Royal Caribbean has submitted a proposal so that it can begin an official test cruise from the United States.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all cruise lines to conduct test cruises in order to gain approval to sail from the United States, although test cruises can be skipped if a ship opts to require 95% of its passengers and 98% of its crew members to be fully vaccinated.

Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley confirmed his cruise line has submitted an application to start test cruises.

Count Carnival in for Alaska cruises this year.

Carnival Corporation announced three of its brands will sail to Alaska in 2021: Holland America, Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line.

The sailings will go out of Seattle.

Cruise ships are headed back to Alaska.

Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises both announced ships that will sail to Alaska in summer 2021.

The news comes right after legislation was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to allow cruise ships to sail to Alaska without having to stop in Canada.

Celebrity Cruises announced what cruise passengers can expect onboard in terms of where they have to wear masks, which tours they can book, and other important concerns.

During a webinar with travel agents, Celebrity Vice President of Sales Dondra Ritzenthaler revealed a number of the new protocols passengers can expect for its summer cruises sailing from St. Maarten and Greece.

As cruise lines gear up for a possible summer return to cruising from the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to update its guidance on health and safety protocols.

Last week, the CDC issued new rulings on a variety of key issues, including masks and Covid testing. 

Here’s what cruise fans should know about the CDC’s latest policy changes.

Whenever you look up cruise fares, the prices are listed as “inside cabins from $399” or “balcony cabins from $649.” The word from indicates that the price you see is the base rate, but you’re going to pay more due to the type of cabin you pick and a multitude of hidden cruise fees.

Picture this: You’re having such a good time at Senor Frog’s with your new friends and that third margarita that you lose track of time. Or maybe your tour bus gets stuck in traffic on the way back to the ship, which is something totally out of your control!

You're probably wondering whether a cruise ship will wait for you or not. Missing your cruise ship and getting stranded in a foreign port is one of the top concerns of first-time cruisers, and while the chances of the ship leaving you behind are low, it does happen.

You’re planning your cruise and you want a cabin with more space. Do you go for the balcony cabin or do you upgrade to a suite? If you’re not familiar with cruise ship accommodations, it can be tricky to decide if you need a balcony cabin vs. a suite – especially since ships may have several types of balcony cabins and suites.

In this guide, we walk you through the similarities and differences, so you can pick the best cabin for your upcoming sailing.

Short cruises might conjure up images of party hardy vacationers drinking away a few days at sea, but not all three- to six-night itineraries are created equal. Cruise lines are adding more of these micro-sailings to their deployment schedules – diversifying the options and redefining the jocularly-coined “booze cruise” as a safe and peaceful getaway for folks who aren’t yet comfortable with spending a full week or more onboard a ship.