Diplomacy

Carnival has recently admitted they are seeing a growing number of mobility scooters on their cruise ships, a number above that of pre-shutdown levels. 

But not everyone is pleased with how people are using these scooters on board, in addition to the elevator issues they can sometimes present.

Scooters and elevators are often polarizing issues on cruise ships.  Just this year, Carnival released a statement mentioning that any scooter or wheelchair must fit inside the doorway of the cabin to be allowed on the ship.

Now, recent comments by Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador John Heald during a Facebook Live video have brought the topic back into focus.

Heald read comments from two different passengers on the issue, adding his take to the complaints.

One passenger expressed frustration with the challenges of sharing elevator space with mobility scooter users.

“Why on the new ships can they not put a wheelchair mobility scooter elevator only for those people on mobility scooters or in wheelchairs,” the passenger wrote. “People do not automatically let us in and they jump on leaving no room for those on mobility scooters or who have walking challenges and in wheelchairs. This is really a must have.”

Heald acknowledged the passenger’s concerns but brought up the logistical nightmare of having dedicated elevators.

“The reason we cannot do this,” he explained, “They have a single elevator.  We would have to have a crew member to control it and that crew member would have to be on every floor and in every elevator bank and we just don’t have the manpower to take 20 crew members to do that because not everybody would adhere to it.”

Heald did express openness to exploring potential solutions.

“I will continue to speak to a wonderful young lady who has recently taken charge of our ADA policies and programs and I will send that to her, and perhaps in the future days it’s something we can look at,” he said.

Another passenger was more upset with who was using these mobility scooters, expressing concern about the perceived misuse and abuse.

 “The amount of mobility scooters on your ships is ridiculously gross,” she wrote. “I saw so many on scooters, plugged them by the restaurants, and then walk through past all the tables. Carnival is empowering and enabling more people to be lazy and it’s plain wrong.”

Heald addressed this issue directly, confirming the increase in mobility scooter usage.

“You know right now, you’re right, we do see a huge increase in the number of people on mobility scooters compared to even pre COVID,” he admitted.

However, he dismissed the suggestion that the cruise line was encouraging laziness.

“And with the greatest respect, to say that we are empowering and enabling people to be lazy here is nonsense,” he stated.

The brand ambassador also touched on the practicality of verifying the need for a mobility scooter.

“There is nothing that says you have to tell us,” Heald said, explaining that requiring passengers to prove their need for a scooter would be impractical.

The debate over mobility scooters has many different perspectives.  As Heald has stated, 99% of the people on a cruise ship will make room for someone on a scooter in an elevator or will use a scooter only if it is necessary.

It’s often the ones abusing the system that receive most of the attention, so it’s important to point out that there are cruisers who very much need this mobility devices to enjoy a vacation.

As a side note, you can check out our article on cruise elevator etiquette to see some guidelines in being polite and respectful with elevator usage on a cruise.

As the number of scooter users continues to rise, it is likely that this issue will remain a topic of discussion for both passengers and cruise industry leaders.

While cruise lines strive to accommodate passengers with disabilities, they also face challenges in managing the increasing number of mobility scooters on board.

As someone who had his toe crushed by a mobility scooter in an elevator, I can say I still have the utmost respect for those who require mobility assistance on a cruise.  I just wish the elevators were a tad larger.

Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, the world’s newest cruise ship, arrived in Florida for the first time this morning as the vessel prepares for its debut next week.

Utopia of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s sixth Oasis class ship, the class that ushered in the era of mega cruise ships more than 15 years ago. It’s currently the second largest cruise ship in the world at just under 227,000 gross tons.

Utopia of the Seas can carry 5,668 guests (double occupancy) and 2,290 crew members.  There are 2,834 cabins onboard the 18 deck ship.

It is 1,188 feet long and 211 feet wide.

The cruise ship will sail its maiden voyage next Friday, a three day cruise to The Bahamas. For at least the next two years, Utopia of the Seas will homeport at the world’s busiest cruise port, Port Canaveral.

One of the game changing features of the ship is that it will sail three and four night cruises to The Bahamas. It’s unheard of for a cruise line to offer these sailings on a brand new cruise ship. New ships typically offer seven night or longer cruises.

