Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

A Florida-based cruise line has unveiled a five-month, around-the-world cruise in 2024 for $34,700— see what it'll be like

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="685819" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Royal-Caribbean">Royal Caribbean</keyword> has sold its <keyword id="10622234" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="azamara">Azamara</keyword> <keyword id="3116" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Cruise">cruise</keyword> line brand to <keyword id="1068200" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sycamore-Partners">Sycamore Partners</keyword> for $201 million.</li><li>The Azamara deal is the latest shakeup in a list of <keyword id="902461" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="cruise-industry">cruise industry</keyword> disruptions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/royal-caribbean">Royal Caribbean</a> has sold its Azamara cruise line for $201 million while cruises in the US remain docked during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company announced Friday.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-happened-to-victorias-secret-americas-lingerie-darling-2020-2?r=bc-sub">Sycamore Partners</a>, the private equity firm purchasing Azamara in cash, now owns the cruising brand and its fleet of four ships, including <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/azamara-announces-name-of-its-fourth-ship-azamara-onwardsm-301251043.html">one that was just acquired</a>. Carol Cabezas, Azamara's COO, will serve as president of the cruise line, according to a press release from <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-group-enters-definitive-agreement-to-sell-its-azamara-brand-to-sycamore-partners-301210817.html">January when the agreement was first announced</a>.</p><p>"Azamara remains a strong brand with its own tremendous potential for growth," Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-group-enters-definitive-agreement-to-sell-its-azamara-brand-to-sycamore-partners-301210817.html">said in a statement in January.</a></p><p><em><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-royal-caribbean-norwegian-cruise-covid-19-2020-11?r=bc-sub">COVID-19 has created a once-in-a-lifetime crisis for Carnival and Royal Caribbean, but after surviving hijackings and shipwrecks, the industry looks unsinkable</a></em></p><p>The ownership change also results in a $170 million non-cash impairment charge. <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-group-enters-definitive-agreement-to-sell-its-azamara-brand-to-sycamore-partners-301210817.html">According to Royal Caribbean</a>, this Azamara sale won't "materially impact" the cruise company's financial outcomes.</p><p>Unsurprisingly, recent months haven't exactly been smooth sailing for Royal Caribbean. In December, <a href="https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/press-release/1487/royal-caribbeans-empress-and-majesty-of-the-seas-set-to-depart-fleet/">Royal Caribbean announced</a> it had sold its Empress and Majesty of the Seas cruise ships. Just several months prior, the cruise company reported it had lost $1.3 billion in its third quarter,<a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article246805742.html"> the Miami Herald reported</a>.</p><p>This Azamara announcement and Royal Caribbean's difficulties are only some of the shakeups in the long list of cruise industry <a href="http://lcaribbeanpresscenter.com/press-release/1484/royal-caribbean-group-extends-suspension-of-cruising/">disruptions</a> that have happened in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. From <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-norwegian-cruise-workers-stuck-on-ships-for-months-2020-5?r=bc-sub">stranded crew members</a> to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/holland-america-has-had-trouble-with-refunds-leaked-email-audio-2020-5?r=bc-sub">refund issues</a> to a "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ceo-of-norwegian-cruise-line-talks-timeline-to-profitability-2020-5?r=bc-sub">wasted year</a>," things have been looking a bit bleak for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cruises-that-have-been-affected-by-coronavirus-2020-3">cruise companies around the world</a>.</p><p>However, according to <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-group-enters-definitive-agreement-to-sell-its-azamara-brand-to-sycamore-partners-301210817.html">Royal Caribbean</a>, this latest deal will allow the mega cruise company to "focus on expanding" its Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and <keyword id="1731789" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Silversea-Cruises">Silversea Cruises</keyword> brands.</p><p><em><strong>Read more: </strong></em><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-royal-caribbean-employees-make-pay-salary2020-12?r=bc-sub">Carnival and Royal Caribbean salaries revealed: From $32,000 to $383,000, here's how much the cruise industry's power players pay some of their employees</a></em></p><p>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-lines-2021-sailing-plans">sail date for these cruise lines</a>, and other cruises around the US, still remain to be seen as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on.</p><p><em>Are you a cruise industry employee or have a cruise industry story to share? Contact this reporter at bchang@insider.com.</em></p>

