From Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, we’ll marvel at wildlife against a backdrop of spectacular panoramas. We’ll pitch camp in romantic lodges and sail on the beautiful African Queen. We’ll explore beautiful natural reserves and the secrets of Lake Kariba before taking in the grandeur of the “smoke that thunders,” Victoria Falls Read the rest of this entry »

“We see the future and we think this is the right focus—and obviously, we want to secure the spots before our competition does,” Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. president and CEO Harry Sommer told investors on a call announcing the biggest ship order in its history this morning.

Betting big on the next decade of big-ship cruising, NCLH announced orders for eight new ships across its Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, plus the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay. The new build order will add nearly 25,000 berths and new classes of ships for each brand over the next decade. Beginning in 2026, NCL will add four Prima-Plus class ships, each holding about 5,000 guests; Oceania Cruises will add two Allura Class ships holding 1,450 guests, and  Regent Seven Seas Cruises will add two Explorer Class ships, each holding 850.

By 2036, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. plans to grow its fleet by more than 40%, from the current 32 ships, with approximately 66,500 berths, to 45 ships with more than 100,000 berths.

“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth. It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation, and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet,” Sommer said.

NCLH is “super-passionate about delivering a great guest experience; it’s something we talk about a lot internally. We have lots of ships, we know what guests enjoy, and we are super-focused on delivering on those.” With Breakaway Plus and Prima, “we think we can take the best of both and create something that’s really world-class.”

These are not jumbo ships or incredible jumps in size, he noted, but NCL thinks they will make it possible to focus on costs, increase efficiency and “give our guests a great product that they will enjoy.”

About $150 million worth of work on the pier at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas will allow for two ships to park simultaneously. It is scheduled to begin this summer and be completed by late 2025. The new pier will be constructed to accommodate two large vessels of the company’s current and future ship classes. Only a small piece of the island currently is being used, Sommer noted on the investor’s call this morning, and guest counts to the island are expected to grow over 50% in the first 12 months. In a typical 12 months about 400K guests so about 600K starting in 2026.

NCLH CFO Mark A. Kempa said the ships are expected to “secure our growth trajectory, significantly boost our earnings profile, and enhance shareholder value well into the future. With a favorable payment structure that includes pre-delivery financing and modest initial installment payments for these ship orders, we still anticipate a strong Net Leverage reduction of 1.5 turns by the end of 2024, relative to 2023, and expect the Company to continue reducing Net Leverage each year for the foreseeable future.”

“We really want to build something special and there’s a tremendous advantage to designing things so many years ahead. We’re not going to settle; this product will be truly extraordinary, and we are going to take the time to deliver it right,” Sommer said.

It’s the first week of river cruise season in Europe, and AmaWaterways is sailing into the niche with a special for single travelers.

For a limited time, the travel-advisor-friendly company is waiving single supplements on select 2024 Europe sailings for stateroom categories other than suites on reservations booked by June 30, 2024.

Single supplements also are being waived on the two single-occupancy staterooms (140 sq. ft. with French balconies) on its four ships in France: AmaCello, AmaDante, AmaDolce and AmaLyra. And Ama will charge a reduced supplement of 25% on all fixed window staterooms on Europe sailings (Category E&D) and Category C staterooms on all Mekong sailings.

“Solo travelers on their own or perhaps as part of a multi-generational family group or girlfriend getaway have every reason to take advantage of this special offer” on more than 45 departure dates, Ama said, including the new Flavors of Burgundy.

Ana has seen “continual growth from the solo market” and is a perfect fit for single travelers, Ama’s VP of Strategic Alliances Brenda Kyllo told TRO. “Traveling isn’t only about sharing special time with loved ones, it’s also about self-discovery and finding pleasure in meeting new people in a safe and welcoming environment,” she said. “With no more than 150 guests on board, our crew are able to take special care of solo travelers to ensure they feel welcome from the minute they arrive on board. And with the choice of up to eight included daily excursions plus wellness classes and small group biking and hiking tours, there are so many opportunities to meet fellow travelers who share common interests. Many of our tables in the main dining room are set for five rather than six guests to be sure solo travelers feel at ease joining other couples for dinner.”

