St. Thomas Eyes June 1st Return for Tourists
In an address to the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands yesterday, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. outlined a five-tier plan to reopen the islands for tourism by June 1, 2020. A stay at home order remains in effect until May 4 when things will begin to ramp up from a business and tourism standpoint.
Could Cruise Lines Make Passengers Wear Masks?
We’re starting to see what travel in a post-Coronavirus world will look like and for JetBlue passengers, that means masks are mandatory for all passengers beginning May 4th. In a press release, JetBlue became the first airline in America to institute a policy requiring face coverings, but chances
A Cruiser’s Guide to Kauai
Kauai’s nickname, the “Garden Isle,” is well-earned. Hawaii’s oldest and northernmost island is blanketed in lush tropical rainforest, countless waterfalls, soaring sea cliffs, miles of hiking trails, and rugged, colorful canyons. Its beaches are iconic and the opportunities
Mother’s Day 2020: Gifts Inspired by the Traveling Woman
She helped you with your homework and tucked you in at night. Her kindness brought you soup when you were sick and cheered you on from the sidelines at games and practice. She scolded you when you did wrong and praised you when you made her proud. She will always love you unconditionally. Moms are [
NKOTB’s Annual Cruise Goes Virtual
Thousands of New Kids on the Block fans—and the five New Kids themselves—were meant to be aboard the Carnival Conquest right now, sailing towards Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. When the band’s eleventh annual cruise was canceled due to COVID-19—part of the industry-wide pause the coronavirus
Choose Your Cruise – April 24, 2020
Fridays don’t quite mean the same things anymore, but we’re still here with an end of the week option for those dreaming about their next cruise vacation. We’ve got a special selection of cruises that all have one thing in common; they all stop at a private island. If you want the
Cunard Line Extends Pause in Operations
Citing “the continued impact of COVID 19,” Cunard Line made the decision to pause their voyages further past the initial date of May 15, 2020 previously announced. The line also announced they have cancelled the entire Alaska season and all departures on Queen Elizabeth through
More People Searching for Travel Says CEO of Revelex
For more than 20 years, Revelex has provided a powerful booking engine for dozens of major cruise lines. Company CEO David Goodis has his pulse on not just cruising, but travel as a whole, and he joined Bill Panoff to discuss the state of the industry, what changes he’s seen in digital consumer be
No Holding Back Cruise Industry Built on Exceeding Expectations
While the dark cloud of the health pandemic hovers above each of us, the cruise industry looks optimistically into the future. In spite of a doom and gloom portrayal in the media, the facts of the past point to a resurgence of enthusiasm for cruising. The PortMiami alone saw an all time high o
Happy Anniversary, HAL!
Social distancing is making celebrating a little different these days, but we wanted to give a big Happy Birthday shout out to Holland America Line, who turned 147 years old over the weekend! Way back in 1873, the Netherlands-American Steamship Company started sailing goods and people from the Nethe
Bahamian Prime Minister “We Will Not Open Our Beach”
In a nationally broadcast press conference on Sunday, Bahamian Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis spoke to his people about ongoing lockdown protocols to help prevent the spread of COVID 19. The Prime Minister was encouraged by the effectiveness of curfews and other social distancing measu
Choose Your Cruise – April 17, 2020
Last week on Choose Your Cruise, readers selected their favorite adventure from a list of three expedition cruises. This week, we’re trading in our zodiacs and parkas for a full-bodied cabernet and a lovely selection of cheeses. That’s right, folks. We’re river cruising! You
Holland America Line Extends Temporary Pause
Holland America Line followed suit with sister line Carnival in extending their pause on cruise operations until mid-summer. In a statement yesterday, company President Orlando Ashford explained the extension was due to a number of factors surrounding the COVID 19 pandemic, including the extension o
Carnival Extends Pause on Operations Once More
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a 100 day extension on the no-sail order from earlier in March. The order did leave some wiggle room for a return to cruising before the 100 day period, but as we commented last week, it was highly unlikely that the conditions for a re
Choose Your Cruise – April 10, 2020
It’s choose your cruise time! Last week we posted some of our favorite expedition cruises from companies who are really pushing the boundaries between luxury and adventure. Today, we’re skipping the remote environments for river cruises all over the world. If you love sipping wine, learn
CDC Issues Extension On No-Sail Order
In an order filed to the Federal Registry yesterday, the CDC shut down any hope that the cruise industry would return soon, extending the no-sail order for another 100 days. The order also outlines other measures cruise lines must comply with regarding anyone currently on board their ships to keep t
Hurtigruten Team Share Their Favorite Cruise Memories
When we asked cruisers to share their favorite vacation memories and stories while we wait to cruise again, we thought we’d get a few responses. We were thrilled when cruiser after cruiser emailed us, left comments on our Facebook posts, tweeted at us and commented on our Instagram posts sharing t
A Cruiser’s Guide to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Visiting San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, is like taking a step back in time. You won’t want to flash forward to modern day when it comes time to board the cruise ship again. This small town on a crescent-shaped bay along the Pacific Ocean invites tourists to explore its cobblestone streets still
Tortuga Rum Cakes Founder Talks History and Recovery
Some things really make you think of cruising, like Tortuga Rum Cake Company. The Caribbean brand of cakes, sauces, coffee and more was founded by Robert Hamaty and is one of the most recognizable brands from the region. We spoke with Mr. Hamaty from his home in the Cayman Islands to learn more abou
Talking FOOD & Carnival Mardi Gras with Master Chef Rudi Sodamin
Whether he’s sprinkling parsley on flaky filets of dover sole at Rudi’s Sel de Mer or cutting the ribbon at Carnival Kitchen on board the new Carnival Panorama alongside celebrity chefs Guy Fieri and Emeril Lagasse, Rudi Sodamin is a staple in the cruise industry. His resume serving up gourmet c