Jan115

MIAMI, April 28, 2021 – Royal Caribbean International continues its bold Bajan adventure with the announcement of a second consecutive winter season sailing from Bridgetown, Barbados. Music to travelers’ ears, Rhapsody of the Seas will make its way to the island nation to offer 7- and 14-night itineraries around the stunning sands of the Southern Caribbean from November 2022 through April 2023. The new Southern Caribbean escapes from Barbados open for bookings today. Guests have more chances to discover the rich traditions, historical landmarks and natural wonders that anchor the region’s communities — like the centuries-old fort in Port of Spain, Trinidad, with its unmatched views of the Gulf of Paria; the world’s first underwater sculpture park in St. George’s, Grenada; and the oldest botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere in Kingstown, St. Vincent. Late-night visits to the ABC islands – Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao – will top travelers’ lists, as will an overnight visit to Oranjestad, Aruba for those setting out on Rhapsody’s 14-night adventures. The excitement continues with calls on cities in Central and South America, including Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. News of a second Barbados season comes hot on the heels of the announcement of Bridgetown as the cruise line’s newest homeport beginning December 2021. Committed to delivering the ultimate cruise vacation from every port of departure, Royal Caribbean’s partnership with Barbados provides a unique opportunity for immersive cultural experiences that travelers crave. Whether opting to arrive a few days early or extend their stay post-cruise, guests can discover different sides of this small but mighty island; from wandering the winding streets of charming towns or scaling Mount Hillaby, the island’s highest peak, to setting a towel down on gorgeous beaches across the country’s 11 unique parishes. More information on Rhapsody’s first Bajan season is available here. The itineraries and ports of call for each are: 7-night Southern Caribbean Island Hop: Visiting Scarborough, Tobago; Port of Spain, Trinidad; St. George’s, Grenada; Kingstown, St. Vincent; Roseau, Dominica; and Castries, St. Lucia 7-night Southern Caribbean Adventure: Visiting St. George’s; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao; and Port of Spain. 8-night Southern Caribbean Holiday: Visiting Scarborough, Port of Spain, Castries; Fort-de-France, Martinique; Roseau, St George’s, and Kingstown. 14-night Ultimate Caribbean: Visiting St. George’s, Kralendijk, Willemstad (overnight), Cartagena, Colon, Puerto Limon, Oranjestad (overnight), and Port of Spain. ______________________________ SOURCE: Royal Caribbean Cruises (Press Release, April 28, 2021); Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Cruises Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

@Jason That feature seems to be missing from my profile page; I just sent you a DM.

Cruise lines can skip test sailings if they attest that 98% of crew and 95% of passengers will be fully vaccinated, the CDC told cruise lines in a letter Wednesday night in which it committed to a mid-July restart from the U.S. The CDC said the change was the result of twice-weekly meetings with cruise lines over the past month. The CDC's current Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) mandates trial sailing prior to commercial ones in order to test Covid-19 mitigation protocols. The lines would then have to apply for a certificate to sail 60 days prior to launching passenger cruises. "We remain committed to the resumption of passenger operations in the United States following the requirements in the CSO by midsummer, which aligns with the goals announced by many major cruise lines," the letter said. For lines that intend to go forward with the simulated voyages, the CDC on Wednesday said it would now review and respond to applications for those voyages within five days, instead of 60 days. "This puts cruise ships closer to open-water sailing sooner," the CDC said. Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley said that as far as Royal understands, "As soon as you have your port plan ready you can submit your request to cruise, and they will respond within five days. You can see the timeline and process has improved quite significantly. "Fundamentally they are two pathways," to the resumption of cruising, Bayley said of the latest guidance, adding that the one that meets the CDC's threshold for vaccinated crew and passengers, "is a faster route." The mid-July timeline is because of the time it will take to return crew to the ship and complete the crew vaccination process. "This commitment to mid-July is looking very realistic based on what we saw last night," Bayley said. The CDC also loosened requirements for passenger and crew testing and quarantine. One the first passenger voyages out of the U.S., fully vaccinated passengers can take a rapid test upon embarkation instead of a PCR test, the CDC said, and can quarantine at home if they live within driving distance. CLIA's senior vice president of global strategic communications, Anne Madison, said CLIA was "encouraged by the communication with the CDC." It is reviewing the latest information, but "we see this as positive progression," she said. "Importantly, we see this as a demonstrated commitment to having constructive dialogue, which is key to restarting cruising as we have seen with other governments and health authorities around the world," Madison said. "There's still plenty of work to be done to achieve our mutual goal of sailings from U.S. ports this summer . The movement we're seeing through the communication that has been happening of late also shows that the voices of community leaders and the wider cruise community have been heard, and we're very grateful for that." _________________________ SOURCE: Travel Weekly (Johanna Jainchill, April 29, 2021); Photo Credit: Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

