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...]

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...]

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...]

The embarkation process for the next cruise onboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas will be delayed – but guests can rest assured that the extra wait is minimal and won’t impact their cruise beyond the boarding process. The voyage in question is a round-trip 8-night sailing out of Southampton, England, that is due to set sail on October 2, 2024. The itinerary calls for stops at Vigo, … [Read more...]

Guests and residents booked aboard Villa Vie Odyssey can rejoice that the ship has finally set sail from the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, ready to begin its much-anticipated voyage after a lengthy string of repairs and delays that kept the ship from getting underway. The sailing has been a long time coming, originally having been planned to depart on May 30, 2024 but extensively … [Read more...]

Portsmouth International Port wrapped up its summer 2024 cruise season with Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady departing for the last time on September 29, 2024. In a fond farewell, the 110,000-gross-ton Resilient Lady set off for Barcelona, Spain, with the last of Portsmouth, England’s total of 25,000 passengers to sail this summer season. The ship showed its gratitude to … [Read more...]

With still one more quarter remaining, the company that owns Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, Cunard, P&O Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and Costa Cruises revealed record-breaking revenue for a third time in 2024. On September 30, the company reported a net income of $1.7 billion – a 60 percent increase over the same period in 2023. Additionally, third-quarter … [Read more...]

If you’re a seasoned Disney cruiser booking your next voyage, your final payment is due sooner and your chance to cancel for a refund has been changed, according to Disney Cruise Line’s (DCL) recent policy changes. Effective September 30, 2024, DCL has updated its cancellation and final payment policies, applying to new bookings, that impact how guests manage their trip cancellations and … [Read more...]

High winds in the region have made it too challenging for cruise ships to dock in two top Alaskan ports of call over the next two days as the 2024 Alaska sailing season winds down. The loss of the last few ship visits will be a blow to the small but popular tourist communities of Sitka and Skagway, but safety is always the first consideration for cruise lines. At times, poor weather does … [Read more...]

All cruise travelers quickly come to realize how hard working crew members can be, and few work harder than the dedicated stateroom stewards. Many passengers enjoy rewarding that hard work and dedication with an extra gratuity, but how should that extra acknowledgement be offered? A fun trend embraced by many travelers is to use cash bills to spell out “Thank You!” “Thanks!” or other messages … [Read more...]

How do you imagine you’ll spend your very first cruise? If you want to experience your first cruise to the fullest, don’t just lounge by the main pool all day, waiting for the next island on your itinerary. While pool lounging and island hopping are requisite parts of the cruising experience, today’s cruise ships offer so much more to enjoy. Here are 11 things new cruisers should always do on a … [Read more...]

After days of uncertainty with storm closures, port diversions, and a cruise cancellation, guests eager to board Carnival Paradise will be relieved to learn that the ship’s September 30, 2024 departure is moving forward as planned. Carnival Cruise Line sent out a notification to guests booked on the Monday departure to confirm embarkation plans and timing. “Embarkation for your cruise will … [Read more...]

Following extended assessments to ensure channel safety and navigability, as well as the full operation of shoreside facilities, Port Tampa Bay officially reopened for marine traffic late Saturday afternoon, September 28, 2024 – three days after Hurricane Helene passed offshore of Florida’s west coast. The port shared the reopening update at 4:15 p.m., noting a slight depth restriction for … [Read more...]

While Port Tampa Bay has reopened with some temporary vessel depth restrictions and cruise vessels are beginning to return, one ship is further delayed and will not be able to return as planned on Sunday, September 29, 2024. Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander was supposed to return to her Florida homeport on Sunday to debark her current 5-night Key West and Cozumel sailing, and to begin her next … [Read more...]

Passengers on the final 2024 Alaska cruise for Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas did not have the cruise they may have hoped for when a gastrointestinal illness outbreak made its way through the vessel. A total of 167 passengers reported symptoms, including diarrhea, cramps, headaches, and muscle aches. The extent of the spread required the outbreak to be reported to the US Centers for … [Read more...]

Despite a recent upset guest who thinks cruise ships are decorated too long for the holiday season, Carnival Cruise Line is sailing full steam ahead into the merriment with the 2024 fleet decorating schedule. The first vessels will be sporting their seasonal décor as early as November 24, 2024, while the last ships in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet to showcase holiday cheer will be adorned by … [Read more...]

Following the recent viral video controversy of popular family vloggers Matt and Abby Howard concerning how they kept an eye on their young sons while they went to dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise, the cruise line has added another unique item to its prohibited items list. The list now specifically notes that baby monitors are not permitted to be used onboard, noting the ship’s communication … [Read more...]

Jacksonville Cruise Port is about 4 miles from downtown Jacksonville, Florida. Its strategic location along the St. Johns River provides cruise ships with easy access to the Caribbean, Bahamas, and other exciting destinations. This guide will cover everything you need to know about this popular departure point so you can enjoy a pleasant visit. In This Article: Jacksonville Cruise Port … [Read more...]

While Helene has currently been downgraded to a post-tropical storm following wreaking havoc on Florida and much of the southeast after making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, not all cruise homeports have yet reopened. This has led Carnival Cruise Line to make a very difficult decision that will undoubtedly be disappointing to many travelers. Because Port Tampa Bay has not yet reopened … [Read more...]

Following a power surge of backlash upon banning multi-plug outlets, Royal Caribbean has further clarified just exactly what type of these outlets are not permitted onboard their fleet. The initial change was first noticed earlier this month when the cruise line had added multi-plug outlets to its prohibited items list, along with extension cords and power strips. Many cruise guests bring … [Read more...]