Carnival says it won’t cruise in Australia until May

Carnival Splendour Waterslides

Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled all Australian cruises until May 19 – with Carnival Spirit sailings scratched until June 12. The Carnival Splendor was due to set sail in March. “On behalf of all of us at Carnival Cruise Line, we extend our sincere apologies for the disruption to your holiday plans and trust you … Read more

How Ponant’s sailings in New Zealand could be the catalyst for Australian cruise

How Ponant's sailings in New Zealand could be the catalyst for Australian cruise

The arrival of Ponant’s Le Laperouse in Auckland next month is a beacon of hope for Australia’s cruise industry. After months of painstaking negotiations by the line’s Asia Pacific chair Sarina Bratton, the French luxury adventure small ship operator welcomed the news over Christmas that they had the green light  to sail in the region. … Read more

Royal Caribbean sells Azamara in surprise deal

Azamara Quest Ship

In a surprise move, the Royal Caribbean Group has announced it is selling premium small-ship brand Azamara to a private equity firm for a reported US$201 million. The deal looks like a snip considering it is anticipated more passengers are expected to switch to smaller ships once sailings begin. However, the three-ship fleet is around … Read more

MSC’s Grandiosa to resume sailing in January

MSC's Grandiosa to resume sailing in January

MSC Cruises has announced that MSC Grandiosa will return to sea starting on 24 January. The company’s flagship will resume her planned weekly cruises leaving every Sunday from Genoa, Italy and calling the other Italian ports of Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Palermo as well as Valetta in Malta. Embarkation will be available from each port in Italy. The latest Italian … Read more

Exclusive: Aussie cruisers say vaccines must be mandatory, but the lines aren’t sure

Dancers on Quantum of the Seas with masks on

An overwhelming number of Cruise Passenger readers say cruise lines should make it mandatory for both crew and guests to get vaccinated against COVID before they sail. In an exclusive survey of readers this week, 295 voted for the vaccines to be mandatory, and only 38 suggested it should be voluntary. It was a polarising … Read more