The offer is capacity-controlled and subject to change. Ask for promo code SOLOWAIVED. See current list of sailings here: https://www.amawaterways.com/solo-traveler-2024

Seine River Cruise Prices is part of a continuing series of comparison charts and articles featuring European River Cruises offered by world class river cruise lines. Our goal is to provide a True Per Diem for each cruise, or the daily cost breakdown of the trip once all extra fees are added to the cruise fare. Read the rest of this entry »

Citing the fallout from Covid-19, cruise operator Hornblower has filed for bankruptcy, and its American Queen subsidiary has ceased operations.

Private-equity firm Strategic Value Partners has agreed to acquire majority ownership of Hornblower and “provide a significant equity investment in the business,” but the deal will require approval from the US Bankruptcy Court in Houston, the Wall Street Journal reported. Private-equity firm Crestview Partners will retain a minority interest and become the sole owner of Journey Beyond, the leading experiential travel provider in Australia.

Hornblower said in a statement that American Queen Voyages hopefully will be sold; if no buyer is found its operations will be wound down.

Hornblower also provides ferry services to the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis National Museum of Immigration in New York, and to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. Those services will continue operations.

Guests who have booked an American Queen Voyages cruise should visit the line’s dedicated refund website to submit a claim form and begin the refund process, or call (888) 202-5784.

Hornblower said it expects to move through the bankruptcy process quickly and emerge from Chapter 11 in about four months. It has a commitment for $300 million in financing from Deutsche Bank, $121 million in new-money financing from SVP-managed funds and Crestview.

“The steps we are taking today will enable us to address AQV and strengthen our financial foundation as we continue serving our guests and commuters around the world. With the support of our financial stakeholders, we will continue to advance our business initiatives and drive growth. We thank the entire Hornblower team for their hard work and dedication, as well as our vendors and partners across our businesses for their continued support,” said Hornblower Group CEO Kevin Rabbitt.

The Travel Institute, celebrating its 60th anniversary, has partnered with Royal Caribbean to send ten lucky advisors aboard Royal Caribbean’s new ship, Utopia of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean, a long-time supporter of The Travel Institute’s non-profit initiatives to promote education and professional development for agents, has offered up a great opportunity to preview the new ship.

The ten advisors chosen will receive a free, double-occupancy stateroom aboard the preview sailing in July 2024 of Utopia of the Seas. An excellent chance to experience and report back to clients on your travels.

To qualify for this drawing, advisors must:

• Enroll in the CTA® program by March 31
• And, complete the Bachelor of Adventure program through Royal Caribbean University by April 15

“At Royal Caribbean, we value agent success and are committed to supporting them. The Travel Institute’s CTA serves as the foundation for their success and is widely recognized in the industry as the pinnacle of professionalism. Obtaining their CTA, agents demonstrate dedication to the highest standards of excellence in the travel industry, gaining confidence, expertise, a competitive edge, and the potential for higher sales.”

American Cruise Lines will be sailing its American Revolution 11-day itineraries round-trip out of Washington DC in 2024.

The only cruise ship that sails the Potomac into Washington, American Constitution will depart from The Wharf and sail the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac and the York River, with calls in the historic ports of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Mount Vernon, Annapolis and Norfolk.

It’s a particularly interesting offer for the drive-to cruise market, “allowing many guests to skip flights and jump on board hassle- free,” noted American’s Director of Business Development Melissa Young

Cruises on the American Revolution itinerary will run in the spring and fall 2024, beginning March 26 and including Cherry Blossom season. They all include entertainment and enrichment, as well as regionally inspired cuisine featuring Maryland’s famous Blue Crabs. Excursions in Washington include guided tours of the Capitol and the Smithsonian museums, as well as Arlington National Cemetery, the Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad exhibit, Colonial Williamsburg, the Jamestown Settlement, and Virginia Beach, and an authentic sailing on “Skipjack” through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Wave season specials include savings up to $1,500 plus complimentary airfare on select Spring dates. There is also an option to add a pre-cruise hotel stay at the Four Seasons, D.C.

