CruiseAdict218

I’ve done Freedom/Horizon. So I would probably vote for Vista, though either choice is fine. 

MIAMI, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest cruise company, today announced plans for a $100 million pier extension that will double the arrival capacity of Celebration Key™, Carnival Cruise Line's new exclusive destination scheduled to open on Grand Bahama island in the summer of 2025. In addition to the two berths slated to be complete by 2025, the expansion will add two more berths, with all four capable of handling up to Carnival's largest Excel class ships when complete in 2026. Overall, the expanded cruise pier will accommodate up to four Excel-class ships simultaneously and is projected to welcome nearly 4 million guests annually to Celebration Key by 2028.

The pier extension plans were announced Thursday, Feb. 22 at the 25th Annual Grand Bahama Business Outlook by The Honorable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation in The Bahamas.

"As is fitting for our plans for Grand Bahama island, our vision for Celebration Key is quite grand, and we're already thinking about the next phase of expansion and development," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "Building the second pier now allows us to implement growth plans and build itineraries with certainty, and signals to the local community just how important this development is to Carnival Cruise Line and the future of the island."

"This is a momentous day for Grand Bahama and bodes extremely well for its future. The incredible level of new investment on the pier extension highlights the partnership between The Bahamas and Carnival Corporation and demonstrates the popularity of The Bahamas as a destination. Celebration Key will play a vital role in supporting the future prosperity of Grand Bahama and the country at large," said Cooper.

"Carnival Corporation's dedication to our island's growth is both commendable and inspiring – we applaud their expanded investment in Celebration Key in Grand Bahama and welcome the imminent exponential boost to the Grand Bahama economy," said Minister for Grand Bahama The Honourable Ginger Moxey M.P. "We are on the brink of an exciting chapter for Grand Bahama, with Carnival Corporation's expansion opening doors to unprecedented possibilities for our residents. Let us collectively gear up for this transformative journey, as the spin-off opportunities are bound to bring about a wave of prosperity touching every corner of our beloved island."

Celebration Key – Planned with Growth in Mind
Designed specifically for Carnival Cruise Line guests with occupancy growth in mind, the Celebration Key footprint has been carefully planned with expansive spaces and abundant attractions to comfortably host the additional guests expected in 2027. Featuring a mile-long, white sand beach, the largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, and a range of dining, shopping and entertainment options, Celebration Key will include five distinct areas, known as portals, providing endless ways for guests to spread out, relax and enjoy their own kind of fun.

With a focus on curating a distinctly Bahamian dining, shopping, and entertainment scene, Carnival Corporation is working closely with Bahamian officials and community leaders to recruit local companies, excursion operators, construction workers and entrepreneurs for the many business and job opportunities the development will generate and sustain. The company also has hired top Bahamian talent for strategic leadership roles in human resources, operations, and community affairs, and is actively recruiting to fill a number of additional senior positions in the coming months.

Significant Economic Impact for the Bahamas
With the additional $100 million pier extension investment, the now $600 million flagship project remains the largest of its kind ever undertaken by Carnival Corporation. The initial phase of the project, including the original two berths, is projected to help generate over 700 permanent jobs in the community – including approximately 300 Bahamians hired directly by Carnival Corporation to help welcome 2.2 million guests each year to Grand Bahama starting in 2025.

Once the additional two berths are delivered, Celebration Key is expected to bring up to 4 million guests annually to the Grand Bahama destination by 2028. According to an economic impact study by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, over the next two decades the project will drive substantial growth in Bahamian employment, gross domestic product (GDP), and government revenue. The study estimates that the development, construction, and ongoing operation of Celebration Key will create over 2,500 direct Bahamian jobs, generate $3.2 billion in incremental revenue to the Government, and contribute $9.7 billion in incremental economic impact to the Bahamas GDP.

Carnival Corporation and Carnival Cruise Line will continue to release additional details, including specifics on exciting features and development milestones for Celebration Key over the coming months.

6 hours ago, CarnivalShips480 said:

Carnival just ordered a fourth excel class ship, so there is a possibility that it could bump another ship to San Juan, would probably be a smaller ship

A ship gets bumped however, Elation, Paradise and/or Sunshine will most likely be let go by that point or not too long after. 

