MSC Family Additions

MSC Cruises recently announced details of its completely redesigned children’s area and a line-up of brand-new entertainment onboard MSC Seashore, its new flagship scheduled to arrive in Miami this November.  The ship design is in tribute to New York City!  The kids club area with over 7,500 sq. ft. (the largest in the fleet) boasts six newly designed rooms dedicated to space and planetary exploration including the new TEENS LAB filled with tech. Located near the entrance of the kids’ area, The Studio is a modern space that includes a cinema, live TV studio, and video games. At the cinema, there will be two special film nights throughout the cruise, one for children and one for teens.  New onboard activities at The Studio include a Late Show for teens and a music-themed game show for all. Supervised programming is available for toddlers to teens with limited baby care also available starting at age one.  For a limited time, your family can get free drinks + free internet + up to $200 in shipboard credits on Bahamas, Caribbean, and Mediterranean cruises, including on the MSC Seashore. You can be one of the first to experience Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the new and exclusive private island in the Bahamas with two miles of beaches and ship docking right on the island. This Labor Day promotion is available through September 6 for departures through April 30, 2022.

Disney Updates

Disney Cruise Line will showcase the Avengers superheroes on the new Disney Wish with a super creative Marvel-themed dining experience.  Avengers: Quantum Encounter at the Worlds of Marvel dining room will feature a menu inspired by the Marvel universe and a cinematic dining adventure featuring Ant-Man, The Wasp, Captain American, and Captain Marvel as they attempt to save the day along with your family’s help with an interactive Quantum Core that allows you to shrink and grow objects!  The ship is scheduled to debut in June 2022.  In other Disney news, the line announced it will begin sailing again to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay beginning this August 9 for 3- and 4-night cruises.  Guests ages 2 and up will be required to wear masks in all indoor areas except when eating and drinking or in your stateroom.  Masks will not be required on Disney’s private island.  Meet and Greets with the characters are on pause, but the kids club will offer small group options.  Fully vaccinated guests will be exempt from pre-cruise COVID testing and travel insurance requirements.

Ancestry River Cruise

Luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways recently announced a new partnership with Ancestry, a leader in family history and genomics. With so many families embracing heritage travel, Ama’s Ancestry Experience allows you to further personalize and enrich your family’s river cruise experience with a pre-cruise private consultation and family history research, onboard presentations, and curated excursions accompanied by an expert genealogist throughout the cruise. The first cruise in the series, Heritage on the River: Your Personalized Ancestry Experience, will depart July 30, 2022, on board the 156-guest AmaStella. The ship, which offers connecting cabins for families, sails from Amsterdam on a seven-night river cruise along the Rhine River visiting Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland.  Upon booking, you will be matched with an expert from Ancestry’s professional research division for a one-hour consultation and 5 hours of research to learn about your family background and identify places of interest to visit during your cruise. Genealogists onboard will bring to life how your ancestors lived and show you where to find family history records.  You will also receive a private onboard consultation with the expert genealogist and can enjoy an Ancestry-specific group excursion with your expert genealogist. An optional add-on of an Ancestral Home Visit accompanied by an expert genealogist may also be available.  

Holiday Celebrations with Disney

Disney Cruise Line will host its Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrytime Cruises festivities across its fleet of ships this fall on departures from Florida, New York, Texas, and California. Halloween on the High Seas will be held from mid-September through October on select sailings. Your family is invited to dress up and enjoy Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party, featuring characters in costume, as well as themed food, beverages, and crafts. Ships will be decked out for this fun and spooky holiday. The Very Merrytime Cruises will be held from early November through December and feature holiday decor, characters in holiday attire, and a visit from Santa Claus. Both themed cruises will come to the new Disney Wish for the first time this year, which in the fall is sailing out of Florida, as is the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. The Disney Magic is sailing out of San Juan and the Disney Wonder out of San Diego. The Disney Magic will return to New York this fall, then sail out of Texas in late November.  These holiday sailings just opened!

Lindblad Returns to Iceland

Still searching for a unique summer getaway? Lindblad Expeditions recently added a series of voyages in Iceland. Both the 126-passenger National Geographic Resolution and the 148-passenger National Geographic Explorer polar vessels will explore the land of the midnight sun on two alternating itineraries, Wild Island Escape (6 days) and The Circumnavigation of Iceland (11 days). On both expeditions, your family will discover why Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice as you journey through the country’s fjords, tundra, waterfalls, and geothermal hot springs.  The Iceland season will kick off shortly on July 7, 2021, with the six-day compact adventure to the remote fjords and volcanic isles along the country’s western coast. Starting July 11, the 11-day sailings will begin and showcase the magnitude of the country’s geological manifestations: glaciers, geysers, waterfalls, cliffs, geothermal springs, boiling mud pots, and lava-scapes.  Children under age 18 save $500 and your bar tab and crew tips are included!

