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Western Caribbean News

21 Jun 2023

World's Largest Cruise Ship Starts Sea Trials

(Photo: Dirk Schwarz, courtesy Meyer Turku)

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas—the world's largest cruise ship—has commenced sea trials in the Baltic Sea.The 250,800 GT vessel, the first in Royal Caribbean's new Icon-class, has been under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland since June 2022. The fully assembled ship was floated out in December and is now undergoing final outfitting and testing.This first set of sea trials—which tests the performance of the ship's propulsion systems, navigation systems and other ship features…

12 May 2023

Video: World's Largest Cruise Ship Taking Shape in Finland

Icon of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean)

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas—the world's largest cruise ship—is taking shape at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.The 250,800 GT vessel, the first in Royal Caribbean's new Icon-class, has been under construction since June 2022. The fully assembled ship was floated out in December and is now undergoing final outfitting ahead of scheduled delivery in October or November 2023.First announced in 2016, the 1,198-foot-long Icon of the Seas will have 20 decks (including 18 guest decks) and will be bigger than the world's current largest cruise ship…

09 Dec 2022

World's Largest Cruise Ship Floated Out in Finland

©Meyer Turku

Finland's Meyer Turku shipyard has floated out what it says is the world's largest and Royal Caribbean International’s most environmentally friendly cruise ship, Icon of the Seas.During the upcoming weekend, the ship will be moved to the outfitting dock, where its now fully assembled hull will be finished into "a magnificent cruise ship" during next year."Outfitting of the ship is a challenging job, the end result of which is to build an unprecedentedly versatile vacation possibilities on the ship.

20 Oct 2022

Royal Caribbean Unveils World's Largest Cruise Ship Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas (Image: Meyer Turku)

Royal Caribbean has unveiled new design details for what is set to be the world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas.The 250,800 GT vessel, the first in Royal Caribbean's new Icon-class, is being built by Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku, who began construction in June. First announced in 2016, the mega cruise ship is scheduled for delivery in October or November 2023.The 1,198-foot-long Icon of the Seas will have 20 decks (including 18 guest decks) and will be bigger than the world's current largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class Allure of the Seas.

28 Sep 2022

Cruise Lines Cancel Sailings as Hurricane Ian Hits

(Photo: NOAA)

Several cruise lines have announced canceled sailings as hurricane Ian barreled over Florida as a category four storm.Carnival Cruise Line on Tuesday canceled two Thursday sailings from Florida due to port closures while also calling off several stops on certain ships already out at sea.Disney Cruise Line on Tuesday canceled its Disney Wish voyage that was to scheduled to sail from Florida on Friday.Norwegian Cruise Line changed the itinerary of its Norwegian Sky's eight-day Western Caribbean voyage, which departed from Miami on Sunday.

21 Feb 2022

World's Largest Cruise Ship Makes US Debut

Wonder of the Seas (Photo: Port Everglades)

Port Everglades once again welcomes the largest cruise ship in the world. Royal Caribbean International's Wonder of the Seas docked at her homeport, Port Everglades, this weekend for her inaugural season beginning March 4. This is the fourth Oasis-Class ship to make its U.S. debut at Port Everglades.Built by French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the new 236,857 GT cruise ship takes the title of world's largest from its 228,081 GT sister ship Symphony of the Seas, in service since 2018.

16 Jun 2021

Royal Caribbean Delays New Cruise Ship Launch After Crew Tests Positive for COVID-19

Odyssey of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean)

Royal Caribbean Group said on Wednesday it would delay the launch of its new cruise liner by nearly a month after eight crew members tested positive for COVID-19, the latest setback in its push to restart the much-awaited U.S. summer trips.Odyssey of the Seas, which was scheduled to sail through the Southern and Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will now set sail on July 31 instead of July 3. A simulation cruise, originally set for late June, will also be rescheduled.Cruise companies have been cleared in the United States to sail under strict conditions…

07 Oct 2016

Europa 2 Set for Maiden Voyage to New Orleans

An aerial view of the Europa 2 at sea (Photo: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises)

More than 500 cruise passengers aboard Europa 2 will spend a few days in New Orleans next week, as the luxury cruise ship makes her maiden voyage to the Port of New Orleans Julia Street Cruise Terminal Monday, where port officials will host an onboard ceremonial plaque exchange with the vessel’s captain. “New Orleans consistently ranks atop the world’s top destinations for visitors and cruise lines see the Port of New Orleans as an attractive call on their itineraries,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO.