You will LOVE cruising. Be sure to check out my first time cruiser tips in the blog section. Great question about the profile photo and I can’t figure where to change it either. @Jason can you help with this?

I love your optimism! My husband and I and two of our CruiseCrazies friends took advantage of one of Royal Caribbean's sailing this summer that were moved to a non-US port; in our case, the Vision of the Seas from Bermuda to Perfect Day CocoCay. The U.S. ports can't survive for long without ships, and I am confident that in 2022, cruises will be leaving our ports again. What ship will you be on and where are you going? If you have any questions about your first cruise or need any words of wisdom from our community of avid cruisers, feel free to ask.

Welcome aboard @Newbiecruiser! Feel free to share your comments, cruise stories and questions. We look forward to seeing more of you around our friendly community. 🛳️😎

Boutique cruise line Azamara, which focuses on destination immersion experiences, said Azamara Quest will return to cruising beginning Aug. 28, 2021 with five back-to-back Country-Intensive Voyages and one classic Mediterranean sailing. Each of the sailings will be seven days in length and will offer a total of 18 late-night stays in port, including Santorini, Rhodes and Heraklion, Greece. “Over the past year, our team—ship to shoreside—continued to connect with our guests and travel partners,” said Carol Cabezas, president of Azamara. “Our biggest takeaway is the desire everyone has to sail again, and we are excited to share that we can finally make this dream come true. There’s no better way to return to service than in a country Azamara knows best, Greece. Our return to sail wouldn’t be possible without the support from [Greek] Minister of Tourism Harry Theoharis, the local government and port authorities, and we are extremely grateful for welcoming us back into this beautiful and culturally rich destination.” “We're looking forward to welcoming Azamara and its guests in Greece in August," said Theoharis. "We fully support the line's return to cruising in the Aegean waters and we are sure that all of its passengers will have unique experiences in our beautiful destinations.'' Voyages will open for booking on May 11, 2021. With the health and safety of guests and crew being the top priority for the return to sail, Azamara has made the decision to require all guests and crew to be fully vaccinated no later than 14-days prior to departure. Once the sailings open for booking, the upmarket cruise line will reveal protocol guidelines led by the Healthy Sail Panel, to reassure guests a healthy return to service. With travel requirements remaining unconfirmed throughout most of Europe, all sailings aboard Azamara Journey and Azamara Pursuit will be suspended until September 2021. Current Azamara Quest sailings through Oct/ 2, 2021 are also suspended, with the new Country-Intensive voyages beginning Aug. 28, 2021. Guests impacted by summer suspensions will be offered a number of flexible options to rebook or request refunds for current reservations. Guests looking to book these new voyages and other Azamara cruises can still take advantage of Azamara’s “Cruise with Confidence” benefits, offering flexibility for fully paid reservations booked by May 31, 2021 for sailings through April 30, 2022. Highlights of the Quest’s Greek cruises include: Rhodes: Known as the Island of the Knights, Rhodes offers such ancient wonders as the Colossus of Rhodes, a statue of the Greek sun-god Helios and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Heraklion: The fourth largest city in Greece, Heraklion offers such architectural marvels as the Bronze Age Palace of Knossos, an ancient palace with ruins dating back to the early Minoan period. Santorini: Santorini was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. Guests can sail the caldera or discover the ancient ruins of Akrotiri by day and soak in the sunset views from Azamara Quest, as nightfall descends upon the island. Delos & Mykonos: Step back in time to mythological Delos, birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and a historic UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guests can explore the hidden corners and captivating coastline of Mykonos on a 4x4 or caique, a traditional wooden boat. Limassol, Cyprus: Guests can visit the last divided capital of the world, Nicosia, shared by Cyprus and Turkey. They can see byzantine landmarks, hear tales of the Crusades, or ventures into