This year, Venice started charging a five-euro entrance fee for day tourists on particularly busy days, generating significantly more income from tourism. Next year, the city plans to continue this fee and might increase it to ten euros. Cruise tourists are also affected by this fee. Since 2021, large cruise ships cannot dock directly in Venice, but shore excursions from nearby ports like Marghera, Monfalcone, Trieste, continued.
The small village of Teahupo'o in Tahiti is set to host the surfing events for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Due to limited space on land, the Olympic organizers have arranged for the cruise ship Aranui 5, to accommodate the various delegations, offering a suitable alternative that meets the athletes' needs.
Royal Caribbean International and GRAMMY-winning superstar Meghan Trainor just kicked off the summer of celebrations with a massive bash in Port Canaveral, Florida. Meghan, the official godmother of Royal Caribbean's latest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas, threw an unforgettable summer party with over 4,000 guests, including the legendary Rev Run and DJ Ruckus spinning the tracks.
A 61-year-old Dutch passenger chose to spend a relaxing day by the pool rather than exploring the city or visiting Florence or Pisa. However, his peaceful day on the cruise ship MSC Grandiosa, docked in Livorno on July 21st took a dramatic turn.
Early this month, a 32-year-old Brazilian staff member, tragically took his own life after being fired by the jewelry retail company Effy. Known for his charisma and talent, Francisco Budny Macedo was deeply dedicated to his work. He was employed as an assistant shopping ambassador for Effy Jewellery/HFGM and his last contract was on the Holland America Line cruise ship Eurodam.
In a heartfelt message, Francisco's family shared the news of his passing:
Carnival Corporation announced an order for three massive new ships for Carnival Cruise Line, each nearly 230,000 gross tonnes. These colossal vessels will be built by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, and will run on eco-friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG), are set to hit the seas in the summers of 2029, 2031, and 2033.
Christine Duffy, the big boss at Carnival Cruise Line, is all about the guest experience. She promises these new ships will bring a whole new level of FUN and excitement that fans will go wild for.
Seabourn is shaking things up for spring 2025! The Seabourn Encore will now sail to new destinations like Southeast Asia, Japan, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, and the Mediterranean from March to May 2025. This redeployment covers 36 destinations across 18 countries, featuring 18 brand-new ports of call, including the ship's first transit through the historic Panama Canal and its maiden visit to the U.S.
Carnival Cruise Line is launching a massive recruitment drive to hire thousands of new crew members for its expanding fleet, including the three new cruise ships. In a move to enhance its workforce, the company is offering scholarships to Filipinos who wish to join their team. The scholarships and expanded curriculum at PMMA are expected to significantly improve the career prospects for Filipino seafarers.
The 27th Nagasaki Summit, brought together leaders from seven organizations representing industry, education, and government to discuss regional revitalization strategies. A key outcome of the summit was a consensus on actively promoting carbon neutrality (CN) at Nagasaki Port to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Disney Cruise Line is about to make waves with a major expansion, adding four brand-new ships to its fleet between 2027 and 2031! The big reveal was announced on Saturday by Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro during the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, with a little help from the iconic musical group All-4-One.