23 Jun 2016

Crowley Adds Houston-Caribbean LCL Service

Photo: Crowley Maritime

Starting July 1, Crowley Maritime Corporation will offer weekly, fixed-day, less-than-container-load (LCL) shipping services from Houston to 33 port destinations throughout the Caribbean Basin, the shipper announced today. The new logistics service is designed to enhance supply chain options for those shipping directly into the Caribbean Basin from the West and Gulf Coasts of the U.S., Crowley said. “Customers will be able to drop their cargo in Houston, and with our weekly, fixed-day service…

27 Apr 2016

Fugitives Rescued by Disney Cruise Ship in Waters near Cuba

The Disney Fantasy, a cruise ship owned and operated by Disney Cruise Line, part of The Walt Disney Company,  rescued three people clinging to a capsized boat near Cuba late last week who turned out to be fugitives. The three were rescued by the Disney cruise liner and turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard, who discovered upon fingerprint analysis that two of the individuals had outstanding arrest warrants in New Orleans, according to U.S. Marshal Amos Rojas Jr. of the Southern District of Florida. "Only 25 miles from their homeland, the three were later turned over to authorities in Florida after the Coast Guard discovered they were wanted fugitives," say local news and media.

27 Jan 2016

Norwegian Cruise to Expand in Europe

The Miami-based cruise operator Norwegian Cruise Line has announced its ground-breaking summer 2017 deployment for Europe with for the first time in company history five ships sailing in European waters as well as regular cruises out of Hamburg, with embarkation also available in Southampton and Amsterdam. Norwegian has launched three huge ships in the past three years – the aforementioned Getaway, sister Breakaway and last year, Norwegian Escape. The company has long promised a return to the U.K. – which it left in 2008 – once it had more ships. Norwegian said one of its newest ships, the 3,969-passenger Norwegian Getaway, would reposition to the Baltic for the summer from its current home in Miami, operating eight- and nine-night voyages out of Copenhagen.

13 Jan 2016

New Orleans Port Tops 1M Passengers Again

Port of New Orleans cruise terminals handled more than 1-million passengers in 2015, totaling 1,023,700, up 1 percent compared to 2014. The total marks the fifth consecutive record year and with new and larger ships on tap for 2016, Port officials expect another robust cruise season. “Year-end numbers illustrate how popular the Port and the City of New Orleans are with cruise passengers throughout the nation,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. Miami, Fla-based Carnival Cruise Line is increasing capacity on its year-round four- and five-day itineraries by 34 percent in April when the Carnival Triumph replaces the Carnival Elation in New Orleans. Also, Guilford, CT-based American Cruise Line will add a third riverboat named America to its home-ported fleet in New Orleans.

10 Oct 2015

Cutter Diligence to Return

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Diligence is scheduled to return to their homeport in Wilmington Saturday following a 45-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea. During their patrol, the Diligence crew conducted search and rescue operations off the west coast of Cuba and conducted drug interdiction operations in the vicinity of Columbia and Panama. In anticipation of Aviation Standardization, a three-day assessment of the Diligence crew's flight operations capabilities scheduled for early October, the crew practiced flight operations their first evening underway. An MH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Savannah in Savannah, Georgia, met the cutter crew to conduct deck landings, helicopter in flight refueling (HIFR) and vertical replenishment (VERTREP) exercises.

03 Aug 2015

Norwegian Epic to Sail from Port Canaveral

Norwegian Epic (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Port Canaveral will homeport Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) largest ship and currently the third largest in the world—the Norwegian Epic—starting in November 2016, offering seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, as well as three- and four-day vacations to the Bahamas in 2017. “As a regular port of call for NCL ships, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to homeport the Norwegian Epic and welcome NCL guests into our community,” said Port Canaveral CEO John E. Walsh.

02 Apr 2015

Cruise Port Business Redefined

Cruise ships berth at the Port of New Orleans Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Julia Street Cruise Terminal.

New Orleans builds enviable cruise traffic on top of a carefully crafted business plan. It may surprise you to learn that, on the lower Mississippi River, cruise traffic now accounts for over one fifth of all revenue at the Port of New Orleans, a major cargo hub. With recently modernized terminals, able to handle big ships, the Crescent City last year accommodated over a million cruise passengers, setting its fourth straight record. How they did it is perhaps more impressive than what they have created…

04 Mar 2015

Carnival Cruise Line Shuffles Ships

A few weeks after Carnival Cruise Line announced plans to move the Carnival Liberty and Breeze to Galveston, the cruise line announced the future homes of the Carnival Triumph, Elation, and Fascination. The moves will take place in 2016. The Carnival Triumph will re-position to New Orleans and join the Carnival Dream in April 2016. Carnival officials say that because a cruise from New Orleans is more than just a cruise. The city itself is an attraction. "People love coming here. They spend a lot of dollars in the city," said Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz. The Carnival Triumph currently sails out of Galveston, Texas but will be replaced with the Carnival Breeze which currently sails out of PortMiami. The Triumph will sail four and five night cruises to the Western Caribbean.

