Port Canaveral is preparing to build a seventh cruise terminal by converting one of its cargo berths on the north side. Management plans to expedite construction and have the new terminal ready by the summer of 2026.  (Photo Courtesy of Canaveral Port Authority) The intention is to build a new facility to accommodate the largest vessels of different cruise lines. Since the expansion entails repurposing existing facilities, Port Canaveral says it can fast-track development while saving on costs.  Port Canaveral CEO John Murray revealed that the port’s existing terminals often operate ..read more

Princess Cruises is homeporting a ship in Puerto Rico for the first time in a decade. However, it spells bad news for Australian cruisers. (Photo via Princess Cruises) Grand Princess will redeploy to Puerto Rico from October 2025 through March 2026 instead of its original schedule sailing Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific voyages from Brisbane and Sydney. It cited operational challenges for the change. Australian Guests will be Rebooked on a Similar Cruise Itinerary Aerial view of Harbour Bridge and Opera House (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line) Guests booked on the impacted cru ..read more

Last Saturday, MSC Meraviglia made an unscheduled stop at the Port of Brooklyn while carrying a distressing sight across its bow—a dead 44-foot whale. (Photo Courtesy of MSC Cruises) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) later identified the giant mammal as an endangered sei whale. Estimates peg its numbers at 57,000 to 65,000 globally. Andrea Gomez from NOAA told Fox News, “Sei whales are endangered, and are typically observed in deeper waters far from the coastline. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating this incident.”  A rudimentary inspection rev ..read more

Doug Parker and staff writer Richard Simms cover a variety of cruise news, including incidents on Norwegian Encore and Celebrity Edge, a Norwegian Cruise Line program, and a peculiar event on MSC Bellissima in Japan. They also respond to a listener’s query about Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady. The episode features an interview with Brandon, a cruise passenger who shares his last-minute booking experience on Carnival Glory, his time in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, and his thoughts on the ship’s layout, dining, and entertainment. Despite some disappointments, Brandon offers tips for future cr ..read more

U.S. Air Force orchestrated a daring long-range medical evacuation from the Carnival Venezia, over 350 nautical miles off the eastern coast of the United States. (Photo courtesy of USAF/920th Rescue Wing) A Timely Response to an Urgent Call On the morning of May 4, 2024, the 920th Rescue Wing, the only combat search and rescue wing of the Air Force Reserve Command, received a distress signal from the Carnival Venezia. The ship was in the middle of its return to Manhattan when a medical emergency unfolded. The patient had a condition that could not be treated on Carnival Venezia and required im ..read more

Utopia of the Seas sailed from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France for five days of sea trials, marking a significant milestone before its debut this July. (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) Over the next few days, over 900 specialists in engineering, naval architecture, design, and navigation will push the Royal Caribbean-owned vessel to its limits. They will conduct hundreds of tests and evaluations to ensure the ship’s safety and operability.  The team will also monitor how the ship moves in open water, its engine performance, and its navigation systems. The ship will tra ..read more

A South African crew member, Ntando Sogoni, was arrested after allegedly attacking multiple people aboard Norwegian Encore during an Alaska cruise earlier this week. Norwegian Encore in Alaska (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line) The event was detailed in a release from the U.S. Department of Justice and a criminal affidavit from the FBI. Sogoni attacked multiple people, including a 75-year-old woman, with a pair of medical scissors. The incident occurred on the morning of May 6 after Sogoni was seen trying to deploy a lifeboat for no apparent reason. The ship’s security team responded qu ..read more

Carnival Vista is sailing again after an extended stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Carnival Vista (Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line) On Tuesday, Carnival Vista was visiting the island as part of its eight-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary when an announcement onboard around sail away said that the ship was suffering mechanical issues. Two separate emails were sent to Cruise Radio from guests onboard, who told us the ship was still sitting in San Juan at 9:00 p.m. and still at 3:00 a.m. Guests advised us that the ship has problems and that “the engineers are working on it.” Carnival told ..read more

On Monday, Carnival Cruise Line celebrated 30 years of sailing from New Orleans with a special event aboard the Carnival Liberty, its most recent Fun Ship to homeport in the Big Easy. Former CCL CEO Arnold Donald, Chef Emeril Lagasse, and Port CEO Brandy D. Christian (Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line) Chief Culinary Officer and chef Emeril Lagasse, whose restaurant is about a mile from the cruise port, spoke with community leaders to acknowledge the milestone as the ship docked at New Orleans. Chris Chiames, Carnival’s Chief Communications Officer, and former Carnival Corporation CEO Arn ..read more

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6 to 10, 2024, with its fifth annual Giving Joy cruise giveaway. In addition to donations and free cruises, the cruise line is introducing a new year-round discount to educators in the United States and Canada. (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line) Since 2019, NCL’s Giving Joy campaign has been recognizing teachers with free cruises. The program also awards them and their educational institutions with cash grants. This year, the Miami-based company is introducing a new perk—a year-round 5% Teacher Cruise Discount ..read more