Diplomacy

A Holland America Line cruise ship returned to service this past weekend after receiving major enhancements during a recent dry dock.

Oosterdam spent two weeks in dry dock in The Bahamas and many of the public spaces on board renovated. The casino was expanded and a new Effy jewelry retail space was added.

Other public areas that received new furniture and additional significant upgrades were the Crow’s Nest, Greenhouse Spa & Salon, Photo Gallery and Photo Studio, and the suite-exclusive Neptune Lounge.

Rolling Stone Lounge was fully upgraded with an enhanced bar and new carpet, furnishings, LED lighting and flooring, offering a refreshed and vibrant atmosphere.

Casino

The former Gallery Bar is now part of the casino floor, featuring 34 new slot machines and a digital table game. This expansion offers more space for guests to move comfortably and enjoy more gaming options in an improved environment.

Neptune Lounge

The Neptune Lounge, an exclusive area for guests staying in suites. it received new carpet, drapes and light fixtures, along with stylish dining and lounge furniture.

The catering area has been renovated to offer a more streamlined look, and a new concierge desk enhances the welcoming experience.

Crow’s Nest

Guests will enjoy a refreshed Arts Studio where creativity can be unleashed at arts-and-crafts classes; a dedicated Games Room area for connecting with family and friends over various board and tabletop games; and a cozy Puzzle Area for those who wish to spend their cruise working on intricate puzzles.

Greenhouse Spa & Salon

The spa on Oosterdam now features a new co-ed sauna and a new couple’s massage therapy room.

The Thermal Suite was rebuilt with a new Laconium thermal room, steam room and experiential rain shower. The Relaxation Lounge was also refreshed with a new beverage counter.

Effy Lounge and Retail Shop

The new Effy Lounge and Retail Shop replaced the small movie theater that was on the ship.

The shop itself mirrors the look and feel of Effy’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Modern touches provide a refined ambiance for guests to browse the various display cases filled with exquisitely crafted fine jewelry.

Photo Studio

The refurbished Photo Gallery now includes display areas and a facial recognition digital photo system for guests to view their photos through their account.

This area also received new lighting, carpet and signage.

Oosterdam is currently on a Transatlantic cruise that will end in Barcelona on May 3, 2025. The ship will spend the summer sailing in the Mediterranean before heading back to Ft. Lauderdale in November.

The energy to move a cruise ship through the water is the biggest draw on fuel, but the second biggest is often overlooked and is getting major changes on both modern and existing cruise ships.

Cruise ships are more streamlined and fuel-efficient than ever before. From specialized paint that allows them to cut through the water more easily to streams of bubbles along the bow to cut fuel costs, cruise lines are finding ways to get more out of every drop of fuel.

The biggest part of fuel consumption on a cruise ship comes from the propulsion itself. It takes a lot of energy to spin those blades and get a 150,000 gross ton vessel moving at 20+ knots.

But there’s another energy hog that is second only to propulsion and it’s constantly in use all over the ship: the ventilation system.

The size and constant use of a cruise ship’s heating, AC, and ventilation systems make it the second-largest consumer of energy on board.

According to Halton, a company that specializes in indoor air solutions, ventilation on a large cruise ship accounts for 30% of energy use. This could mean as much as 250 tons of fuel each day on a mega ship.

So, as you can see, there’s a big reason cruise lines want you to keep your balcony door closed and try to cut off power and air circulation to the cabin when you’re not present.

Why Ventilation Uses So Much Energy

Think about the sheer amount of power that’s needed for things we take for granted around the cruise ship:

• Constantly supplying fresh air to thousands of cabins.
• Extracting air from a number of galleys where meals are cooked around the clock.
• Maintaining comfortable air quality in theatres, lounges, and dining rooms.

If you ever saw a cruise ship being built, you’d see the huge network of ducts running all over the place. These systems are in constant operation, moving, filtering, heating, and cooling massive amounts of air.

