Carnival Legend will be deployed at the Port of Galveston, Texas for the fall of 2025, Carnival Cruise Line just announced. Carnival Legend will join Carnival Dream, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Jubilee at the port. It will offer a variety of four to 10-day Western Caribbean cruises.­­ There will also be Panama Canal cruises. Carnival Legend's Galveston cruise schedule is now open for sale. "Carnival Legend's deployment in Galveston strengthens our already strong portfolio of sailings from Texas, adding more variety," said Fred Stein, VP of revenue planning and deployment. Legend’s Western Caribbean cruises begin fall of 2025 through early 2026. It will alternate between shorter and longer cruises. The five-day sailing visits Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico, and 10-day itineraries v Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Roatan; Belize and more. Additionally, there is an eight-day Christmas sailing set for December 18, 2025. Before its move to Galveston, Carnival Legend will sail a 16-day Carnival Journeys cruise from San Francisco to Cabo San Lucas and Costa Rica before transiting the Panama Canal. It then calls at Cartagena, Colombia before arriving in Galveston. A second 14-day Carnival Journeys cruise, roundtrip from Galveston, departs on February 2, 2026 through the Panama Canal. Additionally, three are three more 10-day Panama Canal cruises.  

Carnival Cruise Line has announced the name for its new destination in the Bahamas. The cruise port destination on Grand Bahama will be called Celebration Key. It is the first port destination exclusively designed for Carnival Cruise Line guests. When complete, it will be capable of welcoming two million cruise guests each year. "We are working very closely with the Government of The Bahamas and the Port Authority to highlight the best of Grand Bahama," said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. Grand Bahama is noted for its pristine beaches and lush vegetation. Carnival aims to showcase Celebration Key as a uniquely Bahamian experience with various amenities. It will comprise a one-mile stretch of white-sand beach, and Bahamian-operated retail, food and beverage options. The adjacent cruise pier will be able to accommodate up to two of Carnival's Excel-class ships simultaneously. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in May 2022 with engineering and construction underway. In late September, Carnival plans to announce more details, along with opening sales for the first itineraries visiting from July 2025. At least ten CCL ships from multiple homeports are expected to include calls to Celebration Key.

Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled more of its 2025-26 deployment by opening bookings for Alaska cruises from Seattle on two ships: Carnival Spirit and Carnival Luminosa Carnival Luminosa Seven-day Alaska sailings departing every Thursday on Carnival Luminosa begin on May 1, 2025 until Sept. 11, 2025. After departing Seattle, the ship cruises Tracy Arm Fjord, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as Victoria, BC. Carnival Spirit Alaska cruises on Carnival Spirit offer 21 week-long sailings from Seattle and cruise Tracy Arm Fjord with stops in Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, as well as Victoria, BC. The sailings begin April 14, 2025 and continue through the summer, with the final departure on Sept. 9, 2025. The ship will also sail an eight-day cruise departing May 5, 2025 that adds Icy Strait Point. "The incredible experiences and welcoming locals are just some of the reasons why Alaska cruises are so popular with guests," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. " “These two ships will also build on our popular Carnival Journeys program, making more truly bucket-list destinations available on opposite sides of the world." Ahead of its Alaska season, Carnival Spirit will offer two Carnival Journeys cruises. The first is a 14-day transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to Miami, with visits in Malaga and Cadiz, Spain, as well Ponta Delgada, Azores and Bermuda. A second is a 15-day Journeys cruise from Miami to Seattle, transiting the Panama Canal and visiting Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Following her Alaska cruises, Carnival Spirit sails a unique 15-day roundtrip Carnival Journeys cruise to Hawaii from Seattle. It departs Sept. 26, 2025 and visits Honolulu, Oahu; Kahului, Maui; Nawiliwili, Kauai; and Hilo as well as Victoria, BC.

Carnival:  BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster To mark National Roller Coaster Day, Carnival Cruise Line is set to welcome its third BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster. It is taking shape on new ship Carnival Jubilee. This week, at the Meyer Werft shipyard, the coaster's 800-feet track is being installed on Deck 19. The installation is expected to be complete next month with test runs scheduled for October. Once complete, the track will carry two all-electric, two-person cars. The riders control the speed of the car, up to 40 miles per hour, through drops, twists and turns 187 feet above the water. BOLT is the centerpiece of Ultimate Playground on Carnival's three Excel-class ships, and has been a hit on the first two. More than 150,000 guests have ridden the only roller coasters at sea on sister ships Mardi Grasand Carnival Celebration. BOLT first launched in 2021 with the debut of Mardi Gras. From December 23, 2023, Carnival Jubilee will operate year-round from Galveston, TX., sailing week-long Western Caribbean voyages. It will visit destinations such as Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; as well as Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.

