Cruise Deal of the Week – June 4, 2021
Ladies and Gentlemen, we made it! For the past year, we’ve been writing Choose Your Cruise because the future of cruising was so murky. But, thankfully, we’re back to everyone’s favorite column, the Cruise Deal of the Week! Now that cruising is on the cusp of a return, we’re
Carnival Cruise Line Preparing for New Orleans Cruises
The Big Easy is one of the most popular destination cities in the United States and pre-pandemic, Port Nola saw more than 1 million passengers flow through the port on cruises to the Caribbean and Mexico. Carnival Cruise Line is once again preparing for ships to sail from Port NOLA and with Florida&
European Union Begins Issuing Digital COVID Certificates
Back in April, the European Union announced plans to issue Digital COVID Certificates for vaccinated travelers. The certificates, which seven EU nations began issuing today, allow for unrestricted travel within the European Union for those who hold one. The seven nations now issuing the certifi
Disney Cruise Line Approved for Test Sailings
Another day, another cruise line approved to begin operating test cruises by the CDC! Disney Cruise Line announced they are good to begin operating test cruises from Port Canaveral with volunteer passengers on board. The first test cruise will leave Port Canaveral on June 29th and return on July 1st
Sint Maarten Ready to Welcome Back Cruisers
Every island in the Caribbean has a story, but few are as unique as Sint Maarten. The island is so unique, in fact, that it has two names depending on which side you’re on. Steeped in colonial history, the 37 square mile island is governed by both France (Saint Martin) and the Netherlands (S
Silversea Will Cruise to Alaska and Iceland in July
With the passage of the U.S. Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, luxury cruise line Silversea will position their ship Silver Muse for round-trip sailings from Seattle to Alaska starting July 29. The cruise line previously announced a return to cruising from Greece and to the Galápa
Carnival Corporation Port Agreements Approved By the CDC
Over the weekend, Carnival Corporation received approval on their port agreements from the CDC to sail from Miami, Galveston and Port Canaveral as they begin the road to recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. Carnival previously announced that Carnival Horizon (sailing from Miami) and C
MSC World Europa Will Have the Longest Dry Slide at Sea
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but MSC Cruises is working on building another brand new ship! The cruise line has officially opened up bookings for MSC World Europa and the details of the new ship are starting to come out. Along with featuring distinct districts throughout
Desperately Seeking Serenissmia
Pictures of wildlife returning to Venice’s canals, posted on social media during last year’s Covid-19 lockdown, were widely shared around the world. Images of chilled out ducks nesting on the canal banks and imperious swans reclaiming the canals, gliding through water the clearest and bluest it
This Cruise Leaves from St. Maarten Next Weekend
For what seems like an eternity, pandemic related restrictions have reined in the flourishing popularity of cruising and worldwide travel. Regulations may have challenged the possibility of arrivals and departures from US ports but the old adage necessity is the mother of invention has intervened an
Choose Your Cruise – May 28, 2021
Alaska is back! News came in all week of cruise lines gearing up to start sailing to Alaska this summer with calls on all your favorite ports! Ships haven’t called on the state since 2019 in a state where one in every ten people work in the tourism sector. That means we all need to […]
Go Behind-the-Scenes of Windstar Cruises’ Latest Cruise Ship Enhancements
There’s nothing quite as fascinating as witnessing the stretching of a cruise ship, and Windstar Cruises’ Star Plus Initiative has been a remarkable process to see firsthand from start to finish. In its simplest form, the lengthening of Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride is not unlike the
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Unveils 2023 Mediterranean Itineraries
When it comes to luxury brands, Ritz-Carlton is about as name-brand as it gets. The international hotel chain announced in 2018 that they would be entering the cruise space under the brand name The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed production of their new ship Evrima, but
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Announces Additional Cruise Ship Restarts and Deployments
One of the biggest names in cruising has announced a host of new ship restarts and deployments across their multiple cruise brands. Norwegian Cruise Line and sister brand Oceania Cruises are starting the process of getting back to normal later this summer with the announcement of new cruise itinerar
CDC Gives Royal Caribbean the Okay For Test Cruises in June
After more than a year of waiting, it finally looks like the cruise industry is about to be back to normal. Royal Caribbean International became the first cruise operator to receive approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to start sailing test cruises from U.S. ports. In a
Riviera River Cruises Will Sail Douro River Cruises in July
A popular European river cruise line is getting ready to resume operation on Portugal’s Douro River! Riviera River Cruises is planning to restart their ship MS Douro Elegance on July 2, 2021 for eight-day itineraries on the Douro and Salamanca Rivers. All guests boarding Riviera
Expand Your World as a Lifelong Learner
Have you ever thought of the world itself as one giant classroom? Many limit their idea of learning to a lecture and a chalkboard when really the opportunity to expand your knowledge of the world around you is best gained through hands-on experience. One of the best ways to enrich your knowledge of
Turkey Will Welcome Back Americans This Summer
The country of Turkey is ready for visitors to return in 2021 and they’ve developed a new system for keeping tourists and citizens safe. The Safe Tourism Certificate was created last year as a way for tourism-related businesses in Turkey to ensure they’re following the most up to date gl
5 Ways to Spend the Day in St. Kitts
If you look up the word “paradise” in the dictionary, a photo of St. Kitts would not be out of place. This spectacular Caribbean island offers a delightful mix of fun, relaxation and natural beauty wherever you turn. As we inch closer to cruising’s return, the island is gearing up to welcome b
When Will Australia Lift Their Travel Restrictions?
As countries all over the world begin gradually opening up their borders to tourists once again, one country remains on lockdown for travelers and there doesn’t appear to any end in sight. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia has employed some of the strictest travel restriction