the countryside to explore fruit orchards, olive groves and vineyards. Azamara is an upmarket cruise line currently with three mid-sized ships sailing to all seven continents of the world. An additional fourth ship is scheduled to join the fleet in 2022. The boutique-style ships allow them to reach marquee ports around the world and dock in smaller, less-visited hidden gems. For more information. visit www.azamara.com. _________________________ SOURCE: Insider Travel Report (James Shillinglaw, April 28, 2021); Photo Credit: Azamara Cruises Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (April 8, 2021) – In a world where working remotely has become commonplace out of necessity, Princess Cruises is delivering super-charged internet connectivity by leveraging a new constellation of satellites to offer the ultimate remote workstation – an office at sea. Upon its return to service, every Princess cruise ship in the global fleet will feature land-like connectivity as part of its MedallionNet Wi-Fi service, making remote working, distance learning, and the opportunity to securely conduct important transactions, available all while enjoying the most picturesque video conference backdrop on the horizon thousands of miles from home. Each Princess MedallionClass ship transmits enough bandwidth per vessel to guarantee a superior connection for each guest and the personal device they are using. MedallionNet’s seamless integration ensures guests can work from their deck chairs as efficiently and effectively as in their office, with access to their cloud-based enterprise applications such as storage, videoconferencing, and email. And because there is an access point in every stateroom, as well as all public areas, guests can move freely around the ship as they work without any frustrating signal drops. As more than 40% of the American workforce continues to work remotely, and with an expected 36.2 million Americans are projected to telecommute by 20251, an at sea office has never been more feasible and certainly remains very desirable to many. “As an Internet person who lives her entire life online, I was thoroughly impressed with MedallionNet,” said Chelsea Lankford, creator of fashion and lifestyle blog Truelane. “I’m always impressed by its reliability. I’ve published blog posts, uploaded videos, and streamed Netflix in the middle of the ocean without a glitch.” In late 2021, Princess connectivity partner – SES – will begin to launch a new constellation of satellites2, O3b mPOWER, that will further super-charge MedallionNet and offer guests the best connectivity possible at sea. The unmatched bandwidth capacity not only delivers superior Wi-Fi service levels, but also powers the Princess MedallionClass experience onboard. The cruise line’s award-winning OceanMedallion™, the most advanced wearable device in the global hospitality industry, replaces the traditional cruise card to significantly expand touch-free options and personalization on board. Working professionals will appreciate features and amenities such as: Keyless stateroom entry On-demand food, beverage, and retail items delivered anywhere onboard while you continue work or lead a video conference call Friends and family locator or chat function to find your travel partner when work is complete When cruise vacations begin again, Princess will be ready to take guests to the sun-drenched beaches of the Caribbean or Mexico, the awe-inspiring scenery of Alaska, the iconic sites of Europe, the unparalleled California Coast, and many more destinations. Princess also recently expanded its Book with Confidence policy which now allows guests the flexibility to change their vacation plans 30 days before the day of departure, receiving cancellation fees as a future cruise credit. This flexible booking option is available for any cruise bookings made through June 30, 2021, on voyages departing through Oct 31, 2021. Princess Cruises is currently enhancing health and safety protocols with input from global health leaders in response to COVID-19 and assessing how they may impact future itineraries. Actual offerings may vary from what is displayed in marketing materials.  Click on the following links to stay updated on  current  Cruise Updates and  Health & Safety protocols. Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company’s website at princess.com. ______________________________ SOURCE: Princess Cruises (Press Release, April 8, 2021); Photo Credit: Princess Cruises Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

