With more people than every enjoying the flexibility of remote work, and broadband technology improving, much of the world can be your office. What about cruise ships though? Working from cruise ships may be possible for some, but it’s critical to understand whether it’s possible for you, before setting sail... read more
In this episode of Billy's Cruise Takes we discuss Carnival's return to service, the importance of Alaska sailings resuming, mixed vaccines, the state of the Conditional Sail Order, and a new cruise that we just booked
The last time a large cruise ship was in Alaska was September of 2019 - until now. That might not matter to some, but if you’re one of the 8,500 residents of Sitka, AK, the return of cruising is the ability to breathe again. Just like when cruising returned to the Caribbean in early June of 2021, it was Royal Caribbean Group that was first to bring that oxygen to the community, this time in the Last Frontier, with Serenade of the Seas and her 2,143 guests. read more
Want to get away this August? We stumbled upon a deal that just can't be beat, starting at $179 per person in a verandah! MSC Meraviglia came out toward the end of 2016 and is visually stunning, and now she's one of the first ships cruising the US with MSC. We were already considering sailing her soon to try out a different class of ship on MSC (having previously sailed on MSC Seaside), so for us, this deal was just too good to turn down and not share...
When Celebrity Edge set sail as the first cruise ship leaving the US with guests in over 15 months, it came after a lot of planning, preparation, and of course certain new rules in place to ensure the safety of guests, crew, and those in the communities the ship visits. For those looking to sail Celebrity Edge, or any other ship in the near future, we thought it’d be helpful to go over some of the COVID related rules, as well as our experience from being on the first two Celebrity Edge cruises back... read more
The return to service for cruise lines has just begun, but despite the significant logistics involved, things are starting to move quickly. One of the largest and best known lines, Carnival Cruise Line, has announced that they'll be brining even more ships back in September and October - with a total of 15 vessels sailing, and plans to have the rest sailing by the end of the year... read more
This is the first In the very first episode of Billy's Cruise Takes I weigh in on NCLH suing Florida, Carnival's smoking policy changes, Canada allowing cruising, and the state of the Conditional sailing order... read more
Cruising is back, and we could all use a vacation. Depending on the cruise you take, and whether you’re fully vaccinated, the available cruise experiences can be very different. Will you need to wear a mask? Will you have access to all the spaces and services you expect? It’s not as easy as we’d like to tell what the restrictions will be on any given cruise, but we’ve got some tips that can help clear things up... read more
Celebrity Cruises finest accommodations come as part of The Retreat experience, which offers exclusive lounges and dining options, top-notch service, and other perks. We were recently enjoyed The Retreat on Celebrity Edge, aboard the first cruise to return to service from the US in over 15 months. In this video we highlight our Sky Suite, and discuss various parts of what makes The Retreat experience much more than just a larger stateroom. read more
Florida is home to the three busiest cruise ports in the world, so a safe return to cruising is in the best interest of the state. Despite this, and the overwhelming evidence that vaccines play a critical role in a "return to normal", Florida imposes significant fines each time a business requires proof that a patron is vaccinated. Now, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (parent company to NCL, Regent Seven Seas, and Oceania Cruises), is suing Florida over this so called "vaccine passport ban", and the entire industry will be watching... read more