Latest Cruise News

Carnival Cruise Line has appointed three experienced maritime professionals as senior officers for their newest cruise ship, Carnival Horizon. The three dedicated senior officers with a combined 60 years experience with Carnival Cruise Line, will lead a team of over 1,400 dedicated crew that will join the ship for its inaugural voyage on April 2, 2018. Carnival Horizon’s senior officers will include: Captain Luigi De Angelis – A 22-year veteran of Carnival Cruise Line, De Angelis joined the company as a deck cadet aboard the Carnival Imagination in 1995 and…

Royal Caribbean will begin offering a new non-refundable deposit program starting on July 1, 2017. In North America, it has widely been the standard that cruise booking deposits are 100% refundable up until final payment dates. There have been some exceptions to this particularly when booking higher level accommodations such as suites, where cancellation penalties may occur before final payment. Royal Caribbean’s new program, that will roll-out fleet wide, includes some key features and benefits for guests. Guests have the option to book a traditional or the new non-refundable fare…

Symphony of the Seas, currently under construction at the STX shipyards in France, has now moved closer to her full completion as she approaches her April 2018 launch date.  With the work on the exterior hull now complete, Symphony of the Seas was floated from her dry dock to begin the interior finishing and fitting out. As the fourth ship in the successful Oasis Class, Symphony of the Seas will spend her inaugural summer season exploring the awe-inspiring destinations of the Mediterranean calling on ports in Barcelona and Palma de…

Carnival Cruise Line has launched a new installment payment program, the first in the cruise industry. Carnival EasyPay is a new program that allows guest to pay for their cruise over three monthly installments. It was designed to provide a hassle-free vacation payment option as the interest-free cruise payments will be automatically deducted from the credit card on file and applied to their cruise balance. To qualify, guests must make the initial deposit at standard amounts. Then, the balance will be charged in three equal payments which are taken out…

In an exclusive agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Broward County’s Port Everglades will invest more than $100 million to renovate Cruise Terminal 25, which will continue to be the preferential berth for Royal Caribbean and their Celebrity brand Cruise ships. This agreement replaces the current one that expires at the end of 2017 and the new one will run through 2026 with options to renew for longer. Steven Cernak, Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director said: Cruise Terminal 25 was first constructed in 1992, with the last renovation…

After almost a month in dry dock, the Queen Victoria has emerged from dry dock looking better than ever. The quality of the work done during the dry dock is impressive. This was considered a partial refit that included upgraded and increased choice of staterooms, new Britannia Club dining, a broader more distinctive bar offerings, a transformed sun deck and several new features. The dry dock took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Sicily from May 5 through June 4th. Lido Sun Deck One of the most ambitious parts…

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas will offer guests the opportunity to view a Total Solar Eclipse Royal Caribbean, will offer a unique, 7-night Caribbean sailing on Oasis of the Seas, which will cruise to the optimal spot at sea for guests to witness the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017. Taking place on one of the world’s largest ships, the Total Eclipse Cruise will feature some special events including a viewing party with a live concert performed by a major headliner – to be revealed at a later…

During the MSC Meraviglia Flag Ceremony, where MSC Cruises took delivery of the latest next-generation cruise ship built by STX France, the two companies signed a new memorandum of understanding firming up the order of two 200,000 GRT, LNG-powered mega cruise ships, with options for two additional vessels. The four ships will become MSC Cruises’ World Class. The signing took place in the presence of Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, and Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy. In connection with the signing, MSC Cruises and STX…

Carnival Horizon will introduce a new stateroom category when she launches in April, 2018. The sister to the already popular Carnival Vista, Carnival is tweaking their already impressive array of accommodation offerings to give guests even more choice. The aft-view extended balcony cabins are located within the exclusive Family Harbor section of the ship. Like the other 86 staterooms within this area, the new aft-view extended balcony cabins will offer the colorful nautical decor and will have access to the Family Harbor Lounge. This lounge is a great family hang-out…