The largest small ship and river cruise operator in the United States, American Cruise Lines will sail 19 ships in 35 states, with more than 50 domestic itineraries.

If you’re a traveler seeking a blend of river cruising and immersive land experiences, AmaWaterways has just the experience for you. Ama is currently offering complimentary 2-, 3-, and 4-night land packages on select voyages until the end of March. These land packages provide an opportunity to add value to your journey and make the most of your time abroad. Whether you’re strolling through the streets of historic cities or enjoying local attractions, AmaWaterways ensures Read the rest of this entry »

Celebrity Cruises is taking extraordinary steps to keep its Galapagos customers safe. Silversea is canceling a cruise in the Red Sea. From South America to the Middle East, political unrest continued to keep the cruise industry—and the travel advisors who sell its products—on their toes last week.

Celebrity, last week, issued an advisory asking guests booked on Galapagos cruises on Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xpedition to not arrive in the country until the day before their sailing.

c, the pre-departure arrival point for many guests, is considered its most dangerous, as its ports have become a hub for drug smuggling. Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has declared a state of “internal armed conflict” and imposed a nationwide state of emergency and nighttime curfew after a wave of gang violence in which armed men interrupted a live TV broadcast and took more than 100 prison staff hostage.

Lindblad Expeditions has cancelled two cruises in the region that were scheduled to sail on January 12 and 13, National Geographic Endeavour II and Islander II “out of an abundance of caution,” and noting a “lack of clarity” regarding air travel. Celebrity Cruises is taking extraordinary steps to keep its customers safe. Silversea canceled a call in Manta, Ecuador, on Silver Nova, which is sailing a 71-day roundtrip sailing around South America, and Azamara canceled a stop as well. Intrepid and G Adventures posted travel alerts on their websites informing travelers of the 60-day state of emergency and noted they are monitoring the situation carefully.

Celebrity issued an advisory asking guests booked on Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xpedition to not arrive in the country until the day before their sailing.

In a letter sent January 10, Celebrity stressed that cruises are not cancelled But, guests who feel uncomfortable can cancel their bookings with a full refund and have the opportunity for price protection on future voyages when they book a new cruise before 2025. Celebrity Cruises also will reimburse guests for any fees they incur for changing their inbound flights.

Guests who are sailing on the three ships will be housed at the new Holiday Inn, in a secure area near the airport, and are asked not to leave the hotel. Celebrity staffers will escort guests as they transfer to the hotel and on to their flights to Baltra.

All pre- and post-cruise excursions in Ecuador have been suspended.

“Any Celebrity pre- or post-cruise packages in Ecuador will be cancelled and refunded, as these will no longer take place. For independently purchased pre- or post-cruise purchases, we recommend you cancel these, and we will review refund requests,” Celebrity Cruises said in the letter.

Celebrity says it is closely monitoring the situation and may still cancel cruises if the situation deteriorates.

Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport in Quito and José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil remain fully operational, but American Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines all have canceled some flights, and American, Delta, LATAM and United have issued waivers for travel to the country.

In the Middle East, meanwhile, trouble in the Red Sea and Yemen has more cruise ships scrambling to find alternative routes.

After making changes to the itinerary of the last sailing, Silversea last week canceled Silver Moon’s January 16-26 sailing of the Silver Moon Muscat-Dubai itinerary and is “in the process of informing affected guests and their travel agents of the reprotection options. Our global security team continues to closely monitor the situation in the region and will make any additional changes if required,” a spokesperson told TRO.

The cruise was scheduled to visit several destinations in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrein, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Affected passengers will receive different compensations, including refund of the fate of the cancelled cruise portion, and Future Cruise Credits (FCCs).

But the January 26-February 11 sailing remains scheduled, as are future voyages.

MSC Cruises, meanwhile, has rerouted MSC Poesia’s 115-day world cruise, which now will circumnavigate Africa instead of passing through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.

Riverside Luxury Cruises announced the launch of its third all-inclusive, all-suite luxury river ship, Riverside Debussy. Riverside Debussy offers an expansive selection of more than 40 departures in 2024 with her inaugural voyage sailing from Brussels, Belgium, to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on March 23 Read the rest of this entry »

MSC Cruises today welcomed its fifth US-based ship, the Fantasia-class MSC Divina, to her new homeport in Miami.

