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7 Things Cruisers Love About Viking Ocean Cruises 

by Cruise Lines

Viking Ocean Cruises continues to expand its fleet to twelve ships. The fast-growing line has gained a firm foothold in the industry and a loyal following among cruisers since Viking, the longtime leader in river cruising, decided to venture into the oceans, as well. It launched its first ocean vessel, Viking Star, in 2015. 

Things To Love About Viking Ocean Cruises 

Dining at Manfredi's on Viking SkyDining at Manfredi's on Viking Sky
The dinners at Manfredi’s Italian restaurant are among the highlights of a Viking Ocean Cruises experience.

The formula for success has been simple. Viking Ocean Cruises ships offer a uniformly excellent experience for cruisers, with a unique blend of luxury, comfort, and inclusive features. Each ship in the fleet has a nearly identical design and carries up to 930 passengers, and each offers several features passengers can rely on no matter what ship or itinerary they choose to sail. 

LivNordic Spa 

LivNordic Spa on Viking SkyLivNordic Spa on Viking Sky

Passengers get use of Viking’s LivNordic Spa at no additional charge. This included facility offers the chance to experience the true Nordic spa regimen, with a cold plunge pool, snow room, steam room, sauna, “dump bucket,” thalassotherapy pool, hot tub and heated loungers. 

Spa area on Viking SkySpa area on Viking Sky
Viking’s LivNordic Spa at no additional charge

The spa is a relaxing space and a fabulous amenity on Viking Ocean ships. Most cruise lines charge passengers a fee to use the thermal suites. 

Manfredi’s 

Bistecca Fiorentina at Manfredi's on Viking SkyBistecca Fiorentina at Manfredi's on Viking Sky
A perfectly cooked bistecca Fiorentina at Manfredi’s is the eatery’s signature item.

The Italian restaurant on Viking Ocean ships is one of the highlights of your cruise. Each passenger is guaranteed at least one dining experience during their sailing. Then, make sure to get on the list for a second time (based on availability).  

The atmosphere and decor in the eatery offer a classic and comfy feel, with pictures of Italian screen stars adorning the walls. The food is also pure comfort, as you start with fresh-made focaccia bread and dinner rolls accompanied by olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. Choose from an array of pastas and delicious sides like steamed black mussels or fried calamari. The signature item in the bistecca Fiorentina, is a perfectly spiced and prepared giant slab of deliciousness that makes meat lovers swoon.  

Chef’s Table 

The Chef's Table on Viking SkyThe Chef's Table on Viking Sky
The Chef’s Table is a specialty restaurant with a rotating menu of regional cuisine.

This specialty restaurant also is included in your fare, and you need to make a reservation to dine there. You are guaranteed a spot once per sailing, as well. The restaurant features a lineup of menus that rotate. So, you can pick from regional cuisines like Mexican, Scandinavian, Asian and French.  

This excellent culinary journey takes you through five courses paired with specially selected wines that complement the flavors.  

Pool Deck 

Pool deck on Viking SkyPool deck on Viking Sky
The pool deck can be covered for use in all seasons, and the area features the pool grill, a large screen for movies and plenty of comfortable seating options.

The leisure area on Deck 7 offers ample cushioned chairs and loungers, as well as tables so you can relax in comfort. The roof can be open or closed, meaning it’s an all-weather area. The salt-water pool is heated when cruising in cooler regions, and a large hot tub is a favorite spot to slide into after a day ashore on your excursion.  

The Pool Grill is nearby offering a great selection of gourmet burgers and sandwiches, and the pool deck is also the place for special dining events like the seafood feast. You also may catch a movie poolside on the big screen. 

Explorers’ Lounge 

Located at the top of the ship, this two-deck lounge area is an inviting retreat, especially at night or during sea days. The large floor-to-ceiling windows offer the best views right at the front of the ship, and this is the place to settle in to enjoy a little live piano or guitar music or a conversation with new friends while sitting on the soft couches and chairs, warmly decorated with animal furs and pillows.  

The Explorers’ Lounge also is filled with bookshelves holding reading materials and art pieces highlighting travel and history. The ship’s Scandinavian comfort-food eatery Mamsen’s is also located in this venue. It’s open for breakfast and lunch and afternoon and late-night snacks. Be sure to try a fresh waffle with brown goat cheese or the split pea soup.  

The Wintergarden 

The Wintergarden on Viking SkyThe Wintergarden on Viking Sky
The Winter Garden is a Scandinavian oasis and a place to enjoy afternoon tea.

