News

A recent investigation by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified hot tubs on two major cruise ships as the source of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.

This severe respiratory infection affected numerous passengers who had used both public and private hot tubs during their voyage.

On one vessel, 63 per cent of the guests who contracted the disease had utilised the ship’s spa facilities, highlighting the potential health risks associated with these amenities.

The CDC’s investigation revealed that the hot tubs on these cruise ships were the epicentre of the outbreak.

The two cruise ships involved, though unnamed, were found to have inadequately maintained spa and hot tub facilities, which facilitated the spread of the Legionella bacteria.

The timing of the outbreak information does line up with reported cases of the disease onboard NCL’s Norwegian Prima and Celebrity Cruises’ ship Celebrity Ascent.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious infection that can lead to severe pneumonia-like symptoms. It spreads through inhalation of water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria, making hot tubs a prime environment for its proliferation.

To prevent such outbreaks, maintaining stringent hygiene and regular maintenance of hot tubs is crucial. The CDC recommends that cruise lines adhere to stricter cleaning protocols and conduct regular inspections to ensure water safety.

This means changing the weekly cleaning schedule to a continuous disinfectant dosing approach, with pH monitoring for private hot tubs onboard too.

Where continuous dosing isn’t possible, the CDC recommends shock-chlorinating each hot tub after guests use them.

Whether the cruise lines implement the recommendations or not is yet to be confirmed, though it’s anticipated they will make at least some changes considering the severity of this disease.

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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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Comedian and TV presenter Judi Love recently embarked on a culinary adventure aboard the luxury yacht Emerald Azzurra, filming for her upcoming five-part series, Judi Love’s Culinary Cruise.

The show, set to air on ITV1 from 4th to 8th November, follows Judi as she explores six Mediterranean destinations along the yacht’s ‘Mediterranean Enchantment’ itinerary, showcasing the region’s rich culture, stunning landscapes, and local cuisines.

Departing from Kotor, Montenegro, Judi’s journey took her through hidden gems including Parga, Kerkira, and Kefalonia, with the final stop in Itea, Greece.

At each destination, Judi gathers fresh, local ingredients to bring back onboard, where she whips up traditional dishes for the guests.

“I am so excited to be setting sail on this new adventure with ITV. Growing up within a Jamaican family, food was always at the heart of any function and occasion. So I’m truly excited to experience the culture, people and food of the beautiful Mediterranean.

“I’m looking forward to exploring all of the different destinations as well as food has such a way of telling a story for many, especially in the Mediterranean where it’s about sharing love, traditions and identity.”

Judi Love

The Emerald Azzurra, designed to carry just 100 guests, offers an intimate luxury experience and access to smaller, secluded ports.

The onboard amenities include a spa pool, infinity-style Aqua Pool, and a Sky Bar, providing an oasis of relaxation.

Adventurous guests can take advantage of the marina platform for watersports before retreating to their private, modern suites.

Judi Love’s Culinary Cruise will be shown at 2pm on ITV1 from Monday 4th November, and will be available to watch on ITVX afterwards.

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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

Tauck, a leader in luxury travel, has announced plans to expand its riverboat fleet with two new vessels set to launch in France by spring 2026. These riverboats are currently…

A recent investigation by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified hot tubs on two major cruise ships as the source of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. This…

Virgin Voyages has written to guests of four separate cruise itineraries to inform them that their planned cruises have been cancelled. The cruises, scheduled to take place on Valiant Lady…

Princess Cruises has announced the cancellation of a scheduled voyage on the Regal Princess, just two days before its planned departure. The cruise, originally set to embark on 27th October…

Tauck, a leader in luxury travel, has announced plans to expand its riverboat fleet with two new vessels set to launch in France by spring 2026.

These riverboats are currently under construction in Serbia and the Netherlands, marking a significant enhancement in Tauck’s European river cruising offerings.

The first vessel, measuring 135 metres, is designed for the Rhône River. It will accommodate up to 130 guests in 68 cabins, including 22 suites on the Diamond Deck, each measuring 300 square feet. The Ruby Deck will feature 34 cabins, each offering 225 square feet of space.

The second vessel, at 125 metres, will sail the River Seine, hosting up to 124 guests with 20 suites on the Diamond Deck and 30 cabins on the Ruby Deck.

Both ships will include Category 1 cabins that are 20% larger than those on Tauck’s existing fleet. The single supplement for solo travellers in these cabins will be waived on all sailings, providing a unique advantage for solo travellers.

“With our two new riverboats, we’ll continue to prioritize our guests’ comfort and the quality of their onboard experience, rather than following the industry norm of maximizing revenue by maximizing passenger capacity.

“Other lines’ 135-meter ships carry a full 46 percent more people than Tauck’s riverboats, and you simply can’t provide the same service or quality of experience with nearly half as many guests.” 

Tauck CEO Dan Mahar

The itineraries for these new vessels will be all-inclusive, covering shore excursions, gratuities, onboard beverages, and airport transfers.

This comprehensive approach is designed to really enhance the overall guest experience, as a sign of Tauck’s commitment to providing exceptional service and value.

