News

With UEFA Euro 2024 just around the corner, MSC Cruises is presenting a unique opportunity for football fans to enjoy the tournament like never before.

MSC Cruises has partnered with UEFA to bring the live broadcast of UEFA Euro 2024 matches to its guests.

The coverage will include all major matches, ensuring that fans don’t miss a moment of the action. But it will only be available on cruise ships operating out of Europe – not those in the US or elsewhere in the world.

Specially designated venues onboard will host the live broadcasts. These areas will feature large screens and comfortable seating, creating an immersive viewing experience.

With ample capacity, these venues will accommodate numerous guests, ensuring everyone can enjoy the matches in a vibrant and communal atmosphere.

Special events and themed activities related to the tournament will be organised, offering guests opportunities to socialise and celebrate with fellow football fans.

These will include penalty shoot-out challenges, trivia competitions, create-your-own-shirt competitions and more, perfect for guests of all ages.

Of course, this could put some people off cruising with MSC, if you aren’t a football fan. You might want to avoid the ships showing the games in the communal areas, especially if your priority is a relaxing cruise.

But for those who are excited for the Euros tournament, this could be the best way to experience them outside of attending the games in person.

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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.

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Celebrity Apex has arrived in Southampton, becoming the first Edge-class ship for the Celebrity Cruises fleet to homeport in the UK.

The European season for this ship starts with an eight-night voyage to the Norwegian Fjords, exploring destinations such as Bruges in Belgium, Geiranger, and Kristiansand in Norway.

Throughout the summer, Celebrity Apex will offer four-to-13-night sailings, covering Northern Europe and the Canary Islands. A standout journey is a 12-night cruise through the Norwegian Fjords and Arctic Circle.

The ship’s outward-facing design and visionary spaces offer expansive views and thoughtfully crafted environments. It’s a beautiful ship, once that’s sure to turn heads for anyone in Southampton.

Some of the standout features of the ship include:

• The Magic Carpet: A cantilevered venue for dining and drinks with breathtaking sea views.
• The Retreat: An exclusive area with a private restaurant, lounge, and sundeck.
• Infinite Veranda Staterooms: Spacious staterooms with dramatic verandas.
• Rooftop Garden: A tranquil escape for relaxation.
• Edge Villas: Luxurious two-storey villas with private terraces and plunge pools.

With 29 distinct restaurants, bars, and lounges, Celebrity Apex offers globally-inspired menus. Speciality dining includes Fine Cut Steakhouse, Raw on 5, and Eden but even the main dining restaurants are special.

Entertainment on board features three exclusive stage shows: Rockumentary, Tree of Life, and Crystallize. Guests can also enjoy cabaret shows and various themed activities, and there’s plenty to enjoy during the day too.

And there’s also The Retreat – the stunning ship-within-a-ship concept where the most luxurious suites at sea can be found, along with plenty of beautiful shared spaces exclusively for the use of Retreat guests.

The ship will remain in Southampton from May until October, giving guests plenty of opportunity to sample this elevated cruise experience.

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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.

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A disabled man has described feeling “hopeless” after being denied entry to a cruise ship, forcing his family to continue their trip without him.

Mike Ashton booked a P&O Cruises trip to Spain, Portugal, and France along with his wife, daughter, and mother-in-law. Their excitement turned into despair when they reached Southampton, only to be informed that Mike could board the Ventura, but his wheelchair couldn’t.

The 69-year-old cancer survivor from Flitwick said that staff claimed he hadn’t filled out the necessary form about his wheelchair. Mike, however, insists he never received such a form.

“They said they sent me emails twice, but I checked online 30 times. I did everything right,” stated Mike when speaking to his local new site Bedford Today.

This wasn’t Mike’s first experience with P&O Cruises. The previous year, he booked a similar trip with a wheelchair-accessible room without any issues. He made both bookings over the phone and was never informed about any additional requirements.

P&O staff explained that without prior knowledge of his wheelchair, they couldn’t ensure adequate assistance in case of an emergency.

Despite booking an accessible cabin, they argued that it didn’t automatically mean he would be using a wheelchair. They were prepared to let him board, but only without his wheelchair.

Faced with an agonising choice, the family decided to board without Mike to avoid losing the cost of their cruise. Mike recounted, “I said goodbye to my crying daughter. I felt humiliated and embarrassed. I felt guilty. They made me feel more disabled and I felt discriminated against. I felt hopeless and very lonely.”

“If I couldn’t have driven, I would have been stranded,” he added.

A spokesperson for P&O Cruises expressed regret, saying, “We are so sorry this happened to Mr Ashton and he was not able to board. The on-board needs questionnaire is on My P&O Cruises (our online portal) to be completed – it is not sent out by email.

“It is also very clear on the front page of My P&O Cruises that this is to be completed if needed. If Mr Ashton was booked in an accessible cabin, he or his agent will have been sent emails prompting him to log in to My P&O Cruises to complete the questionnaire.”

This incident underscores the importance of ensuring all necessary forms and requirements are clearly communicated and accessible to avoid such unfortunate situations.

P&O has taken steps to make sure that there will always be enough crew to help wheelchair-using passengers in an emergency situation. This means that anyone using a wheelchair or scooter must register.

This applies even when a passenger argues they could get themselves into a lifeboat unaided.

The cruise line will now still insist that only a limited number of wheelchair-using passengers board, so that there are enough crew to assist guests if they are called to the lifeboats, in case the guest was separated from their family and unable to walk unaided.

