In this week’s cruise news update, we’ve finally got the major cruise lines starting to ease the pre-cruise testing requirement. Carnival Cruise line and Royal Caribbean have made protocol changes, along with developments on itinerary changes, redeployments, and the new Norwegian Cruise Line ship. Cruise News Update Plenty of major cruise news to catch up on as Carnival Cruise line and Royal … [Read more...]

On Thursday and Friday, July 28 and 29, Carnival Cruise Line hosted more than 500 local business representatives, authorities, and residents of Grand Bahama Island for a series of informational sessions about the new port development project. This outreach, which was held at the Grand Lucayan Hotel and Resort, is intended to update the community about progress on the cruise port project and the … [Read more...]

Carnival-owned, AIDA Cruises, has announced its newest virtual reality attraction at sea, YULLBE GO.  Onboard the fleet’s largest ship, AIDAcosma, guests will be able to choose from four different game worlds and experience a new virtual dimension. Virtual Reality Experiences Onboard With a fleet of 13, AIDA Cruises will bring a new virtual dimension, YULLBE GO, aboard in collaboration with … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line has announced today, July 29, that it will be removing all pre-cruise testing requirements for vaccinated guests on short cruises of 5 nights or less, effective August 4. The cruise line will be introducing further changes in phases.  Carnival will also be changing the amount of time that guests will need to be tested on cruises longer than five nights, and has introduced … [Read more...]

During a ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of the first of six Prima-class ships, Norwegian Prima, today, July 29. The vessel will be setting sail just over a month from now, on August 27.  During her inaugural season, Norwegian Prima will sail from Reykjavik, Iceland; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Copenhagen, Denmark, and Southampton, … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean International has recently notified guests of multiple ship swaps and redeployments for both 2023 and 2024 itineraries. These changes affect a total of four ships, with sailings in Alaska, Australia, Europe, and the Caribbean all impacted. Brilliance and Enchantment The first of the ship swaps is between the Radiance-class Brilliance of the Seas and the smaller Vision-class … [Read more...]

In the first five months of 2022, 2.6 million cruise passengers arrived via cruise ship to Mexico. This year’s arrival of cruise travelers to Mexico represents a total income of 198.5 million dollars. It’s the most impressive number so far since cruise ships first started to return to the country in 2021, following the industry-wide suspension. Cruise Passenger Arrival in Mexico this Year The … [Read more...]

Many people marvel at the sheer size of cruise ships. They secretly wonder how something so large and heavy could move so easily in water or how something that massive could even float in the first place! In this post, we’ll explain how cruise ships float. The answer to this question boils down to materials, design, water displacement, and buoyancy. So, in short, a combination of design and … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean Group released its second-quarter earnings business update for 2022 today (July 28), a report that was well received by the financial markets. Upon release, the company’s stock price increased several dollars, decreasing slightly afterward. The jump in stock price is not surprising; Royal Caribbean performed well over the second quarter. Increases in onboard occupancy levels, … [Read more...]

Princess Cruises has announced spectacular new itineraries and never-before-sailed destinations across the Americas for the cruise line as part of its upcoming 2023 and 2024 itineraries. These options include 45+ itineraries from seven convenient North American homeports with amazing voyages that include the South Pacific and Hawaii, giving travelers even more destinations to explore. Unmatched … [Read more...]

In the second quarter earnings report released today, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said the company plans to remove testing requirements for vaccinated guests by August 8 for all of its cruise brands.  The company is possibly considering removing vaccinations as a requirement to cruise as well,  transitioning to the point where everyone will be able to vacation onboard the … [Read more...]

Explora Journeys has announced its suite designs set to offer a real ‘Home at Sea.’  The cruise line’s first vessel, Explora I, is scheduled to depart on its maiden cruise in May 2023 and will boast of 461 ocean-front suites. Explora Journeys Suite Designs MSC Group’s cruise brand, Explora Journeys, has released the design for its state-of-the-art ocean terrace suites that will reflect the … [Read more...]

After some delays, Seabourn Venture, Seabourn’s first ultra-luxury expedition ship, welcomed its first guests onboard today, July 27, in Tromsø, Norway. The vessel is heading to Svalbard, one of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas and home to wildlife from puffins to polar bears. Seabourn Venture Built To Explore The first guests boarded Carnival-owned purpose-built expedition ship today in … [Read more...]

Authorities in Germany are investigating two fires onboard P&O Cruises’ newest cruise ship, Arvia. Although the fires occurred two weeks ago, local authorities and the shipyard only commented on the fires and subsequent investigation now.  According to police reports, the fires caused one security guard to be hospitalized and treated for smoke inhalation. The Meyer Werft shipyard, which … [Read more...]

Considering taking a cruise on one of the many MSC cruise ships? You’ve certainly got a lot of ships, and itineraries, to choose from. As the third-largest cruising company in the world after Carnival and Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises carries nearly 10% of all the world’s cruise passengers each year.  The MSC Cruises fleet consists of 19 ships, as old as 21 years (MSC Armonia was built in … [Read more...]

Guests aboard Norwegian Gem recently had a more convenient way to visit the popular Italian port of Venice. Docking in the city is no longer permitted, but rather than docking much further away and using busses, the ship used smaller tenders to bring guests right to the famous St. Mark’s Square. This controversial move is reportedly an experiment to work around the ban on larger vessels docking in … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line’s newest cruise ship, Carnival Celebration, will be a shopper’s paradise. The vessel, which will debut in November this year, will feature no less than nine retail collections that offer various choices for every cruiser. Carnival is bringing out new designs, such as designs inspired by the company’s home, Miami, and some tried-and-true favorites, such as Carnival’s previously … [Read more...]

On Monday evening, an explosion occurred on a river cruise ship docked in the center of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Two hundred people were evacuated from the ship, and a number of them inhaled too much smoke. The explosion happened in the vessel’s battery room, after which a fire broke out.  Fire and Explosion Onboard Viking Gymir After guests had just embarked on the Viking Gymir in … [Read more...]

The reality romance television show “The Bachelorette” will hit the high seas on an epic journey for two bachelorettes to find love onboard Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady. This will be the first time that the reality tv series will be filmed on a luxury cruise line and will air on ABC next week. ABC’s Hit Romance Reality Show at Sea Duo bachelorettes, Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey will … [Read more...]

Multiple Princess Cruises’ itineraries in Alaska for several ships must be adjusted due to dock closure in Skagway. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, which owns one of the largest docks in the popular port of call, has determined a grave rockslide risk to the dock, requiring immediate closure to safeguard cruise ships and visitors. This closure of the Railroad Dock’s forward berth impacts … [Read more...]