Another nice place to relax, the Wintergarden is located adjacent to the pool area and is distinctive because of its Scandinavian-chic design. The clean and inviting space features a light-wood sculpture that wraps the columns and ceiling space to give the feel of being in a Norwegian forest. 

Afternoon tea is hosted in the Wintergarden, complete with live music accompaniment, fresh scones, and a tower of finger sandwiches and pastries. 

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The Extra Goodies 

Viking offers a complimentary shore excursion in each port. These are typically the “City Tour” variety. (You can purchase premium excursions, as well.) The line’s Silver Spirits drinks package is an amazing value when compared with the cruise industry at large. A charge of $19.95 per person per day covers your sodas, wines, mixed drinks, and beer. Additionally, beer and wine are included during meal times in the ship’s restaurants. 

The ship features complimentary WiFi service, and free self-service laundry facilities are located throughout the ship.

Plan Your Trip?

Need help planning a trip? Check out these helpful links:

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4 Things Cruise Lines Want You to Ignore

by Diplomacy

While cruise lines offer some great tips for your next cruise, there are some things that they hope you will ignore while you are on the ship.  Yes, they want you to have a great time and to go home and tell your family and friends about your cruise. However, they are also need to make a profit.

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Here are a few things that cruise lines want you to ignore.  While these are not secrets, they are often overlooked.

Casinos

Slot machines at your local casino (if you live in an area that has them) are under watch of the state gaming commission of the state where they are located in.  They will have a minimum payout percentage and can not go below it (on average). In Nevada, it’s 75%. In New Jersey, it’s 83%.

Since cruise ships are flagged in foreign countries, they are not under the authority of the gaming commissions in the states and do not have to release the payout percentages of the slot machines.  

However, according to the ICCL (International Council of Cruise Lines), slot machines on cruise ships are called to “meet the regulatory standards of the Nevada Gaming Control Board or other licensed jurisdiction for payback and internal software.”

The slot machines on cruise ships always seem to be tighter than you will find in the casinos in Las Vegas or Atlantic City.  

While no one except the cruise lines knows the exact payout percentages, do not expect them to be as loose as the slot machines that you are used to playing. Yes, some will win big, but most passengers will lose.

Shopping

On every cruise, there are “shopping highlight shows” where the cruise director and a shopping consultant will talk about each port and tell you about different stores and shops.

Some of these will include familiar names such as Diamonds International, Cariloha, etc. Many of these stores will even offer something free (bamboo necklace, charm bracelet) to get you to stop by.

The stores and shops that are being promoted by the cruise lines are not places they feel are of good value, but rather they are only promoting them because they are getting paid to do so.   These stores pay the cruise lines commission to promote them and to get you to shop there.

Don’t be afraid to shop at a store that isn’t “recommended” by the cruise line.  Many times you can find better deals that these other shops since they do not have the overhead of paying commission to the cruise lines.

Years ago, cruise directors used to go around to stores and collect an envelope with cash in it. This was their payment for promoting them.

I was recently on a cruise in Alaska and saw a store that had a sign that said, “Our prices are cheaper because we don’t give a kick back to cruise lines”. 

Also, don’t be afraid to barter to get a better deal.  Some of the best deals I got are when I said “no thanks” and took my first step towards the door.

However, it can be worth it to attend the shopping talks since they often give away free things at them.  Try to remember to sit up front since they like to throw things (shirts, necklaces etc.) to the audience and they normally don’t throw very far.

Huge Discounted Cruise Rates

You many have seen advertisements for cruises that are “80% off the brochure prices”. Are those cruises really that good of a deal?

First off, no one pays “brochure prices” for a cruise. The “brochure price” is a highly marked up price to make you think you are getting a better deal that you are actually receiving.  

I once saw that the “brochure price” for a four night cruise to the Bahamas was starting at $799 a person for an inside cabin. Four night cruises to the Bahamas usually start around $199-$399 (depending on the time of year) per person for cruises on Norwegian, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean.

cruise ships

Anytime you see an advertisement for the “brochure price” for a cruise, ignore it. It is merely a marketing tool to get you to book a cruise because you think you are getting an amazing deal.

This also applies to BOGO and rates advertised as 60-75% off cruise fares. Always ignore the percentage off they are offering and just concentrate on the total price of the curise.

