BOAT CRUISES TRIPS NEWS

SS United States has been in need of restoration or repurposing since the 1980s, but that time may never come. Credit: Reddit Gossip surrounds recent court rulings regarding the fate of SS United States. Both the ship’s conservation group and Florida’s Okaloosa County have signed a contract to reef the iconic cruise liner, but politics are at play. So – is SS United States doomed? All … [Read more...]

Five Carnival cruise ships with itineraries in early 2025 and early 2026 are now getting itinerary adjustments for various ports of call in the Bahamas. Some ports are replaced, others have modified times, some visit orders are changed, and other slight shifts are being made. The cruise line notified guests on the impacted voyages on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, more than four months before the … [Read more...]

Heidi BucoloHeidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! She is a self-confessed thrill seeker, obsessive planner, and over-packer. She is always looking for the latest and greatest adventures onboard and ashore, enjoys researching top things to do in ports of call, and loves dressing up for formal nights.See all author posts Source: … [Read more...]

As the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) officially began its strike today, at 12:01 a.m., October 1, 2024, the union has promised passenger cruise operations will continue as planned, easing the minds of eager travelers hoping their cruises will still depart as scheduled from U.S. Atlantic and Gulf ports. The strike, which stems from unresolved labor negotiations, affects … [Read more...]

In 2025, a new fee will be passed on to cruise passengers who visit the Port of Haines. The cruise port in Alaska is adding its first ever passenger fee to generate revenue for port maintenance and other needs around the dock. Crown Princess in Haines, Alaska. ID 325825487 | Cruise © Drewrawcliffe | Dreamstime.com Not far from Glacier Bay Park in Alaska is the small town of about 2,500 … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line gave a warm welcome and big applause to the Litteral family as they stepped onto Carnival Valor on October 1, 2024. Turns out the family, traveling from the homeport of New Orleans on a 5-night journey to the Caribbean, included the 2,980-passenger ship’s 7th million guests since Carnival began sailing year-round from the Louisiana port in 1994. It was a … [Read more...]

Norwegian Cruise Line is saying goodbye to one of its most popular offerings, but it’s actually something we think passengers are going to appreciate. That is, if they are also ok with also paying significantly more in gratuity charges. For years, NCL’s “Free At Sea” offer has been a staple of the cruise line. Now it’s going away and being replaced with “More At … [Read more...]

Another cruise destination, Haines, Alaska, has turned to cruise guests for an influx of revenue to build, repair, and improve port facilities. In this latest case, the town voted to charge each cruise passenger a $9 revenue fee upon arrival. The Haines Borough Assembly voted on September 24, 2024 to enact the fee, effective on October 2, 2024. Since the Alaska cruise season has officially … [Read more...]

If your cruise ship misses a stop, it's disappointing, but the passengers on Ovation of the Seas this week have had all sorts of cancellations.Ovation of the Seas sailed to Alaska, but there's a bad storm in the Gulf of Alaska that has wreaked havoc on the original plan.The ship departed Seattle on September 27 and was scheduled to visit Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka, Alaska, with a final stop in … [Read more...]

Celebrity Cruises has announced more than 600 new cruises for 2026-2027 and including the longest voyage in their history. These cruises will visit all seven continents, over 70 countries and 280 ports. A highlight will be a 110 day cruise that will visit 55 destinations in 15 countries. The 110 day cruise on Celebrity Solstice will be the cruise line’s longest cruise ever. The cruise will … [Read more...]

A renewed focus on Europe is in the cards for Celebrity Cruises in 2026-27, as the upmarket line will deploy its highly-anticipated new-build, Celebrity Xcel, to the Mediterranean for her inaugural summer season. The cruise line also will introduce its first Grand Voyage, a 110-night sailing in 2026, with calls at 55 destinations in 15 countries. With 16 cruise ships operating and Celebrity … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line is jazzed about marking another significant milestone from the popular homeport of New Orleans as the first cruise operator to embark more than seven million guests from the port since beginning year-round cruising in 1994. When the Litteral family stepped onto Carnival Valor on Monday, they made the milestone official. Thomas and Julie Litteral, and their children Zachary … [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...]

Have you ever wondered if time travel is possible? After an 8-day voyage aboard a century-old wooden trawler, I think it just might be. Just standing and looking up at the billowing red sails, I feel connected to the past sailors, in a way I hadn’t imagined. I had embarked at Dunstaffnage Marina near Oban to join eight strangers to sail around the West Coast of Scotland aboard a boat built in … [Read more...]

Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a new brand campaign offering MORE for travelers, elevating offerings and ensuring that every cruise guest has an oceangoing vacation that is truly “more” for them to enjoy. The new “More At Sea” program replaces the cruise line’s popular “Free At Sea” package with even more options. Beginning October 1, 2024, the package will be available for all Norwegian … [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...]

Perfect weather is never assured any time of the year, but hurricane season brings its own set of challenges for vacationers taking a cruise.About half the year in the Caribbean, there's a chance for tropical storms to develop and that could impact your cruise.Many storms don't actually change cruise ship plans, but a handful of them certainly can.  In the case of Hurricane Helene, a half … [Read more...]

Disney Cruise Line set up a pre-sale website (archived) for guests sailing on the Maiden Voyage of the Disney Treasure. The site offers guests an exclusive opportunity to be among the first to purchase exciting new merchandise commemorating the maiden voyage of the Disney Treasure. While this is an exclusive pre-sale opportunity for Maiden Voyage guests, it does provide a look at some of the … [Read more...]

Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards with Princess Cruises, and its newest ship, Sun Princess, recognized as the #1 in Mega Cruise in the United States. In addition to this top honor, Princess Cruises also ranked fifth in the Large Ship category, for vessels accommodating 2,500 to 4,000 passengers—representing 13 of the 15 other ships in the fleet. … [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...]