News

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.

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.

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.

Related posts

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

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….

A gastrointestinal illness outbreak occurred on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas during its last 2024 Alaska cruise. 167 passengers onboard have reported symptoms, which is almost 7.7% of those…

Hurricane Helene has had quite the impact on cruises from the US in the past few days, including one outright cancellation – a sailing on Carnival Paradise. The ship was…

A casting call has gone out to anyone who wishes to audition for the Back to the Future musical which we now know will be hosted on Royal Caribbean’s new…

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.

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.

Related posts

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

A gastrointestinal illness outbreak occurred on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas during its last 2024 Alaska cruise. 167 passengers onboard have reported symptoms, which is almost 7.7% of those…

Hurricane Helene has had quite the impact on cruises from the US in the past few days, including one outright cancellation – a sailing on Carnival Paradise. The ship was…

A casting call has gone out to anyone who wishes to audition for the Back to the Future musical which we now know will be hosted on Royal Caribbean’s new…

A 19-year-old male has been indicted by a US Attorney after a bomb hoax that took place in January 2024. Joshua Darrell Lowe II, from Bailey, Michigan, sent an email…

A gastrointestinal illness outbreak occurred on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas during its last 2024 Alaska cruise.

167 passengers onboard have reported symptoms, which is almost 7.7% of those onboard. 3 crew members also reported being unwell.

There are caveats to these statistics. On one hand, numbers often go underreported as guests either try to hide mild symptoms (in fear of being quarantined) or just aren’t affected too badly.

But equally, the reported numbers are across the entire 7-night cruise, and it doesn’t mean that 7.7% of passengers were all sick at the same time.

To help combat the spread, the cruise line stepped up the announcements to remind guests to wash their hands, and public areas were cleaned more frequently and disinfected.

It was the last cruise in Radiance’s Alaska season, with the ship now departing on a trip to Los Angeles ahead of a Panama Canal cruise before she takes up residence in Tampa.

While the next departure wasn’t delayed, it’s expected that enhanced cleaning protocols will be in place for the duration of that sailing.

It’s also not the first outbreak on Radiance of the Seas this year. Norovirus affected 69 people onboard a cruise in April.

Related posts

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

Hurricane Helene has had quite the impact on cruises from the US in the past few days, including one outright cancellation – a sailing on Carnival Paradise. The ship was…

A casting call has gone out to anyone who wishes to audition for the Back to the Future musical which we now know will be hosted on Royal Caribbean’s new…

A 19-year-old male has been indicted by a US Attorney after a bomb hoax that took place in January 2024. Joshua Darrell Lowe II, from Bailey, Michigan, sent an email…

A dramatic event unfolded during the latest Royal Princess cruise, as an 8-year-old boy had to be airlifted from the ship due to a medical emergency. The boy, named Daniel,…

Hurricane Helene has had quite the impact on cruises from the US in the past few days, including one outright cancellation – a sailing on Carnival Paradise.

The ship was due to depart on 26th September, but the ship was unable to return to the port following the end of the prior cruise due to the hurricane.

Indeed, it was kept out at sea until Saturday 28th, meaning the 4-night sailing would’ve been reduced to just 2 nights if it went ahead.

As a result, Carnival contacted guests to let them know that the sailing would have to be cancelled.

Thanks for your patience while you waited for updates about your cruise. Port officials have informed us that we will not be able to return to Tampa until tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, 9/28. This would not allow us enough time to deliver the experience we had planned for you. So, disappointingly, we must cancel the sailing.

Email sent to Carnival guests

Passengers will be given a full refund, and it’s expected that further compensation will be made available. Usually in these circumstances, guests will get a future cruise credit, essentially granting them a free cruise (or a heavily discounted one) in future.

Conversely, the guests on the 5-night sailing that departed on 21st September are currently enjoying an extended cruise that will now last 7 nights, although it’s not clear whether any compensation will be offered for affected travel plans.

Several ships have suffered delays due to the closures of Tampa along with Port Canaveral and Jacksonville, but it seems that Carnival Paradise is the only ship to have a sailing completely cancelled.