But first, Utopia of the Seas will be officially christened on Monday and then sail a three day preview cruise for media, influencers, and travel professionals.

You can view the video of Utopia of the Seas arriving at Port Canaveral below.

Utopia of the Seas will have more than 20 dining options and a ton of activities that can be seen in the infographic below.

Utopia of the Seas will sail three and four night cruises to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral.

The three day cruises will leave every Friday with the four day cruises departing every Monday.

Cruise Fever will board Utopia of the Seas on Monday so stay tuned as we bring you everything you need to know about this new cruise ship.

You can also follow along on our cruise on Facebook, X, and Instagram (@CruiseFever).

Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador John Heald posted a message on his Facebook page today regarding several upcoming cruises out of Galveston.

Carnival Cruise Line has three cruise ships scheduled to arrive and depart from Galveston over the next three days.

They are Carnival Breeze on July 11 and Carnival Dream and Carnival Jubilee on July 13.

As of right now, there have no been changes to these three sailings.

The Port of Galveston issued an update yesterday and said that roadways, including Harborside Drive, are now passable.  While port vessel operations remain suspended, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship was allowed to dock yesterday for a turn-around day. 

The port is encouraging all cruisers to stay in touch with their cruise line for the best updates regarding their cruise. They also said that there was no visible flooding at any of the port’s cruise parking lots.

Heald posted the following message that was sent to guests who are booked on these three upcoming Carnival sailings:

“Ahead of your upcoming cruise, we have an update. Our partners at the Port of Galveston continue their post-storm assessment, including an inspection of the cruise terminal.”

“At this time there is no indication that your cruise will be impacted, but if anything changes, we will advise our guests and travel advisor partners about our operations.”

Guests can sign up for free text alerts for these sailings by texting the following to CRUISE (278473):

• CCL1 for Carnival Breeze (July 11, 2024)
• CCL2 for Carnival Dream (July 13, 2024)
• CCL3 for Carnival Jubilee (July 13, 2024)

Cruise Fever will have all updates if any changes are made to these cruises.

The Carnival Breeze sailing is a four night cruise with a stop in Cozumel.

The Carnival Dream sailing is an eight night cruise to Florida and The Bahamas with port stops in Key West, Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

The Carnival Jubilee sailing is a seven night cruise to the Western Caribbean with port stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatan.

A cruise line has added over 90 new shore excursions in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Northern Europe but only guests staying in specific staterooms will be able to book them.

MSC Cruises, the world’s fastest growing cruise line, is adding over 90 new shore excursions for guests staying in their exclusive Yacht Club.

While the new excursions will initially be available in the Caribbean and in Europe, the cruise line plans to roll them out to other ports around the world.

A sample of some of these exclusive new shore excursions are as follows.

A luxurious catamaran and snorkeling experience in one of the most popular ports in the Caribbean, Cozumel, Mexico.

In Falmouth, Jamaica, Yacht Club guests can enjoy their day in a plush cabana in the forested grounds nears the Martha Brae River.

In Cannes, France, you will be able to join an exclusive perfume-making workshop including making your own scent.

When visiting Genoa, Italy, guests can take an authentic pesto cooking class in Santa Margherita Ligure.

In Akureyri, Iceland, guests can visit the Fontana geothermal baths in the mineral-rich water.

Lastly, another one of the highlight new excursions is a visit to the Glenmorangie Distillery in Scotland.

The shore excursions include priority disembarkation coupled with private transportation for extra comfort during travel.

Marialuisa Iaccarino, Head of Shore Excursions, MSC Cruises, said the following:

“The new offering has come following customer feedback and a desire for a more exclusive experience for MSC Yacht Club guests. Guests will benefit from a seamless experience between the butlers’ service onboard and the excursion experts ashore as well as having the opportunity to relax and fully immerse themselves into each destination’s culture, cuisine and traditions.”

The Yacht Club is an exclusive ship-within-a ship concept found on many MSC cruise ships. They offer exclusive dining and secluded retreat areas. Personalized service includes 24/7 butler service and they are the most luxurious cabins on the ship.

