Fifty years ago, Carnival Cruise Line was founded in Miami, USA, by Ted Arison, starting with a former transatlantic liner he had bought from Canadian Pacific Line and renamed Mardi Gras. Since then, it’s fair to say that the last 50 years have been a success. From those first sailings, Carnival has gone on to become the world’s largest cruise line with 23 ships in its fleet in 2022, keeping entertainment at the center of its cruise experience while taking millions of passengers to beautiful destinations each year.
Christine Duffy, who has led the cruise line as president since 2015, believes that this success is founded on the hard work of the crew members who create a welcoming and pleasant atmosphere on board.
“When we ask guests why they keep sailing with us, some cite our great entertainment, while others talk about our extensive dining and beverage offerings, but there’s one thing they all mention: the crew,” she says. “It is our crew that strengthens the loyalty of a carnival guest. From remembering guests’ names to always greeting them with a smile – our ship’s team members make sure to go above and beyond to make every guest feel special and part of the Carnival family. Carnival team members are at the core of our success.”
Like the rest of the cruise industry, Carnival has faced some of the most challenging times in its history, particularly over the past few years after the Covid-19 pandemic halted its cruises. However, the company’s return quickly increased after Carnival Vista welcomed its first guests in July 2021. Duffy counts that period as one of the most important in her time at Carnival.
“Many of the most memorable moments occurred when we relaunched our ships – starting with the Carnival Vista sailing from Galveston, USA, continuing to Miami and then Port Canaveral for the arrival of our ship, the Mardi Gras, to the moment we marked. returning our full fleet to Seattle ahead of our biggest season in Alaska and just restarting operations in Australia,” she says. “I had the honor and opportunity to visit almost all of our ships as operations resumed and it was a very exciting experience.”
During such a crucial time when Carnival struggled to bounce back from these challenges, it chose to focus on planning itineraries on its home turf in the US, capitalizing on its extensive in-country experience and its appeal to the family market. .
“We’re known as ‘America’s Cruise Line,’ and we’re proud of that,” says Duffy. “With more year-round domestic ports across the US than any other cruise line, we are able to provide more entertainment more easily to more people. Our nationwide fleet deployment puts more than 50 percent of the population within a five-hour drive of one of our home ports. As our cruise holidays have such a strong appeal to the family market, it makes cruise holidays more affordable by reducing the need to fly into a port of call.”
With all 23 ships in its fleet back in service, Carnival is now looking forward to more success in the future. Duffy believes the cruise line’s best years are yet to come, with several new additions to be introduced to the fleet soon. The second of the Excel-class flagships, Carnival Celebration, will debut at PortMiami in November 2022, a celebration that will also include the inauguration of the port’s new and expanded Terminal F. The 471,000-square-foot facility will be Carnival’s third Miami terminal and largest in South Florida, and will feature a clean, open design that will allow it to accommodate the new class of ships.
“We have so much to look forward to, especially as this is our 50th birthday year, with five ships joining our fleet over the next two years, including Carnival Party,” says Duffy. “The new sister ship to our incredible Mardi Gras will be a welcome addition sailing from Miami in November.”
Duffy resumed operations in Australia by welcoming guests aboard Carnival Splendor on a celebration in Sydney in October 2022, marking Carnival’s first cruise from the country in almost three years. The brand will debut Carnival Luminosa in Australia in November, following the acquisition of the ship by fellow Carnival Corporation brand Costa Cruises in 2022. A third Excel-class ship will join the global fleet in 2023, while an interim program ‘Carnival Fun Italian Style’ will see Costa Cruises’ Costa Venezia sailing from New York City and Costa Firenze offering cruises from Long Beach, California.
Carnival will also expand its Mediterranean and European itineraries, with additional European cruises planned. Carnival Freedom, for example, will make two transatlantic crossings in 2023, with the first 14-night voyage departing from Port Canaveral, USA on September 29 and arriving in Barcelona, Spain on October 4. The ship will then sail to Florida on October 23.
“This addition will give our guests more opportunities to see beautiful European destinations, such as Barcelona, Valencia and Las Palmas,” explains Duffy.
Meanwhile, the brand plans to expand itineraries to the Caribbean from 2024, when it opens a new cruise port on Grand Bahama Island in collaboration with the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Government of the Bahamas. They opened in May 2022 and are developing the port on the south side of the island. It will include a pier that can accommodate up to two Excel-class vessels at a time, and will also feature a designated nature reserve, an indoor swimming pool feature and plenty of food and beverage retail outlets. operated by the Bahamas.
“Once completed, the new cruise port will be able to accommodate the largest ships in our fleet,” says Duffy. “We hope that the incredible new Grand Bahama destination will contribute to the local economy through new job and business opportunities, and will further expand our offerings to our guests, who will have an amazing new port to t It was enjoyed.”
This article was first published in the 2023 issue of Cruise and Ferry Itinerary Planning. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may have changed since then.
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