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Madeira Port Authority invests in energy efficiency study for Port Funchal

The Madeira Port Authority (APRAM) has allocated EUR 14,900 for a study aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency of several key infrastructures...

New 100% green ferry project unveiled by Incat Tasmania and DFDS

A significant new partnership within the passenger shipping industry will result in the creation of a 100% green ferryboat exceeding 236 feet in...

RCI's Radiance of the Seas cruise canceled after boarding due to technical issues

An RCI-Royal Caribbean Alaskan cruise on Radiance of the Seas ship was canceled at the last minute (after passengers already boarded) due to severe...

35-yo crew medevaced from Carnival Sunshine ship east of Jacksonville Florida

A 35-year-old crew member aboard the Carnival Sunshine required urgent medical attention and was evacuated by the US Coast Guard on April 27, 2024...

Malaga (Spain) prepares to host Seatrade Cruise Med after Seatrade Cruise Global

Port Malaga delegation emphasized its upcoming hosting of the international cruise fair in the Mediterranean during Seatrade Cruise Global, gathering...

Hamburg's cruise industry sets record with 1.2+ million passengers in 2023

In 2023, Hamburger Hafen experienced a record number of cruise passengers, with 1,204,089 embarking on cruises from the port, up from 785,000 in 2022...

RCI-Royal Caribbean revives operations in China, plans second ship by 2025

RCI-Royal Caribbean International is set to resume cruises for the Chinese market this weekend after a nearly 4-year hiatus, with plans to deploy a...

Norovirus outbreaks affect ~200 passengers on Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean ships

Nearly 200 individuals fell ill due to norovirus outbreaks on Princess Cruises and RCI-Royal Caribbean International ships. According to the CDC...

Hard Rock/Seminole and RCG/Royal Caribbean Group signed global partnership

Hard Rock International, Seminole Gaming, and Royal Caribbean Group brands, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, have announced a...

Oceania Cruises unveils exquisite 2025 Mediterranean sailings

Oceania Cruises, renowned for its culinary and destination-focused approach to cruising, has unveiled an enticing lineup of new 2025 Mediterranean...

Sailors are invited to join 2nd annual "Virgin Celebration Voyage"

Virgin Voyages is extending a special invitation to fans of the Virgin brand and loyal passengers/Sailors to partake in the company’s second...

Celebrity Ascent ship starts European cruises from Barcelona (Spain)

Celebrity Cruises’ latest addition, the Celebrity Ascent, is preparing for her inaugural sailing in Europe following her arrival in Barcelona...

Aurora Expeditions announces expanded 2025-2026 season

Aurora Expeditions (fleet), a renowned Australian-owned adventure travel company celebrated for its immersive and responsible exploration, has...

Celebrity Cruises ships Reflection and Beyond made first calls at CocoCay Bahamas

In recent years, CocoCay Bahamas has emerged as a beloved destination for RCI-Royal Caribbean’s ships. However, until this week, it had...

RCI-Royal Caribbean starts construction of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island (Nassau Bahamas)

RCI-Royal Caribbean International and The Bahamas inaugurated a new venture on April 22 as construction commenced on Royal Beach Club Paradise Island...

Cruise News

New Airline Compensation Rules Mandate ‘Prompt’ Cash Refunds for Travelers

Royal Caribbean Cancels Alaska Cruise, Guests Must Vacate by Sunday Afternoon

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Cruise ships.

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Cruise review.

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Family cruises.

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Cruise menus and food.

