Latest news with #CruiseNewsToday.Transcript
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Royal Caribbean, Carnival add ship enhancements cruisers will love
Royal Caribbean, Carnival add ship enhancements cruisers will love originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Although cruise lines put a lot of careful thought and attention into ship design, they don't always get everything right. Sometimes, cruise ship features miss the mark, or designers fail to recognize something that was important to passengers. Occasionally, they even overlook something that passengers say has a negative impact on the cruise preferences and needs change over time, too, so certain features eventually become outdated as new innovations are developed that enhance the cruise experience. Luckily, the fact that there's limited space on a cruise ship doesn't mean onboard areas like the pool deck, restaurants, bars, and casinos, can't be redesigned at some point. Even spaces that can't be fully reworked, like staterooms, can be refreshed to add some enhancements. When cruise ships go to dry dock for routine maintenance every few years, they often receive significant refurbishment throughout to overhaul existing venues and make improvements that will elevate passengers' future sailings on the ship. Sometimes when a need arises, cruise lines will even make upgrades to a ship without taking it out of service for dry dock. That's something Royal Caribbean is currently doing to fix a big casino problem on some of its newer and most-popular ships. Doug Parker shared more on the upgrades rolling out on board certain Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise ships, plus details on the largest ultra-luxury cruise ship suite yet, on the June 12th edition of Cruise News This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning. Here's your cruise news for Thursday, June 12th. Carnival Valor is back in service after completing a month-long dry dock over in Spain. The 21-year-old ship received major upgrades including the addition of the Heroes Tribute Bar and WaterWorks Aqua Park. Public spaces were also refreshed, staterooms upgraded with USB outlets, and the casino and spa were also expanded. Valor resumed service yesterday in Barcelona and is now sailing a 15-night repositioning cruise to New a $25,000-per-night cruise. Yeah, Regent Seven Seas has unveiled its most extravagant suite yet, the Skyview Regent Suite aboard the upcoming Seven Seas Prestige. Spanning nearly 9,000 square feet over two levels, the suite will set you back $25,000 per night and includes a private gym, sauna, bar, elevator, and a car and driver in every port. Bookings — they open next week if you're Royal Caribbean is expanding the casino aboard Wonder of the Seas, converting the Crown Lounge on Deck 4 into a larger, non-smoking gaming area. The Crown Lounge will be relocated to Deck 16 and reopen later this month. The expanded, redesigned casino will reopen in mid-July. Wonder of the Seas is currently sailing Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral and will reposition to Miami in cruise stocks were down on Wednesday. Carnival Corporation: down 2.6 percent, 23.87. Royal Caribbean: down 1 percent, 267.96. Norwegian: down 3.3 percent, 19.08. And Viking: down 3 percent, 47.36. If you have a lead on a story, let us know. Tips@ This week's Cruise Radio Podcast: a review of a Norwegian cruise ship — can't remember which one. Here in Victoria, British Columbia, waiting to debark for the evening, I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Thursday. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carnival Cruise Line bans more passengers after another brawl
Carnival Cruise Line bans more passengers after another brawl originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. As Carnival Cruise Line doubles down on its commitment to safety and security for the busy summer cruise season, its security teams are showing passengers just how seriously the cruise line takes its 'zero tolerance' policy for disruptive onboard behavior. Carnival is now placing a letter inside every stateroom at the start of every cruise that reinforces its 'Have Fun, Be Safe' guidelines from the cruise line's code of conduct. Essentially, the letter warns passengers to behave or get banned.'Any guest who violates these policies or whose conduct affects the comfort, enjoyment, safety or well-being of other guests and crew will be fined, disembarked at their own expense, and banned from sailing on Carnival in the future,' the letter emphasizes. It didn't take long for one Carnival cruise ship's security team to have to prove how serious they were about that warning. A brawl broke out on the Lido deck during a Bahamas cruise, continuing a trend in violent altercations among cruise passengers. Doug Parker shared details on the latest onboard fight, and other cruise news including how the quick actions of a Royal Caribbean crew member saved passengers from injury, on the June 10th edition of Cruise News This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Tuesday, June 10th. A brawl broke out aboard Carnival Sunrise over the weekend as the ship sailed from Half Moon Key in The Bahamas. Yeah, video shows multiple passengers throwing chairs and fists on the Lido near the pizzeria in the back of the ship. Now Carnival — their security team — quickly intervened to de-escalate the situation following its strict zero tolerance policy. Carnival confirmed that the passengers involved are now permanently banned from sailing with the cruise line. Recently, Carnival placed letters in the staterooms fleetwide outlining its 'Have Fun, Be Safe' rules and by a crew member; yeah, a large tempered glass window in the Coastal Kitchen on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas suddenly busted, sending thousands of small shards of glass onto the pool deck. Now, no passengers were injured and this is thanks to a sharp-eyed waiter, Nitin Kumar, [who] sprinted to warn guests below just seconds before the glass shattered and preventing serious harm. Crew members cordoned off the area, drained the pool, cleaned up the debris, and