Carnival Cruise Line has announced a new partnership with Leagues Cup, the premiere professional soccer tournament in North America.
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This multi-year partnership will bring extra fun for fans attending games and on television. Carnival Cruise Line and Leagues Cup will post co-branded content on the Leagues Cup social media channels.
Amy Martin Ziegenfuss, chief marketing officer at Carnival Cruise Line, gave the following statement about this new partnership:
“Anyone who watches a professional soccer game knows the stadium is filled with high-energy fun, which is exactly the kind of environment we love at Carnival and a good reason why you’ll find many soccer fans on board our ships. Teaming up with the Leagues Cup is a great opportunity to bring our Carnival fans together with another fervent fan base, further building on our alignment with the kinds of sports we know our guests love.”
Carter Ladd, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at Major League Soccer, added:
“Partnering with Carnival Cruise Line allows us to merge the excitement of soccer with the joy of travel and adventure. Together, we are committed to enhancing the tournament experience and creating unforgettable memories for fans across North America.”
Leagues Cup brings together 47 soccer teams from both Major League Soccer and LIGA MX.
Two passengers were unable to board Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 last week after failing to complete all of the necessary documentation in time.
Anne Conway was planning to board the ship with her 15-year-old granddaughter Leila, but was under the misconception that she only needed an ESTA for herself.
This was incorrect, and so the pair were unable to board their ship for the return cruise to New York.
“I knew I needed an ESTA but I thought I read somewhere that children under 16 didn’t need one if they’re traveling with an adult. But I obviously got that wrong… Both of us were just sobbing. I was so disappointed for Leila. She was so excited… To get within yards of the boat, it was devastating. I cried all the way home and all night,“
Anne Conway
It is possible to get an ESTA within a few hours, but there’s no guarantee and it’s recommended to do it as soon as possible.
Once the duo realised they couldn’t board, they did try to get Leila’s ESTA processed in time, but confirmation only came through at 5.04 pm, which was a few minutes after the ship had set sail.
While there was no way for the pair to immediately fly out to the ship – the cruise was a Transatlantic one – they have been able to raise funds through a GoFundMe which means they’re able to fly out to New York and at least join the ship for the return leg home.
ESTAs are visas that UK residents can use to visit the US for periods of up to 90 days, avoiding the need for a full visa. Most UK residents are eligible, but they are required for all travellers, including children.
Guests will be notified of any travel documents they need to arrange when they book a cruise, and are advised to carefully check well before the sailing date.
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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.
Students who want to relax, discover new places, and have unforgettable experiences enjoy cruise holidays. Cruising offers young people a unique blend of entertainment, comfort, and social opportunities. This article will provide several ideas for creating an unforgettable cruise vacation for students.
1. Selecting the Route and Cruise Line
First, you need to decide on the cruise line and route. Consider cruises to the Mediterranean, Caribbean or Northern countries. Each of these destinations has its unique attractions and experiences.
Mediterranean Sea Greece is one of the many countries you can visit during a Mediterranean Cruise. Students can visit beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, and delicious local food.
Caribbean Sea White sand beaches, turquoise water, and rich cultures await students on Caribbean cruises. Some routes include stops in islands like the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Cuba.
Northern Countries Cruising through the Norwegian Fjords, Baltic Sea, or Iceland offers breathtaking landscapes and unique natural phenomena, such as the Northern Lights.
2. Budget Savings Tips
The cost of the trip can be a significant factor for students. You can save money on a cruise without compromising quality.
Book Early: Booking early allows you to save money and select the best cabins.
Group Discounts Organise your trip with friends. Many cruise lines offer group discounts.
Watch for Sales and Promotions: Be on the lookout for sales and promotions often held during the off-season. If you need help crafting a professional admission essay to apply to university, check out these admission writing services.
Compare Cruise Prices: Use websites that aggregate cruise prices to compare the rates of different companies.
3. Onboard Entertainment
Students can enjoy various activities on cruise ships to make the most of their vacation.
