Latest news with #PrideofAmerica
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Cruises to a beloved destination are about to get more expensive
Travel Cruises to a beloved destination are about to get more expensive Norwegian's Pride of America sails year-round Hawaii cruises from source: Norwegian Cruise Line In a move to protect its natural beauty, a popular tourist destination has passed new legislation that will hike its lodging tax rate and introduce a new tax on cruise ships. Revenue from the new tourism tax will fund vital climate change mitigation and sustainability projects, but will add significant extra fees for cruise travelers. This bucket-list cruise destination is already expensive to visit, and the additional costs could price some travelers out of cruises through the scenic state. Related: Popular Caribbean port delivers major blow to cruise industry Under the new tax policy, cruises will be subject to the state's transient accommodations tax for the first time, and at a rate of 11%. The bill also increases the current tax on short-term lodging by 0.75%. So while it doesn't represent a huge tax increase for hotel guests, it does impose a significant new fee on cruise passengers. Passed by the state's legislature on May 2, the bill is expected to be signed into law by the governor and take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The cruise industry, however, has already threatened legal action against the state if the tax bill becomes law. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Cruises aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America stand to be most impacted by the new cruise tax. Image source: Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise industry could enter legal battle with Hawaii over new tax Through a new tax on cruises visiting Hawaii, lawmakers seek to treat cruise ships the same as hotel and lodging establishments in the state. However, the cruise industry says cruise ships can't legally be treated like hotels. Attorneys for the cruise industry have already sent a letter to Hawaii's attorney general and lawmakers to let them know to expect a lawsuit if the state's cruise tax proposal becomes law, according to Hawaii News Now. Related: Norwegian Cruise Line faces troubling trend Norwegian Cruise Line General Counsel Daniel Farkas has said that the new cruise tax is "simply unconstitutional," pointing out that maritime law contained in the U.S. Constitution doesn't allow additional taxes to be applied on cruise ships beyond the cost of providing port services. Farkas also cautioned that if the cost of sailing in Hawaii rises, the cruise industry could choose to sail away, swapping Hawaii for other cruise destinations. "It picks up and moves. It's got propellers, it's got rudders, and we can move it wherever we want," he said. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Pride of America cruises to be most impacted by new Hawaii cruise tax As the only U.S.-flagged cruise ship, Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America is the only cruise ship that sails exclusively in Hawaii. The ship sails Hawaii inter-island cruises year-round from Honolulu. Pride of America passengers already pay more than $250 per person in taxes, fees and port expenses during a seven-day Hawaii inter-island cruise, and the new Hawaii cruise tax would increase that considerably. The new tax plan would add an 11% tax on cruise fares prorated by the percentage of days docked at any port in the state, in comparison to the total number of days of the voyage. Related: Norwegian Cruise Line quietly stops sailing in one popular region For Pride of America cruises, which sail exclusively around the Hawaiian islands, that basically means an 11% tax on the entire base cruise fare for the voyage. Hawaii cruises on other ships, which typically depart from California, Seattle or Vancouver, would only be taxed on the days docked in a Hawaiian port. The bill states that the tax will be charged as a percentage of the base cruise fare, and would not apply to optional add-on charges like shore excursions and specialty dining. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 8:12 AM.
