Posts in category: Diplomacy

Princess Cruises is adding Christmas activities for the entire family on sailings over the holidays that will range from tree-lighting ceremonies to holiday movies on the pool deck.

Princess cruise ships will come alive with the magic of the holidays on cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, and the Panama Canal.

Programming will vary by ship, but they will be decorated with sparkling trees, garland, twinkling lights, and festive floral arrangements.

The cruise line’s newer ships, Sphere and Royal class vessels, will feature a tree lighting ceremony with a full cast performance. The rest of the fleet will have a more intimate festive tree lighting featuring vocalists.

Here is a look at the rest of the special programming being added by Princess Cruises for sailings over the holidays.

Merry Moments & “Let it Snow” experiences will be offered on select ships, with snow in the Piazza and other festive surprises.

Holly Jolly Sweater Parties will showcase creative attire and dance to favorite holiday tunes featuring a holiday silent disco, candlelight concert, and festive singalongs.

A Festive Family Faire with arts and crafts will be offered for all ages, and a holiday family flair night where guests can wear their favorite festive pajamas and sweaters.

Guests will be able to make their own gingerbread houses with frosting and candy décor. A Storytime with Stanley will share imaginative tales that kids will love.

Piazza Magical Moments will take place on Star Princess and Sun Princess, with snow falling and whimsical moments displayed on the LED screen.

Favorite holiday movies will be shown on Movies Under the Stars and also in staterooms.

Special holiday menus will be offered that feature festive demos of turkey carving, holiday cookies, cocktails, and even hot chocolate stations.

And since it’s the holiday, religious observances will also be held.

Denise Saviss, Princess Cruises Vice President, Entertainment, said the following about the upcoming holidays on their ships:

“The magic of the holidays at sea begins the moment guests pack their bags. From tree lighting festivals to holiday music filling our decks, our sparkling ships and holiday festivities are rooted in tradition and filled with shared moments that sail home with our guests.”

As a strong nor’easter churns along the East Coast, at least a couple of cruise ships have already had to make some changes.

If you’re sailing out of New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, or Boston in the next few days, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your cruise line app and email.

What’s Going on with the Storm

This isn’t your typical fall hurricane. It’s a classic nor’easter that started gaining some strength off the Mid-Atlantic and is slowly moving north.

As of Thursday afternoon, it’s already causing coastal flooding, high surf (waves of 10–15 feet in spots), and gusty winds from North Carolina up through New Jersey and into New England.

Seas along the Eastern seaboard will stay rough for a while, which is exactly why cruise lines are doing what they can to keep itineraries on schedule but also keep passengers safe and comfortable.

Carnival Venezia Leaving Bermuda Early

Carnival’s Italian-themed ship has been dealing with the weather for a couple of days already.

On the sailing that was in Bermuda over the weekend, the captain of Carnival Venezia issued a letter on September 21 telling guests they would leave the island earlier than planned.

Instead of a later afternoon departure, the ship adjusted to arrive at 8:30 AM and sail away at 3:00 PM, with everyone required back on board by 2:30 PM.

That was obviously not a lot of time in port and cut into some excursion plans.

“We understand that leaving Bermuda earlier than planned is a bit disappointing, and we sincerely appreciate your understanding, but know you share our commitment to prioritizing safety,” the letter stated.

The return trip itself wasn’t exactly a smooth ride, though. Passengers reported breaking dishes in the dining room and some motion sickness as the ship slowed down and adjusted course for calmer waters.

Arrival in New York on September 24 was delayed until about 10:00 AM and the next sailing (the five-night Bermuda trip that was supposed to leave today) will also see a delayed departure that should be around 6:00 PM.

Carnival Venezia is scheduled to sail out of New York at least until October, offering 4- to 8-night cruises.

Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas Heads to Warmer Waters

This is the bigger itinerary change of the two.

Vision of the Seas was heading back to Baltimore when the weather forced a delay. Arrival time was pushed to around 2:00 PM on September 24 instead of the normal early morning.

And that delay ran into a delay for the next cruise as well.

The 9-night Canada & New England sailing that was supposed to leave Baltimore on September 24 has been completely changed.

Instead of Boston, Portland, Saint John, and Halifax, the ship is now heading south to Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Grand Bahama Island. That’s quite the climate change for this sailing as well, so hopefully guests will have the right outfits for the warmer weather.

