MSC Matches Your Level

Loyalty programs are designed to keep you loyal to that cruise line by offering you benefits that you won't get if you sail on another cruise line because you haven't been sailing them to accrue their benefits. If you want to try a different cruise line, you have to be willing to take a step down. Until now.

If you are a member of another cruise line's loyalty program, with status on that line, you no longer have to step down to sail with MSC (and hopefully keep sailing with them). MSC is willing to match your status on “Brand X” with similar status (or higher) in their Voyager Club so you can see what MSC is all about and still have special perks.

The complete story appeared in the May 24 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Carnival Sunrise Named in NYC

Carnival made it official in New York today. Carnival Triumph has officially become Carnival Sunrise. Godmother Kelly Arison named the ship at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

The complete story appeared in the May 23 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Overboard from Carnival Fascination

Carnival reports that a passenger jumped overboard from Deck 10 of Carnival Fascination about 8am last Saturday (May 18) as the ship sailed from Barbados to San Juan.

Details appeared in the May 23 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Port Canaveral Inks New Deal with Disney

Disney has three new ships (Triton-class) being delivered beginning in 2021 (through 2023), and a new long-term contract with Port Canaveral will have at least two of them homeported at the Central Florida port for their first five years in service.

The new contract will give Disney the exclusive use of their new upgraded terminal and the possible use of a second terminal. In return, the line is guaranteeing more passengers and paying increased fees.

The complete story appeared in the May 22 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Look! Up in the Sky!

It's been seen above the South and on the West Coast, and even Arizona and Las Vegas. Now it's coming to New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia. (Ben Franklin would be shocked.) Yes, the Carnival Airship is making its Big Apple debut.

The visit is to promote the New York debut of the transformed Carnival Sunrise, which will be officially named at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on Thursday.

Details appeared in the May 22 edition of Cruise News Daily.

A New Oasis for 2019

It's hard to believe, but Oasis of the Seas is ten years old. That means it's time to update the ship with not only Royal Caribbean's newest features already installed on other ship but also with features which will debut on Oasis.

Royal Caribbean announced today Oasis will be “amplified” in a 63-day period beginning in September. The $165 million project will be completed when the ship returns to service on November 24, 2019.

The complete story appeared in the May 21 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Another Fatal Crash for Taquan

Taquan Air, one of the two airlines that carried Royal Princess passengers in the fatal floatplane crash in Alaska last week had another fatal crash near Ketchikan on Monday.

This one, however, had nothing to do with cruise lines, nor carried any cruise passengers. There were only two people aboard the plane this week, the pilot and one passenger.

Details appeared in the May 21 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Did Someone Say That Was Vegan?

Your meal may literally still be growing until just before Regent Seven Seas introduces a new range of menu items on October 1. On that day, the luxury line will be introducing a list of 200 new plant-based items across all its menus.

The plant-based items are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

The complete story appeared in the May 20 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Paradise to the Rescue

On its way back home to Tampa this weekend, Carnival Paradise received notification of a small boat sinking 13 miles off the coast of Cozumel. In the tradition of the sea of assisting other mariners in distress, the ship turned back to the small boat's location north of Cozumel.

Once there, it spotted the boat and put a rescue boat in the water. It picked up the single man aboard the boat and brought him back to Carnival Paradise.

Details appeared in the May 20 edition of Cruise News Daily.