Pools & Water Parks Swim in the pool or water park and enjoy the sun.
Sports Facilities Basketball, volleyball, rock climbing, mini-golf, and more are all available on cruise ships.
Bars and Nightclubs: Relax with friends or dance the night in the bars. And if you suddenly don’t have time to write some university work. You can check out this review of a service that can help you out.
Themed parties: Attend pirate parties, white nights, and other events often organized onboard.
4. Excursions, Active Leisure and Active Leisure
Students can enjoy a cruise to discover new places while engaging in leisure.
History Tours: Visit museums, ancient castles, and historical landmarks to learn more about the cultures and histories of the countries included on the cruise route.
National Parks and Nature Reserves: Walking in nature parks and reserves allows you to take beautiful photographs and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Water Sports: Take up diving, snorkeling, or kayaking in coastal waters.
Hiking or Biking: You can arrange hiking or cycling tours along scenic routes in specific ports.
5. Make New Friends and Learn Useful Skills
Students can learn new skills and make valuable connections on a cruise holiday.
International Communications: Cruise ships bring together people worldwide, allowing them to learn foreign languages and make new friends.
Creative Workshops Many cruise ships offer a variety of workshops, from cooking to dancing and painting.
Lectures and Seminars: Onboard seminars and lectures on different topics can be useful and exciting for students.
The conclusion of the article is:
Students can enjoy a cruise holiday that combines entertainment, cultural enrichment, and active leisure. Cruises are an excellent option for young travelers because they offer a wide range of entertainment on board and budget-saving tips. They also provide exciting excursions in port. Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy a voyage and discover new experiences!
Making hotel reservations before a cruise trip is crucial to creating an enjoyable and hassle-free journey. Booking early will reduce stress levels, alleviate last-minute travel hassles, and ensure you don’t miss your ship due to unexpected delays. Additionally, choosing the ideal lodging can enhance the entire cruise experience. This post outlines critical considerations when selecting an accommodation before your cruise trip begins.
Reading Reviews and Ratings
Reviews by prior visitors may provide helpful insights into a hotel’s quality. Seek opinions regarding facilities, location, customer service, and cleanliness from trusted review sources like Yelp, TripAdvisor, or RealReviews.io to form an opinion of their service standards and quality; pay particular attention to recent reviews as this can give a good indicator of future quality and service standards that may meet or surpass those expected of it by guests. A hotel with stellar ratings may live up to those expectations more easily! For instance, read Vacation Offer reviews.
Proximity to the Cruise Port
The Disney Wish will sail its inaugural season of three- and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from its new home port of Port Canaveral, Florida.
One critical consideration when booking a pre-cruise hotel is proximity to your cruise port. Staying nearby may save time and ease anxiety by providing transportation directly from the hotel; look for lodgings offering shuttle services as an economical and practical solution. In addition, staying nearby allows for sightseeing activities before embarking on your voyage, further enriching your holiday experience.
Evaluating Transportation Options
When selecting a hotel, consider all available ways of reaching the cruise port. While some might charge for shuttle services, others might provide them for free. Evaluate various modes of transportation—public transit, ridesharing apps like Uber, and taxi services, among others—before selecting one that offers convenient access. To ensure a hassle-free trip, ensure your chosen hotel provides easy access to these amenities.
Considering Your Budget
Budget should always be one of your primary concerns when searching for pre-cruise accommodation. When setting your spending limit for accommodation expenses, account for additional costs such as food, transportation, and any desired comforts such as massage. To find the best bargains on booking platforms, compare prices across them. All directly booked rooms may provide extra features or savings opportunities that other reservations cannot.
Assessing Hotel Amenities
Amenities may dramatically influence your hotel stay before embarking on your cruise. Consider which facilities are essential to you—swimming pools, exercise centers, complimentary breakfast, or Wi-Fi are among them. Swimming pools may even come equipped with early or late check-in times, parking, and shuttle services that could add an extra convenience factor during your cruise trip.
