Carnival Cruise Line fans were saddened to hear the news this morning that Fleet Cruise Director Chris Williams, AKA The Flying Scotsman, has decided to say goodbye.
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Photo Credit: Cruise Fever
The sudden departure came as a shock to many as Williams announced on social media that he will be leaving the cruise line on August 10, 2024.
In a heartfelt video message, Williams shared the reason for his decision, explaining that after 13 fulfilling years with the company, it was time to focus on personal priorities.
“I want to make sure that I’m there to see her grow up,” he said of his five-year-old daughter. “I turn 40 this year and I had about 60-70 people turn out to my birthday party and it was all friends and family,” he revealed.
This moment made Williams realize how much he wanted to be a more integral part of his family.
“I really want to be there for my family. I really want see my little girl grow up. I want to be at all that competitions that she does. I want to be at our school days. I want to see all our school even reports. I want to do everything that a dad does,” Williams stated in the video.
He also thanked Carnival by saying he owed the cruise line everything.
“This company brought me and my wife together as performers, where we met, fell in love. We lived a great life. This company also brought us together to get married. This company brought us together to then bring a child into this world. This company gave me a house to call my own. I owe this company everything.”
Williams went on to say that he didn’t have a single negative thing to say about Carnival.
Williams has been a prominent and popular figure at Carnival Cruise Line for 13 years. He began his journey with the company as a singer before ascending to the role of Fleet Cruise Director, a position he held for the past nine months.
This role involved overseeing and mentoring cruise directors across the entire Carnival fleet.
I personally want to wish ‘The Flying Scotsman’ all the best. I had a chance to last see him on a Carnival Celebration cruise and it was a wonderful experience.
Sad news for many Carnival cruise fans as Chris Williams, AKA The Flying Scotsman, has announced that he is leaving the cruise line as of 10th August 2024.
Williams broke the news to his fans via his official social media channels, in a video that explained his reasoning.
He has been working as a Fleet Cruise Director for the cruise line for nine months, helping to train up the next generation of cruise directors.
Prior to this, he had spent many years as a Cruise Director himself, becoming a hugely popular figure onboard ships with his energy, his wit and his warmth.
In the video, Williams explained that the decision was due to a wish to spend more time with his family, having had a taste of the life he was missing due to the increased downtime that his most recent role was affording him.
This draws to a close a 13-year career for Williams with Carnival, having started out as a singer on the ships.
He has made clear that he is making the decision with a heavy heart and has expressed his extensive gratitude to the cruise line for the many experiences it has given him, including helping him to meet his wife.
He will certainly be missed by many loyal Carnival fans – good luck for the future, Chris!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Carnival Cruise Line is known as America’s Cruise Line since they sail from more ports in the U.S. than any other line. Carnival currently has 27 cruise ships cruise ships in service with another five on order or under construction. They also have two ships moving over from sister cruise line P&O Cruises Australia.
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A total of 40 different cruise ships have sailed under Carnival Cruise Line since the company’s first cruise in 1972. Here is a look at what happened to the 13 cruise ships that are no longer sailing under the Carnival Cruise Line brand.
Mardi Gras (1972-1993)
Mardi Gras was Carnival’s first cruise ship. On the maiden voyage, the cruise ship ran aground on a sandbar shortly after leaving Miami. Future voyages went much smoother. The cruise ship sailed under Carnival for 21 years before being sold. The ship sailed under the names Empress of Canada, Olympic, Star of Texas, Lucky Star, Apollo, and Apollon. The ship was finally scrapped in 2003.
Photo Credit: René Beauchamp vai Wiki CC 3.0
Carnival Cruise Line brought back the name Mardi Gras for their first Excel class ship that debuted in 2021.
Carnivale (1975-1993)
Carnivale was a 31,500 gross ton cruise ship and Carnival Cruise Line’s second ship. After 18 years in service with Carnival, the ship was sold and sailed under the names Empress of Britain, Queen Anna Maria, Fiesta Marina, Olympic, and The Topax. In 2008, the ship was sold for scrap after sailing for 52 years.
