Ambassador’s Ambience Kicks Off 40-Day Cruise to the Caribbean

Ambassador’s Ambience Kicks Off 40-Day Cruise to the Caribbean

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience recently kicked off one of the company’s longest cruises this year, a 40-day voyage to the Caribbean.

Sailing roundtrip from Tilbury, the “Jewels of the Caribbean Sea” itinerary is highlighted by visits to a wide range of destinations in the region.

As part of the voyage, the Ambience will become the only mainstream cruise ship to sail to Cuba in 2026, with a 13-hour visit to Havana scheduled for Feb. 16, 2026.

The cruise started with a visit to Ponta Delgada in the Azores after departing from the United Kingdom on Jan. 30, 2026.

The Ambience then crossed the Atlantic for destinations in Antigua and the British Virgin Islands, such as Antigua and Tortola.

Following its visit to Cuba, the ship is also scheduled to sail to George Town in the Cayman Islands, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and Fort-de-France in Martinique.

Other ports of call include Montego Bay and Ocho Rios in Jamaica, as well as Bridgetown in Barbados and Castries in St. Lucia.

Before arriving back in Tilbury in early March, the Ambience also sails to Basseterre in St. Kitts and St. Vincent.

Upon returning to the United Kingdom, the Ambience embarks on a series of spring cruises to Northern Europe, visiting Scandinavia, the Baltic, the British Isles and more.

For the summer, the 1,578-passenger ship adds visits to more destinations, including Portugal, Spain, Madeira, the Canaries and Iceland.

The vessel’s deployment is also highlighted by a 31-night cruise to the Mediterranean scheduled for early November, which sails roundtrip from Tilbury and features ports of call across North Africa, the Adriatic, Sicily and more.

In related news, Ambassador’s Ambience recently underwent a three-week drydock refurbishment in the United Kingdom.

The multi-million-dollar refurbishment included technical work, as well as improvements to public areas and staterooms.

Liberty: Pricing Higher in Caribbean Despite Capacity Increase

Liberty: Pricing Higher in Caribbean Despite Capacity Increase

Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, said that the company’s pricing for Caribbean voyages was up despite the industry’s significant capacity increase in the region.

He said this was for all three company brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea.

“We’re seeing high demand wanting to go to the Caribbean. We’re not only seeing good volume, but our pricing is higher in the Caribbean than it was last year,” Liberty said.

Speaking on the company’s year-end and fourth quarter earnings call, Liberty made sure to mention the cruise line expected positive yield growth for key products, including the Caribbean, as its investments continued to differentiate it from its peers and strengthen its leadership position, despite elevated capacity in the Caribbean.

“And I know that may not feed into what maybe some groups want to hear, but that is a reality that we continue to see strong demand for the Caribbean, and we continue to see strong demand for our broader organization,” he added.

Liberty said company capacity was up 6.7 percent year-over-year, driven by the new Legend of the Seas launching this summer plus full-year service from the Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel.

Explora I Makes Maiden Call to Barbados

Explora I Makes Maiden Call to Barbados

Explora 1 photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr Photographs)

Barbados welcomed Explora Journeys for its inaugural call to Bridgetown on Monday, Nov 27.

Captain Diego Michelozzi and his 630-member crew were welcomed by a delegation led by the CEO of Barbados Port Inc, David Jean-Marie; Chief Product Development Officer of BTMI, Marsha Alleyne; Director of Marketing, BTMI, Anderson King; Divisional Manager, Operations, Barbados Port Inc, Ian Stewart; members of Foster & Ince Cruises and Barbados Port Inc.

The vessel arrived in Barbados from Castries, St. Lucia and will be sailing to Roseau, Dominica. The Explora I will make seven calls this season to Barbados.

Five Cruise Ships and Nearly 20,000 Guests Visit St. Maarten

Five Cruise Ships and Nearly 20,000 Guests Visit St. Maarten

St. Maarten cruise port, photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

Nearly 20,000 guests visited St. Maarten on Tuesday onboard five different cruise ships. Offering cruises to different parts of the Caribbean, the MSC Seaside, the Harmony of the Seas, the Carnival Magic, the Harmony of the Seas and the Norwegian Epic docked at the Port of Philipsburg.