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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 recent investigation by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified hot tubs on two major cruise ships as the source of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. This…

Virgin Voyages has written to guests of four separate cruise itineraries to inform them that their planned cruises have been cancelled. The cruises, scheduled to take place on Valiant Lady…

Princess Cruises has announced the cancellation of a scheduled voyage on the Regal Princess, just two days before its planned departure. The cruise, originally set to embark on 27th October…

A passenger aboard the Carnival Sunrise has been arrested for manslaughter following an ATV crash during a shore excursion. James A. Darling, a 21-year-old male, was driving an ATV in…

A passenger aboard the Carnival Sunrise has been arrested for manslaughter following an ATV crash during a shore excursion.

James A. Darling, a 21-year-old male, was driving an ATV in Nassau with a friend, James Palmer, as a passenger.

Reports from local media say that, due to Darling’s “dangerous manner” in control of the vehicle, it overturned, rolling onto its side and causing the death of Palmer.

The incident occurred less than 24 hours into the cruise, which was part of a 5-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary. The cruise departed from Miami on 19th October, with planned stops in Nassau, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk.

Darling is facing serious legal charges, including involuntary manslaughter and possession of dangerous drugs. Authorities discovered 9 grams of cannabis in Darling’s possession.

Darling has already pleaded guilty to the drug possession charge and has accepted probation.

It’s not clear yet whether the ATV excursion was an official Carnival one – the cruise line does offer these experiences.

Carnival has yet to comment on the story. The main information has come from a GoFundMe page set up by Darling’s family who are looking to raise the $40,000 bail money to bring him home.

The GoFundMe page (which claims it was a UTV, rather than an ATV as reported by local media) has already received over 100 donations.

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Read more about me

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Virgin Voyages has written to guests of four separate cruise itineraries to inform them that their planned cruises have been cancelled.

The cruises, scheduled to take place on Valiant Lady in May and October of 2025, have been cancelled as the ship has been privately chartered.

The impacted cruises were set to embark on 23rd May, 28th May, 10th October, and 15th October.

It’s not clear whether the cruises have all been chartered by the same company, or if they are separate incidents and the cruise line has only communicated them to guests now.

It’s likely that the same company has chartered the ship, as the cruise line would look to inform guests as soon as possible.

Guests are being offered a full refund, or the chance to take a Future Cruise Credit instead for the value of their cruise.

They can also opt to just move their booking to an equivalent sailing – if they do, they’ll be given $100 to spend onboard as an apology.

Private charter priority

Cruise lines do, on occasion, choose to accommodate charter cruises – especially full-ship charters – even if it means cancelling existing guest bookings.

For cruise companies, these charters can be lucrative enough to justify the inconvenience caused to affected passengers.

In a full-ship charter, an organisation or group hires the entire vessel to host events themed around a particular interest, celebration, or activity. Recent examples include sailings themed around Star Trek, Taylor Swift, and even Comic-Con, which will host its inaugural celebration at sea in 2025.

These groups typically pay as though the ship were at maximum occupancy, with each cabin counted as fully booked.

In some cases, organisers may also pay additional fees to cover specific requirements, such as special events on board and the necessary arrangements for a private sailing.

Since standard cruises often sail with at least a few empty cabins, a chartered voyage can mean a substantial increase in revenue. After reimbursing already-booked guests, cruise lines still stand to earn more from a fully chartered ship.

Virgin Voyages’ handling of schedule changes has previously caused a stir among travellers.

Earlier this year, the cruise line sparked backlash when it removed Toulon and Marseille from Scarlet Lady’s European itineraries, though the ports were soon reinstated after significant guest feedback.

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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

Princess Cruises has announced the cancellation of a scheduled voyage on the Regal Princess, just two days before its planned departure. The cruise, originally set to embark on 27th October…

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Princess Cruises has announced the cancellation of a scheduled voyage on the Regal Princess, just two days before its planned departure.

The cruise, originally set to embark on 27th October 2024, was called off due to unspecified technical difficulties. This announcement, made on 25th October 2024, left many passengers disappointed and needing to make immediate travel adjustments.

The cancelled voyage was a highly anticipated Western Caribbean itinerary, marking the beginning of the Regal Princess’s winter season from its new homeport in Galveston, Texas.

The cruise was to be the first of several Western Caribbean sailings, with planned stops in Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico.

This voyage was particularly significant for Princess Cruises as it represented the expansion of their offerings from the Texas port.

The cancellation was attributed to unspecified technical difficulties, though the exact nature of these issues remains unclear.

But, during the ship’s Transatlantic cruise, there was a fire onboard and the ship suffered a power outage in a separate incident.

As it stands, the next cruise on 3rd November 2024 is currently scheduled to sail as planned.

The abrupt cancellation led to a significant outcry on social media, with many passengers expressing their frustration and disappointment.

This included comments from guests disappointed with the level of compensation offered – Princess Cruises is giving affected guests a full refund and a 25% Future Cruise Credit.