Photo Credit: Rich Turnwald via Wiki CC 4.0
Festivale ( 1977-1996)
Also known as the Big Red Boat III, Festivale sailed with Carnival for 19 years. While Festivale was the third ship in Carnival’s fleet, it was also the last ship purchased by Carnival before building their own vessels. After 19 years in service with Carnival, the ship was sold and sailed under the names Transvaal Castle, S.A. Vaal, Island Breeze, and the Big Red Boat III. The ship was sold for scrap in 2003.
Photo Credit: Krdort via Wiki CC 3.0
Tropicale (1982-2001)
Tropicale was the first cruise ship custom built for Carnival Cruise Line. The construction of the ship kicked off the beginning of a multi billion dollar shipbuilding boom that helped propel the cruise industry into what it is today. The ship spent 19 years sailing with Carnival before being sold to Costa. After sailing with Ocean Dream and the Peace Boat organization, the vessel was scrapped in 2021.
Photo Credit: Oceanhistory via Wiki CC 4.0
Holiday (1985-2009)
The first of three Holiday class ships from Carnival, Holiday spent 24 years in Carnival’s fleet. The ship was renamed Grand Holiday when transfered to Iberocruceros in 2009. The cruise ship now sails under the name Magellan and is currently for sale for $55,000,000. The cruise ship was used to house victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The vessel was also used as a hotel for the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014. It was eventually sold for scrap in 2021.
Jubilee (1986-2004)
Jubilee spend 18 years in Carnival’s fleet before being transferred over to sister cruise line P&O Cruises Australia. The ship sailed under the name Pacific Sun and then Henna in 2013. The ship was sold for scrap last year.
Photo Credit: Pilettes via Wiki CC 3.0
Carnival Cruise Line reused the name Jubilee for their third Excel class ship.
Celebration (1987 -2008)
The third and final Holiday class ship from Carnival Cruise Line, Celebration spent 21 years sailing with the cruise line. In 2008, the ship was sold to Iberocruceros and was renamed Grand Celebration. The cruise ship sailed with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line until 2020 when it was sold for scrap.
Carnival Cruise Line brought back the name Carnival Celebration for their second Excel class ship.
Carnival Fantasy (1990-2020)
Carnival Fantasy was the first of eight Fantasy class ships from Carnival. After 30 years of offering cruises, the ship was scrapped in 2020 along with a few sister ships.
Carnival Ecstasy (1991-2022)
Carnival Ecstasy sailed with Carnival for 31 years before being scrapped. The ship briefly returned from the cruise shutdown before being taken out of service 7 months later.
Carnival Sensation (1993-2022)
Carnival Sensation was scrapped in 2022, although the ship’s last cruise was in the spring of 2020. It remained in Carnival’s fleet even though it was out of service for the last two years. The cruise line decided to sell the vessel for scrap instead of returning it to service.
Carnival Fascination (1994-2020)
Carnival Fascination spent 26 years sailing with Carnival before being sold to Century Harmony Cruise Ltd in 2020. A year later, the ship was sold for scrap.
Carnival Imagination (1995-2020)
Carnival Imagination spent 25 years with Carnival before being another casualty of the cruise shutdown. The ship was sold for scrap in 2020.
Carnival Inspiration (1996-2020)
Carnival Inspiration spent 24 years with Carnival before being sold for scrap in 2020.
A Carnival cruise ship will depart later than originally scheduled today due to Tropical Storm Debby.
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Carnival Sunshine will still depart from Charleston today, but embarkation will be delayed by seven hours. This is due to the ship arriving later than scheduled due to Tropical Storm Debby.
The departure for Carnival Sunshine today is a five-night cruise to The Bahamas from Charleston. The cruise has one port stop in Nassau.
The port has cleared the cruise ship to return today. However, all guests who are on the ship will need to leave the cruise terminal and parking areas before today’s guests can arrive.
Carnival Cruise Line’s last update that they sent out last night about today’s cruise on Carnival Sunshine can be seen below:
“Good news! Carnival Sunshine is expected to dock in Charleston tomorrow afternoon. Given this delay, embarkation for you cruise must be revised. Please plan to arrive for check-in 7 hours later than your pre-selected terminal arrival appointment (for example, 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM appointment will become 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM).”
