News

Holland America Line is making cruise trips more special with new stateroom décor packages for celebrations.

By December 2024, these packages will be available on all their ships.

Guests can choose a standard package for $54.95, which includes a door magnet, ceiling banners, and a lanyard. For $79.95, the deluxe package adds a cosy “Time to Celebrate” blanket.

“So many of our guests choose to cruise to celebrate a special milestone, and these upgraded décor packages are a great way to enhance their at-sea experiences and create cherished memories.

“With the variety of birthday and anniversary package options to choose from, we hope our guests will celebrate in style.”

Carole Biencourt, vice president of guest commerce at Holland America Line

Guests can also add extras like birthday cakes, champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and spa treatments to make their celebrations even more special.

Holland America Line plans to add more themes for different occasions, like winter holidays, bon voyage parties, and Alaskan adventures.

There will also be fun experiences with their mascot, Lewie the Lion, to make celebrations even more exciting.

These new packages show Holland America Line’s commitment to making sure guests can enjoy the perfect celebration cruise.

As they continue to add more options, guests can look forward to celebrating in style on their cruises.

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

Read more about me

A new study conducted by HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) has revealed some interesting details about the adventurous tendencies of British travellers. The research has shown that the ultimate age of adventure…

Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed exciting new entertainment for its upcoming ship, the Norwegian Aqua, launching in April 2025. This ship, part of the Prima-plus class, aims to change cruise…

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled a cruise on the Rhapsody of the Seas because one of the ship’s lifeboats was damaged. The cruise was supposed to depart from Puerto Rico…

A would-be passenger of the long-delayed Villa Vie Odyssey cruise claims she was removed from the voyage after making critical comments in text app groups. Jenny Phenix, 68, from Florida,…

Silversea Cruises and Les Roches Global Hospitality Education have collaborated to introduce a new postgraduate diploma in Cruise Line Management, welcoming students for the first time this month.

This programme, the first of its kind, is designed to train future leaders in the cruise industry. It covers a wide range of subjects during the first semester alone, including cruise operations, luxury guest experiences, accommodation, food and beverage management, sales, revenue strategies, and maritime law.

This initiative is part of Royal Caribbean Group’s SEA the Future programme, which aims to inspire and prepare the next generation of cruise industry professionals.

The programme has welcomed its first group of students at Les Roches’ Marbella campus. The students were welcomed by Carlos Diez de la Lastra Buiges, the CEO of Les Roches Global, and Heidi Wenger, senior director of fleet HR and crewing at Silversea.

They will spend a semester learning in the classroom, followed by the chance to enjoy hands-on experience with Silversea. This practical training gives students a real taste of the cruise industry.

The partnership between Silversea and Les Roches is a strategic move to develop future cruise industry leaders. Silversea brings its expertise in luxury cruising, while Les Roches offers top-notch academic training.

The curriculum is carefully designed to cover all key areas of cruise line management, giving students a complete understanding of the industry.

The focus is on building both practical and leadership skills, preparing students to thrive in a competitive field.

By training students for leadership roles, the programme aims to shape the future of the cruise industry, creating a steady flow of skilled professionals ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges (with growing fleet sizes to manage).

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 conducted by HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) has revealed some interesting details about the adventurous tendencies of British travellers. The research has shown that the ultimate age of adventure…

Holland America Line is making cruise trips more special with new stateroom décor packages for celebrations. By December 2024, these packages will be available on all their ships. Guests can…

Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed exciting new entertainment for its upcoming ship, the Norwegian Aqua, launching in April 2025. This ship, part of the Prima-plus class, aims to change cruise…

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled a cruise on the Rhapsody of the Seas because one of the ship’s lifeboats was damaged. The cruise was supposed to depart from Puerto Rico…

A new study conducted by HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) has revealed some interesting details about the adventurous tendencies of British travellers.

The research has shown that the ultimate age of adventure for Brits is 34 and three-quarters – and with average age for getting married rising, it shows that people are looking to get out and see the world before settling down.

Overall, half of those Brits surveyed described themselves as adventurous, either by wanting to be daring, travel the world, or try new experiences.

And the study showed that those aged 60+ view being adventurous as finding ways of getting past their fears.

Friends are seen as the most inspiring force for adventure, with guests saying that it was their loved ones who drove them to be bold. Social media was a close second, as people discovered new ways to see the world, and new experiences to uncover.

Gen Z claimed to be the most adventurous, with 76% of younger people saying that’s how they felt. But, they claimed that they didn’t have the time, or anyone to be adventurous with.

