It’s official, Santorini ranks as the most popular tourist destination in Europe, which is destined to make it even more impossibly crowded. “Famous for its golden sunsets, warm temperatures and jaw-dropping scenery, it comes as no surprise that Santorini ranks so highly as a must-visit hotspot,” said British holiday rental company CV Villas (which of course had a vested interest in the study) that ranked Ibiza second and Tenerife third.
Scenic Group is planning a warm waterfall season with three of its ocean-going yachts – Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Sakara and Scenic Eclipse II – island hopping in Caribbean. It’s a new destination for all three yachts, and there’s a wide variety of itineraries, amenities, and excursions.
It’s been a year in the making, now Crystal Cruises is being relaunched with an upgraded look to appeal to long-time fans of the line back and attract a new following of luxury cruisers. From redesigned public spaces and modern guest rooms and suites to refined in-room amenities and exclusive linens designed for royalty, the new Crystal experience will feature contemporary designs from a collection of European partners.
A niche fleet in Norway is gaining world attention by scoring better than any other cruise line in a global ranking of environmental sustainability. The German environmental organization NABU ranked Havila Voyages in a tie at the top of its cruise ranking for 2023, based on the company’s efforts towards sustainability and reduced carbon emissions.
Four Seasons Yachts hasn’t even opened bookings for its first ultra-luxury ship, but it’s so confident that it’s already ordered a second.
You’ve probably danced the Tennessee Waltz, but it’s not likely you’ve ever had a chance to sail the Tennessee River. American Cruise Lines is inaugurating eight-day cruises on a river seldom explored with new eight-day Tennessee River cruises between Nashville and Chattanooga. Guests will visit towns in the winding Tennessee Valley through the Appalachian Mountains.
A ship designed for exploration of the seas was christened by the first woman to walk in space. Accompanied by Scenic Group owners Glen and Karen Moroney, NASA Astronaut Dr. Kathryn Sullivan christened one of the world’s most technologically advanced ultra-luxury yachts, Scenic Eclipse II in Málaga, Spain.
MSC Cruises may still have only the third-largest cruise fleet in the world, but it keeps expanding in grand fashion. At a ceremony in France, the cruise division of MSC Group took delivery of its 22nd ship, MSC Euribia. It’s the final evolution of the line’s popular Meraviglia class and the second ship for MSC Cruises to be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas.
The new Crystal is setting a global course for 2024, planning extended cruises to iconic and off-the-beaten-track destinations around the world while almost never repeating a port. The luxury line’s two ships will both be globe-trotters, highlighted by a 141-night world cruise on Crystal Serenity as well as a series of unique Grand Journeys ranging from 37 to 68 nights.
Staying connected on expeditions to remote locales or even on a leisurely sail in the Caribbean is becoming easier this year as cruise lines swap their old satellite equipment for the speedier Starlink system.
You can actually take a cruise from Duluth, Minnesota, all the way to Antarctica. And the ports along the route include Thunder Bay, Parry Sound, Windsor, Cleveland and Toronto. There’s never been a cruise itinerary like it before, and the 71-day cruise that starts in Lake Superior in September is only one of a series of Longitudinal World Cruises being innovated by Viking Cruises as two of its new expedition ships explore the Great Lakes.
In the not-too-distant past, asking for a vegan or vegetarian option on a cruise might have been greeted with a choice of a plate of steamed vegetables or a green salad. But increasingly, cruise lines are rolling out daily vegetarian menus and many are including vegan options for each course.
Every day’s a holiday is the promise of Life at Sea Cruises. There’s always that moment as you pack up to go home from your cruise when the thought comes up : Why does this have to end? That’s why there’s usually a future cruise desk located conveniently near the reception area.
It’s so sleek it cuts effortlessly through waves and headwinds. It’s powered by emission-free fuel cells and wind turbines, while photo cells in its glass produce more than enough juice for all the ship’s electrical needs. It’s called Reverse, but it’s a look far into the future by engineers at Germany’s Meyer Group working on ideas to create a totally self-sufficient ecologically friendly cruise ship.
The lobby of Explora 1 evokes comparisons to the luxury of a grand European hotel. The itineraries speak of extraordinary adventures with whimsical names like Glacier Carved Islands or the Valley of Mischievous Trolls.
You can’t keep a good dragon down. Hong Kong is aiming to reach new heights now that it has fully reopened, and officials at a cruise conference promised cruise passengers will find more than ever before when they visit.
As might be expected, optimism reigned at a conference of the cruise community that predicted the clouds of the long pandemic lockdown have finally disappeared and the horizon is once again brilliantly sunny. At the Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Fort Lauderdale, cruise lines pointed to record booking days–in part due to redemptions of cruise credits for previously cancelled cruises–and the fact cruise tourism is rebounding faster than bookings for land-based resorts–in part because cruising is a comparative bargain.
Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world. Surfing is a must-do on a visit to Dubai, but with apologies to the Beach Boys, we’re doing it on sand, miles from the nearest water. Instead of a surfboard, we’re riding in a 4X4 SUV specially tricked out to be able to keep from wiping out as we climb and slide over soft sand dunes. No previous experience is required for the passengers–other than the ability to hold back the urge to scream occasionally.
The new Crystal has launched an Exceptional Initiative to guests who were financially impacted by the bankruptcy of Crystal Cruises’ former owners. Former Crystal guests who hold a verified claim in the Crystal Cruises LLC case will be able to apply for credits to use toward future Crystal voyages on board either Crystal Serenity or Crystal Symphony.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.