4 hours ago, jsglow said:

The more I think about it, I agree with that plan. One of the Excels slides into a 5/5/4 role or maybe even into a 4/3 out of PC or Miami heading twice a week to Celebration Cay. THAT's a money maker. (Not a cruise for me so much, mind you.)

I think this is what may end up happening, Excel 4 takes the 7 day run and bumps Mardi Gras to the 5/5/4 or 4/3. 
 

One of the Conquests move elsewhere.
 

But if we are adding to the wish list, let either or come to NYC for the summer season. 

Carnival Corporation Orders Fourth Excel-Class Ship for Carnival Cruise Line, 10th Excel-Class Ship Across Global Fleet

Officially confirmed. 

I can’t find any other announcement but I know some people were thinking this was going to happen.

Carnival Corporation and Meyer Werft announced they have reached an agreement to build another cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line.

The ship will be a sister to the Carnival Jubilee, which was delivered in 2023, and is scheduled to be delivered in 2027.

“We are very pleased that the partnership between the Meyer Group and Carnival Corporation is being continued with this new order,” said Bernd Eikens, CEO of the Meyer Group.

“This order is a clear sign that the cruise market has recovered and that there is great demand for sea trips,” added Thomas Weigend, Chief Sales Officer of the MEYER Group.

“We are pleased to continue our new build program and expand our global fleet with another state-of-the-art ship from MEYER WERFT that will delight Carnival Cruise Line guests,” added Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation.

Since 2018, Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku have built nine LNG-powered cruise ships for four cruise lines in the Carnival Corporation portfolio on a common technical platform. The new ship will also be built on this platform with a length of around 344 meters.

Carnival Cruise Line Orders New Ship for 2027 Delivery

Self Service Soda Machines were also added (he put that in the comments).

All bathrooms have an automatic nightlight as well. 

Sad the thrill theater was removed, I enjoyed that on Horizon, wonder if they will remove it eventually from that ship. 

22 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

With Carnival's card you get double points for charges from other Carnival Corp brands.  But your points can only be applied toward Carnival Cruise Lines charges.

I think you may have it backwards, you can apply your points towards the other brands, through the Barclays app I’m able to use points towards Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn and “Airfare/Hotels”.
 

But I don’t think you get double or rather when you hit 100,000+ point that bonus can only be used towards Carnival. 

2 hours ago, Stick93 said:

Don’t think they have anything on order. They are still too far in the hole…

I meant more so down the line when they are in a better position to do so. But rumors are swirling something will be ordered sooner than later. 

2 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

I doubt Carnival Cruise Line will build anything smaller than Vista class ever again. If they get smaller ships, it'll be transferred from another Carnival Corp brand like Luminosa.

Probably right, wouldn’t mind if they ordered a large ship for AIDA and took some of their smaller ships, they are the same size as Elation/Paradise. Think others have mentioned that scenario before. 

This could be her last dry dock since it puts her in line with her 30th birthday unless they plan to push Elation and Paradise beyond that. Guess we will know when they start to order ships again and if they have plans for a smaller class or transfer some newer smaller ships from their other brands. 

Since cruising resumed I've only caught it twice, once in 2022 and once this past September. My mom caught it on this past cruise two weeks ago and the last time for her was in 2021. 

I just came off this past Sunday, we were in 5229. You could hear some noise from the bar during the day here and there (no music, maybe just movement) but once it quieted down it was fine. Outside of that you could hear doors being slammed but I think that was from nearby cabins across or like one down. It also didn't help that we had some rough waters for the most part of the trip so at night you could hear extra creaking.

We wanted to originally book one of the cabana rooms but booked the wrong one by accident. Location wise, it was convenient to be near the bars, and two floors below is the canal grande restaurant (sea day brunch and anytime dining restaurant).

Another article on the matter:

https://www.ilsecoloxix.it/economia/2024/01/12/news/fincantieri_verso_il_maxi_ordine_usa_4_nuove_mega_navi_da_crociera_carnival-13989469/

On 1/2/2024 at 1:23 AM, jas1178 said:

New budget cut?  Wow they have gotten smaller!  Carnival Magic swapped sizes for this cruise.