American Cruise Lines has confirmed its ready to operate the 2021 Alaska season as scheduled. The season includes eight and 11-day cruises on the Inside Passage that explore Southeast Alaska in depth. Read more

Here is a good summary of the cruise lines (as of 4/16/21) that require vaccinations: https://www.travelandleisure.com/cruises/cruises-that-allow-vaccinated-travelers

Starting this spring, at least eight cruise lines will launch their ships from foreign ports on cruises that will be open to North American passengers. Cruising is still banned in U.S. waters, due to the CDC's conditional sailing order. But Beginning in June, about 15 ships will cruise from ports in Europe and the Caribbean. The following lines are currently scheduled to launch cruises open to either vaccinated adults or to vaccinated passengers entirely. This list excludes sailings that are only open to residents of the country where the ship is homeported, such as in England, where many cruise lines are offering sailings for U.K. residents; Royal Caribbean's ships in Israel and Singapore; and cruises for Europeans by MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, Tui Cruises, Aida Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd. Updated April 13. Celebrity Cruises The Celebrity Millennium will launch Caribbean cruises from St. Maarten on June 5. The Celebrity Apex will sail Mediterranean cruises from Athens, Greece, on June 19. Vaccines: Required for adults; children under 18 must produce proof of a negative Covid test. Celestyal Cruises Celestyal Cruises will launch two ships on sailings in the Greek Islands, beginning May 29th from Piraeus, Greece. Vaccine requirements: Currently, cruisers need to either provide proof of vaccination, Covid-19 immunity or a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure from the U.S. and within 72 hours of cruise embarkation. Crystal Cruises The Crystal Symphony will launch 10-day cruises from Antigua on Aug. 5. The Crystal Serenity will offer Bahamas-only itineraries from Nassau beginning July 3. Crystal Expedition Cruises' Crystal Endeavor will offer 10-day Iceland circumnavigations starting July 17. Vaccines: Required for all passengers. Norwegian Cruise Line The Norwegian Jade will launch 7-day cruises from Athens beginning July 25. The Norwegian Joy will offer weeklong cruises from Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Aug. 7. The Norwegian Gem will sail from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, starting Aug. 15. Vaccines: Required for all passengers. Royal Caribbean International The Adventure of the Seas will sail 7-day cruises from Nassau, Bahamas beginning June 12. The Vision of the Seas will launch from Bermuda 7-day cruises beginning June 26. The Jewel of the Seas will homeport from Limassol, Cyprus on 7-day cruises to the Greek islands beginning July 10. Vaccines: Required for adults; children under 18 must produce proof of a negative Covid test. Seabourn The Seabourn Ovation will operate seven-day cruises in Greece and Cyprus from Athens, beginning July 3. Vaccines: required for all passengers. Silversea Cruises The Silver Moon will launch 10-day cruises from Athens beginning June 18. Vaccines: required for all passengers. Viking The Viking Orion will operate eight-day Bermuda sailings from Hamilton in June. The Viking Sky will homeport in Reykjavik and offer eight-day Iceland cruise in June. Vaccines: Required for all passengers. Windstar Cruises The Star Breeze will sail from Philipsburg, St. Maarten and the Wind Star from Athens, both on June 19. The Wind Spirit will launch in Tahiti on July 15 and the Wind Surf on Aug. 8 from Barcelona. Vaccines: required for all passengers. _____________________________ SOURCE: Travel Weekly (April 13, 2021); Photo Credit: Pixabay Free Images Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to CruiseCrazies.com View full article

