US Shuts Door on Cruises to Cuba

If you have been thinking about cruising to Cuba, but haven't done it by now, you probably won't be able to do it for the foreseeable future. Back in April, the Treasury Department began to close the door when they announced the new policy, but the cruise industry continued to operate until they were given more specifics about the restrictions and when they would take effect.

In an announcement today, the rules remained ambiguous, but it was clear, the end was coming as the press release specifically singled out cruise travel (among other types of non-family-visiting travel) was no longer allowed, nor was “group people-to-people travel” under which most cruise passengers qualified for their visas.

The press release said the new rules become effective tomorrow (June 5). And this afternoon Royal Caribbean became the first to begin canceling calls in Cuba.

The complete story appeared in the June 4 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Looking around Spectrum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International's Spectrum of the Seas is the first of the new Quntum Ultra Class. Since it's dedicated to the Chinese market and based in Shanghai, most Westerners won't have an opportunity to see it. Take this opportunity to take a quick look around Spectrum and see her unique features as well as some of her familiar ones.

Trouble in the Canal

It was a quiet Sunday morning in Venice along the Guiadecca Canal. Passengers on the second day of their cruise from Verona were having breakfast in the outdoor restaurant atop Uniworld's River Countess which docked at the San Basilio dock along the canal. About 8:30am (local time) MSC Opera rounded the bend and the River Countess passengers had a nice view of the large (65,591 gross tons) MSC heading up the canal to the Venice Cruise terminal.

That was until something went wrong aboard MSC Opera and it went out of control directly toward the smaller river boat. MSC says the captain applied all the established required procedures (including the long warning blast of the ship's whistle), but the cruise ship grazed the San Basilio dock and collided with River Countess.

The complete story appeared in the June 3 issue of Cruise News Daily.

And Another Ship You Won't Be Sailing

Knowing that none of our subscribers are in China, it's a safe bet you won't be sailing aboard Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas as it is dedicated to the local market in China.

It has arrived at Shanghai, and was named today in a “grand naming ceremony.” Chinese celebrities, Xiaoming Huang and Angelababy, who also happen to be Royal Caribbean brand ambassadors, also became godparents of Spectrum of the Seas. At the ceremony today, they named the ship and bestowed a blessing of safekeeping over all those who sail on Spectrum.

Details appeared in the June 3 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

There's Been Something Missing When You Get Your Pizza

Of course you want something to drink with your pizza and Carnival now delivers it. When Carnival Cruise Line rolled out their Pizza Anywhere feature on their HUB app a few months ago, they promised you would soon be able to order a beverage with pizza delivery anywhere on the ship, and they have now “delivered” on that promise.

The complete story appeared in the May 30 issue of Cruise News Daily.