Carnival VIFP Diamond Lunch Menu

MENU: Off the Grill Burgers on Carnival Luminosa

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MENU: The Brass Magnolia Bar on Mardi Gras

MENU: Bar Della Rosa on Carnival’s Mardi Gras

MENU: Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Line

MENU: Piazza Panini on Carnival’s Mardi Gras

MENU: BlueIguana Cantina on Carnival Cruise Line

MENU: RedFrog Tiki Bar on Carnival’s Mardi Gras

MENU: Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse on Carnival’s Mardi Gras

MENU: Rudi’s Seagrill on Carnival’s Mardi Gras

LUNCH MENU: Chibang Chinese & Mexican Restaurant on Carnival Cruise Line

Is a Cruise Ship Crisis Ahead? Why Bigger Isn’t Necessarily Better

The Truth (and Lies) about Norovirus and Cruises

Why Carnival Cruise Line Ditching Libraries Matters More Than You Think It Does

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Year in Review: The Top Cruise Stories of 2022

• December 31, 2022

With 2022 now over, Cruise Industry News looks at the major headlines of the year – which was marked by return to normality, record capacity and further expansion.

Most of the World’s Fleet Back in Service

According to the latest edition of the Cruise Ships in Service Report by Cruise Industry News , nearly 95 percent of the world’s cruise capacity returned to revenue service in 2022.

While a few vessels are still waiting to welcome guests back and others are out of service due to seasonal lay ups, almost the entire global fleet is now sailing again.

27 New Ships Hit the Market

New cruise ships also continued to enter service. While 20 newbuilds were delivered in 2022, an additional seven vessels debuted during the year, after being completed in 2021.

The number included 24 oceangoing cruise and expedition ships, as well as three coastal vessels for service in the United States and Norway.

Changing of the Guard at Carnival Corporation

Arnold Donald stepped aside as CEO of Carnival Corporation over the summer, as Josh Weinstein took the top spot at the world’s largest cruise operator.

Record Cruise Capacity in Various Regions

As the industry recovers from the COVID-19 operational pause, several key regions saw record capacity in 2022 .

According to the 2022 Cruise Industry News Annual Report , the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska and the West Coast all registered strong numbers, with projected capacity reaching all-time highs.

New Players Join the Business

While start up brands such as Ritz-Carlton, Ambassador, Emerald and Astoria Grande started operations in 2022, new players also emerged with future plans.

In France, two new cruise operators, CFC and Exploris , were revealed during the third quarter. Other newcomers include Four Seasons, which is launching a series of purpose-built luxury yachts , and Resorts World Cruises, the successor of Genting Cruise Lines .

Cruising Returns to More Regions, Including Australia and Asia

With more countries reopening to travel, cruising returned to additional destinations over the year.

Following a two-year gap, Australia welcomed cruise ships back in late May, with several cruise lines later returning to the region . More recently, Asia also saw the resumption of international cruising, welcoming back brands that include Silversea and Royal Caribbean .

Royal Caribbean Reveals the Next Biggest Cruise Ship

After introducing the Wonder of the Seas in March , Royal Caribbean International revealed the first details of the new Icon of the Seas in October.

Replacing the Wonder as the world’s largest cruise ship, the 250,000-ton vessel is set to enter service in early 2024, with a series of innovations that include the ultimate green technology and the largest waterpark at sea .

MSC Expands U.S. Presence

Continuing its expansion in North America, MSC Cruises made several announcements for the U.S. market in 2022.

Currently sailing from Miami and Port Canaveral, the European cruise line plans to add new stateside homeports in the future, including New York City , where it’s starting year-round operations in 2023, and Galveston .

After having the new MSC Seascape in the region for its maiden season , MSC also announced plans to sent the new MSC World America to the United States once its construction completed in 2025 .

Carnival Cruise Line Getting Three Additional Ships

In separate announcements through the year, Carnival Cruise Line revealed plans to add extra cruise ships to its fleet through 2024 .

Apart from its previous newbuild program, the company is now receiving three former Costa Cruises vessels: the Costa Luminosa, the Costa Venezia and the Costa Firenze. The later two will offer a new product called Carnival Fun Italian Style .

Going Green with More LNG-Powered Ships

After the addition of five newbuilds, the LNG-powered fleet reached a total of 11 cruise vessels. Two cruise lines also received their first ships driven by the fuel: Disney with the Wish in July and MSC with the World Europa in October .

