tidecat

Pigeons aren't a suitable replacement for human crew to make stateroom deliveries, though.

I agree. Royal Caribbean is at war with Carnival Corp on multiple fronts in Europe, in particular the UK and Germany. I'd expect two of these to be Carnival as a response to the Icon class. It's too bad in some ways the order isn't for a total of six ships, as that could give one to Costa and then whatever port between Galveston, Miami, and Port Canaveral doesn't get one from Carnival. I'd also expect no expansion of Carnival's fleet in terms of the number of vessels, although there may be some potential to free up a ship for deployment elsewhere given the sheer size of this new vessel. For example, one of the newbuilds could take over the 6-8 day cruises done by both Magic and Horizon - this would actually be a decrease in capacity for that segment out of Miami but then you augment that with seasonal service from one of the Spirit class each winter. Move Horizon to Norfolk as a replacement for Sunshine. Magic takes over short cruises from Conquest, and then move Conquest to Mobile for year-round service.

If you traverse the entire length of the ship on Deck 7, you will go through the casino. If you are going to the lower level of the dining room, you do not. I would actually recommend Deck 6 over Deck 7 anyway as the area around the Alchemy Bar gets congested during dinner time - it is by Farenheit 555 and Rudi's Seagrill, and that part of Deck 7 is narrower due to the open space around Emeril's

It should be listed in the Hub app, but basically it will be as soon as the ship gets in international waters. The Fun Times from the inaugural had the Carnival Store with an opening time of 6:00 PM.

I sent my request by e-mail on 12/23. It was added to my cruise the morning of 12/26.

Carnival Jubilee, Sun Princess, and Queen Anne all enter service in FY 2024 (which began December 1). That's actually a pretty decent capacity increase at around 11,500 lower berths.

I was replying to your "zombie company" comment.

Carnival made money in Q3 to the tune of $1.07 billion. The net loss for the full year was only $74 million, and the adjusted net income was $1 million. The Q3 2023 result is essentially 99% of what Carnival forecasts in profit for all of FY 2024. Carnival does have some seasonality in their business, and the timing of a few drydocks or a marketing spend can swing the results for a quarter. A lot of things won't repeat between 2023 and 2024, namely the interest on the debt Carnival paid off. All of the fleet has resumed sailing and all of the ships scheduled for disposal have been liquidated. Carnival also took a small loss to exit their position in what is now Adora Cruises.

The only cruise I've had a time change on was the Mexican Riviera, and even then we generally weren't in line with the time ashore. Mexico has since changed its DST rules.

If Carnival's placing an order at the end of 2024, a 2026 delivery would be unlikely what is now Carnival Vista was ordered in 2012 and construction did not start until 2014. Unless if Carnival is going to build an exact (or nearly exact) copy of an Excel-class ship, 2026 is out of the question and 2027 may be pushing it. I would not be surprised to see a 2027 or even 2028 delivery have an order placed by March 2024. I'd expect it to be three ships (one each for Miami, Galveston, and Canaveral) with deliveries between 2027-2030.

With Sunshine going to drydock in early 2025, this resets the clock on any ship retirements. I would expect a replacement in late 2027 or early 2028. To me the bigger question mark is the Australia/New Zealand market. Can Carnival Corp grow either the P&O or Carnival Cruise Line brand (or even Princess) in that market?

Unless if you've booked the cruise today, you are past the final payment deadline for a January 6 sailing. You also should have an e-mail confirmation for every payment you made on your cruise. It will show the balance on those.

There is a promo code for spa treatments over $150. CSPA23 gets you 20% to 30% off. It expires at 11:59 PM Eastern on 11/28.

Park West and/or could try to pursue a civil matter for damages in Baltimore, which likely would not be worth the lawyer's fees, but the criminal matter may very well be under Bahamian jurisdiction as Legend is registered in Nassau. Probably just easier to ban the couple across all brands in the corporate umbrella and move on.

Carnival Corporation exited their position in Adora in September 2023. Carnival would have had to buy the ship back.

Both Ecstasy and Sensation (which was also due for drydock) needed really expensive engine overhauls. Between the shutdown itself and China not reopening until late this year, there wasn't enough work to justify keeping either of them around. If the shutdown never happened, Venezia and Firenze, would be doing Chinese cruises for Costa. I think Luminosa still comes over, as does Magica to manage Costa's capacity in Europe. Of course Costa could have sent newer ships (like two from the Concordia class) if Carnival still wanted to do the Italian style concept. At the minimum we would need to save one Fantasy class ship to meet the current level of service, possibly more depending on what Carnival deploys to Alaska and Europe. I think Fascination would have been year-round in Mobile, but likely beached in 2026. Maybe if the engine overhaul happens with her 2023 drydock she stays around until 2029. Magica and Luminosa would be in place of Venezia and Firenze. Sunrise gets sent Down Under in place of Luminosa, and stays there year-round. Miami keeps a Fantasy class vessel for the 3-4 day cruises. I still think Radiance transitions to Long Beach to consolidate the 3-4 day routes ran by Imagination and Inspiration, especially with Jubilee coming to Galveston. The four other Spirit class vessels run one of the following platoons: Seattle/Miami, Europe/Tampa, San Francisco/Galveston, and Seattle/San Diego. I still think we would see some consolidation between 2025-2028 as the Fantasy class ships age, although if Carnival were to overhaul Imagination and Inspiration by 2023 they might dodge that bullet. A new ship in the 2025-2027 range would also help (especially with a Fantasy class vessel in Miami), but we probably still eventually gravitate towards something looking like today's lineup.

Contract runs through 2028, with option to extend to 2030: https://www.cbs42.com/alabama-news/carnival-cruise-set-to-sail-out-of-mobile-for-the-next-5-years/ Also keep in mind as Charleston signs off in January 2025, Mobile will be the closest port for a number of people in Georgia - even closer than Jacksonville. With Jacksonville's height issues, Mobile is more likely to go to year round service than go away completely. I don't see much in the way of downsizing before 2030. Luminosa (Brisbane) and whatever Spirit class ship is wintering in Galveston by then will be available to take Elation and Paradise's spots should they depart. I think the Spirit Class likely lives to see 33 years of age given Carnival's current strategy for Alaska and Europe.

I think this is to make up for when the items were not available during the sailing.

I have read a report from someone saying they smell fuel/fumes throughout the lower decks of the ship. Anyone on board who can confirm this?

April 2026 is only 2 1/2 years from now. Although we do hope you will stick around for 2027 and beyond.

Given how long Atlantica had been laid up, I would think that the decor is going to be largely redone out of necessity.

I did for my first cruise in 2017. It is easier if you are booked directly with Carnival, though.

The entire Spirit class can sail from Tampa. But even in spite of you being off by five ships, Carnival still has limited inventory that can sail out of Tampa, Jacksonville, and Baltimore.

Elation had additional staterooms added in 2018 that replaced the Cole Porter Lounge. Presumably the Queen Mary Lounge on Paradise would be toast.

It went down the day earnings came out, but started going up the next day before peaking at $19.04 in early July.