News

Oceania Cruises announced that they're going to be doing significant work to "re-inspire" four of the line's six vessels in a $100 million project that is just the first project in an initiative they're calling OceaniaNEXT.  The project will mean that the 684 guest R-Class ships, Insignia, Nautica, Regatta, and Sirena, will each have 342 suites and staterooms redesigned with a whole new look, custom furnishings, a refreshed color pallette of soft sea and sky tones, lush carpets, and more.  Further, they'll introduce... read more

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages is sure to be an interesting cruise line when they start sailing in 2020.  The adult-only line focusing on unique experiences and a different take on cruising revealed more about what guests can soon expect, including how they'll help keep "sailors" (their term for guests) and the environment healthy.  They also took this opportunity to name their first vessel.   read more

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

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