Considered one of the cleanest burning fossil fuels, the LNG is one of the biggest bets of the cruise lines for greener operations.

Crystal Cruises Brand and Ships Saved

One of the most traditional names in the luxury cruising market, Crystal Cruises was saved by a former competitor in June.

With the company’s assets being auctioned after Genting’s bankruptcy, the A&K Travel Group – a company partly owned by previous Silversea stakeholders – acquired the Crystal Cruises brand , customer list and domain names, in addition to the Crystal Serenity and the Crystal Symphony.

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Carnival firenze officially christened in long beach.

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Carnival Firenze

Carnival Cruise Line has officially christened its newest ship, Carnival Firenze , at Long Beach in California.

Hollywood actor Jonathan Bennett, godfather of Carnival Firenze, hosted the ceremony alongside Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy.

Bennett is well known for appearing in the 2004 movie Mean Girls and has since gone on to star in Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and Love Wrecked and hosting programs for the Food Network.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said, “Jonathan is a true brand ambassador for Carnival.

He is friendly and welcoming to everyone and embodies the Carnival-style of fun.”

“After he sailed on the first voyage of Carnival Firenze’s sister ship, Carnival Venezia, last May, he told me it would be his dream to be the godfather of one of our ships, so how could I turn down such a request for such a terrific friend to Carnival” Duffy added.

Jonathan Bennett said: “This is a fantastic honor, and I’m so proud to know I’ll always be a part of the Carnival Firenze family.

When I told Christine I’d love to be a Carnival cruise ship godfather, I never thought she’d take my request seriously.”

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“I have so much respect for the Carnival team and how they’re dedicated to caring for their guests, the ocean, and each other,” Bennett added.

Carrying 5,000 guests, Carnival Firenze is sailing year-round from Long Beach, offering three to seven-day Baja Mexico and Mexican Riviera sailings.

She will also feature new Italian concepts from a brand new specialty restaurant for Carnival, Il Viaggio, Italian for ‘The Voyage’ — to Festa Italiana , a top-deck street party.

Carnival Firenze is the first ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet to utilize new technology and artificial intelligence to create energy-saving routes on each sailing, which will be rolled out across the entire fleet later this year.

Christine Duffy said: “We carry more guests than any other cruise line from California, and now Carnival Firenze is allowing us to offer more fun to more people sailing from Long Beach.

The recipe combining this ship’s beautiful Italian theming with the familiarity of our friendly team’s hospitality is, in a word, perfecto.”

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I've been on 50 cruises. Here are 5 things I wish I'd known before sailing in the Mediterranean.

• I've been on 50 cruises around the world and took my first Mediterranean route last year.
• Picking the right time of the season to go can make a big difference in your trip.
• Before packing, I always check to see if any of the experiences I've booked have a dress code.

As someone who's taken over 50 cruises all over the world, I know firsthand how popular cruising is this year. But one seabound itinerary people often forget to add to their bucket lists is a Mediterranean cruise .

The dreamy ships take passengers around European destinations like Spain, France, Italy, and Greece.

After taking my first Mediterranean cruise last year, here's what I think everyone should know before booking the route.

Going early or late in the sailing season means fewer crowds and better weather.

Many cruise lines, like Virgin, Celebrity, and Disney, start the Mediterranean season in early spring and sail through early fall.

Going early or late in the season usually means you'll have more tolerable weather and smaller crowds in some of the big destinations like Athens .

I made the mistake of going on my Mediterranean cruise at the end of May (over Memorial Day weekend).

Some ports of call, like Nice, France, were easy to get around, but others like Rome were packed to the gills. I wanted the day to end before we even made it to the Vatican on our tour.

Arriving at your embarkation port early is key to having a smooth sailing.

My biggest tip for any cruise — but especially for Americans traveling to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise — is to arrive at your embarkation city at least a day before your sailing starts.

