NYCruiseInfo Blog

Blount Small Ship Adventures has released a video featuring the Grande Mariner sailing the Hudson River, Erie Canal and inland waterways. Enjoy the historical, Americana look and feel as this botique sized ship sails through small towns, along narrow waterways and under low bridges. The Blount fleet sails cruises in the Northeast US during the summer months and offer sailings in the Bahamas and Central America during the winter. These small ships provide an intimate experience for those cruise passengers looking for an educational, refined and casual cruise. To explore the Hudson River / Erie Canal Cruises at NYCruiseInfo.com  RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Call & More. => Nick's Cruise Corner Blog - News On Cruise Ships Sailing World Wide. => Follow Us on Instagram - NYCruiseInfo At Instagram => Subscribe to Our Monthl

Charlottetown Prince Edward Island Offers Natural Beauty and Shopping Popular with Cruise Passengers As cruise lines continue to build more, bigger ships, the cruise lines are continually looking for various ports to utilize on cruises. As pert of this expansion, Canada is growing in popularity. Charlottetown, located on Prince Edward Island has seen a jump in passenger arrivals from 2018 to 2019 and is set for another jump in 2020. The Prince Edward Island port welcomed 120,000 cruise passengers in 2019 and expects a 40% increase in 2020 (approx 168,000 visitors). Charlottetown has about 36,100 full time residents. Since the port is growing in popularity in the Spring, Summer and Fall, the impact to the local residents is spread out over an extended season. Clemence pointed to growth is from existing partners and the attraction of new ones. The port has seen growth via ship calls, from all of our visiting lines, including but not limited to Holland America, Princess, and

I found this interesting video on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas. During her inaugural ceremonies, upon her initial arrival in New York - the Anthem of the Seas sailed up the Hudson River as far as the Empire State Building. This video shows the spectacular skyline, at night, as the ship sails up the Hudson River. On a normal departure the Anthem of the Seas does not provide passengers this view, since the ship normally departs Cape Liberty, Bayonne NJ and turns right toward the bridge and out to sea. I hope you enjoy this video.  RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Call & More. => Nick's Cruise Corner Blog - News On Cruise Ships Sailing World Wide. => Follow Us on Instagram - NYCruiseInfo At Instagram => Subscribe to Our Monthly New York Cruises Newsletter . 

Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas is expected to sail from New York in 2021 visiting New England, Canada on 4 & 5 Day Cruises; Bermuda 5 Day Cruises and the Caribbean (repositioning cruises - 6 Days). The Freedom of the Seas will become the latest ship to go through the Royal Amplified program. The massive refit is  scheduled to happen between January 12, 2020 to March 7, 2020 at he Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport in the Bahamas. Besides adding the attractions that debuted on the Quantum- and Oasis-class vessels, the original Freedom-class ship will now feature twisting water-slides, redesigned public areas, new restaurants and new bars. The pool deck will be redone with the Caribbean as inspiration. The area will feature Royal Caribbean’s new poolside signature bar, the Lime & Coconut. Another additions include cabanas, daybeds, hammocks and more shaded areas. The 2006-built ship will see the addition of the Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, the Playmaker

Carnival Cruises Reveals New Ad Campaign - The Fun Ones. Carnival Cruise Line has launched a new marketing campaign, “The Fun Ones,” that celebrates the playful spirit of Carnival’s guests, how they choose fun, and the unique bond they have with their fellow cruisers who are “shamelessly true to themselves.”   An evolution of the brand’s Choose Fun campaign that launched in 2018 and introduced Shaquille O’Neal as the company’s Chief Fun Officer , the Fun Ones, created in tandem with advertising agency of record Anomaly, showcases those guests who embrace life by being their most fun-selves on board.   Combining vibrant imagery with tag lines like “The Fun Ones Plan for No Plans” and “Choose a Vacation as Fun as You,” the campaign conveys the everyone-is-welcome atmosphere that attracts nearly 6 million guests annually and how they make vacations more fun, while reminding viewers that when guests board a Carnival ship, they’re not sailing with strangers – they

Off topic, In an effort to replace its aging fleet - the New York City Department of Transportation has ordered 3 new Staten Island Ferries.  Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc., Panama City, Fla reports that its Allanton shipyard last launched the SSG Michael H. Olli s, the first of three 320 ft Ollis Class ferries for the Staten Island Ferry Division of New York City’s Department of Transportation (NYCDOT). The launch took place in November 2019. The ferry is named for Staten Island native Army Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis, who was killed in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013, when he stepped into the path of a Polish officer, blocking him from the suicide vest of an insurgent who had raided Forward Operating Base Ghazni. Ollis was 24 years old.  The three Ollis Class double-ended 4,500 passenger ferries, are being built to an Elliot Bay Design Group design.  RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Websit