Royal Caribbean has sold its Azamara brand including 4 ships for $201 million as the company continues to push back 2021 sail dates

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Nine new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-royal-caribbeans-9-month-ultimate-world-cruise-unusual-2024-1">around-the-world cruises</a> have already set sail in 2024.</li><li>These ships joined Royal Caribbean's nine-month Ultimate World Cruise at sea.</li></ul><p>The Seven Seas just got a bit more crowded: Nine new world cruises have recently set sail, joining Royal Caribbean's ongoing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/royal-caribbean-ultimate-world-cruise-ship-2023-12"><u>Ultimate World Cruise</u></a> in a quest to travel around the world in 2024.</p><p>TikTok has developed an obsession with Royal Caribbean's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-royal-caribbeans-nine-month-world-cruise-starting-at-61000-2021-10">nine-month vacation</a>. But it's not the only one of its kind — nor was it the most in-demand.</p><p>In 2021 and 2022, other operators also announced their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/storylines-residential-luxury-cruise-ship-investors-ex-employees-2023-10"><u>global cruises,</u></a> with one selling out 30 minutes after it was offered. Since the start of the new year, nine of these have already embarked. Take a look at which ones.</p><h2><strong>Oceania Cruises — the premium $48,500 six-month option</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Oceania Cruises  insignia" height="1875" width="2500" msid="107029818" hostid="261" sizebytes="545616"></div><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oceania-sold-out-six-month-world-cruise-sets-sail-2024-1"><u>Oceania's 2024 world cruise</u></a> was so hot that it sold out 30 minutes after reservations opened in March 2022, the premium cruise line said at the time.</p><p>After almost two years of waiting, these travelers finally set sail from Los Angeles on January 14. For the next 180 days, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oceania-and-regent-seven-seas-cruise-ships-compared-2024-1"><u>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings subsidiary</u></a> says the Insignia is set to sail to 96 ports in 34 countries.</p><p>The vessel is now on its way to Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Canada, according to its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oceania-cruises-six-month-2024-global-cruise-at-50000-2022-2"><u>world cruise itinerary</u></a>. This includes 24 expected overnight stays in destinations like Yangon, Myanmar, and Reykjavik, Iceland.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tour-oceanias-ultra-luxury-stateroom-on-new-ship-photos-2023-9?_gl=1*126e108*_ga*MTc5NjA2MTMzNS4xNjUxMjUwODY5*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcwNTQyMDk5Mi40NjcuMS4xNzA1NDI0NjM2LjU2LjAuMA.."><u>Oceania's cabins</u></a> started at $48,500 per person.</p><h2><strong>Regent Seven Seas Seas Cruises — NCLH's $73,500 ultra-luxury 4 ½-month cruise</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Seven Seas Mariner docked in Kotor, Montenegro" height="1667" width="2223" msid="107029819" hostid="261" sizebytes="621228"></div><p>On January 6, the Seven Seas Mariner departed Miami on a roundtrip <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/world-cruise-sold-out-photos-a-73500-per-person-2021-7"><u>132-night global expedition</u></a>. Through May 17, the ship is set to stop at 66 ports in 31 countries — sailing to expected destinations in Central America, Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Bermuda.</p><p>Fares started at $73,500 per person for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/review-ultra-luxury-cruise-wealthy-travelers-regent-seven-seas-2023-12">Regent Seven Seas' basic suite</a>. Too cheap? The most luxurious 2,000-square-foot accommodation had a $200,000-per-person price tag.</p><p>Like Oceania, these fares didn't stop travelers from flocking to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/regent-seven-seas-cruise-luxury-best-part-see-inside-2024-1"><u>luxury cruise</u></a>. The ship was fully reserved in less than three hours when bookings opened in July 2021, Regent Seven Seas said at the time.