Posts in category: News

Carnival Vista has suffered yet more engine problems following a summer of recurring issues, delaying its return to Port Canaveral by several hours.

The ship’s engine problem meant that she wasn’t able to reach top speed, and would therefore only be arriving back to Port Canaveral at 10 am on Sunday 13th October.

This was the day the cruise was meant to end, but an arrival time of 10 am is a significant delay, and means that some guests would’ve likely been unable to depart the ship until the afternoon.

This of course then has a knock-on effect on any guests with flights booked, and on the guests due to board the ship for the subsequent cruise.

Guests who had booked their airfare through the cruise line’s own FLY2FUN programme would’ve had adjustments made to their plans automatically.

But anyone flying on their own booking, who hadn’t left a lot of time to get to the airport, would’ve been required to make their own arrangements.

Carnival has confirmed that it is offering guests up to $200 per person to cover any costs incurred as a result of their changing travel plans.

Vista’s rough 2024 continues

Carnival Vista has had several issues with propulsion this year, with several sailings impacted over the summer due to the reduced speeds of the ship.

As they gradually worsened, the cruise line finally made the call to remove her from service in September for repairs.

She was only out of action for a week, with the cruise line assuring guests that everything was now resolved.

However, the issues have now struck again less than a month later.

It’s not clear yet whether it’s the same cause of the fault, or something new. All other systems, including those keeping guests safe such as navigation, are all working fine.

The ship has suffered propulsion issues several times in the past too, including in November 2016 not long after she first launched.

They struck again in June 2019 and May 2022 as well.

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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

A young woman, reportedly in her 20s, tragically fell overboard from MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa near the Channel Islands in the English Channel on 12th October 2024. The incident occurred…

Villa Vie Residences has revealed significant changes to the itinerary of its three-year world cruise aboard the Odyssey, which recently began service. Originally planned to explore North America and the…

A Carnival cruise passenger has complained that she felt discriminated against during a comedy performance, after being unable to see the comedian from her seat. John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador,…

Oceania Cruises is introducing a new dining venue called the Crêperie on its forthcoming ship, Allura. This ship is scheduled to set sail in July 2025. The Crêperie will provide…

Villa Vie Residences has revealed significant changes to the itinerary of its three-year world cruise aboard the Odyssey, which recently began service.

Originally planned to explore North America and the Caribbean in October, the cruise will now commence its journey in Europe.

This comes after a launch that was notably delayed by several months, with many false starts before the itinerary could begin.

The Odyssey, a ship originally built in 1993, will now start its European tour, visiting destinations such as France, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, and Morocco.

A notable highlight includes sailing up the Guadalquivir River for a two-day visit to Seville, Spain.

Following this, the ship will proceed to the Canary Islands, stopping in Funchal, Madeira, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, before heading to Africa with scheduled visits to Dakar, Senegal, and two ports in Cape Verde: Porto Grande and Praia.

After completing its African segment, the Odyssey will embark on an eight-day transatlantic journey, resuming its original itinerary in Bridgetown, Barbados, by mid-November.

In December, before transiting the Panama Canal, the ship will visit Caribbean destinations such as St. Maarten, Fort-de-France, and St. John’s.

In early 2025, the Odyssey will explore South America, with plans to navigate the Amazon River and offer scenic cruising in Antarctica.

The ship will make its North American debut in April, focusing on the U.S. West Coast, followed by summer exploration of Alaska and Canada.

The itinerary was up in the air following the delayed launch, but now those guests who’ve bought residential cabins can start to look forward to exploring the world with this new itinerary.

Cabins are also available for anyone who wishes to join the ship for part of the journey – segments are on sale now through the Villa Vie Residences website.

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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

A young woman, reportedly in her 20s, tragically fell overboard from MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa near the Channel Islands in the English Channel on 12th October 2024. The incident occurred…

A Carnival cruise passenger has complained that she felt discriminated against during a comedy performance, after being unable to see the comedian from her seat. John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador,…

Oceania Cruises is introducing a new dining venue called the Crêperie on its forthcoming ship, Allura. This ship is scheduled to set sail in July 2025. The Crêperie will provide…

MSC Cruises has expanded its partnership with Guinness World Records to encompass its entire fleet over the next year. This decision follows the achievement of 30 world record titles in…

A young woman, reportedly in her 20s, tragically fell overboard from MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa near the Channel Islands in the English Channel on 12th October 2024.

