Royal Caribbean Group’s “Pay it Forward” Program Now Open
The past year (year!) has been difficult for everyone involved in the cruise and travel space. Empty planes, empty cruise ships and for travel agents, empty bookings day after day. Thankfully Royal Caribbean Group decided to do something about it. As part of the second phase of their successful RCL
New Azamara Chairman Orlando Ashford Bullish on the Industry
There’s been plenty of cruise news lately, but one of the most significant news breaks came in January when Royal Caribbean Group announced they’d sold their small ship brand Azamara to a private equity firm in New York called Sycamore Partners. If that news wasn’t big enough, the
Virgin Voyages Gifts Cruises with Shipload of Love Campaign
Is there someone special in your life who deserves a free cruise? After the disaster of a year that was 2020, Virgin Voyages has decided to gift 1,000 cruises those who deserve one this Valentine’s Day and they’re asking you to nominate someone special in your life. Whether you nominate
Meet Rob, MSC Cruises’ New Robot Bartender
When MSC Virtuosa was delivered to MSC Cruises earlier this month, company chairman Pierfrancesco Vago hailed the ship’s technological advancements, including the world’s first humanoid bartender at sea. Today the cruise line released more details about that robot and we can’t wa
Royal Caribbean Extends Singapore Season for Quantum of the Seas
Ladies and gentlemen, we have good news! Royal Caribbean International today announced they will be extending Singapore season for their ship Quantum of the Seas following a successful restart in December 2020. The ship will now sail from Singapore until June 2021, but the cruises remain f
Holland America Names Rotterdam Senior Staff Officers
We’ll have to wait a few more months before Holland America Line’s newest ship is delivered, but the cruise line announced the senior staff officers who will be on board when she does! The officer crew of Rotterdam brings a combined 80 years of experience to their positions, ma
Suites for your Sweet This Valentine’s Day
Just because you won’t be able to cruise with your Valentine this February 14th doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for an epic experience next year! Norwegian exploration cruise line Hurtigruten has launched their second annual “Suites for your Sweet” which
Choose Your Cruise – February 5, 2021
Oh, Canada. By now you’ve probably heard that our neighbors to the North have taken extreme measures against the cruise industry, banning all cruise ships over 100 people (so, pretty much all of them) from calling on Canadian ports until February 28, 2022. Without even the courtesy
Canada Bans Cruise Ships Until February 2022
In an effort to “monitor the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it is having on the marine and tourism sectors,” Canada has issued two new Interim Orders which prohibit pleasure craft in Canadian Arctic waters and cruise vessels in all Canadian waters until February 28, 2022.
Significant Cruise Operations Doubtful This Year Says Florida Ports Council
As cruisers wait patiently for their chance to sail once again, a spokesperson for the Florida Ports Council has expressed doubts that the industry will see significant operations until 2022. Michael Rubin, VP of Governmental Affairs for the Florida Ports Council, speaking at a meeting of the Florid
Brief Encounters in the Andes
The ancient Incan warrior-priest, unmoving and in the shadows, remains unnoticed until he brandishes his long-handled battle-ax at us. My companions and I are in a cozy corner of the 500-year-old Palacio del Inka hotel in Cusco, awaiting a history lecture … we think. What we get instead is a one-m
It’s Time To Go Now
Would I be alone in sharing that over the past ten months of travel isolation, I’m tired of the ritualistic trip to the supermarket, the daily perusal of Netflix for mental stimulation and most of all the non-stop regurgitation of political discourse that’s fed to us every day? OK, good, we’re
Princess Cruises Bets on Growing Popularity of Sports Gambling
The big game is just a week away and for NFL fans, the championship match is one of biggest gambling days of the year. In fact, the popularity of sports gambling has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years as several states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana and now Michigan have legal
Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO Harry Sommer Teases New Dining Concepts
There’s a lot to love about a cruise vacation, but at the top of the list for most people is the fabulous dining options found on today’s vessels. Restaurants catering to all palates are a staple on modern cruise ships from the outstandingly elegant to the casual and delicious and everyt
New COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Don’t Apply to USVI
Yes, we’re still America. That’s the message from U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte to travelers worried about the new COVID-19 restrictions put in place by the CDC last week. Travel to St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas or Water Island requires a negative COVID-1
MSC Cruises Welcomes Virtuosa to their Fleet
MSC Cruises’ prolific run of new ships continued today as the cruise line welcomed an 18th ship to their fleet. MSC Virtuosa is billed as one of the most environmentally-conscious ships ever made and is the first of two new ships launching this year for the cruise line. A
Intention is to Vaccinate Crew Says NCL’s Harry Sommer
2020 was a long year for the cruise and travel industry, but the fact that the United States is currently administering more than 1 million COVID-19 vaccines per day is a giant step forward for a return to normal operation. While there’s been plenty of focus on cruise passengers getting vaccin
Carnival Cruise Line Breaks Ground on New Terminal F
On a sunny, cool morning in Miami, cruise industry leaders, port officials and a host of local and national media joined Carnival Cruise Line for a groundbreaking ceremony for the 471,500 square foot Terminal F. Once completed the new terminal will be home to the upcoming Carnival Celebration, the f
Orlando Ashford Named Executive Chairman of Azamara
It wasn’t a long hiatus from the cruise industry for Orlando Ashford. The former President of Holland America Line stepped down from the company in May of 2020 after six years at the helm, but the news today is he’s back operating a cruise line! Sycamore Partners, the private equit
MSC Cruises Resumes Service in the Western Mediterranean
Need something positive to help you break free from the doldrums of January? MSC Cruises has resumed operation in the Mediterranean on board their flagship MSC Grandiosa after a holiday season break due to the Italian COVID-19 decree that restricted movement within the country. The&nb
