Dear Friends,

As we head into Fall, we want to take a moment to share with you where things stand in the Cruise World and when we might see some cruises resume in the US. Today, we have good news to share!

Cruise Lines in Europe have started returning to service in Europe on a limited basis, and with success. As a result, Cruise Lines across our country put together new plans of action that take the lessons learned from these first steps to ensure that we have a healthy return to cruising in the very near future. All the major cruise lines have submitted plans with the CDC in the last week to institute new protocols to minimize any risk and help guarantee the safety of guests and crew alike. Read more...

I travel because …

As a child, travel meant one of two places – either we were heading to Cincinnati to look at the Christmas lights or we were going to Kentucky to visit my grandparents. Any other destinations outside of our small Ohio hometown were virtually impossible. Read more...

For all you music lovers, here’s a toughie.

Although he was not known for singing or for playing a hot guitar, this man left an important mark on the development of rock and roll.

His tombstone tells his story, illustrated with a big jukebox on the back. Read more...

Carnival Cruise Line has seen a lot of additions and changes over the last couple years. New sports bars, craft beer on ship, a Guy Fieri signature burger place on many ships… but the main dining rooms could be seeing a major upgrade soon.

Flying is stressful enough. Unpredictable weather and delays can turn a dream trip into a nightmare quickly, especially if baggage gets misplaced or lost. There’s no worse feeling than sitting in a hotel without much besides what came with you on the plane, waiting for a bag to show up so that you can get a change of clothes or take care of something else essential. Here in the office, we’ve thought quite a bit about this lately – and we’ve come up with a list of some of the essential items that every carry-on bag should have that can be lifesavers when the checked bag doesn’t make it to your destination when you do.

We like to look ahead in the office, and when it comes to ship announcements – we sometimes like to look far ahead. Royal Caribbean’s last big unveiling was three years ago with the Allure of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, and we’re about a year away from Quantum of the Seas, the largest ship to ever be homeported in the New York area. But last week, more plans for the Anthem of the Seas – scheduled to launch sometime in 2015, about 18 months away.

The cruise is booked and you are set to sail for the very first time! Cruises are a really excellent way to see the world in a relaxing, stress-free environment, but its a very different type of travel than a guided tour or something on your own. There are secrets and strategies that make an experience extra special, and we want to share them with you. So without further ado, here are five tips to help you cruise like a pro!

Recently, travel guidebook publisher Lonely Planet released its lists of top destinations for the upcoming year. It’s hard to believe 2014 is right around the corner, but it is the time of year where lists start finding their way into the news. Today, we noticed their top ten family destinations for 2014, and there’s a lot of great calls in our opinion.

There are pluses and minuses to being the first on a cruise ship, either at its introduction or its return after a major refurbishment. It’s always nice to be the first to see, touch and play with the new features and amenities on the ship. It’s nice to be the first to sleep on the new bed, enjoy the room’s shower. But it also means running a risk that the trip may never even happen. Or, possibly even worse, some features may not yet be open or available for use.

That’s what’s happening for a couple thousand Disney Magic guests, as the major refurbishment is running a bit behind schedule, and this weekend’s voyage has been canceled. The first guests aboard the brand new Magic will make their way aboard on the 25th. The refurbishment work hit some serious snags with bad weather hampering progress. However, the ship looks incredible, with the new Aqua Dunk and pool areas, an incredible adults-only area, and some amazing new dining options and venues. In this case, the Magic will be well worth the wait.

Don’t take our word for it, take a look at the final touches as they’re happening in this video.

 

This week, Carnival Cruise Line announced a restructuring of their fare system to take effect at the end of October. After a challenging year, for one of the world’s largest cruise lines, Carnival decided to simplify and streamline the pricing process. It isn’t without precedent.

About a year ago, Carnival Cruise Lines radically changed the way they sell vacations. The fare structure became a bit more structured over the last year, with six different specific fares to offer, each with their own specific rules about changes and refundability. Some allowed price protection, some didn’t. Some allowed cancellations, some didn’t. Frankly, it was all a bit confusing. There are no radical changes in this streamlining, just simplification. What will this mean for passengers? Let’s take a look.