83% of those interviewed in the study said that they had already travelled to Europe, and so wanted to look further afield – Australasia being the most popular option, followed by South America.

HX offers many exciting options for expedition travel, letting guests see the world on small ships with some of the most exciting excursion opportunities of any cruise line.

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

Holland America Line is making cruise trips more special with new stateroom décor packages for celebrations. By December 2024, these packages will be available on all their ships. Guests can…

Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed exciting new entertainment for its upcoming ship, the Norwegian Aqua, launching in April 2025. This ship, part of the Prima-plus class, aims to change cruise…

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled a cruise on the Rhapsody of the Seas because one of the ship’s lifeboats was damaged. The cruise was supposed to depart from Puerto Rico…

A would-be passenger of the long-delayed Villa Vie Odyssey cruise claims she was removed from the voyage after making critical comments in text app groups. Jenny Phenix, 68, from Florida,…

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled a cruise on the Rhapsody of the Seas because one of the ship’s lifeboats was damaged.

The cruise was supposed to depart from Puerto Rico on 15 September 2024, but it was called off to ensure everyone’s safety.

The lifeboat, which is also used as a tender boat to transport passengers to shore, was damaged on a previous trip, so the ship can’t meet safety regulations.

Royal Caribbean promptly informed passengers about the cancellation. They are providing a full refund and a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equal to the original cost. This credit can be used for another cruise at a later date.

The company will also reimburse non-refundable travel expenses, such as flights or train tickets, up to $200 per person for changes within the country and $400 for international changes.

The Rhapsody of the Seas was scheduled for a seven-night trip through the Southern Caribbean, stopping in destinations such as Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and Barbados.

Obviously it’s an awful experience having a cruise cancelled at such short notice before it sets sail, but cruise lines can’t take risks with guests’ safety.

The fact that guests will get a refund, as well as Future Cruise Credit to essentially give them a free cruise in future, hopefully mitigates the disappointment.

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

Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed exciting new entertainment for its upcoming ship, the Norwegian Aqua, launching in April 2025. This ship, part of the Prima-plus class, aims to change cruise…

A would-be passenger of the long-delayed Villa Vie Odyssey cruise claims she was removed from the voyage after making critical comments in text app groups. Jenny Phenix, 68, from Florida,…

MSC’s luxury cruise brand, Explora Journeys, celebrated three significant milestones at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy, on 12th September 2024. The events included the delivery of Explora II,…

The launch of the Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential world cruise ship, has been delayed again, causing a lot of frustration among guests who have been waiting in Belfast since…

Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed exciting new entertainment for its upcoming ship, the Norwegian Aqua, launching in April 2025.

This ship, part of the Prima-plus class, aims to change cruise entertainment with shows as impressive as those in big cities like Las Vegas and New York.

One of the main attractions is “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince,” a special tribute show honouring the famous musician Prince.

Alongside this is “Elements: The World Expanded,” an updated version of the popular show already enjoyed on the NCL fleet. Both shows are designed to give guests unique and memorable experiences at sea.

The entertainment on the Norwegian Aqua is crafted to deliver top-notch performances, featuring talented performers and the latest technology.

“For decades, NCL has set the standard in entertainment at sea, with worldclass productions and talent that rivals those found in major cities like Las Vegas, New York City and London. For Norwegian Aqua, we are thrilled to build on our legacy of excellence in entertainment to offer our guests more options across the ship, including exclusive original productions that cannot be seen anywhere else on land or at sea.“

David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line

There’ll be plenty more entertainment for guests to enjoy on the ship too, including a brand new “Welcome Aboard Show” featuring singers, dancers and other entertainers.

This show is designed to give everyone a teaser of what’s to come during the rest of the cruise, and so should be a thrilling event.

There’s also the immersive concert experience “Ocean Music Fest”, and the Aqua Theater & Club will host several themed events – a 90s Party, a Latin-themed ‘Livin La Vida Loca’ party, and “Pop Life” which will again feature some of Prince’s best hits.

Norwegian Aqua will debut in spring 2025, offering 7-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral in her initial season.

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 a cruise on the Rhapsody of the Seas because one of the ship’s lifeboats was damaged. The cruise was supposed to depart from Puerto Rico…

A would-be passenger of the long-delayed Villa Vie Odyssey cruise claims she was removed from the voyage after making critical comments in text app groups. Jenny Phenix, 68, from Florida,…

MSC’s luxury cruise brand, Explora Journeys, celebrated three significant milestones at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy, on 12th September 2024. The events included the delivery of Explora II,…

The launch of the Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential world cruise ship, has been delayed again, causing a lot of frustration among guests who have been waiting in Belfast since…

A would-be passenger of the long-delayed Villa Vie Odyssey cruise claims she was removed from the voyage after making critical comments in text app groups.