</p><h2><strong>Azamara — a private equity-owned $39,000, five-month sailing</strong></h2><div type="image" title="The Azamara Onward by Monte Carlo" height="1150" width="1533" msid="107029820" hostid="261" sizebytes="77300"></div><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-florida-cruise-line-azamara-5-month-2024-world-cruise-2021-11"><u>Azamara's sold-out 2024 world cruise</u></a> departed on January 5 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Over the next 155 nights, the Azamara Onward plans to stop in 40 countries across Central and South America, the Pacific islands, New Zealand and Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe before concluding in Barcelona.</p><p>There are 22 overnights scheduled throughout this <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-luxury-40000-155-night-world-cruise-sailing-in-2025-2022-11"><u>world tour</u></a>.</p><p>The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/royal-caribbean-sell-azamara-cruise-brand-coronavirus-2021-1"><u>private equity-owned cruise line's</u></a> 2024 global adventure started at $39,000 per person for the windowless interior cabin. Travelers who prefer to cruise in luxury would've paid $157,000 per person for the highest-end suite.</p><h2><strong>Silversea Cruises — Royal Caribbean Group's $66,000 4 ½-month world cruise</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Silver Shadow cruise ship" height="683" width="911" msid="107029822" hostid="261" sizebytes="34540"></div><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/silversea-silver-nova-new-luxury-cruise-ship-tour-photos-2023-8"><u>Ultra-luxury Silversea's</u></a> 2024 global vacation set sail on January 15 from San Francisco. Through May 26, the Silver Shadow is scheduled to see 65 ports in 14 countries.</p><p>Unlike most world cruise itineraries, this one is scheduled to spend most of its 132 nights traversing the Pacific Ocean, sailing to the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia, Southeast and East Asia, Alaska, and Canada before returning to San Francisco.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-silversea-cruises-71-day-cruise-almost-50000-2022-2">Silversea's fares</a> started at $66,000 per person for the least expensive vista suite, cheaper than Regent Seven Seas' cruise of the same length.</p><h2><strong>Princess Cruises — Carnival Corp's almost four-month $21,100 vacation</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Island Princess cruise ship in Glacier Bay, Alaska" height="1533" width="2044" msid="107029823" hostid="261" sizebytes="280726"></div><p>On January 4, the Island Princess embarked on its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/princess-cruises-111-day-around-the-world-cruise-high-demand-2021-11">111-day world cruise</a> from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with a second pickup scheduled in Los Angeles on Thursday. From there, travelers are expected to get to see 51 destinations in 27 countries across Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, and the Americas, according to the Carnival Corp brand.</p><p>Fares started at almost $21,100 per person.</p><p>Regret not going on Princess' world cruise? There's another chance: The cruise line's second <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/around-the-world-cruises-seeing-record-success-photos-2023-3">2024 global itinerary </a>is sailing in late April.</p><h2><strong>Seabourn</strong> <strong>Cruise Line — Carnival Corp's almost 5-month $74,300 itinerary</strong></h2><div type="image" title="The Seabourn Sojourn." height="1666" width="2221" msid="107029824" hostid="261" sizebytes="162082"></div><p>It seems like every major cruise giant has an ultra-luxury brand. Carnival Corp's is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-carnivals-seabourn-luxury-cruise-line-sail-miami-11">Seabourn</a> — and on January 11, the Seabourn Sojourn departed Los Angeles on a 145-day, 72-port, 28-country cruise.</p><p>The sailing is set to conclude in Piraeus, Greece, near Athens, on June 5. Along the way, the itinerary shows the Seabourn Sojourn traveling east to destinations like Hawaii, Australia, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Egypt, and Jordan.</p><p>The Sojourn is scheduled for 20 overnights in destinations like Cairns, Australia, and Honolulu.</p><p>Fares started at $74,300 per person.</p><h2><strong>Cunard — A 3 ½- and four-month cruise from Carnival Corp's UK-based operator</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Queen Mary 2." height="1410" width="1880" msid="107029825" hostid="261" sizebytes="137698"></div><p>Luxury operator <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-ships-turned-into-hotels-shelters-reefs-photos-2023-7"><u>Cunard</u></a> has two 2024 "world voyage" itineraries: 123 nights on the Queen Mary 2 and 107 nights on the Queen Victoria.