Cunard Cruise Line
Introducing a new chapter for Cunard…The Queen Anne will arrive in early 2024. It will be the 249th vessel in the Cunard’s storied history and the first new ship in more than a decade. Queen Anne will feature reimagined Cunard signature spaces, introducing new dining, culture, and entertainment experiences. The ship’s design will bridge traditional and contemporary luxury with nods to the past and present. For over 180 years, Cunard has set the bar and then raised it. Cunard Cruises was the first to offer a regular Transatlantic Crossing, the first to offer a voyage around the world. From this spirit comes the finest ship of its era. They have reimagined what it means to voyage and extended the Cunard Line for future generations. Cunard ensures the inspiring, unforgettable, and unexpected with every voyage.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line has announced a push back of the inaugural sailing of the highly anticipated Disney Wish by six weeks. The maiden voyage is now set for July 14, 2022, rather than June 9th. The new ship was first scheduled to begin sailing in January before the first pandemic-related delay. Disney made an announcement that the “shipyard notified Disney Cruise Line that despite their very best efforts, they will need more time to finish the ship.” This is partly due to the new variant and staffing issues at the shipyard. The liquefied natural gas-powered ship is the largest in the Disney fleet accommodating about 4000 passengers when at full capacity. This will be Disney’s fifth ship in the fleet, following Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy. It is the first, of three, in a new class of ships for Disney called the Triton class. The Disney Wish cruise ship will have 1,254 staterooms, of which 70% will have a balcony, and 451 will offer a connecting door. In addition, it will debut with a new cabin category of seven oceanview rooms located directly above the bridge.
Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises plans to bring a larger ship to sail in French Polynesia year-round. Their largest wind vessel, the 342-guest Wind Surf, will sail from Tahiti. The 148-passenger Wind Spirit travels the islands year-round, but it is currently dry-docked in Singapore. So the 312-guest Star Breeze is taking the place of the smaller ship at this time.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruise passengers can use their Medallion wearable device to make purchases in port at retailers that display the MedallionPay seal. They will get 7% back on their purchases as onboard or future cruise credits. MedallionPay is available in the Caribbean and Mexico, as well as Alaska ports for bars, restaurants, souvenir stores, jewelers, museums, and excursion operators.
The sixth and final ship in Princess Cruises Royal Class, Discovery Princess, has been delivered from the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Homeport for the 3,660-passenger ship will be in Los Angeles in late March before moving to Seattle for the Alaska season. Princess’ signature MedallionClass technology, a wearable device that enables everything from contactless boarding to ordering drinks on board will be featured. The ship will sail a series of Mexican Riviera and California coast voyages from March 27 to April 24 before beginning a season of seven-day Alaska cruises. Both the Discovery and the fifth Royal-class ship, the Enchanted Princess ship, had their debuts delayed due to the pandemic.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival will be retiring two older Fantasy-class ships. The Carnival Sensation, which has not sailed since March of 2020 will not be sailing any longer for Carnival. The Carnival Ecstasy will also be leaving the Carnival Cruises fleet. The Ecstasy will sail from Mobile, Alabama from March 5 to October 10 for its final deployment. The 2056-passenger Sensation is 28 years old. She began service in November of 1993. When the Carnival Fantasy was sold for scrap in the summer of 2020, the Ecstasy became Carnival’s oldest ship after entering service in April of 1991. When the Ecstasy departs the fleet, Carnival will have two of eight Fantasy-class ships left; the Elation and the Paradise. They both entered service in 19998. The Elation will then be Carnival’s oldest ship.
Carnival has also revealed changes to the newest deployment plan. The Carnival Spirit will replace the Ecstasy in Jacksonville, FL, with departures from March 7 through April 9. Additionally, two cruises after the 9th have been canceled. Carnival has not decided which ship will go to Jacksonville for cruises starting on April 23rd. Additionally, cruises from Mobile, planned for the Sensation, have been canceled. A new operating plan for Mobile will be announced at a later date.
The Carnival Splendor sailing out of Australia will be canceled from June 10, 2022 through September 26,2022 and the Carnival Spirit from June 5, 2022 to October 5, 2023.
The Carnival Jubilee, the newest member of the Carnival fleet, comes to the Port of Galveston beginning November 18,2023. Don’t miss the opportunity to sail some of the most beautiful ports in the Western Caribbean from Galveston. The Jubilee will offer seven-day itineraries with stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, as well as Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Honduras.)
The Carnival Jubilee will depart from London on October 30,2023 for an 18-day transatlantic crossing, visiting Port of Vigo in Spain, Las Palmas and Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Funchal in Portugal, and Grand Turk before her grand arrival in Texas. She is the third Excel-class ship featuring all the attractions of her sister Mardi Gras, who started sailing from Port Canaveral in mid-2021. The Jubilee, like sister ships Carnival Mardi Gras ship and Carnival Celebration, will feature a Liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology platform. Onboard will be the pulse-racing BOLT roller coaster. In addition, she will have expanded dining options and more than 20 different stateroom categories with multiple levels of luxurious suites.
A three-deck atrium on the ship’s starboard side overlooks the ocean and converts to an entertainment venue at night. Brand new concepts of six fun-filled zones will be revealed at a later date.
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will acquire the three-masted tall ships of Sea Cloud Cruises; Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II, and Sea Cloud Spirit. Its headquarters will remain in Hamburg, Germany, and the team of employees will stay on. The original Sea Cloud’s voyage plans and charter commitments will continue as scheduled.
The acquisition creates an opportunity for Marriott International to enter the cruise industry. Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s first ship, the Evrima, will sail its maiden voyage on May 6, departing from Lisbon. In addition, the cruise brand became a member of the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program in November.