Wrapping up a season in the Southern Caribbean, the MSC Seaside offers a seven-night voyage in the region.

After sailing from Martinique on April 8, the cruise also features visits to Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbados and Dominica.

Following the round-trip itinerary, the MSC Cruises ship is set to reposition to Port Canaveral – its homeport for the upcoming summer season.

Meanwhile, the Harmony of the Seas offers a seven-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean departing from Miami. The itinerary, which left South Florida on April 8, also includes visits to St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Another ship based in Florida, the Carnival Magic sailed from Port Canaveral on April 8 for an eight-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. In addition to St. Maarten, the Carnival Cruise Line ship is set to visit Grand Turk, San Juan and St. Kitts before returning to its homeport.

Also sailing from the Sunshine State, the Celebrity Constellation visited the Port of Philipsburg as part of a ten-night cruise that departed from Tampa on April 7. Set to be followed by a transatlantic crossing to Europe, the itinerary also features St. Thomas, San Juan, Dominican Republic and Antigua as ports of call.

Based in Puerto Rico, the Norwegian Epic offers a seven-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. The itinerary sailed from San Juan on April 9 and also includes visits to St. Lucia and other destinations in the region.

Set to reposition to the Mediterranean, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship offers an additional itinerary in the region before departing on a transatlantic crossing on April 22.

Nicole Scherzinger to Name P&O Cruises Arvia Tomorrow

Nicole Scherzinger to Name P&O Cruises Arvia Tomorrow

Singer and performer Nicole Scherzinger will officially name P&O Cruises’ newest ship, the Arvia, tomorrow in a beachside ceremony in Barbados.

In addition to Scherzinger, Olly Murs will also perform his greatest hits at the naming ceremony, held both onboard Arvia’s SkyDome and from Heywood’s Beach. The ceremony will be hosted by two popular UK broadcasters and DJs, Sara Cox and Trevor Nelson.

The Arvia’s naming ceremony will be broadcast live on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 19:00 (UK time). Viewers can watch the live broadcast at the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI4N7fv4J_Q

In addition to the ceremony, Scherzinger will create music and dance extravaganzas for P&O Cruises as part of an exclusive entertainment partnership. More details on the shows will be available later this year.

Explora Announces Winter 2024-25 Program for Explora I

Explora Announces Winter 2024-25 Program for Explora I

Explora Journeys today announced its itineraries for the autumn and winter 2024-25 season of Explora I, according to a press release.

Featuring 23 journeys and two grand journeys between September 2024 and April 2025, the itineraries will encompass 73 different destinations in 24 countries, the company said in a statement.

Eight of them will be a first for Explora Journeys, including Macapá, Alter-do-Chaõ and Manaus in the Amazon, and the Devil’s Island in French Guiana.

Sacha Rougier, Head of Itinerary Planning and Destination Experiences, at Explora Journeys, said: “Guests will have the chance to delve into an exhilarating celebration of diversity: From private tours of MoMA in New York City to thrilling boat expeditions up the Amazon; discovering new shades of blue on a hidden Caribbean island or being fully immersed in the biggest show on earth with our exclusive Explora Journeys carnival experience in Rio, where they’ll be granted insider access to join the vibrant performers.”

The voyages start in the far north of North America’s East Coast, then sail to the Caribbean and South America before crossing the Atlantic to Europe.

Highlights include an 8-night Journey to Trailing Whales and Falling Leaves, sailing from New York City on Oct. 8 2024 for Boston, Portland and Halifax, the mystical Whale Corridors and the Gulf of St Lawrence, and finishing in Quebec City.

The ship will offer journeys up the Amazon River and into the Brazilian rainforest, complete with torchlit kayak tours and forest trails to hidden tribal villages.  In Manaus, guests will witness the confluence of where the Rio Negro joins the Rio Solimoes and in Santarem where the Amazon meets the waters of the Tapajos.

Journey into Wild and Wonderful Amazonia will depart Bridgetown, Barbados, on November 22 2024, and sail to French Guiana’s Devil’s Island before heading to Macapá, Alter-do-Chaõ and Manaus in Brazil.

