Norwegian Cruise Line has reached out to travel agents and booked guests with an alert about potential heavy traffic and road closures near PortMiami for the upcoming weekend – Friday, March 22 through Sunday, March 24 – due to the Ultra Music Festival. During the three day event, four different Norwegian Cruise Line ships are likely to be impacted, as well as multiple vessels from other cruise … [Read more...]
New Viking Ship Surpasses Reaches Construction Milestone
Viking Hathor, which is about to join Viking’s longship fleet, is well on its way to cruising the Nile River by the end of the summer. The new ship was “floated out” on March 21, 2024, which means the ship is moving on to the final stage of construction. New Viking River Ship Floats Out In Cairo Viking Cruises is continuing to make progress toward its goal of having six ships … [Read more...]
Recent Smoke Raises Eyebrows at Busy Florida Homeport
Recent prescribed wildfire burns near Port Canaveral caused some travelers to be concerned as they departed on their cruises over the weekend, though the port was at no risk and the fires were kept under constant control and monitoring. In total, 5,000 acres were burned on March 16-17 as part of refuge management, and the billowing clouds of smoke caused quite a spectacle when seen from the … [Read more...]
Virgin Voyages Expands Season Pass Due to High Demand
Reacting to a surge in demand, Virgin Voyages announced an extension of its Scarlet Summer Season Pass to include Resilient Lady, offering new itineraries for travelers seeking to blend work and leisure in the Mediterranean. Resilient Lady Adds Summer Season Pass Virgin Voyages has responded to an overwhelming interest in its Scarlet Summer Season Pass by extending the program with … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean Gets Approval for New Cruise Terminal
Royal Caribbean Group, in a joint venture with Cruise Terminals International (CTI), has secured the rights to construct and operate the new to-build cruise terminal G at the Adossat wharf in Barcelona. With no other bids, Royal Caribbean Group was reasonably secure in its bid. The Port of Barcelona Management Board’s decision is, however, an interesting development, as Barcelona implemented a … [Read more...]
Spanish Port Anticipates Historic Cruise Season
Expectations for a record-breaking 2024 cruise season have been announced by the Port of Motril, in collaboration with the Motril City Council in Granada, Spain. Highlighted by more than 60,000 cruise passengers, a significant budget has been allocated for shuttle services. Historic Season on the Horizon The Port of Motril has officially announced its cruise line forecast for the upcoming … [Read more...]
Panama Canal Cruise Cancelled, Are Other Cruises at Risk?
Expedition specialist Aurora Expeditions has cancelled the upcoming sailing of Greg Mortimer that was to have sailed through the Panama Canal, as low water levels continue to impact canal traffic. Will other Panama Canal sailings from more mainstream cruise lines be at risk of cancellation or itinerary adjustments? Greg Mortimer Cruise Cancelled Just one month before setting sail on what … [Read more...]
Unexpected Water Incident on Luxury Cruise Ship
Guests aboard Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Sojourn had an unexpected indoor waterfall on Wednesday, March 20, as a broken pipe spilled water down at least three decks of the ship’s interior public spaces. The incident was the result of a broken water pipe, and was certainly startling to those onboard. Broken Pipe Causes Flooding on Seabourn Sojourn It was a wet and wild morning aboard … [Read more...]
New Findings Reveal the Best Cruise Destinations
Tampa, Florida, has been rated the No. 1 cruise destination in the world for 2024, according to a new survey. The city is located on Tampa Bay, in West Central Florida, and is among the state’s smaller ports. The study also looked at search data for “cruises” in general and found robust growth in the popularity of the vacation option. New Survey Data Reveals Best Cruise Destinations Avanti … [Read more...]
Cruise Guest Starts Petition to Improve Popular Port Accessibility
A recent Norwegian Cruise Line guest by the name of Emily Dominguez has started a Change.org petition in the hopes of raising awareness and urging port authorities to improve the overall accessibility of the Puerto Plata cruise port area. In particular, Dominguez hopes to encourage adjustments to where guests may be dropped off from shore excursions, improving the experience for travelers who … [Read more...]
