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Port of Oranjestad, Aruba Live Ship Traffic / Marine Traffic - Cruising Earth

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Ships in Port ARUBA, Aruba

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Aruba, Aruba (AWAUA)

Port of Aruba is located in Aruba at 12.4645N, 69.9789W. No vessels have arrived within the past 24 hours and 3 ships are expected to arrive in the next 30 days.

Port time: Apr 4, 06:48

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Port of Aruba vessel arrivals, departures, scheduled arrivals and ships in port are detected by processing of AIS data. Weather data is based on GFS model (NCEP/NWS). The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of Port of Aruba data.

• Norwegian Sky 2.405 passengers 04 Apr 2024 - 20:00
• Seabourn Ovation 638 passengers 05 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• Celebrity Beyond 3.373 passengers 07 Apr 2024 - 18:00
• Symphony Of The Seas 6.370 passengers 09 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• Carnival Magic 4.428 passengers 10 Apr 2024 - 15:00
• ms Nieuw Amsterdam 2.527 passengers 10 Apr 2024 - 17:00
• Marella Voyager 2.669 passengers 10 Apr 2024 - 20:00
• Norwegian Prima 3.950 passengers 10 Apr 2024 - 20:00
• MSC Divina 4.202 passengers 11 Apr 2024 - 14:00
• Rhapsody Of The Seas 2.431 passengers 11 Apr 2024 - 18:00
• Norwegian Sky 2.405 passengers 11 Apr 2024 - 20:00
• Carnival Pride 2.549 passengers 12 Apr 2024 - 22:00
• Brilliant Lady 2.860 passengers 15 Apr 2024 - 23:59
• Rhapsody Of The Seas 2.431 passengers 16 Apr 2024 - 21:00
• Carnival Horizon 4.716 passengers 16 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• Odyssey Of The Seas 4.819 passengers 17 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• Norwegian Prima 3.950 passengers 20 Apr 2024 - 19:00
• Norwegian Sky 2.405 passengers 21 Apr 2024 - 20:00
• Disney Magic 2.456 passengers 22 Apr 2024 - 16:45
• Symphony Of The Seas 6.370 passengers 23 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• Carnival Vista 4.716 passengers 23 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• Adventure Of The Seas 4.058 passengers 30 Apr 2024 - 20:00
• Celebrity Beyond 3.373 passengers 30 Apr 2024 - 22:00
• Carnival Horizon 4.716 passengers 30 Apr 2024 - 23:00
• Celebrity Reflection 3.655 passengers 30 Apr 2024 - 23:59
• Carnival Magic 4.428 passengers 07 May 2024 - 22:00
• Adventure Of The Seas 4.058 passengers 14 May 2024 - 20:00
• Carnival Horizon 4.716 passengers 14 May 2024 - 22:00
• Rhapsody Of The Seas 2.431 passengers 15 May 2024 - 20:00
• Seven Seas Mariner 779 passengers 20 May 2024 - 21:00
• Celebrity Beyond 3.373 passengers 21 May 2024 - 21:00
• Celebrity Reflection 3.655 passengers 21 May 2024 - 21:00
• Carnival Vista 4.716 passengers 21 May 2024 - 23:00
• Carnival Celebration 6.338 passengers 22 May 2024 - 22:00
• Island Princess 2.657 passengers 27 May 2024 - 22:00
• Carnival Horizon 4.716 passengers 28 May 2024 - 22:00
• Norwegian Jade 2.882 passengers 01 Jun 2024 - 20:00
• Celebrity Reflection 3.655 passengers 06 Jun 2024 - 21:00
• Adventure Of The Seas 4.058 passengers 11 Jun 2024 - 20:00
• Carnival Horizon 4.716 passengers 11 Jun 2024 - 22:00
• Silver Shadow 466 passengers 11 Jun 2024 - 23:00
• Carnival Mardi Gras 6.338 passengers 11 Jun 2024 - 23:00
• Rhapsody Of The Seas 2.431 passengers 12 Jun 2024 - 20:00
• Silver Shadow 466 passengers 13 Jun 2024 - 17:00
• Celebrity Beyond 3.373 passengers 18 Jun 2024 - 21:00
• Celebrity Reflection 3.655 passengers 18 Jun 2024 - 21:00
• Carnival Celebration 6.338 passengers 18 Jun 2024 - 22:00
• Carnival Vista 4.716 passengers 18 Jun 2024 - 23:00
• Carnival Horizon 4.716 passengers 25 Jun 2024 - 22:00
• Celebrity Reflection 3.655 passengers 04 Jul 2024 - 21:00

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Cruise schedule - Aruba Forum

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5 replies to this topic

https://www.arubaports.com/main/cruiseship-schedules/

aruba port schedule

Thank tou Andrea. There are sure a lot of them in April.

Yes that’s why I was hoping to see a schedule. Thank you again

You are most welcome

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Celebrity Equinox

Cruise line Celebrity Cruises

• Barcelona (Spain)
• Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)
• Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida)
• Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy)
• Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Celebrity Equinox current position

Celebrity Equinox current location is at Caribbean Sea (coordinates 17.14117 N / -61.90133 W) cruising en route to ST JOHNS ANTIGUA. The AIS position was reported 2 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Celebrity Equinox

Celebrity Equinox current cruise is 10 days, round-trip Ultimate Southern Caribbean . The itinerary starts on 01 Apr, 2024 and ends on 11 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Celebrity Equinox

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Celebrity Equinox Itineraries

Celebrity equinox review, review of celebrity equinox.

