Latest news with #UtopiaoftheSeas
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
We took my 90-year-old grandparents on a cruise. I learned 6 important lessons for traveling with older relatives.
I took a four-night cruise with my 90-year-old grandparents and learned some valuable lessons. Cruising with grandparents on such a massive ship meant slowing down and prioritizing their needs. Finding quiet spaces and utilizing accessibility services improved our trip. Earlier this year, I cruised aboard Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas with my 90-year-old grandparents, parents, and extended family. Our four-night cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida was planned months in advance — long before my grandpa's unexpected health decline last fall. We were thrilled when his oncologist gave him the green light to sail on our cruise, which is likely to be one of our last family vacations together. Although I had traveled with my grandparents many times before, I hadn't cruised with them recently. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I learned valuable lessons about traveling with elderly family members. undefined Find quieter spaces away from crowds. We prioritized quality time together during this cruise, so we always had breakfast and dinner as a family. Cruise-ship buffets are notoriously busy, especially during peak hours, so it was often difficult to find a table large enough to accommodate our travel group. Instead, we usually had sit-down meals together. The Park Café in Central Park became our go-to spot, as it was quiet and easy for my grandparents to access. We also spent many afternoons in the adults-only Solarium — a peaceful spot on the top deck with floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning ocean views. Conveniently located next to the elevators, this was the perfect space for our family to relax together while still being comfortable for my grandparents. Take advantage of accessibility-friendly services. Royal Caribbean offers services to help those with mobility concerns, and the ones we used made all the difference during our vacation. First, we utilized accessibility assistance for my grandma during embarkation. As our family was hauling our own luggage onboard, we were relieved to have a crew member push my grandma in a wheelchair up the long, inclined gangway. In addition, Royal Caribbean offers complimentary room service for continental breakfast. My grandpa starts every day with a hot cup of coffee, but he wasn't always wanting to leave his stateroom first thing in the morning. So, we used this service to have a carafe of coffee delivered to his stateroom each day. He loved it, and we liked that it saved his energy and minimized unnecessary walking. Choose a balcony cabin. Utopia of the Seas has many different cabins to book, ranging from low-cost inside staterooms to luxurious suites. Although my husband and I decided to save money by booking an interior cabin, my grandparents and parents got balcony rooms next to each other. This was one of the best decisions we made for my grandparents, who didn't always have the energy to venture far from their cabin. Their private balcony served as a comfortable space for them to enjoy ocean views and fresh air without feeling like they were missing out. Don't be pushy. Cruise ships are jam-packed with activities, restaurants, entertainment, and endless ways to stay busy. However, I quickly learned not to push my grandparents to partake in too many of them. For instance, my grandma normally enjoys cruise-ship entertainment, but she said she was too tired after dinner to stay awake for the nightly shows. Instead of pushing her to join us, we listened. Throughout the cruise, we tried to respect their limits, whether that meant calling it an early night or taking an afternoon break. Although slowing down wasn't always easy, it helped keep the trip enjoyable for everyone. Splurge on special experiences. This was a very special cruise considering my grandpa's health scare, and we wanted to celebrate our precious time together. So, we splurged on specialty dining for two evenings. On each of those nights, we visited an onboard restaurant that was quieter and less crowded than the main dining room. The food was better, too. My grandparents said these dinners were the highlight of the cruise. During one of them, my grandpa even gave a tear-jerking toast to the family that I'll always remember. Even with a few minor hiccups, our cruise together was very special and memorable. If our family learned anything over the last year, it's the importance of savoring time with our loved ones. We definitely traveled at a slower pace and had to navigate new layers of logistics throughout the cruise, but the trip was worth it. A cruise with older relatives may not always be action-packed, but the memories we made were priceless. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business Insider
We took my 90-year-old grandparents on a cruise. I learned 6 important lessons for traveling with older relatives.
