Canaveral to Get Sunshine, Liberty

New Carnival Ships to Call Port Canaveral Home

Sailing from Port Canaveral Post Card by CruiseReady 

In case you haven't heard - Next year, fans of Port Canaveral and Carnival Cruise Lines will have some new choices.  That's because, beginning in 2014, the line will re-position two ships that are currently sailing from East Central Florida's only cruise port, replacing them with two others.  Neither is a brand new ship, but both are new to Port Canaveral cruisers, and one has just undergone an extensive make-over.

The Sensation (pictured above) will be staying here, and will be joined by the Carnival Sunshine (replacing the Dream) in April and the Carnival Liberty (replacing the Ecstasy) in May.

Sunshine is the new name for  the older Carnival Destiny, which has undergone such an extensive refit that the cruise line felt it appropriate to re-christen her with a new name.  She'll sail 5, 7, and 8 night cruises, with each length sailing two choices of itineraries.

The seven and eight night itineraries of the Liberty will visit the same ports as those called on by the Sunshine.  The five night sailings will differ, however.

Sensation will continue to offer three and four night getaways to The Bahamas.

Ships Come and Go at the Port

Monarch of the Seas at Port Canaveral

Port Canaveral is gaining a new home ported ship next weekend, and will be losing one next year.

First, Saturday's gain. 
The New Disney Fantasy will be officially welcomed to Port Canaveral with a Sail-a-bration at Jetty Park next Saturday.  The Sail-a-bration is timed to see the Fantasy off on her 'maiden' boyage from the port, and will include prizes and entertainment.

I'm sure a good time will be had by all.  We've attended these Sail-a-brations in the past, and they're fun. 

Particulars:
DISNEY FANTASY SAIL-A-BRATION

Saturday, March 31, 4:00pm to 6:00 pm
Jetty Park
Admission: Non-perishable food item for the Central Brevard Sharing Center


Now, the Sadder News
Royal Caribbean has announced that they will be transferring the Monarch of the Seas to the Pullmantur fleet next year.  So, Port Canaveral will be losing their Sovereign Class ship.    

Her final sailing as a Royal Caribbean ship will be on March 29, 2013.

Even sadder is that no replacement ship for the Monarch has been announced.  However, the Port and Royal Caribbean are reportedly "in discussions" regarding the line "retaining a two-ship presence" here.

Oh, yes, please!
And can we have a Vision or Radiance class ship?  Or, maybe even a Celebrity ship?  OR BOTH?

And Ecstasy Makes Seven

Carnival Ecstasy
by Night Tracks (creative commons)

The Carnival Ecstasy sailed into her new home port of Port Canaveral on Monday night. And now, there are SEVEN ships home ported at Canaveral year round.  (Plus the Norwegian Sun, which homeports there half of the year.)

This is good news for the suffering local economy, as estimates that the addition of another ship at the port may generate as many as 400 "direct" jobs, and pump millions into the local economy annually.



And it's good news for cruisers, as the ship will broaden options for those cruising from Port Canaveral, offering four and five night voyages to The Bahamas.

There are two choices of four night itineraries, departing on alternating Thursdays:

• Nassau, Sea Day, and Freeport
• Nassau,. Half Moon Cay, Day at Sea

Five night itineraries, departing Mondays and Saturdays, also offer two options:

• Freeport, Nassau, Half Moon Cay, and a Day at Sea
• Nassau, Freeport, Key West, Sea Day

Related Articles:

Two Dreams come to Port Canaveral

Port Canaveral's New Cruise Terminal

Port Canaveral News - Tidbits from the Port

Queen Victoria at Port Canaveral

Here are several news tidbits from Port Canaveral.

A VISIT FROM A QUEEN and AMERICAN HAMBURGERS for 3 BRITS
The Queen Victoria recently visited Port Canaveral.  It was a pleasure to see one of Cunard's Queens, but mostly to finally meet a friend from England who I had 'known' as a fellow moderator for Cruise Line Fans forum. He and his party paid a visit to KSC, then lunched at the Cocoa Beach Pier.  All three were eager to order a "real American hamburger."  Once the meals arrived, they  took pictures of them, so they could show the folks back home what a real burger looks like!

