A medical emergency on Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Jubilee forced the cruise ship to briefly turn back towards Galveston, Texas, late Sunday night, December 1, 2024. Just days later, Carnival Pride also encountered a medical emergency off the coast of North Carolina, requiring Coast Guard intervention. The first incident occurred hours after the 183,521-gross-ton ship … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line has taken a lot of criticism in recent years with changes in service and atmosphere in the Main Dining Room restaurants. Now, a particular action – or lack thereof – has come to guests’ attention and sparked some debate. The comment about wait staff in the restaurants was brought to the attention of John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador. Heald acts as a … [Read more...]

Sarah Bretz, ContributorSarah has been writing about the cruise industry since 2015, and in that time has taken a dozen cruises and counting. Her favorite onboard activities include trying the casual dining options, spending time in the spa’s thermal suite, and attending the love & marriage show. You can keep up with her on Instagram at @IAmSarahJaneB.See all author posts Source: … [Read more...]

Introducing a new ship to a fleet always brings excitement and increased bookings, but one cruise line has found its newest vessel and expanded cruise programs has led to its best year in bookings, ever. Cunard Line has surpassed previous booking milestones in 2024, reporting a 23 percent year-on-year increase in guest reservations compared to the same period in 2023. From January 1 to … [Read more...]

The Viking Ocean Cruises’ fleet now stands at 13 strong, following the handover of the newest vessel, Viking Vela, on December 3, 2024.  Shipbuilder Fincantieri delivered the ship to Viking officials during a ceremony at the firm’s Ancona, Italy, shipyard. Viking Vela represents a new series of vessel for the growing line, one that is larger than others in the fleet.  A second in … [Read more...]

From the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean, to the ancient anthropological delights of Europe, dramatic landscapes and Northern Lights – this year-long pass knows no bounds, including cryptocurrency pass purchases. Virgin Voyages, Richard Branson’s kid-free, boutique hotel at sea, announced today an all-new, industry first travel offer fit for the wanderlust explorer. In celebration of Travel … [Read more...]

Imagine the chance to cruise anywhere, anytime, for an entire year. That’s the premise behind Virgin Voyages’ newly introduced Annual Pass.  Starting in 2025, as early as January 1, passholders will have the ability to sail on any itinerary and ship within the cruise line’s fleet for a full 12 months. This includes the debut season of Brilliant Lady, which launches in September … [Read more...]

Opening in 2025 is Royal Caribbean's first ever beach club, and it's going to take your beach day to a new level.Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is going to open in late 2025, and it's being built on a 17-acre site that is just about the most prime real estate in all of Nassau.The plan is simple, but the promise is enormous. Offer an unfiltered beach day experience that hits every important … [Read more...]

Many people dream of living at sea, living a life of luxury, sailing from port to port, and constantly being on vacation. The reality of it all brings most of those dreams back down to earth. There’s the logistics of actually living away from home, but also the costs can be a big hurdle. We’ve done the math and estimate the cost of sailing a full year on a cruise ship would come out … [Read more...]

Viking today announced it has taken delivery of the company’s newest ocean ship, the Viking Vela®. The delivery ceremony took place this morning when the ship was presented at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy. Classified as a small ship, as are all Viking ocean ships, the Viking Vela has 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests. The Viking Vela joins the company’s growing fleet of … [Read more...]

Sarah Bretz, ContributorSarah has been writing about the cruise industry since 2015, and in that time has taken a dozen cruises and counting. Her favorite onboard activities include trying the casual dining options, spending time in the spa’s thermal suite, and attending the love & marriage show. You can keep up with her on Instagram at @IAmSarahJaneB.See all author posts Source: … [Read more...]

Celebrity Cruises has officially launched its first-ever cruise series from Port Canaveral, as Celebrity Equinox departs December 3, 2024 on a 4-night Bahamas Getaway to Bimini and Nassau, Bahamas. The 2,850-guest ship is the first in the Celebrity fleet to sail from the Central Florida port, the world’s second busiest in terms of passenger arrivals behind PortMiami. Through mid-April 2025, … [Read more...]

Starting December 3, 2024, Celebrity Equinox® will bring the cruise line’s unmatched vacations at sea to Central Florida, with seven-night Caribbean itineraries departing from Port Canaveral through April 2025. For the first time, Celebrity Cruises is bringing its premium vacation experiences to Port Canaveral, Florida. Starting Tuesday, December 3, guests can enjoy Caribbean escapes on Celebrity … [Read more...]

Personal Navigators, and other details from the  4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral. The Disney Fantasy set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on November 2, 2024. During this cruise, the ship was under the control of Captain Fabian Dib. The Cruise Director during the sailing was Stephen Cloete. <img fetchpriority="high" … [Read more...]

Cunard has reported record-breaking bookings in 2024, following an exceptional year and the launch of its highly anticipated ship, Queen Anne. From 1 January to 31 October this year, Cunard recorded an impressive 73,000 additional guest reservations compared to the same period in 2023, representing a 23% year-on-year increase. This performance marks the highest number of guests booked between 1 … [Read more...]

Celebrity Equinox just arrived at her new home in Florida.   The 2,850-passenger Solstice-class vessel was welcomed into Port Canaveral Tuesday morning, marking the first time Celebrity Cruises will homeport a ship from the area. The move to homeport a ship in Port Canaveral was announced last August when the cruise line revealed the new location in order to reach more travelers who … [Read more...]

The cruise experience truly begins long before you step aboard the ship. For me, Montreal was the perfect starting and ending point—captivating me with its vibrant energy and unique charm. Whether you’re seeking an exciting pre-cruise adventure or a tranquil post-cruise retreat, Montreal seamlessly enhances your voyage. Here’s why. Photo: Arriving in MontrealA City Alive with Art and … [Read more...]

Many cruise passengers look forward to the magic and delight of a Christmas cruise, a fun time to celebrate with family while enjoying spectacular decorations, special menus, and seasonal activities. It can be hard, however, to leave behind family traditions, and some travelers bring aboard one quirky and fun game that young cruisers love – Elf on a Shelf. While bringing one’s elf aboard is … [Read more...]

Today, Celebrity Cruises begins sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida! Celebrity Equinox will offer 7-night Caribbean cruises to destinations including the Bahamas, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, and Belize. “At Celebrity we are continually striving to elevate our guests’ vacation experience from start to finish, and are delighted to offer even more ways to relax, unwind and explore the Caribbean,” said … [Read more...]

The US Coast Guard has once again completed another successful mid-voyage airlift.  The latest medical evacuation occurred on Celebrity Apex on Monday, December 2, 2024, while the Edge-class cruise ship was sailing about 130 miles off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. She had only just embarked on her current 7-night sailing from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida, on November … [Read more...]