Trade Arabia
05-05-2025
- Trade Arabia
NCL's Norwegian Epic, Pride of America to undergo revitalisation
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that Norwegian Epic and NCL's Pride of America will both undergo revitalisation projects just in time for the 2025 summer travel season. Designed to give guests MORE to do and MORE to enjoy with the freedom and flexibility to design their very best vacation, the new enhancements range from the addition of a reimagined water park for children, the expansion of the adults-only Vibe Beach Club, additional accommodations and more, NCL said. 'Delivering the best vacation experience for our guests, where they have the freedom and flexibility to do more of what they love is and will always continue to be our goal,' said David J Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. 'By listening to guests' feedback, we are excited to provide them with MORE to do on board starting this summer as Norwegian Epic sets sail for Europe and Pride of America continues to offer the world's only seven-day interisland Hawaii voyages departing from Honolulu 52 weeks out of the year!' NEWLY RENOVATED NORWEGIAN EPIC Following the completion of Norwegian Epic's three-week dry dock on May 8, 2025, the top deck will get some noticeable enhancements with more outdoor experiences. Renovations include a brand-new hot tub on deck 18 and a refreshed Kids' Aqua Park that replaces Splashgolf and provides more fun-in-the-sun activities for adults and children alike. Guests will also enjoy MORE to do with the expansion of Vibe Beach Club. The adults-only outdoor oasis replaces Posh Beach Club and will offer an additional hot tub, as well as more lounge chairs and new private cabanas to soak up the sun while enjoying spectacular views of the Greek Isles and Mediterranean. The dry dock plans also include the addition of eight new staterooms - a combination of balconies and oceanviews. Beginning May 8, 2025, Norwegian Epic will sail a variety of nine, 10 and 11-day cruises from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy to picturesque ports of call in the Mediterranean and Greek Isles including Santorini and Mykonos, Greece; Valletta, Malta; as well as historic cities such as Naples, Catania, and Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy. Following her season of immersive European voyages, Norwegian Epic will return to San Juan, Puerto Rico and offer round-trip seven-day Southern Caribbean cruises to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. John's, Antigua; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. NCL'S PRIDE OF AMERICA From May 3 to 31, 2025, Pride of America will receive notable upgrades including the addition of a new Starbucks location within The Capitol Atrium on deck 5. As NCL aims to provide guests MORE to do on board, guests who crave a game of friendly competition will soon be able to enjoy pickleball within the existing sports court. This summer, guests will have MORE to choose from when it comes to accommodations. Pride of America will feature 12 new club balcony suites and three inside staterooms on deck 12. Splash Academy, NCL's youth club for children ages three to 12 and Entourage, the teen club, will be relocated to deck 6 which was previously held by the S/S America Library, Internet Café, and Chapel; and the addition of a Library and Card room, which was once the Shuffles Card Room. Upon completion of Pride of America's nearly three-week dry dock, she will return to Honolulu on May 31, 2025, to offer guests the award-winning, and world's only, seven-day, inter-island cruise. With departures 52 weeks out of the year, the bucket-list itinerary provides guests nearly 100 hours of port time to truly explore the natural beauty of four majestic islands in a week's span and includes overnights in Maui and Kauai for more immersive experiences on land. - TradeArabia News Service
Telegraph
27-03-2025
- Telegraph
The 10 greatest North American cruises to book now
Cruising in North America is commonly associated with Alaska and the eastern seaboard ports of New York, Boston and Halifax in Atlantic Canada. Look at a map, however, and you'll see that the choice of the scenery, waterways and type of ship to take you there is much more diverse. There are the volcanic islands of Hawaii, lapped by the teal waters of the Pacific, rivers whose scenic calling points showcase culture, music, wine and settler heritage, cities that combine culture with scenic sailing and five gargantuan lakes. The five Great Lakes collectively form the planet's largest body of fresh water. Rich in birdlife, the lakes skirt seven US states and the province of Ontario in Canada. Here, too, is the lock-straddled St Lawrence Seaway and the St Lawrence River, which connects the regions of Upper and Lower Canada. On the west coast, you'll find the cities of Seattle and Vancouver, both gateways to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, and San Francisco, where you can get on the Redwood Trail and go dolphin watching. Whichever of these wildly different itineraries you choose, don't leave it too long to book – some cruises are already sold out for 2025. Alaska APT's new Rockies and Alaska land and cruise holiday takes guests from Victoria in British Columbia to Fairbanks (Alaska) over 25 days and includes a seven-night Inside Passage cruise with Holland America Line and a journey on the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Jasper. The rail route takes in some of the Rockies' tallest peaks and travels alongside the Coast Mountains, Fraser Canyon, Albreda Glacier and Pyramid Falls. How to do it From £13,095pp with departures from May to August 2025, including GoldLeaf service on the Rocky Mountaineer, accommodation at McKinley Chalet Resort and Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, a week's cruise, transfers and tips with APT (0800 012 6683). Disney Cruise Line Sails to Alaska Inspire the kids with glaciers, look out for porpoises and try gold panning and maybe zip lining on a Disney Wonder Alaskan cruise. Itineraries range from five to nine nights and some visit Icy Strait Point, for whale watching, or a ride on the world's largest zip line. Expect character breakfasts, children's clubs, fireworks and