</p><p>Queen Mary 2's four-month roundtrip New York City voyage departed on January 3, sailing east to 32 ports in the UK, Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East, according to its itinerary.</p><p>Eight days later, the Queen Victoria also began its 3 ½-month roundtrip Southhampton, UK journey. According to the UK-based operator, the ocean liner is set to sail west to 29 ports in Bermuda, Aruba, Central and North America, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe.</p><p>Cunard did not immediately respond to Business Insider's inquiry about its fares.</p><h2><strong>Holland America Line — the four-month roundtrip Florida cruise</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Holland America Zuiderdam passing under the Lions Gate bridge in Vancouver, Canada in 2022." height="1600" width="2133" msid="107029826" hostid="261" sizebytes="357214"></div><p>On January 3, Holland America Line's world cruise guests would've moved onto the Zuiderdam to spend the next 127 nights circumnavigating the globe, according to the operator's itinerary.</p><p>This roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, Florida cruise is scheduled for 46 ports in the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Pacific Islands, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.</p><p>Holland America did not immediately respond to Business Insider's inquiry about the itinerary's fares.</p><p><em>Are you traveling on a world cruise? We're interested in hearing your experience. Reach out to this reporter at bchang@businessinsdier.com.</em></p>

9 new around-the-world cruises have joined Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise at sea. See what they're like — from a sold-out 6-month luxury cruise to a cheaper $21,100 option.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>TikTok is enthralled by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-royal-caribbeans-nine-month-world-cruise-starting-at-61000-2021-10">Royal Caribbean's nine-month Ultimate World Cruise.</a></li><li>Other cruise operators run world cruises, some annually.</li></ul><p>TikTok can't get enough of Royal Caribbean's ongoing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/royal-caribbean-ultimate-world-cruise-ship-2023-12"><u>Ultimate World Cruise</u></a>, and for good reason: There's been nothing like it before.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/storylines-residential-luxury-cruise-ship-investors-ex-employees-2023-10"><u>World cruises</u></a> may have just entered the spotlight, but the concept of a global sailing is nothing new with some cruise lines even operating one annually.</p><p>However, few have gained the social media traction and attention as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/review-royal-caribbean-wonder-of-the-sea-cruise-ship-photos-2023-1"><u>Royal Caribbean's</u></a> nine-month itinerary has. These are the five reasons this could be the case.</p><h2><strong>1. At 274 nights long, Royal Caribbean's itinerary is over double the length of most world cruises.</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Royal Caribbean cruise ship Serenade of Seas in Portland, Maine in 2016" height="1150" width="2300" msid="106816143" hostid="261" sizebytes="337538"></div><p>Most of these cruises sail for about three-and-a-half to five months (or six if it's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oceania-cruises-six-month-2024-global-cruise-at-50000-2022-2"><u>Oceania's</u></a>).</p><p>In 2024, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/luxury-cruise-line-regent-its-longest-world-cruise-yet-2023-3"><u>ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas Cruises</u></a> announced its longest global itinerary yet: 154 nights in 2026 starting at $95,000 per person. But even this extended sailing is dwarfed by Royal Caribbean's nine-month vacation, which set sail from Miami on December 10, 2023.</p><p>If all goes to plan, Royal Caribbean says its Ultimate World Cruise won't conclude until September 10, traveling to more than 150 destinations in 65 countries along the way.</p><h2><strong>2. The ship is planning to sail to all seven continents.</strong></h2><div type="image" title="serenade of the seas" height="1725" width="2300" msid="106816147" hostid="261" sizebytes="293822"></div><p>Despite its name, not all world cruises plan to sail to all seven continents. Royal Caribbean's does, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cruisehive.com/royal-caribbean-makes-ultimate-world-cruise-itinerary-change/120463"><u>including traversing</u></a> the infamous Drake Passage to Antarctica.</p><p>However, the ship isn't scheduled to stop at many ports in Africa, save for Egypt and Morocco.