Carnival Cruise Line – proudly known as America’s cruise line announced today in a press release that they are teaming up with Costa Cruises – Italy’s favorite cruise line – creating a new concept for Carnival’s North American guests when COSTA® by CARNIVAL® debuts in the spring of 2023 and Costa Venezia TM joins the Carnival fleet sailing from New York. Costa Venezia will be followed by Costa Firenze TM arriving in the spring of 2024 to sail from Long Beach.
Carnival will operate the ships, which will marry the great service, food and entertainment that Carnival’s guests enjoy with Costa’s Italian design features. “Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze will bring Carnival’s guests the ambiance and beauty of Italy,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We’re going to invite our guests to Choose Fun with Carnival, Italian Style!”
“This is an exciting opportunity for us to operate two additional beautiful Vista class ships in the U.S. and bring a unique experience to those who love the culture, food and vibe of Italy,” said Duffy. “There are lots of ways we plan to create an immersive fun experience for our guests who choose to sail on these ships, which have beautiful Italian-design elements, dining and retail that will deliver Carnival fun leveraging the spirit of Italy from our sister line Costa Cruises.”
Mario Zanetti, president of Costa Cruises, said, “We are excited to see these iconic ships make their debut in the U.S. under the leadership and operation of our sister brand. Costa providing the beautiful ship with its’ Italian design and Carnival delivering FUN, Italian Style!” Zanetti said that Costa will be informing clients impacted by this news.
Duffy said that the ships will continue operating their regular Costa itineraries until they are assigned to Carnival for dry dock work and deployment. Deployment and itinerary plans are being finalized, with the Venezia announcement coming soon given the spring 2023 launch date. Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze are sister ships to Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama, weighing 135,500 gross tons and accommodating up to 5,260 guests.
Carnival Celebration introduces themed zones. Each area is uniquely inspired to create a different atmosphere. The themed zones aboard Carnival Celebration are:
THE GATEWAY
When you are cruising on Carnival Celebration there’s just so much destination to be found… even right on board. That’s because here, in The Gateway zone, “international flavor” isn’t just an expression, but a way of life! Design, décor, cuisine and even the entertainment is inspired by grand locations, landmarks from around the world. There is a rotating selection of these vistas brilliantly displayed right on the innovative LED windows and ceiling, plus theme nights that match — including Abroad in Europe, Far East Voyage and Mexico Lindo — which each feature food, drinks and entertainment to match. But every moment is a special occasion thanks to onboard spots that are proud to import their flavor from all over. We’re talking restaurants and bars like Latitudes with its old-school railway station vibe, The Golden Jubilee featuring a unique mix of great drinks and live music, plus Emeril’s Bistro 1397,which is deliciously all over the map. And don’t miss the chance to sip a little cocktail magic at returning fan-favorite Alchemy Bar.
820 BISCAYNE
We’re at home anywhere we sail… but you can only have one hometown, and for Carnival that is unmistakably Miami. So, it’s not hard at all to locate the inspiration for 820 Biscayne on Carnival Celebration. If you are wondering about the nameplate, that’s the address where it all got started — but nobody has to wonder where all the fun, flavor and good looks you will find in this zone were sourced. After all, it’s so authentically Miami… just check out the art deco designs, neon splashes and great flavors… On that note, there’s Bar 820 for tropical cocktails and Cuban coffee, plus Deco Deli serving up a selection of classic sandwiches… Cuban faves included. While Miami isn’t quite known as a pizza town, but you will find the crew serving up the cheesy stuff 24 hours a day at Miami Slice. Like any cosmopolitan center, dining quality and variety counts big, that’s why they’ll find Cucina del Capitano and Rudi’s Seagrill restaurants in the neighborhood.
CELEBRATION CENTRAL
Celebration Central is designed to make an impression… and that’s good because it’s going to be your first one! You can count on Carnival Celebration’s atrium to set the vacay vibes for your whole cruise. Look up and you’re honestly in for an eyeful — floor-to-ceiling windows, 14-foot LED screens, a ceiling of 1,400 color-changing lights… everything points to BIG FUN happening in here. And even if you’re just passing through, know that you’ll definitely be back later. Center Stage features a rotating selection of live entertainment, while Tropicale Bar serves up great drinks with a nostalgia chaser nodding to our first ship to sport the iconic red, white and blue funnel. Aquaria Bar features an ocean-themed glass mural pulled from Carnival Victory that’s now a two-deck high decorative wall. (Also: great drinks here too!) Then there’s fan-faves, from cups of comfort at JavaBlue Café to great eats at Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki, and some very entertaining reasons to come back, like Piano Bar 88, The Punchliner Comedy Club and more.
