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Star of the Seas Reaches Significant Milestone with Successful Float-Out

The Star of the Seas, the second ship in the Icon-class series, has achieved a major milestone in its construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

Star of the Seas float out

The vessel has floated out on its own hull, marking an important phase in its development.

This process involved filling the dry dock with 92 million gallons of water over 35 hours, followed by moving the ship to the outfitting pier with the aid of four tugboats.

The float-out ceremony was attended by shipyard and cruise line executives and featured a ceremonial cannon blast to honour the workers.

The ship will now undergo interior work in preparation for its maiden voyage on 31 August 2025.

This milestone signifies a significant step towards the ship’s completion and entry into service. Construction of the Star of the Seas began in February 2023.

We know some of the changes we can expect from this second Icon-class ship already.

The Surfside area is going to be aimed at a wider demographic – unlike on Icon of the Seas, where it is primarily designed for 0-6 year olds, Star of the Seas will cater to children up to 10, to rival the theme parks in Florida where the ship will be sailing from.

The kids’ clubs will get more analog play experiences, while still retaining the digital experiences too.

Pier 7 will be overhauled from a dining perspective and the exclusive Empire Supper Club will instead become the Lincoln Park Supper Club, with Chicago theming.

And we now know that the ship will feature Back to the Future as its primary theatre show.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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14 Things I Loved About SeaDream Yacht Club

SeaDream Yacht Club offers boutique, luxury voyages on its two identical yachts – SeaDream I and SeaDream II.

I’m excited to show you what makes SeaDream Yacht Club so special. These yachts are pretty tiny compared to the cruise ships you may be used to, so we’ll also cover what I feel SeaDream may be missing, compared to traditional cruising.

Cruise Mummy with SeaDream Yacht Club ship

I was invited to spend the week aboard SeaDream II on a cruise around the Greek Isles, and I soon discovered, that ‘yachting’ is quite different to ‘cruising on a small ship’.

Here’s what a SeaDream yacht voyage is like…

1. The atmosphere onboard is elegant yet relaxed

Luxury does not have to mean formal. And SeaDream does this wonderfully.

Onboard, there are no strict dress codes. The only request is that gentlemen wear long trousers and closed-toed shoes when dining in the Main Dining Salon in the evening. When dining out on deck, as is done whenever the weather allows, shorts are just fine.

The dress code on SeaDream

While other cruise lines may require jackets and ties from the guests. Or require crew members to cover tattoos or wear smart shoes. This isn’t SeaDream. What matters most here is that everybody feels comfortable, guests and crew alike.

2. The crew members are exceptionally friendly

As I walked into any room I was always greeted with “Hello, Mrs Fielding”. And this wasn’t any special treatment just for me… It seemed that every crew member was tasked with learning the name of all 112 guests on board. And what a stellar job of that they did!

If ever I had an empty glass, someone would be right over to ask if I would like another drink. And they even offered to clean our sunglasses!

SeaDream crew member cleaning sunglasses

On a SeaDream yacht, the guest-to-crew ratio is almost 1:1. This meant that the crew members had plenty of time to chat, get to know the guests, and learn our preferences.

3. A unique chance to experience off-the-beaten-path destinations

Small islands and tiny towns can only be visited by the smallest of ships. And this is something that I didn’t fully understand the value of until I cruised with SeaDream.

While there is undeniably an attraction to visiting big cities like Rome and Barcelona, the off-the-beaten-path destinations hold a charm that’s hard to beat.

Lindos

Whether it’s having the beach all to yourself, enjoying lunch in a cafe that’s not often visited by tourists, or getting lost in a maze of narrow winding streets with nobody around, the small ports are the best.

Me on a bech in Greece

I probably wouldn’t want to spend a whole week on a tiny Greek Island with a population of 2,000 people. But spending the day there, relaxing on a secluded beach is delightful.

4. The gourmet cuisine is second to none

The food onboard our SeaDream yacht was the best I’ve ever had. For years, I’ve wanted to write an article about ‘the best cruise lines for vegans’, but I didn’t have a clear thought on which to make number one. SeaDream has made that decision easy – and the guide is coming soon, I promise!

Whether you have a special dietary requirement, enjoy traditional meat and fish dishes, or wish to try exciting culinary creations with rare and interesting ingredients, you’re sure to be very well catered with SeaDream.

