Princess Cruises has just announced that passengers booking journeys on the 145,281-ton Sky Princess, as well as the firm’s slightly smaller Regal Princess (142,229 tons), both departing from Southampton, will be treated to a surfeit of festivities designed to honor the upcoming coronation of King Charles III.  Next month, on May 6, these two UK-based Princess Cruises ships … [Read more...]

Two Carnival cruise ships are poised to set off on lengthy repositioning cruises on the same day to bring them to entirely different regions for new sailing seasons. On Thursday, April 13, 2023, Carnival Pride will depart for a transatlantic cruise, while her fleet mate, the new Carnival Luminosa, will begin a transpacific voyage. Carnival Pride Moving to Europe On Thursday, April 13, … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean has sent an email to guests, announcing that they have made some changes to their terms and conditions cruise contract, specifically those concerning the Covid policy and matters concerning each passenger’s country of origin. Royal Caribbean Updates Cruise Terms The Miami-based cruise line has been busy in the background updating its terms and conditions for upcoming … [Read more...]

MSC World Europa, MSC Cruises’ biggest and most environmentally advanced cruise ship, has arrived in Europe to begin its summer season in the Mediterranean Sea. The World-class cruise ship will offer 7-night itineraries, visiting Italian ports such as Genoa, Naples, and Messina, Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain, and Marseille in France. MSC World Europa Arrives in Europe MSC World … [Read more...]

The Outer Hebrides expects to welcome tens of thousands of cruise ship guests as more than 100 vessels are scheduled to call at Stornoway, the capital of Lewis, the largest island of the Outer Hebrides archipelago off Scotland’s northwest coast. The Stornoway Port Authority says the season will be a boon to local economies. 2023 Cruise Season Kicks Off April 20 Stornoway, the region’s main … [Read more...]

Some larger cruise ships may not be visiting Skagway for as long as scheduled during the 2023 Alaska season, thanks to one particular rock (yes, a rock). Cruise lines are concerned that a particularly large rock formation poised high above the dock might pose a risk to larger ships, and are therefore making schedule changes for shorter port times to share dock facilities away from any … [Read more...]

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator, released its annual sustainability report today, showcasing the company’s efforts to achieve its goals for 2030 and 2050.  Sustainability has become a big business in the cruise industry in recent years, and for a good reason. For many years the cruise lines took a liberal approach to environmental concerns. However, before 2050, … [Read more...]

The Islands of Guernsey are making headway in attracting more cruise ships in 2023, as the destination works to strengthen its position as an up-and-coming port call. Part of the marketing strategy includes hosting, and impressing, a delegation of cruise line representatives visiting the region this week. A Dozen Ships to Make Maiden Calls in 2023 Ninety-five cruise ships are scheduled … [Read more...]

Another United States homeport is implementing facial biometric technology to make security screenings more efficient. In partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line, Port of Boston is the latest seaport to modernize and enhance security measures for cruise travelers. Biometrics in Use at Port of Boston U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has partnered with Norwegian Cruise Line to update … [Read more...]

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s ongoing efforts to enhance Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver have made the port more accessible to a variety of cruise ships, which seems to be paying off when you take a look at the numbers of passengers and ships (great news for the local economy) expected to arrive during the 2023 season. Today, April 12, the 115,875-ton Sapphire … [Read more...]

Disney Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked on two upcoming transpacific sailings of Disney Wonder to notify them of a port swap itinerary change. Rather than calling on Lautoka, Fiji, the ship will instead visit Suva, Fiji during each sailing as it repositions southbound in October 2023 and northbound in February 2024. Fiji Port Change for Disney Wonder Disney Cruise Line has … [Read more...]

The Carnival Spirit cruise ship has rescued 24 people who were stranded on a small boat in the Caribbean. The operation occurred on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 as the 2,680-passenger vessel was passing between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico on an eight-night itinerary based out of Miami, Florida. Carnival Spirit Rescue During a day at sea en route to Aruba, Carnival Spirit‘s officers … [Read more...]

For decades, this company has turned cruise ships into unforgettable music festivals at sea, and next year they will team up with Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famers to charter Norwegian Cruise Line and set sail for New Horizons–literally. On The Blue New Horizons Charter Cruise On The Blue has produced music cruise experiences for the past 20 years manifesting boat-rocking adventures, and they … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line has quietly increased prices for several food items guests can purchase prior to setting sail, making these popular treats more expensive but without any corresponding changes to the size or quantity of the items. Among the now-more-costly treats are celebration cakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, freshly baked cookies, and assorted party trays. Carnival Cruise … [Read more...]

Princess Cruises is preparing for the launch of the 2023 cruise season, starting later this month. This year, the cruise line plans to offer several new sustainable seafood and beverage programs and programming that immerses guests in all things Alaska.  The company will operate no less than seven cruise ships in Alaska this summer, such as the cruise line’s newest ship, Discovery … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line recently increased the cost for private beachside rentals at Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas, and similar price hikes have now been noted at the cruise line’s other semi-private destination, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic. The increases at Amber Cove are not quite as drastic, but are significant nonetheless. Price Increases at Amber Cove Amber Cove, which opened in … [Read more...]

For cruisers booking an expedition ship cabin on Abercrombie & Kent’s 2024 North Pole voyage, it’s 90° North latitude or bust. The luxury travel operator revealed on April 11 it has chartered a high-end icebreaker vessel for the 18-day cruise titled North Pole Expedition Cruise: The Ultimate Frontier. This Luxury Ice Breaker is Eco-Friendly Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) announced it … [Read more...]

Viking has reached a major milestone with the float out of its newest river ship, Viking Aton. The river cruise ship has been built entirely in Egypt and is designed to be used exclusively on the river Nile. The milestone means that the vessel has touched water for the first time and is now moving into the final stages of construction, such as interior outfitting. With a debut set for August … [Read more...]

Carnival’s Adora Cruises, in partnership with Selection International Entertainment, a globally recognized creative production house, has created a modern production entitled “Marco Polo: An Enchanted Love Tale.”  This original stage show will be performed aboard Adora Cruises’ first-ever Chinese-built 5G large cruising vessel, which will clock in at 135,500 tons. Adora … [Read more...]

Guests setting sail April 15, 2023 aboard Norwegian Joy may not have the same opportunity to see the popular “Footloose” production onboard as they planned. An email sent to impacted guests has informed them of a change in the show schedule, with some reservations cancelled as a result. The show will go on, however, and guests can rebook their reservations for the new showtimes. The … [Read more...]