Carnival Cruise Line has once again reached out to guests booked on the May 5, 2024, departure of Carnival Pride to update them about embarkation plans. While travelers have already been notified that the ship will be embarking and debarking from Norfolk, Virginia rather than Baltimore, Maryland, a local event in Norfolk may cause additional difficulties with reaching the cruise port. A week … [Read more...]
Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady to Sail North America in 2025
In a video announcement that debuted on the Virgin Voyages’ website at noon on May 1, Virgin Voyages teased a number of highlights for its newest ship, Brilliant Lady. Debuting in September 2025, the new cruise ship will explore the four corners of North America, with journeys ranging from 5 to 14 nights. Launching from four homeports – New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Seattle – … [Read more...]
All Princess Cruises to Alaska Will Show the Northern Lights
Cruise guests sailing to Alaska generally stand a good chance of seeing the famous Aurora Borealis, aka Northern Lights, but those onboard a Princess Cruises’ ship in summer 2024 are guaranteed to experience the striking, night sky phenomenon. As part of its North to Alaska enrichment program, the cruise line announced it will present a new planetarium show featuring the spectacle inside each … [Read more...]
Holland America Introduces Glacier Guarantee for Alaska Cruises
In a move to bolster traveler confidence, Holland America Line announced on May 1 the introduction of a Glacier Guarantee for its Alaska cruises and cruisetours, effective through September 2025. The guarantee is a response to passenger expectations of witnessing the dramatic glaciers, which are often a primary reason for selecting an Alaska cruise. The initiative commits to … [Read more...]
New Cunard Queen Arrives at Homeport Ahead of Maiden Voyage
There is new royalty in Southampton with the arrival of Cunard Line’s newest vessel, Queen Anne, as the ship reached her homeport on April 30, 2024, just days ahead of welcoming guests for her maiden voyage. The stunning ship arrived with traditional fanfare as befits her royal status and the first new ship for Cunard Line since Queen Elizabeth joined the fleet in 2010. Queen Anne sailed … [Read more...]
Cruise Ship Begins Dry Dock Transformation Ahead Of 1,301-Day Voyage
Villa Vie Residences’ unique vision of residential cruising, where passengers own their staterooms on a ship that circumnavigates the globe every 3.5 years, is coming to fruition. The residential cruise line has secured funding just as its flagship vessel, Villa Vie Odyssey, has entered dry dock to complete a multi-million dollar transformation ahead of its first voyage. Villa Vie … [Read more...]
Philippines Goes All-In on Cruises to Welcome Record Passenger Numbers
Perhaps one of the most underrated cruise destinations in Asia, the Philippines is preparing for a busy cruise year, with an expected 300,000 cruise passengers scheduled to visit the country in 2024, and 44,000 cruise passengers having already visited the country in the first three months of the year. Philippine Ports Authority General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago, the Philippines … [Read more...]
New-Build Holds ‘Lucky Coin’ Ceremony as Launch Nears
The placement of lucky coins, a time-honored maritime tradition for new sea-going vessels, was held aboard TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 7, a 2,900-guest ship nearing the end of construction at a Finnish shipyard. Ship Captain Omar Caruana joined members of the crew and shipyard employees for the Lucky Coin Ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on April 30, 2024. According to tradition, 10 … [Read more...]
Scottish Port Gears Up for Promising Cruise Season
The 2024 cruise season has officially opened at Scotland’s Greenock Ocean Terminal, with Princess Cruises’ 3,560-guest Regal Princess becoming the first ship to call at the facility in Inverclyde, the port for Glasgow. The Greenock Ocean Terminal, which recently launched a new visitor center, welcomed 91 cruise ships in 2023, breaking the port’s 2022 record by a substantial 25%. Port officials … [Read more...]
Carnival Cruise Line Introduces New Loyalty Gift
Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled its newest gift for the most loyal passengers, part of the VIFP program for travelers who have reached the Platinum and Diamond levels of accumulated cruise points. The new gift is a stylish navy blue tote bag, convenient and useful for beach days, visits to the pool, or just carrying along essentials around the ship, while exploring a port of call, or on any … [Read more...]