Celebrity Beyond

Brand new and family-friendly cruise ships excite us and Celebrity Cruises plans to debut the Celebrity Beyond later this year.  The sister ship to the Edge and Apex, the Beyond will showcase:

• The Retreat, an exclusive resort-within-a-resort area for suite guests, highlighted by a new two-story sundeck
• Transformed accommodations, including modern, two-story villas with private plunge pools and staterooms with “infinite verandas”
• An expanded Rooftop Garden and Resort Deck with cantilevered float pools
• A multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar redefining the ship’s aft space
• The first Daniel Boulud fine-dining restaurant at sea
• A redesigned Grand Plaza spanning three decks, creating an airy and open indoor space
• The return of the Magic Carpet, an exterior platform cantilevered off the ship’s side and giving guests views while they’re sipping cocktails or having dinner

Celebrity Beyond also has a new partnership with Gwyneth Paltrow who will be curating a variety of wellness offerings with a special focus on women’s health.  The ship is also autism-friendly with sensory-friendly films and toys, dietary menu options and staff training for the Camp at Sea children’s program.

Sail The Florida Keys

Yacht charter company The Moorings has announced it has established operations in Key West, FL for the 2021 charter season. In partnership with Florida Yachts Charters, a variety of boat options will be available, with both Bareboat and Skippered yacht charters.  Choose from sailing catamarans and monohulls, as well as a selection of power catamarans. Key West has long been a sought-after destination for vacationers and boaters alike, offering incredible scenery both on the water and onshore. The Moorings charter operation will be located at Ocean’s Edge Marina & Resort at Stock Island Marina Village, making it an easy launching point to explore throughout the Florida Keys and The Dry Tortugas National Park.

Have It All on HAL

Holland America Line recently added a new and cost savings package. For one simple fare, you can enjoy a bundle of services at a discount that includes a shore excursion, drinks, specialty dining and internet on cruises of six nights or longer (except their Grand Voyages).  Their Have It All packages include the following:

• One shore excursion up to $100 value or $100 off any one tour for all guests in a stateroom.
• Signature Beverage Package for all guests in a stateroom. Enjoy a large selection of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, soda, coffee and more. Up to 15 drinks per day allowed, and bar service charges are included.
• One-night award-winning specialty dining for all guests in a stateroom.
• A Wi-Fi package for the first and second guests in a stateroom.

Cruises 10 to 20 days in length will also get an additional $100 in shore excursion credit and two nights of specialty dining. Cruises 21 days and longer will receive another $100 in shore excursion credit and an additional night of specialty dining.  Each guest in a stateroom must book the Have it All cruise fare to receive the extras. 

Short Getaways with RCCL

Looking for a quick getaway?  Royal Caribbean International recently revealed a series of all new and short Caribbean sailings of only three- to five-nights for their 2022-2023 season. Choose from eight ships departing from five ports across Florida and Texas sailing on 17 distinct itineraries. The Freedom of the Seas will sail from Miami, the Liberty of the Seas from Ft. Lauderdale, the Independence of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas from Port Canaveral and both the Brilliance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas from Tampa.  The Grandeur of the Seas and Adventures of the Seas will do short cruises from Galveston.  A variety of ports are on offer such as Key West, Roatan, Belize, Cozumel, Costa Rica, and several ports in The Bahamas including Perfect Day at CocoCay, Nassau and Grand Bahama Island.

Return to the Seas

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are both gearing up for a return to the seas nearby this June through August as long as you can show proof of vaccination and just a negative test for those under age 18.  RCCL will begin round-trip sailings out of Nassau on the Adventure of the Seas for 7-nights starting on June 12.  Visit Grand Bahama Island, Cozumel, and have two days at CocoCay to enjoy the private island’s amazing water and recreational facilities.  The Vision of the Seas plans to start sailing round-trip from Bermuda on June 26, but with most days at sea.  The ship will visit CocoCay for the day and be in port in Bermuda for an overnight.  The Celebrity Millennium will sail out of St. Martin beginning June 5 with two different weeklong itineraries.  Choose from two idealic Caribbean itineraries: Aruba, Curacao, and Barbados or Tortola, St. Lucia, and Barbados.  Both cruise lines have plans to sail in The Med this summer as well and on brand new ships!  Crystal Cruises will also begin sailing to the Out Islands of The Bahamas from Nassau, but everyone must be vaccinated to board. Note that you will also need to meet any travel requirements of the country where these ships depart. We can help you sort through the details.  Bon voyage!