Exploring Dining Options
Investing in Dining options is another critical consideration. Check whether the hotel provides on-site cafes or restaurants, research local eateries, and ensure they or the lodging facility can accommodate any specific dietary restrictions or preferences. Room service may also be an ideal way to unwind before their cruise vacation—having multiple choices will help ensure an enjoyable and fulfilling journey!
Safety and Security
Selecting your pre-cruise accommodation should center around safety and security features such as surveillance systems, secure parking, and round-the-clock front desk assistance. Consider neighborhood safety factors as well; studying reviews may offer insight into their security level and location. Selecting a hotel with these features will ease anxiety before setting sail on your cruise adventure! Choosing a safe and secure hotel will enable you to take advantage of planned pre-cruise activities.
Understanding Cancellation Policies
Plans for a vacation can sometimes be altered unexpectedly, making it essential to understand a hotel’s cancellation rules. Look for lodgings with flexible scheduling options so you can adjust or cancel without incurring significant fees; this flexibility could come in handy should your flight schedule change or issues lead up to your vacation. Remember any deadlines regarding adjustments or cancellations, and read through all the fine print.
Loyalty Programs and Rewards
Are You an Avid Traveler? Consider Booking With Reward Programs If you travel frequently, booking hotels participating in reward programs could provide added value and enhance your stay. Many hotel businesses have loyalty programs offering special discounts, free nights, or upgraded accommodations as extra-value initiatives can improve your trip. If you already belong to one, investigate which hotels near your cruise port participate!
Planning for Extra Activities
If you arrive a day or two before your cruise, make the most of your pre-cruise accommodation by scheduling activities to fill your time before setting sail. Explore trips, events, and places nearby that pique your interest. Many cruise ports are situated within bustling cities with plenty of sights, shops, and eateries; using this period can add zest to your voyage!
Conclusion
Finding accommodation before embarking on your cruise vacation is essential to having an enjoyable and effortless holiday experience. When selecting lodging that meets your needs and improves the entire cruise experience, factors like affordability, reviews, safety, and proximity to port should all be taken into consideration. This will allow you to unwind and appreciate every second from when you arrive at your pre-cruise hotel until the day you set sail! Planning and making wise selections will allow for optimal relaxation and enjoyment during every minute of your voyage.
In collaboration with Hollywood’s legendary Magic Castleâ¢, Princess Cruises has unveiled three exclusive packages for its second Conjurer’s Cruise onboard the brand-new Sun Princess. Sailing November 9-16, 2024, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, this magical journey will feature headline performances by acclaimed actor and magician Michael Carbonaro.
Magic Castle⢠Conjurer’s Cruise
Guests will have the opportunity to be mesmerized by Spellbound, the newly launched “Extraordinary Experience.” The Conjurer’s Cruise will feature a series of ship-wide, custom-curated magical events and activities, making this a once-in-a-lifetime voyage of wonder and illusion. In addition to the magic onboard available to all registrants, three magical enhancements are now available for guests to purchase to enhance their onboard experience.
The “Apprentice” Package, priced at $275 per person, includes an exclusive “Meet the Magicians” welcome reception and fun-filled farewell social. Guests will also receive a guided tour of Spellbound with Erika Larsen, president of Magic Castle Enterprises and member of the famed Larsen family of magicians. Apprentices will also be granted early access to seating for performances in the Princess Arena and will receive special commemorative merchandise.
For $545 per person, the “Enchanter” Package includes all Apprentice benefits plus a special breakfast event featuring the Conjurer’s Cruise magicians and members of the Larsen family. Guests will also enjoy the full Spellbound experience, including dinner, reserved seating for all magic lectures and performances in the Princess Arena, and a special late-night cocktail party and magic show featuring surprises galore.
With limited spots available, these packages can be reserved through a Travel Agent or by calling 1-800-Princess and referencing Magical Enhancement Packages.