Beginning this weekend, MSC Divina will sail a variety of itineraries to the Caribbean, Central America—and Mexico—including 3-day trips to Nassau and MSC’s private island at Ocean Cay; 7-night trips that include Isla de Roatan (Honduras), Belize City (Belize), Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico), George Town (Cayman Islands), Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Nassau and Ocean Cay; and 11-night voyages that include Montego Bay (Jamaica), Cartagena (Colombia), Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), Isla de Roatan (Honduras), Oranjestad (Aruba), Cozumel and Ocean Cay.

A limited-time flash sale this weekend will give potential sailors a chance to try the ship, or any MSC ship sailing from Miami or Orlando, at reduced prices starting at $109. Trips must be booked by December 18.

Introduced in 2012, MSC can hold up to 4,345 passengers and 1,388 crew members. There’s a 4-D theater and four pool areas, including a 22,507-square-foot Aqua Park, as well as eight restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, an MSC Yacht Club with floor-to-ceiling windows, and a Thermal Suite.

Also sailing the Caribbean will be MSC Seascape, Seashore, Seaside, Meraviglia and Magnifica.

South America also will have six ships this winter: MSC Grandiosa, Seaview, Preziosa, Musica, Lirica and Armonia, sailing a series of itineraries to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

MSC also will have a winter presence in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Europe, Asia, and South Africa.

Britton has been learning quite a bit about trip insurance. You’ll find her articles at this link. I recently reached out to Suzanne Morrow, Senior Vice President for InsureMyTrip.com to ask a couple of questions.

1. What are the top three coverages that a U.S. traveler to Europe would want in trip insurance?

Travel insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every trip is different, and every traveler has different needs and concerns. With that said – if an American is traveling out of the country, we recommend they consider emergency medical and evacuation coverage. Most domestic health insurance, including Medicare, will not cover medical bills overseas. Read the rest of this entry »

It was a Latin-style celebration in Miami last week, as travel partners, travel press and the greater Norwegian Cruise Line family—including Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. president and CEO Harry Sommer, NCL CEO David Herrera and new SVP of North America Sales John Chernesky, who joined the team in April—gathered for the official christening of Norwegian Viva.

You could be forgiven for not knowing about Riverside Luxury Cruises. After all, the company is a newcomer, first mentioned on our site one year ago.

That was in November 2022, when Riverside acquired the double-width river cruiser Mozart. The ship had been operating for Crystal River Cruises, which went bankrupt. Riverside snapped up Mozart and has since added two more of the ex-Crystal ships. Read the rest of this entry »

Though we primarily focus on European river cruises, we would be remiss not to mention Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals on the Mississippi. Here are two from American Queen Voyages and American Cruise Lines. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been a record-breaking year in the travel industry—but as 2023 nears an end, travel advisors who sell the Middle East are wondering about the possible fallout of the Israel/Hamas War. Some already are feeling the pinch as suppliers shift itineraries, customers try unsuccessfully to cancel—and travel advisors and their commissions are caught in the middle. Again.

“I have been fighting with Regent since they announced my clients would not be going to Israel and Egypt—which was the whole reason for their trip—and put Greece in its place,” says Samantha Hamilton at Ultimate Vacations. “My clients have already been to Greece and have no desire to go back Read the rest of this entry »

Award-winning luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways announced an exclusive 2-for-1 Land Package offer for guests reserving a full six- or eight-night land package in conjunction with select 2024 and 2025 seven-night river cruises in Vietnam and Cambodia. Guests reserving select Charms of the Mekong or Riches of the Mekong itineraries are able to take advantage of this offer* until December 31, 2023. The 2-for-1 Land Package Read the rest of this entry »

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises announces the addition of two new Super Ships, the S.S. Victoria and S.S. Elisabeth, which will begin sailing in Europe in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Uniworld will take over the ships from Seaside Collection under a three-year, bareboat charter agreement for each ship and create the signature Uniworld experience on existing itineraries with an all-Uniworld staff, as well as the brand’s trademark touches and amenities. Before joining Riverside Luxury Cruises, the ships were a part of Crystal Cruises’ river fleet as the Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler. Read the rest of this entry »

Barcelona has banned all passenger ships from its central port effective October 22, sending them instead to terminals farther from the popular La Rambla district.