A Journey to the Meeting Waters on the Almighty Amazon will set off on November 29 2024 and travel up the Amazon to Macapá and Bequia before returning to Bridgetown.

A Journey of Tantalising Transatlantic Adventures sails on April 3 2025 from Bridgetown on a 14-night transatlantic crossing. Guests can enjoy leisurely days at sea before exploring Cape Verde, the 10-island Creole-Portuguese archipelago.  EXPLORA I will stop to take in the natural attractions of the Canary Islands, followed by Madeira, before arriving in Lisbon, Portugal on April 18, 2025.

The ship’s grand journeys, A Grand Journey to Amazonia & Tropical Isles (28 nights) and A Grand Transatlantic Odyssey in the Atlantic (32 nights), give guests the opportunity to visit the Caribbean, the Amazon and the vastness of the ocean beyond.

 

P&O Announces Performer and Hosts for Arvia Naming Ceremony

P&O Announces Performer and Hosts for Arvia Naming Ceremony

P&O Cruises has announced a lineup of performers at the beach-side naming ceremony of the cruise line’s newest ship, the Arvia, in Barbados later this month.

Olly Murs will lead the lineup of performers singing his hits at Heywood’s Beach on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

“For our guests watching Arvia’s naming ceremony from home and from Barbados this is a real treat,” said P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow.

“Olly, Sara and Trevor really do make a star-studded lineup which showcases the contemporary entertainment for which P&O Cruises is known.”

The event will be hosted by two of the UK’s most popular broadcasters and DJs, Sara Cox and Trevor Nelson. Nelson will take the stage at Arvia’s Skydome and introduce the famous bottle smash moment with the ship’s yet-to-be-revealed godmother while Cox will host the guests on one of Barbados’ beaches.

Nelson and Cox will be sailing aboard the Arvia’s during its March 11 itinerary and will host a late-night DJ set onboard. 

“It is not often that in the depths of UK winter, you can be transported to a spectacular white sand, palm-fringed beach in the Caribbean and watch a live performance from one of Britain’s best-loved stars. It really will be a moment to remember,” added Ludlow.

 

P&O Cruises will officially name its newest ship Arvia in a beachside ceremony in Barbados

P&O Cruises will officially name its newest ship Arvia in a beachside ceremony in Barbados

The vessel will be named in a beachside ceremony in Barbados on 16 March 2023

The event, which will include a range of contemporary performers and presenters, will be broadcast live online to a global audience.

 

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: "We always aim to do things differently, to create stand-out and memorable moments for our current and future guests. 

 

"Arvia, which will be delivered in December, will spend her first season sailing in the Caribbean so it is fitting that we mark her naming in one of our favourite ports of call with a week of celebratory performances and experiences onboard."

 

Prime minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, said: "Barbados continues to share a rich relationship with our sea and tourism, and the cruise industry has been of vital importance to our island and our economy."

Barbados Drops all COVID-19 Protocols for Entry

Barbados Drops all COVID-19 Protocols for Entry

The Barbados government has announced changes to the island’s travel entry protocols.

Effective midnight, Thursday, September 22, 2022, Barbados discontinued all COVID-19-related travel protocols. Therefore, according to a statement, there will be no testing requirements to enter Barbados whether travellers are vaccinated or unvaccinated. 

In addition, the wearing of masks generally will now be optional. Mask wearing only remains mandatory for persons working in and visiting healthcare facilities, nursing homes, hospitals and senior citizen's homes; persons travelling on public transportation; and for persons who are COVID-19 positive.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Sen. The Hon. Lisa Cummins stated, "This is the last step for us which reflects our position as fully open for business following the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to continuing to welcome visitors to our shores to experience all of the new and returning events slated for the rest of the year, and into early 2023,” she said.

Marella Cruises has revealed details of the new ship Marella Voyager

Marella Cruises has revealed details of the new ship Marella Voyager’s bar and dining options ahead of its launch this summer.

The all-inclusive vessel will include new venues such as Silver Fork, a British-themed speciality restaurant; The Arts House, a bar with an arts and crafts space; and The Kitchens, a food hall with eight eateries rolled into one. The ship also offers a spa, pool and show lounge.