My plan had been to get a great photo of the Queen putting out to sea.  Alas, that was not to be, as we were being assaulted by a wicked thunderstorm at sailing time.  The above pic of  the ship, berthed at the Royal Caribbean terminal, have to do.

MORE SHIPS?  (Yes, please!)
Canaveral Port Authority Chief Executive Officer J. Stanley Payne recently told the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce that he is " negotiating with major cruise line companies" in an effort to increase the number of cruise ships that will home port at Port Canaveral in the future.  (Hooray, I say and I wish him much luck)

DISNEY SAILING FULL
The local media reports that the new Disney Dream is SOLD OUT through the fall, and that the line's other ships are booked at 95% of capacity through June, and over 80% through September.  So, if you are thinking of sailing on a Disney ship, looks like you'd best plan ahead!

PHOTOS of CRUISE SHIPS and More
If you are just longing for your next cruise, perhaps for now, you'd enjoy feasting your eyes on some nice cruise related designs and photos of cruise ships from a hand-picked selection of Zazzle photograhers and designers. They're in a little article I've put together featuring wall art, iPad cases, and iPhone cases that should appeal to avid cruisers.

A Treat - and a Travel Alert

Monarch of the Seas at Port Canaveral

Cruisers sailing on this Friday's sailing of The Monarch of the Seas may have an extra special treat, courtesy of NASA. 

The  Space Shuttle Endeavor is scheduled to lift off on its final mission - ever - at 3:47 pm.  Aim to be on board by 2 pm at the latest for a premium view of an event of a lifetime.  Be sure your camera is in your pocket, purse, or carry on.  You won't want to miss the opportunity to capture this historic event.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Expect unprecedented traffic on your way to the port.  If you are driving in the day of the cruise, be advised that you would be wise to allow an absolute minimum of  two to three extra hours of drive time from any direction.  And, truthfully, it's difficult to say if even that will be enough. The roads will be all jammed, especially the Beachline from the airport all the way to the port.

Port Canaveral to EXPAND with New Terminal, Berths, Dredging

Mariner of the Seas at Terminal 10 (2004)

HooRay!!! Port Canaveral in about to go into expansion mode.  Yesterday, the Port Authority gave their go-ahead for a new Cruise Terminal to accomodate the Carnival Ecstacy, and also a new berth at Terminal 10,  which is where the Royal Caribbean ships currently dock.  The Carnival Dream also uses Terminal 10, as do some other ships when making port calls here.

Now, here's a little tidbit that was only a mention in the article in Florida Today - also approved was a dredging project  ". . . that will help the port accommodate the largest cruise ships." 

Right now the three largest cruise ships that call Port Canaveral home are:

• Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas - 154,407 g.t.; length-1112';  passenger capacity - 3646 - 4375
• The Carnival Dream  - 130,000 gt; length -1004'; passenger capacity - ~ 3600-4000
• The Disney Dream - 130,000 g.t.; length - 1115'; passenger capacity - ~ 4000

 Sure sounds like some real possibilities of good things to come for the Space Coast from the cruise industry!

More about Port Canaveral's Two Dreams.

Ecstasy to Homeport at Port Canaveral

Sailing from Port Canaveral by CruiseReady

The Carnival Ecstasy will be added to Port Canaveral's fleet of homeported cruise ships on November 7, 2011. This will mean that Carnival will be sailing three ships year-round from Florida's Space Coast. She'll be joining her sister antasy class ship, the Carnival Sensation, and the much larger and newer Carnival Dream.

This is good news for our area, and we need it, because of the wind-down of America's manned space-flight program at the cape, and the accompanying reduction of the work force and Kennedy Space Cener.

NEW ITINERARIES!

The Carnival Ecstasy will offer some new short (four and five night) cruise itineraries that cruisers should find interesting.

