What will happen if a cruise operator in U.S. waters sees a single positive COVID-19 case aboard? A full ship quarantine seems to be the likely option, according to the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order issued by the CDC at the end of October. Operators sailing in U.S. waters will need a Conditional Sailing Certificate, meaning they met new stringent CDC guidelines and are operating with strict health and safety protocols. The Framework for Conditional Sailing Order states that in case of a positive COVID-19 case, a cruise line must first notify passengers and crew, and then immediately end the future. It also may be forced to cancel future voyages as directed by the CDC. The ship also most return to the U.S. port of embarkation. And a full ship quarantine is likely the case, as the CDC's order said that the ship must immediately isolate "any sick or infected...

Looking for a good Black Friday cruise deal can be overwhelming. To save the day, Cruise Industry News has compiled a list of great offers from seven cruise lines. 1. Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a 30 percent discount on all already published 2021-2023 sailings of three days or more (which is more than 300 destinations worldwide) and a Free at Sea package, which includes free open bar, free specialty dining, free shore excursions credits, free Wi-Fi, and discounted rates for friends and family. The Black Friday deal is available for bookings made before the end of Nov. 27, 2020. The cruise line also offers a $75 onboard spend per stateroom for its Latitudes Rewards Program members. The Latitudes offer is valid on all sailings of five days or longer departing 120 days from booking date, when booked before the end of Dec. 31, 2020. The deal...

During a virtual trade event, MSC’s Gianluca Suprani and Celestyal’s Chris Theophilides discussed the present and future of Mediterranean cruising. According to them, Mediterranean cruising will will only get more popular, and longer cruises will prevail over shorter ones. “Going forward, what we will be seeing is people… taking it a bit more slowly, enjoying the immersive experiences,” said Theophilides, CEO at Celestyal. “It’s not so much about ticking places off the list; it’s getting to know places and slowing down the pace of life, especially after being cooped up for so long.” From Celestyal’s bookings for 2021, Theophilides can see that the most popular option is the seven-day cruise that takes passengers to different destinations. The other reason why tourists might be booking more of seven-plus day cruises is that ports, due to the latest health and safety regulations, have trimmed their capacities. “The new requirement as part of...