 

Marella will also debut its first Mexican restaurant, Abuela’s, which will offer a range of dishes such as tacos, burritos, nachos and fajitas.

From its homeport in Majorca, Voyager will sail to destinations such as Barcelona, Naples, Sicily and the south of France. In the winter, it will offer eight-night itineraries from Barbados.

Chris Hackney, managing director of cruise for Tui UK and Ireland, said: "We’re delighted to present an exciting evolution of our fleet in Marella Voyager.

 

"She really takes things to a new level, building on our current ships’ best features, whilst adding new venues that we know our customers will be excited to try.

"We understand what guests want from their cruise and what they love about our existing ships, so by ensuring we keep some Marella Cruises favourites as well as adding a different flavour to Marella Voyager, we will be providing more choice for our loyal customers and providing an exciting introduction to the brand for new customers."

The line has also announced plans to offer sailings in Canada for the first time as part of its winter 2023/2024 programme, which goes on sale on 21 July. 

P&O Cruises fleet will return to full service

P&O Britannia in the Caribbean, photo credit Spacejunkie

Arcadia will depart on a Canary Islands sailing on Sunday (27 March), restoring the line to its six-ship fleet - with seventh vessel Arvia joining P&O’s ranks in December.

 

The LNG-powered ship will sail its maiden voyage to the Canaries followed by a winter season in the Caribbean out of Barbados.

 

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said the return of Arcadia marked “an important milestone” for the company “one certainly cause for celebration”. 

 

“Britannia and Azura have had a very successful season in the Caribbean from Barbados and Iona has spent her maiden winter months in the Canary Islands and northern Europe and will soon head up to the spectacular Norwegian fjords for the summer of scenic cruising and thrilling adventures,” said Ludlow.

 

“It is evident that our guests are reassured by the steps we have taken to protect their health and wellbeing and that they are delighted to be back on board reigniting their passion for travel.”

Seabourn Encore Resumes Service in Europe

Seabourn Encore Resumes Service in Europe

After a 23-month operational pause, the Seabourn Encore is welcoming the passengers back today.

As the third Seabourn vessel to resume revenue service, the luxury ship is launching a series of ten- and 11-night cruises to the Canaries and the Mediterranean.

Sailing roundtrip from Lisbon, Portugal, the first cruise features visits to five ports in the Spanish archipelago of the Canaries, such as La Palma, Tenerife and Arrecife.

The itinerary also includes a call at Funchal, Portugal’s Madeira Island.

Continuing its first post-pandemic season, the Encore is poised to offer additional sailings to the Atlantic Islands until early April. The vessel then repositions to the Mediterranean in time for a summer program in the region.

Designed to offer an ultra-luxury product, the 40,350-ton cruise ship originally entered service in 2016.

As an enlarged version of Seabourn’s previous series of newbuilds, the Seabourn Encore carries 604 guests and features expanded public areas.

According to the Seabourn, the vessel was projected drawing inspiration from the brand’s rich history and yachting heritage and offers modern design elements and innovations consistent with its reputation for understated elegance.

The all-suite ship has multiple dining venues, in addition to a showroom, a spa, several lounges and bars, a casino, and the popular Seabourn Square, the social hub onboard with a club-like ambience.

Seabourn first resumed guest operations in Europe with the Seabourn Ovation. In July 2021, the 2018-built vessel kicked off a series of cruises to the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Seabourn Odyssey followed later that same month, sailing Eastern Caribbean cruises from Barbados.

Upon the completion of its summer program in Europe, the Ovation joined the Odyssey in the Caribbean, offering its first-ever departures from a U.S. port.

The remainder of the company’s fleet is set to resume service before the second half of 2022.

Barbados Simplifies Cruise Protocols

The Port of Barbados sign with the Grandeur of the Seas and P&O Britannia in Port, Photo credit Spacejunkie2

The island of Barbados has announced new port entry protocols that are meant to simplify destination exploration in a safe and responsible way through tours and shore excursions beyond the cruise ship.

In keeping with updated guidelines put forth by Barbados’ Ministry of Health and Wellness, the following protocols have been established and shared, according to Barbados' official tourism marketing organization, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc:

Embarkation: The Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness requires each cruise line to conduct health assessments of travellers prior to embarkation, which includes questions to identify symptoms that indicate a traveller’s health status.

