Princess Cruises proudly named its latest marvel, the Sphere-class Sun Princess, during a star-studded christening ceremony at the Port of Barcelona on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Doug Parker/Cruise Radio) The event was graced by the ship’s godmother, actress Hannah Waddingham, known for her lead role in “Ted Lasso,” who properly named and blessed the vessel, echoing her family’s deep-rooted maritime history with the Royal Navy. The christening was held in the Princess Arena, where Michael Carbonaro, magician and actor, was the master of ceremonies. An array of celebrities, including Tyra Bank ..read more

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) kicked off the construction of its private resort in the Bahamas on Monday.  (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International) The groundbreaking ceremony occurred in Nassau’s Paradise Island, the first Royal Beach Club site. Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, RCI President and CEO Michael Bayley, The Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis, and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper attended the celebration. Prime Minister Davis announced, “Signing today’s agreement, we add another world-class experience to our tourism offerings. And e ..read more

Princess Cruises has launched the “Sanctuary Collection” on the Sun Princess and the upcoming Star Princess ships. The collection provides premium accommodations and elevated amenities and offers a hybrid approach to a ship-within-a-ship concept. (Photo courtesy of Doug Parker/Cruise Radio) Guests staying in new stateroom categories within the Sanctuary Collection will get exclusive access to various ship experiences, including private dining and relaxation areas and the Princess Premier bundle. Available on Sun Princess and upcoming Star Princess (Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises) The cruis ..read more

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and shipbuilder Fincantieri celebrated Norwegian Aqua’s successful float-out on Tuesday.  (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line) As its April 2025 debut countdown continues, top cruise line and shipyard executives attended Norwegian Aqua’s float-out in Marghera (Venice), Italy. In keeping with maritime traditions, two coins were ceremoniously welded onto the vessel before a chaplain and a champagne bottle blessed it was broken across its hull. “We are excited to celebrate another milestone with our partners at Fincantieri, who are integral to the Prima Cl ..read more

MSC Group, MSC Foundation, and Mercy Ships announced they are working together to build a new hospital ship. Currently in the fundraising stage, the new vessel will offer free medical services and training to thousands of people in Africa. (Photo courtesy of Mercy Ships) Through the MSC Foundation, the parent company, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), donated generously to spearhead fundraising for the new vessel. The company will also offer technical advice in the development of the new ship.  Founder of the MSC Group, Captain Gianluigi Aponte, shared the personal significance of ..read more

Are you frustrated that cruise prices suddenly balloon when finalizing your booking? Starting July 1, 2024, consumer protection legislation will require cruise lines to display the total price, not just the fare. California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) goes into effect on July 1 and requires cruise lines to comply. It will affect all cruise companies, including major operators like Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard North America, and Holland America Line. Seabourn Cruise Line has already adopted this pricing model, which will influence its refund and cancellation fee pol ..read more

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a gastrointestinal viral outbreak that sickened several cruise ship guests earlier this week. Silver Nova (Photo courtesy of Doug Parker / Cruise Radio) Twenty-eight guests on Silversea Cruises’ Silver Nova, along with one crew member, fell ill. This represented over 4% of the passengers aboard (required for CDC reporting).  Fourth cruise ship outbreak of the year The CDC monitored the outbreak as the ship completed a 16-day sailing and docked at Port Everglades earlier this week. The ship departed Peru and made several port ca ..read more

MSC Cruises just announced what their summer cruising season in 2025 will be like. Four ships, including the upcoming MSC World America, will take passengers on 3- to 7-night itineraries that will tour Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. MSC World America (Rendering courtesy of MSC Cruises) President for MSC Cruises USA, Rubén A. Rodríguez, described the incoming season, “We want our guests to experience MSC Cruises’ most modern and innovative ships, whether they’re on a quick weekend getaway or the vacation of a lifetime. The summer 2025 season will be an exciting one for us ..read more

Holland America Line (HAL) is adding “Glacier Day” to its Alaskan sailings as part of its “We Love Alaska” campaign. The cruise line says its activities and other similarly themed initiatives will “help foster a deeper connection to the people, history, and culture of the state.”  Westerdam in Glacier Bay, Alaska (Photo courtesy of Holland America Line) As part of Glacier Day, passengers on Alaskan adventures can get to know the region through educational presentations, sighting times, information viewing stations, scenic commentary, and photo opportunities. It will also offer Alaska-them ..read more

New cruise ship, new menu. If you love Thai food, good wine, and plant-based dishes, you can have your fill of them in 2025 when the Norwegian Aqua makes its debut. Norwegian Aqua Swirl (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line) New Dining Options and Venues SukhoThai will serve traditional Thai staples like Salt and Pepper Prawns, Thai Cashew Chicken, Thai Grilled Steak Salad, and a variety of curries. SukhoThai (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line) Though the Indulge Food Hall is a familiar venue for NCL cruisers, it will feature the Planterie, a new vegetarian-friendly destination for pl ..read more