The menu is exciting and varied, and of course, I loved the four-course plant-based menu which changed every day. If ever there was a dish I didn’t fancy, the chef would have no qualms about making something else, with no need to order ahead of time.

As the main courses were served, each would be covered with a metal closh, and each person’s food would be revealed simultaneously as the group of waiters said ‘voila!’

Each menu is designed to make the most of the fresh local ingredients that are available in each region, and everything is tasty, colourful and healthy.

At breakfast and lunch, there’s a buffet in addition to the menu. The fruit and salads were the freshest and tastiest I’ve ever had.

5. Dining outdoors at every opportunity

SeaDream yachts have enough seating for every guest to dine outside at the same time. You’ll always have the option to dine alone, with friends, or be seated at a table with others who would also like to meet new friends.

Usually, the ship doesn’t set sail until after dinner, meaning that you can enjoy spectacular views of the places you have visited as you eat.

SeaDream outdoor dining

If the weather doesn’t suit outdoor dining, there’s also space for every guest to dine together indoors in the Main Dining Salon. However, given that the itineraries are carefully planned with climates in mind, the need for indoor dining is rare.

6. Sliding from the ship into the sea

Sliding from the pool deck of a ship into the sea really is an experience like no other – and it’s one that I would certainly recommend that you try if you’re able to!

SeaDream slide

Once you hit the cool and refreshing water, it’s just a short swim to the back of the yacht to climb aboard before returning to do it all over again. And of course, unlike the water slides on the big ships, on SeaDream, there’s never a queue!

7. A huge range of watersports to try

The marine platform at the back of the yacht offers access to the sea so that you can enjoy swimming, snorkelling, or simply floating with a pool noodle. 

kayaking from a seadream yacht

For those who feel a little more adventurous, a range of water sports are available such as kayaks, jet skis, banana boats and wakeboarding.

8. Nourishing the mind and body

Upon returning from a traditional cruise, many of us will be feeling a little bloated and sluggish thanks to the late nights, jam,-packed schedule and over-indulgence in pizza slices and ice cream cones.

However, after my SeaDream cruise, I felt relaxed, refreshed and recharged! Of course, eating the rainbow of fruits and vegetables in every meal helped. As did the relaxed itinerary with time to laze in the sunshine.

enjoying the pool on SeaDream

But what I especially enjoyed was starting the day with a class of yoga, tai-chi or even Tibetan bowl meditation, before a leisurely and healthy breakfast.

tibetan bowl meditation

9. Thoughtful little touches and gifts

Every day we returned to our cabin, there was a new surprise. On the first night, we received Sea Dream II branded pyjamas, embroidered with our names. And not only that, but my name was correctly spelled as ‘Jenni’, rather than ‘Jennifer’ as on my passport, and they had also correctly guessed what size I would require!

I won’t share details of all the gifts we received here, so as not to spoil the surprise for anyone who has their first SeaDream cruise booked. But let’s just say, there was no need to shop for souvenirs!

On our anniversary, we found our cabin decorated with bunting, rose petals and a pair of swans made of bath towels. We were also presented with a Happy Anniversary cake after dinner.

10. Sleeping under the stars

SeaDream yachts have Balinese beds on the top deck. As well as providing a great spot for sunbathing, these can be made up for night-time sleeping, on request.

sleeping under the stars

On our anniversary, we spent the night under the stars which was incredibly romantic. We watched the sail away at midnight and then saw the sunrise in the morning. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I think everyone should try at least once.

11. Jacuzzis for two

Another lovely place to spend some time with your significant other is in one of the couples’ jacuzzis at the front of the yacht. Because these only fit two people, you can be sure that you won’t have to share with a stranger!

enjoying the couples jacuzzi

You’ll have control over the temperature and the bubbles, and crew members will even bring you drinks and snacks while you soak!

12. The fastest internet at sea

If you need to keep your business running while you’re at sea, or need to keep in touch with family members via video call, then fast wifi is important. SeaDream yachts use Starlink wifi, so it’s as fast as it is at home.

starlink wifi on SeaDream

There are also public computers in the library, so you can use the internet free of charge there too.

13. Service that exceeds expectations

It appears that nothing is too much trouble for the crew members aboard SeaDream yachts. And in fact, whatever we could think to ask, it was always met with a YES! 

