Icon of the Seas, World’s Largest Cruise Ship Sets Sail, Raising Concerns Over Methane Emissions

On Saturday, the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, set sail from Miami on its maiden voyage. The nearly 1,200-foot-long and 250,800 gross-ton behemoth can accommodate close to 8,000 passengers across 20 decks. The ship is … Continue reading

SpaceX Launch Scrubbed Due to Cruise Ship in Exclusion Zone

On Sunday, 30 seconds before the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was due to take off from Florida, the launch was scrubbed when a cruise ship sailed into the launch hazard area. Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas ventured into the … Continue reading

Will the Cruise Industry Survive the Pandemic Headwinds?

Pullmantur Cruceros, a joint venture between Royal Caribbean and Cruises Investment Holding, has filed for reorganization under Spanish insolvency laws. Cruises Investment Holding owns 51 percent of the three-ship Spanish cruise line, while Royal Caribbean owns the remaining 49 percent.  … Continue reading

Tens of Thousands of Crew Still Stranded As Cruise Lines Plan Reopening

The major cruise lines have announced plans to restart at least some of their cruise operations in upcoming months, while tens of thousands of crew are still stranded aboard cruise ships. Carnival, the world’s largest cruise line, has announced cruises … Continue reading

Cruise Lines Donating Millions for Bahamas Dorian Disaster Relief

The cruise industry in the Caribbean is donating to help the Bahamian victims of Hurricane Dorian. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian Caribbean and Disney have all pledged millions in hurricane relief. Royal Caribbean is committing $1 million to Dorian disaster relief, … Continue reading

Escaping Hurricane Irma by Sea on RCL’s Enchantment of the Seas

As Hurricane Irma proceeds toward South Florida with apocalyptic fury, it is getting harder and harder to find a place of safety or a way to escape. Gasoline and supplies are in short supply. The few north-south roads out of … Continue reading

Princess Cruises Hit by Record Fine for ‘Deliberate Pollution & Cover-up’

The Justice Department has announced that Princess Cruise Lines will pay a record $40 million fine for “deliberate pollution of the seas and intentional acts to cover it up” in what it called “the largest-ever criminal penalty involving deliberate vessel … Continue reading

Anthem of the Seas — A Storm at Sea and a Storm on Twitter

The winter storm that struck Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas as it cruised off the coast of the Carolinas this weekend also set off a storm on Twitter.  Passengers and crew tweeted photos and video of overturned furniture, damaged rails, and … Continue reading

Oasis of the Seas Passenger Falls Overboard Unnoticed, Rescued by Disney Ship

Frank Jade was a passenger on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Oasis of the Seas until Thursday morning when he said that a large wave knocked him off an open deck and into the sea, approximately eight miles from Cozumel, Mexico. Reportedly, no … Continue reading

RCCL’s Explorer of the Seas Sets New Record for Contagion with Almost 700 Ill

It is no doubt not a record that Royal Caribbean would have aspired to. Their ship, Explorer of the Seas, on its voyage from New York harbor to the Eastern Caribbean, from January 21-29, 2014, had the largest outbreak of … Continue reading

RCCL Grandeur of the Seas, Newly Refurbished, Catches Fire in the Bahamas, No Serious Injuries

At around 2:50 AM Monday night a fire broke out on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Grandeur of the Seas, which had been bound for Coco Cay, Bahamas. The ship was rerouted to Freeport, Bahamas where the 2,224 passengers and 796 … Continue reading

British Passenger Seen Falling Overboard from Cruise Ship Allure of the Seas

On Friday morning, a British passenger was seen falling overboard  fell from the balcony of his cruise ship cabin on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship,  the Allure of the Seas, while cruising off the coast of Mexico, near the island of Cozumel.  The Allure of the Seas with a capacity of … Continue reading

Violent weather in the Eastern Mediterranean – bulk carrier Adriatic sinks and Brilliance of the Seas battered

Heavy rains, strong winds and high seas hit the eastern Mediterranean over the weekend with winds of 100 kilometres per hour and waves reaching heights of 10 metres,  sinking the Moldavian bulk carrier, Adriatic, off the coast of Israel and  battering the RCCL cruise ship, Brilliance of … Continue reading