It's been another busy week in cruise news, and Cruise Hive has all the stories you need to know. This week, Carnival Cruise Line, P&O Cruises Australia, Villa Vie Residences, Juneau and Bar Harbor's efforts to limit cruise visitors; We covered the virus outbreak after the cruise.
Cruise News Updates
It's Cruise Hive's weekly roundup of the week's big cruise news developments.
This week's article covers Carnival Cruise Line's plans to absorb two P&O Cruises Australia ships into its fleet. Delayed launch of Villa Vie Residences Villa B Odyssey First world cruise; Daily cruise guest arrival limits for Alaska towns; What should I do with dirty buffet plates on a Carnival Cruise Line ship? Bar Harbor businesses seeking to block town's restrictions on cruise visitors; and a United Airlines flight affected by a cruise guest experiencing a virus outbreak onboard.
Carnival Cruise Line to absorb P&O Cruises Australia
Carnival Corporation, an industry powerhouse that operates nine major cruise lines, announced the following: P&O Cruises Australia brand retirement Two of the brand's three ships are being relocated. pacific adventure and Pacific Encounterto Carnival Cruise Line within the next year.
Plans for a third vessel with capacity for 2,000 people pacific explorerAlthough it has not yet been made public, it appears the 27-year-old vessel may be scrapped or sold.
![Carnival and P&O Australian Cruise Ships](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/carnival1.jpg)
![Carnival and P&O Australian Cruise Ships](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/carnival1.jpg)
The decision to transfer the ships to the Carnival Cruise Line brand was based on high demand for Fun Ship products. Carnival Corporation has transferred three ships from the Costa Cruises brand to Carnival Cruise Line in recent years. Costa Luminosa, Costa Veneziaand coast florenceIn 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively.
Following the P&O Cruises Australia ship transfer, Carnival Cruise Line will operate a fleet of 29 ships. Two Excel class vessels are also on order for the route and are scheduled to enter service in 2027 and 2028.
2,600 people pacific adventure 3,000 people Pacific Encounter Both ships will be based in the South Pacific, and Carnival Cruise Line will continue to operate both ships in the region. Carnival Corporation has a strong presence in the South Pacific region, with its various brands sailing 18 ships in the region and accounting for approximately 60% of the market.
World cruise ships delayed in dry dock again
Villa Vie Residences once again The release was postponed Villa B Odyssey, a 929-guest world cruise ship undergoing refit at a Belfast shipyard. This is the second delay announced in a week.
The ship is currently scheduled to leave the Harland & Wolff shipyard on June 15, 2024. The ship was originally scheduled to leave dry dock on May 21, 2024 and she was scheduled to begin her maiden voyage on May 30, 2024. A ship's rudder stock is a key component in steering the rudder for navigation purposes.
![Villa Vie Odyssey during dry dock](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/villavieodyssey1.jpg)
![Villa Vie Odyssey during dry dock](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/villavieodyssey1.jpg)
Previous delays were due to steelworks on one of the ship's gray water tanks, affecting the way the ship disposes of wastewater. It was a minor repair that was expected to take only a few days to fix. Before the rudder problem occurred, the vessel was scheduled to leave dry dock on June 3, 2024.
The Villa Vie Residences brand, whose business model is based on operating continuous world voyages for 3.5 years each, purchased the vessel in March 2024. Built in 1993, the ship was previously named MS Brammer It was last owned by Fred. Olson Cruise Line. Before that, Cunard operated as follows: Cunard Crown Dynasty.
Villa Vie Residences strives to accommodate guests who have already made travel plans to join the ship in Belfast.
Major Alaska Port Cap Day Cruise Ship Arrivals
Juneau, Alaska, the capital of the Last Frontier State and a major cruise port. set a daily limit Up to 16,000 cruise ship passengers will be allowed to disembark at their destinations Sunday through Friday, with the 12,000 cap taking immediate effect on Saturdays.
To mitigate the cruise industry's environmental impact on Juneau, the city set a cap through an agreement signed with the Cruise Lines International Association, a trade group representing the various cruise brands that operate in the region on a seasonal basis. It has been implemented.
![Cruise ship visiting Juneau, Alaska](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/juneau2.jpg)
![Cruise ship visiting Juneau, Alaska](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/juneau2.jpg)
Juneau, located just east of the top cruise destination of Glacier Bay National Park in southeastern Alaska, decided to implement cruise guest limits after the destination saw 1.6 million arrivals in 2023. This represents a 23% jump compared to pre-pandemic records in 2019.