Different pillows? Of course! Stocking the mini bar with Coke Zero? No problem. A veggie burger that’s not on the menu? Yes, the chef will make it, and it will be the best burger you’ve ever had.

SeaDream veggie burger

When presented with red and white wines as dinner, I asked if rosé was an option. Of course, it was. And then at dinner the next evening, the sommelier appeared and asked ‘More rose, Mrs Fielding?

14. Everything is included

On a SeaDream cruise means that you don’t have to worry about what you’re spending, and you’ll get no surprises at the end.

All meals are included, as are the drinks and gratuities. The mini bar is free too, and you can have it filled with your favourite drinks.

SeaDream drinks

Optionally, you may choose to purchase wifi, shore excursions, spa treatments or gifts from the onboard shop. For connoisseurs, speciality wines are also available for an extra charge.

Things I didn’t love about SeaDream Yacht Club…

Of course, no cruise line is perfect for everybody. And in my opinion, it’s much better to be perfect for your ideal audience, than try to please everybody and end up disappointing for all.

So of course, there were a few minor things that we missed compared to the bigger ships. These may not be a problem for you at all, but here are a few things that are worth mentioning.

There are no drinks menus

You won’t find a drinks menu on a SeaDream yacht. Why? Well, because your waiters and bartenders will be happy to serve you whatever drink you like.

SeaDream drinks

This is a fantastic level of service, yes. But I can’t deny that I love picking up a cocktail menu, browsing the specialities on offer and trying new drinks.

The lack of a menu meant that I stuck to my old favourites (mojito, strawberry daiquiri, espresso martini and appletini). Or I would ask the bartender for a ‘surprise’, which of course, he would always be happy to make.

But for me, I did feel a bit lost without a menu of drinks to choose from.

You can’t have a balcony

Given the small size of the yachts, with only six decks, it’s not possible to have a balcony, as you would be simply too close to the water!

SeaDream II

Honestly, I’m not really a ‘balcony person’, so this didn’t matter to me. Although I do know that some people feel like it’s a balcony or nothing. So this is worth mentioning.

Our room was light, airy and modern, with a large picture window, so we always knew what the weather was like outside.

SeaDream accommodation

The air conditioning was very good, and we could have any temperature we wanted, from far too warm to far too cold, as well as the perfect medium.

The open decks are always just steps away, and sleeping under the stars is also an option for those who feel like they can’t do without the fresh air.

Evenings are quiet

Evenings are very relaxed on SeaDream. At 6.30 pm you’ll enjoy a little live music with pre-dinner cocktails and canapes.

Dinner is served from 7.30 pm until 9.30 pm and after that, it seems that most guests opt to retire to their cabins for the night.

cocktails and canapes

If you do want to stay up, there is some more live music to enjoy or you can have a quiet drink in the bar. There’s a single table set up in the casino and we did enjoy the occasional game of chess. But you certainly shouldn’t expect shows, comedians, acrobats or anything too fancy.

Movies Under The Stars was very enjoyable on one evening. Plus, our cabin had a huge TV, so a movie in bed was also a nice way to end the day. Popcorn, Pringles and cookies are also available via room service.

movies under the stars

At first, it felt a little weird to head back to our room after dinner. But I soon realised that can actually be a great idea, especially if you want to get up early and make the most of the morning.

Who SeaDream Yacht Club is for

The majority of guests on SeaDream yachts are couples aged 40 and over. This cruise line is perfect for those seeking romance, so I would also definitely recommend it for honeymooners.

As there are only around 100 guests on board, most people are quite sociable and this is a great way to meet like-minded people and make lifelong friends. However, if you prefer to keep to yourself, you always have the option to sit alone.

Children are allowed on board, but I wouldn’t say that this cruise is suitable for families with kids. However, if you have teenagers who enjoy quiet relaxation, gourmet food and watersports, then this could be a good option for your family.

SeaDream cruises are best for people who enjoy being active. Most ports use tender boats and the steps from the yacht to the boat can be quite steep, so if you would struggle with that, then I would recommend choosing a larger ship as these tend to be more accommodating to people who are less physically able.

Most of the guests on our cruise had sailed with SeaDream before, and many of them had enjoyed over 100 nights on board. It’s clear that this is a cruise line that people want to return to again and again, and many of the guests I chatted to over dinner said that once they found SeaDream, they would never sail with anybody else.