Caribbean Cruise Sector Sees Massive Increase in Passengers
The Caribbean Tourism Organization reported a 14.3% increase in international visitors in 2023, driven by robust demand from the United States and a record-breaking increase in cruise tourism. Surge in Caribbean Cruise Tourism On March 15, 2024, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) delivered heartening news for the region’s economic outlook. According to the CTO, the Caribbean saw a … [Read more...]
Busy Six Months With 27,000 Passengers Through New Cruise Terminal
Since it opened in August 2023, Portsmouth International Port’s state-of-the-art cruise terminal has been extremely successful. In its initial three months alone, the terminal has seen a remarkable 75,000 guests, embarking and disembarking from their voyages. Portsmouth’s cruise terminal was built to bring cruise passengers back to the city, which has a longstanding maritime tradition. While … [Read more...]
Cruise Line Marks Launch of River Cruise High-Season
With the arrival of spring comes the return of the busy river cruise high-season in Europe, and Viking’s Longship fleet is celebrating the launch of itineraries on the Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, and other scenic rivers. From Amsterdam and Avignon to Salzburg and Vienna, river cruisers can crisscross the continent on the Longships, each with capacity for under 200 guests. Itineraries Span … [Read more...]
Virgin Launches All-in-One Packages to Solve Traveler Confusions
A recent survey by Virgin Red highlights the main irritants for travelers when booking vacations, including hidden fees and complicated booking processes. In response, new travel packages combining services from across the Virgin Group are being offered, including Virgin Voyages. Survey Insights According to new research from Virgin Red, Virgin Group’s rewards program, travelers are … [Read more...]
Cruise Line Rolls Out Deals to Celebrate 151st Year
Following a year of special events and cruises to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2023, Holland America Line announced an “Anniversary Sale” to mark the cruise line’s 151st year in business. Fare discounts and several other money-saving perks are offered on bookings made through April 30, 2024. Fare Discounts, Onboard Credits Are Offered Holland America Line, a Carnival Corporation brand … [Read more...]
Construction Milestone and Name Announced for New Disney Ship
Disney Cruise Line has revealed the name of the third Wish-class ship on the same momentous day that the keel has been laid for the new vessel, planned for delivery in 2025. The new ship will have a “Heroes and Villains” theme and will be named Disney Destiny, bringing amazing Disney imagineering to every guest and making all travelers the superheroes of their own cruise vacations. Disney … [Read more...]
Cruise Line Introduces New Pricing Options
Silversea has introduced new pricing options for its oceangoing voyages, giving travelers a broader range of how to book exactly the cruise travel experience they want without compromising on Silversea’s legendary quality and service. Of special interest is the new Essential Fare option, giving guests an overall value fare for each sailing with the flexibility to customize their travel … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean Cancels at Least Another Month of Labadee Visits
Royal Caribbean International has begun reaching out to guests booked on further upcoming visits to their private destination in Haiti – Labadee – to inform them that their itineraries have changed and the port of call has been removed. This is in addition to recent cancellations of the port that were being evaluated on an individual basis, and now appears to affect sailings at least for the … [Read more...]
Cruise Ship Which Lost Power During Storm ‘Should Have Never Sailed’
Guests and crew members onboard Viking Sky faced a dangerous situation off the Norwegian coast near Hustadvika in March 2019, marking a day that could have ended in a maritime disaster of unprecedented scale. The ship, with 1,374 individuals onboard, experienced a total loss of propulsion and steering amidst a storm, nearly running aground. The incident resulted in an in-depth … [Read more...]
Familiar Face Confirmed Aboard Upcoming Carnival Ship
Carnival Cruise Line has released the first photos of the ongoing refurbishment of Costa Firenze into the upcoming Carnival Firenze, and a familiar face has appeared! The replica of Michelangelo’s statue of David has been installed on the ship, ready to welcome guests with an authentic touch of Italian art and culture as they enjoy the ship. Famous Statue Onboard Carnival Firenze Costa … [Read more...]