"Dancing of the Ships" Speculation

[Crusin5252]

A couple of weeks ago, JH hinted that there would be 1 or possibly 2 cruises through the Panama Canal in 2018. I wonder when we will hear more about those.

[kybluecruiser]

A couple of weeks ago, JH hinted that there would be 1 or possibly 2 cruises through the Panama Canal in 2018. I wonder when we will hear more about those.

 

 

Prob when they get ready to announce vista 2 schedule for 2018

 

 

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[jasong38501]

Prob when they get ready to announce vista 2 schedule for 2018

 

 

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There should also be a canal transit in 2019 if they don't change their mind again about Splendor moving to China then. Of course I won't hold my breath on that.

[wo5m]

Prob when they get ready to announce vista 2 schedule for 2018

 

 

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It could be both in the same announcement, with the new set of locks opening later this month, all of Carnival's ship will be able to transit the Panama Canal. Up until now only the Spirit class ships are in the Panamax class and capable of using the current locks.

 

If Carnival is smart, they could one-up Royal Caribbean by putting the newest/biggest/best ship on the west cost. All of Royal's new ships are still way too big(PostPanamax), and would have to transit around South America to accomplish the same thing.

 

In a time with cruise lines are packing more and more people on ships for profit, Carnival could have ordered massive ships like Royal to fit more people, but they didn't. I think Carnival had "New Panamax" specifications in mind when they ordered Vista class ships.

 

This is not to say the Vista isn't big, she is, but not as big as many expected to compete with Royals's Oasis class.

 

Bigger isn't always better...well for some things:D.

Edited June 9, 2016 by wo5m

[jasong38501]

It could be both in the same announcement, with the new set of locks opening later this month, all of Carnival's ship will be able to transit the Panama Canal. Up until now only the Spirit class ships are in the Panamax class and capable of using the current locks.

 

If Carnival is smart, they could one-up Royal Caribbean by putting the newest/biggest/best ship on the west cost. All of Royal's new ships are still way too big(PostPanamax), and would have to transit around South America to accomplish the same thing.

 

In a time with cruise lines are packing more and more people on ships for profit, Carnival could have ordered massive ships like Royal to fit more people, but they didn't. I think Carnival had "New Panamax" specifications in mind when they ordered Vista class ships.

 

This is not to say the Vista isn't big, she is, but not as big as many expected to compete with Royals's Oasis class.

 

Bigger isn't always better...well for some things:D.

 

This is not quite accurate. Oasis class ships would actually fit through the new locks when they are completed but would not fit under the Bridge of the Americas. However Royal's actual newest class of ship, Quantum class, will fit once construction is complete. And Quantum class ships are significantly larger than Vista, so I seriously doubt Carnival was thinking about the canal at all when designing her.

[Alexv500]

Just read one of John Heald's Facebook posts that he posted today and he clearly hinted that Splendor might be coming back to California!!

 

"Some years ago I was on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles to join the Carnival Splendor which of course used to call California home (I wonder if will again ;)"-John Heald

 

 

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Edited September 4, 2016 by Alexv500

[Maraprince]

Any chance that Carnival will base more ships in NYC next year?

 

2016 wasn't the greatest to catch a Carnival ship out of NYC.

 

MARAPRINCE

[mississauga]

Just read one of John Heald's Facebook posts that he posted today and he clearly hinted that Splendor might be coming back to California!!

 

"Some years ago I was on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles to join the Carnival Splendor which of course used to call California home (I wonder if will again ;)"-John Heald

 

 

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May not be a permanent stay but possibly for some cruises. Splendor is slated to go to China. Now that the canal has widen, there is no reason why the Splendor can't go over and do some west cruises before she goes to China.

[jimbo5544]

May not be a permanent stay but possibly for some cruises. Splendor is slated to go to China. Now that the canal has widen, there is no reason why the Splendor can't go over and do some west cruises before she goes to China.

 

 

It has been slated for a while to do just that. We will see. I would love to sail the Splendor to the west coast.

 

 

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[mississauga]

It has been slated for a while to do just that. We will see. I would love to sail the Splendor to the west coast.

 

 

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Me too. Especially the trans Pacific to China. Was hoping to go on the Miracle in 2018 but now they have changed it to the Spirit. So hope the Splendor does a TP in 2019.

[RC Dancers]

Just read one of John Heald's Facebook posts that he posted today and he clearly hinted that Splendor might be coming back to California!!

