Panama Canal 86% Complete. Does Carnival send bigger ships to Long Beach in 2016?

[Kobayashi]

As of 31 March 2015 the canal is now 87.5% complete.

 

[Kobayashi]

As of 30 April the canal is now 89.4% complete.

 

[GROUCHPUSS]

I think there will be a bigger choice on the west coast for all cruise lines...even if it just for a few months that a bigger ship is docked there.

 

It also shows that bigger isn't necessarily better as Oasis and Allure are the only ships that will not be able to fit through the new canal.

 

Since Carnival is exploring longer journeys its also likely there will be a few more Panama Canal longer cruises to add to the choices.

 

I would not count on a lot of new longer cruises going through the canal just to get to the other side, It cost a lot of money to lock through with a large ship and that just is not going to happen.

[jasong38501]

I think this is exactly why Carnival hasn't finished releasing all of it's schedule for the end of 2016. I think they are wanting to move Splendor to Long Beach and Miracle to Tampa but don't want to release those moves until they know they can get Spendor through an expanded canal.

[Alexv500]

I think this is exactly why Carnival hasn't finished releasing all of it's schedule for the end of 2016. I think they are wanting to move Splendor to Long Beach and Miracle to Tampa but don't want to release those moves until they know they can get Spendor through an expanded canal.

 

 

I feel this is exactly why they have been taking so long! There is supposed to be another announcement on the "dancing of the ships" on Thursday and John Heald mentioned it would be west coast/east coast news so I believe they are finally going to announce if Splendor will be coming back to Long Beach and that Miracle is going to Tampa. Fingers crossed we will finally know officially!

[love my grandkids]

I think this is exactly why Carnival hasn't finished releasing all of it's schedule for the end of 2016. I think they are wanting to move Splendor to Long Beach and Miracle to Tampa but don't want to release those moves until they know they can get Spendor through an expanded canal.

 

Sounds reasonable but questionable whether WC can support larger ships. Limited itineraries would seem to be the problem.

[AmberTeka]

In January of this year we had a Main interior on an 8 day cruise out of FLL for $249 pp cabin rate. The day we returned we did a 6 day out of FLL on the Conquest, a deck 10 interior, for $189 pp cabin rate. So sometimes Florida ports discount deeply, too.

 

YET Port Canaveral.....where they SELDOM discount.......NEVER gets a really good ship. We had the Dream. LOVED it.Sailed it four times. Took my entire family. they moved it.

 

then the Liberty. LOVED it. took my entire family. MOVED IT. It is discounting in Puerto Rio big time.

 

We got the Valor. No updates. We got the Sunshine. Good reviews. Awful reviews. And we are sailing the Sunshine soon.......and if it is good..CARNIVAL will move it in the next few months.

 

WHAT is it about Carnival NOT wanting to put a big new ship at Port Canaveral?

It is Texas. Texas. Texas.

Edited May 20, 2015 by AmberTeka

[AmberTeka]

Our Sunshine cruise..............with a casino discount.......for a 4J inside with obstructed window...on lobby deck cost me right at $1800 for two. and I am happy with that. Prices have continued to rise.............and now 6 weeks out of sailing.....prices are still going up.

 

That cabin today...........and all are now booked.....would cost me $500 more.

 

And I don't often quote prices,....but we sailed Princess Regal....new ship.......had the nicest balcony we have ever had..........deluxe obstructed balcony that had no obstruction that we could see and was huge (E409 if you ever book Regal) for $100 more. For real. It was a seven day cruise and the Sunshine is eight days..........but

 

YET......CARNIVAL WILL NOT PUT A TOP NOTCH SHIP IN CAPE CANIVERAL. I am sort of yelling. it is so irritating.

 

Can someone explain to me Why Not? What is the issue with Port Canaveral? & folks don't like going to South Florida much anymore ..Cape Canaveral much easier to drive too...and cheaper to fly into Orlando...................

Edited May 20, 2015 by AmberTeka

[Alexv500]

YET Port Canaveral.....where they SELDOM discount.......NEVER gets a really good ship. We had the Dream. LOVED it.Sailed it four times. Took my entire family. they moved it.

 

 

 

then the Liberty. LOVED it. took my entire family. MOVED IT. It is discounting in Puerto Rio big time.

 

 

 

We got the Valor. No updates. We got the Sunshine. Good reviews. Awful reviews. And we are sailing the Sunshine soon.......and if it is good..CARNIVAL will move it in the next few months.

 

 

 

WHAT is it about Carnival NOT wanting to put a big new ship at Port Canaveral?

 

It is Texas. Texas. Texas.

 

 

I have noticed that, Carnival has been totally unfair with one of its best selling ports. I'm also highly upset that they are sending everything good to Texas. Surprised the new Vista didn't get sent there. It's also sad how they are going to use such a big ship (the Liberty) for such short cruises. But soon in a couple years (Late 2016) Port Canaveral will finally have a good ship, the beautiful Carnival Magic. I'm thinking she'll have the upgrades by the time she arrives!

[Kobayashi]

Here are the most recent updates.

 

May 2015 - 89.8% Complete

June 2015 - 91.3% Complete

 

 

 

 

 

 

[N2Mischief]

We were aboard the Miracle repo, and the transit through the Canal (as well as the other 'exotic' ports) were amazing. This would be a journey that I would eagerly book again.

 

 

 

 

We were on that cruise as well. My absolute favorite cruise so far! If they offered it more often we would probably go every couple of years. I LOVED Guatemala!

