Diamond Princess Returns to U.S.
The cruise ship that made Coronavirus headlines around the globe at the start of the pandemic is now back in the United States.
After sailing the last nine years in Asia, Diamond Princess will spend the fall sailing from California, offering California coastal cruises and sailings to Mexico. The ship is slated to return to service on September 1.
A second Princess ship, Sapphire Princess, which was also based in Asia, is also set to return to California later this month.
Princess expects a full return to service of every ship in the fleet by the end of next month.
Royal Caribbean Shares New Galveston Terminal Update
Royal Caribbean shared progress this week on its new $126 million cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas.
The building is nearing the final stages of construction ahead of a scheduled November 2022 completion date. Electric and air conditioning installation is now complete, and final outfitting including interior design, furnishings, and IT systems are now underway.
The 161,300 square foot building will be home to one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Allure of the Seas, as well as Adventure and Radiance of the Seas.
The facility will be one of the most technologically-advanced cruise terminals in the United States.
Carnival Permanently Discontinues Hairy Chest Contest
Carnival has confirmed that the popular hairy chest contest =— which seemed to be quietly phased out as ships returned to service last year — will not be coming back.
The official reason is to provide for a more family-friendly atmosphere on the pool deck.
Each sailing will now have a variety of activities taking place on the Lido deck, including music-themed challenges, synchronized swimming contests, bartending competitions, and Groove For St. Jude — a dance party raising money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.