Keel Laid For First Icon-Class Ship
Royal Caribbean has laid the keel for its first Icon-class ship, Icon of the Seas.
A ceremony took place at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, where a 3,000 ton crane lifted a steel block into place on top of coins representing both the shipyard and line. The coins are meant to bring good luck during construction, and will be given to Icon’s captain and crew before setting sail.
Icon of the Seas is the first of three Royal Caribbean ships that will be powered by liquefied natural gas. It is scheduled to debut in fall 2023.
STORY: Royal Caribbean Lays Keel For First Icon Class Ship
Carnival Adjusts Shore Excursion Policy
Carnival has adjusted its shore excursion policy for unvaccinated kids. Unvaccinated kids 11 and younger can now go ashore in most ports without restrictions. Previously, they had to be on a Carnival shore excursion to debark.
Unvaccinated passengers 12 and older who are sailing under an exemption must still book a Carnival tour to debark the ship.
Ports that still require that guests 12 and older be vaccinated to debark, without exception, are Bermuda, Bonaire, Grand Cayman, St. Kitts, and Tortola. In Grand Turk, unvaccinated guests 16 and older can’t get off the ship, either. Limon and San Juan require that all cruise visitors, regardless of their age, be vaccinated to debark.
On sailings that visit one of Carnival’s private ports, all guests, regardless of their vaccination status, can go ashore freely.
STORY: Carnival Makes Big Protocol Change For Unvaccinated Kids
British Columbia’s First Cruise Visit of the Season Canceled
British Columbia’s first cruise call has been canceled, delaying the start of the 2022 season.
Princess Cruises has canceled the San Francisco to Vancouver portion of Caribbean Princess’ Panama Canal voyage, as the ship is set to enter dry dock in Oregon a few days earlier than expected. It was previously set to visit Victoria on April 6, and then end the sailing in Vancouver on April 7.
Now, the first cruise ship in British Columbia this year will be Holland America’s Koningsdam in Victoria on April 9. The ship will then visit Vancouver on April 10.
STORY: Princess Cancels Voyage, Delaying Start Of Canada’s Pacific Cruise Season
![Sun Princess Christened in Barcelona by Hannah Waddingham, Princess Cruises [PHOTOS]](https://cruiseradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sun-Princess-Christening-6-300x169.jpg)
