All About Cruises

Category: Cruise News

  • Sailing Safely in 2023: Assessing Cruise Risks from Covid to Piracy

    Sailing Safely in 2023: Assessing Cruise Risks from Covid to Piracy

    As the world slowly regains its footing after the pandemic, many of us are eager to set sail on our next adventure. Cruising has always been a popular choice for vacationers, offering relaxation, entertainment, and a chance to explore multiple destinations in one trip. But as we venture forth in 2023, you might be wondering: how safe is it to take a cruise this year, considering risks such as Covid and piracy?

    How Safe is a Cruise from Covid?: Enhanced Health and Safety Measures

    The cruise industry has been hard at work to ensure the safety of its passengers, implementing strict health protocols and guidelines in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Most cruise lines require proof of vaccination and/or a negative Covid test result before embarking, significantly reducing the risk of infection onboard. Additionally, ships are equipped with advanced air filtration systems, frequent sanitation procedures, and have onboard medical facilities to handle any emergencies.

    Many ships have also reduced their capacity to allow for better social distancing, while some even offer contact tracing technology to quickly identify and isolate any potential cases. While masking is now optional in many places, you can always wear a mask when indoors or in crowds, helping to ensure that your cruising experience is as safe as it is enjoyable.

    For a more comprehensive dive into how to keep yourself safe from Covid on a cruise see our article 7 Ways to Keep Yourself Safe from Covid While on a Cruise.

    How Safe is a Cruise from Piracy?: A Rare but Real Concern

    Although a far cry from the swashbuckling tales of yore, piracy does exist in some parts of the world. That said it’s important to note that incidents involving cruise ships are extremely rare. In fact, according to the International Maritime Bureau, no cruise ships have been hijacked in the last decade.

    Cruise lines are well aware of the potential risks and take numerous precautions to ensure passenger safety. Ships are equipped with advanced surveillance systems and trained security personnel to monitor any suspicious activity. Additionally, cruise lines avoid known piracy hotspots and adjust their itineraries as needed based on the latest intelligence.

    Tips for Staying Safe on a Cruise

    While cruise lines are doing their part to keep passengers safe, there are a few steps you can take to further minimize your risk:

    • Research your cruise line: Choose a reputable cruise line with a strong track record of safety and adherence to health guidelines.
    • Stay informed about your destinations: Familiarize yourself with the safety conditions and any travel advisories for the countries you’ll be visiting.
    • Follow onboard safety guidelines: Adhere to the COVID-19 protocols set by your cruise line and attend the mandatory safety drills.
    • Stay alert and report suspicious behavior: While enjoying your cruise, remain vigilant and report any unusual activity to the ship’s crew.

    So, as you plan your 2023 cruise adventure, rest assured that the industry has made significant strides in ensuring your safety at sea. With proper precautions and a bit of common sense, you’ll be well on your way to a memorable and worry-free voyage. Bon voyage, fellow cruisers!

  • When Will Cruises Stop Requiring Vaccines: Here’s What We Know

    When Will Cruises Stop Requiring Vaccines: Here’s What We Know

    Wondering when will cruises stop requiring vaccinations and that you be vaccinated with the latest Covid vaccines? Cruises have been hit hard by the Covid pandemic, and one of the biggest changes that have come with it is the requirement for Covid vaccines. With the rollout of these vaccines and the world slowly getting back to normal, many people are wondering when cruises will stop requiring vaccines.

    First, let’s take a look at why cruises are requiring vaccines in the first place. With the highly contagious nature of Covid, it’s crucial for cruise companies to protect their passengers and crew members from the virus. Vaccines, and ensuring that people are vaccinated with them, are a key tool in helping to prevent the spread of the virus, and many countries have made it mandatory for travelers to be vaccinated in order to enter.

    That said, many cruise lines have already started to relax their vaccine requirements. For example, some cruise lines have started allowing passengers who have recovered from Covid to sail without getting vaccinated. Others are still requiring proof of vaccination, but are allowing passengers to sail if they have a negative Covid test instead.

    Still, it’s important to note that the requirements for cruising with or without a vaccine vary depending on the cruise company, the destination, and the country. So if you’re planning a cruise, it’s best to check with the cruise line for their current policies.

    As for when cruises will stop requiring vaccines against Covid altogether, that’s still up in the air. It will likely depend on a number of factors, such as the global situation with Covid, the rollout of newer vaccines, and the regulations set by governments and health authorities in each country.

    And even with all of that, it’s still important for cruise passengers to continue following health and safety protocols, even if they have been vaccinated. This can include wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and frequently washing your hands. By doing these things you help to ensure that cruising in a post vaccine-mandate, relaxed Covid precautions world is still safe and fun.