Four Seasons Yachts celebrated a major construction milestone for their first ship today when the keel was laid at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy.

The time honored tradition of the keel laying ceremony marks the official start of construction on a new ship.  The ship’s blocks will begin to come together until all blocks are in place. The ship will then be floated out and the interior of the vessel will be completed.

The ship, Four Seasons I, is scheduled to debut in January 2026. This all-suite ship is promising to set a new standard of luxury.

The yacht’s Funnel Suite will be just under 10,000 square feet in size and will have floor-to-ceiling wraparound curved glass window modules. It will be made up of the largest contiguous piece of glass at sea.

Alejandro Reynal, President and CEO, Four Seasons, gave the following statement about this construction milestone:

“The Keel Laying ceremony marks a key milestone in the construction of our inaugural yacht and for the Four Seasons brand as we bring our renowned luxury service and hospitality experiences to the seas. We are proud to celebrate this occasion with our partners at Marc-Henry and Fincantieri, building excitement for 2026 and beyond aboard Four Seasons Yachts.”

Nadim Ashi, Owner and Executive Chair, Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD, Joint Owner/Operator, Four Seasons Yachts; Founder and CEO of Fort Partners, added:

“We are thrilled to commemorate the official start of the shipbuilding process for the first vessel in the Four Seasons Yachts fleet, Four Seasons I. This monumental occasion is a celebration of innovation, excellence, and our strategic vision to redefine luxury at sea. Today’s momentum and excitement will undoubtedly continue through the remainder of the construction process, and we pay homage to all of the artisans creating this magnificent Four Seasons Yacht.”

Four Seasons I will debut sailing cruises to the Caribbean before heading to the Mediterranean for sailings in Europe.

For more information on Four Seasons Yachts, you can visit their website at www.fourseasonsyachts.com.

Royal Caribbean is the world’s largest cruise line and they are just days away from the debut of their newest ship, Utopia of the Seas.

Where will all of their cruise ships homeport next year?

Here is where all 29 Royal Caribbean cruise ships will sail to and from in 2025. They are broken down by class with the newest classes listed first. They are then listed alphabetically in each class.

Icon Class

Icon of the Seas will homeport in Miami, Florida and sail seven night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Star of the Seas will debut in August 2025 and sail seven night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral.

Oasis Class

Allure of the Seas will start the year off in Miami sailing three and four night cruises to The Bahamas from Miami.  The cruise ship will move to Europe in spring and sail six months in the EU with cruises starting in Barcelona and Rome. Allure will then move to Port Everglades in the fall for eight night cruises to the Eastern Caribbean.

Harmony of the Seas will sail seven night cruises to the Western Caribbean from Galveston until April. The cruise ship will reposition to Port Everglades where it will offer six, seven, and eight night cruises to the Caribbean.

Oasis of the Seas will spend all of 2025 homeporting at Port Everglades sailing six and eight night cruises to the Caribbean.

Symphony of the Seas will start 2025 in Miami sailing seven night cruises to the Eastern Caribbean. The ship will reposition to Bayonne for the summer season on seven night cruises to The Bahamas.  In the fall, Symphony will move back to Miami for week long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Utopia of the Seas will spend all of 2025 sailing from Port Canaveral on three and four night cruises to The Bahamas.

Wonder of the Seas will start 2025 offering seven night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral.  In the fall, the ship will move to Miami where it will sail three (weekend) and four night cruises to The Bahamas.

Quantum Class

Anthem of the Seas will start the year in Singapore offering cruises to Thailand and Malaysia. In the spring, the ship will move to Seattle for seven night cruises to Alaska.  In the fall, the ship will move to Sydney, Australia for cruises to New Zealand and Australia.

Odyssey of the Seas will start and end the year in Bayonne offering seven night cruises to The Bahamas.  The ship will spend the middle part of the year sailing from Rome offering seven, nine, 10 and 12 night cruises to the Greek Isles and Turkey.

Ovation of the Seas will start 2025 sailing to Australia and New Zealand from Sydney. The ship will move to China offering cruises to Japan, South Korea and China from the Port of Tianjin.  In November, the ship will move to Singapore for four, five, and six night cruises to Malaysia and Thailand.

