Harvest Caye, a new Caribbean destination developed by Norwegian Cruise Line in Southern Belize, welcomed its first guests this month. Located just one mile offshore, Harvest Caye offers Caribbean travelers an authentic Belizean experience that highlights the country’s beauty and nature, along with resort-style amenities including a sprawling pool and private luxury beach villas; a variety of eco-activities and interactive wildlife programs; and an exhilarating cross-island zip line. With its close proximity to the mainland, Harvest Caye also offers guests easy access to a wide variety of adventure excursions. This spectacular resort-style port of call is the ultimate tropical destination experience and the only port in Belize that features a cruise ship pier for guest convenience and comfort.

The Harvest Caye experience was designed to showcase all that Belize is known for, from native plants and trees that all play a part in the destination’s eco-system, to the indigenous hardwoods used in the destination’s buildings, and the warm and welcoming Belizean team members who greet guests upon arrival.

“We have worked closely with the government of Belize to ensure that that this spectacular destination was authentic for our guests, provided economic opportunities for the local community and preserved and protected Belize’s incredible natural beauty,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Guests onboard Norwegian Dawn, sailing from New Orleans, were the very first to experience all that Harvest Caye has to offer, stepping off the ship and right into paradise.

Harvest Caye’s seven acre pristine beach is the highlight of this unique destination, showcasing Belize’s stunning white powder sand and crystal clear waters. Guests can enjoy the day on chaise loungers, relax in clamshell tents or indulge in privacy at one of the island’s 11 luxury beach villas, available for daily rental. These indulgent enclosed villas are the ultimate beach escape and feature an expansive porch overlooking the sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea. Each villa can accommodate up to 10 guests and come complete with every comfort including air conditioning, dedicated lounge areas, a private restroom, indoor and outdoor showers, hammocks, and exclusive dining and beverage options with dedicated concierge service so guests never have to leave the beach.

To learn more visit: NCL Harvest Caye

From March through December 2018, Cunard’s three iconic Queens will sail on a new programme of destinations and special event sailings. Guests will be able to visit extraordinary places around the globe and experience exclusive events never seen before at sea, all from the luxury and glamour of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and newly-remastered Queen Mary 2.

On board every Cunard Queen, guests are welcomed to discover a wide array of entertainment and activities to suit every taste. In addition to new itineraries, the 2018 Programme features a lineup of special event cruises including high profile speakers and excursions themed around passion points to add an extra dimension to each voyage.

Voyage du Vin (June 1-8, 2018 / Spain and Portugal):
Wine tasting on board Queen Victoria introduces guests to some of Europe’s finest wine and port destinations, along with on board lectures from experts such as Will Lyons and excursions around the Atlantic Coast with port calls in Spain, Portugal and Guernsey.

A Photographic Journey to the Land of the Midnight Sun (July 1-13, 2018 / The Fjords):
Guests on Queen Elizabeth’s Norwegian Voyage will learn professional tips from esteemed photography experts such as Ross Hoddinott, one of Englands’ leading wildlife and landscape photographers, and take a trip to the Arctic Circle to photograph the stunning phenomenon of the “midnight sun.”

Big Band Ball (August 24-28, 2018 / Netherlands Escape):
Once again Queen Elizabeth plays host to a spectacular celebration of music and dance with a 13-piece Big Band Orchestra delighting guests with music from Glen Miller and Duke Ellington.

Transatlantic Fashion Week (September 2-9, 2018 / Westbound Crossing):
This unique experience allows guests to indulge in the glamour of fashion shows on board Queen Mary 2 while being treated to inspirational talks with some of fashion’s most reputable names including the respected British fashion writer and journalist Colin McDowell.

A Journey of Genealogy (November 4-11, 2018 / Westbound Crossing):
For the first time ever Cunard has collaborated with Ancestry.com, the largest online family history resource in the world, to offer guests the opportunity to trace their family trees on the remastered Queen Mary 2.

The 2018 Canada & New England cruise season offered by Princess Cruises showcases the fall foliage to iconic destinations along the east coast and offers the largest deployment ever with two of the cruise line’s newest ships – Regal Princess and Royal Princess.

The 3,560-guest Regal Princess and Royal Princess, sailing for the first time together departing from New York and Quebec, offer 10 cruise departures on four unique itineraries, visiting 12 destinations in New England and Canada.

“We’re excited to bring two of our newest ships to Canada & New England in 2018, so that more guests can enjoy the gorgeous fall foliage and famed destinations and landmarks in this region,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president.

All 2018 Canada/New England are open for sale on December 1. Highlights include:

Royal Princess makes her maiden 10- to 11-day voyages out of Quebec and New York featuring overnight stays in Quebec on every voyage. These cruises visit Newport, Boston, Portland, Saint John (for the Bay of Fundy), Halifax, Sydney (Cape Breton Island), Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) and Quebec. The 11-day cruises include an overnight stay in Boston. Cruises depart Sept. 25; Oct. 5 and 16.

In addition, Royal Princess offers a 14-day Canada & Colonial America cruise from Quebec to Ft. Lauderdale featuring calls in Port Saguenay (scenic cruising of the Saguenay River), Sydney (Cape Breton Island), Halifax, Saint John (for the Bay of Fundy), Bar Harbor (for Acadia National Park), Boston, Newport, New York and Norfolk (for Williamsburg and Jamestown). This cruise departs on Oct. 26.