first-run movies on board. How to do it A seven-night Alaska from Vancouver cruise on board Disney Wonder costs from £5,128 for a family of four sharing a cabin. Departs roundtrip from Vancouver departing August 25, 2025 with Iglu Cruise (020 3514 3637). Excludes flights. Hawaii Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America is the only ship to sail year-round from Honolulu, with stops at four different islands and overnights in port at the islands of Kauai and Maui. The ship has adult and children's swimming pools, a jogging track and volleyball courts and the spacious Mandara Spa. Lei making and cultural workshops on board are led by a Hawaiian ambassador. How to do it A 10-night cruise-and-stay holiday to Hawaii, including a four-night hotel stay in Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, a tour of Pearl Harbour and seven nights on NCL's Pride of America, visiting Oahu, Maui, Island of Hawaii and Kauai, costs from £4,795pp, departing September through November and including flights from London, Manchester or Glasgow with Bon Voyage (023 80 24 8248). Transatlantic Cross the Atlantic in style on a Cunard liner, watch abridged plays performed by actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company, pamper yourself at the Mareel Spa, perhaps try a new activity (fencing or yoga?) and then explore port towns and cities in New England. The 21-day trip includes overnights in New York and Boston and full days in Newport and Halifax. How to do it A Transatlantic Crossing, New England And Canada cruise costs from £3,639pp roundtrip from Southampton and departing on June 24, 2025 with Cunard (0344 338 8641). Great Lakes Explore the Great Lakes and more, during an extended cruise from Chicago to Halifax on the 230-passenger expedition ship, Hanseatic Inspiration. Highlights include Parry Sound, located within the Georgian Bay Unesco Biosphere Reserve, Forillon National Park (home to moose and bears), the French Canadian city of Montreal and car-free Mackinac Island, on the straits between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. How to do it A 17-night Great Lakes And St Lawrence River - Unlocking The American Dream cruise costs from £10,960pp departing on October 8, 2025 with Mundy Adventures (020 7399 7630). Excludes flights. US West Coast Sip and taste your way around vineyards in Sonoma County while soaking up the spring sunshine on a week-long cruise from San Diego to Victoria, in British Columbia. There's an excellent line-up of excursions from the ship, including dolphin watching of the Catalina coast, a visit to the redwood trail at Muir Woods near San Francisco and a scenic cycle along the historic waterfront in Astoria, in the state of Oregon. How to do it A seven-day Wine Country and Pacific Northwest Cruise costs from £734pp departing on April 4, 2026 with Holland America (0344 338 8607). Excludes flights. Canadian Maritimes This interesting itinerary on the National Geographic Explorer lingers in Canada's Maritime Provinces, with ample opportunity to spot cetaceans and wildlife. A cruise along the St Lawrence seaway to the fortified French Canadian jewel, Quebec City, is one of many highlights. There are visits to the ruggedly beautiful Côte-Nord region, the dunes, beaches and sandstone cliffs of the Îles de la Madeleine and the Saguenay River, where seals and porpoises and minke, blue and fin whales can be seen at different times of the year. How to do it An 11-day Sailing the St Lawrence Seaway and Canadian Maritimes cruise, roundtrip from St John's in Newfoundland, costs from £10,232pp departing on September 2, 2026 with National Geographic Expeditions (0800 098 1496). Excludes flights to Canada Mississippi river This year marks the 190th anniversary of the birth of Mark Twain, the writer and steamboat pilot who brought the 2,340-mile long Ol' Muddy to life in his Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn novels. Viking's itinerary dips into America's French, Acadian and Cajun heritage and there are visits to music-infused Memphis and New Orleans at the beginning and end of the cruise. On board, guests enjoy views of the Lower Mississippi's lush wetlands, fertile farmlands and birdlife, from a luxurious balcony suite. How to do it A seven-night Mississippi Delta Explorer cruise from New Orleans to Memphis costs from £3,995pp including flights, beer, wine and soft drinks with on-board meals. Departs February 7, 2026 with Viking (0800 319 66 60). Great United States If you've got no time constraints and want to properly explore, this cruise and land holiday with American Cruise Lines visiting 15 states is hard to beat. It kicks off in Portland with a cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers and then heads south to the Mississippi, before switching to a small ocean ship for a cruise around the harbours of New England. In between there are visits to towns, cities and national parks including Yellowstone and Grand Teton and the cruise culminates in Boston. How to do it A 52-day Great United States Cruise costs from £39,500pp, including daily excursions, tips, Wi-Fi, domestic flights and hotels in between cruise segments, departing on May 29, 2025 (and May 29, 2026) with American Cruise Lines (001800 460 4518). Excludes international flights. The Gulf Coast Most cruise lines sail from Florida's cruise hubs to the Caribbean or the Bahamas, rather than exploring the state. This itinerary on the 130-passenger American Maverick features a visit to the mangrove forests at Marco Island, a tour of Hemingway's former home in Key West, and a day at the waterfront town of Punta Gorda. Founded in 1884, the town is located at the junction of the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor and is known for its well-preserved Victorian homes. As you cruise around the turquoise waters of the Sunshine State keep an eye out for manatees, dolphins and sea turtles. How to do it A nine-night Florida Gulf Coast and Keys Cruise costs from £7,199pp, including flights, transfers and a pre-cruise hotel night, departing on January 9, 2026 with Fred Holidays (0800 988 3369)
USA Today
28-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Trump cabinet member floats higher cruise taxes. Travelers shouldn't worry (yet).