Related posts

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

A casting call has gone out to anyone who wishes to audition for the Back to the Future musical which we now know will be hosted on Royal Caribbean’s new…

A 19-year-old male has been indicted by a US Attorney after a bomb hoax that took place in January 2024. Joshua Darrell Lowe II, from Bailey, Michigan, sent an email…

A dramatic event unfolded during the latest Royal Princess cruise, as an 8-year-old boy had to be airlifted from the ship due to a medical emergency. The boy, named Daniel,…

Tom Bridge, a British kitesurfer and Red Bull athlete, made a daring jump from the Resilient Lady, a Virgin Voyages cruise ship, on 25 September. The ship was anchored in…

A casting call has gone out to anyone who wishes to audition for the Back to the Future musical which we now know will be hosted on Royal Caribbean’s new ship Star of the Seas.

The musical, which first debuted in Manchester in 2020, has gone on to huge success in both the West End and on Broadway, and is noted for its outstanding visual effects alongside its great music and story.

The cruise line has put out an open call and will also be hosting invited auditions in London between 7th and 11th October 2024 at Pineapple Studios.

The call is looking for both singers and actors, who will be required to perform the show 3-4 times per week. Both principal and ensemble cast members are sought.

Successful crew will also need to perform in an “original Royal Caribbean signature production” 3-4 times per week as well.

Back to the Future isn’t the only famous stage show to make it to cruise ships. Icon of the Seas, the sister ship of Star of the Seas, features “Wizard of Oz”, while other Royal Caribbean ships offer “Cats”, “Mamma Mia”, and “Grease”. “Beetlejuice” and “The Donna Summer Musical” feature on NCL ships.

Star of the Seas is set to debut in 2025 and will be based out of Port Canaveral.

Without spoiling the end of the show – it’ll be fascinating to see how they pull it off in a cruise ship theatre!

Related posts

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

A 19-year-old male has been indicted by a US Attorney after a bomb hoax that took place in January 2024. Joshua Darrell Lowe II, from Bailey, Michigan, sent an email…

A dramatic event unfolded during the latest Royal Princess cruise, as an 8-year-old boy had to be airlifted from the ship due to a medical emergency. The boy, named Daniel,…

Tom Bridge, a British kitesurfer and Red Bull athlete, made a daring jump from the Resilient Lady, a Virgin Voyages cruise ship, on 25 September. The ship was anchored in…

A new study by cruise specialists Iglu Cruise has revealed that Norway is the most Googled cruise destination for travellers in 11 European countries, including the UK, Ireland, Spain, and…

A dramatic event unfolded during the latest Royal Princess cruise, as an 8-year-old boy had to be airlifted from the ship due to a medical emergency.

The boy, named Daniel, was diagnosed with appendicitis while on a 13-night cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii.

Daniel began to feel unwell on only the second day of the cruise, with the ship’s doctor determining that he needed immediate medical attention due to a high fever and his general worsening condition.

The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter to transport Daniel and his family to a hospital in Eureka, California, where he underwent emergency surgery.

The rescue was captured on camera, showcasing the Coast Guard’s prompt and efficient response.

The operation took place at 8 am and was described as challenging by pilot Lt. Katherine McDonnell, due to the heavy fog. But she was able to guide the helicopter to the ship, where Philip Morie rappelled down and was able to secure Daniel in a rescue basket.

The ship was able to continue on with the cruise without any impact on the itinerary, and Daniel’s successful surgery means he’s expected to make a full recovery.

Related posts

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

A 19-year-old male has been indicted by a US Attorney after a bomb hoax that took place in January 2024. Joshua Darrell Lowe II, from Bailey, Michigan, sent an email…

Tom Bridge, a British kitesurfer and Red Bull athlete, made a daring jump from the Resilient Lady, a Virgin Voyages cruise ship, on 25 September. The ship was anchored in…

A new study by cruise specialists Iglu Cruise has revealed that Norway is the most Googled cruise destination for travellers in 11 European countries, including the UK, Ireland, Spain, and…

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled the 28th September 2024 cruise on the Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, due to unexpected maintenance. The ship was supposed to…

A 19-year-old male has been indicted by a US Attorney after a bomb hoax that took place in January 2024.