Cruise Line Credit Cards

Norwegian, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and other major cruise lines all offer branded credit cards that help you build up points to save on your next cruise booking or for onboard credit. A few of the cards offered are:

  • Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Card
  • Carnival World MasterCard
  • Norwegian’s World MasterCard
  • Princess Cruises Rewards Visa Card
  • Holland America Line Rewards Visa Card
  • Disney Visa

Pretty much all of these credit cards offer no annual fee, 1 point per dollar spent, and double or triple points on purchases with that cruise line. Doesn’t that sound like a great deal?  Use your credit card and earn money off of your next cruise. While it sounds like a great deal, the credit cards are really not all that special.

You can only use the points towards each specific cruise line. If you have the Carnival World MasterCard and want to book a cruise on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, you can’t use your points for it.

Instead of getting one of the cruise line’s branded credit cards, you will be better off with cash back credit card that can be anywhere from 1.5-5% back.

Take for instance the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card that has no annual fee. They offer 2% cash back on every single purchase.

If you were to put $15,000 on a cruise line credit card, you would earn $150 in onboard credit. If you were to put the same charges on the Wells Fargo or a similar card, you’d have $300 cash. Which would you rather have, $150 in OBC or $300 cash?

I have a few friends who have a cruise line branded card but no longer use it because the rewards just aren’t worth it anymore compared to other credit cards.

Learn the cruise secrets most people don”t know and cruise like a boss. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. (Sponsored)

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Viral Cruise Ship Clip Showcases Screaming Match (Don’t Worry, It’s Fake!)

by Cruise NewsNews

A viral clip on social media has entertained and worried cruise guests in equal measure – but it turns out it’s fake!

Liverpool Waterfront

The clip, titled ‘Scousers on holiday’, is filmed on the balcony of a cruise ship and claims to record some Liverpudlians having a feisty argument.

You can view the clip here – be warned, the language is a little NSFW!

Apparently it’s fake, with the audio added from elsewhere, which is a relief – you certainly wouldn’t want to hear that when you’re onboard a cruise!

It just goes to show that you can’t trust everything you see online, and that you should definitely appreciate those quiet moments you actually enjoy on a cruise ship balcony – and the crew and security teams who help to keep it that way!

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7 Steps To A Hassle-Free Embarkation Day

by Cruise LinesCruise Tips

Your cruise vacation begins as soon as you set foot on the ship and receive that welcome glass of sparkling wine from the smiling crew members. 

Carnival Cruise Line Guy's Pig and AnchorCarnival Cruise Line Guy's Pig and Anchor
Alternative venues, such as Guy’s Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que on some Carnival Cruise Line ship, may be open for lunch on embarkation day. These often make a better alternative than the crowded buffet areas.

To make the most of your valuable time and to get your cruise off to a great start, you’re going to want to have a smooth embarkation day. The process of getting on a big ship is notoriously one of the most stressful parts of the cruise experience. This is because so many others are arriving onboard at the exact same time, often leading to a crush of passengers in the same spaces until you all get spread out and settled in.

You can avoid some of the hassles and frustrations that keep you from finding your vacation groove by following our best tips and tricks to enjoy a hassle-free embarkation day. 

Before You Head Out 

Cruise lines allow you to check in for your cruise online. You can print out your ship’s “boarding passes” and create a file of your paperwork that is easy to access so you are ready to show the agents who greet you at the cruise port. This saves you from hold-ups that can result when you have to fill out forms and go through extra checks at the cruise terminal. 

Arrive Early, But Not Too Early 

Most large cruise lines “clear” their ships by 10 a.m. This is the process of getting all the passengers who are finishing their cruise just before yours off of the ship. If you arrive at the cruise pier before the ship is cleared, you will wait (and wait and wait). It makes sense that you want to get onboard as early as you can so that you can maximize the time on the ship and start enjoying the amenities and food.  

But after about 11 a.m. is probably the safest time to arrive and not expect too long of a wait. Some cruise lines offer a program like Carnival’s “Faster to the Fun” (for a fee) that gives you priority boarding for your cruise. If you book a suite, you also typically receive priority boarding perks. Consider these options if you want to be among the first passengers onto the ship.  

Drop the Bags 

7 Steps to a Hassle-Free Embarkation Day | 197 Steps to a Hassle-Free Embarkation Day | 19
7 Steps to a Hassle-Free Embarkation Day 7

Your staterooms are being turned over typically until about 2 p.m. when they will be all cleaned, prepared and ready for your stay. Until then, you need to do something with your luggage so that you don’t have to lug it around for a couple hours on the ship. 