“All guests must be on board by 9:30 PM (ET). We will send you an email by 7:00 PM today with full details. Thanks for your patience and understanding.”
Carnival also stated that guests who arrive earlier than their newly schedule time will be asked to leave and return at the proper time.
Cruise Fever will have all updates if Carnival Cruise Line needs to make any more changes to today’s cruise on Carnival Sunshine. We will update this article with all changes.
When booking your next cruise, it’s inevitable that your mind will wander to the standard question, âwhere do I want my cabin to be located? Do I want an interior cabin or a balcony cabin?â
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Photo credit: Cruise Fever
Some cruisers tend to pick the same deck each time or the same type of room. Others like to switch it up.
Personally, I love a standard balcony cabin on the same level as Guest Services.
Recently, a friend of mine asked my opinion of where she should book her cabin. She has always booked an inside cabin but is considering her very first balcony.
Let’s explore some pros and cons of this often discussed topic and help her to decide. Should she upgrade to a balcony from her usual inside cabin?
Arguably the main selling point for a balcony, the views will always be outstanding. Thereâs nothing quite like pulling up to a port while standing on your balcony. The gorgeous blue waters of Cozumel just âhit differentâ when cruising into the Puerta Maya Pier.
Balcony cabins are a MUST for some cruises. It’s practically a sin to not book a balcony cabin for an Alaskan cruise.
The views are tremendous and unparalleled. Many cruisers only make this trip once in their cruising career, so a balcony is required and suggested for the best views.
Provides Extra Space
When booking a balcony cabin, expect to have a bit more space in the main portion of the cabin. Oftentimes, the additional space isnât a big difference but any additional room is welcome at sea. If you decide to upgrade to a specialty suite, expect even more space.
The balcony itself will provide additional room for you and your family to spread out. Each balcony includes patio furniture for maximum relaxation. (Hello, breakfast and a fresh cup of coffee each morning!)
There are a variety of styles and configurations available if a balcony is what you choose. Aft balcony cabins are very popular and have ample space. Cove balconies are situated on lower decks, allowing you to feel even closer to the gentle waves.
Natural Lighting
Choosing a cabin with a balcony allows natural lighting to flood your space. In turn, this can make your cabin feel larger and less âclosed inâ.
When going to sleep in the evening, leave your curtains open a bit. This will allow for light to gently wake you each morning, before having a fun-filled vacation day.
Or, if you prefer, keep the entire set of curtains open, so that the sunâs hot beams startle you awake each day. Who needs a wakeup call?
Cons
Aft balcony on Sky Princess (Photo Credit: Cruise Fever)
More Expensive
Possibly the largest deterrent for booking a balcony cabin, the expense can definitely add up.
Unfortunately, balcony cabins can cost a good bit more than an interior cabin. For some cruisers, this additional cost may not be justified, especially when there are shore excursions and activities to purchase.
Many people simply do not wish to pay the additional cost, since they only visit their cabin at a minimum throughout their trip.
Size and May Feel Claustrophobic
Letâs face itâ interior cabins are just smaller than their balcony siblings! Some interior cabins’ living spaces are smaller AND they do not have the additional balcony space.
That could potentially spell disaster to a cruiser who easily becomes claustrophobic.
Letâs take a closer look at the numbers. On Carnival Cruise Line, most standard interior cabins are 185 square feet in size.
A standard balcony cabin is also 185 square feet in size, but it includes an additional 35 square feet of balcony space. Premium category balcony cabins sizes can increase. For example, the Premium Vista cabins have an additional 75 square feet of balcony space.
As with many things in life, inside cabins and balcony cabins both have their fair share of pros and cons. For many, the final choice will come down to price and for others, habit will take them to their usual.
If my friend has the extra cash in her budget, I wholeheartedly recommend that she go with a balcony cabin. Overall, I believe this to be a better choice and money well-spent.
If she doesnât quite have the extra wiggle room in her budget, she should definitely grab the inside cabin. She will still be on the cruise ship and have the same experiences as other cruisers – just at a cheaper rate and with less views!
