Archives for December 2020

A photo of a group of guests who took their masks off for a photo has prompted an investigation into cruise ship protocols by the Singaporean government.Photo by valleyseowThe Straits Times reports a group of guests posted a photo on social media of them not wearing masks, and it caught the attention of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).The guests were on the December 20 sailing of … [Read more...]

Hard as it is to believe, even most die-hard cruisers haven’t been on a ship for nearly a year. For those who aren’t lucky enough to be able to set sail every year, it’s probably been even longer. The Long Road Back (Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line) To say that 2020 has been a depressing one for cruisers would be a cruel understatement. When not finding out that the trips they’d been … [Read more...]

When cruises are able to finally start back up, cruisers will have the choice of several new cruise ships that were recently completed.Cruise lines have taken delivery of a number of new cruise ships since all cruises were paused from U.S. ports nine months ago. Here is a look at six new cruise ships that will begin sailing for the first time when cruises resume.Virgin’s Scarlet LadyVirgin … [Read more...]

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest travel company operating nine cruise lines, has taken delivery of another new cruise ship. This is the second new cruise ship that they have taken delivery of this month.Costa Cruises officially took delivery of Costa Firenze from Fincantieri, designed and built in the Marghera shipyard and inspired by the Florentine Renaissance.With 135,500 gross tonnage … [Read more...]

Consider this a warning, cruise fans: This story is probably going to make you angry… as well it should. Because it’s yet another example of just how unfairly the industry has been treated, especially when it comes to how it has been covered with regard to the current health crisis. The Story You Probably Don’t Even Know About Oasis of the Seas (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) Imagine if 145 … [Read more...]

The year 2020 will be a year that many will want to erase from memory as soon as possible. The forecasts for 2021 look good with a vaccine approved in many countries and vaccination programs underway. But what about the cruise industry? Is there reason to be hopeful for the year to come, or are there still many pitfalls the cruise lines will need to avoid? We look at what challenges 2021 will … [Read more...]

While most of us will be celebrating this New Year’s Eve at home, it doesn’t mean that we can’t dream about ringing in the new year with friends and family at one of the many great watering holes at sea. A homemade cruise cocktail will have to do this year, but we definitely plan on enjoying these Best Cruise Ship Bars once cruising resumes in 2021! Did your favorite spot make our list?Our Picks … [Read more...]

The cruise industry is going through a period of recuperation. Heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, cruise lines were forced to delay ship launches, cancel sailings and cut costs. However, if there is one thing the pandemic has been good for, it has been in providing a pause, a period of reflection, both in personal and business lives. During this time for reflection, the cruise industry has … [Read more...]

Port Canaveral’s new $155 million Cruise Terminal 3 is all dressed up and ready for visitors. But no one is coming — at least not just yet.The 188,000-square-foot terminal was considered substantially completed in May and became fully operational in June.It was supposed to be used this year for Carnival Cruise Line, including for Carnival’s new Mardi Gras, the biggest ship in its fleet. … [Read more...]

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is closing the year by reflecting on the very best of 2020, which has included a host of awards, a thriving Virtual Cruising programme and the introduction of two new ships in what has been a challenging and unprecedented year for the industry. On 13th March 2020, Fred. Olsen paused its operations and adapted to a new way of working. In April, it launched its award-winning … [Read more...]

Ports of Stockholm’s commitment to renewable energy continues with the installation of a rooftop solar cell facility at Stockholm Norvik Port that will be one the biggest of its kind in Sweden. The solar cell system went live on the darkest day of the year. On 21 December, the darkest day of the year, the first part of the new solar cell system at Stockholm Norvik Port came into operation. The … [Read more...]

How do you plan for a cruise in 2021 with there not being any clear indication when cruises might restart?Usually planning for a cruise in the coming year is a matter of following a pattern of tried-and-true strategies, but 2021 is going to be a mixed bag of cancellations, test cruises, and ever-changing rules.If you have a cruise booked in 2021, or are trying to figure out when to book a … [Read more...]

The winners have been revealed in the 2020 Cruise Ship Awards. Cruise Hive readers have been voting since mid-September on their favorite cruise ships, cruise lines, and ports. Finally, we come to announce which ones have come out on top. In this year’s annual awards, we scaled back due to the global pandemic. With most of the cruise industry on pause since March 2020, it would not be right to … [Read more...]

Celestyal Cruises is on the expansion track, having acquired another vessel: the Celestyal Experience will launch service in 2021, having previously sailed as the Costa neoRomantica. The company took delivery of the 1,800-guest ship over the summer. “It has long been our goal to eventually renew our fleet in order to remain  competitive,” Leslie Peden, chief commercial officer, told Cruise … [Read more...]

The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners has selected Joe Stuyvesant to serve as its next president and chief executive officer (CEO). Stuyvesant, who currently serves as executive director at Navy Region Southwest, is considered the top candidate among hundreds of applicants after a vigorous nationwide search that began in September. His contract is anticipated to be ratified at the … [Read more...]

In this installment of The Vault, we are going to take a trip back to 1985 with another look at the early days of land and sea vacations via Disney’s partnership with Premier Cruise Lines. At the time, the marketing campaign claim to fame was the only cruise and Walt Disney World week. <img data-attachment-id="48540" … [Read more...]

When the ball drops in Times Square this New Year’s Eve, make sure you’re tuned in to watch. It’s going to be a little bit different this year, but the spirit of the season remains. It seems like our collective New Year’s resolution for 2021 is to get out and do EVERYTHING. That means cruisers should skip the Caribbean this year in favor of something they’ve never done or experienced before. … [Read more...]

The ultimate nude cruise is coming to the high seas in the winter of 2022. At the end of every nude cruise they’ve organized, the folks at Bare Necessities say they get one request. And with their upcoming 75th charter, they’re granting that much-uttered wish by creating the ultimate bucket list for those who love truly getting in touch with nature. They’re Chartering the Carnival Pride Carnival … [Read more...]

First things first: One of the best things about a cruise is that it offers an affordable vacation. Instead of forking over cash for transportation, a hotel, meals, and entertainment, a cruise offers everything for one price that’s usually lower than you’d pay if you were to book it separately. But don’t think that cruise lines make their vacations affordable out of the goodness of their hearts. … [Read more...]

The year 2020 started great, with cruise lines predicting record bookings at the start of the year and passenger numbers projected to jump up by several million compared to 2019. How different things became in February and March. With COVID-19 outbreaks on several vessels, ships detained in ports worldwide, crew members stuck on board for many months, and the cruise industry under immense scrutiny … [Read more...]