replaced the panel before the ship continued from Port Canaveral to The Bahamas. Now, a guest on board told Cruise News Today that the incident occurred as the ship was maneuvering at Port Canaveral. The guest was also told that the glass likely busted due to pressure and vibration. Glad everyone was Carnival is testing a new Express Dining option aboard the Carnival Vista, designed for passengers on the 'Your Time' Dining plan who prefer a faster-paced meal. The streamlined service is located in a designated section of the Horizon dining room and promises a three-course meal in under 45 minutes compared to the usual 90 Ambassador John Heald emphasized this is only a controlled test saying, quote: 'This is only a test, a test with a capital T.' The option is currently limited to guests sailing on Carnival Vista using 'Your Time' Dining. And cruise stocks had a little movement on Monday. Carnival Corporation: 24.21, Royal Caribbean: 273.99, Norwegian: 19.59, and Viking: 48.88. If you have a lead on a story, let us know: tips@ Aboard Carnival Luminosa sailing in Tracy Arm Fjord up to Sawyer Glacier, or trying to, at least — it's pretty icy. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Tuesday. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Royal Caribbean drops another popular port from multiple cruises
Royal Caribbean drops another popular port from multiple cruises originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Ports of call can get removed from cruise itineraries for a number of reasons — from severe weather conditions to port scheduling conflicts or a change in a cruise line's operational plans. When an itinerary change must be made, cruise lines will typically swap the canceled port for another one, if possible. But even when a port gets replaced on a cruise itinerary, passengers are often disappointed to miss the chance to visit one of their planned Caribbean passengers booked on certain cruises to Alaska next summer just received that kind of inconvenient news about their sailings. Although the cruise line is replacing the dropped port with appealing alternatives, and giving passengers plenty of notice, the destination is a staple on Alaska cruise itineraries. With lots of activities and excursions available in this port, it's a sought-after destination for many travelers exploring the Last Frontier. With the itinerary changes following shortly after city officials hiked next year's docking fees for the port, concerns are growing about the future of Royal Caribbean cruises to the popular Alaska cruise destination. Doug Parker shared details on Royal Caribbean's growing rift with Alaska's most-visited cruise port, and other cruise news including how Royal Caribbean honored a crew member for his heroic actions, on the June 11th edition of Cruise News This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Wednesday, June 11. The Royal Caribbean waiter who helped guests move out of the way of fallen glass is now being recognized. As reported yesterday, Nitin Kumar noticed cracks forming in a large window above a lounging area and quickly warned passengers nearby, giving them just seconds to move before the glass shattered. In recognition for his actions, Kumar received Royal Caribbean's Royal Way Hero Award, signed by Captain Hempstead. The award said in part, 'Your courageous actions have made significant impact in the lives of our guests and crew, showcasing a commitment to excellence and integrity.' Guests have praised Kumar's calm response, calling him a true hero at tensions between Royal Caribbean and the city of Juneau have escalated, leading to the cancellation of several port stops in Alaska's capital. Royal Caribbean recently dropped Juneau from a couple of upcoming cruises on Ovation of the Seas, impacting nearly 10,000 guests. Now, though the cruise line cited port availability changes, the move does come just weeks after Juneau raised its docking fees, a long-planned change opposed by the cruise is also trying to squash Royal Caribbean's new cruise terminal planned on Douglas Island. The ship will now call to alternates like Icy Strait Point, Sitka, and Ketchikan. It's unclear if more cancellations will follow this Carnival Corporation says it has cut food waste by 44% in the past five years. The savings comes from its less leftover strategy, which includes smarter meal planning, crew training, using AI, and serving 'just right' portions. Carnival says it has avoided over $250 million in food costs since 2019. The company also repurposes waste creatively, like turning coffee grounds into vegan soap and cooking oil into biofuel for Alaskan tour buses. Now if they can just figure out how to turn onboard brawls into renewable cruise stocks were up slightly on Tuesday. Carnival Corporation: up 1.25%, 24.51. Royal Caribbean: up 1.5%, 269.70. Norwegian: flat, 19.74 and Viking: also flat, 48.75. If you have a lead on a story, let us know: tips@ Sailing in windy and chilly Alaska, heading south now towards Victoria, British Columbia, I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Wednesday. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Princess Cruises' ship tilts in rough seas; crew member overboard
Princess Cruises' ship tilts in rough seas; crew member overboard originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. Much like an airplane hitting unexpected turbulence, a cruise ship occasionally sails into rough seas. Although choppy waters don't typically have a big impact on large cruise ships, in rare cases, sudden wind gusts can send rogue waves into the path of a ship captains are very capable of handling severe weather and typically can steer their ships away from it, but sometimes, an unexpected weather incident just can't be avoided. For example, during a transatlantic cruise in November, a huge wind gust took Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas by surprise off the coast of Spain, which caused the ship to tilt severely. The scary situation caused some damage and minor injuries onboard the vessel, but the captain's quick action prevented the incident from becoming much worse. Now in June, a Princess Cruises sailing