This spectacular seven-day cruise will allow all participants to lift The Magic Castle’s veil. Top magicians will astound guests throughout the ship, and the art of magic will be featured in ways never before seen on a Princess ship, including:
Curios and artifacts from magic’s rich history are on display
Magic jam sessions
Exclusive to the stunning and newest Love Boat, Sun Princess, Spellbound by Magic Castle is the latest in Princess Cruises’ new category of “Extraordinary Experiences,” blending the captivating world of magic with the art of culinary and mixology to create an innovative, immersive experience. Guests enjoy dinner featuring a specially-designed menu, followed by an evening in Spellbound, a specially-themed and immersive venue steeped in magic and adventure featuring talented Magic Castle-sponsored magicians performing incredible feats of illusion and theatrical cocktails that sleight-of-hand bartenders conjure.
Hollywood’s world-famous Magic Castle is known as the mecca of magic and the legendary home to the Academy of Magical Arts. The Victorian mansion in the Hollywood Hills is a private clubhouse accessible only to members and their guests. For over 60 years, it has championed the art of magic and cultivated the careers of magicians and illusionists, offering close-up performances and full-stage illusion shows.
“After the huge success of our first Conjurer’s Cruise in 2023, our second themed cruise is sure to be another celebration of the magical arts, connecting the astounding amazement of the mysterious world of magic to guests,” said Erika Larsen, president of Magic Castle Enterprises. “This voyage sets sail on the beautiful Sun Princess where Spellbound made its official debut at sea, presenting the world’s only alternative authentic experience of our beloved and exclusive Magic Castle.”
Sun Princess
The 177,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess offers an array of exciting new culinary and entertainment offerings and luxurious staterooms and suites across a broad spectrum of categories. With the most balconies and sun decks on any Princess ship, guests can take in the sunshine and crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean from the comfort of their stateroom. Plus, Princess delivers a premium vacation with the line’s award-winning, signature Princess Medallion Class experience, which offers unparalleled service and personalization.
To sign up for this captivating vacation experience, visit princess.com or click here to see the voyage.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com.
There’s a brand new party cruise ship that is now sailing three and four night cruises to The Bahamas. It’s from Royal Caribbean, the world’s largest cruise line.
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Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, is the cruise line’s sixth Oasis class ship and it’s the second largest cruise ship ever built. But there’s one thing that sets this ship apart from the rest of the cruise line’s fleet, it’s a party ship.
Before Utopia of the Seas set sail on its maiden voyage, I took a three night preview/shakedown cruise on the ship exploring everything that it had to offer.
A shakedown cruise is a sailing held before the maiden voyage so the cruise line can work out the kinks before paying passengers come on board.
During our sailing, members of the media, including myself, attended a press conference with Royal Caribbean’s President and CEO, Michael Bayley.
During the press briefing, Bayley got right to the point, Utopia of the Seas is a party ship. He even used the word “extreme” party. You’ll find DJs on the pool deck and parties that don’t start until midnight.
They are calling Utopia of the Seas “The World’s Biggest Weekend” since it sails three and four night cruises to The Bahamas. The three night weekend cruises will depart every Friday and return on Monday.
He said it’s the perfect ship for weekend getaways as it’s not only the world’s newest cruise ship, but all cruises visit Perfect Day at CocoCay. It’s also great for those who want a getaway but don’t want to commit a lot of time away.
Perfect Day at CocoCay is a highlight of most Royal Caribbean cruises
Utopia of the Seas is loaded with entertainment. You won’t find long production shows like on other Royal Caribbean ships. The production shows are shorter (45 minutes) and there’s more live music than ever before. After all, most people probably don’t want to go to a 90-120 minute show on a short three night cruise.
After walking around the ship for three days, I saw far more late night entertainment than on any of my previous 13 Royal Caribbean cruises. There’s a total of 10 parties on every cruise.
Utopia of the Seas has everything from a silent disco toga party to ice skating shows to the cruise line’s signature AquaTheater shows.
