NEWS — SPECIAL REPORT
Artist’s impression of the Havana Pool on Carnival Vista
Next year will be a big one for Carnival Cruise Line, with the launch of its biggest-ever ship and a return to Europe after two years’ absence. HOLLIE-RAE MERRICK reports from New York
Carnival Cruise Line will make a comeback in Europe in 2016 when it launches its biggest ship, Carnival Vista.
The US-based line, owned by
Carnival Corporation, announced in May 2013 that it would have no ships sailing in Europe during 2014, citing increased air fares as one of the reasons. At the time, Carnival bosses said they didn’t believe Americans, who account for most of the line’s passengers, would pay the rising transatlantic fares, but that they hoped to return to Europe again soon.
Carnival Vista Carnival announced its European comeback at a four-day launch event in New York last week, during which its summer 2016 itineraries and new facilities were also revealed.
The 3,936-berth Carnival SkyRide
Vista will begin sailing in Europe on May 1, 2016, with a 13-day itinerary from Trieste to Barcelona. The Vista-class vessel will then
operate 17 more European cruises, during which it will visit Athens, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Izmir, Corfu, Livorno, Marseille, Messina, Naples, Rome and Valletta. Following a transatlantic sailing
on October 21, Carnival Vista will then operate three sailings out of New York in October. The ship’s official home port has yet to be revealed, but the line said New York wouldn’t necessarily be its final home in 2016. Mark Tamis, senior vice-
president of guest operations, said: “We feel that this is the greatest ship to date – and certainly the best ship to come from Carnival Cruise Line. “This is about building on past success. We set out to make this our most innovative ship and to create a connection to the sea.” The ship will have the first Imax cinema at sea, as well as new dining options, including more alfresco restaurants. Carnival Vista will feature the line’s biggest Waterworks, which will include the 455-foot Kaleid- O-Slide. It will also have a Havana Pool at the rear of the ship. In terms of accommodation,
the vessel will feature two new types of stateroom: Havana Cabanas and Family Harbour. The family staterooms will offer ocean-
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travelweekly.co.uk — 29 January 2015
view, balcony and interior options. Families staying in a Family Harbour cabin will have exclusive access to the Family Harbour Lounge, which will offer games facilities and a concierge desk.
Cycling and dining One adrenaline-fuelled innovation on the ship is SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience 150 feet above the sea that allows passengers to race each other on an 800-foot track.
New dining options include the
Seafood Shack, which will serve anything from lobster rolls to chips. It will also provide alfresco dining. As Carnival looks to increase the number of outdoor dining options, speciality venues will also have outdoor seating for the first time, including American steakhouse Fahrenheit 555 and Japanese restaurant Bonsai Sushi. The RedFrog Pub will be the line’s first brewery, with ales and lager brewed on board.
UK agents lauded for switch-selling efforts
Carnival Cruise Line has applauded the efforts of agents who switch-sold customers to Caribbean sailings when the line pulled out of Europe in 2014. Adolfo Perez, vice-president
for new market and new product marketing, said the UK market was strong for the Carnival brand and that the decision to return to Europe was a result of the line constantly re-evaluating competition, capacity and demand. He said: “The UK market has been doing well for us and the work done there has been amazing, given our
size and that we have no ships deployed there. Agents have really supported the Carnival brand. Not only did our team find new agent partners who sold more long-haul, but we also worked with existing ones to convert them to sell long-haul through us. I am confident in the UK trade and our UK team.” While he wouldn’t commit to a long stint in Europe, Perez said he couldn’t see why the line wouldn’t remain in the Mediterranean if Carnival Vista’s 2016 sailings sold well. When the line last sailed in
the region, in 2013, the brand ran a TV marketing campaign. Perez said Carnival had yet to decide whether to launch a TV campaign next year.
SPECIAL REPORT
Carnival Vista to mark line’s return to Europe
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