HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
2023 has been a great year in cruising. Let’s take a look back at some of the biggest or most exciting stories of the year–one from each month.
In January, Celebrity Cruises named two brothers co-captains of Celebrity Ascent–a cruise industry first. The cruise line also named sisters as co-Godmothers of the fourth Edge-class ship. Celebrity Ascent debuted in Fort Lauderdale on December 3, 2023.
February found Carnival Cruise Line’s president, Christine Duffy, releasing a video to reiterate the cruise line’s Code of Conduct. Cruisers were reminded that illegal and unruly behavior would not be tolerated, the cruise line was adding more security personnel, as well as narcotics sniffing dogs, and marijuana was not permitted on board any of its ships. Unfortunately, reminders such as these were necessary due to activity taking place on some of the cruise line’s ships.
Carnival Cruise Line welcomed its “One in 100 Million” passenger in March. On March 16, 2023, the cruise line reached the milestone of the first cruise line to embark 100 million guests since its first sailing out of PortMiami in 1972.
This year found England coronating a new King this year and in April Princess Cruises made plans for coronation themed activities and entertainment onboard two of its ships based out of the United Kingdom. Sky Princess and Regal Princess both sail out of Southampton and guests that were onboard those ships on May 6, 2023, were treated to a lineup of events celebrating King Charles’ ascension to the throne.
May 8-12, 2023 was Teacher Appreciation Week in the United States and to celebrate Norwegian Cruise Line launched its fourth annual award-winning Giving Joy program. The Giving Joy program awards teachers free cruises and this year 20 teachers won a free seven-day cruise for two with the top three grand prize winners joining the christening sailing of Norwegian Viva in November 2023.
In June, Carnival Venezia was officially named by her godfather, Jay Leno, before setting sail on her inaugural voyage from New York City. Carnival Venezia is the first “Carnival Fun Italian Style” ship to debut, but her sister ship, Carnival Firenze is coming in 2024 to sail out of Long Beach, California.
Carnival Cruise Line successfully tested new food menus aboard Carnival Dream that they began rolling out fleetwide beginning with Carnival Conquest on July 17, 2023. The new menus are a collaboration between Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse and Carnival chefs and feature options personally recommended by Emeril called Emeril Selects. The new menus are still being rolled out through early 2024.
In August, the Los Angeles Rams named Princess Cruises as their Official Cruise Line Vacation Partner. Princess Cruises will combine the “thrill of the game with the excitement of travel” during home games throughout the stadium on the massive Infinity Screen in So-Fi Stadium. Princess Cruises is not the only cruise line to partner with a sport. MSC Cruises announced it will be the name sponsor for two Formula 1 Grand Prix races in 2024, the cruise line is also partnered with several soccer teams, and a basketball and American football team. Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, and Norwegian Cruise Line also all have sponsorships with different sports teams.
On September 1, 2023, the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore officially welcomed Norwegian Cruise Line to Maryland. The cruise line now has two ships homeporting from Maryland—Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun—for the first time in its history. Norwegian Sky offered fall foliage sailings before she departed Baltimore in mid-October and Norwegian Sun offered Bermuda and Caribbean sailings through the end of 2023.
It is not uncommon to have itineraries adjusted or canceled due to weather related issues, but in October cruisers saw itineraries changed, quick port departures and cruises canceled due to unrest and war in the Middle East. Safety of guests and crew is always the priority for cruise lines which meant these changes had to be made quickly.
Disney Cruise Line arrived at its new cruise terminal at Port Everglades in November. The new cruise terminal was dedicated on November 13, 2023, a week before the first official sailing from the new terminal. In true Disney fashion, the 104,000 square foot terminal was reimagined by Walt Disney Imagineering in order to make embarkation a streamlined process. Disney Dream sailed from the new terminal on November 20, 2023 and Disney Magic began sailing from the terminal on May 9, 2024.
December brought us Carnival Jubilee. She arrived in Galveston, Texas on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 and embarked on her inaugural cruise on December 23, 2023. Carnival Jubilee proudly displays a Texas star on her hull and offers a Texas-sized deck party on her Lido during each cruise. The deck party is exclusive to Carnival Jubilee and–like a football game–divided into four quarters. The tailgate party will bring the “energy of a country fairground and rodeo” and promises fun for the entire family. She returned from her first voyage on December 30, 2023 and is currently sailing in the New Year on her way to Roatan Island, Honduras.
There is so much more to 2023 and so much more to come in 2024. Stay tuned and cruise on!