Jenny Phenix, 68, from Florida, USA, says her contract for the residential cruise was cancelled after she expressed concerns in the group chat about ongoing delays and the ship’s refurbishment.

The three-year, round-the-world journey has been delayed for over three months, leaving many passengers in Northern Ireland as they await a new departure date.

Ms Phenix, who had sold her possessions to embark on the cruise, had planned to stop in Miami to collect more belongings for the remainder of the journey. However, her remarks about the extended delays and having to stay in a temporary cabin allegedly led to her expulsion from the voyage.

She was informed that her contract was terminated for negatively affecting the morale of other passengers.

“We have received over a dozen formal complaints from residents regarding your continuous complaints and negativity. This behaviour has significantly impacted the morale and wellbeing of other passengers. Given the overwhelming feedback, we must cancel your contract permanently to uphold the wellbeing and satisfaction of our community.”

Villa Vie Residences’ chief operating officer, Kathy Villalba, writing to Ms Phenix

Ms Phenix, who has been living out of a suitcase since December 2023, told The Telegraph: “These were private conversations – I posted nothing on social media platforms. The frustration among residents grew after each delay. I tended to be one of the more outspoken in asking important questions. Many of the residents thanked me privately for speaking up for the entire group.”

This is not Ms Phenix’s first setback involving a round-the-world cruise. Earlier this year, she lost thousands of dollars when the Life at Sea residential cruise scheme filed for bankruptcy in July.

Ms Phenix has described her recent experiences as “emotionally devastating” and is now staying with her daughter while she figures out her next steps.

In a statement shared with The Telegraph, Villa Vie’s CEO, Mike Petterson, said: “Ms Phenix broke multiple terms and conditions and signed a non-disclosure agreement. The founding residents voted and agreed to uphold her suspension and we plan on respecting that decision. We have nothing else to comment on the ongoing dispute.”

The Villa Vie Odyssey was originally scheduled to depart from Northern Ireland in May 2024, with plans to visit all seven continents and over 425 ports in 147 destinations. However, mechanical issues, including repairs to the rudder and gearbox, have delayed the voyage.

Popular YouTube vloggers MidLife Cruising, who have been documenting their experience on the delayed ship, recently shared that they had received an email from Villa Vie Residences’ CEO on 9 September, explaining there were “ongoing problems.”

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

MSC’s luxury cruise brand, Explora Journeys, celebrated three significant milestones at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy, on 12th September 2024. The events included the delivery of Explora II,…

The launch of the Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential world cruise ship, has been delayed again, causing a lot of frustration among guests who have been waiting in Belfast since…

A 12-year-old boy fell from a balcony on the most recent Harmony of the Seas cruise, and has tragically died. The boy fell from an interior balcony overlooking Central Park….

Sir Richard Branson recently embarked on a series of adventures with his Virgin Voyages cruise line, helping to delight guests onboard a range of Celebration Voyages. It all culminated on…

MSC’s luxury cruise brand, Explora Journeys, celebrated three significant milestones at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, Italy, on 12th September 2024.

The events included the delivery of Explora II, the coin ceremony for Explora III, and the start of construction for Explora IV.

These milestones are part of MSC’s €3.5 billion plan to expand its luxury fleet, which is expected to have a substantial economic impact of over €15 billion, showcasing Italian ship design and technology.

The Explora II, the second ship for the Explora Journeys brand, was delivered after some delays.

She completed her sea trials in July and is set to embark on its maiden voyage on 16th September 2024, from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, to Tarragona, Spain, with stops in Italy and Malta.

The coin ceremony for Explora III is a tradition that brings good luck, while the commencement of construction for Explora IV marks the beginning of the ship’s building process.

These events were attended by notable figures from MSC and Fincantieri, underscoring the focus on innovation and sustainability in the brand’s growth.

Explora III is currently scheduled to launch in 2026, with Explora IV set for 2027.

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 launch of the Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential world cruise ship, has been delayed again, causing a lot of frustration among guests who have been waiting in Belfast since…

A 12-year-old boy fell from a balcony on the most recent Harmony of the Seas cruise, and has tragically died. The boy fell from an interior balcony overlooking Central Park….