Regal Princess sails on seven-day cruises roundtrip from New York, visiting Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor (for Acadia National Park), Saint John (for the Bay of Fundy) and Halifax. Cruises depart Sept. 22, 29; Oct. 6, 13 and 20.

A five-day Canadian Atlantic Provinces Getaway out of New York is also being offered aboard Regal Princess, visiting Saint John (for the Bay of Fundy) and Halifax. This voyage departs on Oct. 27.

Princess Cruises is bringing its largest deployment ever in 2018. With a 15 percent capacity increase, offering unique itineraries, cruisetours and authentic onboard experiences, more guests can enjoy the cruise vacation of a lifetime.

In summer 2018, seven Princess Cruises ships will sail Alaska’s pristine waters on 130 cruise departures, with more than 75 percent of all voyages sailing to Glacier Bay National Park, departing from Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, B.C. and Anchorage (Whittier). In addition, the cruise line has over 22 cruisetour options providing guests the opportunity to journey into the interior of Alaska, visiting five custom-built Princess Wilderness Lodges.

New for 2018, Island Princess will feature a full season of calls to Icy Strait Point, a unique and remote wilderness experience, on every seven-day northbound Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary. Also new for 2018, guests looking to cruise roundtrip from Los Angeles can choose from two 12-day cruises.

While on board, guests will encounter a variety of ways to engage in unique Alaska experiences through the award-winning North to Alaska program, featuring Cook My Catch, an exclusive culinary program allowing guests to return from select Princess fishing excursions to have the chef prepare their very own catch of the day. Also offered, the crowd-favorite Puppies in the Piazza, where real Alaska sled dog puppies are brought on board for guests to interact with. On land, guests will hear first-hand tales from mountain climbers who have conquered Denali as they tell the exhilarating stories of their journey at the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge.

“Princess continues to build on our long-standing recognition as the best cruise line in Alaska,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “There’s no better way to see Alaska’s glaciers, wildlife and national parks than from the perspective of our spectacular ships, exclusive rail service and Princess-owned wilderness lodges, and we are proud to provide our guests even more opportunities to visit the Great Land in 2018.”

The 2018 May – September Alaska program includes:

Alaska Cruises
With 130 departures from Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, B.C. and Whittier featuring unique ports, there are options abound for exploring Alaska in 2018 aboard Princess ships, including:

Voyage of the Glaciers – Princess’ most popular Gulf of Alaska sailings between Vancouver, B.C. and Whittier features two glacier-viewing experiences on every voyage, with visits to the UNESCO-listed Glacier Bay National Park plus either Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord. These cruises are offered aboard Island Princess, Coral Princess, Star Princess and Golden Princess.

Inside Passage –This awe-inspiring part of Alaska, known for its lush scenery and pristine fjords, will be featured on seven-, 10- and 12-day roundtrip voyages from Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Ruby and Emerald Princess sail on seven-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle with all Ruby Princess cruises featuring a visit to Glacier Bay National Park. Grand Princess sails out of San Francisco, featuring five departures visiting Glacier Bay. Two 12-day cruises roundtrip from Los Angeles aboard Emerald Princess and Golden Princess will also include Glacier Bay.

Carnival Fantasy arrived at its new homeport of Mobile, Ala., this week to launch a schedule of year-round four- and five-day cruises to Mexico.

The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy departs Mobile on a five-day cruise to Cozumel and Progreso, kicking off a year-long schedule of four- and five-day cruises to these stunning Mexican ports.

“With its Southern charm, excellent terminal facilities and easy-to-reach location, Mobile is a terrific new addition to Carnival’s homeport lineup and we’re delighted to offer these convenient and affordable cruises to Mexico’s most popular ports of call,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

“We are pleased and excited to welcome Carnival Cruise Lines back to the City of Mobile,” said Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “This is a moment we’ve been working toward since the day we took office. It represents a win for our city, a win for Carnival and most of all a win for the thousands of people who can once again enjoy a great cruise out of one of America’s greatest cities.”

Carnival Fantasy’s four-day “long weekend” itinerary departs Thursdays, calling at Cozumel. Five-day itineraries depart Monday and Saturdays, visiting Cozumel and Costa Maya or Progreso.

Each of these destinations is known for beautiful white-sand beaches, interesting historical sites and attractions, and excellent snorkeling, scuba diving and watersports. During the day-long call at Progreso, guests have the opportunity to visit Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, while guests visiting Cozumel can check out ancient Mayan ruins or enjoy the destination’s wide range of shopping and dining experiences. At Costa Maya, guests can explore the centuries-old Chacchoben ruins or visit the Lost Mayan Kingdom, a multi-million-dollar water-themed attraction featuring spectacular slides, an elaborate lazy river, a suspended ropes course that spans the property and more.

Washington, DC — February 7, 2013 — Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) today announced the launch of ‘Cruise Forward,’ a new industry-wide communications initiative that will promote awareness of cruising’s wide-ranging contributions and engage stakeholders across the global cruise industry.

See more of the Cruise Forward story: CLIA.

Avalon Waterways is building three new ships scheduled to start sailing on European waters in 2014 on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. The Poetry II will have 52 suites and 12 staterooms, while the Avalon Illumination and Avalon Impression will be slightly larger with 66 suites and 17 staterooms each.

See more at: Avalon Waterways.