AI-assisted summary Most major cruise lines register their ships in foreign countries to benefit from more lenient tax and labor laws. Cruise lines currently pay taxes and fees in the U.S., but not federal income tax in the same way other companies do. Cruise lines will pay more in taxes under President Donald Trump, according to new Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Lutnick, a billionaire finance mogul who was confirmed by the Senate last week, used the cruise industry's tax model as an example of "waste, fraud and abuse" during an appearance on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime." 'You ever see a cruise ship with an American flag on the back?' he asked Watters. 'They have flags of, like, Liberia or Panama. None of 'em pay taxes … This is gonna end under Donald Trump, and those taxes are gonna be paid.' However, those comments are unlikely to have any impact on travelers right away. Here's what to know. Why do cruise ships fly foreign flags? Major cruise lines' ships are typically registered – or "flagged" – in foreign countries. That practice is known as a "flag of convenience." Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. They are often flagged in countries like the Bahamas, Liberia and Panama. While the companies have their headquarters in Miami, Florida, 'they are still able to fly these flags of convenience, and be considered foreign companies, which gives them tremendous advantages over U.S. companies,' Michael Winkleman, a maritime attorney with Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., said in an email. Those countries have more lax tax and labor laws, he said. U.S. law also requires vessels flagged in the country to be constructed stateside, The Points Guy reported, but American shipyards can't deliver those kinds of large ships consistently. Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America is currently the only vessel of a major cruise line flying the U.S. flag. While the construction of the ship began in the U.S. under Project America, the project eventually failed, and NCL purchased the unfinished ship and had it completed in Europe. The vast majority of cruise ships are built overseas, with 98% constructed in Europe per Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's leading trade organization. Work and see the world:What to know about getting a job on a cruise ship Do cruise lines pay taxes? Yes. CLIA said cruise lines pay at least $2.5 billion in U.S. taxes and fees. That represents 65% of all taxes they pay globally. "Foreign flagged ships that visit the U.S. are treated the same for taxation purposes as U.S. flagged ships visiting foreign ports, which provides consistent reciprocal treatment across international shipping," the organization said in an emailed statement. "This reciprocity has been enshrined in U.S. tax law with bipartisan support since 1921, which is consistent with the Administration's 'Fair and Reciprocal Plan' for trade that prioritizes reciprocity to achieve a level playing field." However, most cruise lines don't pay federal income tax the way other companies do, Patrick Scholes, a lodging and leisure analyst with Truist Securities, told USA TODAY in an email. Foreign-incorporated cruise companies are exempt from those costs on most of their stateside activity, Travel Weekly reported. Congressional lawmakers have attempted to raise taxes for cruise companies in the past, but such proposals have "never really gained any material traction," Scholes separately said in a report following Lutnick's interview. Lutnick did not share specifics on what form an additional tax on cruises could take. The Department of Commerce did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. Will prices for cruises go up? Scholes said that, in his view, consumers won't see any 'immediate' impact. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. president and CEO Harry Sommer said during a Thursday earnings call that the implications remained unclear. The company was the first major U.S. cruise operator to report earnings since Lutnick's comments. "Considering how many moving pieces there are and the complexity of our business, and the complexity – or the variety, if you will – of our deployment and the relatively short amount of time our ships are in U.S. waters, it's really hard for us to speculate on what this would mean to us, so I won't," he said. However, Scholes told USA TODAY, 'Should a tax be imposed, the cruise companies might pass on some or all of this cost to their customers, though this would likely negatively impact demand/sales.' Cruise lines could also sail more ships from international ports to avoid transiting into or out of the U.S., he added in the report. This story was updated to add new information. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
