Royal Caribbean Upgrading Puerto Rico

Royal Caribbean confirmed last week they will be investing in the expansion of San Juan's Pan American Pier II to upgrade the facilities in order to homeport Freedom of the Seas there beginning May 12, 2018.

The ship is the largest ever to be based in Puerto Rico, although the larger Oasis-class does call there. Freedom will be operating a seven-night eastern Caribbean itinerary from San Juan.

The complete story appeared in the April 11 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Opening Early - First Ship Already In

Even though your US taxes aren't even due until next week, the Alaskan cruise season opened yesterday with the arrival of Star Princess at Victoria (BC).

Details appeared in the April 11 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Star Princess opened the cruise season at Victoria on April 10, 2017.

Photo courtesy of Greater Victoria Harbor Authority. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

And Now for Something Completely Different

The shows in the AquaTheater aboard Harmony of the Seas aren't just high-diving and swimming demonstrations. They're, well, fun. Yes, if you look beyond the story, you see incredible feats of high-diving and synchronized swimming, but you also see some cops and robbers in “Hideaway Heist,” which is currently running in the AquaTheater aboard Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas.

The complete story appeared in the April 11 edition of Cruise News Daily.

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today ...

What were you doing twenty years ago in the late '90's? (Yes, if you were in Sgt Pepper's band he was teaching you to play, but besides that?) If you were Cunard Line, it was the last time you were sailing in Alaska. It's been so  long since Cunard sailed in the 49th state that none of their current fleet has ever been there.

That's going to change in a couple of years, because in 2019, Cunard is going to return, if only briefly. Queen Elizabeth will be sailing in Alaska as she repositions from Japan to North America.

The complete story appeared in the April 10 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Only in Australia and Only on Carnival

In case it slipped by and you missed it, National Beer Day was last Friday (April 7) in the United States. But that didn't deter the folks at Carnival Australia from celebrating it with an icy glass of Thirsty Frog Summer Ale. The beer is a take off of Carnival's Thirsty Frog Red served in the US, but it was developed in conjunction with The Lord Nelson Brewery in Australia to suit Australian tastes. It's available only on the two ships the Carnival brand has based in Australia, Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend.

Details appeared in the April 10 edition of Cruise News Daily.