Studio B turned into a nightclub one night for a party that didn’t start until midnight. The ReZolution Dance Party offered an early party for families and then a late night one for those 18 and older. For all of the late night parties, SeaPass cards were scanned to keep children out.
Nine locations around the ship have live music and if you’re lucky enough, you can find yourself in an elevator with The Stowaway Piano Player.
Boardwalk on Utopia of the Seas
The cruise ship is very similar to sister ship Wonder of the Seas but with some great changes and improvements. The Solarium is enclosed and there’s a play area (Playscape) for families with small children that replaced one of the Flowriders.
Royal Caribbean cruisers will find many familiar features including Central Park, Boardwalk, Studio B, Boleros, Schooner Bar and Music Hall.
Central Park is only found on Oasis and Icon class ships.
However, the ship has some new drink and dining venues that are new to Royal Caribbean.
The Pesky Parrot on Utopia of the Seas
The Pesky Parrot is going to be a huge hit. It replaces the robot bartenders in the Royal Promenade and it’s one of the best themed areas you’ll find on any ship in the world.
Royal Railway is a dining experience like no other that takes place on a “train”.
There are more than 40 dining and drink options on board. From a food truck on the pool deck to a massive Izumi in Central Park, there are more options than ever before.
Giovanni’s features indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the Boardwalk.
There’s something for everyone on Utopia of the Seas.
Even though it’s a party ship, it’s also a great ship for families. I took my wife and three year old son on the cruise and they loved every second of it.
We took him to from Adventure Ocean (Kid’s Club) one night and he started to cry when we picked him up. He just loved it.
The mini golf course on Utopia of the Seas features interactive lights and sounds.
My son really enjoyed the interactive feature with the whale on the mini golf course. I won’t get away any secrets but every kid there was obsessed with it.
One of the great things about this ship is that since it’s so huge, you can get away from the parties and have quiet time in the Solarium or have a relaxing dinner in Central Park.
Utopia of the Seas sails out of Port Canaveral on three and four night cruises to The Bahamas. All cruises visit Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. View Prices on Cruises on Utopia of the Seas
Each cruise will also visit Nassau with the four night sailings adding in one sea day.
The November 9, 2024 sailing on Sun Princess, the newest and largest ship in Princess Cruises’ fleet, will host the cruise line’s second Conjurer’s Cruise.
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Michael Carbonaro will headline the event and Princess Cruises is offering three Magical Packages for this unique cruise.
Sun Princess will have magical events all around the ship during the week. The ship was the first to have Spellbound, the newly launched “Extraordinary Experience.” Spellbound brings the wonder and illusion of the Magic Castle to cruise ships for the first time.
This special November 7, 2024 sailing on Sun Princess will offer three different packages for those who want to experience even more magic up close.
Apprentice Package
The “Apprentice Package” will cost $275 per person and includes a “Meet the Magicians” welcome reception and fun-filled farewell social. Guests will receive a guided tour of Spellbound with the president of Magic Castle, Erika Larsen.
Also included is early access to seating for magic performances in the Princess Arena.
Enchanter Package
The “Enchanter Package” will cost $545 per person and includes a special breakfast with the Conjurer’s Cruise magicians and members of the Larsen family.
This package also includes the full Spellbound experience, special late-night cocktail party and magic show, and reserved seating for all magic lectures and performances.
Guests who purchase the Enchanter Package also receive all Apprentice benefits.
Conjurer Package
The “Conjurer Package” will cost $795 per person and they will receive an intimate Spellbound cocktail soirée with Michael Carbonaro and the entire cast of Conjurer’s Cruise, as well as a bridge tour with the Captain of Sun Princess.
This package also offers a magic class for beginning, intermediate or advanced students taught by a world-renowned magician.
Guests will receive a special gift in their stateroom and a signed photo of the magicians.
The Conjurer Package includes all perks from the Apprentice and Enchanter packages.