You can lighten your load by dropping your bags curbside with the cruise terminal porters. They will load them onto big carts and ensure that they get onto the ship and eventually to your stateroom. Make sure you have affixed a baggage tag indicating your name and cabin number. You also should tip your porter a buck or two per bag. 

We generally like to carry on our own luggage on because we pack light and want to have it as soon as the cabins are available (bags left with the porter service can sometimes arrive hours after your staterooms are made available, which is frustrating). So, we go straight to our cabins to drop off our bags. Here is the trick: The corridors are usually closed to passengers while the cleaning is in progress. But you can open the doors, go to your stateroom and let your steward know that you simply want to slide the bags under the bed or somewhere else out of the way while they clean. Be polite and leave quickly, so he or she can get on with turning over the cabins. It’s a tough day for them, too, so don’t dawdle in the room and be sure to show appreciation for allowing you to drop off your bags. 

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Avoid the Buffet 

Cruisers naturally arrive hungry and ready for lunch when they board their ship. The buffet is a hot spot, of course, and you will find crowds of people all in the same place as they quickly grab up tables and form lines at the buffet.  

This scene is perhaps the biggest source of frustration on embarkation day. Make your way to the main dining room or any of the smaller venues onboard that will be open for lunch, such as a poolside grill serving burgers and other sandwiches or the ship’s pizza eatery or café with lighter fare. 

You will be able to get something tasty and find a table without any problems. In the main dining room, you order from a menu and enjoy a much more relaxing experience as you are served by staff at your table. 

In the Bag 

Prepare a day bag or backpack to bring on that you can easily carry around with some items that you will want while you wait to get to your stateroom. Place essentials in it, such as a swim suit, book, Kindle, magazines, sunscreen, phone charger and any needed medications.  

This means you can use a restroom to change into your swim suit and start enjoying the pool and other amenities in comfort. 

Have a Look Around 

This is also a good time to give yourself a tour of the ship, going deck by deck to learn the layout and where everything is located. If you take an hour to learn all the spots on the ship, you’ll quickly pick out your favorite spots to enjoy during your cruise â€“ and be less likely to get lost. 

Get Your Goodies Booked 

While touring, stop by the spa for a tour and book any treatments you might want. If you have your eye on a massage or facial or other treatment, getting there early ensures that you get your preferred time and day for your appointment. Do this for any specialty restaurants, too, that you want to dine at. (Note: many cruise lines allow you to book dining online ahead of the cruise, and they even offer dining packages that include discounts.) 

Start Enjoying Your Cruise 

If you’ve followed all our tips, that means you have avoided the crowds, satisfied your appetite with a good meal, set up all your appointments for the cruise and learned your way around the ship. There is nothing left now except to order up your favorite fruity drink or cold beer and start enjoying your cruise vacation with all your new friends.

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Cruise Line Has Record Bookings After New Ship Debuts

by Diplomacy

A cruise line had a record number of new bookings after the launch of their newest cruise ship.

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Cunard Line, one of nine cruise lines from Carnival Corporation, had record breaking new cruise bookings after Queen Anne entered service last month.

The cruise line cited the popularity of Queen Anne’s Europe itineraries as a reason for the record bookings.

The cruise ship was recently christened in Liverpool with an estimated 50,000 people attending the naming ceremony.

Cunard President Katie McAlister said the following about the record bookings for the cruise line:

“We’re delighted to see such strong booking momentum in response to the successful launch of Queen Anne. This record-breaking booking period is testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to welcome so many new guests on board Queen Anne and the rest of our iconic fleet in the future.”

Queen Anne is the fourth ship in Cunard Line’s fleet and can carry 3,000 guests.

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Disney Cruise Line Releases New Cruises for 2025-2026

by Diplomacy

Disney Cruise Line announced new itineraries for 2025-2026 that will open for bookings on June 28, 2024.

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Disney Dream cruise ship sailing out of Port Canaveral
Photo Credit: Cruise Fever

These newly announced cruises from Disney in 2025-2026 will visit the Caribbean/Bahamas, Mexico and Australia/New Zealand. Also announced were a number of themed voyages during the holidays.

Disney Cruise Line will have four of their ships sailing to one or both of their private destinations in The Bahamas, Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. They will be Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish, Disney Treasure and Disney Dream.

Castaway Cay

Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish and Disney Magic (October 2025) will offer three to five night cruises from Port Canaveral that visit The Bahamas.

