News

An iconic step in the life of any new ship is the keel laying ceremony, when the first piece of steel is put in place.  Today in Saint-Nazaire, France the foundation was laid for the innovative new structure of the Celebrity Edge.  In front of leaders of Celebrity Cruises and STX France shipyard, an 875 ton block was lifted into the air and a coin was placed on the dock before lowering the metal section into position.  Now the vessel will begin to take shape as additional blocks can be joined to the newly-laid foundation... read more

Yesterday we discussed information that was revealed around how changes to the United States' Cuba policies may affect travelers and today things are becoming a bit more clear.  Continue reading to find out how you'll be able to travel to Cuba, if you'll be able to bring back cigars, rum, and other items, and whether diplomatic relations will continue... read more

Update: Additional details have been released and you can read about them here.

Recently the US restored many relations with Cuba, allowing, among many other things, American cruise lines to sail to the island nation with American passengers.  Rumors have swirled recently however about possible changes to United States' Cuba policies with regard to travel, remittances, imports, and more.  While no official policy changes have been made, some information about the intended changes has come to light... read more

In an industry-first move, Carnival Cruise Lines has launched a program which allows guests to pay for their cruise in three monthly installments.  Traditionally, guests have had to make a deposit and then pay the balance before final payment day.  This new program allows guests to not only spread out these payments, but do so automatically so they can both budget easily and avoid a missed opportunity to sail because of forgotten payments.  Here's how it works... read more

MSC Cruises, a Swiss-based Italian line, and the largest privately owned cruise line in the world, had several big pieces of news this week.  From details of their 200,000 gross ton "World" class of ships, to Cirque du Soleil on Meraviglia, to taking delivery of their latest ship, there is a lot to unpack.  Take a look at details on the innovative design, new technology, and exciting entertainment options...

To keep things from getting confusing, it should be noted that the name of this class of ships is "World", so when I say World Class I mean "World" class, not the world-class. Not confusing at all, right? read more

Today at a ceremony in Freeport, officials with Carnival Cruise Line and the Bahamian government signed an agreement to build a record-breaking cruise port on Grand Bahama Island.  This port will be the largest purpose-built cruise facility ever built in The Bahamas and will be funded and operated by Carnival Cruise Line.  While the exact location has not yet been announced, it will include a one-mile stretch of beach, food, beverage and shopping outlets, an array of water-based amenities and other recreational facilities.  Importantly, the port will also feature a pier capable of accommodating two of Carnival’s largest cruise ships simultaneously and can expect to see up to 1 million guests a year... read more

Today Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, parent company to Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises had their first quarter earnings call, and in case your wondering, it seemed good news for shareholders.  For cruisers there earnings calls don't generally offer much, so there wasn't any huge news, but interestingly, most non-financial comments were about onboard technology and Celebrity Edge... read more