Before cruises can get back to sailing, they must conduct “simulated voyages” per CDC requirements. These cruises are essentially practice sailings so that the crew, cruise line, and government officials can put healthy protocols in place and practice how real voyages will go. The cruises will have many of the same features as a regular cruise. To make it as realistic as possible, volunteer … [Read more...]

In preparation for a return to cruising, Norwegian Cruise Line announced a docu-series which offers a closer look at the brand and it’s long-awaited cruise comeback. The first two episodes kick off with a look at the Broadway-caliber entertainment on board. EMBARK NCL Spotlight Series will premier online on Friday 20th November 2020 and will then be available on-demand. You can … [Read more...]

One of the most frequently asked questions from cruisers is “Are cruise ship drink packages worth it?”. Whether or not you should purchase one for your next vacation is an individual decision that depends on several factors. While there are many benefits of buying a beverage package on a cruise, there are also many reasons why cruise ship drink packages are a waste of money. In this post, we play … [Read more...]

On Thursday, November 12, 2020, Port Canaveral held a virtual State of the Port event which included an update on the Disney Cruise terminal renovation project. Bill Crowe, Vice President, Engineering, Construction and Facilities led viewers around the port’s various facilities which included Disney Cruise Line’s terminal 8 (CT8). Crowe took the time to highlight the project’s key features … [Read more...]

It now looks like test volunteers is a thing after Royal Caribbean announced on its social media. The cruise line posted people to apply to become a test volunteer on simulated cruises, no doubt those missing cruising will be itching to apply, but it’s not what you think. As the cruise line prepares on resuming cruises in 2021 and following the new CDC framework on a Conditional Sailing Order, it … [Read more...]

Norwegian Cruise Line will give everyone a taste of cruising next week when they launch their new docuseries and stream a live performance of Choir of Man.NCL’s new docuseries, EMBARK – The Series, will kick off with two episodes showcasing the iconic Broadway and West End caliber entertainment found across the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet.The first episode invites viewers into London’s historic … [Read more...]

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. announced today (Nov. 11, 2020) it has named David Goodman as its Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, effective November 9, 2020. David Goodman has spent 30+ years running divisions of global multi-media organizations, overseeing revenue, marketing, content creation, production, product/technology, distribution and oversight of some of the world’s most … [Read more...]

Looking forward to two weeks at sea onboard a cruise ship while you enjoy life? Well, those long cruises could well be put on the back burner for now. A combination of the uncertain border and port access due to ever-changing health regulations, continued uncertainty about airline travel, and the advice from the CDC to stop any cruises 7-days and longer is leading cruise lines to cancel, or at the … [Read more...]

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More than 800 travel advisors from Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. are virtually attending the 2020 Vision Conference this week. Originally scheduled to unfold on Celebrity Apex, the four-day conference for the World Travel Holdings brands is now streaming into home offices and workplaces.“As the week unfolds, attendees will be inspired to control their destiny and … [Read more...]

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted the no-sail order last month, you could probably hear the collective cheer from the cruise industry from outer space. However, the CDC didn’t open up cruising for a free-for-all. Instead, they’ve instituted a tiered approach to a return that involves several important phases. One of those phases is test-cruising prior to opening up … [Read more...]

If you are one of the many cruise fans eager to get back on a cruise ship, Royal Caribbean is now taking volunteers who want to sign up for test cruises.After a week of speculation, Royal Caribbean posted on social media a link for anyone interested in signing up to be a volunteer on a test cruise.The cruise line has a form set up for adults only (18 years or older) to enter basic information … [Read more...]

There’s something beautifully consistent about a river. A living embodiment of water’s never ending journey through our ecosystems, rivers provide life in ways no other body of water can. Each stripe carving its way through the landscape has a story to tell about discovery and adventure. Hearing these stories is one thing, experiencing them firsthand is quite another. River cruising in the … [Read more...]

The small boat adventure company, UnCruise Adventures, recently announced that it has launched its own adventure travel podcast, “No Ordinary Adventure”. Hosted by industry veteran, and UnCruise Adventures CEO, Dan Blanchard, the curated audio stories are 30-45 minutes long and will be released monthly. Six new episodes were released today (Nov.11) across all major podcast platforms. The … [Read more...]

Iconic hospitality brands Aqua Expeditions and NIHI Sumba have teamed up to create a new adventure exploring the remote and breathtaking islands and seas of East Indonesia. Departing from Bali aboard Aqua Expeditions’ super yacht Aqua Blu, this singular experience combines a four-night private charter navigating the famed Komodo National Park, culminating in three nights at NIHI Sumba, a remote … [Read more...]

The first cruise ship to sail to the Caribbean since March is headed back to its homeport after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19SeaDream I departed from Barbados on Saturday to become the first cruise ship to cruise to the Caribbean in eight months.  Four days into the cruise, the ship is now headed back to its homeport after the positive test.Gene Sloan, a cruise journalist for The … [Read more...]

Holland America Line has decided to stop selling longer cruises while it reviews the new CDC framework and seeks additional clarification. The sailings have already been removed from the cruise line’s booking engine until further details are known. So the Carnival-owned cruise line has announced that cruises of eight days or longer will no longer be available to book. Currently, the official … [Read more...]

Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services, an experienced global business offering ground handling and port operations services to the cruise industry, is partnering with Vikand Solutions, a global maritime medical operations and healthcare solutions provider, to develop a “Global Port Medical Network”. The Global Port Medical Network will help in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by … [Read more...]

Shares of cruise operators soared Monday, as investors cheered news that Pfizer Inc.'s PFE, -1.09% and BioNTech Inc.'s BNTX, -2.05% COVID-19 vaccine candidate achieved "success" in an interim analysis from a Phase 3 study. Carnival Corp.'s stock CCL, -1.28% rocketed 29.5% in active premarket trading, Royal Caribbean Group … [Read more...]

While cruise lines work on meeting the CDC’s new guidelines so they can resume cruises out of the U.S., the CDC is proposing not allowing sailings over seven days long.While the seven day cap on cruises would likely be temporary and not permanent, a couple of cruise lines have put cruises eight days and longer on hold and stopped taking new bookings.Carnival Cruise Line has closed all 8 day and … [Read more...]