Book a smaller ship if mobility is a concern. As one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Utopia of the Seas presented mobility challenges for my grandparents. My grandma relies on a walker and my grandpa is still building back his strength. Navigating long hallways, crowded decks, and multi-story venues wasn't always easy for them. As a group, we were limited on where we could go and what activities we could comfortably enjoy together. Because of this, we spent a lot of time in the ship's Central Park neighborhood, which was just steps from my grandparents' cabin. In hindsight, a smaller ship would've been easier for my grandparents to navigate. Find quieter spaces away from crowds. We prioritized quality time together during this cruise, so we always had breakfast and dinner as a family. Cruise-ship buffets are notoriously busy, especially during peak hours, so it was often difficult to find a table large enough to accommodate our travel group. Instead, we usually had sit-down meals together. The Park Café in Central Park became our go-to spot, as it was quiet and easy for my grandparents to access. We also spent many afternoons in the adults-only Solarium — a peaceful spot on the top deck with floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning ocean views. Conveniently located next to the elevators, this was the perfect space for our family to relax together while still being comfortable for my grandparents. Take advantage of accessibility-friendly services. Royal Caribbean offers services to help those with mobility concerns, and the ones we used made all the difference during our vacation. First, we utilized accessibility assistance for my grandma during embarkation. As our family was hauling our own luggage onboard, we were relieved to have a crew member push my grandma in a wheelchair up the long, inclined gangway. In addition, Royal Caribbean offers complimentary room service for continental breakfast. My grandpa starts every day with a hot cup of coffee, but he wasn't always wanting to leave his stateroom first thing in the morning. So, we used this service to have a carafe of coffee delivered to his stateroom each day. He loved it, and we liked that it saved his energy and minimized unnecessary walking. Choose a balcony cabin. Utopia of the Seas has many different cabins to book, ranging from low-cost inside staterooms to luxurious suites. Although my husband and I decided to save money by booking an interior cabin, my grandparents and parents got balcony rooms next to each other. This was one of the best decisions we made for my grandparents, who didn't always have the energy to venture far from their cabin. Don't be pushy. Cruise ships are jam-packed with activities, restaurants, entertainment, and endless ways to stay busy. However, I quickly learned not to push my grandparents to partake in too many of them. For instance, my grandma normally enjoys cruise-ship entertainment, but she said she was too tired after dinner to stay awake for the nightly shows. Instead of pushing her to join us, we listened. Throughout the cruise, we tried to respect their limits, whether that meant calling it an early night or taking an afternoon break. Splurge on special experiences. This was a very special cruise considering my grandpa's health scare, and we wanted to celebrate our precious time together. So, we splurged on specialty dining for two evenings. On each of those nights, we visited an onboard restaurant that was quieter and less crowded than the main dining room. The food was better, too. My grandparents said these dinners were the highlight of the cruise. During one of them, my grandpa even gave a tear-jerking toast to the family that I'll always remember. Even with a few minor hiccups, our cruise together was very special and memorable. If our family learned anything over the last year, it's the importance of savoring time with our loved ones. We definitely traveled at a slower pace and had to navigate new layers of logistics throughout the cruise, but the trip was worth it.
Business Insider
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Why cruises want to take you to a private island instead of showing you the world
Cruise lines are increasingly focusing their itineraries on their own private islands and resorts. By 2027, 90% of Royal Caribbean's Caribbean cruises will sail to one of its in-house properties. Almost every major cruise line is expanding its land-based portfolio. Cruises have always been a vessel for exploration — a way for travelers to see the world. But over the last few years, these floating resorts have increasingly narrowed their focus to just one type of destination: theme parks in the middle of the ocean. Cruise ships touch virtually every corner of the earth, from Antarctica to Albania, Madagascar to the Mediterranean. They're often the most convenient and affordable way to see several countries in one trip, which is why bookings have remained buoyant despite uncertain economic tides foundering the rest of the travel industry. However, these exploratory roots are quickly becoming overshadowed by more lucrative, purpose-built beach resorts that not all travel traditionalists may be happy about. Cruise lines want you at their private resorts In recent years, commercial cruise lines have increasingly shifted attention, investments, and itineraries toward in-house land-based buildouts. Think branded private islands with waterparks and resorts with the same up-charges as their ships. Industry titans like MSC Cruises, Carnival Corp, and Royal Caribbean Group collectively operate about 20 Caribbean ports, a number that seems to grow every day. Royal Caribbean expects to launch four more destinations (in addition to the two it currently has) by early 2027: two in Mexico, one in the