in another part of the world just encountered a similar sudden wind shift that was significant enough to cause the ship to list. Much like the captain of Explorer of the Seas, Crown Princess' captain swiftly pivoted to keep passengers safe. Doug Parker shared details on the tilt of the Crown Princess and other cruise news, including a cruise ship crew member who was rescued after going overboard in Crete, on the June 9th edition of Cruise News This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Monday, June 9th. A crew member from a cruise ship docked in Crete was rescued after going overboard. Yeah, it happened last week while the ship was docked and passengers were ashore. Fellow crew members threw her a life jacket and called the Coast Guard, who responded quickly. The 30-year-old Tunisian woman, a crew assistant, was pulled from the water, conscious and in good health. The vessel involved hasn't been officially named, but tracking data from points to the Costa Deliziosa as the only ship in port for that Princess Cruises' Crown Princess hit rough seas off southern Australia, forcing a temporary shift in course during its 113-day world cruise. Now, winds up to 50 miles an hour came across the side of the ship, causing it to list or tilt about seven degrees. Captain Christopher Lye assured guests that the situation was under control and rerouted the ship briefly before resuming course to Adelaide. The list damaged onboard shops and led to cancellation of shows and activities, but no injuries were reported. Last November, a Royal Caribbean ship faced the same type of list during high winds over a transatlantic Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating 35 years of service, sailing from Port Canaveral with a ceremony held aboard Mardi Gras. Carnival launched operations there in 1990 and now homeports more ships at that port than any other cruise line, carrying over 1.2 million guests annually. The celebration included Carnival executives, local leaders, and the Coast Guard. Carnival also donated a hybrid pickup truck to Keep Brevard Beautiful, marking World Ocean Day. Looking ahead, the new Carnival Festivale will debut from the port in 2027, and it'll feature the line's largest water cruise stocks were up on Friday. Carnival Corporation: up 1%, 24.28. Royal Caribbean: up 1.8%, 276.34. Norwegian: up 1%, 19.56. And Viking: up 1.8%, 48.79. If you have a lead on a story, let us know. Tips@ Here aboard Carnival Luminosa here in Skagway, Alaska, where it's 38 degrees Fahrenheit but below freezing with a wind chill. Chilly, chilly, chilly. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Monday. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
New travel alert issued for Carnival, Royal Caribbean cruise port
New travel alert issued for Carnival, Royal Caribbean cruise port originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. One of the things many people (me included) love most about cruising is the opportunity to visit multiple destinations in one trip without worrying about all the logistics of getting from place to place. I love waking up to a different destination to explore each day, so for me, port-intensive cruise itineraries are particularly just because cruising makes it easy to sail to several different destinations doesn't mean you should sail blind. Researching your cruise ports ahead of time and being aware of any safety risks and precautions you should take is essential to help ensure smooth sailing throughout your cruise vacation. Yes, cruise lines will only take you to cruise ports that are generally deemed to be safe, but that doesn't mean safety threats don't exist. That's what the U.S. State Department aims to help U.S. travelers understand as it issues travel advisories and alerts for destinations around the world. Even if the State Department doesn't advise against traveling to a place, they often still warn of crime and other significant safety risks. Doug Parker shared details on a new safety threat that the State Department is warning travelers about in a popular Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise port, and other cruise news, on the June 5th edition of Cruise News This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Thursday, June 5th. Cruise passengers heading ashore in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, stay alert. That's the message from the U.S. Embassy warning travelers about kidnappings linked to dating apps in the area. Visitors have been lured into private meetups, then held for ransom. The U.S. State Department has Jalisco, where Puerto Vallarta is located, under a Level 3 advisory saying reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. To stay safe in port, just lay off the dating a new report from Cruise Industry News says Norwegian Cruise Line added nearly 50 cabins across its fleet during dry docks in early 2025. The Norwegian Bliss led the way with 26 new staterooms, including balcony and premium suites. Pride of America was up next, following with 15 cabins after relocating the youth area. The Norwegian Epic picked up eight cabins ahead of its European season. And the Norwegian Breakaway also entered dry dock, but didn't add any new rooms. These upgrades follow similar additions to Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore last cruise arrivals are down sharply in Grand Cayman. Yeah, the island saw a 27% drop in April compared to last year, the lowest for the month since 2000. This is excluding the pandemic. Cruise lines are increasingly leaving the island off their itineraries, citing its reliance on tendering and lack of a cruise pier, making it less attractive for newer, larger ships. Plans to build a dock were rejected by voters over environmental cruise stocks were mixed on Wednesday. Carnival Corporation: down 0.5%, 23.80. Royal Caribbean: down slightly, 265.58. Norwegian: up 1%, 18.39. And Viking: up 1.5%, 47.14. If you have a lead on a story, let us know: tips@ This week's Cruise Radio Podcast, a review of MSC World America, where you listen to your favorite podcasts. Here in Seattle at Ray's Boathouse, I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
