Carnival Cruise Line left some of its most dedicated guests frustrated earlier this summer, and now its luxury sister brand is making waves of its own. In June 2025, Carnival Cruise Line overhauled its VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) loyalty program, shifting milestone eligibility to a spending-based model and reducing some of the perks longtime cruisers
Several international crew members working aboard two ships operated by Victory Cruise Lines were recently removed from the vessels by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. As many as 13 crew from the cruise line’s Victory I and Victory II, both small ships with a capacity for 180 guests, were detained and apparently deported
Margaritaville at Sea, the cruise brand modeled on Jimmy Buffett’s concept of laid-back Caribbean vibes, unveiled details about the soon-to-be third ship in its fleet, including the name: Margaritaville Beachcomber. Fans of the cruise line have been waiting to learn more about the fleet expansion, which was announced in May 2025. Margaritaville at Sea had
Just hours after attending a muster drill for the first night of an 18-night voyage to Canada and Greenland, passengers aboard Island Princess were rushing to their muster stations due to a fire. The 92,822-gross-ton Princess Cruises vessel had departed from New York City at 4 p.m. on July 14, 2025, and less than 12 hours later experienced an
Many people opt to book their cruise vacations through a travel agent because the travel professional will handle all the planning and organizing on their behalf. Especially for first-time cruisers who are nervous about the process, having an expert to guide them as they plan their vacation can be the path of least resistance. But
A recent Carnival Cruise Line guest had a rather gross question that has made me question if I can ever go swimming on a cruise ship ever again. After observing their fellow passengers spending hours in the pools, the Carnival Magic guest couldn’t help but wonder if his fellow cruisers were considerate enough to get
With 1.7 million cruise guests sailing to Juneau, Alaska, every summer, the Juneau Assembly has identified a way to increase the city’s revenue. The local government is moving forward with a proposal for a new seasonal tax that would be put in place from April through September annually, which coincides with the peak cruise season.
On July 14, 2025, MSC Cruises announced a new lineup of itineraries for their ships homeporting in the United States during the summer of 2027. The cruise line has been focused on deploying its most innovative ships at ports in the US, including the newest ship in the fleet, MSC World America. “Travelers will have
After more than a decade of rumors, it looks like the Titanic may set sail again. Or more accurately, a modern-day replica of the famed RMS Titanic, once called the unsinkable ship before its ill-fated meeting with an iceberg in 1912. Titanic II, the project of Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer, is officially on the books to set sail
I recently had the honor of interviewing Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu about the cruise line’s impressive growth as the brand looks forward to welcoming its fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, in September 2025. But with the fleet of Lady ships about to grow, I couldn’t help but reflect back on how the adults-only cruise line got its start in the competitive cruise industry. I went on a deep
In today’s digital age, it’s still a surprise that cruise lines print tickets for shore excursions, but Celebrity Cruises is changing its procedures. Guests setting sail to the Bahamas recently on Celebrity Reflection received a letter from the cruise line touting a “subtle but meaningful update.” In the letter, Celebrity Cruises announced that the ship’s Shore Excursions
While losing a ship to dry dock in the heat of summer vacation time tested the patience of Carnival Cruise Line guests sailing out of New Orleans, the wait is finally over – and was well worth it! The 110,000-gross-ton Carnival Liberty is back in action out of New Orleans, bringing exciting new features and a refreshed