The 2009-built Celebrity Equinox cruise ship is the 2nd of the Solstice-class Celebrity liners, with sisterships Eclipse , Silhouette , Solstice , Reflection . Celebrity Cruises Equinox ship was scheduled for "Celebrity Revolution" drydock refurbishment on May 25, 2019.

The vessel (IMO number 9372456) is currently Malta- flagged (MMSI 249667000) and registered in Valletta .

History - construction and ownership

Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1988 as the Greece-based Chandris Line (cruise shipping operations between 1974-1996). In 1997, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) merged with "Celebrity Cruises Ltd" to become "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd" (RCCL). The "X" on ship funnels is the Greek letter chi (standing for "Chandris"). Common features of Celebrity Cruises ships include aft located glass-walled dining rooms, signature alternate dining venues, bars and lounges, spacious Atrium lobby areas, a large number of balcony staterooms, large sundecks with swimming pools, The Retreat (adults-only sundeck with full-size swimming pool, Jacuzzi, cabanas, poolside full bar service). Rooftop Terrace (top-deck outdoor lounge-restaurant-cinema), large Spa (with Thermal Suites), premium retail shops selling top-brand merchandise.

The 2900-passenger ship Celebrity Equinox started her inaugural journey on July 31, 2009. The cruise vessel gives a large variety of stateroom categories, plus Celebrity Cruises signature Concierge Class and the new AquaClass. Celebrity Equinox boasts a large theater, a lot of dining options plus a specialty restaurant for AquaClass guests, The Patio on the Lawn, a lot of bars and clubs, Solstice Deck, youth facilities, Online@Celebrity, and many other common and special features. There are new things, such as glass-blowing demonstrations and The Lawn Club, a live grass lawn between the ship's funnels on the upper deck.

Decks and Cabins

Celebrity Equinox staterooms (1426 total, in 30 grades) include 66x Suites, 1150 Balconies, 70x Oceanviews, 140x Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 195 ft2 / 18 m2. Around 85% of all passenger accommodations have a private step-out balcony. Most balconies are sized 55 ft2 / 5 m2. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 30. The largest are the Penthouse Suites (1290 ft2 / 120 m2 with terrace sized 390 ft2 / 36 m2).

The boat has 15 decks , of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins.

The 2019 refurbishment resulted in refreshed staterooms and stunning enhancements designed with passenger comfort in mind, now featuring Celebrity Cruises' exclusive eXhale bedding collection with King-sized Cashmere mattresses.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Celebrity's focus on dining means an abundance of options. Passengers are able to select from any time they feel hungry. The two fee-free venues on offer are The Silhouette Restaurant - Main Dining Room, and the Oceanview Cafe lido deck buffet. There is a second dining room, The Blu, exclusively for use by suite and AquaClass passengers. Added-fee specialty options open to all paying guests on Equinox include the Italian/American Tuscan Grille, the continental Murano Restaurant, and the pan-Asian Silk Harvest. More informal restaurants include the Cafe al Bacio, Bistro on Five, Gelateria, Mast Grill, and AquaSpa Cafe.

Follows the complete list of Celebrity Equinox restaurants and food bars.

• Murano (78-seats specialty restaurant, reservations only; with French cuisine, Five Senses tasting menu, Champagne High Tea Time; with Demonstration Kitchen for live cooking shows; also features the Wine Cellar annex)
• Silhouette Restaurant (1,402-seat aft Dining Room, with open seating Breakfast 8:00-9:30 a.m., Lunch 12:00-1:30 p.m., Afternoon Tea 4:00-5:00 p.m., and two fixed Dinner seatings - at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m., or "My Time Dining")
• Bistro on Five (68-seat creperie all-you-can-eat restaurant; offers lunch and dinner with table-side service)
• The Qsine (former Silk Harvest, 88-seat Asian specialty restaurant/sushi bar, reservation only) features both the brand's exclusive Le Petit ChefTM and Friends as well as the original Le Petit ChefTM, a couple of unique dining experiences developed via a partnership with TableMationTM and SkullmappingTM using innovative 4k technology
• Blu (130-seat AquaClass passengers only restaurant, reservations required; also serves Suite guests upon availability)
• AquaSpa Cafe (28-seat complimentary Solarium and Spa bar, self-service; offers healthy food choices for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
• Oceanview Cafe & Bar (768-seat indoor/outdoor self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary; open between 6:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, with a variety of food stations)
• Tuscan Grille (130-seat specialty seafood/steakhouse restaurant; reservations-only)
• Mast Bar (alfresco burger bar, poolside; offers complimentary lunch).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

For some of the best entertainment on Celebrity Equinox, head to the Lawn Club for an extraordinary demonstration of glass-blowing. Cool down with a drink just a few steps away, at the Sunset Bar at the aft of the ship. The Sin City burlesque show and late-night comedy on Deck 4 is another option. For typical cruise entertainment fare, enjoy the twice-nightly acts in Equinox Theatre, that are performed shortly after dinner seatings. In addition to the produced onboard shows, well-respected headlining acts include guest singers and musicians, magicians and theatrical productions.

The 2019 refurbishment included the launch of a new partnership with Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, boasting S.T.E.M.-focused activations and first-at-sea programming offered as part of the Camp at Sea for young vacationers. Impressive digital enhancements were also added, including the RFID lock technology and pervasive Xcelerate Wi-Fi. Travellers are able to experience the line's industry-first facial recognition technology via the implementation of Celebrity Cruises app, enabling expedited boarding and smooth port arrival, plus additional features like digital room keys and guest-to-guest chat.