This gives you plenty of time to ensure you make it to the port, especially with the airline delays that typically spike in the summer. The boat isn't going to wait for you i f you don't land on time

Even though it means paying for lodging and likely a few meals before boarding the boat, getting a good night's sleep before a jam-packed vacation is worth it to me.

As a bonus, arriving early also gives you a chance to explore the city.

Be sure to pack at least one shirt with sleeves and bottoms that cover your knees.

Some of the major European tourist destinations have strict dress codes — typically everyone must at least cover their shoulders and knees out of respect.

If you're planning on checking out Vatican Ci t y in Italy or the Meteora monasteries in Greece, b e sure to pack at least one outfit that fits the bill.

Most cruise ships have laundry services (self-serve or valet), so you can wear the same dress-code-approved outfit for a few excursion days if needed.

Food tours are a great way to see a city, taste local dishes, and learn some history.

If you're looking for a unique excursion that still gives you the highlights of a European city, I recommend booking a food tour . I've done tours in places like Amsterdam, Budapest, and Paris, and I've never been disappointed.

Food tours can be booked through third-party travel operators, like TripAdvisor or Viator, and offer the chance to see some of the major landmarks of a city, try local dishes, and learn some history all in one outing.

The tours are usually led by locals, which means the guides can also give you some good recommendations if you have time before you need to return to the ship.

Consider booking tours through third-party sites.

Mediterranean cruises can last anywhere from seven days to two weeks, depending on the company and itinerary. Booking every excursion through the cruise line can add up, but luckily, there are typically more affordable options through third-party companies.

But I only book with third-party operators if the ship docks right at the city I want to explore because I never want to miss the all-aboard time.

For example, on my Mediterranean cruise last summer, the ship anchored at Cannes, and I was able to keep my eye on it throughout my excursion.

If the ship docks in a secondary location and you have to travel to the big tourist destinations , I always book excursions through the cruise line. For instance, the day my family and I explored Rome, the ship docked in Civitavecchia, Italy, and we had to take a two-hour bus ride into the city.

Booking with the cruise company guarantees your return to the ship, even if your excursion runs late.

• Main content

Carnival Cruise Line pushes back on controversial onboard issue

C ruise lines operate each cruise as its own business more or less. The cruise operators track their costs and balance that against the value of the tickets sold, the various onboard extras people pay for, and any other revenue that comes in.

Some costs are fixed. You can't really change the size of the crew on a cruise-by-cruise basis. The same goes for fuel and onboard entertainment. Royal Caribbean has to pay the pub guitarist even if the pub is empty, and Carnival Cruise Line ( CCL ) has to pay its singalong piano bar players whether or not that venue draws a crowd.

Related: Carnival Cruise Line confirms ban on a popular cabin hack

There are, however, some costs the cruise lines have choices about. Before the pandemic, Royal Caribbean ( RCL ) showed movies all day on the big screen on ships that have a screen on the pool deck. It showed the movies that played in that spot at night more as background content.

Since the Covid restart, the cruise line now only shows movies at select times. That's a budget-saving measure that likely has not annoyed many passengers because it still offers recently-in-theaters films, at night, just not all the time.

The same logic applies to sports programming. Royal Caribbean and Carnival, on their namesake brands, generally have the big games and the playoffs, but they might not have every game customers wish to see.

That's because they're making choices as to which networks they license and that may leave them with coverage holes. Both cruise lines also have a fairly limited selection of television channels offered in passenger cabins and that's something some cruisers have complained about.

Carnival pushed for more TV choices  

Some cruise ship passengers never use the television in their cabin while others like to use it to watch the in-house programming. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean have channels devoted to on-ship programming which often includes a daily show featuring the cruise director, as well as channels dedicated the excursions and booking future cruises.

There are, however, passengers who like to keep track of the real world while at sea, and one of those cruisers reached out to Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald.