The incident occurred shortly after midnight as the ship was travelling from the Channel Islands to Southampton, England. A distress call was made at 2 a.m., which led to immediate rescue operations.

The crew used spotlights to search the waters, and within half an hour the French navy had recovered the passenger and taken her to a hospital in Tourlaville, Normandy, where she was pronounced dead.

MSC Virtuosa was on a 14-night Northern Europe voyage. The ship had recently visited Lisbon, Portugal, and was nearing the end of its journey in Southampton.

“A guest on board MSC Virtuosa went overboard on 12 October, while the ship was sailing to Southampton. The body was later recovered with the involvement of the authorities.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not be providing further details.”

MSC Cruises statement

The circumstances surrounding the fall are currently under investigation. Officials are examining surveillance footage and interviewing potential witnesses to understand the events leading up to the tragedy.

Overboard incidents with MSC

In the past year, MSC Cruises has faced several unfortunate incidents of passengers and crew members going overboard.

In June 2024, a crew member from the MSC Musica went overboard while the ship was sailing through the Mediterranean.

And just prior to that, a passenger aboard the MSC Euribia fell overboard in Norway. Fortunately, the individual was rescued by helicopter and transported to a hospital for medical attention.

This marked the second such incident for the MSC Euribia within a span of three months. In March 2024, a 23-year-old Scottish passenger went missing after falling overboard during the ship’s voyage to Hamburg, Germany.

Additionally, in February 2024, an American passenger fell overboard from MSC World Europa while the ship was docked in Malta.

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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

Villa Vie Residences has revealed significant changes to the itinerary of its three-year world cruise aboard the Odyssey, which recently began service. Originally planned to explore North America and the…

A Carnival cruise passenger has complained that she felt discriminated against during a comedy performance, after being unable to see the comedian from her seat. John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador,…

Oceania Cruises is introducing a new dining venue called the Crêperie on its forthcoming ship, Allura. This ship is scheduled to set sail in July 2025. The Crêperie will provide…

MSC Cruises has expanded its partnership with Guinness World Records to encompass its entire fleet over the next year. This decision follows the achievement of 30 world record titles in…

A Carnival cruise passenger has complained that she felt discriminated against during a comedy performance, after being unable to see the comedian from her seat.

John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, posted the passenger’s complaint (anonymised) which detailed how, at 5 ft 6, she was unable to enjoy the comedy show in full.

She claimed that anyone over 6 feet tall should be forced to sit in the back row of all Carnival shows, and that “these guys get enough privileges in life” as it is.

She also says that she asked for reserved seating while onboard so that she could sit in the front row, but was told this wasn’t possible, which is her grounds for claiming discrimination.

Heald responded to the complaint publicly, saying that while he understood the inconvenience, it wouldn’t be fair to allow all adults of 5 ft 6 to reserve seating.

Heald also rightly asked whether that was considered short – according to the most recent data, the average height for men in the UK and US is 5 ft 9 while the average height for women is 5 ft 3.5 inches.

He also added a dollop of his trademark humour:

Is this discrimination? I really don’t want her to be upset and protest in the atrium screaming:

What do we want?
Rights for small people
When do we want them?
Shortly

John Heald’s Facebook page

As he also stated, the solution for anyone concerned about being able to see the show was to get there early, to make sure you have the best seat.

While I don’t agree with the guest here, I do think that adults on a Disney cruise wearing Mickey ears during a show are being selfish and are causing unnecessary problems.

If you’re wearing something on your head which could restrict the view of those behind you, take it off for the show.

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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

Oceania Cruises is introducing a new dining venue called the Crêperie on its forthcoming ship, Allura. This ship is scheduled to set sail in July 2025. The Crêperie will provide…

MSC Cruises has expanded its partnership with Guinness World Records to encompass its entire fleet over the next year. This decision follows the achievement of 30 world record titles in…

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled plans for Perfect Day Mexico, a new private destination on Mexico’s Caribbean coast near Mahahual, scheduled to open in 2027. This is part of the…

An Instagram reel from a cruise guest apparently shows a flock of birds that have taken over a cruise ship cabin. The reel, from Instagram user chanellbethley, shows the chaos…

Oceania Cruises is introducing a new dining venue called the Crêperie on its forthcoming ship, Allura.

