Details about the soon-to-debut megaship Carnival Dream are now being released. The 130,000-ton, 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream will have its inaugural ceremony in New York City on Thursday, November 12. Following an overnight gala at the pier the ship will embark on a two-night cruise on November 13, returning the morning on Sunday [...]

July 17, posted by Dave Beers.
When will Americans be able to travel to Cuba? When will cruise ships call on Cuban ports? A lawsuit filed yesterday might bring some answers to those questions, or it might not.
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution states “No person shall be held to answer for [...]

July 16, posted by Dave Beers.
My trip to Southampton for the Celebrity Equinox naming ceremony is just a few days away, and it really hit home when I learned Celebrity has taken delivery of the ship from the builder, Meyer Werft. The press release follows:
The number of ships in Celebrity Cruises’ fleet just grew [...]

Carnival Cruise Lines has enhanced its Cruise Vacation Protection Plan (VPP) to include severe weather watch/warning protection, as well as job loss protection. The enhanced features apply to plan purchases made upon July 15 and after.
The severe weather watch/warning protection provides reimbursement in the event the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and/or National Weather Service [...]

July 13, posted by Dave Beers.
On July 11 the Norwegian Epic cruised out of her construction quay at STX Europe in Saint-Nazaire, France. The massive 153,000-ton ship has been under construction since October 2007. Beginning at approximately 7 am, the innovative ship was accompanied by a fleet of six tugboats and taken a [...]

7-10-09. It is a new era in European cruising as the two newest and largest ever ships built for the European cruise market, the MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, both landed in Mallorca just ahead of the planned christening ceremony for MSC Splendida in Barcelona on Sunday, July 12th.
The MSC Splendida christening ceremony will feature [...]

7-10-09.  As part of the continuing Signature of Excellence enhancement program, Holland America Line has announced the addition of 22 new staterooms to the ms Prinsendam, the “Elegant Explorer”, in early 2010. The dry-dock will occur in Freeport, Bahamas, from January 4 through 13, 2010.
Sixteen of the new staterooms will be deluxe verandahs and two [...]

July 8, posted by Dave Beers.
MEMBERS ARE “CENTER OF ATTENTION”
Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club has been revised with new perks across the board. Several of the new benefits will begin this month while others will be rolled out in coming months. This looks to be a vast improvement in the Captain’s Club program [...]

July 7, posted by Dave Beers.
I received the following news and couldn’t wait to post it. Silversea Cruises has announced great pricing for 2010 cruises, and in addition there is free air available on virtually all cruises. Anyone considering a true luxury cruise should look at this great deal. Read all about [...]

Paul Motter, editor of CruiseMates, is aboard the beautiful MSC Splendida, which has just begun its first full passenger cruise after emerging from the berth where it was built at the STX Shipyard in St Nazaire, France.
The beautiful new 133,000-ton ship conducted the handover ceremony on July 4, where the ship’s flags where transferred [...]