What Cruise Lines Are Doing to Reduce Energy Costs on Existing Ships

Typically, these ventilation systems operate continuously, 24/7, regardless of whether a cabin is occupied or a galley is in full swing. It’s like running your home HVAC system at full blast all the time – not the most efficient method.

Cruise lines are now looking to retrofit existing vessels with more efficient systems, like demand-driven ventilation.  Often this is part of the dry dock upgrade that doesn’t get much attention online.

Some companies are testing systems for cruise ships that use a “demand-drive” approach. The smart systems use sensors to detect when and where ventilation is needed on the ship and adjust the airflow.

Here’s how it works in practice:

• Smart Galleys: Infrared sensors in cooker hoods monitor cooking activity and adjust exhaust airflow in real-time, only using maximum power when needed.
• Efficient Cabins: Occupancy sensors detect if anyone is in a cabin and adjust the air supply accordingly. Sensors on balcony doors prevent wasted energy by reducing cooling when the door is open.

The Results? (Especially for Retrofitted Ships)

According to one CEO, these systems can cut overall fuel consumption by 10%. For a large cruise ship burning 150-250 tons of fuel daily, this is a huge reduction in cost. Whether or not this cost will turn into lower prices for passengers remains to be seen, but any reduction in waste should be seen as a positive sign for the cruise industry.

New, strict regulations from the IMO and EU are forcing cruise lines to boost energy efficiency across their existing fleets.  Aging ventilation systems on some older cruise ships is something also driving the push for these demand-driven systems

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country and Carnival Cruise Line added their first dedicated pickleball court on one of their cruise ships a little over two years ago.

Since then, Carnival Cruise Line has added pickleball to 19 of their 29 cruise ships.

Here is a look at which Carnival ships offer pickleball by ship class.

Fantasy Class: Neither of the two Fantasy class ships offer pickleball.

Sunshine Class: There are three ships in this class but unfortunately, no pickleball on any  of them.

Adventure Class: Both Adventure class ships, Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, offer pickleball.

Spirit Class: Four of the five Spirit class ships have pickleball. They are Carnival Legend, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Pride and Carnival Spirit.

Conquest Class: Two out of the five Conquest class ships have pickleball, they are Carnival Freedom and Carnival Conquest.

Splendor Class: Carnival Splendor, the lone ship in this class, does not offer pickleball.

Dream Class: All three Dream class ships, Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic, and Carnival Breeze, offer pickleball.

Vista Class: Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, and Carnival Panorama all offer pickleball.

Venice Class: The two Venice class ships that were moved over from sister cruise Line Costa Cruises, Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia, both have pickleball.

Excel Class: The three largest ships in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet all have pickleball. They are Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.

Everyone loves a good cruise deal, but sometimes you want to do some research yourself before you get locked into a phone call with a salesperson.

A recent social media post highlighted some frustrating sales tactics as Norwegian Cruise Line fans discussed getting more calls and emails than they cared for from their “Personal Cruise Consultants”. 

I’ve received many of these calls myself, and while I love sailing with Norwegian and appreciate a salesperson doing their job, this cruise line can be a bit more proactive than others when it comes to marketing.

A recent Reddit thread on r/NCL has become a venting space for cruisers sharing their experiences with the cruise line’s marketing tactics.

One user, Medic5780, kicked off the discussion with a frustrated post titled, “What’s with the unrelenting calls and emails from the ‘Personal Cruise Consultant?‘”

They mentioned how the constant contact, even before booking, was a major turn-off, especially compared to their experiences with other cruise lines. “Three or four phone calls a day, every day” they claimed, pointing out the unusual intensity of NCL’s approach.

Many commenters chimed in with similar stories, confirming this isn’t an isolated incident.

“The second they track you’re looking at ‘your next cruise’ they will call and call,” warned user one user. Another user who loves cruising with NCL, admitted, “I agree the calls are annoying. I block their number so the calls go straight to vm but that don’t stop them from calling. It’s like they get a alert anytime you’re on the site.”