Follows the complete list of Celebrity Equinox lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Equinox Theatre (1,115-seat show lounge for grand musical and show productions; hosts daily trivia games, bingo, classes, movies)
• Equinox Atrium "Grand Foyer" (3-deck open floor area with live music entertainment); Boulevard Shops (seven Atrium duty-free shops and boutiques); Galleria Boutiques (ten duty-free shops); Sun & Sea Shop; The Lawn Club Shop. World-class retail offerings were added in 2019, of which Kate Spade, John Hardy Boutique, and a new watch boutique featuring Hublot, Shinola, and other Swiss watch brands.
• Passport Bar (Atrium Lobby Bar with live entertainment)
• Craft Social (former Gastrobar) is a casual spot offering over 40 craft beers, wines and cocktails on tap, food favourites, flat-screen TVs, and leather seating
• The Entertainment Court (live performances, dance parties)
• Quasar Disco Nightclub
• Celebrity Central (200-seat show lounge for movies, musical performances, comedy shows; also hosts classes and games)
• The Retreat Lounge (former Michael's Club, piano bar); Martini Bar; Crush Bar (with a 12-seat table filled with ice cubes in the middle); Galleria Tastings (food and wine tastings, fashion shows, art auctions); Molecular Bar; Ensemble Lounge
• Photo Gallery & Shop
• Equinox Fortunes Casino
• Celebrity iLounge (24-hour Internet computers room; sells Apple computers; classes available)
• Team Earth (eco-awareness club)
• Game On (Card Room)
• Relaxation Lounge
• Sky Observation Lounge & Nightclub
• Cafe Al Bacio & Gelateria (54-seat a la carte specialty coffee, patisserie, ice cream; with the Gelateria - Italian Gelato ice cream bar)
• Cellar Masters (24-hour Wine Bar; features an Enomatic wine tasting system; provides Sommelier consultations in the evenings)
• Art Gallery; Library
• Acupuncture at Sea; Elmis Shop (Spa products); Aquaspa & Fitness complex with Persian Garden (Thermal Suite - rain shower, steam room, sauna, heated loungers), Therapy and Treatment Rooms, Hair & Beauty Salon, Solarium (adults area) and Aquaspa Cafe (spa bar)
• Unique new products and treatments were offered at The Spa by Canyon Ranch following 2019 refurbishment, such as 3 new Signature Couples’ treatments, Dyson Supersonic blow-outs at Canyon Ranch Blow-Out Bar, Mink and Rapid Lash services, new customized facials by Reveal Machine, and more
• Fitness Center (with separate Aerobics area)
• Solarium Pool area (with adults-only Thalassotherapy Pool and seawater lap pool; 2 Whirlpools)
• Pool Bar; Sports Pool;
• Family Pool;
• Wet Zone (children's water playground)
• The Hot Glass Show (live glass-blowing show; "The Corning Museum of Glass")
• Sunset Bar (alfresco bar, selling fine cigars)
• Patio on the Lawn (relaxation area); The Lawn Club (real green grass relaxation area)
• Kids clubs by age (Fun Factory 3-11 yo, Shipmates 3-5 yo, Cadets 6-8 yo, Ensigns 9-11 yo, with supervised age-appropriate activities, like arts-crafts, themed parties, games, movies, toys, interactive games, scavenger hunts)
• X-Club (teen-only disco and lounge area); Video Games Arcade
• Tennis Tables, Shuffleboard; Power Walking/Jogging Track; Multi-sports outdoor court; 3-hole Mini Golf putting, Lawn Bowling, Bocce, Croquet; Sun Deck area.

In 2023, Celebrity introduced pickleball playing (at the sports courts) fleetwide. The sports facilities are complimentary, including the pickleball equipment (net, paddles, balls) but operated with separate scheduled playing times for adults and families (with kids older than 6).

Pickleball Court's locations vary by ship class - on EDGE ships is at the Rooftop Garden (Deck 15), on SOLSTICE ships is on the Sports Deck (Deck 15), on MILLENNIUM ships - at the Multi-Sports Court (Deck 12).

Itineraries

Celebrity Equinox itinerary program is based on Panama Canal and Western Caribbean roundtrips with departures from Fort Lauderdale Florida USA . Equinox also operates in Europe on Mediterranean Sea voyages leaving from Piraeus-Athens , Istanbul and Barcelona , with seasonal Transatlantic crossings (RepositionCruises.com).

In summer 2017, Equinox started year-round Caribbean deployment with homeporting in PortMiami .

For winter 2024-2025 (November 21st thru March 1st), the ship was to be deployed in South America and homeported in Buenos Aires Argentina . However, in Aug 2023, Celebrity canceled the plan and replaced it with Caribbean voyages leaving roundtrip from Port Canaveral/Orlando - a first-time homeport for the company. Equinox's Caribbean schedule (November 2024 thru April 2025) listed 20x ex-Port Canaveral itineraries visiting destinations in Belize, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, Puerto Rico/San Juan, St Maarten/Philipsburg. Two itineraries in March 2025 included visits to Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay .

Celebrity Equinox - user reviews and comments

Photos of celebrity equinox.