The cruise line is also offering to cover non-refundable airfare costs of up to $200 per person.

In some similar cases, cruise lines have offered a 100% Future Cruise Credit alongside refunds when cancelling at short notice – so it’s not surprising that some guests are unhappy considering the circumstances.

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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

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Virgin Voyages is set to introduce a groundbreaking cruise experience with the launch of its “Mystery Voyage” aboard Brilliant Lady in September 2025.

This innovative concept will feature a reality TV-style murder mystery, inviting guests to participate in a fictional plot filled with suspense and intrigue.

It will be filmed, but it’s not clear yet where the show will be screened. The mystery will unfold on a weekly basis.

The cruise aims to transform traditional cruising by integrating interactive entertainment that captivates and involves passengers in a unique narrative.

Brilliant Lady is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, known for its expertise in building state-of-the-art vessels.

Originally planned for a December 2023 launch, Brilliant Lady faced an 18-month delay due to supply chain and staffing challenges. Virgin Voyages has confirmed that the ship is now on track for its September 2025 debut.

Guests aboard the Brilliant Lady will find themselves at the centre of a thrilling murder mystery, complete with suspects, jewellery heists, and kidnappings.

The interactive nature of the storyline is designed to provide a unique adventure, making each cruise a distinct and memorable experience.

The “Mystery Voyage” will extend beyond the ship, with planned filming locations in Mykonos, Santorini, and Bodrum.

Brilliant Lady will offer cruises from New York, offering 5-, 8-, and 10-day itineraries to Bermuda and Canada/New England.

These initial voyages will set the stage for the ship’s innovative entertainment offerings, providing guests with a taste of the unique experiences that Virgin Voyages has crafted.

Following her New York debut, the ship will reposition to Port Miami in October 2025, offering a range of 7- to 12-day Caribbean voyages. In April 2026, Brilliant Lady will make its way to Los Angeles, expanding its reach and itinerary options.

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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

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Princess Cruises has announced a collaboration with Blake Lively to introduce her premium beverage brands, Betty Booze and Betty Buzz, into its “Love Line Premium Liquors” collection.

This partnership will make these beverages available across all 16 ships in the Princess fleet, enhancing the onboard experience with high-quality, innovative drink options.

Betty Booze offers a selection of low-alcohol, ready-to-drink canned cocktails, featuring flavours such as Sparkling Bourbon with Peach Honey Mint and Sparkling Tequila with Smoky Pineapple.

Betty Buzz provides gluten-free, non-alcoholic sparkling sodas and mixers, including Sparkling Lemon Lime and Ginger Beer.

Both brands focus on clean, high-quality ingredients, aligning with Princess Cruises’ commitment to exceptional guest experiences.

“Blake’s commitment to delivering high-quality drinks with the cleanest ingredients matches our passion to delivering our guests the highest quality experiences grounded in passion, creativity and authenticity,

“With the addition of Betty Booze and Betty Buzz to our exclusive ‘Love Line Liquors Collection,’ we are giving our guests something exciting and new while also expanding drink options to better serve modern, healthy and active lifestyle preferences.”

John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises

Betty Buzz has achieved over 3 billion media impressions and 7 million social impressions, ranking in the top 10 of the soft drinks category and #3 on Amazon’s best sellers list during Prime Day 2024.

Similarly, Betty Booze has garnered over 7 billion media impressions and 70 million social impressions, earning a top 10 spot in the ready-to-drink category at Total Wine. Both brands have received numerous industry awards, highlighting their impact and popularity.

Both Betty Booze and Betty Buzz will be included in the Princess Plus (and therefore, by default, Princess Premier) cruise fares.

While many celebrities have their own alcohol brands, not many have partnered with cruise lines yet.

But one notable partnership prior to this has seen Blake Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, partner with Virgin Voyages to offer Aviation Gin-based cocktails.

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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

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Two passengers aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Liberty required emergency medical evacuations over the weekend, prompting a swift response from the US Coast Guard.

On October 19, 2024, a 66-year-old man showing stroke-like symptoms was airlifted when the ship was 55 miles southeast of Southwest Pass, Louisiana.

The next day, on October 20, a 30-year-old woman experiencing appendicitis-like symptoms was evacuated near Port Sulphur, Louisiana.

Both rescues were coordinated by the New Orleans division of the Coast Guard.

The first incident occurred as Carnival Liberty was completing a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise, while the second occurred just hours into the following itinerary, a 7-night Western Caribbean voyage.

Both passengers were taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans and were reported to be in stable condition by October 21, 2024.

Carnival Cruise Line has seen several similar rescues in recent months. On October 6, 2024, a passenger aboard Carnival Venezia was airlifted after suffering a stroke, just two days into a cruise from New York.

This also comes just a couple of weeks after a double rescue on Crown Princess, where two guests were airlifted from the ship on the same day for unrelated medical issues.

Passengers requiring medical evacuation on cruise ships doesn’t happen too often, so for both Carnival and Princess (both owned by the Carnival Group) to have experienced two back-to-back rescues within a month is extremely rare!

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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

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