You'll soon have a new option for an inexpensive Europe cruise
Budget travelers, take note: You're about to get a new option for a super-inexpensive cruise in Europe.
Budget traveler-focused Carnival Cruise Line on Tuesday announced that one of its biggest ships, the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic, would head to the continent in 2021 for a series of spring voyages.
The 14-deck-high "fun ship," as Carnival calls its vessels, will join the line's smaller, 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend in sailing out of European ports during the spring. That'll create a rare moment when two of Carnival's low-cost vessels are operating in Europe at the same time.
Carnival Legend already had been scheduled to operate in Europe from April 2021 to October 2021.
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Based in Miami, Carnival is known for affordable, easy-to-reach sailings out of U.S. ports. The line typically doesn't deploy many ships beyond North America. In most years, nearly all Carnival sailings are trips out of U.S. ports to such places as the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska. The company also has a small Australia operation that caters mostly to Australian vacationers.
The new Carnival Magic itineraries in Europe still are being loaded on the line's website.
The trips include a 14-night, transatlantic voyage from Miami to Barcelona that starts at just $669 per person -- less than $48 per night. That's about as low a fare as you can get these days for a two-week cruise that includes Europe calls.
Keep in mind that the above pricing includes not just accommodations on the ship but meals and entertainment, too. Taxes, fees and other incidentals such as drinks are extra.
Kicking off March 3, 2021, the transatlantic voyage is a relatively unusual one for Carnival. The itinerary includes not just a stop at Bermuda on the way over to Europe but a call in the Azores, too. Once in Europe, the ship will visit Lisbon, Portugal; and Malaga and Valencia, Spain; before concluding the sailing in Barcelona.
After arriving in Barcelona, Carnival Magic will be taken out of service for two weeks for an overhaul in a European dry dock. It'll then resume sailing with a short series of seven- and eight-night voyages out of Barcelona that include stops in Valletta, Malta; Marseilles, France; and Livorno, Civitavecchia (the port for Rome), Naples and Messina in Italy. Fares and specific itinerary details for these sailings have yet to be loaded onto the Carnival website.
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
Carnival Magic will return to North America in May via a 12-night transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to New York City. Starting on May 3, 2021, the sailing will feature calls at Cartagena and Malaga, Spain; Funchal, the capital of Madeira; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Fares for the May 3 sailing start at $719 per person -- about $60 per day.
After arriving in New York City, Carnival Magic will operate a summer schedule of four- to nine-night voyages to Bermuda; the Bahamas; the Caribbean; and Canada and New England. The trips will take place between June 2021 and late September 2021.
Carnival Magic's deployment to Europe for several months in 2021 is being driven, in part, by a need for the ship to undergo routine maintenance in dry dock. Carnival typically has routine maintenance of its ships performed in North American shipyards. But a lack of available space at North American shipyards has prompted the line to begin sending its vessels further afield.
Carnival is the world's biggest cruise line by number of ships.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.