(Monaco -- April 15, 2021) With demand at an all-time high, Silversea Cruises today opened sales on brand new voyages aboard Silver Moon to the Eastern Mediterranean, departing from Greece from June 18, 2021. The leading ultra-luxury cruise line unveiled a collection of nine voyages—each 10 days in length—which will sail round-trip from Piraeus (Athens), taking in many of Greece’s most beautiful destinations, such as Santorini, Paros, Mykonos, and Crete, among others, as well as Haifa (Israel) and Cyprus. “The entire team at Silversea, our colleagues at the Royal Caribbean Group, and our loyal guests have been waiting for this incredible news for over one year. We are delighted to open general sales on our new Silver Moon itineraries in the Eastern Mediterranean,” says Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises. “Our guests are yearning to continue their travels, exemplified by the unprecedented demand we are currently registering. We are excited to introduce them to our beautiful new flagship Silver Moon, as they travel deep into Greece, Israel, and Cyprus. On behalf of the entire Silversea team and our valued guests, we extend our deepest gratitude to Greece’s Honorable Minister Harry Theoharis, Ministry of Tourism – Hellenic Republic; port authorities; and other governing bodies for their valued support and their openness to collaboration. Greece has long constituted a key destination for our cruise line and we are thrilled to resume sailing in this magnificent part of the world.” "We welcome the announcement of Silversea Cruises’ restart from Greece,'' says Honorable Minister Harry Theoharis.'' Once again, travellers will have the opportunity to discover our beautiful destinations and create memories to last a lifetime. We fully support the recommencement of cruising, as it is a very important pillar of our tourism strategy.” TRAVELLING DEEP INTO GREECE, CYPRUS, AND ISRAEL During her inaugural season, Silversea’s new flagship Silver Moon will take travellers deep into the Eastern Mediterranean, calling in many of the region’s most beautiful destinations. To protect guests’ health and safety, guests will only be allowed to leave the ship on Silversea’s verified shore excursions which will be included in the fare—one included shore experience per day, from a selection in each port—with premium verified shore experiences available at an additional charge. Offering guests the possibility of combining voyages for extended exploration, the new collection includes the following sample itineraries: Piraeus (Athens) to Piraeus (Athens) – June 18-Jun 28 Silver Moon’s maiden voyage will depart Piraeus (Athens) on June 18, calling in some of Greece’s and Cyprus’ most beautiful destinations, including Syros, Paros, Patmos, Rhodes, Limassol, Heraklion, and Mykonos, before returning to Piraeus (Athens) on June 28. In Limassol, the ancient grandeur of Cyprus will come alive as guests discover Petra tou Romiou, or 'Aphrodite's Rock', the breathtaking mosaics of Paphos at the House of Dionysos, and the 3rd-century Tomb of the Kings. A verified shore experience in Rhodes will unlock the destination’s medieval past, with travellers stepping back in time in the walled Old City, the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Avenue of the Knights, and the Archaeological Museum, among other mesmerising highlights. Two days at sea will enable guests to discover the remarkable enrichments aboard Silver Moon, including those unlocked through the new S.A.L.T. programme, which will take guests deeper into each destination by showcasing the most engaging stories around food and drink. Silversea’s President’s Ambassador to the Venetian Society, Fernando Barroso de Oliveira, will accompany guests on this momentous voyage, gladly reconnecting with the Silversea family. Piraeus (Athens) to Piraeus (Athens) – Jun 28-July 8 After departing Piraeus (Athens) on June 28, guests travelling aboard Silver Moon will spend a day at sea, relaxing under the warm Mediterranean sunshine—perhaps with a cocktail on the pool deck. After discovering the delights of Limassol in Cyprus, guests will journey on to Ashdod (Jerusalem) and Haifa (Nazareth) in Israel, before travelling to Rhodes, Aghios Nikolaos and Souda Bay in Crete, and Santorini. Travellers will have the opportunity to visit some of history's most sacred and important sites in Jerusalem, including the Room of the Last Supper, the Tomb of King David, and Dormition Abbey, while touring the Old City. Spectacular scenery and laid-back village life await in Santorini’s Oia, considered by many as the Cyclades Islands’ most picturesque town. SILVER MOON: PUSHING BOUNDARIES IN ULTRA-LUXURY TRAVEL Delivered in October 2020, Silver Moon pushes the boundaries