    In conclusion, what we know is really what we don’t know: the future of cruise vaccine requirements is uncertain, and still depends on many factors, such as the global situation with Covid-19, the rollout of newer vaccines, and government regulations, to name a few. And regardless, cruise passengers should continue to follow health and safety recommendations and guidance to keep themselves healthy and safe, and to help prevent the ongoing spread of Covid-19.

  • Fire Erupts on Carnival Freedom

    Fire Erupts on Carnival Freedom

    The Carnival Freedom had a more eventful day than was planned on May 26th. A fire erupted on the ship as it was docked. Freedom, which has been sailing for Carnival since resuming service on October 9th, 2021, was sailing an itinerary in Turks and Caicos at the time of the disaster. Guests were indeed on board when the fire broke out, but there were luckily no reported injuries. The response to the fire was immediate, with Carnival brand ambassador John Heald saying, “Earlier this morning, Carnival Freedom’s emergency response team quickly activated and extinguished a fire inside the ship’s funnel while the ship was in Grand Turk.” Thanks to this fast response, guests were able to keep their trip going, with Heald adding, “All guests and crew are safe, and the ship’s guests were cleared by local authorities to go ashore.”

    For the guests, the fire was a frightening but ultimately safe event. The condition of the ship, though, isn’t yet known. Another unknown aspect of the fire is its origin. Fires on cruise ships are quite rare. Carnival hasn’t yet given word on if they have any theories, but we imagine that they are working hard to determine the cause. It doesn’t look like Freedom’s summer schedule is being modified just yet, but repairs relating to the fire could potentially put it out of commission for upcoming cruises from Port Canaveral.

    One of the last times that a major cruise ship caught on fire was in 2021. MSC Lirica was briefly aflame in March 2021, and it caused similar concern. That situation also produced no injuries or structural damage to the ship, and MSC Lirica is still safely sailing to this day. The MSC fire was certainly a one-time occurrence, and its similarities to the new Carnival fire give hope that this mishap won’t balloon into a larger issue.

    While this is certainly scary, let’s use this as a time to remember just how safe cruises usually are. Incidents that cause injuries are very rare on ships, with Cruise Critic noting that the rate of accidents has been on a downwards trend. Whether you’re concerned about fires, falling overboard, or even pirates, you can rest easy knowing that there’s not much to worry about.

    As Carnival investigates this fire, we’ll stay tuned in to give you any updates that might pop up. In all likelihood, though, this will be determined to be a freak accident. With luck, Freedom will be freely sailing all summer.

  • Is the Cruise NFT Trend Here to Stay?

    Is the Cruise NFT Trend Here to Stay?

    Are cruise NFTs the next major trend in the industry? It’s looking that way. Although cruise lines haven’t historically been known for adopting new technology, NFTs might be changing that. Norwegian Cruise Line was the first to roll out their own NFT collection, and it proved to be quite a success. Each art piece sold out quickly, and they were able to raise a lot of money.

    Before Norwegian, though, a precedent had already been set for a collaboration between the cruise industry and the crypto community. A cryptocurrency cruise ship called the Satoshi was announced back in October 2020. Unfortunately, that plan didn’t go very well. The ship was sold for scrap not too long after being announced. Despite this experiment largely being a failure, it paved the way for future projects like Norwegian’s line of cruise NFTs.

    Now that novel financial tech has been proved to be successful by Norwegian, another cruise line is hopping on the trend: Celebrity. On May 19th, the company announced their own line of NFTs. Designed by Rubem Robierb, the art pieces go on sale on June 1st via OpenSea. On the surface, this project seems incredibly similar to Norwegian’s. However, there are some key differences that make Celebrity’s foray into the blockchain unique.

    First of all, each NFT is more than just a piece of art. Purchasing one gives the buyer the opportunity to attend the naming ceremony for Celebrity’s newest ship, Celebrity Beyond. Buyers will also be able to board the first sailing on Celebrity Beyond. Aside from that, Celebrity will also be releasing an alternate line of NFTs called “Peacemakers, Blue Sky.” Rather than just existing online, these cruise NFTs will be displayed onboard Celebrity Beyond, connecting the digital and physical worlds.

    The brand is very excited about the project. “Innovation is a pillar of the Celebrity Cruises experience and a distinguishing characteristic of our ships, so it’s only fitting to bring this heritage into the new digital revolution of NFTs and the metaverse,” said Michael Scheiner, the CMO of Celebrity. Robierb, the artist of the NFTs, added, ” It has been an honor to continue my collaboration with Celebrity Cruises, and to push the boundaries of our artistic work together to new frontiers, from the metaverse to displaying the first NFT at sea.”