Bahamas, and one in the South Pacific on Lelepa, Vanuatu. By the time they open, the cruise line said earlier in May, 90% of its Caribbean voyages will sail to one of these in-house retreats. In some itineraries, they'll be the only ports of call. Norwegian is expanding its private island and building a pier to accommodate thousands more travelers daily. Carnival and MSC are doing the same, in addition to each building a new getaway in the Bahamas. Almost all Carnival ships have voyages scheduled for the company's upcoming Celebration Key resort, which will open in July. Similarly, most of Norwegian and MSC's future Caribbean cruises also include stops at their private islands. If you're lucky, your voyage could visit other nearby, non-cruise-owned ports. If not, you could spend every day of your cruise vacation at a themed beachfront park. Take Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, for example. It's currently scheduled for 96 four-night "Bahamas and Perfect Day Cruise" voyages through April 2027. The itinerary only includes two ports: the cruise line's Perfect Day at CocoCay private island and Nassau, Bahamas, the soon-to-be home for its pay-to-enter Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. Islands planted with money trees The shifting focus toward company-created destinations is a no-brainer for the industry. These ports are often close to the ships' home ports, allowing cruise lines to save on fuel costs. Plus, they don't require third-party operators, which means the companies can pocket all food, beverage, and excursion profits. And there are plenty of big-ticket activities to entice visitors, be it $100 to enter CocoCay's waterpark or $1,000 for a villa on Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay island. If you're traveling with your multi-generational family, it could be a worthy vacation option. Many of these resorts are accessible only by ship or walled off from the rest of the country (such as Royal Caribbean's Labadee, Haiti beach). They're also relatively small, consistent, and convenient, filled with kid-friendly amenities like kayaks and snorkel gear. But if your goal is to tick off countries from your bucket list, consider another form of travel — or at least not a voyage to a remote amusement park. Ziplining around a manicured beach or napping in an air-conditioned beachfront villa might not be the cultural immersion you want.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Popular US cruise port shares news passengers will love
It's no secret that the cruise industry has been red-hot for several years. After the Covid pandemic caused sailings to grind to a halt or be highly restricted for about two years, pent-up demand sent passengers scrambling to get back on the sea. This surge in demand wasn't unique to the cruise industry. Theme parks, gaming destinations, ski resorts, and other experiential businesses also saw rising demand as pandemic-era restrictions unlike most other parts of the tourism industry, demand for cruises hasn't faded. For example, theme park operators like Walt Disney Company have shown a challenging environment for consumer spending in their results. In fact, in Disney's most recent fiscal quarter, revenue in the 'domestic parks and experiences' business declined by 5% compared to the same period a year earlier. On the other hand, Royal Caribbean's sales grew by 13% in the same period, just to name one pure-play cruise line example. Carnival Corporation's revenue is now about 25% higher than its pre-Covid peak. In short, good times aren't fading for the cruise industry. In fact, cruise demand is so strong that some ports are seeing record-high levels of passenger traffic. But perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in Orlando-area Port Canaveral. The March 2025 numbers for Port Canaveral were recently released, and to say that they're impressive would be a major March, nearly 926,000 passengers boarded or disembarked cruise ships in the popular port. This shattered the previous record, set in December 2024, by about 88,000. The port's budget year starts in October, so the end of March represents the halfway point, and the six-month period set a record as well, with 4.42 million total passengers. This is fueled by a combination of high demand for cruising, as well as by more ships choosing Port Canaveral as their homeport. The winter season is seasonally strong for Port Canaveral, as some ships go to cooler areas of the world for summer. And recent launches such as Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas mega-ship, which is homeported in Canaveral year-round, certainly helped boost the numbers. Assuming that consumer demand stays high, the 2025-2026 season could prove to be even better for Port Canaveral. For one thing, the second massive Icon-class ship from Royal Caribbean, Star of the Seas, will begin sailing year-round from the port in late summer 2025. Norwegian Aqua just recently made its debut at Port Canaveral. More cruise news: Norwegian Cruise Line solves key drink problem Carnival Cruise Line won't make exceptions to this vital rule Carnival Cruise Line takes on cruise class controversy To be sure, passenger traffic will almost certainly dip during the summer, even with these two launches. At least five of the 16 ships that helped fuel the record-high March numbers are seasonal and will be leaving (or have already left). However, in a recent presentation, Port Canaveral's VP of cruise business development said that the port could certainly have more than 16 ships home-ported by next winter. For the time being, Port Miami still holds the title of the world's busiest cruise port. But Port Canaveral is in second place and could narrow the gap in the years to come. (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.