"John Heald. Talk to the beards as you call them and tell them this. We need the main networks plus Fox News in this election year in the states. Plus we want USA Network, HBO, FX. As you guys are too cheap to pay for it make it known there should be an option of say $20-$100 Increase in the cost of the cruise. And add on like the internet or Cheers. That kind of thing. 90% would pay for an add-on like this," M wrote.

It's worth noting that the cruise lines generally do not have the ability to license television networks on a per-person basis. They either pay to have the channel on the ship, or they don't.

Selection, however, can vary by ship. Royal Caribbean ships, for example, that don't have the Playmakers Sports Bar have a thinner selection of sports channels offered in-cabin.

Carnival's Heald gives an answer, asks a question

"Well as I have mentioned many times before, the cost of these kinds of channels is massive," Heald wrote.

He then posed a question to his followers and got over 3,400 responses.

"Do you agree? Would you ever want to pay an extra fee for these kind of stations?" he added.

The results were mixed, but nobody seemed to like the idea of paying more for a bigger selection of channels. 

"No! Vacation is disconnected time," Colleen Halleran Coon answered. 

That was a very popular answer, but it was not universal.

"Yes, I would like more channels on the TV. I like to watch a little TV before bed," Beth McDonald wrote.

Barbara Thibault shared a practical approach.

"I would record everything I wanna watch. I'll watch it when I get home," she shared.

A few people did like "M's" idea.

"Yes, I would pay extra to have extra channels as I like to watch the news while having coffee and my travel partner is a late sleeper," wrote Shirley Abts.

"Yes, I sure would. Vacation is whatever you make of it and enjoy. I don't drink but I don't care that you have all the bars. I do enjoy lounging letting my mind rest and watching TV in the morning and evening," Travis Lester added.

Are you planning a cruise for summer or fall? Brace yourself for a shock

Are you looking to take a cruise between now and the end of the year? We have some bad news: You might have a tough time finding a cabin — at least if you want a specific type of room on a specific ship.

Bookings for cruises have been on fire for months , pacing at record levels. As a result, nearly nine of every 10 cabins available for 2024 sailings are already booked, the top executive of one of the world's biggest cruise companies revealed Thursday.

"We only have about 12% load factors left to build for the year," Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group CEO, noted in a conference call with Wall Street analysts, using a term that refers to the percentage of cabin space that is available on ships.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Liberty said bookings for cruises accelerated in April beyond an already blistering pace set in the first three months of the year. The surge occurred despite a rapidly dwindling amount of open cabin space for 2024 sailings.

"Bookings have consistently outpaced last year throughout the entire first quarter and through April, even though we have significantly fewer staterooms left to sell," Liberty said.

Royal Caribbean Group is the parent company of Royal Caribbean , the world's biggest cruise line, as well as Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises . It also owns a partial interest in Germany-based cruise brands TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

Liberty was only referring to Royal Caribbean Group brands when making the comments about bookings. But other cruise companies, including Carnival Corporation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, have reported similar strength in bookings in recent months.

As one of the biggest cruise brands in the world, Royal Caribbean Group also serves as a bellwether of sorts for the industry when it comes to booking strength.

The result: soaring cruise fares

With demand for cruises at record levels and cabin supply quickly disappearing, cruise lines have been able to raise prices significantly in recent months on top of sharp price increases throughout 2023.

During Thursday's conference call with Wall Street analysts, Liberty said the bookings that customers at its brands made during the first three months of the year were "at much higher prices than 2023" fares.

Liberty also noted that yields at Royal Caribbean Group brands for cruises that customers took during the first three months of the year were up 19.3% as compared to the same months in 2023. That was nearly four percentage points higher than the company was predicting just a few months ago.

Related: 6 ways to get a deal on a cruise

Yield is a measure of how much money cruise lines make per passenger.

"The first quarter was tremendous, sending us well on our path to a year that is significantly better than we expected just a few months back," Liberty said.

Liberty attributed the strong growth in bookings and pricing in part to the line's rollout of the record-size Icon of the Seas in January, which has been a huge hit . He also noted strong bookings and pricing across the entire fleets of its brands for all key itineraries.