Registration is now open for Carnival Cruise Line's Your Winning Plan series finale. The event features several top rated travel agents competing to be named the grand prize winner. Daymond John, star of ABC's "Shark Tank" will speak and present the winning prize. The series finale takes place in Houston, TX on September 27. Registration for both in-person attendance and online livestream are open. The grand finale event features the semi-finalists chosen from in-person events in San Jose, CA., Detroit, Las Vegas, Nashville, Denver, Richmond, and one virtual event. The summer series gave hundreds of travel agents opportunities for learning, development and business growth. Carnival invited the advisors to submit business plans and compete for cash to use toward implementing them, with semi-finalists receiving $2,500. More than 1,000 plans were submitted during the series and a semi-finalist from each event now competes for a $5,000 grand prize. Carnival expects to host thousands of travel agents in Houston at the grand finale event. Christine Duffy, Carnival's president, will also be at the event to discuss tips for entrepreneurial success. Last week’s virtual event is available to watch online, for advisors to access the business information shared during the series.

  The AIDAsol 2024/2025 world cruise is now open for bookings for individual legs. The duration of the voyages varies between 33 and 84 days - a great opportunity to enjoy the world cruise in shorter legs and discover unique destinations. For example, guests can travel from Hamburg to San Antonio, the port of Santiago de Chile, in 36 days or to fantastic destinations such as French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia and Mauritius in 48 days. Another highlight is the leg from Mauritius to Hamburg with stops on La Réunion, in South Africa, Namibia and the Canary Islands.   The entire AIDA World Cruise will depart from Hamburg on October 23, 2024, visiting 41 ports and 17 countries in 117 days. The voyage with AIDAsol will return to Hamburg on February 17, 2025, and can be booked from 14,445 euros per person at the AIDA PREMIUM rate for a 2-person cruise (inside cabin IB), including a 3,000 euro early-bird discount for bookings made by April 30, 2024.   The individual legs can be booked from 3,650 euros per person at the AIDA PREMIUM price based on 2-person occupancy (inside cabin IB), including a 700-euro early booking discount if booked by April 30, 2024. Contingent is limited.   Unforgettable highlights   Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Golden beaches, subtropical forests and Sugar Loaf Mountain: The locals simply call their city "Cidade Maravilhosa" - the fantastically beautiful city. Fall in love with the rhythm of Rio and the joie de vivre of its inhabitants.   Napier: This new AIDA port is famous above all for its classicist architecture from the 1930s. The New Zealand Art deco city is also home to many Maori motives and patterns.   Tauranga: All of the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" movies were filmed in various locations in New Zealand. Guests can still admire the Shire with the hamlet of Hobbingen not far from the city center - in the seemingly endless greenery around Matamat.   Melbourne: Guests can celebrate their New Year's Eve in the Australian metropolis! Along the Yarra River, in the Birrarung Marr parks, at Federation Square or on the deck of AIDAsol - you have a perfect view of the fireworks and drone show from everywhere.   South Africa & Namibia: Here, guests experience the charms of Africa in all its beauty: from the charm and picturesque Table Mountain backdrop of Cape Town to the awe-inspiring African wildlife and towering sand dunes of the Namib Desert.   These are the bookable legs of the World Cruise 2024/2025:   From Hamburg to San Antonio from October 23, 2024 to November 28, 2024 (36 days) from €4,895* p. p. incl. €700 early bird plus discount From San Antonio to Mauritius from November 28, 2024 to January 15, 2025 (48 days) from €8,295* p. p. incl. €1,000 early bird plus discount From Mauritius to Hamburg from January 15, 2025 to February 17, 2025 (33 days) from €3,650* p. p. incl. €700 early bird plus discount From Hamburg to Mauritius from October 23, 2024 to January 15, 2025 (84 days) from €12,445* p. p. incl. €1,700 early bird plus discount From San Antonio to Hamburg from November 28, 2024 to February 17, 2025 (81 days) from €11,265* p. p. incl. €1,700 early bird plus discount From Hamburg to Sydney from October 23, 2024 to December 29, 2024 (67 days) from €9,790* p. p. incl. €1,400 early bird plus discount From Sydney to Hamburg from December 29, 2024 to February 17, 2025 (50 days) from €6,300* p. p. incl. €1,000 early bird plus discount Booking and further information on AIDAsol and the legs of the world cruise available now at travel agencies, at the AIDA Customer Center at +49 381 20 27 07 07 or at www.aida.de.   Rostock, August 4, 2023   * AIDA PREMIUM price per person based on double occupancy (inside cabin IB), including early bird plus discount for bookings made by April 30, 2024, subject to availability.

