Cruise Radio News Briefs — February 23, 2021 [VIDEO]

CDC May Release Technical Cruise Regulations Within Days

According to Michael Bayley, president of Royal Caribbean International, the CDC’s technical regulations for cruise resumption may be released in a matter of days.

The next step will be trial sailings with volunteers, which every cruise ship that sails from a U.S. homeport will be required to do. Late last year, Royal Caribbean put out a call for volunteers on these test cruises, and around 250,000 people signed up.

As of this morning, the line plans to resume sailing in May 2021.

P&O Celebrates Steel Cutting For New Ship

P&O Cruises celebrated the start of construction for its new ship during a virtual steel-cutting ceremony on Monday. The newbuild has been named Arvia, and will stand alongside sister-ship Iona as the two largest vessels in the P&O fleet. 

Like Iona, Arvia will be powered by liquefied natural gas which is a cleaner burning fossil fuel.

Carnival Launches New “Mini CFO” Marketing Campaign

Carnival Cruise Line has launched a new marketing campaign featuring its “Chief Fun Officer,” Shaquille O’Neal. In the promotions, the former NBA star has a “Mini CFO” sidekick to help promote Carnival’s short 3 to 5 night itineraries.

About half of Carnival’s fleet operates short cruise itineraries, which visit top destinations like Half Moon Cay and Nassau, Bahamas, as well as Cozumel, Mexico.

STORY: Carnival Rolls Out New “Mini Shaq” Marketing Campaign

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