Both new ships and older ships are in hot demand, Liberty suggested, with demand particularly strong from North American travelers. Roughly 80% of all Royal Caribbean Group bookings this year have come from North Americans — an unusually large percentage.

The company is also seeing a surge in first-time cruisers, a category known in the industry as the "new to cruise" market.

"Our addressable market is expanding, and 'new to cruise' continues to grow, increasing 16% year over year," Liberty said. "These guests are discovering our differentiated vacation experiences and are increasingly returning to us as we see repeat rates over 30% higher compared to 2019."

Liberty also noted the company was drawing more younger customers, including a growing number of millennials.

"Millennials and younger generations have gained 11 percentage points share compared to 2019, and today almost one in two guests are millennials or younger," he said.

Cruise bookings are surging in part because vacationers are seeing the value in cruising as compared to other types of vacations that involve land travel, Liberty suggested. Liberty and other cruise executives believe cruises are priced significantly below the level of land resorts on a like-for-like basis, even after the sharp increases in cruise fares over the past year.

"Despite our ability to narrow the gap [in pricing] to land-based vacations in the last 12 months, cruising still remains an exceptional value proposition," Liberty said.

Also driving cruise bookings is the fact that a strong economy has consumers feeling flush and willing to spend on vacations, Liberty suggested. He noted that consumer sentiment is high, "bolstered by resilient labor markets, wage growth, stabilizing inflation and record-high household net worth."

In addition, "consumer preferences continue to shift toward spend on experiences, particularly priority for travel," he said.

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New ‘Dutch Day’ on Every Cruise Celebrates Holland America Line’s Heritage with Themed Culinary Experiences

Daelmans Stroopwafel partnership offers a variety of sweet treats, while new special menus and the Orange Party highlight Holland America Line’s rich Dutch history

Seattle, Wash., April 26, 2024 — Holland America Line is introducing a new “Dutch Day” experience that celebrates the cruise line’s more than 150-year-history that began in the Netherlands. Whether sailing in Alaska, Europe, Asia or the Caribbean, many Dutch culinary favorites will be featured on board for the special day.

The centerpiece of Dutch Day will be a themed Dutch Dinner served once per cruise in the main Dining Room, with many of the dishes also offered in the casual Lido Market. Additionally, Holland America Line's popular Orange Party will be held on Dutch Day, and guests can enjoy fresh-made poffertjes in Crow’s Nest Café.  A new partnership with Daelmans Stroopwafel includes delectable desserts featuring the Dutch staple and a Daelmans Stroopwafel turn-down pillow treat in every stateroom.

“Holland America Line remains deeply connected to our roots in the Netherlands, and Dutch Day is the perfect way to honor our history through experiences that celebrate the culinary culture of the country,” said Michael Stendebach, vice president of food, beverage and rooms division for Holland America Line. “Our guests appreciate special touches like Daelmans Stroopwafel for turn down or a dish in the dining room that is distinctly Dutch, and we’re excited to expand the cultural experience for an entire day to showcase more of our heritage.”

Culinary traditions run deep in the Netherlands, and the special themed Dutch Dinner in the Dining Room features an extensive menu that includes both classic and contemporary Dutch delicacies. The selection of starters features a Bay Shrimp Cocktail with Dutch cocktail sauce, Erwten Soep (Dutch Pea Soup), and Mushroom Cream puff pastry with hollandaise sauce.

Dutch-inspired main course selections include Bami Goreng, a stir-fried noodle dish with chicken sate and peanut sauce; Pan-Fried Dover Sole with lemon butter; and Hodge Podge Klapstuk with chateau potatoes. For dessert, a Bosche Bol (large, chocolate covered cream puff), Tompouce (Dutch mille-feuille pastry) or a slice of traditional Dutch Apple Pie provide the perfect sweet ending to the meal. 