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Other Celebrity Cruises cruise ships

• Celebrity Apex
• Celebrity Ascent
• Celebrity Beyond
• Celebrity Constellation
• Celebrity Eclipse
• Celebrity Edge
• Celebrity Flora
• Celebrity Infinity
• Celebrity Millennium
• Celebrity Reflection
• Celebrity Silhouette
• Celebrity Solstice
• Celebrity Summit
• Celebrity Xcel
• Celebrity Xpedition
• Celebrity Xploration

Celebrity Equinox Wiki

Celebrity Cruises Equinox is from the Solstice-class liners, with sisterships Eclipse , Reflection , Silhouette , Solstice . Equinox is the second Solstice-class vessel, built for the price of USD 750 million. The inaugural cruise was on 31 July 2009. As a Solstice-class ship, Equinox is among the most environment-friendly cruise vessels. She saves up to 30% more energy than a typical one due to her equipment of an efficient hull design coated with light-emitting diodes and the photovoltaic system. Equinox staterooms are in different categories including the new cabin types (signature ConciergeClass & AquaClass). 85% of all cabins are balcony rooms. Deck layouts show a convenient configuration of public spaces (entertainment venues located forward, restaurants - aft), 10 amazing places for dining out, spacious cabins (Inside rooms are sized from 185 ft2 / 17 m2).

Equinox had a scheduled 2017 season in Europe (Mediterranean), but the vessel was redeployed instead in the USA (Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from PortMiami Florida ) for summer 2017 (June, July, August).

In July 2016, Celebrity revealed that the Equinox ship starts year-round Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries out of homeport Miami in 2017. Beginning in April, the vessel (which typically repositions to Europe for the summer) offered a total of 24x departures from PortMiami, including 7-night itineraries (June through August) and 10-11-night roundtrips (throughout the rest of 2017).

• To start its ever-first Caribbean summer program, Equinox hosted an 11-night special cruise with 2 overnight stays in New Orleans (during the city's famous Jazz Festival / starting April 24).
• Celebrity wrapped up Equinox's summer 2017 Caribbean season with a "President's Cruise" (departure August 27). On this 8-night Eastern Caribbean voyage, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo (the company's President) accompanied passengers on shore excursions and also attended themed onboard events.
• In 2018, the liner was again Transatlantic repositioned to Europe (Mediterranean) for the summer.

FRIENDS-themed cruise 2022

In mid-June 2022 was announced that the "Fana World Travel" agency has chartered the Equinox ship for the "Cruise with Friends". The themed voyage was for the ultimate fans of the FRIENDS TV series (a sitcom of 10 seasons produced in the period 1994-2004).

The 6-day Caribbean roundtrip from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA) was scheduled to depart on May 15 (thru May 21, 2022) and visit Key West Florida , George Town (Grand Cayman Island) and Cozumel Mexico .

The unique vacation experience included a trivia game and a costume contest, among other planned onboard fun activities. The agency's website teased with "get ready to eat like Joey, joke like Chandler, cook like Monica, shop like Rachel, yoga like Phoebe and dig like Ross".

Agency's fares were per stateroom and ranged from USD 1650 (EUR 1360) for Inside cabins to USD 3050 (EUR 2520) for Sky Suites. Prices were inclusive of Gov taxes, port fees, gratuities, premium beverage package, unlimited Wi-Fi, USD 150 (shore excursion credit).

Celebrity Equinox refurbishment 2019 review

The ship's drydock in May 2019 was in Freeport Bahamas . The USD 70 million project was part of the company's "Celebrity Revolution" fleetwide renovation program.

The Equinox project included adding new staterooms (including Sunset Suites), upgrading all cabins with new furniture, programmable RFID door locks (wristband and card access), Bluetooth connectivity, adding The Retreat Sundeck (exclusive suite passengers-only relaxation complex, fka Solstice Deck), redesigning Oceanview Cafe (Deck 14). Cabin upgrades also included all bathrooms, new LED lighting, carpeting, drapes, bed linens, artworks.

Lawn Club was updated with 8 Alcoves and a large-size outdoor LED screen for movies. Sunset Bar was upgraded with a shaded lounge, banquette seating and hammocks. Xcelerate Wi-Fi Internet is now shipwide. The Fitness Center was upgraded with new cardio and weight equipment by Technogym. Onboard retail shopping was upgraded by adding the boutiques What Goes Around Comes Around (1993-established authentic luxury vintage merchandise), TARBAY (Venezuela-made jewelry), Lemlem (Africa-made shoes, handbags, resort wear), Tao Company Jewelry by Vanessa Arcila (Colombia-made jewelry), Point B (new destination shop), Hublot (luxury Swiss watches), Shinola (luxury watches, jewelry, premium leather goods).

Renovations were done to Photo Gallery, Art Gallery, iLounge. Redesigned were Casino Lounge, Casino Bar, Library. Renovations also received the Solarium and Pool Deck (deck 10). Upgrades were also made to all crew areas (cabins, gym, recreational spaces, outdoor bar lounge, laundry facilities).

Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Revolution program (USD 0,5 billion) is fleetwide (9 liners) and includes:

• Renovations to all staterooms and public spaces - to bring the onboard amenities and services up to the Edge-class ship standards. For staterooms were contracted HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates (US-based hospitality interior design company) and Kelly Hoppen (UK-based interior designer).
• All staterooms were upgraded with eXhale bedding sets (premium cashmere mattresses) and high-tech amenities (RFID locks, Bluetooth, Xcelerate / Wi-Fi Internet).
• Adding "The Retreat" - adults-only sundeck with full-size swimming pool, two Jacuzzis / spa pools, private cabanas, padded loungers, poolside bar service (food and drinks).
• Luminae Restaurant (Suites-only) was redesigned, new (custom-made) menus by chef Cornelius Gallagher were introduced.
• The new Qsine Restaurant offers "Le Petit Chef" (virtual dining-entertainment experience) created by Skullmapping artists and presented by TableMation Studios exclusively for Celebrity Cruises.
• Main Dining Rooms, Oceanview Cafe and Sunset Bar were redesigned, as well as most public venues
• In the wellness complex was added expanded SEA Thermal Suite.