On 1/4/2024 at 7:02 AM, starstruck05 said:

Currently on Venezia and when they’ve been ordered they’ve come out in both of these sizes and I think the traditional size as well. 

I’ve only said on Freedom and that was last year, middle of the road ship for me, not my top favorite but not my least favorite. I would sail Freedom or her other sisters again. 

4 hours ago, jeanandmark said:

We have a bunch of Fun Points left with our Carnival Cruise credit card that I have not redeemed for our Feb 24 cruise. Our next cruise is on Princess, so I am wondering if I can redeem my Fun Points for that cruise being that Princess is one of the Carnival Cruise Line brands.  Anyone know?

Yes you should be able to, my app lets me apply points to Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn, you just get a better incentive with using the points on Carnival purchases.

I would hope they go back to a mid-size before going big or similar to Excel.

With the European brands on the up swing as well, I don’t think we will see any more ships moved to Carnival from Costa but that could always change. 

5 hours ago, shof515 said:

Mardi Gras never sailed out of NYC like was originally planned. The NYC sailings was canceled due to all of the construction delays with building the ship. Hopefully they will be a day when the ship or one of its excel class sisters does actually sail out of NYC

Yes, that’s what I meant should have been more specific, I was booked on the original T/A. Would love if they swung one up here for a summer season, seeing as it can be done. One can hope. 

On 12/12/2023 at 11:19 PM, Stick93 said:

They should keep this ship in Florida. Seems NY didn’t embrace Carnival year round - especially this ship. 
Everyone else is doing great in NY.

Did they give it a fair shot though? The year round was pulled before the ship even arrived in NY. 
 

Interestingly enough, poking around other boards, NCL cut back from NY as well, they used to have 2-3 ships almost year round, now they will have 1 ship in the future during the winter. 

On 12/13/2023 at 6:23 AM, shof515 said:

i wish they rotate the ship every year like what they did in the past. 2025 is the 2nd year the venezia is sailing out of NYC during the summer

 

it would be nice if the magic, horizon or other ships return back to NYC again

Besides Magic, they rotated the ship that was in its debut season. Horizon, Sunrise, even Mardi Gras at one point, etc. I wouldn’t mind having Vista come back for a season. 

1. New York (Multiple times but seeing Carnival Venezia being escorted out by a fire tug salute was really something for me on her second cruise)

2. Miami

3. Tampa

4. Fort Lauderdale (Princess)

5. Port Canaveral 

Should be Venezia, I believe that's the only ship missing a summer schedule in 2025. If it was staying in Port Canaveral, I would think it would have been released when they posted her following winter season in PC from November 2025 - April 2026. Should know any time now.

37 minutes ago, toad455 said:

 

Is Venezia staying out of New York full-time in 2025?

Sadly no, it moves to Port Canaveral from December 2024 to May 2025, it is expected to return to New York until November 2025 and returns to PC through April 2026.

15 minutes ago, PrincessPatti said:

I am hoping it returns to New York.  Carnival has been saying New York 2025 schedule will be out in the next week or so.  They have been saying this for two months…..

Venezia is expected to return for the summer season in 2025, its the only ship without a schedule then, and the only port missing as well. Not sure what the delay is, but John said it should be posted any time now.

Sailed on Princess for a few years in between my Carnival cruises. The crowd is older but there was still plenty of fun and activities to be found; ship probably gets quiet a bit earlier than usual if anything. Food was pretty good but I think they reworked their menu at some point and took away some of the classics that myself and my family enjoyed. 

With that said though, I haven't sailed on them post-covid or since they adapted medallion service across their entire fleet. Enjoy their Grand Class ships, Royal Class wasn't bad but a tad overcrowded but that's subjective of course. Either way, its a great line if you choose to sail with them. 

Would also love to try Mardi Gras or Celebration, haven’t had the chance to sail on the class since MG’s original transatlantic was cancelled and then ending up on Venezia 3 times among other cruises. 
 

Panorama is also at the top of the list as well.