The 2024 Juno cruise season is poised to break records, with 660 port calls scheduled through September. The number of passengers is expected to reach 1.7 million in 2024.
In addition to disembarkation limits, the agreement includes several plans, including requiring cruise lines to support local businesses. Passenger fares are donated to help fund the expansion of the city's Centennial Hall. Above all, it minimizes the unloading of waste from ships into municipal landfills.
The season officially began on May 24, 2024, with the arrival of Princess Cruises' 2,600 passengers. grand princess On a 14-night trip.
Big Buffet Question: What do cruisers do with dirty dishes?
One of the best destinations aboard Carnival Cruise Line's Fun Ships is undoubtedly the Lido Marketplace, a buffet where guests can choose what they want for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
There's a salad bar, a carving station, all kinds of main dishes, tons of desserts, and more, but the big question is: what do you do with your plate when you're done?
![Carnival Cruise Line Lido Buffet](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Carnival-Cruise-Dining.jpg)
![Carnival Cruise Line Lido Buffet](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Carnival-Cruise-Dining.jpg)
This question was recently posed to Carnival Cruise Lines brand ambassador John Heald by a guest. There is proper etiquette at a buffet area. Should I leave my dishes on the table for the wait staff to clear them? What about in the pool area?
Heald responded that most guests leave their used plates on the table or hidden under poolside lounge chairs. He said the cruise line doesn't make any special requests to guests.
He put out a question for comment, which sparked a lot of feedback. “But we try to organize the plates so they’re easy to pick up,” said one customer. Another said his group “pushes the plates aside so the staff knows we're done.”
In the pool area, guests said they typically take their plates to the dirty dish station after eating, and some guests said they take their used plates to the dish station at one of the poolside restaurants.
Companies Continue to Fight Bar Harbor Cruise Cap
A court case continues to unfold in Bar Harbor, Maine, where a new local ordinance would limit the number of cruise ship passengers allowed to disembark ships during port calls at the popular destination to 1,000 per day.
The ordinance was passed in November 2022 after a majority of local residents voted in favor of the limit. Local businesses challenged the law, but on March 1, 2024, a judge ruled in the town's favor.
![Local Businesses in Bar Harbor, Maine](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/barharbor2.jpg)
![Local Businesses in Bar Harbor, Maine](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/barharbor2.jpg)
The business owners then appealed that decision to the First Circuit and sought an injunction preventing the city from enforcing the cap while the appeal was pending. On May 24, 2024, the court dismissed the application, but the corporate group is currently A similar injunction is being sought. In the district court.
Meanwhile, Bar Harbor Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the ordinance on June 18, 2024, at which meeting a decision is expected to be made on whether the town will pursue a daily ridership limit.
Cruise lines scheduled to call in Bar Harbor during the summer and fall are in wait-and-see mode. Some lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, are dropping Bar Harbor from their schedules and calling in Portland, Maine instead.
Cruise passengers contracted the virus on their flights home.
On May 31, 2024, more than two dozen passengers on a United Airlines flight from Vancouver, British Columbia to Houston experienced an outbreak of norovirus, which causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Between 25 and 30 people were affected, all of whom had boarded the plane in Vancouver after a cruise vacation to Alaska. Upon arrival in Houston, the Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft was met by local emergency responders to evaluate sick passengers. The plane went straight away Removed from service The following three flights have been canceled to allow for deep cleaning:
![Celebrity Summit Deck](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/celebritysummit1.jpg)
![Celebrity Summit Deck](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/celebritysummit1.jpg)
News reports did not identify which cruise ship the sick passenger disembarked from, but Royal Caribbean's light of the sea It was the only ship docked in Vancouver on May 31. The ship operates seasonal Alaska cruises between Seward and Vancouver.
There were 163 passengers and six United Airlines crew members on the affected plane, and 75 passengers were on board the cruise ship before boarding the plane.
Highly contagious, norovirus is one of the most common viruses that cause gastrointestinal symptoms. It spreads easily through contaminated surfaces and water and poor hygiene. Washing your hands frequently, using hand sanitizer, and avoiding contact with surfaces can help prevent bug infections.
More cruise headlines
That was just part of the larger story that unfolded. Read more interesting cruise news stories from Cruise Hive this week. Check your coverage for damage caused by river flooding. River cruise cancellation In Europe; strong winds in seattle Force cruise ships to use tugboats to bring them into port. cunard baptize a new ship queen anne; Large-scale launch of Holland America Line summer rate discount; carnival cruise lines Denied Popular Casino Perks For loyalty club members.