Oceania Cruises Agile Insignia Call At St. Georges Bermuda Oceania Cruises' who offers an upscale, high-end, luxury cruise experience from New York to New England, Canada, the Coastal United States and Bermuda has issued the top 5 attractions in St Georges Bermuda. Oceania operates the Insignia which is one of only a few ships which are small and nimble enough to pass through the narrow entry into Bermuda's St Georges Bay. Here are the 5 Top Attractions that Oceania Cruises has identified........ There are two reasons you’ll want to be on deck when you sail into St. George, Bermuda. First, it allows you to fully appreciate the intimate size of your Oceania Cruises ship, as the entrance to the port traverses a remarkably narrow inlet to access the harbor. Second, it’s gorgeous. The extensive coral reefs in surrounding waters create varying depths that manifest in every shade of blue you can imagine, and the rocky coastline rises to a lush green landscape of gent

Hurtigruten's Roald Amundsen To Sail From New York As Part of Repositioning to Antarctica. Hurtigruten's Roald Amundsen will visit New York as part of her re-positiong cruise from Atlantic Canada to the Antarctica. The Roald Amundsen will sail from New York, visiting US Coastal ports, the Caribbean and Central America - as she makes her way through the Panama Canal to spend southern hemisphere summer season in Antarctica. The world's first hybrid electric-powered expedition ship and newest member of the Hurtigruten fleet, MS Roald Amundsen, was officially named in Antarctica on November 7, 2019. The ceremony took place in Chiriguano Bay on Brabant Island - and instead of a traditional champagne bottle, godmother Karin Strand opted for a chunk of ice. Hurtigruten specially designed MS Roald Amundsen for exploring some of the most spectacular waters in the world. Equipped with groundbreaking green technology, MS Roald Amundsen uses large battery packs to

Royal Caribbean to Restructure Their Adventure Oceans Children's Program Fleet Wide. When Royal Caribbean re-introduced the Oasis of the Seas after her amplification, enhancements were made to the ship's Adventure Ocean's  youth programs. The most obvious change was the combing of the 6-12 year olds in a single group. In addition, each age group will be renamed and have new activities, events and games/electronics  incorporated into the enhanced program. Royal Caribbean is not providing many details at this point and is expected to roll out more information by the Spring. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas will begin sailing from Cape Liberty Bayonne, New Jersey in the Spring of 2020 and sail to Florida, and the Bahamas including the Perfect Day at Coco Cay. Check back frequently for more information and updates to the enhanced kids program.  RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com

Norwegian Cruise Line Increase Delivery Charge for Room Service Fleet Wide Norwegian Cruise Line has raised the mandatory fee for all room service orders to $9.95 -- up $2 from $7.95. The service charge is applied per order, and applies to all room service orders except continental breakfasts orders. Cruisers sailing in a Haven suite are exempted from the fee. Norwegian first added the fee to room service orders in April 2015.  RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Call & More. => Nick's Cruise Corner Blog - News On Cruise Ships Sailing World Wide. => Follow Us on Instagram - NYCruiseInfo At Instagram => Subscribe to Our Monthly New York Cruises Newsletter . 

Celebrity Cruises Increases Gratuities Fleet Wide. Starting January 6, 2020 passengers sailing on Celebrity cruise ships will be required to pay $1 more per person, per day, for gratuities. The new per person daily amount (added automatically to passengers' bills if not prepaid) will be $15.50 (up from $14.50) per person, per day, for standard accommodations; $16 (up from $15) for Concierge Class and AquaClass rooms; and $19 (up from $18) for passengers staying in suites.  RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Call & More. => Nick's Cruise Corner Blog - News On Cruise Ships Sailing World Wide. => Follow Us on Instagram - NYCruiseInfo At Instagram => Subscribe to Our Monthly New York Cruises Newsletter . 

