MSC Cruises Signs Deal For New Ships
After recent big hints, MSC Cruises has placed a big order for — you guessed it — big ships. The Italian-style–cruising line’s letter of intent with the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire is for two ships to debut in 2017 and 2019. Each will carry as many as 5,700 passengers in 2,250 c
Viking River Cruises Breaks its Own Record
Viking River Cruises broke a Guinness World Record christening 16, 190-passenger Longships within a 24-hour period in ceremonies in Amsterdam, France, and Germany. The line will name two more ships representing a new 106-passenger class in Portugal on Friday. With so many ships launching, the compa
Dance the Night Away on Crystal Cruises
Men who want to hit the dance floor will have no problem finding a partner on select Crystal Cruises ships. The luxury line, which happens to now be run by a woman, is adding female dance hosts – an industry first, the line says. The Ambassador Hostesses will focus on ballroom steps – we’r
Cruise Ship News of the Week
The 30th Cruise Shipping Miami conference, the premier event for the global cruise industry and its largest annual gathering, produced a lot of news this week, with several lines reserving big announcements for the event. Here are the week’s top highlights. Homeport News Some of the bigger announ
Twiggy to be Godmother of Emerald Waterways River Ships
Those thinking they are having a 1960s flashback on the new river ships Emerald Star and Emerald Sky may be right. Serving as godmother at the christening ceremony for the first “Star-Ships” of new river cruise line Emerald Waterways will be 1960s fashion icon Twiggy (Lesley Horn
Disney Does Alaska 2014
When Disney Cruise Line launched its Alaska cruises in 2011, the family market took notice. Suddenly there were kids doing the once-in-a-lifetime experiences that had before been geared mostly toward adults. Back for a fourth year in the 49th state, Disney is still surprising travelers as it furt
Trend Alert: Kids Cruise Free
Just in time for spring break, you’ll find cruise lines going after the family market big time. The major enticement? Kids cruise free! Cruise Deals Where Kids Cruise for Free Bring the kids along on a Royal Caribbean International cruise departing between May 1 and December 15, 2014, and they can
Is Virgin Cruising on Its Way at Last?
. Word from the Middle East has Virgin Group’s Sir Richard Branson seeking $1.7 billion to start a cruise line. This is not the first time the billionaire entrepreneur has looked at the idea of a Virgin cruises operation. Rumors that Branson might start a cruise line have circulated off and o
Theme Cruise Celebrates Women Who Rock
Cruisers may soon be going “Crazy on You,” or at least will have the opportunity to rock out to the music of Heart – and other top women artists – at the Grammy Festival at Sea: Women Who Rock cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl. The 4-day Bahamas cruise in Nov
Excursions Aplenty on Crystal World Cruise
Passengers on Crystal Cruises’ 2015 World Cruise, the luxury line’s 20th annual world sailing, shouldn’t have any difficulty finding a shore excursion to their liking. Some 350 Crystal Adventures are in the offing for those on the 108-day “Silver Celebration” cruise, which em
New Carnival Vista on the Way
The world won’t see the 4,000-passenger Carnival Vista until spring 2016, but the first steel was cut last week at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy – signaling that construction has begun. Carnival Vista will be the largest ship ever built for the Carnival Cruise Lines brand
SeaDreamin’ on a Friday Afternoon
The stars were twinkling in the sky last night as we climbed under the covers of a Balinese daybed for a night outdoors aboard the 112-passenger Sea Dream I, anchored off St. Kitts. Talk about romantic – we had light, fluffy bedding and a private view of the sky. My partner and I were charmed by
A Taste of Nassau
When cruisers arrive at a port, it’s best to have a plan. Some may prefer organized shore excursions. Some may want to explore on their own. In either case, making last-minute choices when you arrive on-island is not always the best way to go. I’ve seen cruise passengers disembark totall
Put a Banana on Your Cruise Map
The cruise industry is going bananas. The new Banana Coast cruise port in Honduras is now officially on the cruise ship map. The 130-passenger ship Yorktown, operated by Travel Dynamics International, can claim status as inaugurating the place. Passengers on the ship were tendered to the brand-
Celebrity Making Cruising More Private for Suite Guests
Celebrity Cruises announced plans for a luxury, ship-within-a-ship concept – meaning suite guests won’t have to mingle with other guests – if they don’t want to. This notion was first introduced by Norwegian Cruise Line with its The Haven and then MSC Cruises’ The Yacht Club on
“Chopped” and Delicious on Norwegian Getaway
Fans of Food Network’s Chopped know New York chef/restaurateur Geoffrey Zakarian as the smart judge with white hair who opines on creations by the show’s competing professional chefs. Some lucky cruisers on the new 4,000-passenger Norwegian Getaway‘s inaugural Caribbean cruise
Royal Caribbean Goes Even-Higher-Tech with Virtual Balconies
Passengers in inside staterooms aboard Navigator of the Seas cruising from Galveston, Texas, have something new to crow about – virtual balcony views courtesy of high-tech wizardry. On the recently revamped ship, the first of five Voyager-class ships scheduled for rehab, Royal Caribbean Internat
Norwegian Getaway in Miami
Yes, that’s a giant mermaid brightening the Miami waterfront. Fresh from a starring role at the Super Bowl (as a floating Bud Light hotel), Norwegian Getaway has arrived at PortMiami, mermaid design – created by Miami artist LEBO– and all. A flashy debut for the Miami-centric ship –
Top Chef at Sea
I am an unabashed fan of Bravo TV’s Top Chef – so much so that I once more or less stalked show judge (and noted chef) Tom Colicchio at a casino opening. So I think Celebrity Cruises is really smart for its new partnership “Top Chef at Sea.” You’ll remember last year Ce
New French Ship Le Lyrial to Debut Larger Suites
Oo, la, la! Fast-growing French cruise line Compagnie Du Ponant has revealed some details about its newest ship, the fourth in its Boreal class. The ship will be named Le Lyrial, in tribute to the Lyra constellation. Bragging rights will include roomier suites than on its sister ships. Set to de
