In an exercise of fleet optimization, Seabourn has sold Seabourn Odyssey to a Japanese transport company, though the luxury cruise line says it will continue to operate all published voyages through Aug. 22, 2024, under a charter arrangement.
Carnival Cruise Line has 100 million reasons to celebrate after announcing that it has achieved a major milestone for the industry as the first cruise line to embark 100 million guests since its first sailing. Carnival President Christine Duffy visited Carnival Sunrise today as guests boarded the ship at PortMiami, where the cruise line was founded, to thank them for choosing fun since 1972.
Imagine managing floating cities full of different restaurants and having to plan shopping lists for what diners are going to be ordering a year from now. That’s the challenge facing cruise lines as they look ahead at the ever-changing trends in food and beverage on their ships.
MSC Cruises is expanding its new entertainment offerings at sea with Guinness World Records, the recognized officials for incredible record-breaking titles worldwide. The new program will allow passengers to test their mettle at live shows and – if they’re lucky – get their name in the record books.
Silversea Cruises has introduced new direct private charter flights for 28 of its Arctic and Greenland sailings in 2023 and ‘24. Guests sailing on select Silver Endeavour, Silver Wind, and Silver Cloud voyages can take advantage of the air service from the several global cities including Montreal to such remote Arctic destinations as Longyearbyen, Kangerlussuaq, and Pond Inlet.
Disney Cruise Line will unveil a new island destination in summer 2024 celebrating the unique culture of The Bahamas. Located on Eleuthera, Lighthouse Point is being designed in close collaboration with local artists and advisors to provide an experience that “combines breathtaking natural beauty with the magic of Bahamian hospitality, storytelling and artistry.”
Exclusive experiences, special programming, surprise sailings, and themed cruises will define Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ Limited Edition Collection of cruises – a series of special departures operating only once or twice this summer.
Fun is fun, but don’t let yours spoil someone else’s good times, Carnival Cruise Line is warning spring breakers. “You will be sailing with us during Spring Break, which is traditionally a period of high occupancy,” a letter being sent to passengers says. “As part of our commitment to create the best environment to provide a fun and memorable vacation for all, we would like to remind you of our Safety First! guidelines, as we CHOOSE FUN TOGETHER.”
Seabourn has announced the appointment Natalya Leahy as its new president. Leahy, whose seven years with Holland America Group included operational oversight of Seabourn, succeeds Josh Leibowitz who is leaving the brand to pursue new opportunities.
Move over Miami, Port Canaveral has climbed to number one as the world’s busiest cruise port for the first time ever. New figures from the Florida Ports Council rank the port 45 miles from Orlando as number one, with 4.07 million passengers coming to or from cruises in 2022. That compares with 4.02 million for PortMiami, which has held the title for many years. Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale retained its number 3 spot, with 1.72 million passengers.
Hoping to persuade cruise lines decide to anchor elsewhere, the city council in Monterey, California has voted to take away city services for handling passengers arriving at the city’s dock.
MSC Cruises is inviting travellers to “discover the future of cruising” in a newly launched campaign that highlights the company’s commitment to the future of the industry – and the planet – not least with its intention of having zero-impact cruise operations by 2050.
I’m writing this from a padded lounge chair in The Sanctuary, a personal hideaway at the top of Sky Princess. On a ship that can carry more than 3,600 passengers, two attendants are at my beck and call and there are no other guests in sight.
Sparking blue waters line a beautiful wave-free beach of fine white sand. Palm trees sway in a gentle breeze while friendly bartenders offer up as many cool drinks as you want. It’s the picture that appears in your mind’s eye whenever you think of an idyllic day on a Caribbean beach. That mental ideal seldom lives up to reality in many Caribbean cruise ports, as thousands of cruise passengers flock to the nearest beach at some popular cruise ports.
Holland America Line has extended its “Culinary Cruise” program into 2023, whereby celebrity chefs share their expertise and kitchen secrets on select voyages, offering tips, tricks, and techniques to foodies, while sharing their passion for gastronomy.
Princess Cruises has revealed a first glimpse of the most contemporary and state-of-the-art designs imaged yet onboard Sun Princess – the cruise line’s newest and most innovative ship, which is scheduled to debut in early 2024.
Crystal Cruises – a high profile victim of the pandemic – has officially relaunched under new ownership with the Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony vessels set to sail again beginning this summer.
With the best pizza, pasta and coffee at sea and parties that last late into the night, cruising to exotic locales on Italy’s Costa Cruises is an immersion into European style, tastes and customs.
Silversea Cruises 11th, and newest ship, Silver Nova, is scheduled for delivery this summer. Built with a revolutionary asymmetrical design – a first for the cruise line – the new ship will offer guests all-new outdoor spaces for an unprecedented openness, with a reimagined, outward-facing pool deck, an al fresco dining area, and a sky bar that offers panoramic views from the ship’s aft.
At every port on a cruise in the United Arab Emirates, it’s obvious that each of the Arab sheikdoms are playing top this with their newly built soaring skylines, their supersized yachts and their over-the-top palaces.
Carnival Cruise Line’s annual ‘Amp Up Commission Challenge’ continues to off travel advisors the opportunity to qualify for higher commission rates in 2023. Through the program, agents will be able to increase their commissions up to 15 percent for the full 2023 year based on bookings made from Jan. 1 through March 31, 2023.
Oh, you poor puppy. I’m going to miss you! Don’t you wish you could actually take your sad-eyed pooch or pouting pussycat along with you as you pack up for a cruise?
European Waterways is reporting record sales of its luxury hotel barge cruises with the company citing a number of post-pandemic trends that align with its unique travel experience.
The sex lives of seahorses are even racier than you could imagine. And believe it or not, the global intrigues that led to what became known as the Guano Wars are more fascinating than any spy novel.
With celebrations for its 150th Anniversary year underway, Holland America Line is hosting a series of Heritage Cruises that authentically focus on ports rich in the brand’s history and feature unique onboard and shoreside experiences.
American Queen Voyages has introduced a savings offer ahead of its 2023 season, which is highlighted by new city-stay packages, and a new ‘Lakelorian’ program on its Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator Great Lakes itineraries.
It seemed that 2022 was year of catch-up, getting ships that were due to arrive during the lockdown finally christened and launched on their careers. So this year is the first time in three years where we can confidently board ships that are brand new and hopefully are not postponed because of restrictions or shortages.
Luxury cruise brand Cunard will sail over 110 international voyages next winter, including the maiden voyages of new ship Queen Anne. Across the new itineraries, the four-ship fleet comprising of Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Anne, will call at 126 unique ports in 51 countries, with voyages ranging from two-night city breaks to a 108-night world voyage.
Four cruise lines have been sentenced by a US judge to pay a total of nearly US $450 million for having used a Havana port nationalized by the Cuban government in 1960. Friday’s ruling by a Florida federal judge requires the Carnival, MSC SA, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian lines to pay $109 million each, plus court costs, to Havana Docks, an American company that held the concession to use that facility.
Crew members aboard two cruise ships rescued around two dozen migrants in small boats, the latest episode of hundreds making or attempting landings in the Florida Keys over the past several days, authorities said.