Increasingly, guests appreciate knowing what their total vacation costs will be ahead of time, rather than separately accounting for cruise fare, drinks, dining, excursions, and more.  For guests on Holland America Line, the new “Have It All” package can provide clearer pricing while also offering substantial savings for many. read more

The past week has been a wild one for cruising in the US: The cruise industry pleaded with the CDC to stop it's months of radio-silence on it's Conditional Sailing Order. The CDC then finally provided technical instructions as a 'next step', but with no clear end in sight. Some cruise lines announced they'd sail the Caribbean without the US support. NCL proposed US fully-vaccinated sailings in July. The Florida governor said that private business can't require vaccines.  With all this, cruising from the US remains uncertain, while packed bars, flights, and hotels have gone with little or no regulation. Now, the State of Florida announced that it is suing the federal government over the shutdown of the cruise industry... read more

Almost anyone who has cruised before will tout the value of cruising when compared to land vacations.  Most cruises include your meals, entertainment, transportation (to various ports of call), and your accommodations.  Nevertheless, cruises are a big expense, so it's important to know about any expenses that aren't immediately apparent.  While the industry tends to stay pretty transparent about the costs guests may incur, if you're looking at your first cruise, there may be some expenses which, while we'd not call them "hidden," may not be clear when shopping around. read more

Just a day after the CDC finally provided updated guidance on the next steps to return to cruising, one of the three largest cruise companies has taken a bigger step.  In a letter to CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky, Frank Del Rio (CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings) outlines the steps the COVID-19 safety measures the company’s three lines have taken, and explains how they plan to sail from the US starting in early July. read more

The CDC has taken the next step in moving forward with the safe return of cruising from the US, but for some, it’s not a big enough step... read more

After pressure from politicians and the public came to a head over the past week, finally there are signs of potential progress on the return of cruising to from the US.  Following a call on Thursday with CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky and other officials, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava  seemed optimistic.  "We were very encouraged by our call today with CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Division Director Dr. Martin Cetron and the CDC team to discuss the safe return of cruising in the US." read more

Soon you’ll be able to again cruise the Caribbean.  After a year without cruising in the region, lines have coordinated with several island nations and gained permission to set sail from ports outside of the US as early as June 5th.  Proof of vaccination will be required for guests to sail and the cruises will feature enhanced safety measures, so we’ll review which lines will be operating, answer some common questions, and make sure you’re ready to cruise... read more