Princess Cruises Changes World Cruise Itineraries
Princess Cruises, facing geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea and surrounding regions, has announced a revision of its 2025 World Cruise itineraries. The cruise line has opted to reroute its global voyages to bypass the Middle East and Asia, instead shifting focus to Europe and Africa. Modifications to the 2025 World Cruise are comprehensive, affecting both Island … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean Ship Fixed, Next Cruise Confirmed to Go Ahead
Just hours after receiving an email promising an update the day before embarkation, Royal Caribbean International has again reached out to guests booked on the May 3, 2024 departure of Radiance of the Seas, this time with great news. Repairs to the technical issue impacting the ship’s propulsion system are nearly complete, and the sailing is confirmed to be going ahead as planned. “We know … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean Itinerary Change Leads to Great Opportunity
Guests aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Wonder of the Seas have been informed they will not be able to visit San Juan, Puerto Rico as planned, but will instead be visiting St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. While a cancelled port of call can be disappointing, this gives travelers the unique opportunity to enjoy an amazing festival in St. Thomas. Earlier this month, MSC Cruises’ MSC … [Read more...]
Seattle Cruise Port: Terminals, Transportation and What’s Nearby
While Seattle may be more famous for its coffee culture and bustling tech industry, this seaport city also serves as an important embarkation point for many leading cruise lines. Whether you are planning an Alaskan cruise that departs from the Emerald City or embarking on a completely different itinerary, you will want to familiarize yourself with the Port of Seattle, its cruise ship terminals, … [Read more...]
Next Sailing Not Yet Decided for Under Repair Royal Caribbean Ship
Royal Caribbean International has reached out to guests booked on the next sailing of Radiance of the Seas to let them know that the status of their upcoming cruise has not yet been determined, but they will receive an update by May 2, the day before embarkation. This may be frustrating to some passengers who might only learn about their cruise after their travel plans are already … [Read more...]
Royal Caribbean Shows How Passengers Can Party on Utopia of the Seas
Move over Carnival Cruise Line. Royal Caribbean is ready to prove there is a new fun ship in the Caribbean when it debuts Utopia of the Seas this July. The Oasis-class ship is poised to transform short vacations with 3- and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, to the cruise line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Weighing 236,860 gross tons and measuring … [Read more...]
Cruise Passenger Arrested In Grand Turk During Security Checkpoint
A Virginia resident, 31-year-old Tyler Wenrich, was arrested on April 24, 2024, on charges of possession of ammunition while going through a security checkpoint during a visit to Grand Turk in the Turks & Caicos islands. He was visiting the island during a Royal Caribbean cruise. The country has strict firearms and ammunition rules, which could lead to a 12-year prison … [Read more...]
Five Norwegian Cruise Ships Setting Sail in Alaska
Norwegian Cruise Line has begun their 2024 Alaska sailing season, but which ships are visiting the Last Frontier this year, what itineraries are on offer, and what destinations can guests expect to visit? Five of Norwegian Cruise Line’s 19 ships will be offering a variety of Alaska sailings this year, though the length and destinations vary widely. One-way and roundtrip sailings are available, … [Read more...]
New Zealand’s Cruise Industry Nears Full Recover Post-Pandemic
After years of pandemic-induced disruptions, New Zealand’s cruise market is making a robust comeback, with passenger rates soaring to over 80% of the figures seen before the global health crisis. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) revealed that approximately 86,300 New Zealanders embarked on ocean cruises in 2023, marking the first full year of resumed cruise operations within … [Read more...]
Carnival Cruise Line Now Offering New Onboard Meet-and-Greet
In response to guest feedback and requests, Carnival Cruise Line has now begun offering a new meet-and-greet for passengers 18-20 years old. This can bring together young adult cruisers to meet other passengers of their own age and enjoy fantastic times throughout their sailing. Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald confirmed the new event on his popular Facebook page, noting that it … [Read more...]