of ultra-luxury, immersive travel as the best ship in her class. Taking inspiration from her sister ship, Silver Muse, Silver Moon will maintain the small-ship intimacy and spacious all-suite accommodations that are hallmarks of the Silversea experience, while bringing elements of innovation and an array of enhancements. With fewer than 300 suites, a personalised service, and a crew-to-guest ratio of almost 1:1, Silver Moon offers unparalleled levels of comfort and physical distancing to ensure guests can travel in unwavering confidence. Among her eight distinct restaurant concepts is the new S.A.L.T. Kitchen, which will serve regionally-inspired cuisine as one of three new venues to comprise Silversea’s new S.A.L.T. programme. Elsewhere, guests will continue their culinary discovery of the Eastern Mediterranean’s richest food and drink cultures in the S.A.L.T. Bar and the S.A.L.T. Lab—the former of which will serve guests cocktails, spirits and other drinks inspired by the visited destination, while the latter is a test kitchen that will enable guests to get hands-on with the best ingredients from the region. FULL VACCINATIONS MANDATORY FOR GUESTS AND CREW Full vaccinations will be mandatory for guests and crew embarking Silver Moon in Greece, forming part of a comprehensive, multi-layered set of science-backed protocols, which, approved by the Royal Caribbean Group’s Healthy Sail Panel and the Greek Ministry of Health, will help to safeguard the health and safety of guests, crew, and visited communities. The protocol includes enhanced sanitation procedures, providing the highest standards of cleanliness in travel; increased air filtration to ensure the supply of fresh and filtered air from outdoors; high-quality onboard medical care with state-of-the-art medical equipment; and enhanced medical teams aboard Silver Moon. Silversea will continue to work closely with relevant governing bodies and health authorities to evolve its health and safety procedures, as new health recommendations are issued and as the fluid situation advances. Part of Silversea’s commitment to providing the best travel experience and safeguarding guests’ wellbeing, guests travelling on Silver Moon will benefit from the cruise line’s recently enhanced all-inclusive offer, which, as well as round-trip economy-class flights* and complimentary, verified shore excursions in every port, includes: Pre- and post-cruise hotel night/s, or day-use hotel, depending on Silversea’s air programme flight schedule Transfers Luggage handling Butler service in every suite category Onboard gratuities Multiple open-seated restaurants, serving diverse cuisine and an in-suite 24-hour dining service Sustainable caviar on demand 24 hours per day Beverages in-suite and throughout the ship, including champagne and selected wines, premium spirits, soft drinks, and more Unlimited Wi-Fi View all voyages in the new collection: https://www.silversea.com/lp-silversea-return-to-sailing.html Find out more information about Silversea’s health and safety protocols: https://www.silversea.com/lp-silversea-hrts-consumer.html Silversea’s ‘Cruise with Confidence’ policy and its COVID-19 protections enable guests to book with full peace of mind. Find out more information: https://www.silversea.com/temporary-amendment-to-cancellation-policy.html Please note: All itineraries are subject to change based on a variety of external factors. Please refer to https://www.silversea.com/health-and-travel-notice.html for the latest health and travel advisories pertaining to cruise travel. *Business-class upgrades are available at full fare, depending on availability. A non-use credit is also available. About Silversea Part of the Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea Cruises is recognised as an innovator in the ultra-luxury cruise industry, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Spirit, Silver Muse and Silver Moon – all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the inclusion of the expedition ships Silver Origin, Silver Explorer, and Silver Cloud, Silversea's itineraries encompass all seven continents and feature worldwide luxury cruises to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Galapagos, both Polar Regions, and hundreds of fascinating destinations in between. Silversea is also looking forward to the launch of three new ultra-luxury ships: Silver Dawn and two Evolution-class ships. Browse Silversea's blog, Discover, and subscribe to receive the latest content directly into your inbox. ______________________________________ SOURCE: Silversea (Press Release, April 15, 2021); Photo Credit: Pixabay Free Images Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to https://www.cruisecrazies.com View full article

