Celebrity Cruises plans to send its four newest Solstice-class ships and two renovated ships to the Caribbean in the winter of 2012-13. In all, Celebrity will offer 103 Caribbean sailings with 21 itineraries from three homeports from November 2012 through April 2013. The first full season for its fifth Solstice-class ship, the 3,030-passenger Celebrity Reflection, will be in the Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean International announced plans for its 2012 Alaska cruises and cruise-tours aboard Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas. As part of the global cruise brand’s return to Alaska for a 23rd consecutive year, Radiance of the Seas will sail seven-night north- and southbound itineraries between Vancouver, B.C., and Seward, Alaska, while Rhapsody of the Seas will embark on a series of seven-night cruises, roundtrip from Seattle
After a very controversial stint last year when Royal Caribbean Cruises threatened to boycott Trinidad and Tobago if its $6 million seized as evidence by the Trinidad and Tobago Customs & Excise Division was not returned to them, the Spain-based Royal Caribbean Pullmantur Group is now interested in strengthening ties with Tobago.
Celebrity Cruises has introduced new Asia itineraries for winter 2012-13, its first season in the region. The itineraries will be aboard the Celebrity Millennium, which Celebrity plans to “Solsticize” in April 2012. In Asia, the ship will visit nine countries new to the brand, including Vietnam, Thailand and China.
Carnival Cruise Lines is kicking off its 2011 Bermuda program, which will operate a record 16 departures from four eastern U.S. homeports -- Baltimore, Md.; Norfolk, Va.; New York; and Charleston, S.C. Carnival is the only cruise line offering Bermuda cruises from Charleston.
Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, is undergoing sea trials in the Adriatic Sea in preparation for its May 1 debut in Europe. Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, the 3,690-passenger vessel had a full contingent of officers, technicians and engineers on board who tested the Carnival Magic’s navigation and mechanical systems.