  Costa Cruises launches "Morocco and Tunisia: a journey of the senses”, the second cruise in 2023 featuring exclusive experiences dedicated to members of C|Club, the Italian cruise company’s loyalty program.   An unmissable cruise starting from the two-week itinerary, a real journey through colors, flavors and scents of unforgettable destinations, such as Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, France, and Spain. Departure from Italy will be Sept. 23, 2023, from Savona, on board of Costa Favolosa, then leaving for Civitavecchia/Rome, Palermo, Tunis (Tunisia), Cartagena (Spain), Tangier (Morocco), Casablanca (Morocco) with a one-and-a-half day call to allow guests to live fantastic excursions to Marrakech, Cadiz (Spain), Malaga (Spain), Barcelona (Spain), Marseilles (France), and return to Savona on Oct. 7.   A rich program reserved for C|Club members has been designed for this second cruise-event, including excellent gastronomic experiences, themed parties, unique shows and excursions organized especially for the cruise.   Tony Hadley will be the super special guest of this event. The former Spandau Ballet leader will perform aboard for C|Club members, offering a dive into the 1980s with the most famous hits of his career, as well as his new singles. There will also be dedicated moments for photos and autographs with fans.   But that's not all! The 6-star Michelin chef Hélène Darroze, who together with Bruno Barbieri and Ángel León signs Costa Cruises' gastronomic excellence, will be on board to propose some never-before-tried Destination Dishes, which will convey through taste the destinations visited. In addition, she will be the protagonist of a spectacular cooking experience together with C|Club members, who under her guidance will be able to try to create typical Moroccan and Tunisian dishes through easy recipes using local ingredients.   Staying on the topic of taste, during the cruise C|Club members will find another excellent signature: Riccardo Bellaera, Costa's Corporate Pastry & Bakery Chef, close associate of the Maestro dei Maestri of international pastry, Iginio Massari. Riccardo Bellaera will delight C|Club members with his creations, devised especially to celebrate the itinerary destinations, involving them in entertaining cooking and pastry shows.   For an immersion in local culture, not to be missed are the Destination Moments, a series of events and lectures on the history and use of the spices that make Morocco and Tunisia so special.   In addition to the Welcome party, fun play and art activities, with lessons in traditional local painting and decorating, Costa Favolosa's crew will entertain guests with a Birthday Party dedicated to Costa's 75th birthday. The program of entertainment includes also themed parties: the "Desert Night," a sensory journey through the scents, flavors and traditions of Morocco and Tunisia, with amazing experiences such as the tea ceremony and ritual drawings with henna, and the "Mediterranean in festa," to celebrate the traditions and street food of the Mediterranean. Special guests on board will include South African singer Talia Alexis, who will perform an international music show and a tribute to Tina Turner, while also engaging C|Club members in a fun singing challenge.   Finally, new excursions have also been created especially for this cruise, with local gastronomic experiences, moments of pure relax, and unexpected sights and attractions. For example, it will be possible to relax with steam baths in the “Arabian” part of Cadiz; enjoy the view of Casablanca from the world's highest minaret; experience an authentic culinary experience in Tunis; and admire the colors of Rabat and Fez.

Carnival Cruise Line is expanding use of facial biometric tech to speed up the debarkation process in partnership with the CBP. The service has already been used by more than three million Carnival guests. Nine of Carnival's 14 U.S. homeports are using this service including Miami, Port Canaveral, Mobile, Galveston and Long Beach. Carnival says facial biometrics has speeded up debarkation by an average of 30%. "We're doing everything we can to make the debarkation process as simple as possible for our guests," said Christine Duffy, president. "Thanks to our partnership with CBP, these technology solutions make the process more efficient." Guests pause at a kiosk with a camera and take a photo. Within seconds, the image is biometrically compared to their passport or visa photo to verify the guest's identity. It has over 98% accuracy. US travelers and some foreign nationals who prefer to opt out of the facial biometric process can request a manual document check. .