The new regulation, designed to control cruise ship emissions, will send smaller ships from AIDA Cruises, Azamara, Oceania, Regent and Virgin to the Moll Adossat Pier, where large ships dock. Passengers then will have to take a 30-minute shuttle ride.

Barcelona also has cut the number of cruise ships that can visit its ports at one time, from 10 to 7.

The move follows protests against tourism by Barcelona residents over the past six years.

“The closure of the Barcelona northern docks for cruise operations is a new step to comply with the agreement signed in 2018 with the Barcelona municipal government to eliminate the negative impact that this activity could produce for citizens,” said Lluís Salvado, president of the Port of Barcelona.

While many cities have been looking to cut the number of ships arriving on their shores, business owners in Palma, Majorca, this month called on the government to scrap the cruise ship limits set there. They cited an 18% fall in passengers since legislation limited cruise ships to three a day.

“Don’t demonize cruise ship passengers, it is family tourism with a high spending power,” eight local business organizations, including bar and restaurant owners, shopkeepers and tour guides, said in a statement.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will add two new ships to its fleet, and begin sailing one in 2024 and one in 2025.

The S.S. Victoria and S.S. Elisabeth—formerly Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler—are being leased from Seaside Collection under a three-year, bareboat charter agreement. They will sail with an all-Uniworld staff and offer Uniworld’s amenities, to create “the signature Uniworld experience on existing itineraries,” the company said.

The two identical ships hold 110 guests in 55 suites and staterooms, each with full-length windows opposite king-sized beds, and adjoining suites that offer two-bedroom accommodations. They also have a massage room, gym, bistro for snacks, rooftop bar and grill, and fine dining restaurants featuring farm-to-table cuisine gathered daily by the chef in each destination.

S.S. Victoria will sail the Rhine for the 2024 season, beginning in March in Amsterdam with an 8-day “Holland & Belgium at Tulip Time” cruise through Belgium and The Netherlands. Then it will sail the 8-day “Castles Along the Rhine” itinerary from Basel to Amsterdam, the 10-day “Magnificent Moselle and Rhine” itinerary and the 8-day “Belgium Holiday Markets” round-trip from Brussels.

“The S.S. Victoria and S.S. Elisabeth are unique vessels that we know our guests will love, featuring a modern design, some of the largest suites on the rivers, and an ambiance that exudes contemporary luxury. Onboard, guests can expect our Tiny Noticeable Touches throughout every aspect, from the impeccable service provided by the Uniworld crew they know and love to the multitude of all-inclusive amenities available to them,” said Uniworld president and CEO Ellen Bettridge.

The S.S. Elisabeth is scheduled to sail the 2025 season, though no details have yet been released.

American Cruise Lines continues to provide US river cruising with a look at their 2024 cruise season. With a total of 125 US ports of call and nine new itineraries, ACL has big announcements out.

Leading the announcement is two new 100-passenger ships, Coastal Cats, American Liberty and American Legend. These are the 3^rd and 4^th ships of the American series which will include 12 total. The first two coastal cats already in operation are American Eagle and  American Glory. Slated to sail New England, Chesapeake Bay, Hudson River and Florida, the American Liberty is set to cruise in June 2024 while American Legend is set for October 2024.

Adding to the 19 ships they will have in operation by October of next year are new itineraries. Including longer cruises like the 60-day itinerary exploring 20 states (August 16^th to October 14^th) and the 35-day Civil War Battlefields cruise exploring 20 Civil War battlefields (May 3^rd to June 6^th).

They’ve also announced new 2024 cruises at National Parks. Including Denali Fjords and Glacier Bay National Parks in Alaska, and Smoky Mountains National Park. Also available is the multi-national park cruise of Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton along the Colombia and Snake Rivers.

With new departures, new ships, more itineraries than featured here, and a maximum range of 90-180 guests per cruise, American Cruise Lines looks to be growing into the booming interest in cruises.