News

Could pain at the pump extend to your next cruise?  This week, oil prices closed at $65 a barrel, and we have to wonder if cruise lines will soon begin charging fuel supplements as they have in the past.  About ten years ago operators of cruise ships and airlines had a big problem: the rising price of fuel.  To solve it, they started passing unexpectedly high fuel costs along to guests in the form of “fuel supplements.”  Even though it’s been years since cruise passengers were charged any of these fees, the option for lines to do this never went away, and we have a hunch you may soon be throwing in some gas money for the next time your ship commences bunkering operations... read more

From sea to shining sea, Celebrity Cruises and parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd continue to promote equality and inclusivity, and this year they hosted their second annual Pride Party at Sea.  Olympian figure skaters Johnny Weir and Adam Rippon were on hand as ambassadors at this week's festivities during Pride Month. read more

Virgin Voyages has teased the world with their intriguing adults-only ships, creative events, and of course, unconventional names (sailors rather than passengers, for example).  What they hadn’t shared however, was what the spaces on their ships might look like…until now.  Let’s dive in to see not only what we can expect to see when they start sailing in 2020, but also, what those spaces mean for cru sailors, including an area that looks like it will excite guests while terrifying Virgin’s risk management team – and maybe cellphone insurers...

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Many cruise lines are offering sailings with stops in Cuba, and now, Carnival Cruise Lines is expanding their offering to include stops in Havana from Charleston and other East Coast homeports.  This represents a significant increase in options, especially for those looking to sail out of Charleston, where options had previously been somewhat limited. read more

Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) recently revealed that they've been working with DeCurtis Corporation to develop a new technology platform known as "Cruise Freedom™" in an effort that they hope, "meaningfully enhances the guest experience from the moment of booking throughout [guests] Norwegian cruise." read more

For decades, Hawaii has been a popular destination for cruisers and non-cruisers alike.  Norwegian Cruise Lines even has a ship there all year-round, the Pride of America.  What you soon won't find however are thousands of sunscreens with chemicals known to harm coral reefs.  Joining the ranks of various resorts throughout the world, many parks in Mexico (including XelHa, Xcaret, Chankanaab, and others), and part of the Cayman Islands, Hawaii is taking steps to reduce the negative impact to their ecosystem caused by some sunscreens... read more

Cunard Line has had many famous ocean liners, but each with distinct legacies. The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) is just one of them, but her storied history is especially meaningful to those of us who have been lucky enough to sail her as well as those with an understanding of her place in history.  Last week in Dubai, UAE, the QE2 re-opened to guests, though these visitors will have a distinctly different experience as they wake up each day in the same place aboard a sparkling new hotel at Mina Rashid... read more