Welcome to Cruise Hive’s latest weekly recap, the place you’ll get caught up on the large developments throughout the business. Highlights of this week’s replace embrace particulars in regards to the much-anticipated Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s new non-public vacation spot, and new adult-only restaurant expenses on Disney Cruise Line ships.
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Carnival Cruise Line President Addresses Visitor Complaints
Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy responded to the outrage that many friends expressed after the road introduced plans to considerably alter its loyalty program and alter the way in which cruisers earn advantages and perks.
The proposed modifications, slated to turn out to be efficient in 2026, embrace phasing out the Very Vital Enjoyable Individual (VIFP) program and changing it with Carnival Rewards.
The present program affords advantages primarily based on the variety of days a visitor cruises with the road whereas the brand new plan is predicated on the amount of cash a cruiser spends on their fare and onboard purchases.
The rationale for the change, Duffy mentioned, is tied to the massive variety of repeat friends who rapidly attain larger ranges in this system. As an illustration, the variety of Platinum friends, that means those that have sailed for no less than 75 nights, has greater than doubled in recent times.
It’s unsustainable, the president defined, and has eroded the popularity program. Full particulars of the brand new Carnival Rewards plan are but to be disclosed, and the road has mentioned it’s taking friends’ reactions into consideration because it strikes ahead with the brand new program.
Seabourn Says Farewell to Longtime Captain
A cherished mariner who served as captain for the posh line Seabourn, Geir Arne Thue-Nilsen, recognized to colleagues and cruise friends as Captain GA, has handed away, forsaking a stellar legacy.
Thue-Nilsen died on June 22, 2025, his spouse, Juvy Thue-Nilsen, mentioned in a social media publish. Born in Norway he studied on the Grasp’s and Horten Engineer Academy and rose to the rank of captain in 1995, serving on Cunard and Seabourn ships.
Colleagues reacted to the information with heat recollections of Captain GA. Power, kindness, and calm had been among the many phrases used to explain him.
Crusing to all corners of the world, together with Antarctica, Thue-Nilsen served as captain aboard Seabourn Pleasure, Seabourn Spirit, Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Encore, and Seabourn Quest.
Personable and admired by his friends, Captain GA typically greeted cruisers and interacted with them throughout trivia video games and different onboard actions. He most not too long ago had served on the cruise line’s expedition ships, exploring distant locations across the globe.
Photographs Present What Celebration Key Has in Retailer For Visitors
Carnival Cruise Line launched a set of photographs from its new non-public vacation spot, Celebration Key, set to open on July 19, 2025.
Business watchers have been following the development of the sun-and-fun growth on Grand Bahama Island for about two years, eagerly awaiting the small print.
Now, glimpses of the vacation spot are revealed, exhibiting Paradise Plaza, the entry space that sports activities data cubicles and way-finding stations, and Suncastle, a 10-story-high arch with two huge water slides.
Aerial views of two large lagoons, Starfish and Calypso, had been disclosed together with photographs of the vacation spot’s AquaBanas — 8-person floating cabanas that friends will be capable to hire.
For teenagers, the photographs present the Guppy Grotto Splash Pad, and for these in search of a luxurious expertise the cruise line shared photographs of its Over-the-Lagoon Tremendous Villas, with lodging for as much as 10 individuals.
These are simply among the options friends will get pleasure from when the vacation spot opens, however keep tuned since extra sneak peeks are prone to be launched within the subsequent few weeks.
Cruise Line Modifications Rule Tied to Free Bottle of Water
A free bottle of water is among the many perks that loyalty membership members at Carnival Cruise Line obtain once they embark their ships, and now the principles about the best way to declare the water have been clarified.
Model Ambassador John Heald has confirmed {that a} bottle of water discovered inside a stateroom may be claimed because the free bottle, that means that friends not should go to a bar to assert the perk.
The confusion arose after one visitor not too long ago complained that he was mistakenly charged for utilizing the in-cabin bottle, though he was entitled to it. On the time, Heald defined that bottled water discovered inside a stateroom just isn’t a perk — it’s positioned by the housekeeping workers and, if opened, generates a cost.
