A possible solution to Canada's cruise ship ban is one step closer.The United States Senate unanimously passed a bill that allow foreign flagged cruise ships to sail to Alaska without having to stop in Canada.The Alaska Tourism Recovery Act (H.R. 1318) passed the Senate in a vote on Thursday, and will now to go to the U.S House of Representatives for a vote.The bill was introduced by Lisa … [Read more...]

A week after Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) said it might have to pull its ships from Florida if due to the state’s new law against vaccine mandates, Florida's Governor did not seem phased.Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Ormond Beach, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) did not seem concerned with the potential for NCL to move its ships away from the state.NCL wants to … [Read more...]

We have another positive sign the U.S. cruise industry is moving towards re-opening.Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD) announced plans for many restrictions to be lifted from the global health crisis, and that includes re-opening its cruise terminal.As a result of widespread vaccination efforts and subsequent declines in key health metrics, Governor Hogan believes the time is right for … [Read more...]

A week after releasing its requirements and recommendations for cruise ships to implement as part of its test cruises, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated a handful of the rules. While the cruise industry welcomed a significant update from the CDC, many of the requirements were seen as over bearing and lacking scientific merit, especially since many or all of the … [Read more...]

While Royal Caribbean has not revealed its full protocols for its summer cruises on Adventure of the Seas, face masks will not be necessary on its private island.Face masks have been a major point of contention among cruise fans who want to know where and when you will have to wear masks, but Royal Caribbean has confirmed face masks are not going to be required on Perfect Day at CocoCay.Royal … [Read more...]

If anything, a year without cruises has taught me how much I took a cruise vacation for granted, and now I am left yearning for the things that endeared me to cruising in the first place.Usually, a bucket list has the connotation of being things you would love to do some day before you, well, "kick the bucket", and they are typically once in a lifetime experiences.  In most years, that would … [Read more...]

You may have heard about cruise ships going into dry dock, but what happens when a ship goes in for work?Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or RSS. Source: royalcaribbeanblog.com … [Read more...]

Carnival Cruise Line announced it has cancelled some of its July 2021 cruises, but there is still hope for some ships to sail from the U.S. in July.Carnival says there is a a possible July restart in the U.S. on select ships from Florida and Texas.There are three ships that are not cancelled for July, including Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from … [Read more...]

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a new set of instructions for cruise lines to engage in test cruises, but some of the requirements are truly bizarre.From the start of the agency's mandated industry-wide shutdown, the cruise lines have been held to a completely different double standard.While the new instructions for test cruises are an important step … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean is preparing to begin cruises from Haifa, Israel in June, but it still needs to get more of its crew members vaccinated.Photo by Port of HaifaThe agreement between Royal Caribbean and the State of Israel is for everyone onboard to be fully vaccinated, which is easy enough for the passengers who are all coming from Israel.  Israel has among the higher percentage of vaccinated … [Read more...]

Every cruise line does things just a little bit different from the rest, but there are at least a few industry-wide trends that Royal Caribbean simply does not do across the board.Part of making each cruise band stand out is adopting certain policies, incorporating a vision, and providing passengers with something that appeals to their base.  Royal Caribbean is no different, and has made a … [Read more...]

Happy Mothers Day! All the moms out there deserve a big hug, thank you, and hopefully a new cruise booking too.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given cruise lines new instructions for test cruises and even sailings from the United States.The CDC released the next two phases of its Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) that will allow for the "eventual resumption of … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean will once again start hiring crew members from India.Less than two weeks after announcing the cruise line would temporarily halt hiring crew members from India, later this month the policy will revert back.Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley posted on Facebook that the hirings will once again commence, beginning on May 21st."We are starting crewing from … [Read more...]

We have a new idea of what Royal Caribbean's new cruise terminal in Galveston will look like once completed.The Terminal 3 cruise terminal is under construction, and a new artist concept rendering of the building and surround area has been released.Construction of the terminal was delayed due to the global health crisis, but work began in April 2021 on the 10 acre parcel of land that will soon be … [Read more...]

New cruise ships, new destinations and more are coming to a Royal Caribbean cruise near you between now and 2023.Change is continuous at Royal Caribbean, and despite the challenges the cruise industry has faced since 2020, expansion plans are still underway.  After all, cruise lines have to think long term in order to ensure their return to service is successful.  From time to time, … [Read more...]

Will Florida's new law that prevents a company from asking for proof of a Covid-19 vaccine create a problem for cruise lines trying to restart cruises?While Florida's Governor does not think there is an issue with the new law, at least one cruise line has said it is indeed an issue.During the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) earnings call with investors, CEO Frank Del Rio described … [Read more...]

The chances of cruises from the U.S. this July seem unlikely, given recent comments from Norwegian Cruise Line.Speaking at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. quarterly earnings call, CEO Frank Del Rio told Wall Street analysts a July restart in the United States is "just not possible"."The July U.S. launch, at least for our company, is just not possible,” Del Rio confessed."It was possible … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean has released new sailings to book on Enchantment of the Seas.The new sailings are part of the 2022-2023 Northeast United States deployment, and begin on November 3, 2022.Enchantment of the Seas will return to Baltimore, offering a variety of longer sailings that range in duration between 7 and 12 nights.Enchantment of the Seas will remain in Baltimore, having replaced Grandeur of … [Read more...]

Another state has joined the lawsuit to get cruise ships sailing again.The State of Texas has joined the lawsuit against the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that was started by Florida.Texas is the second state to join the lawsuit, following Alaska last week.DisneyCruiseLineBlog discovered the filing, which was filed on May 5.In the lawsuit, Texas says it is suing … [Read more...]

Cruise lines now have what they need to resume cruises from the United States.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the next two phases of its Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) that will allow for the "eventual resumption of U.S. cruise industry operations."According to the CDC, cruise line now have all necessary requirements needed "to start simulated … [Read more...]