Transit Calls and Shore Excursions: Guests with a standard or rapid PCR test was taken within 48 hours of arrival will be permitted to disembark and take free shore leave, explore independently and engage in shore excursions and tours. Guests arriving without a standard or rapid PCR test taken within 48 hours will be permitted to take “bubble excursions” or supervised shore excursions through authorized vendors, including:

• Tours approved for sale by tour operators as authorized by cruise lines.
• Tours approved for sale by independent tour operators and taxi operators as authorized by the government of Barbados following the appropriate health and security requirements.

Those wishing to engage in a tour must have a pre-booked tour confirmed by email from an approved tour operator for pick-up in the Bridgetown Port or take approved taxis dispatched from secure designated taxi facilities within the Bridgetown Port. Tours and excursions can be booked either on arrival at the port or directly with independent tour operators.

Transit calls refer to ports of call where passengers disembark to sightsee, then return to the ship, which then departs for its next destination.

Disembarkation (Island Stays): Guests disembarking and staying on-island for a post-cruise stay will be required to present a negative standard or rapid PCR test before unrestricted access to the destination is permitted. Post-cruise guests may be swabbed onboard their cruise ship or at the Bridgetown Port and may then proceed to their accommodations to await test results. If available, guests may proceed directly to their accommodations to be tested there and await the results.

Vaccination Status: Travellers will be considered fully vaccinated if they have completed a full regimen of vaccines for any of the Ministry of Health and Wellness approved COVID-19 vaccinations, at least 14 days prior to travel to Barbados. Approved vaccines are AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik V.

According to the press release, Barbados welcomes approximately 800,000 cruise visitors annually and welcomes more than 25 cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises.

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc said that it was excited for the new, simplified process that will give travel advisors “yet another reason to recommend the island to their clients, providing yet another safe, unforgettable vacation destination that helps drive leads, bookings and revenue in the new year.”

Travel advisors are encouraged to brief clients on these protocols during the booking process.

Queen Mary 2 Cancels New York Call, Waits for More Crew in Barbados

The Queen Mary 2 is changing its current itinerary due to the impact of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. According to a letter received by the ship’s current passengers, the ship will likely now be required to stay in Barbados for “additional manning” until the evening of Jan. 2.

“(This) extended stay in Barbados means that unfortunately, we will no longer be calling in New York on Jan. 3 if we are to maintain our arrival back in Southampton on Jan. 10,” wrote the ship’s captain, Andrew Hall, in the letter.

The decision of additional manning in essential roles onboard came after speaking with the relevant authorities and Cunard’s head offices in Miami and Southampton, Hall said.

He added that it was a precautionary measure and the Jan. 2 departure from Barbados was yet to be confirmed.

Cunard’s new focus, according to the letter, is “making sure that for those guests due to disembark on Jan. 3 in New York, the onward journey home is as smooth and easy as possible.”

Hall said that the cruise line is looking at flight options for these passengers and will be in contact directly with “exact details and confirmation.”

The Queen Mary 2 is currently on a 28-day round-trip itinerary entitled Grand Caribbean Celebration. The ship left Southampton on Dec. 13 and arrived in Barbados on Dec. 28. It was due to leave Barbados for Dominica today.

With the announced amendments, the Queen Mary 2 would seemingly skip three ports of call in Dominica, St Maarten and New York on Dec. 29, Dec. 30 and Jan. 3, respectively. The ship would instead head straight from Barbados to Southampton on Jan. 2.

To compensate for the itinerary changes, guests will receive an enhanced 125-percent Future Cruise Credit of the money paid on their booking pro-rata to all days sailed from Dec. 22, when the Queen Mary 2 departed from New York.

For example, if a guest joined the ship in Southampton on Dec. 13 and was due to disembark the ship in New York on Jan. 3, they will receive an FCC for 13 days (Dec. 22 to Jan. 3).

“Your FCC can be used for any new sailing that is booked before Dec. 31, 2023, on any voyage on sale at the time of booking. Should this be unsuitable for any reason, then you are entitled to a 100-per cent refund of monies paid on your booking on the same pro-rata basis,” the letter read.