Carnival Cruise Line has announced its first ever cruise ship godfather. Talk show host and comic, Jay Leno will bless Carnival Venezia next week as it enters service from New York City. The ship is the first to incorporate the "Carnival Fun Italian Style" with its Italian design and theming. Leno will also perform a special comedy show. Carnival Venezia previous incarnation was as a Costa Cruises ship in 2019, and already has a godmother. “With Carnival Venezia joining the fleet we decided having a godfather would be both fun and appropriate," said CCL President Christine Duffy. "We thought of someone who would make a fun godfather with Italian heritage." "I am truly honored to be named the godfather of Carnival Venezia. It was an offer I couldn't refuse," said Leno. Leno currently produces and is host of the CNBC primetime series Jay Leno's Garage, now in its seventh season. Carnival Venezia celebrates Venice, Italy, and has many spaces on board that are reminiscent of the city. There is a Venice-inspired atrium Piazza San Marco, and Marco Polo and Canal Grande Restaurants, along with the new Italian specialty restaurant, "Il Viaggio." Carnival Playlist Productions shows entertain guests at the Teatro Rosso theater. Carnival Venezia will begin sailing from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on June 15, 2023. The ship accommodates more than 5,000 guests and will offer 10 different cruise durations and 22 unique itineraries. Carnival Venezia's celebratory event will be livestreamed.

Carnival Cruise Line is bolstering business support for travel agents. It will roll out  business growth opportuniies with a series of business improvement events and competitions. The eight-part event series brings small business and entrepreneurship experts to coach travel agents. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and SBA partner, the America's Small Business Development Center Network, will provide business advice. SBA leaders will provide resources to advisors across the country. Advisors will also hear from CLIA reps, ASTA and Carnival's business development team. They will dispense special training on social media, Carnival booking tools and developing business plans. Advisors can enter the Your Winning Plan competition. Shark Tank’s Daymond John will take part in a fireside chat to share business expertise during the final event in Houston. John will present the grand prize to the  Your Winning Plan's champion. Your Winning Plan is open to all travel advisors across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Events take place in seven cities, plus an all-virtual event. It kicks off in June in San Jose, Detroit and Las Vegas on July 7; Nashville on July 14; Denver on July 19; and Richmond, Va. on July 28 The grand finale event is in Houston on Sept. 27. "Your Winning Plan emphasizes the win-win partnerships between travel advisors and Carnival Cruise Line," said Adolfo Perez, Carnival trade marketing SVP. Your Winning Plan's competition will choose seven semi-finalists, one from each event. In addition to a $2,500 prize to use toward implementing their winning business plans, each semi-finalist will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the grand finale event. Attendees will also hear from President Christine Duffy, Perez and members of Carnival's leadership team.  

Carnival Cruise Line has begun its biggest deployment yet in Norfolk, Va. Carnival Magic sails its first cruise of an extended season that is expected to bring about 100,000 guests to the city. The ship will operate 26 Bermuda and Caribbean cruises, ranging in length from four- to 10-days, through October 27, 2023. "All of our team members are looking forward to welcoming guests on board,” said Captain Bruno Palomba. Throughout the season, Carnival Magic will visit Nassau, Half Moon Cay, Freeport and Bimini in the Bahamas, Bermuda and various Caribbean cruises. These include San Juan; Amber Cove; and Grand Turk. The ship accommodates up to 4,724 guests with a host of dining options, signature entertainment, water slides and the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat.  

Carnival Cruise Line expects more than three million guests to sail to Mexican ports this year. It projects the number on Mexico cruises to grow to 3.5 million by 2024. Cozumel is Carnival's most popular destination in Mexico, with an estimated 1.6 million guests visiting this year. Carnival ships also visit Progreso, Costa Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada and Mazatlan. Among the most popular shore excursions on Mexico cruises is the Ancient City of Tulum. A guided tour explores the main temples of "El Castillo," the Temple of the Descendent God, the Maya Water Temple, and the Temple of the Frescoes. Also extremely popular is Xcaret Park: It offers a host of different activities including the aviary containing more than 1,500 native birds and the underground Blue, Manatee and Mayan rivers and the aquarium.