Mercy Ships announced this week that the “Global Mercy” has now completed deep water sea trials, one of the final milestones in the countdown towards the hospital ship’s delivery, equipping, maiden voyage and launch into service to sub-Saharan Africa in 2022. Deep water trials are designed to test the vessel during extended sailing time to ensure that all systems are fully operational and in line … [Read more...]

While Princess Cruises continues to work with various government and port authorities to finalize its additional plans for return to cruising and due to ongoing international travel restrictions, the company is cancelling the following cruise vacations: ● California Coast and Mexico sailings on Ruby Princess through August 21, 2021● Caribbean sailings on Caribbean Princess through August 21, 2021● … [Read more...]

“Ahoy” for AIDA cruises from Germany: today, May 12, 2021, bookings will open for AIDAsol’s first voyages from/to Kiel. Dates between May 22 and June 9, 2021 are available for selection. AIDAsol will depart from Rostock-Warnemünde as early as today, Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at 6 p.m. and set course for Kiel. On May 13, 2021, at 3 p.m., AIDAsol will moor in Kiel, where it will be the first cruise … [Read more...]

Norwegian Prima – A First-in-Class Ship Norwegian Cruise Line today opened for sale the first of six ships within its highly anticipated next class of vessels, Prima Class, the Brand’s first new class of ships in nearly 10 years. With voyages beginning in summer 2022, Norwegian Prima, the first of the six ships, will be 965 feet long, 142,500 gross tons and able to accommodate 3,215 guests at … [Read more...]

Sea Cloud Spirit Sailing The new 136-passenger “Sea Cloud Spirit” has reached another construction milestone as it has been delivered from the Vigo, Spain shipyard. The “Sea Cloud Spirit” is built as a three-mast full-rigged ship. A tallship is called a full-rigged ship when it has at least three masts with complete square rigging. The 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit that combines traditional … [Read more...]

American Queen Steamboat Company is currently hiring more than 200 officers and crew members nationwide over the next 60 days. The U.S.-flagged cruise line is re-launching the American Empress® in the Pacific Northwest on June 14 for a nearly sold-out season, and the American Queen® will return to service on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers later this summer, dependent on CDC guidance. The … [Read more...]

Alaska & Yukon Tours is a travel agency based out of Juneau, Alaska Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Nate Vallier, president and owner of Alaska & Yukon Tours, talked to News of the North about their estimate for the effects of the proposed ballot initiatives that would limit cruise ships in Juneau. For this report, they used … [Read more...]

“We’re delighted to announce that we’ve extended our contract with P&O Cruises and luxury cruise brand Cunard to 2027”, cruise ship retailer Harding has announced on its web site. “As part of the contract, our internal design team will continue to work in partnership with P&O Cruises’ and Cunard’s award-winning design teams and architects to design, manage and build entire retail … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line today notified its guests and travel advisor partners of cancellations for additional sailings as it works toward plans for a possible July restart in the U.S. on select ships. Carnival hopes to begin operating sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas, including Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami. Further, if Carnival can … [Read more...]

Batteries, shore power and biofuel are at the core of Hurtigruten Group’s large-scale green upgrade of the entire fleet of Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express ships. The result: CO2 emissions will be reduced by least 25 %, and NOx emissions cut by 80 percent. In what is described as one of the largest environmental upgrades in the history of European shipping, all seven Hurtigruten Norwegian … [Read more...]

Azamara is pleased to reveal the brand’s ‘Explore Well at Sea’ program ahead of the line’s return to service in August. Through Azamara’s commitment to wellness, the cruise line is implementing new standards with the launch of its ‘Explore Well at Sea’ program to enhance the onboard experience, keeping guests’ safety and peace of mind a top priority. With the guidance of the Healthy Sail Panel – a … [Read more...]

Silversea Cruises today announced its long-awaited return to service in the Galápagos Islands aboard new ship Silver Origin, which arrived in San Cristóbal on April 30. With Silver Origin departing on her inaugural season from June 19, the leading ultra-luxury cruise line will welcome guests on all-new itineraries, which have been enriched to take guests deeper into the archipelago, and to … [Read more...]

Since the COVID-19 outbreak hit the entire world in March 2020, the Port of Tenerife has been the refuge for many cruise ships. First, working hand in hand with the cruise lines to repatriate passengers and crew. Then, offering its well-sheltered anchorage area to lay up the cruise ships once all cruise lines around the world stopped their operations, including services such as crew change or … [Read more...]

by Kevin Griffin Norwegian Cruise Line’s next delivery, the first of a new class of six ships, is to be named Norwegian Prima when she enters service in August 2022. Meanwhile, Carnival has put a hold on bookings to most of its fleet while it works out its re-start plans. And Costa Cruises has returned to service in the Med. THIS WEEK’S STORY Norwegian Prima First Of The “Leonardo” Class Norwegian … [Read more...]

AIDA Cruises today announced that Europe’s largest shore power plant was officially inaugurated with one of its ships, AIDAsol, in the presence of Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig and AIDA Cruises President Felix Eichhorn during the 12th German National Maritime Conference. Establishing a shore power supply for … [Read more...]

Celebrity Cruises announced its Summer 2021 return to sailing the breath-taking Galapagos Islands on one of the new-luxury brand’s three stunning ships that offer itineraries in this unique part of the world. Beginning July 4, the luxurious, state-of-the-art mega yacht, Celebrity Flora®, will be the first to resume sailing the extraordinary archipelago, followed by the award-winning Celebrity … [Read more...]

Katarina Line, Croatia’s premier small ship cruise company and winner of Best Croatian Travel Agency DMC award, announced the launch of its 2021 season with a wide range of promotions that include 20% off on all 2021 cruises. The promotion also includes a solo traveler discount of 50% off on select departures and a last-minute 29% off on the company’s 7-night May 22, 2021 Premium Bike Cruise, … [Read more...]

On March 31, the Italian government issued a decree that would see cruise ships and large commercial vessels banned from the Venetian lagoon, and calling for tenders to be sought to construct a new port outside the lagoon.Yet just 15 days later, MSC Cruises announced that the MSC Orchestra would be heading up the Giudecca Canal, gliding past St Mark's Square and docking in the city-center port on … [Read more...]

How the CDC could hurt port businesses after U.S. cruises restart Advertiser Disclosure Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site … [Read more...]

Terminal F Groundbreaking at PortMiami This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) announced a $2 million allocation for PortMiami’s Shore Power Pilot Program. This pilot program, announced in March 2021, will be in partnership with Carnival Cruise Line at the new Cruise Terminal F. Shore power allows enabled ships to turn off their primary engines … [Read more...]