Cruise Control with Bill Panoff – 2021 Year in Review
What a year 2021 was for Cruise Control with Bill Panoff! We interviewed some of the top names in the cruise and travel industry this year and learned a lot about what the future holds for everyone’s favorite vacation! Arnold Donald, Harry Sommer, Richard Fain, Captain Kate McCue and more,
Cruise Deal of the Week – December 31, 2021
Happy New Year! As we enter 2022, things are definitely looking up for the cruise industry despite the rise of the Omicron variant and uncertainty elsewhere across the travel realm. This week felt like a step backwards in some ways as the CDC raised their warning for cruise passengers despite cruise
U.S. Virgin Islands Shorten Testing Window for Tourists
In a recent press release, the U.S. Virgin Islands announced that they’ve made changes to their COVID-19 testing protocols for visitors to the islands which reduces the time frame for pre-travel testing. All domestic air travelers to the U.S. Virgin Islands are required to present a negat
Royal Caribbean Group Gives an Update on Omicron
In a press release this morning, Royal Caribbean Group provided an update to cruisers on how the company is approaching the new Omicron variant that’s currently spreading across the United States. According to the cruise line, “Omicron has significantly altered the COVID-19 landscape for
Viking Takes Delivery of New Expedition Ship Viking Octantis
The first of two brand new adventure cruise ships from Viking is finally here and ready to begin sailing! Viking Octantis left Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway on December 23rd after a delivery ceremony held at the shipyard and will begin sailing with guests to Antarctica
The 2021 Travel Resumes Tour 2.0
In spite of the pandemic purgatory of 2020 periodically rearing its ugly head again, cruising has resumed, albeit in a somewhat revamped style. Each month that goes by finds new ships being launched, older vessels being redeployed and destinations opening their doors to those of us eager to jump thr
Royal Caribbean Returns to Port of Baltimore
The Port of Baltimore must have felt pretty left out when cruise ship ports around the country started operating again this past year. But after months of waiting, the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore is welcoming back Royal Caribbean Cruise Line for their first cruise from Maryland since
Belly Up to the Bars on Odyssey of the Seas
As the saying goes, “it’s five o’clock somewhere,” and on Royal Caribbean’s newest Quantum-class ship, Odyssey of the Seas, that is the truth. No matter what time your watch says, happy hour begins when you are ready for your first cocktail. There is always a bar open with a smiling b
Call Me Virtuosa, A Masterpiece At Sea
Traditional launch parties are always full of fanfare but none more entertaining than the recent naming ceremony of MSC Virtuosa in Dubai, UAE. The gala event was attended by celebrities, dignitaries, the ruler of Dubai Sheik Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and for a touch of international elegance, chr
Inside Dubai’s EXPO 2020
After a year long delay due to the havoc of the 2020 pandemic, the opening of Dubai’s EXPO 2020 has finally arrived. The grand scale of anything associated with Dubai is on full display stoking one’s wildest imagination, virtually a Disney EPCOT on steroids. Five years of development and the unp
Florida Paddleboard Rentals Have Never Been Easier
Now is the time of year everyone wants to be in Florida. The Sunshine State really starts to heat up in the wintertime when snowbirds and tourists alike flock to the beaches from Key West to Jacksonville and everywhere in between. Cruise ships are obviously a big draw for Florida this time of
Cruise Deal of the Week – December 10, 2021
It’s never too early to start planning your next vacation! If you’re looking for something a little more exciting than lounging on a Caribbean beach this winter, why not book your next cruise vacation for the great white north of Alaska? The cruise industry got a huge boost this past sum
Reaching The Apex
apex [ ey-peks ] noun,: the uppermost point, the highest or culminating point, peak, summit, climax. The latest addition to Celebrity Cruises’ fleet has been christened in perfect agreement with Webster’s Dictionary. Fifteen months of pandemic patience has been rewarded with the long-awaited lau
Do and Buy In Dubai
If you are sailing into or out of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the proverbial ‘so much to see, so little time’ is a gross understatement. If you can arrange a pre or post cruise stay, this arid outpost of rampant wealth, fueled by an urge to flaunt excess is well worth the effort. It may [&h
Cruise Deal of the Week – December 3, 2021
Did you miss out on the cruise deal bonanza that was Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Never fear! There are still a ton of awesome cruise deals to be had around the industry and there’s never been a better time to book your next cruise vacation. When things get cold up North, things really
Antarctica’s Incredible Eclipse
Have you ever experienced totality? It happens during daylight every 18 months or so and lasts for just a few precious minutes, but typically only a few thousand people get to experience it. The result of the rare occurrence of the moon slipping perfectly across the sun to block its light, those bel
Virgin Voyages Gifts 500 Cruises to Healthcare Workers
Scarlet Lady just started sailing from PortMiami, but the team at Virgin Voyages is already making an impact on their new South Florida community. The cruise line is showing its appreciation for the community’s healthcare heroes by giving away 500 complimentary cabins for employees at Ba
The Best Tropical Treasure Hunt on St. Thomas
When Celebrity Edge made the first cruise ship call on St. Thomas in well over a year this past July, it marked a turning point for tourism to the island and the Caribbean as a whole following the COVID-19 pandemic. Those visiting St. Thomas via cruise ship or by air are in luck as the island [&hel
Black Friday 2021 Cruise Deals
The official start of the Holiday Season is upon us! No, not Thankgiving…Black Friday! While people all over the country snag deals on everything from washing machines to air fryers, cruisers are gearing up for the cruise industry’s annual Black Friday savings! We’ve got cruises on