How to book

To learn more about SeaDream Yacht Club you can visit SeaDream.com. For expert help with planning your holiday, I recommend that you speak to the experts at Panache Cruises, who will be happy to assist.

The best way to book a SeaDream cruise

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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Uniworld Announces First Women-Only Cruise

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has announced a range of Limited Edition cruises for 2025, including the first-ever women-only cruise.

Uniworld Women Only Cruise

The cruise is set to embark on 24th August 2024 on the S.S. Catherine and has been designed “by women, for women”.

Several special events are planned for the duration of the cruise, ranging from the more sedate craft activities like lavender weaving, through to the more thrilling such as burlesque shows.

There’ll also be special cocktail parties and a chocolate and wine pairing experience that guests will be able to enjoy.

“Travelers have demonstrated an increasing desire for more specialized and unique experiences, inspiring us to develop a wide range of new themed cruises for 2025…

“From our first-ever cruise exclusively for women to luxurious, all-inclusive golf packages, we are expanding our portfolio to further cater to a range of interests, passions and communities, all while remaining deeply committed to delivering unforgettable experiences that exceed our guests’ expectations.”

Ellen Bettridge, President and CEO of Uniworld

After leaving Arles, the cruise will take guests to Avignon, Viviers, Tain-L’Hermitage (for Tournon), Lyon, and Macon (for Beaune) before returning to Lyon for disembarkation. Guests can add optional extensions if they wish to travel to Paris or even fly to Greece.

Other cruises include a special Golf Package add-on for Bordeaux itineraries, and some music-themed cruises. There’s also a Jewish Heritage Cruise, an “Out on the Rivers” LGBTQ+ cruise, and several Generations Collection cruises aimed at families.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

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Cruise Guest Sneaks Handgun Onto Carnival Sailing

A Carnival cruise guest has shared a video from their cruise showing that they managed to get a handgun onboard the ship.

Gun on Carnival cruise ship

Kendra Gordon shared a Facebook video showing the gun in the safe of her cabin, explaining how security had caught various banned food items in her luggage but missed the gun.

It’s not clear when Kendra was actually able to get the gun onboard. She uploaded the video on 1st October 2024.

You can view the Facebook reel here

However, when concerned Carnival guests raised the issue with the cruise line, it responded to say that the guests hadn’t been on a ship in months, and were now banned.

The guests who recorded the video have not sailed with us since April and have been prohibited from sailing Carnival in the future.

Understandably, many are still concerned as to how Kendra got a gun onto the ship at all, even if it was months ago (at least).

It’s an exceptionally rare occurrence for something this serious to have made it past security, and the security teams employed by ports are typically very good at catching anything banned by the cruise line.

There has been no further response from Carnival on the matter at the time of writing.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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Celestyal Cruises Expands Specialty Coffee Bar

Celestyal Cruises has announced an expansion of the coffee bar found on their ships, Cafe Nation.

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The expanded Caffe Nation is now available on Celestyal Discovery and will be added to their other ship, Celestyal Journey, when she starts sailing in the Arabian Gulf in November.

Celestyal has a partnership with illy and Cafe Nation offers more than 90 specialty drinks. Illy is one of the most recognizable coffee brands in world. They use a unique blend of 100% Arabia varieties that are sourced from the top 1% of what’s cultivated worldwide.

The menu includes a selection of barista poured hot coffees, herbal infused teas, creamy hot chocolates and Frappuccinos, iced coffees and teas, as well as cold brewed coffee.

Guests can also choose from seven different varieties of coffee including five single origins, blended premium or decaf.

Lee Haslett, chief commercial officer at Celestyal Cruises, gave the following statement about the expanded coffee shop:

“We’re delighted to expand our partnership with the world-renowned brand illy. Café Nation has had fantastic feedback from our guests onboard Celestyal Discovery, and with over 85,000 coffees served on Celestyal Journey alone in the last year, we are confident that this popular meeting spot will be warmly received onboard. After all, coffee is an international daily ritual!”

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Carnival Posts Then Deletes Christmas Decoration Schedule Following Guest Pushback

Carnival Cruise Line posted the schedule for adding Christmas decorations to the fleet this week, but then backtracked following guest complaints.