Disney Treasure will also sail from Port Canaveral but offer week long cruises to the Eastern/Western Caribbean that include a port stop at Castaway Cay.

Disney Dream will homeport at Port Everglades sailing three to five night cruises to The Bahamas.  The cruises will visit Castaway Cay and/or Lookout Cay.

Disney Magic will offer seven night cruises to the Eastern Caribbean and The Bahamas from San Juan, Puerto Rico (October/November 2025).

Disney Magic will then move to Galveston Texas from November 2025 through April 2026 offering four to seven night cruises to Mexico.

Disney Wonder will homeport in San Diego, California sailing three and four night cruises to Mexico with port stops in Catalina Island and Ensenada.

Before Disney Wonder offers cruises from San Diego, the ship will sail from Australia/New Zealand visit both regions and the South Pacific. These cruises will range from three to 10 nights in length.

Halloween on the High Seas will take place on select Disney cruises in September and October.

Very Merrytime Cruises will follow in November and December.

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New Cruise Insurance Offers Compensation for Missed Ports and Itinerary Changes

by Diplomacy

A travel insurance company has introduced new cruise insurance that offers compensation for missed ports and itinerary changes due to weather or mechanical problems.

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Seven Corners has launched a new insurance that is designed for U.S. residents taking cruises that are 30 days or less. It covers cruises all around the world and offers more benefits that insurance offered by cruise lines.

In addition to standard travel insurance coverage, it offers the following four extra benefits for cruisers:

  • Missed Tour or Cruise Connection
  • Cruise Diversions
  • Cruise Disablements
  • Itinerary Changes

Missed Tour or Cruise Connection covers unused nonrefundable deposits and additional transportation, lodging, and meal costs if a delay of at least three hours due to a covered reason causes you to miss your cruise departure.

Cruise Diversion provides compensation if you miss a port stop on your cruise due to weather, natural disaster or mechanical breakdown.

Cruise Disablement provides compensation if you are confined for more than 24 hours on a cruise ship without power, food, water or restroom facilities.

Lastly, Itinerary Change covers unused nonrefundable expenses for activities or events if your cruise line or travel supplier eliminates a destination from your itinerary or changes your trip itinerary in a way that prevents you from participating in that event or activity.

Jeremy Murchland, President of Seven Corners, gave the following statement about their new cruise insurance:

“Seven Corners Cruise Insurance gives travelers more opportunity than ever to travel with peace of mind. Any of our plans can provide more coverage than what you might find if you purchased protection directly from a cruise line, but our Cruise Insurance takes even that to a new level.”

“Savvy travelers know that the unexpected can happen before you leave port, while you’re on the ship or even on your way home. With this trip protection, you’re covered at every point. I see this as an important step in Seven Corners’ ability to empower more people to travel and travel well.”

To see a complete list of everything that this new cruise insurance covers, you can visit the company’s cruise page here.

They also offer commitment-free quotes for those who are looking to purchase travel insurance for upcoming cruises.

Learn the cruise secrets most people don”t know and cruise like a boss. Check out Intelligent Cruiser here for a better cruise vacation. (Sponsored)

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Carnival Cruise Ship Is First to Plug Into Shore Power at PortMiami

by Diplomacy

Carnival Cruise Line and PortMiami celebrated a milestone this week when Carnival Conquest became the first cruise ship to plug into shore power at PortMiami.

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Carnival cruise ships in Miami
Carnival cruise ships at PortMiami. Photo Credit: Cruise Fever

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, partnered with several other cruise lines, Miami-Dade County and Florida Power & Light Company to bring shore power to PortMiami.

PortMiami is now the first major cruise port on the East Coast to offer shore power at five different cruise berths.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, gave the following statement about the launch of shore power at PortMiami:

“This is an important milestone for our hometown and we’re proud to support Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and all county and port officials for their amazing partnership in bringing shore power to PortMiami. We continue to implement important initiatives that have kept us ahead of our ambitious goals to reduce emissions, and this new shore power capability will allow our ships to rely on the electrical grid to power our ships while in port.”

Shore power allows cruise ships to shut off their engines while they are docked in port and connect to the local electric grid. Depending on the mix of energy sources, using shore power can reduce total emissions by up to 98%.

67% of Carnival Corporation’s fleet is now equipped with shore power capabilities. Over the next few years, it will be added to an additional 30 of their cruise ships including three more this year.

Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc, said the following about this momentous day in Miami:

“Using shoreside electricity to power our ships in port is an integral part of our global strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and minimize our environmental footprint.”