FOUR NIGHT itineraries will call at the ports of Nassau and either Half Moon Cay or Freeport, departing each Thursdays.

FIVE NIGHT cruises will visit Nassau, Freeport and either Half Moon Cay or Key West, sailing on various Mondays and Saturdays.

The community here will be pleased to welcome this new addition to our home fleet, and smile as we wish Bon Voyage to cruisers experiencing this "new" ship and her new itineraries.

For more about Port Canaveral and some of  the cruise ships homeported there, see Two Dreams Come to Port Canaveral. 

Additional articles on cruise ships and cruising

As Always . . . for Almost the Last Time

As always, we were heard and felt the two booms a short while ago. As always, the cat was terrified, and tore through the house, looking for a hiding place. And, as always, we were grateful.

Yes, grateful - grateful that our shuttle has once again brought our space heroes safely back to earth, under the expert guidance of the incredible expertise of our folks at NASA. As always, for almost the last time... and (unless Washington approves a special request) the very last time for Atlantis.

Atlantis has flown more than 120 million miles over more than two decades, serving the US human space flight program well. Since 1985, she's been such an amaziing work horse, having done so much for us ... she's been to Hubble, docked with Mir, launched a probe to Jupiter, and, of course made all those trips to the ISS.

Today's landing marks the beginning of the end of an era, with only two more shuttle missions scheduled - one for each of the two remaining shuttles. It's been a glorious era ... and we're sad to see it drawing to a close. Sad for too many reasons to go into here, but I'm sure there are many who will understand.

And "sad" is just one of the words that comes to mind.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, ATLANTIS.

Disney Magic Delayed by High Winds

The Disney Magic, which was due in Port Canaveral earlier this morning for a turn-around, is reported to be stuck in The Bahamas, unable to leave due to high winds.

Of course, this means that the passengers currently on board the ship, who should have disembarked this morning, may be missing air connections. And those due to board for the next cruise, slated to leave this afternoon, are stuck in the Disney cruise terminal!

I'll bring you updates as soon as I know anything more.

Cruising Musings reminds everyone that it's always a good idea to plan to arrive at the city of your port of embarkation a day early and make post cruise travel plans that are flexible, as one never knows when something beyond anyone's control might alter the ship's schedule.

This cruise news brought to you by Cruise Ready Store, your source for cruise gear, travel accessories, and cruise and ocean liner memorabilia.

Today, We "Sail-A-Brate" the Dream

Today's the day that the Port Canaveral Dream Sail-A-Bration that will take place! The big ship from Carnival Cruise Lines is making a port call here today, prior to making a berth at the port home, beginning next month.

EVENT: Dream Sail-A-Bration
DATE: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
TIME: 5:30 to 7:30 PM
PARKING: (free) at Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal 4
REQUESTED DONATION: A non-perishable food item

The festivities will include a 'spectacular laser light show, ' live broadcast from a local radio station, Lite Rock 99.3 FM, and plenty of photo opportunities, as local area residents wish the passengers and crew of OUR new ship bon voyage while she moves along the channel on her way out to sea. Guests can also enter a drawing for a free cruise for four - in a penthouse suite!

This reminder brought to you courtesy of

Carnival Cruise Mementos at Cruise Ready Store

We'll Wake Up to The Dream Next Month

20 Days and Counting

As of today, we are twenty days away from the day when the Carnival Dream will call Port Canaveral her home port. After a 9 night Caribbean cruise, visiting Antigua, Tortola, S Thomas, San Juan, and Grand Turk, she'll begin sailing 7 night alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries.
The Dream's Eastern Caribbean itinerary will appeal to those who love to relax on board, with three Sea Days and three ports - St Maarten, St Thomas, and Nassau.
Her Western Caribean itinerary is a bit more port intensive, as she calls at four ports in a row - Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, and Costa Maya - with a Sea Day on each end.
So, it looks ike the huge new Dream will have something for just about everyone, with all lher new bells and whistles, and two very different itineraries.

The Dream Sail-A-Bration is this Wednesday at Port Canaveral.

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