THE FRENCH QUARTER
If “big” and “easy” sound about right for your vacation, you might just make the French Quarter on Carnival Celebration your home zone. The French Quarter is lined with bars and eateries worthy of their namesake, spots serving up everything from small plates to classic Hurricane cocktails straight from the bayou. Just steps away there’s entertainment inspired by the world-renowned Crescent City nightlife. You’ll find a hot jazz club in this zone — plus you won’t be far from bars, lounges and some funky little shops and one of these spots is being designed in partnership with a name you definitely know!
SUMMER LANDING
Go ahead and call Summer Landing “the greatest chill spot at sea”!!! Know what goes great with chilling outdoors? BBQ, you can find Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse in this zone to make sure it always tastes like summer here, courtesy of freshly-smoked faves designed by Guy Fieri. and there’s even original Parched Pig™ beers brewing just a few feet from the tap?
LA PIAZZA
This zone stands for atmosphere and flavor, and it starts with Cucina del Capitano, which brings your party together for an evening of Italian favorites served family-style, while Pizzeria del Capitano makes delizioso happen for them 24 hours a day atop a base of imported Italian flour and fresh mozzarella. You will find Piazza Panini where the handhelds are hot and pressed, plus Bar della Rosa, where you’ll sip authentic espresso drinks by day and classic Italian cocktails when the sun goes down. All this flavor and flair we’ve got in here may practically transport you straight to Italy… but don’t forget that so much of it can be enjoyed outdoors, where the sea breeze is just bellissimo.
LIDO
Aboard Carnival Celebration this poolside zone features even more delicious and fun ways to spend a day. Everybody looks to Lido for variety, and with tons of casual dining spots you will discover new experiences among the flavors that keep them coming back. They can take in a Dive-In Movie at the pool and they’re not far from signature Carnival favorites like Guy’s Burger Joint, the New England-inspired Seafood Shack, and BlueIguana Cantina taco spot. And for folks hoping we haven’t forgotten: yes, Lido is absolutely home to fan-favorite Swirls, the free soft-serve spot cranking out the cool 24 hours a day!
THE ULTIMATE PLAYGROUND
Don’t let the name fool you — this zone is ages everybody and up. Of course, The Ultimate Playground starts with BOLT, the first rollercoaster at sea, an all-electric thrill ride that puts the power of speed in your hands. But that’s only the beginning — this playground has the largest Carnival WaterWorks ever with three huge spiraling slides, plus SportSquare is here featuring an entire mini-golf course, full-court basketball and a ropes course and more.
As Carnival prepares for their return to cruising this summer, they have announced the expansion of the functionalities of the HUB App. These new enhancements will build upon the convenient features that have made the HUB App the most popular app in cruising, and will further enhance your pre-cruise and onboard experience. Most importantly, the HUB App is leading the way in Carnival’s efforts to provide a contactless and convenient shipboard environment once cruising resumes. Here are some of the new and exciting functionalities you can look forward to:
The HUB App was the first app to enable pizza and beer delivery, and it has now been expanded to include the delivery of a variety of culinary and beverage offerings anywhere on board. Menus for all shipboard dining and beverage offerings will be available in a digital form using QR codes. It will also include dining check-in functionality to additional guests and venues, in addition to Your Time Dining.
VIRTUAL RESERVATIONS & QUEUING
You will soon be able to reserve seats virtually for various venues on board and be alerted when it is time to arrive. Additionally, you will be able to check-in to virtual queues for select locations on board, including guest services, and be alerted when their place in line is ready. Additionally, you will even be able to reserve tickets to BOLT the first rollercoaster at sea on Mardi Gras, debuting on July 31st.
NEW SAFETY CONTENT
You will be able to check-in for your cruise via the HUB App with the ability to submit necessary health information, including a health questionnaire and other time-saving steps prior to departure, and new safety content, including new notifications to help you complete the muster check-in on board.