Sir Richard Branson recently embarked on a series of adventures with his Virgin Voyages cruise line, helping to delight guests onboard a range of Celebration Voyages. It all culminated on…

Lee Mason, a well-known and beloved Carnival Cruise Director, has been promoted to Fleet Cruise Director for Carnival Cruise Line. This news comes following Chris Williams’ departure from the position…

The launch of the Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential world cruise ship, has been delayed again, causing a lot of frustration among guests who have been waiting in Belfast since May 2024.

The ship, run by Villa Vie Residences, was supposed to start its 3.5-year world cruises in May 2024. However, ongoing issues have repeatedly pushed back the launch date.

The ship finally underwent sea trials last week, which caused excitement amongst guests who felt that she was getting close to departure.

But the company emailed guests to inform them that further (unspecified) issues had been identified during the sea trials, and that the departure was delayed once again.

While no specific date has been set, the ship will be delayed by at least 7 days.

The company also informed guests that it would no longer be covering the living expenses for those who had chosen to remain in Belfast until the ship launches.

Some guests have travelled back and forth to Belfast several times, while others have remained in the city. The company revealed that it had so far spent $500,000 supporting those guests, and would no longer be able to do so.

Here’s hoping that the guests (who have invested at least $99,999 if they are planning on cruising for the duration of the voyage) get to sail soon!

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 12-year-old boy fell from a balcony on the most recent Harmony of the Seas cruise, and has tragically died. The boy fell from an interior balcony overlooking Central Park….

Sir Richard Branson recently embarked on a series of adventures with his Virgin Voyages cruise line, helping to delight guests onboard a range of Celebration Voyages. It all culminated on…

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A man was filmed chasing a cruise ship down the pier after it had already departed… Only to realise he was actually running towards the wrong ship. The video, shared…

A 12-year-old boy fell from a balcony on the most recent Harmony of the Seas cruise, and has tragically died.

The boy fell from an interior balcony overlooking Central Park. The ship was on the last night of a seven-day Caribbean cruise, heading to Galveston, Texas.

People in the Central Park atrium at the time reported hearing a loud noise and then seeing the boy on the ground. Medical assistance arrived quickly, but sadly, the boy could not be saved.

Royal Caribbean has expressed their condolences to the family and is cooperating with the investigation.

“We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our guests. Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share”

Royal Caribbean spokesperson

As a result of the incident, the cruise line wrote to guests on the following cruise to inform them that boarding would be delayed, asking for understanding from guests.

Two other boys have died falling from balconies on Oasis-class ships, including one 16-year-old on Harmony of the Seas in 2019. He was attempting to climb into his stateroom via the balcony when he fell.

Another 16-year-old fell from an interior balcony on Allure of the Seas in November 2023.

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

Sir Richard Branson recently embarked on a series of adventures with his Virgin Voyages cruise line, helping to delight guests onboard a range of Celebration Voyages. It all culminated on…

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Sir Richard Branson recently embarked on a series of adventures with his Virgin Voyages cruise line, helping to delight guests onboard a range of Celebration Voyages.

It all culminated on Scarlet Lady, cruising from Barcelona, where he danced alongside Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun (before jumping into the pool with her).

Boy George was also onboard to host some DJ sets, while Virgin Galactic astronauts were on-hand to give talks and offer stargazing experiences.

But prior to this, Sir Richard had visited the two other ships currently sailing in the Virgin fleet to oversea some weddings.

He oversaw the wedding of a British couple on Valiant Lady in the Dominican Republic, before flying to Amsterdam to board Resilient Lady.

Here, he officiated the wedding of two Virgin Voyages crew members, Alejandra and Matias.

He then headed to Spain to meet Scarlet Lady, and with the ship spending an overnight in Ibiza, Sir Richard was witness to a third wedding in just a week.

The stunt was designed to promote the new wedding packages that are available with Virgin Voyages from April 2025. Guests will be able to book either a destination wedding or a wedding onboard the ships.

The wedding stunt coincided with the special Celebration Voyages, with special guests across the fleet to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Virgin Group.

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

Lee Mason, a well-known and beloved Carnival Cruise Director, has been promoted to Fleet Cruise Director for Carnival Cruise Line. This news comes following Chris Williams’ departure from the position…

A man was filmed chasing a cruise ship down the pier after it had already departed… Only to realise he was actually running towards the wrong ship. The video, shared…

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Royal Caribbean International has announced plans to restart cruises to Labadee, Haiti, in October 2024. The cruises were halted in March 2024 due to issues in Haiti. However, conditions have…