Norwegian Cruise Line Suspends Until November
Norwegian Cruise Line has updated the cancelled sailings page on their website and unfortunately it’s more bad news. The cruise line has suspended sailings through the month of October, citing passenger health as the company’s top priority. From the NCL Website: Updated July
Recapping Carnival Corporation’s COVID-19 Summit
Carnival Corporation, in conjunction with the World Travel & Tourism Council, hosted a virtual summit yesterday which included a series of panels focusing on critical areas of science related to COVID-19. Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald and World Travel & Tourism Council Presiden
TUI Cruises Sets Sail with 1,200 Passengers
Congratulations to the 1,200 people who set sail for the Norwegian fjords on board TUI Cruises Mein Schiff 2, you’ve reached a major milestone in cruising’s return to normal operation. Having more than 1,000 people on a cruise ship seemed like a fever dream mere months ago, but here we are in la
Princess Cruises Cancels Most Voyages Until December 15
Citing the continued COVID-19 virus pandemic, Princess Cruises made the difficult decision to extend their pause in cruising operations for voyages in Asia, Caribbean, California Coast, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal, South America & Antarctica, Japan, and Tahiti/South Pacific through December 15,
Norwegian Directorate of Health Unveils Guide for Safe Cruising
One of the first places to see a return to cruising was the coast of Norway and now we have the full details as to how it’s being done. The Norwegian Directorate of Health, in coordination with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, have released a very thorough, 67-page guide for healthy cruis
If You’re American, The Bahamas are Closed
In an address to his nation yesterday, Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced that the islands would be closed to American tourists beginning Wednesday due to surging cases of COVID-19 across several states, but most notably Florida, which is just 50 miles from the nearest island. The
Royal Caribbean Extends Pause Until Oct 1
Cruisers woke up to some not-so-great news this morning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their no-sail order, pushing the date back to October 2020. As a result, one of the biggest names in cruising is pushing back their sail date as well. Royal Caribbean International h
Bar Harbor Bans Cruise Ships Until 2021
Mid-July in Bar Harbor, Maine is usually peak season for cruise ships, but not this year. Tuesday night struck another blow to an already beleaguered industry when the Bar Harbor city council voted to ban cruise ships from visiting through the end of the year. In a last ditch effort to sway the coun
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Unveils Ten-Point Health Plan
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises released their ten-point hygiene and preventative plan for a return to cruising at the end of July 2020. The plan is to restart cruises from Hamburg with their luxury ship, the EUROPA 2, and their expedition ship, the HANSEATIC inspiration, but only at 40% capacity. The plan was
Hurtigruten to Restart 14 of 16 Ships by September
Following up on a successful return to cruising in June, Norwegian expedition cruise line Hurtigruten has announced plans to ramp-up operation through August and September to bring 14 of their 16 ships back into operation. Hurtigruten made headline news on June 16, 2020 when they became the fi
Costa to Pause Until August 15, 2020
Popular Italian line Costa Cruises has made the difficult decision to pause operation until August 15, 2020. The cruise line also announced the cancellation of all cruises in northern Europe for the remainder of the 2020 summer season. In a press release, Costa explained that the decision to f
Celestyal Cruises to Pause Until 2021
A popular Mediterranean small ship cruise line is pressing pause until 2021. In their announcement this morning, Celestyal Cruises made the difficult decision to pause operation until March 6, 2021 for their entire fleet. The cruise line had plans to return to operation after July 30, 2020, bu
SeaDream Yacht Club Completes First Cruise Back
SeaDream Yacht Club has resumed sailing on SeaDream I, embarking this week on the first of a schedule of 7-day and 12-day Norwegian sailings with itineraries selected by SeaDream founder Atle Brynestad…and, on Saturday, SeaDream 2 joins in the fun! But don’t get too excited yet…these no-doubt
REPORT: Europe to Reopen, But Not For Americans
According to a breaking news report from the New York Times this afternoon, Americans could be barred from entering European Union countries as they begin to reopen due to rising infection rates in several major states. NY Times journalist Matina Stevis-Gridneff reported that along with the United S
ANTI-SOCIAL DISTANCING? Solo Cruising in the Covid-19 Era
When I think of cruising in the Covid-19 era, the chorus of Eric Carmen’s 1975 pop hit “All By Myself” wafts through my mind because, more often than not, I sail solo. People sail solo for a lot of reasons. Perhaps they’re single, divorced or widowed, or maybe they’re stressed-out bu
Virgin Voyages Releases ‘Voyage Well’ Plan
We’re inching closer and closer to cruising again and another well-known cruise line has released a health and wellness program designed to give guests and crew confidence in the safety of a cruise vacation. Virgin Voyages has introduced their new ‘Voyage Well’ plan for the soft opening of Sca
River Cruising Returning to Australia
Australian cruise operator Captain Cook Cruises is returning their river cruise operations back to normal starting June 23rd on Australia’s Murray River. The 7-night ‘Welcome Back’ cruise on board the beautiful paddlewheel river ship PS Murray Princess from Renmark to Mannum in the Australian
Cruising Will Return…But When is the Question
I’m not one to moan about inconveniences, but take away my life’s passion and I’m likely to go off the deep end. Take away the ability to cruise to the four corners of the earth and you will definitely hear from me. Not to cast blame on anyone in particular or throw caution to the […]
This European River Cruise Sails June 17th
River cruise lovers are in luck, they could be on a ship in a matter of weeks. A-ROSA River Cruises announced today that their river cruise ship ALVA will recommence operation on June 17th for all sailings along Portugal’s Douro River. Itineraries on the Rhine and Danube restart on the 19th and 20
Turks and Caicos Plan to Reopen July 22
Last week, we reported several popular cruising destinations in the Caribbean were in the process of reopening to tourism. Over the weekend, the Turks and Caicos announced plans to reopen the island on July 22, 2020. The island had plans to reopen June 1, but Premier Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, th