Retail shops were expanded with new brands - including Hublot (luxury Swiss watches) and Shinola (luxury watches, jewelry, premium leather goods).

Holland America Line Announces 2025-26 Caribbean Season

• April 2, 2024

Holland America Line announced its 2025-26 Caribbean season, featuring nearly 30 different itineraries sailing between October 2025 and April 2026, according to a press release.

New for the season is the addition of Miami, Florida, as a homeport, as well as the return of the Koningsdam, deploying all three Pinnacle Class ships in the Caribbean. Port Everglades serves as the company’s main homeport.

Travelers can explore the eastern, western and southern regions of the Caribbean, as well as a partial Panama Canal transit.

  “This will be the first time all three of our Pinnacle-Class ships are in the Caribbean together, allowing for even more opportunities for guests to experience all we have to offer,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for Holland America Line. “With demand for Caribbean cruises remaining strong, we’ve planned a robust season allowing guests to choose the islands they want to visit and the ideal length for their vacation.”

Highlights of the 2025-26 Caribbean include:

• All itineraries include a visit to Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s private island in the Bahamas.
• Late-evening departures from Puerto Rico, Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire on select itineraries.
• Cuisine onboard highlights local flavors with regional favorites including yellowtail snapper and plantains
• 10 sailings in December exploring the waters of the Caribbean on cruises from seven to 14 days.

Travelers can extend their Caribbean sailing into Collectors’ Voyages for an even longer adventure. Ranging from 14 to 21 days, these longer journeys combine nonrepeating, back-to-back itineraries spanning more than one Caribbean region.

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March 26, 2024 - Baltimore Key Bridge collapses after ship collision

By Helen Regan , Kathleen Magramo , Antoinette Radford, Alisha Ebrahimji , Maureen Chowdhury , Rachel Ramirez , Elise Hammond , Aditi Sangal , Tori B. Powell , Piper Hudspeth Blackburn and Kathleen Magramo , CNN

Ship lights flickered and veered off course shortly before Baltimore bridge hit, CNN analysis shows   

From CNN’s Allegra Goodwin in London

The Singaporean-flagged cargo ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Tuesday altered course and veered toward a pillar shortly before impact, a CNN analysis of MarineTraffic ship-tracking data confirms.  

It’s unclear what caused the ship to crash into the bridge or why its lights were flickering. CNN has reached out to the National Transportation Safety Board to inquire about a possible power failure. 

The container ship DALI, which was en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, begins to change course toward the bridge’s pillar at 1:26 a.m. local time, striking the bridge at 1:28 a.m. ET, according to MarineTraffic data and video from the scene. Video from 1:25 a.m. ET shows a plume of dark smoke billowing from the ship. DALI's lights flicker at least twice before the incident.  

In video, as it navigates down the Patapsco River, the ship’s lights can be seen going out at 1:24 a.m. ET, before turning back on, and then flickering off and on again between 1:26 a.m. ET and 1.27 a.m. ET, just before it hits the bridge.  

Maryland transportation secretary says contractors were working on bridge at time of collapse

From CNN's Antoinette Radford

Maryland State Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld told reporters there were workers on the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the time of its collapse.

"We know there were individuals on the bridge at the time of the collapse, working on the bridge, contractors for us," he said at a news conference Tuesday morning.

Wiedefeld said the workers were "basically doing some concrete deck repair," but said they did not know how many vehicles were involved.

He added that the transport authority has set up a facility for family members of those who were believed to be on the bridge at the time of its collapse.

Baltimore fire chief: Sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace says authorities have detected vehicles submerged in the water.

“Our sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water,” said Wallace at a news conference on the collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge. “I don't have a count of that yet.”

He said emergency services are using sonar, drones and infrared technology as a part of their search for people and vehicles who may have fallen from the Key Bridge into the Patapsco River.

No indication of "terrorism" or intent in Baltimore bridge collapse, police chief says

From CNN’s Andy Rose

Baltimore Police said there was no evidence that the ship collision that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was intentional.

“There is absolutely no indication that there's any terrorism, that this was done on purpose,” Chief Richard Worley said at a news conference.

The FBI  said  that it was joining the investigation into the cause of the collision.

Rescue crews have determined there are vehicles in the Patapsco River following the bridge collapse.

“Our sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water,” said Fire Chief James Wallace. “I don't have a count of that yet.”

Wallace said they are waiting to make sure that the ship is secure and stable before investigators board it.

“Never would you think that you would see, physically see, the Key Bridge tumble down like that,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott said.

Cruises, cars and commodities: What to know about the Port of Baltimore

From CNN's Mark Thompson and Hanna Ziady

The collapse of the   Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River outside the Port of Baltimore threatens to disrupt shipping operations at a major US trade hub for autos, container traffic and commodities. Baltimore also has a cruise terminal.

Closer to the Midwest than any other port on the East Coast, Baltimore ranks first in the United States for autos and light trucks, handling a record 850,000 vehicles last year. It was also the leading port for farming and construction machinery, as well as imported sugar and gypsum. It was second in the country for exporting coal.

Overall, Baltimore ranks as the 9th biggest US port for international cargo, handling a record 52.3 million tons, valued at $80.8 billion in 2023.

“The immediate focus is the rescue operation, but there will clearly be a highly-complex recovery phase and investigation to follow and we don't know what impact this will have on operations at the Port of Baltimore," said Emily Stausbøll, market analyst at Norway-based shipping analytics company Xeneta.

“While Baltimore is not one of the largest US East Coast ports, it still imports and exports more than one million containers each year so there is the potential for this to cause significant disruption to supply chains," she added.

Baltimore's cruise terminal serves ships operated by Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian. Cruises carrying more than 444,000 passengers departed from the port last year.