  Viking Cruises' Viking Sun's Ultimate World Cruise Lasting 245 Days Viking Cruises has deployed their Viking Sun on what they are referring to as the Ultimate World Cruise. Now well into its Guinness Record-breaking endeavor — to complete the world’s longest continuous cruise — the ship departed on a round-trip journey from London on August 31 of 2019. Just 54 of Viking Sun's guests have booked the entire voyage each paying over $90,000 to visit 111 ports in 51 countries across six continents in the span of 245 days. The rest have booked one of two segments of 127 days from London to Los Angeles, or 119 days from Los Angeles back to London. As part of the current itinerary the Viking Sun made a call at New York in October 9-11th 2019 and is currently in Papeete, Tahiti Island, French Polynesia (January 14 & 15, 2020). Guests will enjoy free wi-fi, spa treatments, specialty restaurant dining, 1 free shore excursion in each port and more.   RETURN TO NY

Cunard's Queen Mary 2 to Sail South America and Caribbean Cruise in 2022 Cunard Line has announced their 2022 cruises for the Queen Mary 2. One noticeable change is that the Queen Mary 2's January World Cruise has been replaced with a 71 day cruise to the Caribbean and South America.  As per Cunard Line.... The iconic Queen Mary 2 will sail a new 71-night winter escape through the pristine beaches of the Caribbean and around the vibrant cities of South America . She will call at 17 ports in 14 countries with access to 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a magnificent journey through the Chilean Fjords sailing around the bottom of the world at Cape Horn. Queen Mary 2 will also chart her first-ever Northern Lights voyage in Norway , offering guests the chance to see the elusive sights of the Aurora Borealis in the early spring. In 2022, Queen Mary 2 will embark on a new route, sailing to the Caribbean and South America , which can be taken as a roundtrip from Hamb

Phoenix Reisen's Amera (previously Holland America's Prinsendam to visit New York in 2021 Phoenix Reisen's latest acquisition - Amera is scheduled to call 2 times in New York in 2021. The Amera - which previous sailed as Holland America's Prinsendam - will call at New York on April 8 & 9  2020 as part of the Amera's 125 day World Cruise  which departs Monaco on December 2020. September 29 & 30, 2020 as part of a England, Ireland, Canada and New England cruise.  The Amera will call in New York again in 2022 as part of the 143 day world cruise. The Amera was extensively refit after the purchase from Holland America and caters primarily to German speaking passengers.  RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Call & More. => Nick's Cruise Corner Blog - News On Cruise Ships Sailing World Wide. => NewShipNews

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Encore - Sporting her hull art - the Final Breakaway Plus Ship. Norwegian Cruise Line accepted delivery of the final ship in the Breakaway / Breakaway Plus class of ships. The 6 ships were delivered over the course of 6 years. The smallest in the series - the Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway weigh in at 145,655 tons. The largest is the Norwegian Encore at 169.116 tons delivered in the fall of 2019. Here are all the ships and the year they were delivered. Norwegian Breakaway 2013 Norwegian Getaway 2014 Norwegian Escape 2015 Norwegian Joy 2017 Norwegian Bliss 2018 Norwegian Encore 2019 The delivery of the Norwegian Encore marks the end of a long relationship between Meyer Werft and Norwegian Cruise Line (for now). The next generation of NCL ships - the Leonardo Class - will be constructed at Italy's Fincantieri Shipyard. The first ship in the series of 4 will be delivered in 2022. Artists Rendering of Norwegian Cruis

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Breakaway to Return to New York in 2021 To the delight of her strong following with New York cruise passengers, the Norwegian Breakaway will be returning again in the fall of 2021. As per Norwegian Cruise Line ....Following her Caribbean cruises from Miami on August 24, 2021, Norwegian Breakaway will sail seven-day Canada and New England cruises from New York that will include calls to Bar Harbor and Portland, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick.  RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Call & More. => Nick's Cruise Corner Blog - News On Cruise Ships Sailing World Wide. => NewShipNews - Information and News on Cruise Ships being built. => Follow Us on Instagram - NYCruiseInfo At Instagram => Subscribe to Our Monthly New York Cruises Newsletter

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Joy to Sail From New York in 2021 Norwegian Cruise Line has announced select 2021 ship deployments. New in 2021 is that the Norwegian Joy will be based out of New York sailing to Bermuda - (Replacing the Norwegian Bliss (2020), Norwegian Encore (2019) and Norwegian Escape (2018), Norwegian Breakaway (2017 + earlier) ). The Norwegian Joy was built in 2017 specifically for the Chinese Market sailing from China. NCL decided to remove the Norwegian Joy from the Chinese Market. The Norwegian Joy underwent an Americanization removing all Chinese specific signage and amenities. Since her removal from China, the Norwegian Joy has been sailing in the Caribbean and Alaska  catering to American and European travelers.  Additional details are below. Beginning April 14, 2021, Norwegian Joy will homeport in New York City for the first time, sailing a mix of Bermuda as well as Canada and New England cruises. Her seven-day Bermuda sailings will offer gues