Passengers will stay on the ship overnight in Baltimore and sail at 3:00 PM on Friday, September 25. Embarkation times were pushed back several hours as well.

Prepaid shore excursions for the original ports are being refunded as onboard credit.

Ships Worth Watching (No Confirmed Changes Yet)

A few other cruise ships could see some alterations as well, but nothing official has been announced as of late Thursday:

• Norwegian Breakaway and other Boston departures this weekend: possible timing or port adjustments could be announced.
• New York and Cape Liberty sailings on Viking Mars, Crystal Symphony, Norwegian Escape, Valiant Lady, Queen Mary 2, and Independence of the Seas: these Canada/New England or Bermuda itineraries could see changes if the storm lingers or tracks closer to the coast.

Cruise lines usually wait until the last possible moment before locking in changes, so these could stay on schedule or get adjusted tomorrow or Saturday.

If you’re booked on any East Coast sailing in the next week, check your cruise line’s app and email frequently.

Weather is unpredictable, which is why a meteorologist can still have a job with a 55% accuracy rating, right?

Azamara Cruises has announced that a 195-night cruise from San Diego, California, in 2029 has opened for bookings.

The cruise will depart on January 3, 2029, and end in Copenhagen on July 17, 2029. It will visit 40 countries across five continents, and the ship will spend 65% of its time in port.

This cruise on Azamara Quest will be the longest world cruise offered in 2029. It will have 16 overnight port visits and 60 late-night stops.

The cruise will begin in San Diego before heading west to Hawaii and deep into the South Pacific, with calls across French Polynesia, Samoa and Fiji before continuing through Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island.

In French Polynesia, guests will have multiple overnight stays in Mo’orea, Papeete and Bora Bora, creating additional opportunities to experience the region beyond a traditional port call. The epic journey crosses the International Date Line westbound on January 30.

Guests will then explore Oceania, visiting 11 ports in New Zealand, including Milford Sound, before experiencing 12 ports across Australia, from Hobart to Darwin, as well as Exmouth, the gateway to Ningaloo Reef.

The world cruise will continue through Indonesia and Singapore before moving through Southeast Asia and onward to Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.

In Japan, guests will visit nine ports, including Hiroshima, one of the itinerary’s highest-rated ports. The voyage will then continue through Alaska, including Hubbard Glacier, before heading south through British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, then onward through Central America and the Panama Canal to Colombia and Florida.

The sailing will then head north to New York before crossing the Atlantic to Ireland, the United Kingdom and France, continuing into Northern Europe.

The final stretch through Northern Europe will span 12 different countries across the last 16 nights of the journey, including Germany, Denmark, Poland, Finland, Latvia and Sweden, before arriving in Copenhagen.

The cruise line will also offer two shorter segments that will open for bookings on October 14, 2026. They are a 179-night cruise from San Diego to London, and a 139-night voyage from Sydney to Copenhagen.

The first will have 52 late nights, 16 overnight stays, and 12 maiden ports, while the second will feature 43 late nights, 11 overnight stays, and four maiden ports.

Azamara Cruises is also offering limited-time loyalty discounts ranging from 6% to 12% off on all three World Cruise journeys.

The full 195-night cruise is eligible for the promotion during the first 80 days of booking, while the two shorter journeys are eligible for the first 60 days.

Dondra Ritzenthaler, CEO of Azamara Cruises, gave the following statement:

“World travel is about more than simply checking destinations off a list. It’s about having the time to experience them, discover something unexpected, and connect with the places and people along the way.

“Our 2029 World Cruise was designed around that philosophy, with time to explore more deeply and make meaningful connections both ashore and on board. Our crew is at the heart of that experience, creating the warm, personalized service our guests know and love about Azamara. We’re incredibly excited to open bookings and invite our guests to join us for what we believe will be one of the most memorable journeys Azamara has ever created.”

Select portions of the trip will also be offered and will range from seven to 20 nights in length. They will open for bookings in 2027.

Sailing on a Mexican Riviera cruise out of a California port is awesome. But it still takes a day or two before the ship actually reaches some of those more popular ports of call in Mexico.

A new plan could change all that by offering a homeport for cruise ships right in the heart of the Riviera.

Mexico has selected Puerto Vallarta for the country’s first full-scale cruise homeport on the Pacific Coast. According to recent news reports, construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the terminal targeted to open in 2029.