In collaboration with Daelmans Stroopwafels — a family-owned bakery founded in the Netherlands in 1904, renowned for its authentic recipe —Dutch Day will feature Stroopwafel Cheesecake for dessert on the dinner menu in the Dining Room and Lido Market and a Stroopwafel Napoleon at tea time. Select bars will serve a Stroopwafel Liqueur with hints of cinnamon and caramel only on ships in Europe. Additionally, in place of the traditional stateroom turn-down chocolate, guests will find a Daelmans Stroopwafel waiting for them on their pillow.

New in Crow’s Nest Café on all ships, fresh-made poffertjes — a traditional Dutch treat resembling small, fluffy pancakes — will be available daily (not just on Dutch Day) for a nominal charge.

Popular Orange Party Held on Dutch Day

Once per cruise, Holland America Line holds the Orange Party with live music, cocktails and treats, and now it will be held on Dutch Day. The Orange Party pays homage to the company’s Dutch heritage (orange is the color of the Dutch Royal Family, which hails from the House of Orange), and guests are invited to wear orange attire and accessories. During the after-dinner festivities, special orange-themed cocktails are available while servers pass around finger-foods and sweets.

Dutch Day is part of Holland America Line’s programming that offers authentic experiences to immerse guests in the culture, history and traditions of the places visited on each cruise.

Cruise line canceled while guests were already onboard

• Published: Apr. 29, 2024, 4:53 p.m.

Royal Caribbean Cruise canceled while guests were already onboard. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) AP

• EmilyAnn Jackman | [email protected]

So much for thinking they had crossed their final hurdle.

Guests onboard the Royal Caribbean cruise line were told their trip was canceled and were being sent home despite already being aboard the ship.

Royal Caribbean International notified guests onboard Radiance of the Seas that the ship would not continue on an already-abbreviated Alaskan cruise. The trip was canceled, and guests had to disembark, CruiseHive.com reported.

The ship was set to leave from Vancouver, British Columbia, on April 26, but an earlier adjustment due to technical difficulties allowed guests to board on embarkation day while the ship was to spend two days in port undergoing repairs.

The revised plan features a Sunday departure and an adjusted route, with calls to Icy Strait Point and Ketchikan and scenic cruising in the famed Inside Passage before returning on May 3, which was the original completion date.

But it was later announced that the trip was being canceled due to repairs for a technical issue. Guests had to leave the ship by 4 p.m. Sunday.

“As you are aware, our teams have been vigorously working to have Radiance of the Seas prepared to set sail on our shortened April 26th sailing,” the letter given to passengers in their staterooms read, the unofficial cruise site RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com reported.

“Despite our best efforts, circumstances beyond our control have delayed our sailing further. As a result, we’ll regrettably have to cancel our April 26th, 2024, cruise,” the letter concluded.

Guests will receive a 100% refund of their cruise fare and a 100% future cruise credit that may be applied to any future Royal Caribbean sailing. Internet service aboard the ship was also open free of charge to allow for easier travel planning and offered a free open bar until debarkation.

The ship began to develop propulsion difficulties last week during a repositioning cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, causing multiple stops to be scrapped due to a slower speed.

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The film of the show will be revealed on Thursday, May 2 nd at 6.30pm, Marseille time

CHANEL and Virginie Viard have chosen to present the Cruise 2024/25 collection in Marseille, the pulsating heart of the Mediterranean, at the crossroads of contemporary cultures. In a film directed by Ladj Ly, with a choreography imagined by (LA)HORDE, dancers of the Ballet National de Marseille and dancer and friend of the House Marion Barbeau explore the landmarks of the Phocaean City, from the Vieux Port to the Cité radieuse.

Choreography by (LA)HORDE - Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel. Photography by André Chemetoff. Music by Pinknoise. Le Corbusier, Unité d’habitation, Marseille © F.L.C. / ADAGP, Paris, 2024 Mamo, Centre d’Art de La Cité radieuse © R.RICCIOTTI et R. CARTA architectes / Mucem

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