NCL is getting ready to set sail this summer and wants to bring you along on their return to cruising. TUNE IN TODAY, April 15, 8:00 pm EST as Norwegian launches their new five-part docuseries focused on ongoing efforts to ensure a healthy, safe and elevated cruise experience. Part I will feature the “Great Cruise Comeback”! We are hosting a special pre-show livestream with our President and CEO, Harry Sommer, and executive leaders and team members at 7:30 PM ET, from our Cruise Terminal at Port Miami. The first episode in our docuseries, EMBARK - The Series, will follow, premiering at 8:00 PM ET. Watch both events on NCL’s Facebook channel (https://www.facebook.com/Norwegiancruiseline) or at https://nclembark.com/.

SEATTLE, April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For travelers who appreciate taking an inclusive vacation with extra amenities factored upfront into the price, Holland America Line is launching a new "Have It All" premium package that includes shore excursions, beverages, specialty dining and Wi-Fi in one base cruise fare. Available year-round on all itineraries six days or longer except Grand Voyages, "Have It All" is valued at $99 per guest, per day, for a seven-day cruise, and "Have it All" cruise fares represent incredible savings of 50% or more off the included amenities compared to purchasing them individually. "Have it All" fares will be available for booking April 21, 2021. "We conducted extensive research with experienced cruisers and travel partners to understand what they find most valuable when purchasing a cruise and the results overwhelmingly pointed toward one simple fare that included our top amenities," said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. "Our past promotions that offered these perks have been extremely popular, so we created a premium package that is available all the time and on nearly all our cruises." More Value and Convenience with "Have It All" In addition to all of the amenities that typically come with a standard cruise fare, "Have It All" also includes four high-value extras in the fare with more amenities as the length of cruise increase. Cruises of 6 to 9 days: One shore excursion up to $100 value or $100 off any one tour for all guests in a stateroom. Choose from among thousands of tours all over the world – from active ziplining adventures to immersive, historical explorations. Signature Beverage Package for all guests in a stateroom. Enjoy a large selection of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, soda, coffee and more. Up to 15 drinks per day allowed, and bar service charges are included. One night award-winning specialty dining for all guests in a stateroom. Pinnacle Grill is the ultimate steakhouse at sea, while Tamarind showcases the traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan with sensuous flavors and dishes. Canaletto is a relaxed venue that serves authentic Italian cuisine. Ships with Tamarind receive one night at Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill. Ships without Tamarind receive one night at Pinnacle Grill or Canaletto. A Wi-Fi package for the first and second guests in a stateroom. Cruises of 10 to 20 days: All of the extras included in the package for six- to nine-day cruises, PLUS an additional $100 shore excursion or tour credit ($200 per guest total). Two nights specialty dining: ships with Tamarind receive one night at Pinnacle Grill and one night at Tamarind. Ships without Tamarind receive one night at Pinnacle Grill and one night at Canaletto. Cruises of 21+ days (excluding Grand Voyages): All of the extras included in the package for 10- to 20-day cruises, PLUS an additional $100 shore excursion or tour credit ($300 per guest total). Three nights specialty dining: Ships with Tamarind receive one night at Pinnacle Grill, one night at Tamarind and one night at Canaletto. Ships without Tamarind receive two nights at Pinnacle Grill and one night at Canaletto. When guests go to book a Holland America Line cruise, the "Have It All" fare is presented as an option with the included perks already factored into the price across all stateroom and suite categories. Guests who prefer to cruise without all of the extras have the option of a standard fare when making a booking. Each guest in a stateroom must book the "Have it All" cruise fare to receive the extras. For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor. — # # # — About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)] Holland America Line has been exploring the world since 1873 and was the first cruise line to offer adventures to Alaska and the Yukon more than 70 years ago. Its fleet of premium ships visits more than 470 ports in 98 countries around the world, offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience. A third Pinnacle-class ship, Rotterdam, is under construction and will join the fleet in July 2021. The leader in premium cruising, Holland America Line's ships feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from Holland America Line's esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous chefs. In light of COVID-19, Holland America Line is currently enhancing health and safety protocols and how they may impact future cruises. Our actual offerings may vary from what is displayed or described in marketing materials. Review our current Cruise Updates, Health & Safety Protocols. ______________________ SOURCE: Holland America (Press Release, April 15, 2021) Photo Credit: Pixabay Free Images Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to https://www.cruisecrazies.com View full article