[kteachcruiser52]

I think this is exactly why Carnival hasn't finished releasing all of it's schedule for the end of 2016. I think they are wanting to move Splendor to Long Beach and Miracle to Tampa but don't want to release those moves until they know they can get Spendor through an expanded canal.

 

 

I saw on the Hawaii Port Authority schedule that Splendor was scheduled to port in Kailua/Kona on October 22, 2017 and December 10, 2017. Bare Necessities Travel is advertising and currently taking reservations for a chartered nude cruise on the Miracle departing from Tampa February 5-14, 2017.

from this one could surmise that there will be these 2 East/West coast changes.

[stargate fan]

We were aboard the Miracle repo, and the transit through the Canal (as well as the other 'exotic' ports) were amazing. This would be a journey that I would eagerly book again.

 

We sailed Legend on her first leg of her repo cruise last August. Cruising through the Panama Canal was indeed amazing. We would also book another cruise to sail through in a heartbeat.

 

We were on that cruise as well. My absolute favorite cruise so far! If they offered it more often we would probably go every couple of years. I LOVED Guatemala!

 

I fell in love with Cartagena, Columbia. The Old City was beautiful. I want to go back so badly.

[tncap]

Definitely looking forward to booking either the Miracle or Splendor repo cruises when they are released.

[kteachcruiser52]

Definitely looking forward to booking either the Miracle or Splendor repo cruises when they are released.

 

We want to book one, too. We are leaning toward the Miracle. We will sail, on our first Spirit class Ship (Pride) for a 21 day B2B in January. After our cruise to Bermuda, we will have sailed on the Splendor for a total of 30 days.

Edited July 18, 2015 by kteachcruiser52

[buddylover]

I am planning/budgeting for 2018.

 

I was just there and it was thrilling to go through the locks in a ferry, I am sure it will be even more amazing to go through the new locks in a cruise ship.

 

It is very expensive to take a cruise ship through, I don't expect it to be a regular thing.

 

Other cruise lines have been going thru the locks (Princess) for years....not so sure what was holding CCL back was size of ship, but more like the cost to go thru the locks...the cost of the cruise would have to go up...so the more expensive costing cruise lines have always gone thru....not CCL!!

[joepeka]

I saw on the Hawaii Port Authority schedule that Splendor was scheduled to port in Kailua/Kona on October 22, 2017 and December 10, 2017. Bare Necessities Travel is advertising and currently taking reservations for a chartered nude cruise on the Miracle departing from Tampa February 5-14, 2017.

from this one could surmise that there will be these 2 East/West coast changes.

 

I'm curious where you found this. I've been to the HIDOT (harbors division) web site several times in recent weeks (today in fact) and the port schedules I can find only go out to the end of 2016.

 

Edit: Never mind, I found it. It also shows Miracle in Kailua on January 22, 2017 which is consistent with the rumors.

Edited July 18, 2015 by joepeka

[HawksFan74]

Other cruise lines have been going thru the locks (Princess) for years....not so sure what was holding CCL back was size of ship, but more like the cost to go thru the locks...the cost of the cruise would have to go up...so the more expensive costing cruise lines have always gone thru....not CCL!!

Actually, the size of the ship does matter. The maximum cruise ship size allowed through the current canal is 965 ft long by 106 ft wide. Of Carnival's fleet, only Fantasy and Spirt Class ships will fit. The primary Princess ships used to regularly transit the canal are the Coral Princess and Island Princess. These are similar in size to Carnival's Spirit Class. None of the Grand Class or Royal Class ships will fit.

[Kobayashi]

As of 31 July 2015 the canal is 93% complete:

 

[Denisomo]

Thanks for the good information , we were wondering . I would really like a cruise to the Panama Canal one day.

[Rogueperson]

Even other cruise lines limit their crossings. I am booked on a full Panama Canal Crossing with Celebrity. I wanted Princess, but Princess was slow in releasing their schedule, and even though I wanted Princess, princess doesn't even stop in Panama, it transits and goes to Aruba while Celebrity actually stopped in Colon (which I loved when i visited there on my Carnival Liberty cruise)

 

I wanted a full panama canal crossing for my honeymoon, and I had only a handful to choose from. Each line I looked, had only 2 offerings in this time frame. 1 east, 1 west, and thats it.

 

The fees are also higher than I've ever paid on any other cruise. It was $315.00/person for port charges and fees.

[Kobayashi]

As of 31 August 2015 the canal is 93.1% complete:

 

[wildcatcruzer]

Good luck with 2016... I was just there 3 weeks ago, and they have hardly started the new bridge and road that needs to be complete before they can finish the new canal... Our tour guide said the optimistic people are shooting for 2017 to be complete.... others think 2018 or 19....

 

We were there this past March and our guide told us the same thing. Went as far to say 2020 is a big possibility :eek:

[Cruiseboy06]

Wheres the link to Hawaii's schedule? I only found 2015/2016 not 2017... I'm looking for Hawaii cruise info for my friend. He wants do the 15 day cruise from Long Beach to Hawaii in 2017. He wants to go on Miracle again..

[SadieN]

Wheres the link to Hawaii's schedule? I only found 2015/2016 not 2017... I'm looking for Hawaii cruise info for my friend. He wants do the 15 day cruise from Long Beach to Hawaii in 2017. He wants to go on Miracle again..

 

 

Look on the Port of Honolulu cruise ship calendar. It might be on it.