Every crew member on a cruise ship – from the guest services staff to baggage handlers, housekeepers, and pool attendants – works diligently seven days a week to ensure every guest has a great vacation. How much should these hard-working crew members be tipped for the excellent service they provide? The answer isn’t always straightforward
Disney Cruise Line is thinking long-term when it comes to Catalina Island, the destination off California’s coast that has emerged as a sought-after port call by guests. The island’s only city, Avalon, has approved a five-year agreement giving the cruise line preferred access to anchorage areas. Avalon’s harbor has no docking facilities, and all cruise
A trade war of words unfolded between officials in Alaska and British Columbia as the new US administration enacts its tariff strategy against Canada, but in this case, the cruise industry could get caught in the middle. In a radio interview on March 11, 2025, US Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) vowed to pursue a waiver
Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure, which sailed under the flag of the newly shuttered P&O Cruises Australia, are about to embark on a new chapter as part of the Carnival Cruise Line fleet. But before they start sailing for Carnival – which is also the parent company of P&O Cruises and the late P&O Cruises
The Norwegian Cruise Line fleet has entered a new generation with the successful delivery of Norwegian Aqua, the first in the Prima Plus class of ships. Fincantieri delivered the ship to the cruise line on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at their Marghera shipyard in northern Italy, celebrating the milestone as the new ship prepares to
Every experienced cruiser is familiar with the safety briefing, during which procedures such as how to find one’s muster station, what emergency signals sound like, and how to put on a life jacket are covered. New e-muster drills were implemented following the industry shutdown to help ease crowded situations while still conveying essential safety information.
Lately, Carnival Cruise Line has been tweaking upcoming sailings from now through 2027 – and the world’s largest cruise company has just announced two more changes for voyages in March of 2025. This time, the altered itineraries will impact guests preparing to embark on Carnival Legend and Carnival Valor – with the first of the
Embarkation for Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas will be handled a bit differently than expected on Thursday, March 13, 2025. This is because the Vision-class flagship will be delayed in her return to her homeport – the Port of Baltimore – which also pushes back disembarkation for the up to 2,514 guests onboard for
The Dominican Republic is one of the countries in the Caribbean welcoming the rise of cruise tourism with open arms — and newer ports. In March, 2025, construction began on a new cruise ship terminal at the Port of Barahona — a project that will allow cruise ships to dock in the area for the
Guests sailing on select Royal Caribbean voyages from PortMiami are receiving letters offering free airport transfers on debarkation day. While this does not apply to embarking guests, it can help ensure smoother traffic and fewer backups on the busiest homeport days. Two ships have so far offered this amazing deal to guests: Icon of the
If you’re going to debut a hip, vibrant, entertainment-filled new cruise ship in New York City, you better be sure it’s nothing short of spectacular. Virgin Voyages is answering that call when it introduces the world to its new Brilliant Lady in New York City this September, equipped with an entertainment lineup designed to dazzle guests as if they
That’s a wrap for P&O Cruises Australia. After bidding farewell to its beloved Pacific Explorer last month, the vessel will soon become a member of Resorts World Cruises’ Asian fleet – the cruise line is closing its chapter on its final two ships. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a happy ending for the 2,600-passenger, 108,865-gross-ton Pacific Encounter, which was poised to embark