 

We would love to sail the Splendor again from Long Beach.

[tonit964]

It would be nice if they would put one of the ships here on the west coast that has the the full 2.0 upgrades.

ETA: for the 7 day run.

Edited September 5, 2016 by tonit964

[mississauga]

It would be nice if they would put one of the ships here on the west coast that has the the full 2.0 upgrades.

ETA: for the 7 day run.

 

It has been announced that the Imagination is getting the 2.0 upgrades

[vwrestler171]

It has been announced that the Imagination is getting the 2.0 upgrades

 

Imagination doesn't do the 7 day run that the poster was wishing for.

 

I think 2018 will have the Miracle doing a Panama Canal transit going east and I plan to be on the ship that will be replacing her coming west. I'm hoping it is a 2.0'd ship and not Splendor.

[Micahs Grandad]

Any chance that Carnival will base more ships in NYC next year?

 

2016 wasn't the greatest to catch a Carnival ship out of NYC.

 

MARAPRINCE

 

They seem to have decided that the return out of NYC is not as good as elsewhere such as Florida.

 

When they do NYC they use an older ship competing against a much newer ship from other cruise lines

[falkcor]

Any chance that Carnival will base more ships in NYC next year?

 

2016 wasn't the greatest to catch a Carnival ship out of NYC.

 

MARAPRINCE

 

i do not think they will base more than one ship out of NYC, and as i'm sure you're aware what they do send is only seasonal at this point. looks like we have sunshine out of NYC again next year. carnival thinks very highly of sunshine, it is of course one of their 'newest ships' :rolleyes:

 

other lines are more committed to the NY market with RCCL anthem of the seas (and vision / rhapsody), NCL breakaway (and gem), regal princess, etc. - among their newest / best ships, and including year round options.

 

they made a big to-do about basing a ship year round out of NYC a few years ago, but that didn't last long. i don't see them back tracking, it seems they have ceded the NYC market to the competition. i think part of their problem in strategy was refusing to deviate from the 8 night cruises with splendor, and severely lacking itineraries. i did the port canaveral, nassau, freeport itinerary in january so i can say that.

[jimbo5544]

i do not think they will base more than one ship out of NYC, and as i'm sure you're aware what they do send is only seasonal at this point. looks like we have sunshine out of NYC again next year. carnival thinks very highly of sunshine, it is of course one of their 'newest ships' :rolleyes:

 

 

 

other lines are more committed to the NY market with RCCL anthem of the seas (and vision / rhapsody), NCL breakaway (and gem), regal princess, etc. - among their newest / best ships, and including year round options.

 

 

 

they made a big to-do about basing a ship year round out of NYC a few years ago, but that didn't last long. i don't see them back tracking, it seems they have ceded the NYC market to the competition. i think part of their problem in strategy was refusing to deviate from the 8 night cruises with splendor, and severely lacking itineraries. i did the port canaveral, nassau, freeport itinerary in january so i can say that.

 

 

While the "newness" of the Sunshine can be dated, it certainly is one of the most popular. That said, I doubt they will go back to full time in NYC, not a big loss in my book. I am sailing on the Pride out of Baltimore for NYE cruise this year and second guessing our decision....just too cold.

 

Carnival is doing more Bermuda cruises next year out of New York. I doubt they will deviate from the 8 day basics.....although they are starting down that path (journeys). More would be interesting.

 

 

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Edited September 5, 2016 by jimbo5544

[Micahs Grandad]

While the "newness" of the Sunshine can be dated, it certainly is one of the most popular. That said, I doubt they will go back to full time in NYC, not a big loss in my book. I am sailing on the Pride out of Baltimore for NYE cruise this year and second guessing our decision....just too cold.

 

Carnival is doing more Bermuda cruises next year out of New York. I doubt they will deviate from the 8 day basics.....although they are starting down that path (journeys). More would be interesting.

 

 

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If ths Sunshining thing was so great they would have done it for more ships.

 

Dont blame them for not basing ships out of NY and sometimes Baltimore in the winter. Would much rather travel down to Florida and have 7-8 days of warm weather cruising than losing at least a day each way from cold weather.

 

Not to mention what could happen when blizzards come a calling

[jimbo5544]

If ths Sunshining thing was so great they would have done it for more ships.

 

 

 

Dont blame them for not basing ships out of NY and sometimes Baltimore in the winter. Would much rather travel down to Florida and have 7-8 days of warm weather cruising than losing at least a day each way from cold weather.