    If you miss out on the June 1st sale of the NFTs, no worries. Each art piece will be tradable until July 1st, at which point the current owner will be sent an invite to the naming ceremony in early November. Make sure to keep an eye on OpenSeas if you’re interested!

  • New Zealand Cruises Are Coming Back

    New Zealand Cruises Are Coming Back

    It looks like New Zealand cruises are finally set to return. After a long and unprecedented period of closed borders, the country is reopening for tourism. This is incredibly welcome news for the cruise industry, as New Zealand cruises have historically been a major source of revenue for multiple cruise lines. Although cruises have been operating locally in New Zealand for some time now, this marks the first time since the early days of the pandemic that tourists from outside of the country will be able to visit.

    The news was announced on May 11th by New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. It was part of an extensive set of changes for the country, and cruise travel was singled out as one of the major shifts. Ardern put it simply, saying that “New Zealand’s international border will reopen to all tourists and visa holders two months earlier than planned on July 31.” She also noted that this change “provides certainty and good preparation time for airlines and cruise ship companies planning a return to New Zealand in the peak spring and summer seasons.”

    Although it is still too soon for cruise lines to announce their New Zealand itineraries in light of this news, we expect to see this happening across the industry in the next few weeks. New Zealand has always been a popular cruise destination, and this gives cruise lines plenty of reason to shift their schedules so that their ships are ready to sail from the nation.

    Whether you’re an honorary Kiwi or you’ve never been on a cruise to New Zealand before, this news should stir up some wanderlust in you. New Zealand is an excellent spot for a vacation. The country has something for everyone. There are endless opportunities to spot wildlife, gorgeous fjords filled with history, and a unique culture to explore in every port. Another main draw of New Zealand cruises is the fact that you can experience a wide array of different landscapes in one itinerary. Over the course of just a few days, you can enjoy urban landscapes, glaciated mountains, forests, and grasslands. It’s a truly thrilling place, and a cruise vacation is one of the best ways to explore it.

    If you’re interested in booking a New Zealand cruise, keep your eyes peeled. Most major cruise lines offer itineraries there, and many will likely be updating their 2022 calendars soon. We can’t wait!

  • What Does True Cruise Sustainability Look Like?

    What Does True Cruise Sustainability Look Like?

    Cruise sustainability is a topic that is becoming more and more important in the industry. Many cruise lines are beginning to focus on eco-friendly initiatives. This trend has been in the works for quite some time now, with a 2020 survey predicting as such. One of the major initiatives has been implementing liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel source. AIDA led the way in this regard, but other cruise lines are starting to follow in their footsteps.

    However, it’s unclear if LNG is enough to sufficiently lower the cruise industry’s ecological footprint. According to the CLIA, a partnership of many large cruise lines, “energy efficient design standards will reduce CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2025.” Those methods have not yet been detailed, however. LNG will certainly play a role, but will further actions be taken? Is a 30% reduction even enough to make the cruise industry a more sustainable one?

    Some other groups are choosing an even more futuristic path by looking towards net zero emissions. Ponant is a great example. On May 2nd, they announced some details about their upcoming newbuild ship, which they claim will be carbon neutral. While the ship is still being developed by Ponant, they have said that it will be “a new kind of vessel.” One of the methods they have talked about relates to hydrogen as a fuel source. Herve Gastinel, Ponant’s CEO, said, “When you think about hydrogen, you can also produce your own hydrogen aboard. It is something that is feasible. Having an autonomous ship would be the ultimate solution.”

    This sounds absolutely brilliant, and it’s a push we would like to see other cruise lines start making. Is that likely, though? Ponant is a very small cruise line — this theoretical carbon neutral ship is only planned to accommodate 100 to 200 guests. A ship for a company like Royal Caribbean would be much trickier to engineer to net neutral emissions.

    There’s another piece of the puzzle when it comes to truly sustainable cruise ships: indirect emissions. Even the perfect carbon neutral ship would require a large amount of emissions to simply be constructed, and this would constitute indirect emissions. In regards to this, Anders Ørgård, the CCO of Danish ship company OSK-ShipTech, put it bluntly: “There is no such thing as a zero-emission ship.” Suggesting a better way of thinking, Ørgård said, “Rather than exclusively focusing on emissions from operations, shipowners should do a cradle-to-grave life cycle analysis.”

    Is it hopeless? Of course not! The cruise industry has proved time and time again that it is capable of amazing innovations even in the face of seemingly insurmountable problems. But an actively inventive approach will be needed to reduce the industry’s footprint, which has been described as “a major source of environmental pollution and degradation, with air, water, soil, fragile habitats and areas and wildlife affected.”

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