Royal Caribbean has sent a letter to impacted guests after bookings had to be cancelled on an upcoming cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas. One of the lifeboats on the Vision-class vessel was damaged on a previous sailing.   Due to the damage, this lifeboat cannot be used, and the cruise ship would not have enough capacity on the remaining lifeboats for every passenger. Safety of Life at … [Read more...]

Princess Cruises has extended their price guarantee on cruises through 2026 as long as it is booked by December 15, 2024. Princess Cruises decided to extend this price guarantee due to the popularity of the program after it launched this past summer. They call “Better than Best Price Guarantee” and it’s something most cruise lines do not offer. Cruisers can now book a Princess cruise that … [Read more...]

A cruise line has opened for bookings cruises on a new class of ship that will debut in late 2025. Windstar Cruises’ new ship, Star Seeker, is now open for bookings. The 112 suite ship will sail its maiden season in the Caribbean, Alaska and Japan. Star Seeker’s maiden voyage will depart on December 28, 2025, a Transatlantic cruise that will end in Miami on January 13, 2026. Once the ship is … [Read more...]

So far in 2024, six new ocean cruise ships have made their debut. They have ranged from Royal Caribbean’s 231,000 gross ton Utopia of the Seas to Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s 37,000 gross ton Ilma. Three more new cruise ships will debut before the end of 2024. There are three more new cruise ships set to debut before the end of 2024. Here is a look at these three new ships and when they will … [Read more...]

Princess Cruises has announced a few changes for their newest ship, Sun Princess, that will go into effect on October 14, 2024. This is when the ship begins sailing to the Caribbean from Port Everglades. Princess Cruises will be moving the locations of several restaurants on Sun Princess to accommodate their new Sanctuary Collection that debuts on October 14. The Sanctuary Collection is made up … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas will be the first ship from the cruise line to visit the Dominican cruise port of Cabo Rojo, starting in October of 2024. The Port of Cabo Rojo is a relatively new port of call as the Dominican Port Authority has invested almost $100 million to develop the area in several phases. The first phase of development has featured an almost 600-foot dock, and … [Read more...]

Latest Update from Carnival Cruise Line: “Carnival Valor 09/12/24 (Now Departing 09/13/24): Thanks for your patience while we worked on plans for your shortened 3-day voyage, departing tomorrow, Friday, 09/13/24. We will not be able to visit Cozumel and will spend the voyage at sea. Please check your email for complete details regarding our offer and your options. If you wish to cancel, please … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean’s longest cruise ever, a 274 night around the world voyage on Serenade of the Seas, recently concluded. The cruise line called it “The Ultimate World Cruise”. This record breaking cruise for the world’s largest cruise line produced a number of interesting fun facts that were released by Royal Caribbean. Cruisers collected over 20 passport stamps each (on average) with the first … [Read more...]

Virgin Voyages, the adults only cruise line, will begin having wedding packages starting in April 2025. To kick off this wedding announcement, Sir Richard Branson married couples on three Virgin cruise ships this past week. One took place in the Dominican Republic, one in Amsterdam, and the third in Ibiza. The weddings took place during the cruise line’s annual Celebration Voyages. This year … [Read more...]

A Carnival cruise ship was taken out of service due to an issue that limited the speed of the vessel. Carnival Vista is currently in Port Canaveral while engineers work on the cruise ship. Carnival Cruise Line expects repairs to be made this week and for the ship to return to service on Sunday. Carnival Cruise Line’s Chief Communications Officer Chris Chiames issued the following statement … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean, the world’s largest cruise line, has updated their logo to give it a more modern look. Royal Caribbean is removing the yellow and the word International from their logo. They are also replacing the Navy Blue (PMS 281) with a new, brighter Navy Blue (PMS 2748). The new logo with their signature Crown & Anchor can be seen below: Royal Caribbean’s new modern logo They have … [Read more...]

The Port of New Orleans will be closed to tomorrow as the port prepares for Tropical Storm Francine that expected to make landfall tomorrow. Current projected path for Tropical Storm Francine. For more info, visit https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/. Tropical Storm Francine currently has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph but is expected to strengthen into a hurricane overnight. Tropical storms become … [Read more...]

A cruise line has issued a policy update for guests who require a powered mobility device that went into effect over the past week. This applies to electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters and power add-ons. Cunard Line, one of nine cruise lines from Carnival Corporation, changed their Powered Mobility Device Policy on September 3, 2024. From now on, if a guests requires a powered mobility … [Read more...]

A cruise line has lowered deposits on just about all of their cruises to just $1, but this special deal is only available today. Holland America Line is offering $1 deposits on all cruises that depart from the fall of 2024 through the summer of 2026.  This includes cruises to the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, and Mexico. It includes all of the cruise line’s sailings except for full Grand … [Read more...]

While cruise lines have adapted their dress code policies over the last couple decades, there are still a few basic rules that get overlooked on every cruise. Whether it’s flip-flops in the main dining room or bathrobes at the buffet, it’s not uncommon to spot a cruiser in vacation mode, flouting the rules. But there are some dress code rules that are based on the ports of call a cruise ship is … [Read more...]

One of Carnival’s cruise lines refueled a cruise ship with 100% renewable Bio Marine Fuel yesterday for the first time. AIDA Cruises tested the fuel in AIDAPrima while the ship was in Rotterdam. The cruise line is testing the performance to see if it can be used in regular ship operations. The Bio Marine Fuel (BMF100) sustainable biofuel supplied by VARO Energy is expected to reduce greenhouse … [Read more...]

For a cruise port, being the homeport for the world’s largest cruise ship is a fairly big deal.  It shows not only that the port can handle such a large vessel, but it also makes for great branding in a heated competition among U.S. cruise ports. Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean International Recent discoveries on the Port of Galveston website have driven speculation about Icon of the Seas … [Read more...]

I am currently on a seven-night cruise with Virgin Voyages that is part of the cruise line’s Virgin Celebration Cruises. This roundtrip cruise out of Barcelona has special guests with appearances that include Sir Richard Branson and Boy George. After spending a few days on board, here are my brief first impressions of the cruise. Virgin Voyages invited me onboard for this special sailing and it … [Read more...]

Cruise pricing can be tricky sometimes.  It’s been a bit more simplified thanks to a new transparency law in California that requires companies to include taxes and fees in their advertised prices. But even with taxes and fees included, there are often many other amenities that are not included.  And unless you’re sailing with an all-inclusive cruise line, these costs can sneak up on … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line announced new sailings out of Tampa, Florida and Mobile, Alabama today. Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line The cruise itineraries for 2026 and 2027 sail out of these two smaller ports to destinations like the Bahamas, Caribbean, and the Panama Canal. Here is the lineup of cruises revealed today: Cruises Sailing Out of Tampa and Mobile in 2026/27 Tampa, Florida Carnival … [Read more...]