03 Feb 2015

Freedom of the Seas Revitalized

Re-emerging from a 24-day drydock at Grand Bahama Shipyard, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas returned into service this weekend to offer vacationers one of the best cruise ships for incredible Caribbean’s adventures. The ship showcased its new features to more than 1,700 of the cruise line’s value travel agent partners on an exclusive two-night sailing before embarking on its first regular itinerary on Sunday, Feb. The newly revitalized Freedom of the Seas will amaze guests with a range of new tantalizing dining options, new staterooms categories, the new retro-chic R Bar lounge, and a bow-to-stern refresh of the entire ship’s furnishings.

12 Jan 2015

New Orleans’ 2014 Cruise Passenger Total Tops Record

The 2,340-passenger Norwegian Dawn berthed at the Port of New Orleans' Julia Street Cruise Terminal in November 2014. (Photo courtesy of the Port of New Orleans)

Port of New Orleans cruise terminals handled more than 1 million cruise passengers in 2014 for the first time in its history. For the 12 months, embarkations and disembarkations totaled 1,014,325, an increase of more than 2.6 percent over 2013, a fourth straight record year for the port. Cruise Lines International Association ranked the port the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States with direct industry expenditures in Louisiana totaling $406 million, supporting 8,129 jobs and accounting for $323 million in total income.

07 Dec 2014

Terminal Expansion at Galveston Port to be Feted

On Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 4 p.m., the Port of Galveston along with Moody National Bank, Texas First Bank, Hometown Bank and Webber L.L.C. will celebrate the expansion of Cruise terminal 2. The ceremony will take place at the Port of Galveston in front of cruise terminal 2 located on Harborside Drive. The three Galveston County community banks have worked together on financing for a $13 million expansion of the Port of Galveston’s Cruise Terminal No. 2. Each bank pitched in for the unique funding package for the expansion of Cruise Terminal No. 2 to accommodate larger vessels and more passengers. When completed next spring, Cruise Terminal No. 2 will feature 150,000 square feet of space and have a seating capacity of over 2,000 passengers.

03 Dec 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line Inks Deal with New Orleans Port

Officials with Norwegian Cruise Line and the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans signed a new four-year berthing agreement today with three one-year options. The agreement will keep at least one Norwegian cruise ship sailing seasonally from New Orleans through 2018 with the ability to extend the agreement through 2021. “Our partners at Norwegian Cruise Line are a pleasure to work with and we are elated to sign a long-term agreement to retain the Norwegian brand in the Crescent City,” said Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. “We are pleased to continue our great relationship with the Port of New Orleans and look forward to cruising to the Caribbean from the exciting city of New Orleans for the next several years…

14 Oct 2014

Houston Welcomes Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line returned to Houston on Saturday, October 11. Its Norwegian Jewel arrived at the Bayport Cruise Terminal in Pasadena, Texas. This inaugural call marked the beginning of the 2014 Fall Cruise Season for the Port of Houston Authority, as it celebrates the centennial year of the Houston Ship Channel. During a ceremony onboard, Norwegian Jewel's Captain Kenneth Harstrom tipped his new cowboy hat to the great state of Texas, as he welcomed officials from the Port Commission, including Chairman Janiece Longoria and Port Commissioners Clyde Fitzgerald and John Kennedy. "We are excited about the impact Norwegian Jewel will bring to the city of Pasadena and the greater Houston region.

13 Oct 2014

Allee to Lead Cruise and Tourism at Port of New Orleans

Don Allee (Photo: Port of New Orleans)

Port industry veteran Don Allee will assume control of the Port’s Cruise and Tourism Division in January, following the retirement of current Director J. Robert Jumonville. Jumonville, who will retire in January after 25 years at the Port, oversaw the planning and construction of all three Julia St. Cruise Terminals, including the present consolidation of the two terminals into one modern terminal completed in 2011. Jumonville was also instrumental in the design and construction of the Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Parking Garage Complex…

11 Sep 2014

Holland America Line Offers Diverse Options in Premium Cruising

Travelers looking for an intimate, mid-sized cruise experience in the Caribbean have 126 itineraries to choose from during Holland America Line’s 2014-15 Caribbean season. well as partial transits of the Panama Canal. The diverse itineraries visit 30 ports and give discerning guests more options than any other premium line exploring the region. From October 2014 through April 2015, ms Eurodam, ms Maasdam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Ryndam, ms Westerdam and ms Zuiderdam sail regular Caribbean voyages, while ms Amsterdam and ms Prinsendam each sail one December holiday cruise in the region. The ships feature 21 different seven-, 10-, 11- and 14-day itineraries that can be combined into longer Collectors’ Voyages ranging from 14 to 25 days.