Joshua Darrell Lowe II, from Bailey, Michigan, sent an email to Carnival saying “Hey, I think someone might have a bomb on your Sunrise cruise ship.”

At the time, the ship had just left Miami on a cruise to Jamaica with over 4,000 people onboard.

Due to the email, the crew had to search over 1,000 staterooms on the ship, before she was then escorted to port by the Jamaican Marine Police for further inspections.

Now, Mark Totten, US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, has announced that Lowe will face criminal charges for the hoax.

If he’s found guilty, he could face up to five years in jail along with a hefty fine to cover the costs of the hoax.

It’s not the first time a Carnival ship has been the victim of a bomb hoax – in 2010, a Florida woman made several calls to the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office to claim that a terrorist was onboard the Carnival Fascination.

She later pleaded guilty and was jailed for 12 months.

Related posts

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

A dramatic event unfolded during the latest Royal Princess cruise, as an 8-year-old boy had to be airlifted from the ship due to a medical emergency. The boy, named Daniel,…

Tom Bridge, a British kitesurfer and Red Bull athlete, made a daring jump from the Resilient Lady, a Virgin Voyages cruise ship, on 25 September. The ship was anchored in…

A new study by cruise specialists Iglu Cruise has revealed that Norway is the most Googled cruise destination for travellers in 11 European countries, including the UK, Ireland, Spain, and…

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled the 28th September 2024 cruise on the Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, due to unexpected maintenance. The ship was supposed to…

Tom Bridge, a British kitesurfer and Red Bull athlete, made a daring jump from the Resilient Lady, a Virgin Voyages cruise ship, on 25 September.

The ship was anchored in the Greek Isles. Bridge jumped from Deck 16, which is about 129 feet high, turning the ship into a kitesurfing venue.

After the jump, Bridge said it was “probably the most terrifying thing” he has done with a kite. He managed to travel about 700 to 900 feet downwind after landing.

“We’d been on the ship to recce three times and had lots of looks over the edge. And every time we’ve gone ‘Oh God, it’s high, isn’t it?’ Then, honestly, when I had the kite in my hands, and I put my feet in the straps, I didn’t look down. It was just ‘go.’ It just carried me, and next minute we’re on the water.”

Tom Bridge, Red Bull athlete

Tom Bridge is from Exmouth and has a strong background in kitesurfing.

In 2013, he joined a Guinness World Record event with Virgin Group Founder Richard Branson. They set a record for the largest group of kitesurfers completing a one-mile course. Bridge was only 12 years old at the time, making him the youngest participant.

“You’ve got to be both incredibly skilled, and have a lot of nerve to attempt such a boost – what an amazing achievement! I love kitesurfing at my home on Necker Island, so Tom successfully jumping from deck 16 of Resilient Lady is an epic achievement.”

Sir Richard Branson

The event was, of course, pre-agreed with the cruise line – guests aren’t allowed to kitesurf from the deck of a cruise ship whenever they want to!

Related posts

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

A new study by cruise specialists Iglu Cruise has revealed that Norway is the most Googled cruise destination for travellers in 11 European countries, including the UK, Ireland, Spain, and…

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled the 28th September 2024 cruise on the Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, due to unexpected maintenance. The ship was supposed to…

Classic FM, the UK’s most popular radio station for classical music, has started a new four-part series where beloved comedian and presenter Sue Perkins will take a musical journey to…

Windstar Cruises has revealed plans for a major expansion of its South Pacific itineraries, the only region besides the Mediterranean where the cruise line operates year-round. Starting in 2026, Windstar…

A new study by cruise specialists Iglu Cruise has revealed that Norway is the most Googled cruise destination for travellers in 11 European countries, including the UK, Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The data highlights the growing interest in Norway’s stunning landscapes and the chance to witness the Northern Lights.

The surge in demand has led to more itineraries from major cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America Line, offering sailings throughout the year.

“We’ve seen an influx of customers wanting to discover cooler destinations such as Norway in recent years. Not only can you visit some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world, but you may also be lucky enough to witness the Northern Lights during certain times of the year.”

