Royal Caribbean cruise line plans major ship upgrades

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...]