UK-based guests have also been offered the option of flying from Barbados to Southampton earlier, should they wish so.

“Should our UK guests wish to fly back to the UK directly from Barbados we do have some limited flight options departing on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1. We will be sending you a further letter in the next 24 hours asking if you would like to take this option,” Hall wrote.

However, Hall said, passengers, are welcome to stay on board until the very end of the voyage.

“There may be some slight amendments to our services, but we will make every endeavour to ensure that you have a very enjoyable journey as planned,” he wrote.

Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur Resumes Service with New Barbados Program

After a 21-month operational pause, the Grandeur of the Seas is resuming service for Royal Caribbean International today. The vessel is also launching a new program for the company that features Barbados as a new homeport. 

Sailing from Bridgeport, the Vision-class ship is now offering a series of island-hopping itineraries throughout the Southern Caribbean and Latin America.

The program includes new ports of call for the Royal Caribbean, with itineraries ranging from seven to 14 nights.

For its first cruise, the Grandeur is offering the "Southern Caribbean Explorer" itinerary that features calls in Grenada, Dominica and St. Lucia, in addition to three new ports: Scarborough, Tobago; Port of Spain, Trinidad; and Kingstown, St. Vincent.

Another itinerary offered is the "ABC Caribbean Adventure Cruise" featuring Grenada, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, Trinidad and one day at sea.

In January, a longer 14-night cruise also includes stops in Central and South America, with calls to 11 ports, including Limón, Costa Rica; Colón, Panama; and Cartagena, Colombia.

Previously slated to be transferred to sister brand Pullmantur, the Grandeur of the Seas is now the first Vision-class ship to resume service for Royal Caribbean.

The vessel is the third in the series of six ships and entered service originally in 1996. Built in Finland, it has a capacity for 1,950 guests and 74,140 tons.

In 2012, the vessel underwent a major bow-to-stern revitalization. During the five-week-long, $48 million drydocks, the Grandeur received venues first introduced on Oasis-class ships, including new dining options such as the Giovanni’s Table Italian trattoria and the Park Café casual eatery.

The ship’s seven-deck Centrum atrium was also transformed into a chic and lively new space that features an array of daytime activities, as well as unique nighttime entertainment with high-flying aerialists.

The Grandeur of the Seas is the first of three ships that are resuming service for Royal Caribbean International in December.

On Dec. 16, the Brilliance of the Seas is set to welcome guests back for a series of cruises departing from Tampa, while, on Dec. 23, the Enchantment of the Seas resumes service in Baltimore.

With the three vessels returning, Royal Caribbean will close out the year with 20 of its ships back in revenue service.

Third P&O Cruises Ship to Resume International Sailing

P&O Cruises’ Ventura is resuming operations on Oct. 3 as it sets sail for the Canary Islands.

According to a press release, half of the P&O Cruises fleet is now in service as the Ventura joins the Iona and Britannia, both of which sailed a series of summer UK coastal cruises and have been sailing internationally since Sept. 25, 2021.

The Azura will also resume sailing in December 2021, joining the Britannia for the Caribbean season.

“Ventura’s international restart is the result of guest confidence in cruising and is the very latest stage of P&O Cruises sailing resumption as we work towards the return of our full fleet in spring 2022,” said P&O Cruises’ President Paul Ludlow. “Due to demand and the resounding endorsement of the first international holidays on the Iona and Britannia we’ve opened up increased capacity to holiday with us.”

He added that the cruise line was “proud” to have four ships sailing internationally this year “giving our guests a greater choice of where and when they travel with P&O Cruises for winter sun.”

The Ventura’s 12-night holidays to Spain and Portugal this year start at £599 per person. These will be followed by a 35-night holiday to the Caribbean, round-trip from Southampton, departing Jan. 3, 2022, from £3,174 per person.

A second 35-night holiday to the Caribbean and USA with Honduras, Belize and New Orleans among the 11 ports of call depart Feb. 11, 2022, priced from £2,899 per person.