“It’s been over 20 years since our company first pioneered shore power for the cruise industry, yet adoption remains limited to just 2% of cruise ports worldwide. We applaud PortMiami for having the vision to recognize shore power as vital to the future of our industry and the planet, and for being at the forefront of their peer group in delivering this capability to cruise ships.”

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New Cruise Ship Coming to Miami Will Have 10,000 Sq. Ft. Kids Club

by Diplomacy

A new mega cruise ship that will debut in Miami in 2025 will have a 10,000 square foot kids club with LEGO themed activities.

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MSC World America cruise ship

MSC World America will be one of the top 10 largest cruise ships in the world when it debuts in the spring of 2025. The ship will homeport in Miami where MSC Cruises is currently building the largest cruise terminal in North America.

The cruise line recently announced new features on the ship that include a 10,000 square foot kids club and LEGO themed activities that include parades and family game shows.

Here is a look at what families can look forward to when MSC World America debuts next year.

SportPlex

MSC World America, MSC Sportplex

The MSC Sportplex will have everything from bumper cars, football, basketball, tennis, zorb ball sessions, pickleball and hoverboards.

It will also host Drone Academy, a lively and high-tech drone relay race that will come to life at night through light effects and glowing drones.

Star Shooters will also take place in the Sportplex. It will be an adventure course where guests can hit and rack up points for a win.

LEGO Activities

MSC World America will be the first cruise ship to have a LEGO Family Game Show. Parents and children can work together in team challenges to see who is the true Master Builders on the cruise.

Once per cruise, there will be a LEGO parade with LEGO characters that will march through the ship from Family Adventura to the World Promenade.

MSC World Europa, LEGO Room

The LEGO Family Zone is where parents and children can play together.

Largest Doremiland

MSC World America will have the largest Doremiland in the fleet at 10,000 square feet.  It will have seven dedicated rooms for age groups 0 to 17 years old.

The Kids’ Clubs will be open from 9 am until midnight each day of the cruise.

MSC World Europa, Young Club
MSC World Europa, Baby Club Chicco
MSC World Europa, Teen Club

Doremix Family Disco

A place where parents and children can dance together to hit music or original MSC Cruises songs for children.

The Harbour

The Harbour will be an outdoor park for families that will have everything from activities to places to eat. While MSC Cruises has not given a lot of details about this new space yet, it will have a ropes course and a new state-of-the-art Chiffhanger attraction.

MSC World America Cliffhanger
Cliffhanger: Courtesy of MSC Cruises

It will also feature the iconic lighthouse found on Ocean Cay that will be located in a playground.

Steve Leatham, Head of Entertainment for MSC Cruises, gave the following statement about this new cruise ship:

“We set ourselves the goal to create the most exceptional kids and family offering at sea with MSC World America. Our aim is to give our younger guests the freedom to express their creativity, play, socialize and explore with amazing spaces and programs that have to be seen to be believed.”

MSC World America will debut in the spring of 2025 and offer cruises to the Caribbean and The Bahamas from Miami.  You can view cruises and prices for MSC World America here.

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PortMiami’s New Shore Power Switched On, Reducing Emissions By 98%!

by Cruise LinesCruise NewsNews

In a groundbreaking move towards environmental sustainability, Carnival Cruise Line has become the first to plug into shore power at PortMiami.

Cruise Ships in Miami Port

The new shore power offering is a result of a collaboration between Miami-Dade County, the Florida Power & Light Company, and many of the world’s leading cruise lines.

The result is that PortMiami is the first major port on the eastern coast of the US to offer shore power at five cruise berths – and Carnival Conquest was the first ship to make use of it.

“This is an important milestone for our hometown and we’re proud to support Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and all county and port officials for their amazing partnership in bringing shore power to PortMiami.“

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line

Shore power lets ships plug into the electricity grid when they are docked to power the ship. This means they don’t need to run the diesel engines, meaning shore power is much more environmentally friendly.

It’s expected that the new shore power tech will reduce emissions at the port by up to 98%, or it’s the equivalent of removing 37,500 cars from the road.

Around the world, fewer than 20 ports are currently able to offer shore power, though it is being rolled out wherever possible. Significant investment is needed though – it’s estimated that PortMiami’s upgrade cost $125 million.

Only around 30% of the world’s cruise ships are capable of hooking up to shore power, although as that percentage includes the biggest ships in the world, it accounts for 40% of cruise ship capacity.

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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.

Read more about me

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