Welcome to the weekly Cruise News Digest. Here you can catch up on the past week’s cruise news and all things La Lido Loca.
Let’s dive in!
Royal Caribbean International’s Serenade of the Seas set sail on its Ultimate World Cruise from PortMiami on Sunday, December 10, 2023. With the 274-day cruise being sailed in four legs, cruisers were given the opportunity to enjoy the entire cruise or the portion they chose. She is currently in The Ultimate Americas Cruise leg of the cruise through February 11, 2024. The next legs of the cruise–The Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise, The Ultimate Middle East and Med Cruise, and Ultimate Europe & Beyond Cruise–are still open for booking. As Royal Caribbean describes it, “All four corners, one epic voyage.”
PortMiami announced on December 11, 2023 that it had set a record-breaking year in activity during Fiscal Year 2023 by welcoming 7,299,294 passengers. This is a 7% increase in cruise passenger totals. The cruise port is expected to continue to grow as it continues to break its own single-day records. The port will also be welcoming eight new cruise ships during the 2024 season.
Carnival Cruise Line opened summer and fall 2025 bookings for its first “Carnival Fun Italian Ship” Carnival Venezia. She will be offering a variety of cruises to Bermuda, Eastern Caribbean voyages, several new 12-day Carnival Journeys cruises, and a repositioning itinerary from New York to Port Canaveral. From Port Canaveral, cruisers can book 3-day voyages that visit Celebration Key along with a week-long Western Caribbean cruise.
Virgin Voyages had back-to-back days in the news. Resilient Lady officially set sail from Melbourne, Australia on her Aussie MerMaiden voyage. The adults-only cruise ship sailed a 5-day voyage to Tasmania. The Aussie MerMaiden voyage was the first of seventeen voyages Down Under for the cruise line.
Just behind that news, Virgin Voyages announced its most enticing wave season sale ever and the introduction of 21 new ports for summer 2025 throughout Iceland, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, the Caribbean, and more. Through the end of January, Sailors are able to book a voyage for one and get 70% off the second Sailor along with Bar Tab credits up to $600, depending on the length of the voyage.
Adora Cruise is back in the Cruise News with the announcement that Adora Magic City, the first-ever Chinese-built large cruise ship, arrived at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal on December 15, 2023, ahead of her maiden voyage. She will remain in the terminal over the next two weeks until she sets sail on January 1, 2024.
There you have it. This week’s Cruise News Digest. Did you see Tony’s 5 Ways NOT to Miss Your Cruise and other daily cruise news on the La Lido Loca YouTube channel this week? Have you joined the La Lido Cruising Community to connect with others who love cruising just like you. La Lido Loca Two offers more cruising content along with the Cruise Podcast! You can find the latest Have to Lose update here as well as join the community here. Lastly, if you haven’t already, be sure to become a patreon member of Loca Extra for extra live content and more.