With Tropical Storm Helene well away from Florida and most coastal warnings in the state now dropped, cruise homeports have been able to conduct critical safety inspections and ascertain any damage. Now, both Port Canaveral and Port of Jacksonville have successfully reopened, and Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that Carnival Glory and Carnival Elation, respectively, are able to return to … [Read more...]

Cruise enthusiasts eagerly awaiting more details about Royal Caribbean’s latest new-build, Star of the Seas, got a hint of what is planned for the ship’s entertainment stage when she debuts in August 2025. By way of an audition notice to prospective performers, the cruise line has revealed it is holding auditions in London for the show “Back to the Future: The Musical,” slated to be staged on … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line offers several weeks of holiday cruises, complete with seasonal decorations, popular carols, themed activities, holiday menus, and more. Many travelers deliberately book these special sailings to make fun family memories without the associated holiday stress of shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, and other preparations. Not all cruisers, however, seem to appreciate … [Read more...]

Hurricane Helene – now downgraded to a tropical storm following her landfall – closed several Florida homeports and forced multiple ships to remain at sea rather than ending their current sailings on schedule. Now, the cruise line has provided an update on each vessel and what guests can expect. The update comes on Friday morning, September 27, 2024, as guests aboard Carnival Paradise, Carnival … [Read more...]

Hurricane Helene is now a Tropical Storm moving away from Florida’s cruise ports, but it continues to cause operational issues for some cruise ships and guests, including Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish. The ship, completing a 3-night Bahamas cruise and set to return to Port Canaveral on September 27, 2024, will arrive at her homeport later than scheduled. Port Canaveral, the second-busiest … [Read more...]

While all eyes have been on Hurricane Helene as the storm has battered the Caribbean and the United States’ East Coast, that isn’t the only part of the world where cruising has been impacted by poor weather conditions.  On the other side of the globe, both Carnival Splendor and P&O Cruises’ Pacific Adventure, which is owned by the Carnival brand, have been delayed returning to their … [Read more...]

Guests onboard Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady earlier this summer were treated to a first-of-its-kind, epic athletic event right from the decks of their cruise ship while anchored off the pristine waters of Delos, Greece. On June 27, 2024, British kitesurfer and 23-year-old Red Bull athlete Tom Bridge boosted from Deck 16 at approximately 7:30 a.m., soaring 130 feet high and approximately 800 … [Read more...]

Hurricane Helene is wreaking havoc on Florida and numerous cruise ships based in the state’s ports, some of the biggest in the U.S. It’s newest victim? Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Glory may not return to Port Canaveral as scheduled on September 27, 2024. According to the cruise line’s latest update surrounding Hurricane Helene, the 110,000-gross-ton Carnival Glory is … [Read more...]

It’s never a good idea to drop the word “bomb” – especially when you’re talking about a cruise ship. A 19-year-old from Bailey, Michigan, is learning this the hard way after being indicted on charges related to a false bomb threat that caused chaos aboard a Carnival Cruise Line voyage earlier this year. On September 25, 2024, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark … [Read more...]

Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes, they have wings. Or, at least helicopter blades that fly, as was the case when rescuers from Northern California’s Coast Guard responded to an emergency call from a Princess Cruises ship on September 24, 2024. An 8-year-old boy diagnosed with appendicitis was medically evacuated from the 142,229-gross-ton Royal Princess in a dramatic scene … [Read more...]

A ground-breaking ceremony on September 25, 2024 kicked off a $100 million infrastructure improvement plan at the San Juan Cruise Port that has been in the works for two years.  Major upgrades to the port are on track to make San Juan a major hub for the cruise industry, with plans to renovate existing facilities and build new ones. Top governmental and port officials participated in … [Read more...]

A major milestone was celebrated in the building of Star Princess, Princess Cruises’ second Sphere-class ship, when the 178,000-gross ton vessel was floated out of her construction bay at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The September 26, 2024 float-out signifies the first time the ship’s hull touched water, and means that the construction process now shifts to the interior design … [Read more...]

Cruise passengers encompass a broad spectrum of people of all shapes, sizes, and health statuses – with some needing more accommodations than others.  However, when special medical exemptions aren’t requested in advance, cruisers might run into a situation where they can’t have what they need because it violates the cruise line’s policies.  A current guest of Carnival Paradise … [Read more...]

MSC Cruises’ MSC Seashore is the latest vessel that will be unable to return to her Florida homeport as scheduled due to port closures from the impact of Hurricane Helene. Port Canaveral has been set at Port Condition Zulu, completely closed to all operations, which means the 170,412-gross-ton, Seaside EVO-class cruise ship cannot return for her planned debarkation and subsequent embarkation. … [Read more...]

As Hurricane Helene closes in on Florida’s Big Bend, where it is expected to make landfall on Thursday, September 26, local cruise ports are preparing to weather the brunt of the storm. In this case, that means the cruise ports are temporarily closing and delaying the scheduled return of cruise ships until the hurricane has passed.  Several cruise lines sailing in the Caribbean have … [Read more...]

The two smallest and oldest Carnival cruise ships, Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise, must both remain out to sea and will be unable to return to their respective homeports because of the path, size, and strength of Hurricane Helene. Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to booked guests for each ship’s next sailing, alerting them that their cruises will not be able to operate as planned. … [Read more...]

After five years away, Cunard will make a highly anticipated return to South America in 2025 with the arrival of Queen Victoria.  Set to embark on a 78-night South American Discovery voyage, the roundtrip journey from Southampton, England, will call in notable South American ports like Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as well as cruise the Chilean … [Read more...]

Holland America Line is decking the halls and setting a course for holiday cheer by announcing exclusive themed menus across the fleet for its seasonal sailings. During the 2024 holiday season, guests sailing with the cruise line will experience special dining options, including exclusive holiday-themed food and beverage menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line’s fantastic crew members work hard at cleaning all public spaces and private staterooms, but some guests are concerned that the cleaning may not be up to the standards they prefer at home. If this is the case, the cruise line has confirmed that guests may bring along their robot vacuum if they so choose, but they will have to take responsibility for any unfortunate … [Read more...]

The name of the ship is MSC World America, but cruisers can expect gourmet Italian cuisine onboard thanks to a new partnership between MSC Cruises and Eataly, the well-known Italy-based food and culture brand. The 6,732-guest mega-ship under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France will debut a new-to-the-fleet restaurant called Eataly at Sea, offering foods sourced from … [Read more...]