Right now, Puerto Vallarta is a popular port of call. Ships leave from Los Angeles, Long Beach, or San Diego, spend a few hours in Vallarta, and head back north.

The planned 95,172-square-meter development is trying to turn the city into a place where cruises can actually start and end.

ASIPONA Puerto Vallarta has opened an international tender for a private operator to build and run the facility. The project includes three dedicated cruise docks.

And Mexican officials are doing their best to attract some big names in the cruise industry. They have pitched the idea to Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Global Ports Holding.

Puerto Vallarta was chosen over some other cruise ports that were recently still in the running, such as Mazatlán, Los Cabos, and Nayarit.

Why a Homeport in Puerto Vallarta Matters

A true homeport needs facilities for check-in, luggage handling, customs and passenger processing. It’s more than just a gangway and curbside pick-up.

The new terminal is designed to handle everything needed for a roundtrip sailing.

Here’s what it could open up:

• Shorter, more focused itineraries: Ships based in Puerto Vallarta could skip the multi-day sailings from California. That makes 3- to 7-night cruises focused on the Mexican Pacific, Sea of Cortez, or Central America more practical.
• One-way options: Officials have talked up itineraries that start in Puerto Vallarta, stop in Cabo San Lucas, and end in Los Angeles (or the reverse). That would be a popular choice for a destination focused sailing.
• Fly-and-cruise convenience: Puerto Vallarta International Airport already has direct flights to many U.S. cities. Guests could fly in and board their ship just two miles away.

Local updates from Mexico News Daily note that the plans should increase hotel stays as passengers arrive early or linger after their cruise as well, making it an attractive concept for the local economy.

Which Cruise Lines Might Use It?

To be clear, no cruise line has signed a deployment contract yet. If the 2029 timeline actually holds up, the main West Coast operators will probably at least take a close look at seasonal or year-round sailings:

• Carnival Cruise Line: Already a big player on the Mexican Riviera. A Puerto Vallarta homeport would let them offer shorter, more destination focused sailings.
• Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises: Both run regular sailings in this region as well. A dedicated homeport could support larger ships that Royal Caribbean is known for. According to current plans, the new port could handle ships up to 220,000 gross tons in size.
• Princess Cruises and Holland America Line: These cruise lines lean toward longer, destination-heavy cruises and could use Puerto Vallarta as a homeport for routes deeper into Central or South America.

Details on the plans are available through the official SECTUR announcement.

What’s Next?

Right now, the Mexican government is still reviewing bids from private companies to decide who will build and run the facility.

Construction is scheduled for 2027, with 2029 as the target for the first homeport departures.

Existing Mexican Riviera cruises out of California will continue as usual for the next few years. As 2029 gets closer, cruise lines will start publishing itineraries if they decide to position ships in Puerto Vallarta.

So, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for that.

This project will create Mexico’s first cruise homeport built to handle large international ships as a starting point, rather than just a port of call.

Several months ago, Carnival Corporation opened a new side of Half Moon Cay for Carnival cruise ships to visit. Now, the cruise giant is upgrading Holland America Line’s side of the island with new features and enhancements.

Holland America Line is completing significant enhancements to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, that include a new Beach Club and food pavilion.

The island will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, and these new updates will make the island better than ever.

Guests will be able to purchase a day pass to the exclusive Beach Club, which will be available for booking in early October. A pass will include priority tendering to the island, dedicated waiter service, all-inclusive alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages, specialty food offerings, and other special surprise moments.

The new Beach Club pairs the cruise line’s signature palette of blue, orange and cream with natural textures and relaxed, open-air spaces, for a setting that feels distinctly Caribbean.

A new food pavilion will offer a complimentary island-only menu, and existing bars and eateries are being renovated.

Additional enhancements include upgraded cabanas, refreshed clamshells and daybeds, renovated bars and eateries, and pickleball courts introduced last season. The beach area will also offer more daybeds and additional beach chairs.

Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line, gave the following statement about the enhancements:

“Every enhancement at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is centered on creating an even more exceptional experience while building on everything guests already love about the island. It’s exciting to unveil the Beach Club as we prepare to welcome our first visitors in October. These improvements reflect our commitment to invest in the guest experience, offering even more unforgettable moments in one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful destinations.”

Holland America Line will offer more than two dozen itineraries that will visit Half Moon Cay between October 2026 and April 2027.

In addition to Holland America Line ships, some Princess ships will also visit this side of the island starting this winter.