The irate visitor had threatened to withhold crew gratuities if his cost was not reversed. Heald made certain that it was, in order to not deprive a room steward from receiving his hard-earned tip.
However going ahead, all friends who’re members of the road’s Very Vital Enjoyable Individual (VIFP) loyalty program can eat the water discovered of their cabins with out worrying they are going to be erroneously charged for it.
Some Disney Cruise Line Ships Increase Eating Up-Costs
Disney Cruise Line friends who indulge within the line’s Remy Champagne Brunch, that includes delectable dishes similar to vegetable risotto, lobster cannelloni, and sea bass, are paying extra for the privilege after a sequence of eating venue value hikes had been applied.
In actual fact, the up-charges at a number of adult-exclusive eating venues onboard Disney ships have risen or will quickly rise by as much as 10%.
In some instances, the value hikes affect solely sure vessels. For instance, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are elevating expenses at Remy, for each the brunch and the prix-fixe dinner. The brunch rises by $5, to $85 per individual, whereas dinner goes up $10, to $145 per individual.
Fleetwide, friends eating at Palo pays $5 extra for the venue’s brunch and dinner, which can now price $55 per individual.
These and different modifications had been applied on varied dates in June, relying on the ship. Nevertheless, Disney Fantasy is not going to start charging the brand new prices till November 2025, after the ship completes a dry dock upkeep improve.
The final time Disney Cruise Line raised prices at its adults-only eateries was again in 2023.
Tough Seas Power World Cruise Itinerary Modifications
Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess was briefly sidelined by extreme climate as the three,080-guest ship was getting ready to name at Cape City, South Africa, throughout her world cruise.
The ship is crusing a 113-day world voyage roundtrip from Auckland, New Zealand, and departed the port on Might 31, 2025. Slated to name at Cape City on June 25, 2025, heavy rain and highly effective winds compelled an itinerary change that had the ship calling at Durban as a substitute.
In actual fact, the ship spent June 23 and 24 crusing alongside the coast close to Durban. The altered port name at Cape City was set for June 28, with the ship slated to stay in port in a single day, as initially deliberate.
After Cape City, Crown Princess will go to Walvis Bay, Namibia, on July 1, 2025, quite than the initially deliberate June 28, 2025.
For the reason that climate delay could have a domino impact on the itinerary, additional modifications are anticipated and friends are being up to date by ship officers.
The total voyage will take friends to the Western Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the British Isles, North and South America, and French Polynesia earlier than ending in Auckland.
P&O Cruises Provides Children’ Membership Payment on One Ship
Households planning to sail aboard P&O Cruises’ Iona now should pay for his or her youngsters’s visits to The Reef, the supervised play space for children below age 12.
The road, which caters to the UK market, introduced that folks should pre-register their children earlier than they go to the power and pay a payment of £4.95 (or $6.74 USD) for every daytime session and £8.95 (or $12.19 USD) for every night go to.
Iona, an Excellence-class ship with capability for five,200 friends, is the one ship at the moment charging the charges. The cruise line has not revealed whether or not the charges will roll out on its different ships, which embrace Arvia, Britannia, Ventura, and Azura.
Two extra ships within the P&O Cruises’ fleet, Aurora and Arcadia, don’t enable youngsters below 18 to sail.
The cruise line is urging dad and mom to make reservations prematurely of their departure date, since area is anticipated to be restricted.
Packages for older youngsters, together with the H20 Kids’s Membership and The Scene, each geared to teenagers ages 13 to 17, don’t require advance registration and don’t cost any payment.
Extra Cruise Headlines
Let’s preserve going with much more information updates from Cruise Hive, together with friends aboard a Silversea Cruises’ ship enduring a shore tour stranding because of the falling tide; Carnival Company revealing stellar monetary outcomes from the second quarter; and Virgin Voyages experiencing a surge in bookings.
Additionally, a brand new TV present chronicling life aboard two Holland America Line ships, and a cruise visitor getting arrested after posting selfies with stolen jewellery whereas onboard her ship.
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