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas to Sail a Canada, Florida, Bahamas Royal Caribbean's extensively refit - Oasis of the Seas will sail from New York on one Canada cruise. The cruise will depart Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ on June 21, 2020 sailing to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada and Halifax, Nova Scotia . For the remainder of the 2020 Spring / Summer / Fall the Oasis will sail from Cape Liberty Bayonne, NJ to Port Canaveral Florida , Nassau, Bahamas and Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean's Private Island). The Coco Cay Private Island is also referred to as the " Perfect Day at Coco Cay " because of the vast number of activities available to visitors (some at an additional cost). The Oasis of the Seas weighs in at 225,000 ton and carried 6,800 passengers.  RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Ship Reviews, Ports of Call & More. => Nick's Crui

Aerial View of Cunard's Queen Mary 2 Sailing on 2020 World Cruise. On January 3rd the Queen Mary 2 departed New York on her first leg of her Around the World Cruise. The Queen Mary 2 pulled away from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal just after 6 PM heading down river to her first port of call - Southampton, England . The 113 day cruise is an incredible circuit from New York visiting the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, Asia's many gems and then on to Australia. Reaching it furthest point - the return voyages stops in ports in the Indian Ocean and then stunning Africa. The cruise is available in shorter segments for passengers whose interest may lie in select ports. The Queen Mary 2's 2021 January cruise will  NOT be a World Cruise and will be covered in an upcoming post in the next week.    RETURN TO NYCRUISEINFO.com   ---------------------------------------   Sister Sites => NYCruiseInfo.com Website - Cruise Schedule, Sh

Norwegian Gem Sails Panama Canal Cruise From New York On Saturday evening at 6:00 PM, Norwegian Cruise Line's  Norwegian Gem departed New York on an 18 day cruise to the Southern Caribbean, South America, Central America and the West Coast of Mexico. To be more exact, the Norwegian Gem will visit Kralendijk (Bonaire); Oranjestad (Aruba); Santa Marta (Colombia); Cartagena (Colombia); Puntarenas (Costa Rica); Corinto (Nicaragua); Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala); Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa (Guerrero Mexico); Puerto Vallarta (Mexico); Cabo San Lucas (Mexico); Disembark Los Angeles (California) where the cruise ends. The Norwegian Gem will sail a very similar cruise departing  from Los Angeles on January 26,2020 in reverse -  ending in New York 19 days later. This unique Panama Canal itinerary is becoming common for Norwegian Cruise Line as they try to offer interesting itineraries to/from New York in the off season.    RETURN TO NYCRUISEIN

Delivery of Carnival Cruise's Mardi Gras Delayed - New York Cruises Cancelled. To the disappointment of  New York cruise enthusiasts, the much anticipated New York arrival of Carnival's newest and largest cruise ship - the Mardi Gras has been cancelled. Carnival Cruise Line has been informed by officials at the Meyer Turku shipyard that delivery of Mardi Gras will be delayed and is advising booked guests and travel advisors that the first revenue sailing of the ship will be Nov. 14, 2020.  “We have been working closely with Meyer Turku executives to keep the Mardi Gras delivery on schedule, and while we deeply regret disappointing our guests, this change in the delivery date is required to make sure all of the ship’s systems, features and technology will be fully operational, so that we can give our guests the vacation they expect. Our commitment is to deliver a great and innovative ship, and Mardi Gras will definitely be that when it arrives in North America,”

Saga Cruises Spirit of Discovery Made Her Maiden Call in New York City Saga Cruises' New Spirit of  Discovery made a post Christmas visit to New York on December 27th - providing her British passengers an overnight stay in the Big Apple. The Spirit of Discovery was delivered in the June of 2019 and is a smaller ship weighing just under 50,000 tons and carrying approximately 1,000 passengers. Saga Cruises' specializes in vacations for those 50 years of old or over. The Spirit of Discovery headed to Bermuda and will spend New Year's Eve in Bermuda, before heading back to Southampton England - arriving on January 9, 2020. She departed from Southampton on December 5, 2019 and headed to the Portugal, the Caribbean and up the US east coast to Key West, Port Canaveral,  Norfolk and New York. The weather cooperated for passengers while in NEw York, providing guests with a sunny 50 degree day. The Spirit of Discovery will revisit New York on September 26 as part of