MSC Cruises Introduces New Luxury Brand Explora Journeys
One of the fastest growing cruise lines is expanding their reaching into the luxury cruise sector and we couldn’t be more excited. Explora Journeys is billed by MSC as the next generation of luxury cruising with the first of four new ships, Explora I, sailing in 2023. Small ship luxury an
U.S. Virgin Islands In Talks with Jamaica on Tourism “Coopetition”
One of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean is looking to help bolster their economic recovery by collaborating with other islands in the Caribbean. The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism announced that Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte recently underwent successful
MSC Cruises Will Return to U.S. Ports in August
One of the fastest-growing cruise lines has an official date for their first simulation cruise as well as a plan to return to normal operation from U.S. ports! MSC Cruises announced they’ve been approved by the CDC to sail on MSC Meraviglia from PortMiami on July 17, 2021 on the
European Waterways Set to Resume Operation
Luxury hotel barge cruising operator European Waterways is ready to resume operation on Europe’s most famous rivers thanks to the region beginning to reopen to tourists. The cruise line’s summer itineraries are packed with options for cruisers looking for that quintessential European riv
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
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
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
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
Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Return to Alaska
Norwegian Cruise Line announced this morning that they’re planning to return to operation in Alaska starting on August 7, 2021. Norwegian Bliss will sail weeklong voyages from Seattle with calls on Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point, Alaska. Selection voyages will also featur
Choose Your Cruise – May 21, 2021
Yesterday was a great day for cruising! First we had Royal Caribbean International hinting that recent conversations have them under the impression that cruising is coming back sooner rather than later. Then we had the U.S. House of Representatives pass the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act by a unanimous
CDC: Vaccinated Passengers Don’t Need Disembarkation Testing for Voyages Less than 4 Days
For the past few weeks, we’ve been reading and re-reading a document put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called the “COVID-19 Operations Manual for Simulated and Restricted Voyages under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order”. The document is as long a
Carnival Cruise Line “Working Towards” July Restart Says President Christine Duffy
Appearing on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt last night, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy confirmed that the cruise line is working with the CDC on a restart of operation and the goal is to begin sailing again this July. There was also no mention of a fleetwide vaccine mandate for Ca
Carnival Names Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jiménez Mardi Gras Godmother
Those who tuned into last night’s MISS UNIVERSE contest got to see a very special moment as Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy presented Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jiménez with the “Spirit of Carnival” award for embodying the company’s values
CDC Relaxes Some Rules for Vaccinated Cruise Passengers
There’s great news this morning for cruisers who are fully vaccinated! In last weeks Technical Instructions for Simulated Voyages by Cruise Ship Operators under CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order, the CDC outlined exactly what needs to happen for cruise lines to begin operati
First Look at Norwegian Prima Cruise Ship Bound for Port Canaveral
Norwegian Cruise Line has a big announcement this morning! The cruise line is introducing a brand new class of cruise ships for the first time in a decade and the details sound incredible! Prima Class will feature six brand new ships, with the first, Norwegian Prima, coming in the summer of 2022.&nb
US State Department Relaxes Travel Advisory for Israel and the UK
Those looking to enjoy a vacation overseas this summer are waking up to some good news this morning. The US State Department has lowered their travel advisory for both Israel and the United Kingdom thanks to robust vaccine rollouts in both countries. The travel advisory for the United Kingdom is now
Seabourn to Set Sail in July
They say that good things come to those who wait and after a year of pandemic patience GREAT things are happening for lovers of ultra-luxury cruising. Starting in July, Seabourn Cruise Line is resuming cruises with the Seabourn Ovation sailing in Greece and the Sea
Holland America to Resume Cruising in August
In a press conference yesterday attended by the biggest names in cruise news, Holland America Line announced they finally have a date for their restart of operations! The cruise line received approval from the government of Greece to begin sailing from Piraeus on August 15, 2021 on board their ship
