Andrea Santillan

A former Filipino crew member and influencer Rinell Banda urges the cruise industry to give all crew members at least one vacation day a month. With over 456,000 Facebook followers, Banda’s filmed request has quickly gone viral, amassing over 12,000 views in three days.

MSC Cruises is offering future cruise credits to passengers aboard the MSC Seashore after a small fire broke out on the vessel on December 8. MSC Seashore (Photo courtesy of MSC Cruises) The electrical fire occurred in the emergency generator room on an upper deck. Though it was promptly extinguished and no one was hurt, it impacted elevator, internet, and electrical services. Air conditioning in a few areas was turned off, while some amenities were momentarily closed to the public. Acknowledging these interruptions, the memo reads, “While our itinerary was not disrupted, it did affect some services, and for that

Celebrity Cruises carried out a dramatic rescue off the coast of Cuba yesterday, successfully transferring a man from a small boat to the cruise line’s rescue vessel despite rough, choppy waters. (Screenshot from Khing At Sea's Facebook) Celebrity Reflection was on a seven-day Caribbean cruise when it encountered an emergency distress signal at around 11 am and was approximately 40 miles from Cuba’s northern coast. A few guests spotted a small flare and notified crew members. The captain then launched emergency protocols and ordered a rescue operation as the vessel diverted from its course and made its way to the

Earlier this year, Carnival Cruise Line announced that Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure, two ships from the P&O Australia phase-out, would join the Carnival fleet. New details about the transition and what guests can expect are emerging. (Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises) Though they will be rebranded to Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure by March 2025, the cruise operator assured they’ll be better than ever as part of the Fun Ship fleet. They will also retain many of the amenities that they’ve become known for. Carnival’s VP for Sales and Marketing, Kara Glamore, declared, 'This transition presents a unique opportunity

A cruise ship owned by Costa Cruises supplied fuel to a boat that had gone adrift in the Atlantic Ocean on December 14. (Photo via Costa Cruises) Costa Fascinosa was on a transatlantic Caribbean sailing from Tenerife, Spain to Bridgetown, Barbados when a Canadian-flagged boat received a distress call. The captain of the Italian cruise ship, Fabio Bramato, diverted the vessel from its course and began heading south at 5 pm. By 9 p.m., they located the ailing craft Elefance and deployed a lifeboat with extra fuel. According to Italian news outlet Il Nuovo Quotidiano di Puglia, the yacht’s mast was

Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Breakaway are slated for major upgrades in 2025. These include an all-new cinema and dining experience, a revamped outdoor recreational venue, larger dining establishments, and more luxurious suites. Norwegian Bliss Overhaul Norwegian Bliss in New York City (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line) The 2018-built Norwegian Bliss will undergo a January 17 to February 2 dry dock next year. The refurbished vessel will re-emerge with Horizon Park, a brand new outdoor venue that will offer lounging areas, panoramic ocean views, and games like giant Jenga and cornhole Its premium accommodations, The Haven, will likewise be expanded

Resorts World Cruises (RWC) is acquiring its third ship, the Pacific Explorer, from the soon-to-be-dissolved P&O Cruises Australia, part of Carnival Corporation. Pacific Explorer (Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises Australia's Facebook Page) According to Friday’s announcement, Pacific Explorer will undergo a $50 million refurbishment and be rebranded as Star Scorpio in March 2025, expanding RWC’s footprint in Southeast Asia. The Sun-class cruise ship was bought for an undisclosed amount and is expected to host its last sailing for P&O Australia by February next year. The 77,441-ton vessel was earmarked for disposal after Carnival Cruise Line announced its March 2025 merger

Carnival Cruise Line is gearing up for its 55th birthday celebration in 2027. The cruise line announced that it is planning the ultimate birthday bash, with 11 vessels coming together at sea on March 9, 10, and 13, 2027, near its exclusive Caribbean and Bahamian resorts.

A tender boat traveling to Australia’s Kangaroo Island ran aground, forcing around 30 cruise ship passengers to wade through rough waters until they could reach the shore.

A crew member aboard Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas went overboard in the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 17, 2024. The incident occurred during the final days of a 12-night Southern Caribbean cruise as the ship sailed back to Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo courtesy of Larry Jones' Facebook) What happened? The overboard alert was triggered at approximately 1 p.m. EST, triggering a 'Code OSCAR' emergency response. Crew member website CrewCenter reports the 23-year-old man was from Mauritius in east Africa. Vision of the Seas immediately turned around and deployed rescue boats to search the area. Passengers onboard shared updates and photos,