All guests who are booked on the cruise can participate in the following events without purchasing any extra packages:
I really believe that there is a cruise line – and a cruise ship – for everyone.
There’s no such thing as an average cruise holiday, because ships like Explorer of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) offer a completely different experience to Seven Seas Explorer (Regent).
Even within cruise lines, there’s a huge difference between MSC Armonia and MSC World Europa.
But, cruise guests are getting more savvy and are spending a lot of time researching cruises – as you should. This means they’re often picking up on the reputations of certain cruise lines and making pre-judgements, deciding that they’d never cruise with some companies based on the reviews.
I wanted to know which cruise lines were the ones people were most likely to avoid, so I asked my Facebook audience of over 60,000 cruisers.
I must admit, I was surprised by the results! So, let’s take a look at the cruise lines that people say they would NEVER book with…
1. Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival is one of the biggest cruise lines in the world, but I guess this one isn’t a huge surprise for coming top of the list.
That’s because it is not a cruise line that’s vague about what it offers – it’s a fun cruise, where everything is bold, loud, energetic and exciting.
This is perfect for a huge number of people – but also very off-putting for others, who want a more relaxing experience.
Carnival doesn’t try to please everyone. It may have Serenity Decks that offer a more peaceful, adults-only space, but those aren’t going to replicate the feel of other cruise lines that are aimed less at families and party cruisers.
2. Disney Cruise Line
This one did come as a bit of a shock, that so many people chose Disney as the one cruise line they would avoid.
But then I thought about it.
Of all the cruise lines, there’s one that primarily targets families rather than couples or solo travellers, and that’s Disney. So, it makes sense that any people falling into the latter groups might suggest this as the one cruise line they wouldn’t want to travel on.
Of course, many couples or solo travellers do go on a Disney cruise without kids. But they are typically Disney fans, rather than cruise fans.
And there’s another reason people would avoid Disney too, which is cost – when you ignore the ultra-luxury cruise lines, Disney is probably the most expensive of all cruise lines by some distance.
It’s not a bad cruise line by any means, and families (with the budget for it) will typically have an incredible time. But for a lot of people, it represents all the worst parts of cruising for them.
3. Costa Cruises
From one of the most expensive cruise lines to one of the cheapest, and therein lies the reason why a lot of people said they wouldn’t cruise with Costa.
It’s definitely a cruise line with a reputation for being budget-friendly, but that also has negative connotations too when you consider the quality of the experience.
I’ve always felt that a bad cruise is better than no cruise at all, but a few people did say they would rather avoid Costa altogether considering what they’d read about the food, or the rudeness of (some of) the crew.
I’ve tried it, and felt that while there were things that could be improved, it was still worth the cost. If there was a particularly cheap deal, I’d have no issues booking.
But it’s not my favourite, so I do see where others are coming from as well, and so Costa appearing high up on this list wasn’t a surprise really.
4. MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises is another that I thought might appear on this list, as it’s another cruise line with a reputation for being cheap in more ways than one.
You can get some great deals on an MSC cruise, but a lot of people believe that means you won’t get a very good cruise either. And there are some people who find that the food’s not as good as on other cruise lines, or the range of entertainment isn’t as varied and polished.
This was the cruise that made me realise you really can’t write off a cruise line based on reputation or on one bad experience (I’d cruised with MSC before in the aftermath of the global shutdown and it wasn’t great).
Again, I’m sure many people would prefer to pay more for other cruise lines, but MSC still offers a good option for lots of people who have to budget carefully for their cruises.
5. Norwegian Cruise Line
NCL was mentioned a few times as a cruise line people would avoid, and this was based more on past experiences rather than reputation.
The cruise line often gets a lot of positive mention for its variety of speciality dining restaurants in particular, but the food was one thing that a lot of people found to be lacking in quality.
The older ships could definitely do with some renovations too, according to some of the comments, and there have been some issues with service – not necessarily the onboard crew, but dealing with the cruise line and problems with unwanted upgrades, that sort of thing.