Hi Michael, and welcome to CruiseCrazies! I'm not sure if you mean this summer or 2022 (no Alaska this summer), but both ships pack a big punch. Quantum class is the newest class of ship and the more technically advanced. It's known for North Star (the arm with the attached pod), Sky Diving simulator, and is very popular with teens and young adults for the activities they love. The Oasis class (Symphony) is the biggest ship at sea, and has a staggering number of bars, restaurants, and entertainment choices. Their claim to fame is the Flow Rider, Aqua Theater, waterslides, and their "neighborhoods". Both ships have more than plenty to do for your family with young kids, but I think the Symphony would be a good fit if you don't mind traveling cross country. Let us know what you decide!

It's here! The news we’ve all been waiting for has arrived! It is with great pleasure to announce that Norwegian Cruise Line will return to service and begin sailing in July! Choose from three 7-day itineraries and ports of embarkation: Athens (Greek Isles), Montego Bay (Western Caribbean) and Punta Cana (Eastern Caribbean). For these return-to-sea sailings, Covid vaccinations are mandatory for all crew and guests, and other health and safety protocols are in place, as well, to ensure that guests have an enjoyable vacation! Even better - the second guest flies FREE! Now open for booking! Contact Jan to reserve your cabin today! In the meantime, tune in to NCL's EMBARK Series Live on Demand FB Series "Great Cruise Comeback", August 15, at 8:00 pm.

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the next phase of technical guidance under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) requiring cruise lines to establish agreements at ports where they intend to operate, implement routine testing of crew, and develop plans incorporating vaccination strategies to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of COVID-19 by crew and passengers. This phase, the second of the CSO issued in October 2020, provides technical instructions on: Increasing from weekly to daily the reporting frequency of COVID-19 cases and illnesses. Implementing routine testing of all crew based on each ship’s color status. Updating the color-coding system used to classify ships’ status with respect to COVID-19. Decreasing the time needed for a “red” ship to become “green” from 28 to 14 days based on the availability of onboard testing, routine screening testing protocols, and daily reporting. Creating planning materials for agreements that port authorities and local health authorities must approve to ensure cruise lines have the necessary infrastructure in place to manage an outbreak of COVID-19 on their ships to include healthcare capacity and housing to isolate infected people and quarantine those who are exposed. Establishing a plan and timeline for vaccination of crew and port personnel. The next phase of the CSO will include simulated (trial) voyages that will allow crew and port personnel to practice new COVID-19 operational procedures with volunteers before sailing with passengers. CDC is committed to working with the cruise industry and seaport partners to resume cruising when it is safe to do so, following the phased approach outlined in the CSO. COVID-19 vaccination efforts will be critical in the safe resumption of passenger operations. As more people are fully vaccinated, the phased approach allows CDC to incorporate these advancements into planning for resumption of cruise ship travel when it is safe to do so. CDC recommends that all eligible port personnel and travelers (passengers and crew) get a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to them. Cruising safely and responsibly during a global pandemic is difficult. While cruising will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, following the phases of the CSO will ensure cruise ship passenger operations are conducted in a way that protects crew members, passengers, and port personnel, particularly with emerging COVID-19 variants of concern. CDC will continue to update its guidance and recommendations to specify basic safety standards and public health interventions based on the best scientific evidence available. For more information about COVID-19 and cruise ships, please visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/cruise-ship/what-cdc-is-doing.html and www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise. ### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESexternal icon CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world. SOURCE: CDC Press Release, April 2, 2021. Photo Credit: Pixabay Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more For more cruise news and articles go to https://www.cruisecrazies.com View full article