So, what’s the number one tip to avoid this flood of sales calls? According to multiple users, the key is simple: stay logged out of the NCL website when you’re just browsing.

And when you’re ready to book, log in and see how long it takes to be contacted.

One user shared this insight: “I have learned to remain logged out of their website when I’m shopping around. I only login if I plan to book.”

The original poster quickly realized this might be the cause of the marketing blitz, replying, “Ah. That must be what they’re seeing. I’ve been on there looking around almost every night for the last week or so. Thanks for the insight!”

Reddit users kept echoing this advice, with one saying, “100% only price shop logged OUT.” They estimated that NCL’s tracking of logged-in users triggers the contact from personal consultants.

But some users have found their personal cruise consultant quite helpful.

As one user pointed out, “I don’t mind the emails because I love to constantly see different deals and ideas for itineraries…” For those who find the emails a little too excessive, several users suggested unsubscribing directly from the emails or adjusting communication preferences in their NCL account.

One comment advised, “There are preferences you can turn off (or ask to be removed from).”

And if the calls are already happening? Well, straight-up asking them to stop or calling Norwegian Cruise Line’s main line to get on a do-not-call list sounds like it’s worked for others.

Bottom line?  If you want to explore NCL cruises without the phone constantly buzzing, your best bet is to browse their site incognito, just logging in when you’re ready to make a move and book that sailing.

This simple action appears to be the most commonly recommended method for a more peaceful (and less intrusive) interaction with the cruise line.

You can let those calls go to voicemail if you want, but a simple note asking them to stop is the most straightforward way to solve this problem.

After spending a reported $15,000 on a cruise departing from Florida, a man flying from Australia to New York missed the sailing after being held by U.S. immigration at John F. Kennedy International Airport for eight hours.

The apparent reason: he took an “unusual route” in his travel plans, which included a stopover in Hong Kong.

We just highlighted a story in which a British man flew from the UK to Australia and was not allowed to board his ship because of the condition of his passport.  This time it was an Australian traveler that also missed his ship.

I always stress getting to the cruise port on time and trying to arrive at least a day early if possible. After all the time and money spent planning a cruise vacation, you really don’t want to miss the ship and watch your vacation plans sail into the sunset.

But sometimes there are delays you just never see coming. In this case, it was more than just a delay.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was detained by U.S. immigration at JFK airport because—according to him—he had taken a “very unusual route.”

“Eight hours later, after three interview teams and extensive examination of my laptop and iPhone, [the decision of US immigration] was that I had come to the US on a very unusual route from Australia via Asia (I flew premium economy and Cathay Pacific had the cheapest airfare),” the man reportedly said.

The eight-hour delay meant that by the time the interview process was over, the man’s ship had already departed. But ultimately, he would not have been able to join his cruise anyway because, according to the Australian news source, the man was then deported back to Australia.

Reflecting on his experience, the traveler reportedly stated that he had no plans on returning to the U.S. The missed cruise resulted in a reported $15,000 loss for the traveler, although we’re still missing a lot of details in this story.

It does, however, again highlight the importance of cruise travel insurance for any sailing, especially when multiple flights are involved.

Unanswered Questions Remain

Also, while the traveler’s account in the Sydney Morning Herald sheds light on his unfortunate experience, it’s worth noting that several aspects of this incident remain unclear.

The specific reason behind U.S. immigration’s assessment of his Hong Kong travel route as “unusual” has not been publicly detailed. We don’t have a full explanation of the examination of his electronic devices. And the specific policy that led to the deportation decision, based on his itinerary, remains unclear.

So, while we know this Aussie missed his cruise and was sent back home because of his “unusual route” through Hong Kong, the exact reasons why that route was a problem are still a bit of a mystery. It could be anything from extra security checks for certain travel paths to security concerns that were raised during questioning. Whatever the reason, it turned a $15,000 cruise into a very expensive airport layover.