Christmas Tree

Brand Ambassador John Heald posted the schedule on his Facebook page, which originally looked like this:

  • November 24: Carnival Luminosa
  • November 25: Carnival Splendor
  • November 29: Carnival Conquest, Carnival Firenze
  • November 30: Carnival Magic, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Valor
  • December 1: Carnival Horizon, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Legend, Carnival Radiance
  • December 2: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Sunshine
  • December 5: Carnival Elation, Carnival Sunrise
  • December 6: Carnival Glory, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Venezia
  • December 7: Carnival Jubilee, Mardi Gras, Carnival Spirit
  • December 8: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Dream, Carnival Pride, Carnival Vista

However, he later posted an update saying that he had removed the schedule from his page, following guest comments.

Several guests were unhappy that their ship wouldn’t be decorated for their cruise at the start of December, and asked for adjustments so that the ships could be decked out earlier.

Heald then provided an update a couple of days later:

“The other day, I posted a schedule of the Christmas decorating dates for the ship. I received a few comments from people who were not happy and so I have deleted that and asked my colleagues within the entertainment department to speak with our professional decorators to see if it is possible to make a few changes.

“I’m afraid I can’t promise anything but we are going to do our best. As soon as the new schedule is ready, I will post it here.“

John Heald, posting on his Facebook page

Not everyone felt the same as those guests who had complained about Christmas decorations being added too late, though:

I am in 110% agreement with-------! There should be no xmas decorations on cruises apart from the actual cruise over December 25th. If left up to me John Heald  (I've always thought Mr Scrooge had many admirable points)  this would be about the right length of time to excite Carnival’s passengers who celebrate xmas.   Last year we were on the December 2nd Panorama cruise. The ship was decorated in gaudy fashion and the most horrible thing of all was the awful piped xmas music. Religious brainwashing should not be extended on to people’s vacation.

Most cruise lines will add Christmas decorations to cruise ships at the end of November or the start of December, but it will depend on a number of factors.

As cruise lines use professional decorators, who can only come onboard while the ship is in port, it relies on the dates that a ship is sailing around that time of year.

As soon as Carnival posts an updated schedule, I’ll let you know.

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Longshoremen’s Strike Disrupts Cargo Ports but Not Cruise Ships

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) began a strike on 1st October 2024, but despite some concerns from cruise industry commenters, it doesn’t look like it will impact cruise ships.

Cargo port ILA strike

The strike instead is focussed on cargo ports, with around 85,000 longshoremen now on strike due to unresolved labour negotiations.

Longshoremen are workers at ports who help to load and unload cargo onto ships. This includes the loading and unloading of luggage and essential supplies onto cruise ships.

The strike had been announced in advance and there were some who had speculated that it could cause delays for cruise ships.

This led to many people worrying on social media, including several guests who contacted John Heald, the Brand Ambassador for Carnival.

OK, here is one of those cryptic posts from me where I can’t say anything, but will try and say somethingOver 500 of you have asked me individually about something that is supposedly going to be happening where people will not be working and are threatening to do something that you do when you light a match against the side of a match book. Or something that you get when you are throwing a ball at some pinsYour question has been will what is or isn’t going to affect the Cruises this coming weekend?The answer is no, it won’t. Thank you, and if anybody does not understand this, please phone a friend

The president of the ILA, Harold Daggett, also spoke to reassure cruise guests ahead of their vacations:

“We understand that many families plan and pay for cruise vacations on passenger ships more than a year out, and we don’t want them to be disappointed or inconvenienced in any way…

“For almost three years during the worst of the pandemic, the cruise ship industry was shut down, and our ILA rank-and-file members handling passenger cruise vessels lost a lot of manhours.”

Harold Daggett

As part of his statement, he confirmed that all ILA ports would continue to serve cruise passengers during the strike.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

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Villa Vie Odyssey Finally Sets Sail…Sort Of

The Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential cruise ship owned by Villa Vie Residences, has finally set sail from Belfast after months of delays – only to return to the port.

Villa Vie Odyssey

The ship welcomed guests onboard on Monday 30th September, months after the original planned sailing date of May.

However, while the ship did then sail from the port, it remained anchored in Belfast Lough, near Bangor Marina, remaining there throughout Tuesday 1st October.

Various stories are circulating on why the ship has been delayed. Some sources said that there was initially a problem with the ship’s paperwork.

Then, the Belfast News Letter reported that the hold-up was due to a technical issue, with an explanation needed from the Finnish marine technology company.

