expensive), people wanted to embark on their cruise from somewhere closer to home, and often, somewhere that was only a short drive, so Puerto Rico fell out of favor as a port of embarkation.

Cruisers are again wanting to broaden their horizons, and they want the type of itinerary that are available by sailing from San Juan. And cruise lines are responding.

The complete story appeared in the September 29 edition of Cruise News Daily.