Virgin Voyages is the latest brand in Sir Richard Branson’s global conglomerate to sign on with Nuvei, a Montreal-based payment processor that will power the cruise line’s Sailor app. Like virtually all cruise lines, Virgin Voyages enables guests to download a free app they can use to pay for services and products. The new agreement
Spending time in port is a great part of any cruise vacation, but it can be tough to thoroughly enjoy a new destination’s culture and vibrancy in just a few short hours. Guests aboard the upcoming June 28, 2025 departure of Carnival Vista, however, will have longer than expected to explore Amber Cove in the
It’s been over a decade since Carnival Triumph set sail on the infamous “poop cruise” in 2013, but a new documentary on Netflix has put the “crappy” event back in the public eye. The eight episode documentary anthology, called “Trainweck,” releases a new episode every Tuesday about crazy events that have caused media frenzies in
Any parent knows that childcare is important to think about when cruising with children, especially if the onboard kids’ club may run out of space. In P&O Cruises’ own words on their website, “pre-registration is essential” for kids under 12 who would like to visit The Reef kids’ club. However, pre-securing spots will now come
As headlines mount over surging tourist crowds across Europe and locals pushing back, demanding relief, another European nation has decided it will implement on tax on tourists in an effort to offset overtourism. Lawmakers in Norway recently approved a new tourist tax, giving local governments the power to charge a 3% levy on overnight stays
Just under a month into its 113-day world cruise, the 3,080-passenger Crown Princess has had to make a major itinerary change after encountering some severe weather while off the coast of South Africa. In a follow-up to Cruise Hive’s report on June 24, an official itinerary update has been made by Princess Cruises as a
Disney Cruise Line is in the process of quietly raising prices at its four adult-exclusive dining venues, with one restaurant increasing costs across the fleet and others upping the charges only on certain ships. Also, the changes have staggered effective dates and impact cruises departing from US ports or from Vancouver, British Columbia, meaning that
Despite some grumbling over a loyalty program overhaul at Carnival Cruise Line, the brand’s parent company, Carnival Corporation, is cruising full steam ahead. On June 24, 2025, the cruise giant announced that more people are booking trips, and even locking them in further ahead, than ever before. In fact, Carnival Corporation had achieved record-setting second
The cruise industry at Northern Ireland’s Belfast Harbour had a modest start, welcoming just two cruise ships when operations began in 1996, but fast-forward nearly 30 years and the regional port has reached an impressive milestone. On June 24, 2025, the port received its 1,500th cruise ship with the arrival of Princess Cruises’ 4, 200-guest
A week after its initial announcement, the backlash continues against the new Carnival Rewards program, a spend-based system due to replace the current loyalty program from June 1, 2026. Many flabbergasted cruise guests have wondered just how much thought was put into the design of the new program. It has been almost universally maligned by
Since announcing a revamped loyalty program on June 18, 2025, Carnival Cruise Line has been feeling the heat from angered and hurt cruisers. The new program, which is supposed to go into effect on June 1, 2026, will transition to a points-based system that rewards guests for onboard spending as well as sailing. While this
Currently undergoing dry dock refreshment in Europe, Carnival Liberty will not be returning to service as planned due to labor shortages and a shipyard change. This means the ship’s first return sailing from New Orleans, originally scheduled to depart July 6, 2026, is now cancelled. Guests are being notified of the change just two weeks
