A question that often crops up in our industry is, “Are cruises safe?”. In truth, cruises are one of the safest ways to travel.  Statistically speaking  A study by G.P. Wild shows that while worldwide cruise ship capacity has increased by more than 55% since 2009, the number of significant incidents onboard has decreased by 37%. G.P. Wild defines a ‘significant incident’ as one in which a passenger or crewmember suffers a fatality or serious injury, and the ship incurs a 24-hour delay to the itinerary as a result.  According to another report published by the same organisation ..read more

Earlier this month, I was lucky to be invited aboard SeaDream I for a Caribbean voyage visiting St Lucia, Martinique, Grenada, and St Vincent & The Grenadines. The sailing was my first SeaDream Yacht Club experience, so I looked forward to seeing why the Norwegian operator has cultivated such a devoted following.   A view of the pool on SeaDream I. No balcony? No problem. From speaking to potential first-time SeaDream clients, I know the lack of balcony accommodation can deter some. However, you’ll quickly discover that this enhances your time onboard. Many guests will congregate on ..read more

Early next year, AmaWaterways will become the first major river cruise line to venture through the “Land of a Thousand Rhythms” with the addition of two new ships.  The 60-guest AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia, two ships designed for gliding along Colombia’s Magdalena River, will launch in the spring of 2024.  “We are absolutely thrilled to have two new beautiful ships joining our growing fleet of 26 award-winning river cruise ships and to be able to share details on the new itineraries cruising between Cartagena and Barranquilla”, said Rudi Schreiner, Co-Founder and President of AmaWate ..read more

Today is International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to the celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Conversely, it is also an opportunity to raise awareness against the gender bias that is still present today. According to the International Maritime Organisation, women represent just 2% of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers.  A large percentage of ship officers today launched their careers in countries like Greece, Italy, England or Norway, places home to world-renowned maritime academies, which didn’t accept female applicants until as recently as ..read more

The Cruise Line has won the Luxury Cruise Agency of the Year award at the TTG Luxury Travel Awards 2023. The event was held at The Biltmore Mayfair hotel in London on Friday. Hosted by the luxury travel sector’s leading magazine, TTG Luxury, and in association with Silversea Cruises, the award recognises our company’s outstanding achievements in the past year. Managing Director David Smith said: “We are delighted to be named TTG’s Luxury Cruise Agency of the Year. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team at The Cruise Line, who, like many, have had to overcome many obstacle ..read more

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours has confirmed the line’s second Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse II, will launch in April this year.  With construction well underway, Scenic Eclipse II will embark on her inaugural voyage on 12 April. The 12-day Incredible Iberian Discovery itinerary will include calls to 10 ports across Portugal and Spain, with an overnight in Seville.  After launching in the Mediterranean, she will take guests to explore Northern Europe and the British Isles before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to spend some time in the Caribbean.  Moving on to 2024, which will be ..read more

Celebrity Cruises has become the first cruise line to win a Forbes Travel Guide Star Award. “Forbes Travel Guide is thrilled to announce Celebrity ships as the world’s first Star-Rated resorts at sea”, said CEO Hermann Elger. “Celebrity has delivered on FTG’s standards time and time again during meticulous incognito inspections, offering guests experiences that rival those at the very best land-based properties. We congratulate Celebrity Cruises on this spectacular and historic accomplishment.” The Star Award recognises the world’s finest hotels, restaurants and spas and, new for this year, oc ..read more

Crystal Cruises has relaunched under a new name and with a new vision. “I am delighted to announce that Crystal is reborn, with Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony reimagined and enhancements made to every part of our guests’ journey”, said Jack Anderson, President of Crystal. Crystal has relaunched with a brand-new website and two new-and-improved ships under the guardianship of Abercrombie & Kent USA. Recap: What happened to Crystal Cruises? In January 2022, Genting Hong Kong, the parent company of Crystal Cruises, filed for bankruptcy after failing to repay their fuel bills. Two of th ..read more

Cunard’s upcoming season in Alaska is set to be a big one, with renowned adventurer Bear Grylls making a special guest appearance on one of the voyages. This summer, Queen Elizabeth will spend three months in Alaska, operating a total of seven sailings across the popular U.S. state. Bear Grylls will kick-start the season with a special 12-night itinerary, accompanying guests to well-known sites like Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park. You can find out more about this on our blog.  Just when we thought the new season couldn’t get more exciting, the line has announced that it has ..read more

For Veganuary, we’ve narrowed down the five most vegan-friendly cruise lines based on the variety of dining options they offer. Let’s take a look. Azamara Cruises Azamara Cruises is one of the most forward-thinking cruise lines when it comes to catering to vegans. Guests can order from a designated vegan menu in the Main Dining Room and Prime C and Aqualina speciality restaurants on all four ships. The menu offers the choice of six appetisers, four soups, 16 main courses and eight side dishes. Sample dinner menu: Vegetable Pakoras with Mint Chutney, Chana Masala Vegetable Biryani Poppadums and ..read more