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,

Rocking all the way to Dubai

In a previous life, almost 40 years ago now, my journalistic efforts were concentrated on music rather than travel, reviewing concerts and records, interviewing stars from David Bowie to Elton John, Noddy Holder to David Essex. I was living the rock star lifestyle for a while; at one stage I very nearly left newspapers to take a job with Island Records, and I watched Richard Branson's empire start to grow from a discount record store to a major music label. I'm about to get that buzz again. Tonight I'll be making the most of Virgin Holidays Rockstar Service, flying to [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:11+00:00 28 January 2011|Cruise Destinations|1 Comment

Olympic challenge for Azamara

Boutique cruise line Azamara Club Cruises could be sailing both its ships, the Quest and the Journey, into London to provide accommodation for sports fans visiting the London Olympics, according to CEO Larry Pimentel who was in town this week. The company is open to offers for full-boat charters, or could arrange its 2012 itineraries around the Games. They will have to make a decision soon, because the best berths have already been snapped up. Luxury line Silversea will have its 296-passenger Silver Cloud berthed alongside HMS Belfast at Tower Bridge, and the 388-passenger Silver Whisper at Greenwich. Unless the [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:11+00:00 28 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Cruise ships returning to Brisbane

P&O's Arcadia will be the first British cruise ship back into Brisbane after the devastating floods when it arrives on February 15. The 2,000 passengers on the ship's world cruise will no doubt be digging deep to raise money for relief efforts. A few days later, on February 27, sister ship Aurora will also call at the port. P&O Australia's cruise ship Pacific Dawn had to abandon its home base in the Queensland port after the floods and operated out of Sydney instead. It returned for the first time on Saturday. P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: "We have [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 25 January 2011|Cruise Destinations|0 Comments

Cunard sails on to victory

Congratulations to Cunard, who have topped a UK poll to choose the best cruise line for the third year in a row. Their ship Queen Victoria also picked up three gongs, for best ship, best food, and best excursions in the annual survey published by cruise.co.uk The results of the survey are compiled from the star ratings (from one to five) given by passengers submitting reviews to the website, and Cunard president Peter Shanks said: "This is a particularly valuable award as the voters are people who actually go on cruises and they know what they are talking about. It [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 24 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Cast away in a Disney cocoon

Disney's private island of Castaway Cay was a relaxing haven during my recent short cruise on Disney Dream. While new crew members strapped on life jackets to exercise safety drills in the sea near the quay, passengers strolled in the sun or took a tram ride to Scuttles Cove and Pelican Point or the adults-only beach at Serenity Bay. With temperatures in the high 70s it was perfect for swimming, snorkelling, or just lazing on sun-loungers and on the clean, combed and sifted sand - though it must have got uncomfortably hot for the cast posing for pictures in the [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:12+00:00 23 January 2011|Cruise Destinations|0 Comments

Time to wave Mexico goodbye?

With all eyes on the launch of Disney Dream last week, the arrival of sister ship Disney Wonder into its new home port of Los Angeles was a relatively low-key affair. For the next few months until it begins a season of cruises to Alaska from Vancouver - a first for Disney - the ship will be operating seven-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera. Strange timing, some think, because Disney's return to the region - the Disney Magic enjoyed a sold-out season of cruises here in 2008 - comes just at a time when other cruise lines are moving their [...]

By John Honeywell| 2011-01-23T10:17:57+00:00 23 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|5 Comments

This is worth a thousand words

The last word for now on that Cunard Royal Rendezvous. And I'll let the picture do the talking. This view of the Statue of Liberty saluting Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth as they sail out of New York harbour, with the Empire State Building lit up in red, is simply stunning. Click on the picture to see a bigger version.

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:13+00:00 14 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

I saw three ships come sailing in

There will soon be plenty of pictures - and videos - of the celebrations in New York to mark the gathering of Cunard ships Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. In the meantime, here's an impressive shot of the ships arriving this morning. Victoria ied the way under the Verrazano Bridge, with Elizabeth next and the QM2 bringing up the rear. My thanks to Scott, who is fortunate enough to live in an apartment across the Hudson River from the Manhattan piers and was up soon after 4.00 am to record the arrival. He has never been on [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:13+00:00 13 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise Ships|0 Comments

Carnival the new wizards of Oz?

You've got to feel sorry for Australians, haven't you? Their cricket team is getting hit for six by England, and vast areas of a country accustomed to drought and forest fires are currently under water as Queensland is hit by floods of Biblical proportions. At least they've got something to look forward to - Carnival Cruise Line announced today that it is basing a ship in Australia for the first time next year, sailing eight and 12-night cruises to the Pacific islands, and 13-night voyages to New Zealand. The 10-year-old Carnival Spirit, carrying more than 2,000 passengers, is too big [...]

By John Honeywell| 2011-01-12T13:32:37+00:00 12 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|2 Comments

Frosty welcome for the three Queens

New York is preparing a chilly welcome for the arrival of the three Cunard Queens later this week. Temperatures are likely to plunge to minus 10 degrees C, and at least a foot of snow is expected to be dumped on the city tomorrow, less than 24 hours before Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth complete their tandem Transatlantic crossing and Queen Mary 2 joins them from the Caribbean. All three are expected to be passing under the Verrazzano Narrows bridge at the entrance to New York harbour by about 6.00 am on Thursday and they will spend a day in [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:13+00:00 11 January 2011|Cruise Destinations, Cruise Ships|0 Comments