Princess Cruises is adding a new WiFi tier that is faster than ever that will launch on August 31, 2024.
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The cruise line’s new MedallionNet Max will offer an even faster internet connection compared to what is currently offered. It will offer the highest quality and highest performance bandwidth available anywhere in the world which is typically Starlink.
MedallionNet Max will only be available to guests who purchase Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages. These packages make cruises on Princess more all-inclusive and include perks like drink packages, WiFi, and specialty dining.
Pricing for MedallionNet Classic will remain at $24.99 per day for a single device plan or $44.99 for a multi-day device. There will be no change to the prices of this plan.
John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises, gave the following statement about the cruise line’s new WiFi tier:
“Just like we did when we launched MedallionNet Classic almost seven years ago, Princess continues to ensure guests have access to highest performing connectivity available at industry leading value.”
“By including MedallionNet Max in our incredible bundles we are guaranteeing the best possible onboard experience with the best value anywhere in the world as our guests explore over 330 destinations via our world-class globally deployed fleet.”
Princess will preview this new WiFi tier when they host the first ever land/sea custom UGC competition. On August 7, 2024, eight gamers on Enchanted Princess will compete against 24 players on land.
Princess Cruises is the only cruise line that has adopted every source of bandwidth spanning the globally deployed fleet including LEO (Starlink), MEO, GEO satellite constellations as well as 5G terrestrial.
Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship diverted from her planned route to rescue 77 refugees in distress this week.
Overnight from Monday 5th to Tuesday 6th August, the ship responded to a request from Greek authorities to aid a sailboat that was loaded with passengers southwest of Pylos.
The ship was able to send a lifeboat and pilot craft to the sailboat to rescue the stranded refugees, whose nationality has not been released.
The refugees were forced to abandon many personal belongings and were brought to the cruise ship where they were fed and given medical attention, if needed. They were kept in crew-only areas of the ship.
The cruise ship then had to make an unexpected diversion to Kalamata to drop the refugees off with the Greek authorities, which meant the planned trip to Santorini for that day was cancelled.
Apparently it has been rescheduled for later this week, but at the cost of a call to Mykonos which will now no longer be going ahead.
The cruise line would be expected to refund any cancelled excursions for the Mykonos port, but any passengers who booked through a third party will need to seek their own refunds.
Anyone who booked travel insurance with missed port cover would also be able to get a refund on the missed port.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas is to finally undergo the Amplification process and receive the refurbishment that her sister Oasis-class ships have already enjoyed.
The cruise line has announced that the ship will enter dry dock in March 2025, ready to begin her summer season in April 2025 in Europe with a host of new upgrades.
By the time the renovation is complete, the ship will have over 35 places to eat, drink and splash onboard.
The pool deck will be refreshed to include resort-style decor with a Caribbean theme, which will include new seating, updated hot tubs, and the addition of the popular Lime & Coconut bar.
The Ultimate Abyss twin dry slides will also be added to the ship, giving guests the chance to race down the decks on a mat. A shaved ice bar will also be added near the entrance to the slides.
Not enough slides? Don’t worry – new water slides are being added too, and while it hasn’t been confirmed, expect to see the Perfect Storm trio to be the choice, similar to the other Oasis-class ships. A new Splashaway Bay splash zone will also be added.
Another new bar will be the Pesky Parrot, the cruise line’s twist on a tiki bar offering fresh and frozen cocktails.
New restaurants will be added, including Playmakers Sports Bar, Mason Jar, and El Loco Fresh. And there’ll be a new escape room attraction, too, themed after a moon landing.
The kids and teen spaces will be revamped, with new features and a general update to the existing spaces.
The final confirmed upgrade for now is the addition of the Ultimate Panoramic Suite, a Star Class suite with a huge amount of space and impressive floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
The ship will spend the summer of 2025 sailing from Barcelona and Rome on 7-night cruises, with a new 4-night cruise on 11th April serving as a new ‘inaugural’ cruise for the updated ship.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Carnival Corporation and Grand Turk have released new guidelines for public access to the port when cruise ships are visiting. The changes were made to ensure that all cruise passengers have a safe and enjoyable experience at the port.
