Following the recent revisions to smoking policies by other cruise lines throughout the industry, Norwegian Cruise Line today has announced new changes to its own onboard smoking policy. Effective November 1st, guests will be prohibited from smoking cigarettes (electronic included) and cigars on stateroom balconies, The Haven, and in the casino for non-players. The new policy effectively […]
Today, Norwegian Cruise Line announced the order of two additional “Breakaway Plus” ships with Meyer Werft, scheduled for delivery in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The two new ships build on the current order of two previously ordered Breakaway Plus ships, the Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss, slated for delivery in 2015 and 2017. The new […]
Around approximately 6:00 am local time on the island of Giglio, the final steps to remove the Costa Concordia from the shallow shores of the Italian island commenced. Over two years following the sinking of the Costa Concordia, the ship is finally ready to be raised from the shore of Giglio and begin the journey to […]
Beginning in October, guests sailing on any Carnival ship will be prohibited from smoking on any stateroom balconies. The new ban follows recent surveys and feedback, stating the majority of guests would prefer a smoke-free balcony environment. Carnival states the decision to ban balcony smoking comes as direct result of this guest feedback. While balcony […]
According to a report by Cruise Industry News, STX Europe subsidiary, STX Finland could be sold to German shipbuilder, Meyer Werft, in the near future. The original report states the news of a sale is merely a rumor, but Meyer Werft has now confirmed the company is actively involved in negotiations with STX Europe and […]
Earlier this evening, Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam returned to the Port of Seattle following a small fire in the ship’s boiler room. The ms Westerdam was only a few hours into it’s sailing before the small fire was detected on the lower decks of the ship. Following procedure, fire teams aboard the ship acted quickly in extinguishing the fire located in the boiler room. As fire teams […]
Royal Caribbean is continuing their build up in the Asian cruise market with a new seasonal departure port for the 2015 cruise season. Between the months of June and October 2015, Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas will offer 22 roundtrip sailings from Hong Kong’s newly built cruise terminal. Guests aboard one of the 22 sailings will […]
Yesterday, following an 8.0 magnitude earthquake near Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, the National Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for a wide stretch of Alaska’s coastal areas. The earthquake and tsunami warning came during the height of Alaska’s cruise season, placing a number of cruise ships sailing in Alaska near the warning areas. At the issue time of the […]
Beginning in May 2015, Holland America Line will resume sailing to the island of Bermuda on a weekly basis from Boston, Massachusetts. The summer sailings will be offered aboard one of Holland America Line’s smaller, more intimate ships, ms Veendam. The ms Veendam will offer six of the seven night Bermuda sailings, departing from Boston, Massachusetts and […]
Today, two vastly different cruise ships celebrated two important milestones of their career. Princess Cruises’ newest and largest ship, the Royal Princess, celebrated her first birthday today while sailing towards her next port of call, Copenhagen. Guests currently sailing aboard the Royal Princess joined in the festivities today, taking part in the Royal Ball Birthday Party, […]
Robin Farley, a well respected Wall Street analyst for UBS Investment Research, recently predicted a two ship expansion for Carnival Corporation by 2017. In her letter to a group of cruise industry investors, Farley predicts Carnival Corporation will place an order for two new ships by the end of August with an expected delivery sometime […]
After a number of years of increasing growth, the Australian cruise market has now overtaken the North American cruise industry in terms of market growth and penetration over the last year. In 2013, the number of Australians setting sail increased by a record 20%, a larger increase in cruise passengers than any other market in the world. In […]