According to the Maryland state government, the port supports 15,330 direct jobs and 139,180 jobs in related services.

Rescue crews looking for at least seven people in Baltimore bridge collapse

Rescue operations are underway near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, as crews look for people who fell into the Patapsco River.

“We are still very much in an active search and rescue posture at this point, and we will continue to be for some time,” Wallace added.

Baltimore Fire says two people have been rescued from the river – one who was uninjured, and another in hospitalized “very serious condition.”

“This is an unthinkable tragedy,” Mayor Brandon Scott said. “We have to first and foremost pray for all of those impacted.”

Ship that collided with Baltimore bridge was chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk 

From CNN's Alex Stambaugh in Hong Kong

The container ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday was chartered by Maersk and carrying their customers' cargo, the Danish shipping company told CNN.

"We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected," The company said in its statement.

The company, which has a full name of A.P. Moller - Maersk, said no company crew and personnel were onboard the vessel. It said the ship, DALI, is operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group. 

"We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed," the statement said. 

CNN is attempting to contact the owner and managers of the ship, including Synergy.

FBI Baltimore on the scene at the Key Bridge

FBI Baltimore personnel are on the scene at the Francis Scott Key Bridge, they have said in a post on X.

The agency said it was working "side by side with our local, state and federal partners."

Baltimore fire emergency chief says 2 people saved from water after Key Bridge collapse

The Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace says authorities rescued two people from the water this morning, one without injury and the other who has been transferred to hospital in a serious condition.

Authorities are continuing their search for upwards of seven people, Wallace says. But, he says that number could change as it is a "very large incident." Earlier on Tuesday, an official said as many as 20 people could be in the water.

Wallace added that the crew remains on board the ship, and are communicating with the US Coast Guard. He added that emergency services are looking into reports that there were workers on the bridge at the time of the incident.

Speaking at the press conference, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also described the incident as an “unthinkable tragedy,” and offered his prayers for all those affected, as well as his thanks to first responders.

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Jail Cells? Morgues? Your Cruise Ship Has Some Surprises for You.

Here are five unexpected features on ships, some of which you hopefully won’t discover on your own.

By Ceylan Yeğinsu

Cruise ships have hidden features that many passengers, particularly first-timers, don’t know about. Some ships are as big as small cities, and while it’s relatively easy to familiarize yourself with a seemingly endless number of amenities — water parks, tattoo parlors, multiple restaurants — there is also an entire ecosystem, often below passenger decks, that is shrouded in mystery.

Here are five things that cruisers may not know about cruise ships:

There’s a morgue …

Cruise ships carry millions of passengers each year, and it is not uncommon for deaths to occur on board. Most vessels are required to have a morgue and additional body bags in the event of an emergency.

The morgue, usually a small stainless steel refrigerated room on the ship’s lowest deck, accommodates between two to 10 bodies, depending on the size of the vessel. When a passenger or crew member dies, officials on the ship will notify the authorities on shore and a medical team will assess the body and move it to the morgue, where it is kept until arrangements are made for repatriation. In most cases, the body will be removed at the next port of call, but sometimes will remain on board until the end of the voyage.

…and a jail

There are no police officers on cruise ships, but most vessels have small jails known as the brig, and unruly passengers could find themselves locked up if the ship’s security team determines that they have violated the cruise line’s code of conduct.

The brig, usually a bare-bones room with a bed and bathroom facilities, does not have iron bars like a traditional jail cell. It is used to detain guests who commit serious crimes like assault or possession of illegal substances. Drunk and disorderly passengers may be put under “cabin arrest,” meaning they cannot leave their cabin without a security escort.

Depending on the circumstances, most passengers put in the brig will stay there until they can be handed over to law enforcement officials.

Many ships don’t have a Deck 13

Many cruise ships do not have a Deck 13 because of the widespread superstition in Western culture that the number is unlucky. Ships with a Deck 13 typically use it for public areas, not cabins.

Some ships, like Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class vessels, have a Deck 13 because the vessels are used mainly for the company’s market in Asia, where the number is not considered unlucky. MSC ships also have a Deck 13, but not a Deck 17, because the cruise line’s founder is Italian and 17 is considered unlucky in Italy.

Cruise lines entertain other superstitions, like appointing godmothers to bless new vessels and ensure the safety of passengers and crew. They also hold naming ceremonies in which a bottle of champagne is smashed against the hull of a new ship for good luck. If the bottle fails to break, the vessel will, according to superstition, have bad luck. These days, cruise lines use mechanical devices to ensure that does not happen.

Hidden pools and facilities for the crew

There are typically more than 1,000 crew members on board large cruise ships, and while they spend most of their time serving passengers, there are several areas on the lower decks designated for them to unwind.

The facilities vary from ship to ship, but there are usually small pools in the ship’s bow exclusively for crew members, as well as restaurants, bars and recreational areas like game rooms and gyms. The designated bar, a central social hub for employees after they have finished their shifts, often hosts live music and events in the evening.

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, has an entire “neighborhood” dedicated to its 2,300 crew members, with a clubhouse that has massage chairs and virtual balconies — large screens that show real-time views from outside — as well as a restaurant with portholes looking out to the ocean.

Most ships host A.A. meetings

With all-inclusive beverage packages and countless bars, cruise ships can be a tough environment for guests in recovery. Many cruise lines offer daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings that are usually scheduled as “Friends of Bill W.,” a reference to William Wilson, who co-founded the A.A. program in 1935.