Dave Mills, Chief Commercial Officer at Iglu Cruise

Greece was another popular choice, topping search results in five countries, including Switzerland and Latvia, as well as being the top choice within Greece itself.

Other top cruise searches across Europe include Sweden, the most searched-for destination in Estonia and Poland, and a variety of single-country favorites such as Alaska for Italy, Antarctica for Norway, and Madeira for Portugal.

Iglu Cruise’s report also highlighted trending cruise preferences based on Google search increases from September 2023 to September 2024.

Adult-only cruises saw the largest spike, with a 60% rise in searches. Family cruises followed, with a 24% increase, and solo cruises were up 16%, reflecting a growing interest in these types of holidays.

“We’ve seen demand for adult-only cruises grow steadily. Many huge cruise lines, such as Virgin Voyages, Marella Cruises and P&O Cruises offer adult-only sailings, with more planning to follow suit in the years to come. The facilities onboard these ships are world-class. From fine dining and healthier options restaurants and choice of spas /gym classes to cutting edge entertainment and even onboard nightclubs, it’s clear to see why an increasing range of age groups want to experience an adult-only cruise.”

Dave Mills, Chief Commercial Officer at Iglu Cruise

Fly cruises and luxury cruises also saw steady growth, while last-minute cruise searches rose by 4%.

Related posts

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

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled the 28th September 2024 cruise on the Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, due to unexpected maintenance. The ship was supposed to…

Classic FM, the UK’s most popular radio station for classical music, has started a new four-part series where beloved comedian and presenter Sue Perkins will take a musical journey to…

Windstar Cruises has revealed plans for a major expansion of its South Pacific itineraries, the only region besides the Mediterranean where the cruise line operates year-round. Starting in 2026, Windstar…

A Carnival guest and YouTuber who tried to push the boundaries of Carnival’s prohibited items list had his portable satellite dish confiscated during a cruise. Richard Shillington, who runs the…

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled the 28th September 2024 cruise on the Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, due to unexpected maintenance.

The ship was supposed to depart from PortMiami and visit destinations in the Western Caribbean, including Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán, and Royal Caribbean’s private spot in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Instead, she will remain docked for a few days to address technical issues. The company is offering a full refund to affected guests, covering all costs, and will also provide up to $200 per guest for changes in domestic travel and $400 for international travel.

Passengers on the ship on the prior cruise will experience a slower journey, which means they won’t visit Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, as planned. Instead, there will be an additional day at sea.

Passengers on this cruise will receive a credit for one day of the cruise fare. The rest of the trip, including stops at St. Maarten and Perfect Day at CocoCay, will proceed as planned.

Royal Caribbean has informed guests about the reason for the cancellation and has apologised for the alteration to their plans. The company is working to resolve the issues promptly and ensure the ship is ready before it resumes its voyages.

Cruises that are cancelled at the last minute due to maintenance issues are very unfortunate, but you can’t sail on a ship that isn’t working properly.

What makes this unusual is that Icon of the Seas only launched at the start of this year. Unplanned maintenance issues on a ship that’s only 9 months old is almost unheard of – hopefully it’s a one-off incident affecting the biggest ship in the world.

In the same week, the newest ship in the fleet – Utopia of the Seas – also suffered an issue, with a power failure leading to air conditioning problems for a few hours in several parts of the ship.

This was resolved relatively quickly and only impacted some public areas.

Related posts

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

Classic FM, the UK’s most popular radio station for classical music, has started a new four-part series where beloved comedian and presenter Sue Perkins will take a musical journey to…

Windstar Cruises has revealed plans for a major expansion of its South Pacific itineraries, the only region besides the Mediterranean where the cruise line operates year-round. Starting in 2026, Windstar…

A Carnival guest and YouTuber who tried to push the boundaries of Carnival’s prohibited items list had his portable satellite dish confiscated during a cruise. Richard Shillington, who runs the…

12 cruise passengers were injured earlier this month as their tour bus overturned while in a remote area of Alaska. The incident occurred when the driver of the coach suffered…