Cruise News April 9, 2017

While some of you may be preparing for an Easter Break cruise, we are still counting down the days until we cruise to Cuba in May. Either way, the weather is getting better, and we

Cruise News April 9, 2017

While some of you may be preparing for an Easter Break cruise, we are still counting down the days until we cruise to Cuba in May. Either way, the weather is getting better, and we have some bright outlooks ahead in this week’s latest edition of Cruise News April 9, 2017. Have a look at the recent updates from the world of cruising to prepare for your next trip.

Cruise News April 9, 2017

Norwegian Cruise Line Goes All-Inclusive Overseas

While it might not directly affect us here in the States, this could be a sign of things to come. Last week, executives with Norwegian Cruise Line announced in London that the brand would now be classified as “Premium All-Inclusive”. This change is an attempt to make cruising with the line’s 14 ships more competitive with other land-based vacations that offer similar value. The changes took place the end of last week, meaning cruises sailing in Europe and the Mediterranean are now part of a new pricing model that includes beverages and gratuities, along with additional benefits for those sailing in suites and the line’s Haven such as onboard credit and internet packages.

Top Cruises to CubaCruise News April 9, 2017

More Cuba Cruise Dates Added in 2018

Now there are even more sailings to Cuba that you can choose for your next cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line announed an additional 33 cruises to Cuba for the 2018 season. The line also revealed plans to continue offering overnight stops in Havana, Cuba as part of the Norwegian Sky’s sailings in 2018. This will add to the the 30 cruises already scheduled on Norwegian Sky in 2017. Along with the four day cruises to Cuba, that also include a day on the island’s private resort Great Stirrup Cay, the Norwegian Sky will offer the same three day weekend cruises to the Bahamas next year. Eager cruisers will have to wait until April 20th to book these cruises for next year.

Reveals from Majestic Princess’ First Voyage

Built specifically for the Asian market, Majestic Princess caters to the clientele of that region with different venues and onboard amenities. However, with the first few cruises on the ship occurring in the Mediterranean, these sailings are an opportunity for cruisers from the Western world to get a glimpse of the ship. From first accounts, the Majestic Princess is certainly a pilot for the cruise line. With enhanced dining options, children’s areas, as well as enhancements to the adult only areas, this ship might be a sign of offerings and partnerships that will be coming to future ships in the fleet.

Cruise News April 9, 2017Cruise News April 9, 2017

Silver Muse Has First Sailings

One of the most luxurious ships afloat has finally set sail. This past week, international media, select travel agents, and other cruise industry insiders got a first look at Silversea’s newest ship, the Silver Muse. Unfortunately, the Princess and I were not among the lucky ones chosen for this voyage. According to reports, the Silver Muse delivers an “understated” elegance that is not over the top or gaudy. While many of the offerings and service did meet the writer’s expectations, there were still a few areas where the Silver Muse did not deliver like the sushi bar and the spa. Of course, we are always ready and willing to give the Silver Muse our own ship scorecard, if the folks at Silversea were willing to invite us onboard.

Royal Caribbean Plans to Revamp San Juan Pier

After recently announcing that Freedom of the Seas will homeport in San Juan during the 2018-2019 season, Royal Caribbean in partnership with Ports Authority will invest funds into revamping the Pan American II Pier. Freedom of the Seas will be the largest ship to call San Juan home, increasing the cruise traffic to an expected 700,000 passengers in the 2018 fiscal year. The project plans to improve the boarding area, reconfigure security checkpoints, add registration desks, improve the bathroom facilities, and dredge the dock. This will be a welcomed enhancement, and we look forward to seeing the improvements when we sail on Freedom of the Seas in 2019 compared to when we sailed on Adventure of the Seas in 2015.

Comments

Did we miss any important stories from the previous week in our most recent addition of Cruise News April 9, 2017? Do you have some of your own headlines to share? Drop us an anchor below with your cruise stories to keep everyone informed of the latest updates from the major cruise lines.

Cruise News April 9, 2017

 

Don Bucolo, or “DB”, loves everything about cruising- the ocean, the food, and the atmosphere. While he may be obsessed with doing extensive amounts of research on ships and all elements of a cruise, Don enjoys sharing his new found knowledge with fellow cruisers. When he is not sailing the high seas, he does whatever his wife tells him to do-it only took 10 years to realize this.
Don Bucolo
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3 comments on Cruise News April 9, 2017

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  1. Although it’s not directly tied to cruise travel, and yes, it’s been covered elsewhere, the United Airlines PR debacle might be a good time to stress to readers – especially first time cruisers – why it’s not only important to obtain travel insurance which includes good trip interruption and travel delay coverage, but why it’s always a good idea to fly in a day or two ahead of your cruise. Yes, the flight in question was enroute to my own hometown of Louisville, KY, but what if it had been a morning flight to Fort Lauderdale, or Miami, or any number of cruise ports…and you decided to save some bucks and fly in the day of your cruise. I always fly in a day or two in advance. It’s better on my nerves. But some may not realize the advantages as to why you should.

      Hi SilentmovieFan. Thanks for reading and the comment. Yes, we agree on multiple fronts. We always have travel insurance, and recommend to our community purchasing coverage. We also always fly down the day before, to avoid any potential flight delays or issues getting to the port. Great advice. When is your next cruise?

    I’m really hoping you can clarify something for me. I booked a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver and my documents say I have a drink package included. I’ve looked at pages and pages of information but to be honest I’m no further forward since I have no idea what type of ‘drink package’ is meant. Your help would be much appreciated.