Cruise News

On the 4th February 2012 the newest ocean liner in the Cunard fleet, Queen Elizabeth, will bring a maiden visit to San Francisco – her only inaugural visit to a U.S. city this year.

Disney cruise line will offer an array of new itineraries in 2013. These include a wider selection of European cruises and new ports of call such as the Greek Islands and Venice, Italy.

MSC Cruises will no longer use Antony Worrall Thompson next month to perform a series of culinary demonstrations aboard their cruise liner MSC Splendida.

Southampton is celebrating this week after news that Liverpool’s plans to convert itself into a turnaround cruise terminal have suffered a serious setback.

In reaction to the Concordia incident and as part of continuous efforts by the cruise industry to improve its safety measures, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), who speaks on behalf of cruise lines worldwide, has announced that the industry is to embark on a Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review.

MSC Cruises has partnered with Blend Craft Wines to offer their guests a range of one-of-a-kind wine-themed activities on board four sailings of MSC Poesia.

SeaDream Yacht Club has just introduced what is most likely the first-ever “Raw Food” menu for cruise lovers. The “living foods” or “raw foods” movement was once considered to be a radical form of vegetarianism, but it is slowly being accepted by the mainstream culinary world.

Costa Cruises issued a press release on the 24th January 2012 to clarify the issue of discounts and promotional offers for passengers who were on board Costa Concordia on Friday the 13th January 2012.

Windstar Cruises is known for exploring the hidden coves and secluded harbours of the world with their three luxury sailing yachts. The company has now announced a new Islands of Italy cruise featuring some of the most exclusive islands in all of Europe.

Tenacious, the tall ship that has been designed and built to be manned by a mixed crew of disabled people and able-bodied staff, will definitely partake in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the 3rd June 2012 to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

This May Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa will be on board Crystal Serenity to act as onsite Executive Chef in the Sushi Bar and Silk Road, the two specialty restaurants that he runs in partnership with Crystal Cruises.

Following a recent unfortunate incident involving Costa Concordia of which we are sure all readers are aware of by now, Costa Cruises’ parent company, Carnival Corporation, which also manages eight other cruise lines around the world, is to comprehensively investigate all emergency and safety procedures across its entire operation.

Crystal Cruises has released its list of itineraries for 2013 and there are significant changes, for example more short cruises. The company will offer a choice of 64 itineraries next year. In the process 226 ports of call in 62 different countries will be visited.

Hebridean Princess, probably the Queen’s most beloved ship, has been granted a Royal Warrant. This is believed to be the very first time that a shipping company receives a Royal Warrant, says Lord Sterling, Hebridean Island Cruises’ Chairman.

Windstar Cruises has announced major upgrades to its luxury cruising yachts Wind Spirit, Wind Surf and Wind Star.

Thomson Cruises has announced its intention to modernise its fleet of ships by upgrading existing ships and also potentially buying new cruise liners.

Ultra-luxurious Silversea Cruises has for years specialised in creating unique meetings and unmatched corporate reward programmes and the cruise line has now rolled out a new programme to help businesses reduce costs without compromising on quality.

There’s little doubt that 2012 will be a good year for British cruise lovers, as an increasing number of cruise lines choose to base themselves in the United Kingdom, some of them offering special cruises to tie in with the upcoming Queen’s Jubilee.

Unless it is your first cruise, when everything is just wonderful, if there is one aspect about a cruise holiday that can become rather tedious it is the check-in process.

New England and Canada itineraries are known for their stunning scenery, historic seaports and culinary delights. This year (2012) Holland America line will offer no less than 27 departures to ports along the North American east coast on three cruise ships: ms Eurodam, ms Maasdam and Ms Veendam.

Veteran cruise journalist John Honeywell is currently sailing the clear blue waters of the Western Caribbean on board Allure of the Seas. In the light of certain recent events that might put the safety of cruising in question, he recently spent an hour with Captain Hernan Zini, while the latter explained all the features and procedures Royal Caribbean has in place to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

MSC Cruises made an announcement on Monday the 16th January that it will use Miami as its exclusive home port for all Caribbean sailings from the autumn of 2013. This is still subject to approval by the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners later in January.

P&O Ferries has announced that it will soon take delivery of its second new ship, the Spirit of France. The €180 million ship will be handed over at a ceremony taking place at the STX Europe Shipyard, which is located in Rauma, Finland. The ceremony is planned for Tuesday, the 24th January 2012.

After a very successful first year of its “voluntourism” programme, Crystal Cruises has decided to extend its groundbreaking “You Care, We Care” programme with new opportunities being added for the 2012 season.

According to the latest Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships the cruise ship with the highest ranking in the world is none other than Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa. If this sounds like your kind of ship, and you love music, you will no doubt be delighted to hear that Europa will offer guests at least two international quality music festivals this year.

Royal Caribbean has announced its winter schedule called Vision of the Seas for the 2012-13 season in the Caribbean.

For those who have always dreamt about the magical part of Italy called Tuscany, there is now the option to combine a tour of the region with a luxury cruise. Silversea cruises will offer no less than three cruise-land itineraries that include a visit to Tuscany during 2012. They will go by the name of “Slow Food Adventure in Tuscany.”

The BBC has created nearly unprecedented interest in the polar region with their television series The Frozen Planet. In response the experts on polar cruises, Hurtigruten, will send an additional ship to Spitsbergen for the summer 2012 season.

Margaret Thatcher might be the last personality to be used to market cruise holidays, yet the release of the biographical film The Iron Lady starring Meryl Streep has urged at least two cruise lines to add one or more of her ex staff members to their line-up of guest speakers.

Windstar Cruises is for those who want something really different. The company operates three luxurious yachts that explore the most secluded corners of the world. The company currently offers sail and stay packages on certain European cruises, which offer two free nights in a hotel in either Istanbul, Athens, Barcelona, Roma or Lisbon and two-for-one cruise fares. These are valid until the 24th February 2012.