NCL does appeal to a lot of younger cruisers and the modern ships have some fun features to enjoy, but definitely read the reviews of the ship you’re looking at before you book with the cruise line.
What’s interesting about Royal Caribbean is how balanced the responses were. For everyone saying they would “never” cruise Royal Caribbean, there was one where someone was saying they would “stick to Royal” or would remain loyal to the brand.
So, what’s putting some people off?
A few people mentioned some problems they’d had, such as poor service onboard or a problem with their booking, which are individual and so don’t apply widely.
Some comments focussed on the family-friendly nature of the ships and the fact they had a lot of kids onboard, which is definitely true of the newer ships. But some older, smaller Royal ships tend to have fewer families onboard.
The main comment that was definitely bespoke to Royal was about the size of the ships – too big, and too overwhelming for some.
Royal Caribbean has the biggest ships in the world – and not everyone wants that experience. If you don’t need something different to do every couple of hours, and you hate crowds, it might be better to look at other cruise lines.
7. Virgin Voyages
Some of the cruise lines I’ve covered already are ones people want to avoid because of their family-friendly nature.
Virgin’s the opposite. It’s an adults-only cruise line, but definitely with more of an aim towards a younger adult audience.
Many people don’t like the atmosphere that’s tailored more towards drinking and partying, and some even described elements as “tacky”.
One person said that, having tried Virgin and spoken to others onboard, it seemed to be really popular with new cruisers and less so with people who’d cruised with other lines previously.
If you want a peaceful, relaxed and more traditional cruise experience, Virgin’s probably not for you.
8. P&O Cruises
The comments that mentioned P&O were more about bad experiences they’d had onboard, rather than the reputation of the cruise line.
P&O is generally seen as one of the better choices for UK cruisers, especially on the newer ships such as Iona and Arvia.
They’re family-friendly, but not packed with massive kid-friendly features. They have a relaxed vibe.
But because so many people like to cruise with P&O, there’ll always be some bad experiences for a handful of people, and those are what were mentioned in this discussion.
A handful of other cruise lines were mentioned but not as frequently as those above. Marella got a couple of mentions due to some poor service that was mentioned, although a couple of people said they’d always found the crew to be “fab”.
Some luxury cruise lines such as Regent Seven Seas and Azamara were mentioned but purely from a budget perspective – with one person saying it wasn’t a case of not wanting to, but they would never be able to afford them!
Overall though, I personally loved this response:
Remember that just because a cruise line appears on this list, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad cruise line. It’s just one that has a very particular market, and that might not be the right fit for you.
But you might be exactly the right person for a Carnival or a Disney cruise, or a Virgin voyage could be just what you need as a younger adult looking to have fun and cut loose.
This just reiterates why it’s so important to do your own research, read up on what each cruise line and each ship has to offer, and then try a ship to see what you think.
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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.
Royal Caribbean has updated the 2025 itineraries for one of their cruise ships and the vessel will now sail from Los Angeles during the summer.
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Royal Caribbean has changed some of next year’s itineraries for Ovation of the Seas. Instead of offering cruises from China, the ship will now sail from Los Angeles, California.
Ovation of the Seas will start of 2025 sailing from Sydney. The ship will reposition to Los Angeles and sail its first cruise from the port on June 3, 2025.
Ovation of the Seas will offer three different itineraries from Los Angeles. They are as follows:
3 night cruises with a port stop in Ensenada, Mexico
5 night cruises with an overnight port stop in Cabo, Mexico
6 night cruises with an overnight in Cabo and a stop in Ensenada
Ovation of the Seas will sail a total of 24 cruises from Los Angeles during the summer/fall of 2025. Each itinerary will offer eight different sailing dates.
Prices on Ovation’s cruises from Los Angeles start at $364 per person, based on double occupancy.
This will be the first time that Ovation of the Seas offers cruises from Los Angeles.