There are hopes that the ship will finally embark on the initial 3.5-year cruise (although the itinerary is now TBC) on Wednesday 2nd October.

The good news is that the atmosphere onboard is reported to be very positive, and residents are just delighted to be socialising and enjoying their new home.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

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Alaska Cruise Port Adds New Fee for Each Passenger

In 2025, a new fee will be passed on to cruise passengers who visit the Port of Haines.

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The cruise port in Alaska is adding its first ever passenger fee to generate revenue for port maintenance and other needs around the dock.

Crown Princess at the cruise terminal in Haines Alaska
Crown Princess in Haines, Alaska. ID 325825487 | Cruise © Drewrawcliffe | Dreamstime.com

Not far from Glacier Bay Park in Alaska is the small town of about 2,500 residents.  Haines, Alaska isn’t as well-known as cruise ports like Ketchikan, Skagway, and Juneau.

The port has historically received roughly 20-30 cruise ships per year and in 2024 will receive about 100,000 cruise passengers in total.

The schedule for 2025 is already heating up with 13 cruise ships visiting in May, 17 in June, 18 in July, and 14 in August.   These are the busiest months of the Alaska cruise season.

According to news reports, the Haines Assembly has recently approved a new tariff on cruise passengers.

Tourism director for Haines, Reba Hylton, stated that the port didn’t have a fee in place at all.

“So that was kind of like a big, big red flag to me when knowing that the existing cruise ship dock needed some maintenance. And you know, you want to know how you’re going to fix things, or how you’re going to make things better. And when there’s no pot of money specifically targeted to do that, for me, bringing forward a port fee was a must,” Hylton said.

Initially the fee will be $9 per cruise passenger in 2025.  It will increase to $12 in 2027 and again to $13 in 2029.

A ship like Ruby Princess which will visit the port in 2025 will have about 3,000 passengers, providing about $27,000 in port fees.

The new fee has been in the works for about half a year.

After going through several stages of development, port officials settled on an agreement to put into place.

Read more: What is the best Alaska cruise line for you?

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Celebrity Cruises Announces Their Longest Cruise Ever

Celebrity Cruises has announced more than 600 new cruises for 2026-2027 and including the longest voyage in their history.

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These cruises will visit all seven continents, over 70 countries and 280 ports. A highlight will be a 110 day cruise that will visit 55 destinations in 15 countries.

The 110 day cruise on Celebrity Solstice will be the cruise line’s longest cruise ever. The cruise will depart in September 2026 and end in December. It will visit Alaska, Fiji, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong, China and more.

Other cruises announced by Celebrity include Celebrity Xcel’s inaugural season in Europe in 2026.

Celebrity Silhouette will sail Celebrity’s longest season in Iceland including a cruise during the solar eclipse.

Celebrity Beyond will sail year-round to the Caribbean from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.

Celebrity Millennium will offer cruises from a brand new terminal in Narita, Japan offering close access to Tokyo.

Celebrity Equinox is returning to South America visiting Patagonia and Antarctica.

The cruise line will have eight ships sailing in Europe including three Edge class vessels (Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Apex). They will visit over 100 destinations with 59 overnight stays.

Nine Celebrity ships will visit the Caribbean and offer cruises from four different homeports in Florida. They are Miami, Tamp, Ft. Lauderdale and Port Canaveral.

Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit will offer cruises to Alaska from Seattle, Vancouver and Seward.

Here is when these newly announced cruises from Celebrity will open for bookings:

  • October 1, 2024: Northern Europe, Alaska, Australia, Bermuda, Canada and New England, Hawaii, Iceland and Japan
  • November 5, 2024: Mediterranean and South America
  • November 19, 2024: Caribbean and Canals
  • December 10, 2024: Winter 2027 Asia and the Grand Voyage
  • On Sale Spring 2025: Galapagos 2027

Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, gave the following statement:

“Our 2026-2027 season offers exciting new and expanded experiences for Celebrity guests to indulge their sense of curiosity across all regions of the world. Edge Series ships continue to sail our four key regions, including the European debut of Celebrity Xcel which will offer guests exciting new vacation experiences in the region.

“Our guests’ love of back-to-back sailings inspired the 110-night Grand Voyage which traverses 55 destinations across 15 countries with no repeated ports to provide an unrivaled elevated journey.”

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