P&O Cruises is set to return to the Caribbean this autumn

Britannia will sail a 14-night round trip cruise from Barbados on 5 November

Azura will begin a series of 14-night cruises from Barbados, calling at St Vincent, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St Maarten, Grand Turk, Tortola, Antigua, Saint Lucia and Grenada on 10 December. A balcony cabin costs £2,149pp.

 

Britannia will also sail 14-night fly/cruise holidays from Barbados, calling at Curacao, St Vincent, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and St Maarten, starting on 5 November. Prices come in at £1,599pp for a balcony cabin.

 

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said the itineraries build on the line’s series of UK coastal cruises.

 

"Our Caribbean season, running from November through to March, is a further positive step towards our full fleet returning to service and we are looking forward to the opportunity to once again take our guests to this hugely popular and much-loved destination," Ludlow added.

Construction Starts on P&O Cruises’ New Ship Arvia

The building of P&O Cruises second Excel class ship Arvia, arriving December 2022, has started at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Warnemunde, Germany.

The first component of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered ship, the floating engine room unit (FERU), has been moved into the shed at the Meyer Werft shipyard where the Arvia will be constructed.

Made by Neptun Werft the FERU, with Arvia's engines and LNG tanks within it, is 140 meters long, 42 meters wide and weighs approximately 12,000 tons.

The Arvia will feature Altitude Skywalk, a unique high ropes experience, and offer a maiden season of Caribbean fly/cruise holidays, from homeport Barbados.

Vaccinated travellers to Barbados will still have to quarantine

Vaccinated travellers to Barbados will still have to quarantine and be tested from next month, the island has said.

From 8 May, arrivals who are fully vaccinated must provide proof of a negative PCR test three days before travel, carry a vaccination certificate and have another PCR test at Barbados airport or their approved accommodation.

 

Guests will use specially designated transportation to their accommodation and must stay there while they await their result. All fully vaccinated travellers will be required to quarantine “for approximately one to two days” but will be allowed to move around within the accommodation’s boundaries.

 

The same rules apply to those who are not vaccinated fully or at all, but they must remain in their rooms until their arrival PCR test has been cleared and must take another test five days after arriving.

 

The rules add: “All unvaccinated travellers will be required to quarantine for approximately five to seven days.”

 

Barbados Tourism Marketing said under 18s travelling with fully vaccinated adults could adhere to the fully vaccinated guidelines. It warned: “These protocols are likely to change.”

Celebrity Announces June Caribbean Comeback from St. Maarten

Celebrity Cruises announced its return cruising today as the Celebrity Millennium will homeport in St. Maarten starting on June 5.

Beginning March 25, guests can book the new seven-night itineraries departing through August.

The ship will sail two different weeklong itineraries. One will call on Aruba, Curaçao and Barbados and a second itinerary will call on Tortola, St. Lucia and Barbados.

The ship will sail with the vaccinated crew and will be available to vaccinated adult guests and children under the age of 18 with a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of embarkation, according to a press release.

Guests can take advantage of special air and sea pricing offering exceptional savings on all Summer 2021 St. Maarten sailings starting at $1,999 per person for a veranda stateroom. 

Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said: “Returning to the Caribbean after more than a year away is such a significant moment for us. It marks the measured beginning of the end of what has been a uniquely challenging time for everyone. We have been in constant contact with the leadership of St. Maarten these past months to support each other and share learnings and best practices. That we’re able to offer people the opportunity to safely vacation onboard the revolutionized Celebrity Millennium, is incredible, and that we will sail from the magical island of St. Maarten is very special. I am forever grateful for the support and collaboration of the St. Maarten government.”

“Having a major cruise line such as Royal Caribbean Group’s Celebrity Cruises homeport here is a significant economic milestone for St. Maarten. It’s a historic agreement, the fruit of continuous dialogue and a testament to the strength of our longstanding relationship,” Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunication (TEATT) Ludmila de Weever declared. “Celebrity Cruises homeporting here will help rejuvenate our economy and drive opportunities for our people. I would like to thank the management team at the Royal Caribbean Group for their commitment to St. Maarten and their confidence in the Ministry of TEATT as a reliable and responsible partner. I look forward to the successful re-launch of their Caribbean cruising,” Minister de Weever concluded.