News

While still a tropical storm, Tammy is expected to strengthen into a hurricane, and she's already caused some cruise ships to alter their itineraries. 

Tropical storm warnings have already been issued for some of the Leeward Islands, including Dominica, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Anguilla, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, and St. Barthelemy. 

This is not the first time a storm has forced cruise lines to alter itineraries this year. Back in September, for instance, Hurricane Lee caused some Bermuda cruises to sail to the Bahamas instead. 

Norwegian Cruise Line is making some pretty big changes to stateroom categories onboard all ships in their fleet. 

Those sailing with Norwegian in 2024 and beyond will either be thrilled or disappointed to hear that they are removing the spa category of staterooms. 

Moreover, they are adding about 1,000 solo cabins to all ships, meaning that there will be an increased opportunity for guests traveling alone to score a studio cabin. 

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) released statements and updates today, October 18, 2022 highlighting their progress towards net-zero carbon cruising, while also highlighting the need for development and deployment of sustainable marine fuels.

Starting June 12th the United States will no longer require passengers traveling to the U.S.A via airplanes to provide negative results from a COVID-19 viral test.

Currently the White House is set to announce today, Friday June 10th, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will stop requiring test results for visitors, or returning travelers, coming into the United States, starting Sunday, June 12.

The New Zealand government has announced that the maritime borders of the country will reopen at the end of July on July 31, 2022.

The reopening of the maritime borders is a positive sign for the upcoming cruise season. The reopening of their maritime borders comes at an excellent time, ahead of the fall and winter cruise season that will begin in October for New Zealand.

The return of cruising to New Zealand will bring a boost to their tourism operations that they have been without for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cruise Lines International Association shared new findings that point to evidence of the cruise industry’s resilience, while attending Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, Florida.

In Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) latest press release, they stated that “our science backed protocols facilitated the resumption of cruise operations, with over 7.5 million passengers having sailed in nearly 90 markets, all while committing to pursuing ever more ambitious carbon reduction goals.”

On Monday April 18, a federal judge in Florida overturned the federal mask mandate that would  require travelers to continue wearing face coverings while in and onboard places of public transportation until May. Prior to this, the CDC had extended its face covering mandate for another 15 days nationwide.

This morning, April 18th 2022, was the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that a cruise line has returned to Australian waters and ports.

Australia is one of the most recent countries to restart its cruise industry after closing down during the pandemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison closed all ports within Australia to passenger cruise ships on March 15th 2020.

P&O Cruises Australia Pacific Explorer, the flagship of P&O Cruises Australia, is the first international ship to return to Australia in over two years.

Currently three of the major cruise lines, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line require that guests older than five years of age be fully vaccinated in order to cruise. However, as more amenities return to, and reopen, on cruise ships, there are more and more talks on when cruise lines might end their requirement for proof of vaccination.