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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

Carnival Corporation has successfully integrated Starlink internet connectivity throughout its entire fleet, enhancing the onboard experience for guests and crew alike.

Guests aboard Carnival ships now enjoy high-speed, low-latency internet, allowing them to stay connected, stream their favourite content, and even work remotely if needed.

Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation, highlighted the benefits: “Starlink has been a game-changer for the onboard connectivity experience our cruise lines deliver to their guests, and we’ve already seen a surge in guest satisfaction and positive feedback from the super-fast and reliable Wi-Fi service we provide onboard.”

Weinstein added, “We see this technology as a win-win-win – it provides our guests with more flexibility to stay as connected as they’d like on vacation, it allows our crew to stay in touch with friends and loved ones, and it enhances our onboard operational systems.”

The rollout began in December 2022, starting with Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises. It then extended to Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK), and Cunard.

The integration of Starlink not only enhances the cruising experience but also aligns with Carnival Corporation’s commitment to providing top-notch services for its guests.

Whether travellers are looking to relax, stay connected, or work remotely, the upgraded internet service ensures a seamless and enjoyable journey.

I used it on my Cunard cruise in May 2024 and can confirm it was rapid – I got all my work done extremely quickly and was able to spend most of the day sunbathing!

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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

At the picturesque port of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, an unexpected turn of events unfolded aboard the Carnival Venezia during what started as a routine emergency drill.

Cruise ships like the Carnival Venezia often schedule crew safety drills during port days.

This timing is strategic, allowing crew members to perform drills efficiently while most guests are ashore exploring, thereby minimising guest disruption and ensuring a focus on safety protocols.

But during the drill on 10th May, things took a bad turn. The drill was interrupted by a man overboard alert, initially confusing some as part of the exercise.

However, it was soon communicated that this was a genuine emergency – a crew member had fallen from the aft of the ship into the waters below.

The crew deployed the ship’s rescue boat, quickly retrieving the crew member who luckily avoided serious injury. The crew member’s life vest had automatically deployed, helping to keep him safe.

It’s believed that the crew member had been carrying out maintenance work on the hull when he slipped and fell.

Because the incident was handled so efficiently, the crew worker was safe and the cruise was able to continue without interruption.

Crew members on cruise ships are extensively trained to handle emergency situations, and it’s a testament to their quick-thinking – and the fact that the crew member had followed protocols on safety gear – that this potentially dangerous incident was resolved without any harm.

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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

Carnival Cruise Line has shared news with passengers on the port of Baltimore, which has been out of operation since the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on 26th March.

While Carnival is not the only cruise line to operate out of the port, it does have the most frequent departures, and guests on an upcoming cruise have been told to expect it to reopen in late May.

While the 12th May guests on Carnival Pride have now been informed that their journey will commence and conclude in Norfolk, the 19th May travellers have received a more hopeful update. The cruise, although starting in Norfolk, is expected to make its way back to Baltimore by the end of the trip.

Of course, this introduces some logistical challenges for passengers, particularly those planning to drive to the port.

To address this, Carnival is organising chartered buses to shuttle travellers between Norfolk and Baltimore, ensuring a seamless transition for those who opt to leave their cars in Baltimore.

Carnival will also offer guests a $100 onboard credit per stateroom as a gesture of appreciation for their understanding and flexibility with the ongoing uncertainty.

For those planning their journey, it’s crucial to note the distance between the Norfolk and Baltimore cruise terminals is about 240 miles, translating to a 4-5 hour drive.

Recognising the potential inconvenience, Carnival has promised that enough buses will be available, though they advise guests to sign up for the bus service promptly to secure their spot.

In theory, the 26th May cruise should depart as planned from Baltimore and return there, but Carnival has advised guests to make sure they look out for updates, as plans could yet change.

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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

Port Canaveral, the world’s busiest cruise port, is excited to announce plans for an impressive new development.

By summer 2026, a cutting-edge cruise terminal will adorn the port’s north side, set to enhance the already outstanding facilities.

This new terminal, named Cruise Terminal 6, will be situated at the existing North 8 berth space, redeveloped to help bring additional capacity to the terminal.

Positioned next to Cruise Terminal 5, which mainly serves Royal Caribbean International vessels, the new terminal will provide increased versatility, accommodating a variety of the largest ships from several cruise lines.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to accommodate the increasing demand for cruise travel, ensuring that Port Canaveral remains a crucial gateway to the sea.

The location of Cruise Terminal 6 has been carefully chosen. Its placement on the north side allows for uninterrupted construction without affecting the port’s busy daily operations.

We have cruise partners with immediate needs to locate assets in Florida and Port Canaveral is where they want to be. Our ability to efficiently bring a new cruise terminal online was key to retaining and growing this important business segment that supports many jobs and delivers high value to our regional and state economy.

Captain John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO

Cruise Terminal 6 is not just about expanded berth space; it’s about creating a fully integrated travel hub. The terminal will extend the existing docking facilities to 1,344 feet to accommodate larger ships.

Additionally, a new car park with a capacity for 3,000 vehicles, significant road enhancements, and a dedicated flyover ramp connecting to State Road 401 are all part of the ambitious plan.

As construction progresses, the port anticipates a significant increase in activity. Notably, Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas is scheduled to make Port Canaveral its homeport soon, while both Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises are set to commence operations from the port.

While it’s an ambitious timeline, it’s anticipated that the new terminal will be ready for summer 2026.

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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