The meetings are usually held in a quiet place like the library, where guests can feel comfortable and maintain their anonymity. They are also open to other support group members, like Women for Sobriety and Narcotics Anonymous.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Ceylan Yeginsu is a travel reporter for The Times who frequently writes about the cruise industry and Europe, where she is based. More about Ceylan Yeğinsu

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Six presumed dead after cargo ship crash levels Baltimore bridge

BALTIMORE — A major Baltimore bridge collapsed like a house of cards early Tuesday after it was struck by a container ship, sending six people to their deaths in the dark waters below, and closing one of the country’s busiest ports.

By nightfall, the desperate search for six people who were working on the bridge and vanished when it fell apart had become a grim search for bodies.

“We do not believe that we’re going to find any of these individuals still alive,” Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon N. Gilreath said.

Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, said earlier that one of his workers had survived. He did not release their names.

Up until then, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore had held out hope that the missing people might be found even as law enforcement warned that the frigid water and the fact that there had been no sign of them since 1:30 a.m. when the ship struck Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Moore expressed heartbreak after officials suspended the search for survivors.

"Our heart goes out to the families," he said. "I can’t imagine how painful today has been for these families, how painful these hours have been have been for these families."

It was a crushing blow to the loved ones of the missing men, who had waited for hours at a Royal Farms convenience store near the entrance of the bridge for word of their fate. 

Follow live updates on the Baltimore bridge collapse

The tragic chain of events began early Tuesday when the cargo ship Dali notified authorities that it had lost power and issued a mayday moments before the 984-foot vessel slammed into a bridge support at a speed of 8 knots, which is about 9 mph.

Moore declared a state of emergency while rescue crews using sonar detected at least five vehicles in the frigid 50-foot-deep water: three passenger cars, a cement truck and another vehicle of some kind. Authorities do not believe anyone was inside the vehicles.

Investigators quickly concluded that it was an accident and not an act of terrorism.

Ship was involved in another collision

Earlier, two people were rescued from the water, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said. One was in good condition and refused treatment, he said. The other was seriously injured and was being treated in a trauma center.

Moore said other drivers might have been in the water had it not been for those who, upon hearing the mayday, blocked off the bridge and kept other vehicles from crossing.

“These people are heroes,” Moore said. “They saved lives.”

Nearly eight years ago, the Dali was involved in an accident. In July 2016, it struck a quay at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, damaging the quay.

The nautical commission investigated the accident, but the details of the inquiry were not immediately clear Tuesday.

The Dali is operated and managed by Synergy Group. In a statement, the company said that two port pilots were at the helm during Tuesday's crash and that all 22 crew members onboard were accounted for.

The Dali was chartered by the Danish shipping giant Maersk, which said it would have no choice but to send its ships to other nearby ports with the Port of Baltimore closed.

The bridge, which is about a mile and a half long and carries Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River southeast of Baltimore, was "fully up to code," Moore said.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said that her agency will lead the investigation and that a data recorder on the ship could provide more information.

"But right now we're focusing on the people, on the families," she said. "The rest can wait."

President Joe Biden vowed to rebuild the bridge and send federal funds.

"This is going to take some time," the president warned. "The people of Baltimore can count on us though to stick with them, at every step of the way, till the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt."

Speaking in Baltimore, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg echoed the president's promise.

"This is no ordinary bridge," he said. "This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure."

But Buttigieg warned that replacing the bridge and reopening the port will take time and money and that it could affect supply chains.

The Port of Baltimore, the 11th largest in the U.S., is the busiest port for car imports and exports, handling more than 750,000 vehicles in 2023 alone, according to data from the Maryland Port Administration.

Writer David Simon, a champion of Baltimore who set his TV crime drama "The Wire" on the streets of the city he once covered as a reporter, warned online that the people who will suffer the most are those whose livelihoods depend on the port.

"Thinking first of the people on the bridge," Simon posted on X . "But the mind wanders to a port city strangling. All the people who rely on ships in and out."

Timeline of crash

Dramatic video captured the moment at 1:28 a.m. Tuesday when the Dali struck a support and sent the bridge tumbling into the water. A livestream showed cars and trucks on the bridge just before the strike. The ship did not sink, and its lights remained on.

Investigators said in a timeline that the Dali's lights suddenly shut off four minutes earlier before they came back on and that then, at 1:25 a.m. dark black smoke began billowing from the ship's chimney.

A minute later, at 1:26 a.m., the ship appeared to turn. And in the minutes before it slammed into the support, the lights flickered again.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said the workers on the bridge were repairing concrete ducts when the ship crashed into the structure.

At least seven workers were pouring concrete to fix potholes on the roadway on the bridge directly above where the ship hit, said James Krutzfeldt, a foreman.

Earlier, the Coast Guard said it had received a report that a “motor vessel made impact with the bridge” and confirmed it was the Dali, a containership sailing under a Singaporean flag that was heading for Sri Lanka.

Bobby Haines, who lives in Dundalk in Baltimore County, said he felt the impact of the bridge collapse from his house nearby.

"I woke up at 1:30 this morning and my house shook, and I was freaking out," he said. "I thought it was an earthquake, and to find out it was a bridge is really, really scary."

Families of bridge workers wait for updates

Earlier in the day, relatives of the construction crew waited for updates on their loved ones.

Marian Del Carmen Castellon told Telemundo her husband, Miguel Luna, 49, was working on the bridge.

“They only tell us that we have to wait and that they can’t give us information,” she said.

Castellon said she was "devastated, devastated because our heart is broken, because we don’t know how they have been rescued yet. We are just waiting for the news."

Luna's co-worker Jesús Campos said he felt crushed, too.

“It hurts my heart to see what is happening. We are human beings, and they are my folks,” he said.