The Financial Times is reporting that Royal Caribbean Group is close to a deal to buy a majority stake in Sandals Resorts International, a company with 20 all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

The deal would put Sandals Resorts International’s value at $6 billion, and it would be Royal Caribbean Group’s largest deal in its history. They already own the largest cruise line in the world, Royal Caribbean, with 30 ships in service.

The FT said that if the deal goes through, Royal Caribbean would become the largest shareholder in Sandals, with the Stewart family retaining equity holdings in the company.

CNBC said that Royal Caribbean would buy a $3 billion stake in Sandals to own half the company, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The deal has not been finalized, but sources say an agreement could be reached in a few days. Talks could also collapse before a deal is completed.

Royal Caribbean’s stock ($RCL) dropped from $255 to $231 a share in the first hour after a potential deal was announced. The stock closed at $234.89.

This is not the first time that Royal Caribbean has looked into buying a resort. A few years ago, they were in talks to buy the Grand Lucayan Resort in Freeport, Bahamas, but the deal never went through.

The cruise giant also received government approval to buy the long-closed Xanadu Beach Hotel in Freeport in the spring of 2025. The deal went through this summer, and Royal Caribbean paid $30 million for it.

The Tribune reported that Royal Caribbean was also in the final stages of completing a deal to buy the Royal Oasis on Grand Bahama Island, with plans to use it to create a private destination for their guests.

Last summer, Royal Caribbean’s main competitor, Carnival Cruise Line, opened a private beach destination, Celebration Key, on Grand Bahama Island for their ships to visit.

Cruise Fever will have all updates if Royal Caribbean does, in fact, end up buying Sandals Resorts International and the new vacation options that could come to Royal Caribbean guests.

Royal Caribbean currently owns three cruise lines (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea), and a 40% stake in the Grand Bahama shipyard.

A cruise ship departed on a 50-day cruise in the Mediterranean that will visit 40 ports, 12 countries, and offer the opportunity to visit 48 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Silver Spirit departed from Lisbon, Portugal, on the “Grand Voyage Mediterranean 2026” sailing. The cruise will end in Piraeus (Athens), Greece on November 7, 2026.

Itinerary

The ship will visit 40 ports in the Mediterranean, including lesser-traveled stops like Volos, Gythion, Kotor, and Amalfi. Guests will also enjoy overnight port visits in Malaga, Livorno, and Istanbul.

First, the ship will visit  Casablanca and Tangier, Morocco, before rounding the Strait of Gibraltar for Cádiz and an overnight stay in Malaga, concluding with Valencia and Barcelona.

From Barcelona, the ship will sail through the Western Mediterranean and French Riviera with visits to Palamós and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Sète and Marseille, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco, Livorno, Porto Santo Stefano, and Civitavecchia (Rome).

The cruise ship will sail along Italy’s southern coast with visits to Naples, Amalfi, and Sicily. After the vessel leaves Italy, it will visit Valletta, Malta; Kotor, Montenegro; and Split, Zadar, and Rovinj, Croatia before ending in Venice.

From Venice, the ship will sail the Adriatic and Ionian with visits to Koper, Slovenia; Rijeka and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Bari, Italy, before reaching Corfu, Katakolon (Olympia), Gythion and Souda Bay (Crete), Greece.

The final leg of this incredible cruise will visit the Greek Islands of Mykonos, Volos, and Thessaloniki. After an overnight stay in Istanbul, Turkey, the cruise will conclude in Athens.

Exclusive Events

Guests on the cruise will have the opportunity to enjoy two exclusive events. The first is a two-day overland journey that begins at Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli before lunch overlooking Florence. After a private after-hours visit to the Uffizi Gallery, dinner will be held at the St. Regis.

Day two includes a walking tour of Florence and a private evening visit to the Accademia Gallery for an uncrowded view of Michelangelo’s David.

The second exclusive event will be an evening at the Şerefiye Cistern in Istanbul. An evening of music and dining will take place at the cistern that has been preserved for more than 1,600 years.

Bert Hernandez, president of Silversea, gave the following statement:

“Silversea’s Grand Voyages are designed to immerse guests more deeply in each destination, building the kind of moments guests remember long after a voyage ends. Whether it’s a private evening inside an ancient cistern in Istanbul, or an after-hours journey through Florence after the crowds have gone home, this kind of depth and access is what keeps guests returning to Silversea voyage after voyage.”