Your guide to news from cruise destinations around the world

Your guide to the latest news and updates from cruise destinations and ports of call around the world. Mediterranean, Europe, Caribbean, Alaska, South America, south-east Asia, Australasia, Arctic, Antarctica, Middle East. Southampton, Barcelona, Rome, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Barbados, Panama, Norway, Dubai, Bahamas, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Auckland, Wellington, Baltic, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Marseille, Athens, Greece, Venice, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, Naples, Santorini, Mykonos, Le Havre, Amsterdam, Bruges, Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Bergen, Svalbard, Iceland, Reykjavik, Costa Rica, Dominica, Puerto Rico, New York, Vancouver, Seattle, Skagway, Juneau, China, Shanghai, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand,

Yeah, mon – but do passengers think Falmouth is worth the hassle?

Seven days in the Caribbean on the biggest cruise ship in the world. Diary of a week on board Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas WEDNESDAY: The port at Falmouth, Jamaica (above) is a new development. It shouldn't be quite as new as it is, because the facilities were originally supposed to open soon after Allure's sister ship, Oasis of the Seas, made its debut in 2009, but the laid-back approach to getting things done on the Caribbean island - where they simply don't have a word which conveys the same sense of urgency as "mañana" - led to delay [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:54+00:00 16 February 2012|Cruise Destinations|0 Comments

A blissful day at the beach and a marvellous evening with chef Molly

Seven days in the Caribbean on the biggest cruise ship in the world. Diary of a week on board Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas TUESDAY: There's a red light flashing on the cabin phone when I wake up. Message waiting. Fernando, the concierge at Barefoot Beach has a private cabana available if we want it. Well, it would be rude not to, don't you think? Allure of the Seas has arrived at Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private 260-acre resort on the north coast of Haiti. The ship is tied up at the pier, built in 2009 specifically for it and [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:54+00:00 15 February 2012|Cruise Destinations|0 Comments

Carnival’s back in the UK

It's carnival time! Celebrations get under way around the world later this week, with the biggest street party in the world ready to rock Rio de Janeiro. Here in Britain, Carnival Cruise Lines have chosen today to announce it is bringing a ship back to the UK next year for the first time since 2008. Carnival Legend, which was christened by Dame Judi Dench (above) in 2002, will be based in Europe for 17 voyages between April and October 2013, visiting 34 ports in 18 countries. The 2,600-passenger ship will sail eight cruises from Dover to the Baltic, the Norwegian [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:54+00:00 14 February 2012|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

New threats to Adonia’s adventure

It is billed as a South American Adventure, and the 87-night cruise which is opening Adonia's 2012 season is certainly living up to its name. It got under way only after an unscheduled visit to dry dock in Falmouth for "essential maintenance" and I reported earlier this week on the diplomatic tension which threatens to disrupt calls to Buenos Aires and other ports in Argentina. Now I learn that tomorrow's visit to Salvador in the north-eastern Brazilian province of Bahia has been cancelled because of fears for the safety of passengers. Police and firefighters in the city have been on [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:54+00:00 11 February 2012|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|0 Comments

As Argentina complains to UN, will cruises be next victim of conflict?

With the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War approaching, increased diplomatic tension between Argentina and Great Britain could threaten cruise ship visits to Buenos Aires and other ports in the country. Vessels operated by P&O and Fred Olsen are due in Argentine waters within the next few weeks. Angered by the arrival of helicopter pilot Prince William in Port Stanley, and by the deployment to the South Atlantic of HMS Dauntless, one of the Royal Navy's newest and most advanced Type 45 destroyers, Argentina's president has signalled her intention to make a formal complaint to the United Nations. The Foreign [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:54+00:00 7 February 2012|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|0 Comments

Golden welcome for Diamond Queen

As Her Majesty the Queen prepared to mark the Diamond Jubilee of her accession to the throne, the cruise ship which bears her name made a maiden call at the port of San Francisco at the weekend. Cunard's Queen Elizabeth sailed gracefully under the Golden Gate Bridge before dawn, to one of the highlights of her 107-night world cruise. Captain Christopher Wells welcomed local dignitaries on board for the traditional exchange of plaques, and patrons of the San Francisco Symphony were entertained in the ship's Verandah restaurant. The ship is now en route to Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:54+00:00 7 February 2012|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|0 Comments

Into Africa: Cruise ship Braemar opens up new territory next winter

Some interesting new ports of call become available next winter when cruise ship Braemar will be based in the Canary Islands for the first time and Senegal, The Gambia and Cape Verde Islands are added to its itineraries. The Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship has spent the past few winters in the Caribbean, but will be withdrawn after this season because of the high cost of flights to the region. The Canaries have long been a popular winter destination for cruises from the UK - usually involving the risk of a rough crossing of the Bay of Biscay. Braemar will [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:54+00:00 6 February 2012|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|2 Comments

Riots and kidnapping force change of plan for Thomson’s Red Sea cruise

Cruise ship Thomson Celebration will change the itinerary of its Red Sea Magic cruise following further unrest in Egypt and the kidnap of two American tourists. Growing anger over the deaths of 74 fans at a football match in Port Said this week has led to more demonstrations in Cairo. On Friday a government building was set on fire and a demonstrator and a soldier were killed as police fired tear-gas at stone-throwing rioters. More than 1,000 were injured. In an unrelated incident, two women in their 60s and their Egyptian guide were seized by Bedouin gunman as they returned [...]

By John Honeywell| 2012-02-04T00:36:27+00:00 4 February 2012|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|0 Comments

Liverpool claims victory in the battle over its Pier Head cruise terminal

A surprise announcement today from Liverpool, where the city council is claiming that its Pier Head terminal will be in business for cruise turnarounds within three months. The terminal, built with public money from the Government and Europe, has been at the centre of a row with rivals including Southampton who claimed it would provide unfair competition. After a Government inquiry, shipping minister Mike Penning decided last month to seek independent advice on the amount Liverpool should repay and council leader Joe Anderson conceded the city's cruise hopes were "back to square one." But the council has now agreed to [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:55+00:00 3 February 2012|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|0 Comments

Just visiting: QM2 stops in Mauritius only long enough to drop off a VIP

So near and yet so far: the lights of Port Louis seen from QM2's bridgecam World cruise passengers on Cunard's Queen Mary 2 spent an unexpected day at sea today when their scheduled visit to Port Louis on the island of Mauritius was cancelled because of delays caused by cyclone Funso. The ship paused offshore just long enough for a launch to be sent out to collect Sir David Frost and his wife, Lady Carina. They had been on board for four days while he regaled passengers with stories from his long broadcasting career, and introduced a special screening of [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T15:59:55+00:00 1 February 2012|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|1 Comment