New York Post
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
This ‘entitled' cruise ship act is one of the worst etiquette offenses on overseas voyages: travel expert
Reserving a pool deck chair on a cruise is the equivalent of passengers who recline their seat on a flight – both are controversial topics. If you're a cruiser, you understand cruise etiquette is a big thing, whether it's unwritten rules like not cutting in lines to restaurants, or those clearly spelled out in cruise liners' guest conduct policies – like hogging pool deck chairs. It happens to be one of the worst cruise etiquette offenses that continues to happen without fail on most ships. 6 A travel influencer took to social media to discuss cruise etiquette regarding reserving pool chairs. adfoto – Cruiser and US travel content creator Jessica, known as 'Jesstravel7' on TikTok, shared a clip of several rows of pool chairs reserved with towels on them, lashing at the act. 'This is what you call entitlement on a cruise ship; saving all these pool chairs,' she said. Jessica, who was traveling on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, begged fellow cruisers not to save pool chairs if you're not at the pool. 6 'This is what you call entitlement on a cruise ship; saving all these pool chairs,' Jessica, known as 'Jesstravel7' on TikTok, said. Tiktok/@jesstravel7 'Do not do this. If you are not here, do not save the seats, people are looking for seats. 'This is called entitlement.' When some viewers questioned that perhaps the guests went to grab a drink, Jessica explained that wasn't the case. 6 Jessica said the seats were covered with towels for hours. Tiktok/@jesstravel7 'These people went on an excursion and didn't come back five hours later expecting their chairs to be there,' she said. Others argued it was 'planning ahead'. 'That's not entitlement. You can plan ahead too!' one person commented. 'Entitlement would be showing up late and thinking you deserve a seat that is first come first serve…' a second wrote, while a third demanded, 'No, it's not'. 'It is called, I woke up the crack of dawn and saved seats. It is called. I AM NOT NEW TO THIS.' However, many sided with Jessica, saying guests who want to use the chairs should just remove the towels. 6 'It is called, I woke up the crack of dawn and saved seats. It is called. I AM NOT NEW TO THIS,' one viewer said. vvoe – 'I hate that ppl wake up at, 6am doing this (sic),' one cruiser demanded. 'I'll just remove their towels and use whatever seat I want. If you're not at the pool, you don't get to save a seat,' said another. Royal Caribbean has a strict policy that explains pool deck chairs are only available on a first come, first served basis and cannot be reserved. 6 Cruise lines have policies that indicate chairs are on a first come, first served basis and can't be held. Christopher Bradshaw – 'We want to ensure that all guests have a great time at the pool. If a pool chair is left unattended for more than 30 minutes with no signs of any guests returning, our crew will remove any belongings and place them in the lost and found,' it explains on its site. Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival and other lines also prohibit passengers from reserving pool chairs. But some guests have argued staff need to be more attentive, with Jessica claiming it took three hours for employees to remove the towels. 6 Jessica claimed it took three hours for employees to remove the towels from the unattended chairs. Tiktok/@jesstravel7 The controversial topic also blew up on Reddit in a fan community group for the cruise liner a week ago, after someone shared a photo with towels on a bunch of chairs at 8:30 a.m. on Utopia. 'They really need to deploy staff at the pools early in the morning, a few on each side of the pools who can just tell people as soon as they put stuff down and start to walk away that they can't do that,' one person wrote. 'It would go a long way to start to curb the behaviour. People will ignore signs, they would be way less inclined to ignore a person.' One person who sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line shared a more positive experience on the dilemma. 'On Escape last week they were marking unoccupied chairs and pulling towels and personal effects. Chairs were all full at 9am but around 10 onwards they were starting to clear off chairs,' the cruiser wrote in the NCL community on Reddit. 'I honestly didn't think they had the commitment to do it, glad they are trying to enforce the rules.'
