Passengers traveling with many cruise lines enjoy White Pass Scenic Railway when visiting Alaska, but now the largest cruise company in the world will own it. This week Carnival Corporation & plc announced they are purchasing TWC Enterprises Limited's White Pass & Yukon Route division in Skagway, Alaska. read more
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
Travel insurance can be a great way to protect against the "what ifs" on your next cruise. Like any insurance, the policy is useless if it doesn't cover the circumstance you're looking to account for. All too often, we read about people unhappy with a policy because they simply assumed the policy covered specific circumstances, instead of fully understanding what they were buying. Are you covered if you can't make it to your cruise? What if you need to leave half-way through your cruise? How much will it cost to go to a doctor on the ship, or in another country? Let's look at some of the questions you should ask when looking into an insurance policy, and chip-away at some common misconceptions. 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...
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
Like department stores, airlines, and even gas stations, some cruise lines have their own credit cards promising perks and savings for cardholders. We looked at a few of these offers and found there are far better deals to be had if you’re looking to save money and get benefits from using a credit card for travel. We’ll break down the benefits, the cost, and tricks you might find helpful in using credit card perks to save money on your next cruise... read more