Campos told The Baltimore Banner that the missing men are from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

Active search and rescue ends

The Coast Guard said it was suspending the active search-and-rescue effort at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"Coast Guard’s not going away, none of our partners are going away, but we’re just going to transition into a different phase," Gilreath said at a news conference.

Maryland State Police Superintendent Roland L. Butler, Jr., said it was moving to a recovery operation. Changing conditions have made it dangerous for divers, he said. 

Butler pledged to "do our very best to recover those six missing people," but the conditions are difficult.

"If we look at how challenging it is at a simple motor vehicle crash to extract an individual, I'm sure we can all imagine how much harder it is to do it in inclement weather, when it's cold, under the water, with very limited to no visibility," he said.

"There's a tremendous amount of debris in the water," which can include sharp metal and other hazards, and that could take time, Butler said.

'A long road in front of us'

Built in 1977 and referred to locally as the Key Bridge, the structure was later named after the author of the American national anthem.

The bridge is more than 8,500 feet long, or 1.6 miles. Its main section spans 1,200 feet, and it was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world upon its completion, according to the National Steel Bridge Alliance .

About 31,000 vehicles a day use the bridge, which equals 11.3 million vehicles per year, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The river and the Port of Baltimore are both key to the shipping industry on the East Coast, generating more than $3.3 billion a year and directly employing more than 15,000 people.

Asked what people in Baltimore can expect going forward, the state's transportation secretary said it is too early to tell.

"Obviously we reached out to a number of engineering companies, so obviously we have a long road in front of us," Wiedefeld said.

Julia Jester reported from Baltimore, Patrick Smith from London, Corky Siemaszko from New York and Phil Helsel from Los Angeles.

Julia Jester is a producer for NBC News based in Washington, D.C.

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

What we know about the container ship that crashed into the Baltimore bridge

• The ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday was the Singapore-flagged Dali.
• The container ship had been chartered by Maersk, the Danish shipping company. 
• Two people were recovered from the water but six remain missing, authorities said.

A container ship crashed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing its collapse into the Patapsco River.

A livestream showed vehicles traveling on the Francis Scott Key Bridge just moments before the impact at 1:28 a.m. ET.

Baltimore first responders called the situation a "developing mass casualty event" and a "dire emergency," per The Associated Press.

James Wallace, chief of the Baltimore Fire Department, said in a press conference that two people had been recovered from the water.

One was uninjured, but the other was transported to a local trauma center in a "very serious condition."

Wallace said up to 20 people were thought to have fallen into the river and some six people were still missing.

Richard Worley, Baltimore's police chief, said there was "no indication" the collision was purposeful or an act of terrorism.

Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, declared a state of emergency around 6 a.m. ET. He said his office was in close communication with Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary.

"We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration," Moore added.

Understanding why the bridge collapsed could have implications for safety, in both the shipping and civil engineering sectors.

The container ship is the Singapore-flagged Dali, which is about 984 feet long, and 157 feet wide, per a listing on VesselFinder.

An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report said that the ship "lost propulsion" as it was leaving port, ABC News reported.

The crew notified officials that they had lost control and warned of a possible collision, the report said, per the outlet.

The Dali's owner is listed as Grace Ocean, a Singapore-based firm, and its manager is listed as Synergy Marine, which is also headquartered in Singapore.

Shipping news outlet TradeWinds reported that Grace Ocean confirmed the Dali was involved in the collapse, but is still determining what caused the crash.

Staff for Grace Ocean declined to comment on the collision when contacted by Business Insider.

"All crew members, including the two pilots have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries. There has also been no pollution," Synergy Marine said in a statement.

The company did not respond to a request for further comment from BI.

'Horrified'

Maersk chartered the Dali, with a schedule for the ship on its website.

"We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected," the Danish shipping company said in a statement.

Maersk added: "We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed."

Per ship tracking data, the Dali left Baltimore on its way to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, at around 1 a.m., about half an hour before the crash.

The Port of Baltimore is thought to be the largest in the US for roll-on/roll-off ships carrying trucks and trailers.

Barbara Rossi, associate professor of engineering science at the University of Oxford, told BI the force of the impact on one of the bridge's supporting structures "must have been immense" to lead to the collapse.

Dr Salvatore Mercogliano, a shipping analyst and maritime historian at Campbell University, told BI: "It appears Dali left the channel while outbound. She would have been under the control of the ship's master with a Chesapeake Bay pilot onboard to advise the master.

"The deviation out of the channel is probably due to a mechanical issue as the ship had just departed the port, but you cannot rule out human error as that was the cause of the Ever Forward in 2022 just outside of Baltimore."

He was referring to the incident two years ago when the container ship became grounded for a month in Chesapeake Bay after loading up cargo at the Port of Baltimore.

The US Coast Guard found the incident was caused by pilot error, cellphone use, and "inadequate bridge resource management."

Claudia Norrgren, from the maritime research firm Veson Nautical, told BI: "The industry bodies who are here to protect against incidents like this, such as the vessel's flag state, classification society, and regulatory bodies, will step in and conduct a formal investigation into the incident. Until then, it'll be very hard for anyone to truly know what happened on board."

This may not have been the first time the Dali hit a structure.

In 2016, maritime blogs such as Shipwreck Log and ship-tracking site VesselFinder posted videos of what appears to be the stern of the same, blue-hulled container vessel scraping against a quay in Antwerp.

A representative for the Port of Antwerp told BI the Dali did collide with a quay there eight years ago but couldn't "give any information about the cause of the accident."

The Dali is listed as being built in 2015 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea.

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