Quantum of the Seas will homeport in Brisbane for the first couple of months sailing to Australia and New Zealand.  The ship will spend the summer in Seattle offering week long cruises to Alaska.  Once the Alaska season is over, the ship will head to Los Angeles for cruises to the West Coast and Mexico.

Spectrum of the Seas will sail from China and Hong Kong all year offering cruises to Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and China.

Freedom Class

Freedom of the Seas will start 2025 in Port Everglades offering six and eight night cruises to the Caribbean. In the spring, the ship will move to Miami where it will sail short cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean.

Independence of the Seas will sail from Miami for the first few months offering four and five night cruises to the Caribbean.  The ship will then move to Southampton for cruises to the Norwegian Fjords, Germany, Spain and Northern Europe. In the fall, Independence will head back to Miami for week long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Liberty of the Seas will start and end the year in Port Everglades sailing three and four night cruises to The Bahamas.  The ship will spend six months in the middle of the year offering cruises to Bermuda, Canada and the Caribbean from Bayonne.

Voyager Class

Adventure of the Seas will spend all of 2025 sailing six and eight night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean.

Explorer of the Seas will start of the year in Miami sailing longer 10 and 11 night cruises to the Caribbean. The ship will reposition to Europe in the spring sailing week long cruises to the Greek Isles, Adriatic and Croatia from Ravenna, Italy. In the fall, the vessel will sail to Port Canaveral where the ship will end the year sailing four and five night cruises to the Caribbean.

Mariner of the Seas will spend all of 2025 sailing from Galveston, Texas on four and five night cruises to the Western Caribbean.

Navigator of the Seas will spend all of 2025 homeporting in Los Angeles offering cruises to the West Coast and Mexico.

Voyager of the Seas will offer four and five night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean for the first few months of 2025. The ship will head to Europe in the spring offering seven and 10 night cruises from Barcelona, Rome, Athens and Ravenna. Voyager will end the year sailing cruises from Australia.

Radiance Class

Brilliance of the Seas will start the year sailing seven night cruises to the Caribbean from New Orleans before heading to Greece for the summer Europe season. After Europe, the ship will head to Boston for the New England fall season before ending the year sailing Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Jewel of the Seas will offer longer cruises to the Caribbean from Galveston to start the year.  In the spring, the ship will head to Port Everglades for three and four night sailings to The Bahamas and Caribbean.  The ship will end the year in Puerto Rico offering week long cruises to the Southern Caribbean.

Radiance of the Seas will sail seven night cruises to the Caribbean from Tampa for the first few months of the year. In the spring, Radiance will move the West Coast where the ship will offer seven night Alaska cruises from Vancouver and Seward.  The ship will end the year sailing short three and four night cruises to The Bahamas from Port Everglades.

Serenade of the Seas will also sail from Tampa on five and night nine itineraries to the Caribbean.  The ship will also head to Alaska in the summer months where it will offer seven night cruises from Vancouver.  Royal Caribbean has yet to release where the cruise ship will sail from in the last three months of 2025.

Vision Class

Enchantment of the Seas will spend all of 2025 offering cruises from Tampa. The sailings will range from four and five night cruises to the Caribbean to five night Bahamas voyages.

Grandeur of the Seas will sail from Port Everglades for the entire year. The ship will start off sailing five and nine night cruises to the Caribbean before moving to week long sailings to the Western Caribbean.

Rhapsody of the Seas will spend most of the year offering week long cruises to the Southern Caribbean from San Juan. The ship will spend the last two months offering six, seven and eight night cruises from Tampa.

Vision of the Seas will homeport in Baltimore for the entire year offering cruises to Bermuda, Canada and the Caribbean.

The following cruise ships have CocoCay on their schedule. Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s award winning private island in The Bahamas.

• Icon of the Seas
• Star of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Adventure of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Jewel of the Seas
• Radiance of the Seas
• Enchantment of the Seas
• Grandeur of the Seas
• Vision of the Seas

The following Royal Caribbean ships Labadee, the cruise line’s other private destination, on their schedule for 2025.

• Icon of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Adventure of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas