Ready to dive into this week’s big cruise news? Cruise Hive has it all covered, with stories about Cunard, Virgin Voyages, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean. In This Article: Cruise News Update Let’s get going with this week’s exciting news round-up from Cruise Hive, where you’ll find all of the major developments in the world of cruising. Our coverage … [Read more...]
Man Climbs Off MSC Cruises Ship to Enter Country Illegally
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, a man was caught climbing down a rope from MSC Bellissima in what appears to be an attempt to enter Japan illegally during the ship’s current 7-night roundtrip sailing. The strange part of the situation is that the vessel is sailing roundtrip from Yokohama, Japan, and therefore, the man must already possess proper documentation to have legally entered the country to … [Read more...]
P&O Cruises Raises Prices for Drinks Packages and Updates Policy
Starting May 8, 2024, P&O Cruises will adjust the pricing of its drink packages. The new rates will apply to all beverages purchased onboard or purchased ahead of a cruise. Under the new pricing structure, the Refresh package, which offers a selection of non-alcoholic beverages, sees the most significant increase. In contrast, the Alcohol-Free package, catering to guests preferring … [Read more...]
Search Underway for Missing Crew Member During World Cruise
An unfortunate incident occurred onboard the Ambassador Cruise Line ship Ambience as a crew member was reported missing during the final stages of the vessel’s world cruise. Just after breakfast on Friday, May 3, 2024, the crew member failed to report for duty, and an extensive ship search was initiated. The vessel was in transit between its final call of the world cruise in Lisbon, Portugal, … [Read more...]
New Retail Experiences Revealed for Cunard’s Queen Anne
The Queen Anne, Cunard’s largest ship with a capacity for 3,000 passengers, has embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, today with a distinct retail enhancement. Harding+, a global cruise retailer, aims to elevate the onboard shopping experience with retail spaces tailored specifically for the new vessel. At the core of the Queen Anne retail experience is the … [Read more...]
Princess Cruises Reveals 2026 ‘Total Eclipse Voyage’
Just weeks after millions were enthralled by the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, Princess Cruises is looking ahead to the next one, which will occur in August of 2026, and will position Sky Princess in Europe to take full advantage of the celestial event. The line’s “Total Eclipse Sky Princess Voyage” will place the ship off the coast of northern Spain on August 12, 2026, and … [Read more...]
Carnival Cruise Line Responds to Concern Over Service Dogs
Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald has addressed and clarified the issue of service dogs on board Carnival ships in recent days, following a complaint and an unreasonable request for a refund. In a recent Live broadcast on his popular Facebook page, Heald mentioned a group of 40 special travelers sailing on Carnival Celebration. “I want to give a shout out straightaway if I can … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean Alaska Sailing Altered One Day Before Embarkation
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas has had a rocky start to this year’s Alaska cruise season. Propulsion issues already forced the popular cruise line to cancel its 7-night Alaska cruise scheduled for April 26, 2024, and now the subsequent sailing, embarking on May 3, 2024, has gotten an unexpected itinerary change. Instead of calling on Skagway, Alaska, the originally planned port … [Read more...]
How to Make the Most of Your Cruise Without Overspending
For many, taking a cruise is a budget-friendly and convenient way to see several destinations in one trip, without booking and paying for multiple hotels or forms of transportation. Even when it comes to food and entertainment, you don’t need to spend even an extra dime out of pocket, if you only enjoy the “included” and complimentary meals and entertainment. That said, as anyone who’s been on … [Read more...]
Former Carnival Sensation: Overview and Scrapping
Originally floated out in 1993, the Carnival Sensation cruise ship was the third Fantasy-class cruise ship from Carnival Cruise Line, and, for a while, one of the oldest ships in the fleet. However, as the ship approached its 30th birthday, the cruising industry was turned on its head by the COVID-19 pandemic — ultimately giving Carnival the perfect excuse to retire this ship and … [Read more...]
Holland America Line Enters Long-Term Biofuel Test Project
Holland America Line will extensively test biofuels during its sailings in the Norwegian World Heritage Fjords in 2024. The project began with the ship bunkering the sustainable biofuel produced by the Dutch enterprise FincoEnergies before departing from the Port of Rotterdam on April 27, 2024. The biofuel used by ms Rotterdam is sourced from organic waste and residues such as fats, oils, … [Read more...]
Investigation Launched After Cruise Ship Allegedly Sails Too Close to Na Pali Coast
State authorities have launched an investigation following allegations that Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge sailed dangerously close to the Nā Pali Coast on the north shore of the island of Kauai, potentially violating state regulations. According to Hawaii News Now and community advocates, the ship was observed approximately 1,000 feet from shore, an area renowned for its … [Read more...]
Port Operator Takes Over at St. Lucia, Expansion on the Horizon
Global Ports Holding (GPH), the cruise port management firm headquartered in the UK, officially took over the operation of Port Castries, St. Lucia, on April 30, 2024. The island nation signed a memorandum of understanding with the port operator in the fall of 2022, and after 18 months of negotiations, the agreement is now finalized. The pact bolsters GPH’s expansion into the Caribbean, … [Read more...]
Princess Cruises Reveals 114-Day World Cruise for 2026
Princess Cruises unveiled plans for its 2026 world cruise, a 114-day journey aboard the Coral Princess, set to cover an impressive 35,000 nautical miles across six continents. The announcement detailed a route that will take passengers to 52 ports in 28 countries, marking it as the most destination-rich voyage the cruise line has ever offered. Departures are scheduled from Fort … [Read more...]
Carnival Announces Enhancements for Next Ship in Dry Dock
Guests booked on Carnival Legend‘s next sailings can look forward to some upgrades and additions to the 22-year-old vessel when she completes her dry dock update. The ship is now out of service for the next month, and Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald has announced what updates are coming to the vessel. Several spaces will be removed while new spaces will be added to the … [Read more...]
Elderly Cruise Couple Late to Newest Norwegian Ship, Left at Port
Just weeks after eight guests on an independent tour while visiting Sao Tome and Principe in western Africa were late to return to the cruise terminal and were left behind as their Norwegian Cruise Line ship departed, an elderly couple has experienced a very similar situation in Spain. The couple, Richard and Claudene Gordon of Salt Lake City, Utah, were aboard the 10-night, one-way sailing on … [Read more...]
Ketchikan Cruise Port: Piers, What to Do and Getting Around
Ketchikan, Alaska, may be known as the unofficial “salmon capital of the world,” but it is much more than its fishing industry. That’s because the remote city is also home to an important Alaskan port of call—the Ketchikan Cruise Port. Not only is it a high-traffic cruise port, but it also showcases the rugged and untamed beauty of the Last Frontier. If you are planning an Alaskan cruise, … [Read more...]
Disney Releases New Construction Photos of Private Cruise Destination
Disney Cruise Line has released a tantalizing trio of photos from the ongoing construction of Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, the new private destination the cruise line is developing on the south end of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. These insider looks – the second set of photos Disney has released of the new destination – offer a glimpse of the colorful architecture and thoughtful design … [Read more...]
Norwegian Cruise Line Continues Strong Run With Record Bookings
Harry Sommer, the current CEO at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, is doing a great job bringing the cruise giant back to profitability. The third biggest cruise operator in the United States recorded a better-than-expected first quarter of 2024, with record bookings, a strong occupancy level of its vessels at 104.6%, and revenue up 20% compared to the same period last year. It’s a strong start … [Read more...]
Nude Cruise to Set Sail from Miami in 2025
In what promises to be a unique voyage for Norwegian Cruise Line, the “Big Nude Boat” is scheduled to set sail from Miami in February 2025. It will offer a distinctive travel experience for those who prefer to cruise sans attire. The 11-day Caribbean cruise, a full charter from Bare Necessities, seeks to blend the liberating experience of a clothing-optional vacation with the amenities and … [Read more...]