Silversea cancels Kimberley and blames government inaction

Silversea cancels Kimberley and blames government inaction

The Government’s inability to present the cruise industry with a way forward has claimed another victim, with luxury line Silversea cancelling all 10 cruises of its upcoming Kimberley season. The news means the line has joined Cunard, Seabourn, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas and Scenic in cancelling their Australian cruises to the region. The planned cruises … Read more

Australia’s cruise season hangs by a thread as Royal Caribbean puts ship deployment “under review”

No room at Garden Island for Sydney’s bursting cruise industry

The upcoming Australian cruise season is seemingly hanging by a thread following the federal government’s failure to produce a plan for the return of cruising. Royal Caribbean, which was to have had four ships, Serenade, Radiance, Ovation and Quantum of the Seas homeported in Australia when the wave season was to have started in September, … Read more

Exclusive Review: Viking UK shows how you can cruise safely post pandemic

Conversations with Anne Diamond

Renowned maritime writer Tony Slinn took one of the first cruises aboard the brand new Viking Venus when the UK restarted cruises this month.  Here’s his review. COVID cancelled our Viking Elbe river cruise. But the cruise company weren’t to be stopped, offering us instead an eight-day UK ‘staycation’ ocean cruise aboard the brand new … Read more

Welcome to your new post-pandemic cabin

Best cruise lines of 2020

As some travellers head out on their first cruises in Europe, they will face many new health protocols and enhanced cleaning procedures to make their journeys safer. While vaccinations, temperature checks, social distancing and wearing of face masks may be compulsory for some cruise lines, COVID-19 has also changed the way cabins are sanitised. Cabins … Read more

‘I feel like a ruined woman’ – How the pandemic cost Bicton Travel $38.5 million and 25 jobs

'I feel like a ruined woman' - How the pandemic cost Bicton Travel $38.5 million and 25 jobs

Carole Smethurst, founder of award-winning Bicton Travel, has been devastated by the pandemic which has seen her company’s annual turnover plummet from $40 million to $1.5 million. “I feel like a ruined woman,” she told Cruise Passenger. And she is not alone. The industry has this week been hit by a double whammy – the … Read more

Australia’s cruise season under threat as Cunard, Seabourn cancel

Cruise Passenger's top ten deals of the week

In a move that indicates major cruise lines have made up their minds about the likelihood of a cruise season in Australia, Cunard and Seabourn have cancelled sailings here this year. “We are extremely sorry for the huge disappointment cancellations will cause for all guests who have been affected,” said Cunard president Simon Palethorpe. “Unfortunately, … Read more

Aussie cruise lines wait and see over vaccines while US operators are forced to change tack

Aussie cruise lines wait and see over vaccines while US operators are forced to change tack

Just as the cruise world seemed to be getting unity on its vaccines protocols, radical politicians have stepped in to muddy the waters. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have reversed their mandatory policy and announced cruises out of Florida and Texas will no longer require proof of vaccination.  Celebrity Cruises will also no longer be asking … Read more