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This new agreement between Carnival Corporation, and The Turks & Caicos Islands Government, and the Grand Turk Cruise Center (GTCC) will help provide a safe and secure environment for all guests who are visiting the port.
The new policy promotes a family-friendly atmosphere and these new guidelines will also maintain the popularity of Grand Turk with cruise guests, support local businesses and foster a welcoming and business-friendly environment for food, beverage, shore excursion, and retail partners.
This policy will be effective on Thursday, August 15, 2024 and applies to when cruise ships are in port:
During operating hours (when a cruise ship is in port), access to GTCC by the public is only granted to individuals who obtain a one-day identification (ID) badge.
Access will be by the main entrance and will be free of charge.
Visitors age 18 years and older can receive an ID badge at the main entrance to GTCC. Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Weapons and any threatening language or behavior will not be tolerated.
Visitors who are granted access to the port agree to not promote any businesses with sales and solicitation being prohibited.
Cruise lines and approved tour operators will be the only ones who can conduct business in the port.
Juan Fernandez, vice president of Carnival Corporation’s destination operations, gave the following statement:
“We greatly appreciate the collaborative spirit of partnership from government and cruise center leaders to provide an added layer of security at the Grand Turk Cruise Center facilities, while also allowing residents all opportunities to enjoy the beach, shopping and restaurants.”
The Honourable Charles Washington Misick, Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, added:
“The Government’s role is to ensure that those with access to the facilities at the Grand Turk Cruise Center – be they cruise passengers, tour operators, vendors, and visitors to the port – have an enjoyable experience. The Government is committed to working with Grand Turk Cruise Center to improve service delivery so that the destination remains competitive, whilst ensuring safety, and providing sustainable economic opportunities.”
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, the most award cruise ship ever, will receive over a $100 million dollar makeover in the spring of 2025.
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Allure of the Seas will be the final Oasis class ship to be “Amplified”. The ship was originally scheduled to get these updates several years ago but the cruise shutdown postponed the renovation.
Allure of the Seas will be out of service from February 22, 2025 through April 11, 2025. While in dry dock, many new features will be added to the ship that are familiar to Royal Caribbean guests.
The ship will have over 35 dining and drink options, a new waterpark, new cabins, and a 10 story slide.
Here is a look at some of the features that will be added to Allure of the Seas next spring.
The Pesky Parrot, Royal Caribbean’s new Tiki Bar that opened to rave reviews on their newest ship Utopia of the Seas, will be added to Allure of the Seas. The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar will also be added to Allure.
The Pesky Parrot on Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas
A trio of waterslides, The Perfect Storm, will be added to the pool deck. The pool area will also be redesigned into a resort-style pool deck.
The Ultimate Abyss, a 10 story dry slide, will be added to the ship’s aft in the same location as other Oasis class ships.
Other additions to Allure of the Seas include Royal Escape Room, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, and Lime and Coconut.
The escape room will be themed “Apollo 18: Lunar Landing” where you’ll have to look or clues and solve complex puzzles to land Apollo 18 on the moon before time runs out.
Two Ultimate Panoramic Suites will be located above the ship’s bridge and offer 914 square feet of living space for up to four passengers each. The floor to ceiling windows will offer 200 degree panoramic views around the ship.
Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer, Royal Caribbean International, gave the following statement:
“From the new Icon and Utopia of the Seas to now the more than $100 million transformation of Allure of the Seas, we’ve upped the ante threefold on the different ways vacationers can get away and make memories with Royal Caribbean.”
“Allure will be reimagined with the best of Royal Caribbean and what travelers love. Between new favorites, like the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, and experiences that unlock core memories time and time again, from an incredible pool deck to an unmatched combination of thrills and ways to chill, Allure will have even more of everything that makes it a standout favorite.”
The first cruise after the ship receives its renovation will be a four night cruise from Barcelona that visits Spain and France on April 11, 2025.
Allure of the Seas will spend the summer of 2025 offering week long cruises in the Mediterranean from Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome).
In the fall of 2025, Allure of the Seas will reposition to Port Everglades for six and eight night cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean.