This ship is scheduled to set sail in July 2025. The Crêperie will provide guests with a selection of sweet delights, making it a special spot for dessert enthusiasts.

The Crêperie is part of Oceania Cruises’ commitment to delivering “The Finest Cuisine at Sea.”

It will feature a menu brimming with French crêpes and other delectable options. Guests can enjoy classic crêpes like crêpe Suzette or customise their own with various toppings.

“Allura, our eighth elegant small ship, represents the next step in Oceania Cruises’ evolution and a new way of exploring the world. Food is at the heart of everything we do at Oceania Cruises; The Finest Cuisine at Sea is not just a tagline, it’s a philosophy which drives our whole business

“However, finest does not always mean the fanciest – and our more relaxed, yet still refined, culinary venues, such as the beautiful new Crêperie aboard Allura, is a perfect example of this. With this addition on board Allura, our guests have never had more choice in what to eat and when – and of course all our dining venues on board are included for all guests free of charge.“

Frank Del Rio, president of Oceania Cruises

Situated next to Baristas, the cruise line’s coffee bar, the Crêperie will be a cosy and welcoming place. Guests can enjoy their treats in a setting reminiscent of a small café.

The menu at the Crêperie is crafted by Executive Culinary Directors and Master Chefs of France, Alex Quaretti and Eric Barale. There will be over 20 options to choose from, including both classic and innovative creations.

All dining venues, including the Crêperie, are included at no extra cost, offering great value. This means guests can enjoy a variety of foods without worrying about additional charges, enhancing their cruise experience.

More to explore on Allura

In addition to the Crêperie, Allura will offer a range of other exciting features and experiences for guests.

As the newest addition to Oceania Cruises’ fleet, Allura will continue the line’s tradition of intimate, luxurious cruising with a guest capacity of 1,200.

The ship will debut new spacious stateroom designs, including lavish Owner’s Suites furnished exclusively by the Ralph Lauren Home collection.

Guests onboard Allura can also expect an enhanced wellness offering, with the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center providing state-of-the-art treatments and fitness programs, including plant-based culinary options at the Aquamar Kitchen.

The ship will feature the new Broadway-calibre entertainment venue, offering a series of vibrant performances, as well as a reimagined casino for those looking to enjoy some gaming.

For art lovers, Allura will also introduce new enrichment programs, including immersive art classes and guest lectures from experts in various fields.

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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

MSC Cruises has expanded its partnership with Guinness World Records to encompass its entire fleet over the next year. This decision follows the achievement of 30 world record titles in…

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled plans for Perfect Day Mexico, a new private destination on Mexico’s Caribbean coast near Mahahual, scheduled to open in 2027. This is part of the…

An Instagram reel from a cruise guest apparently shows a flock of birds that have taken over a cruise ship cabin. The reel, from Instagram user chanellbethley, shows the chaos…

Royal Caribbean is increasing gratuity prices from 1st November, adding $0.50 per guest per day to each category. This means that guests in a regular stateroom will pay $18.50 per…

MSC Cruises has expanded its partnership with Guinness World Records to encompass its entire fleet over the next year.

This decision follows the achievement of 30 world record titles in just 18 months since the partnership began in March 2023 on MSC Seascape and MSC World Europa.

The programme allows guests to attempt breaking official Guinness World Records through various onboard activities.

It’s currently available on 12 MSC ships, including MSC Bellissima, MSC Divina, MSC Euribia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Magnifica, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaside, MSC Splendida, MSC Virtuosa, and MSC World Europa.

“The program has been hugely popular among guests, both adults and children alike. MSC Cruises guests and crew to date have broken 30 Guinness world record titles…

“We’re excited to be able to offer it on more of our ships for guests of all ages to enjoy. The extended partnership is part of MSC Cruises’ broader strategy to further elevate their onboard immersive entertainment programs and provide carefully crafted entertainment for guests of all tastes.

