Recent protests and civil unrest in Turkey has caused at least one cruise line to modify itineraries to the middle eastern nation. Costa Cruise Line’s Costa Mediterranea replaced today’s port of call in Izmir, Turkey with Holzheimer, Turkey. The new port of call was deemed a safer, more “stable” port of call for guests wishing to […]
It’s a question that has been tested and debated by cruisers for years – should I or should I not arrive in my embarkation port a day before my cruise? Not only has it been asked, but it has also been tested by many cruisers, some with successful attempts at making the ship and some […]
Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean announced that the New Jersey based Explorer of the Seas will move south to Port Canaveral for a short winter cruise season. The Explorer of the Seas is scheduled to begin sailing four and five day Caribbean and Bahamas cruises departing out of Port Canaveral from November 2014 through January 2015. The ports […]
#4 – Book your shore excursions with the cruise line. If you book your shore excursion through your cruise line, whether online or onboard, the cruise line will communicate and work with your excursion leaders to locate you and return you to the ship prior to departure. Earlier this year on my Eurodam cruise, my excursion booked […]
According to local news stations in Tampa, a suspicious package has been found at the Port of Tampa. The package was found on a crate intended to be loaded onto Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas. The suspicious package was detected by a team of bomb sniffing dogs from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office during routine cruise […]
#1 Costa’s colors represent olive oil and the ocean. Yes, the blue represents the blue waters of the oceans and the yellow represents Italian olive oil. For more clarification on the olive oil part, please read on. #2 Costa was originally founded as a shipping company for olive oil. Costa cruises was founded in 1854 […]
A recent surge in norovirus-like illnesses have been reported on cruise ships that have recently called in the island nation of Grand Turk. Guests on the recent cruises have reported symptoms only after calling in Grand Turk. Carnival Cruise Lines, which operates the Grand Turk Cruise Center, has decided to close the port in order to investigate […]
I wish this was an April Fool’s joke, but I unfortunately cannot say that it is. According to various reports, the Norwegian Epic was apparently turned away from the Port of Nassau this morning after the port authority overbooked the port. Yes, you heard that correctly. An employee at the Nassau Port Authority scheduled 6 cruise ships […]
Well today’s port of call was supposed to be Grand Turk, but due to high waves and dangerous winds, we were forced to abandon the port and continue on to San Juan. We actually were very close to docking in Grand Turk, but we were getting pushed around a lot, so I am thankful to […]
Carnival Corporation & plc is donating $2 million to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy that struck the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, and devastated New Jersey and New York. The funds are earmarked for four charities providing an array of relief and rebuilding services and support. The Robin Hood Relief Fund will receive $1 […]
While docking in Marseille yesterday, the Costa Pacifica came in contact with a buoy structure that formed a gash around 26 feet long just above the waterline. Luckily, no one was injured when the collision occurred, but it did keep the Pacifica in Marseille for an additional eight hours for necessary repairs. Costa Cruises published a statement claiming that the Pacifica “experienced a […]
Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that popular Miami modern artist and muralist David “LEBO” Le Batard has been commissioned to paint the signature hull artwork for Norwegian Getaway, launching in January 2014. At an event held at LEBO’s Wynwood studio, the company also revealed the hull artwork, which features a whimsical tropical ocean theme complete with […]