If all this news isn’t exciting enough, stay tuned because Carnival will be announcing additional enhancements to the HUB App capabilities in the coming months. A few things you can expect advance spa and shore excursion reservations, a popular chat feature, a full listing of food, beverage and entertainment offerings, youth program check-in and check-out information and easy access to guests shipboard Sail & Sign accounts.
International Travel Update: The head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved an order Tuesday expanding coronavirus testing requirements for nearly all international air travelers starting Jan. 26, 2021.
The new requirements will require all U.S. bound passengers age 2 and over to have a negative COVID-19 test results within three calendar days of travel. The CDC will consider temporary waivers from testing requirements for travelers from some countries with little or no testing capacity.
According to the CDC website: Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.
“Testing does not eliminate all risk,” says CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, MD, “but when combined with a period of staying at home and everyday precautions like wearing masks and social distancing, it can make travel safer, healthier, and more responsible by reducing spread on planes, in airports, and at destinations.”
This order was signed by the CDC Director on January 12, 2021 and will become effective on January 26, 2021.
Today Royal caribbean announced updates to their 2021-2022 winter sailings that includes a refreshed line-up of ships and itineraries in the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand. Guests will have even more choices in the Caribbean with ships sailing from the most popular cruise ports across Florida and Texas. In Australia, vacationers can choose from three ships sailing throughout the South Pacific and New Zealand. The new itineraries, combined with Royal Caribbean ships and crew, will deliver the signature vacation experience that guests know and love. Highlights of Royal Caribbean’s updated 2021/2022 Winter season include:
The Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas, which was originally scheduled to sail from Miami, will call San Juan, Puerto Rico home for the season and sail 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries.
Freedom of the Seas, will move from San Juan to the world’s cruise capital of Miami and strengthen short Caribbean escapes with 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas & Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Radiance of the Seas, originally planned to sail from Brisbane, Australia, will instead opt for 5- and 9-night sailings from sunny Miami.
Australia
Serenade of the Seas, will make the voyage from Vancouver, British Columbia to Sydney, which will be her homeport through February 2022. Guests can choose to embark on 12- to 15-night cruises around the South Pacific to Fiji and New Zealand, or take a short break in Melbourne and around the east coast of Australia.
Quantum of the Seas, is now slated to sail from Brisbane, Australia, offering a variety of cruises that range from 3-night weekday getaways to 7- to 9-night adventures throughout the South Pacific.
Today, Royal Caribbean announced updates to their summer 2021 deployment as a result of market research and valuable feedback that they have received from their guests. These unrivaled itineraries, combined with Royal Caribbean’s award-winning ships, are guaranteed to deliver an unforgettable vacation. With new options in Europe and additional island time in the Caribbean, this new deployment line-up opens the door for bucket-list adventures — both near and far! Reintroducing a desirable Southern Caribbean summer cruise from San Juan and a first-ever season of shorter Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, the choices are endless. Highlights of Royal Caribbean’s updated 2021 summer season include: Europe Adventure of the Seas, which was previously scheduled to sail from Copenhagen and Stockholm, will head to Barcelona offering a mix of 4- and 5-night short Mediterranean itineraries to historic destinations like La Spezia and Rome, Italy; Ajaccio, Nice and Marseille, France; and Palma and Ibiza, Spain. A full season of shorter Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona is a brand first! Jewel of the Seas, originally planned to homeport in Amsterdam and Barcelona, will now sail from Copenhagen and Stockholm on 7-night cruises calling on Northern Europe’s picturesque ports of Helsinki, Finland; Tallinn, Estonia; and Visby, Sweden. Caribbean Independence of the Seas, originally sailing from Fort Lauderdale offering 3- and 4-night cruises, will now make the neighboring city of Miami her home for the summer season and offer a combination of 6- and 8-night cruises to the Southern and Western Caribbean, visiting far-flung islands including Aruba and Curacao. Vision of the Seas, previously planned to sail from Barcelona, will sail from San Juan, offering a new summer program from the island of enchantment. She will offer 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries to exotic destinations like Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis; St. John’s, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; and Bridgetown, Barbados. Brilliance of the Seas, will stay in Tampa for the summer. She will sail 4-, 5- and 7-night cruises to the Caribbean, elevating Caribbean summer sailings from Florida’s west coast.