 

 

 

Not to mention what could happen when blizzards come a calling

 

 

The reasons for what they did to that ship were unique and temporary. At some point they may continue that again, but the need is no longer there. Without totally dragging this off topic, the Sunshine far exceeded our expectations when we finally got on her. Can't argue with the weather perspective.....

Edited September 5, 2016 by jimbo5544

[Maraprince]

While the "newness" of the Sunshine can be dated, it certainly is one of the most popular. That said, I doubt they will go back to full time in NYC, not a big loss in my book. I am sailing on the Pride out of Baltimore for NYE cruise this year and second guessing our decision....just too cold.

 

Carnival is doing more Bermuda cruises next year out of New York. I doubt they will deviate from the 8 day basics.....although they are starting down that path (journeys). More would be interesting.

 

 

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Rather do 8-day Bermuda with Carnival out of NYC than with NCL. So much more to do on a Carnival ship, better and more food choices, etc. No contest!

 

 

MARAPRINCE

[jimbo5544]

Rather do 8-day Bermuda with Carnival out of NYC than with NCL. So much more to do on a Carnival ship, better and more food choices, etc. No contest!

 

 

 

 

 

MARAPRINCE

 

 

I would agree.....

 

 

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[tidecat]

Imagination doesn't do the 7 day run that the poster was wishing for.

 

 

 

I think 2018 will have the Miracle doing a Panama Canal transit going east and I plan to be on the ship that will be replacing her coming west. I'm hoping it is a 2.0'd ship and not Splendor.

 

 

Miracle is going to China in 2018, Splendor is going to China in 2019:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7000

 

Effectively, Horizon is replacing Splendor in MIA/FLL and Splendor is replacing Miracle in Long Beach. Assuming Legend keeps splitting time between Australia and Alaska, I would expect a Conquest-class ship (probably Valor) to move to Long Beach. Vista 3 comes in behind that ship around November 2020 to fill the vacant slot in Port Canaveral (Valor), Miami (Glory), or Galveston (Liberty/Freedom).

 

The other possibility is that Carnival pulls Legend from Australia to be based on the West Coast year-round, taking Miracle's Mexican itineraries during the winter, and keeping her Alaska itineraries during the summer months. P&O Australia will be getting two Vista-class ships in 2019 and 2020, so there will be plenty of tonnage even without a Carnival-branded ship.

 

I should also throw out that Carnival only has a one year contract with Mobile that expires in November 2017, so Fantasy could be on the move again if Carnival deems it more important to keep a full house in Galveston or Florida. Having grown up in Mobile, I hope that is not the case, but I would not be surprised.

 

 

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[firemanbobswife]

Miracle is going to China in 2018, Splendor is going to China in 2019:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7000

 

Effectively, Horizon is replacing Splendor in MIA/FLL and Splendor is replacing Miracle in Long Beach. Assuming Legend keeps splitting time between Australia and Alaska, I would expect a Conquest-class ship (probably Valor) to move to Long Beach. Vista 3 comes in behind that ship around November 2020 to fill the vacant slot in Port Canaveral (Valor), Miami (Glory), or Galveston (Liberty/Freedom).

 

The other possibility is that Carnival pulls Legend from Australia to be based on the West Coast year-round, taking Miracle's Mexican itineraries during the winter, and keeping her Alaska itineraries during the summer months. P&O Australia will be getting two Vista-class ships in 2019 and 2020, so there will be plenty of tonnage even without a Carnival-branded ship.

 

I should also throw out that Carnival only has a one year contract with Mobile that expires in November 2017, so Fantasy could be on the move again if Carnival deems it more important to keep a full house in Galveston or Florida. Having grown up in Mobile, I hope that is not the case, but I would not be surprised.

 

 

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Interesting. Do you think they would sell the Fantasy if they leave Mobile? I wonder how long the Fantasy class ships will stick around with the new builds taking up berths.

[Thorncroft]

Interesting. Do you think they would sell the Fantasy if they leave Mobile? I wonder how long the Fantasy class ships will stick around with the new builds taking up berths.

 

There's not much of a market for used cruise ships right now. Fantasy class will be around for a while.

[firemanbobswife]

There's not much of a market for used cruise ships right now. Fantasy class will be around for a while.

 

You don't think they would sell them to China? Seems like it's becoming a booming cruise ship market over there.