Steve Leatham, vice president of entertainment, MSC Cruises

The activities are popular with guests of all ages, featuring challenges such as pulling 100 metres of rope the fastest, completing 20 chair rotations in under 21 seconds, and putting on the most pairs of socks on one foot in under 30 seconds.

Participants who break a record are verified by an official Guinness World Records adjudicator and receive a certificate.

Since the programme began, MSC Cruises guests and crew have broken 30 Guinness World Record titles. These achievements are celebrated onboard, with participants receiving recognition for their efforts.

Variety is key for MSC

Beyond the thrill of breaking records, MSC Cruises offers a diverse range of activities to keep guests entertained throughout their journey.

From exhilarating waterslides and VR experiences in the MSC Virtual World to relaxing spa treatments and yoga sessions with panoramic sea views, there’s something for everyone.

Guests can also enjoy impressive theatre shows, culinary workshops, and themed parties.

For the more adventurous, the thrilling zip line or Formula 1 simulators offer unforgettable experiences, ensuring a perfect mix of relaxation and excitement at sea.

Activities and facilities vary by ship, so always check before you book.

Related posts

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

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled plans for Perfect Day Mexico, a new private destination on Mexico’s Caribbean coast near Mahahual, scheduled to open in 2027. This is part of the…

An Instagram reel from a cruise guest apparently shows a flock of birds that have taken over a cruise ship cabin. The reel, from Instagram user chanellbethley, shows the chaos…

Royal Caribbean is increasing gratuity prices from 1st November, adding $0.50 per guest per day to each category. This means that guests in a regular stateroom will pay $18.50 per…

The US Coast Guard made a back-to-back rescue from Princess Cruises ship Crown Princess, when two passengers suffered medical emergencies. The ship was located 50 miles off Cape Kumukahi, Hawaii,…

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled plans for Perfect Day Mexico, a new private destination on Mexico’s Caribbean coast near Mahahual, scheduled to open in 2027.

This is part of the cruise line’s strategy to expand its exclusive holiday spots, following the success of Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

Perfect Day Mexico will offer a blend of thrilling activities and relaxation, leveraging the natural beauty and culture of Mexico.

The destination will feature water parks, pools, restaurants, and bars, providing a comprehensive holiday experience for families and adventurers alike.

Royal Caribbean is collaborating with the state of Quintana Roo to prioritise sustainable tourism, which includes being environmentally responsible and engaging with the community. The project is expected to boost the local economy and enhance tourism in southern Quintana Roo.

The destination will incorporate eco-friendly initiatives to minimise its environmental impact, such as waste reduction and energy efficiency programmes. Perfect Day Mexico will be a model for sustainable tourism, demonstrating Royal Caribbean’s commitment to environmental care and responsible travel.

Mahahual was selected for its stunning beaches and marine life. This new destination is anticipated to attract numerous travellers, bolstering Royal Caribbean’s position in the holiday industry.

Royal Caribbean has a strong reputation for delivering memorable holidays, with over 50 years of experience and a presence in more than 300 destinations across 80 countries.

Royal Caribbean’s private resort collection

Perfect Day Mexico joins Royal Caribbean’s expanding portfolio of private destinations, which already includes the highly popular Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti.

These exclusive locations are designed to offer guests curated, unique experiences, blending adventure and relaxation in stunning natural settings.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is famous for its Thrill Waterpark and pristine beaches, while Labadee offers a mix of water sports, zip lines, and cultural excursions.

There’s also the new Royal Beach Club destinations that the cruise line is building at existing ports.

While these won’t be the same as the private islands, they will offer exclusive experiences in popular destinations such as Nassau and Cozumel.

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An Instagram reel from a cruise guest apparently shows a flock of birds that have taken over a cruise ship cabin.

The reel, from Instagram user chanellbethley, shows the chaos as several birds are flying around the cabin.

She hasn’t provided additional information in the comments of the reel unfortunately, but others have chipped in with details.

Apparently it happened on Carnival Freedom, as the birds sought shelter from the bad weather.

Whether this is true or not is uncertain, but several commenters have said that it is authentic.

You should never leave your balcony door propped open when leaving your cabin for a number of reasons, and this is apparently one of them!

Cruise lines do tell guests to make sure the balcony doors are closed when leaving the room. Hopefully, if this video is genuine, the guests learn from their error.

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