</p><p>Travelers interested in an extended Africa cruise could try premium cruise line <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oceania-cruises-new-extended-sailings-africa-asia-premium-ship-2024-1"><u>Oceania's two-month Africa and Asia itinerary</u></a> instead.</p><h2><strong>3. Smaller premium operators are behind most of the popular world cruises.</strong></h2><div type="image" title="The Azamara Onward by Monte Carlo" height="1150" width="2300" msid="106816151" hostid="261" sizebytes="117436"></div><p>Both Princess Cruises and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/msc-cruises-116-day-around-the-world-cruise-2025-photos-2023-2"><u>MSC Cruises have 116-day world cruises</u></a> scheduled for 2025. However, not every family-friendly mass market operator hosts these around-the-world trips.</p><p>Instead, some of the most popular globetrotting cruises are run by premium and luxury cruise lines, often annually. This includes <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-luxury-silversea-cruises-76000-around-the-world-in-2025-2022-7"><u>Royal Caribbean Group's luxury Silversea</u></a>. In 2025, the high-end company's world cruise would sail from Tokyo to New York over four months, starting at $81,900 per person.</p><p>Crystal, Viking, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-luxury-40000-155-night-world-cruise-sailing-in-2025-2022-11"><u>Azamara</u></a> also offer these monthslong cruises, many of which have sold out. Just don't expect them to be as affordable as MSC's $13,200 itinerary.</p><h2><strong>4. The ship is bigger than most of ships that operate world cruises.</strong></h2><div type="image" title="empty restaurant on serenade of the seas" height="1725" width="2300" msid="106816154" hostid="261" sizebytes="269946"></div><p>Royal Caribbean selected the 965-foot-long Serenade of the Seas as the 13-deck floating home for its nine-month cruise.</p><p>The 20-year-old ship was previously refreshed in 2022 following a $29 million 2012 refurbishment. At 1,073 staterooms and a 2,476-guest capacity, the Serenade of the Seas is much smaller than some of Royal Caribbean's ships, including the new world's largest <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-about-royal-caribbean-icon-of-the-seas-2024-1?mrfhud=true"><u>Icon of the Seas</u></a>.</p><p>But as is commonplace for the cruise line, Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas is larger than the vessels used for most other world cruises. However, it's worth noting many of these competing companies are already known for having smaller ships.</p><p>Silversea's 2025 and 2026 world cruises would be aboard the almost 700-foot-long, 596-guest Silver Dawn. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oceania-cruises-new-vista-ship-review-luxury-2023-10"><u>Oceania</u></a> often taps its 594-foot-long, 684-guest Insignia for its annual sailings. That's the same guest capacity as Azamara's Onward, which embarked on the operator's first world cruise itinerary on January 5 and is scheduled to be used again in its 2025 and 2026 global itineraries.</p><p>However, MSC's Magnifica — enlisted for its 2023, 2025, and 2026 global sailing — is only two feet shorter than the Serenade of the Seas, although it can accommodate more than 3,000 guests.</p><h2><strong>5. Royal Caribbean is still selling unusually short segments of the itinerary.</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Serenade of the Seas near Seattle" height="1150" width="2300" msid="106816159" hostid="261" sizebytes="261578"></div><p>Nine months at sea could be difficult for even the most dedicated cruise fans. To make the itinerary more accessible, travelers could have reserved one of its four segments ranging from 63 to 87 nights. The last two — "Middle East and Mediterranean" and "Europe and Beyond" — of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-join-royal-caribbean-9-month-ultimate-world-cruise-2024-1"><u>Royal Caribbean's world cruise can still be booked</u></a>.</p><p>Segmenting a world cruise is common. However, Royal Caribbean has taken this a step further by selling shorter itineraries, ranging from nine to 29 nights, within these four legs.</p>

5 reasons Royal Caribbean's 9-month Ultimate World Cruise is unlike most around-the-world cruises

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The CDC randomly inspects cruise ships to help prevent the spread of stomach viruses. </li><li>The agency has reported 13 Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships this year. </li></ul><p>There's nothing like a stomach virus to ruin your vacation, as hundreds of cruise ship passengers have unfortunately learned this year. </p><p>The CDC has reported <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">13 Norovirus outbreaks</a> on cruise ships so far in 2023. The last time the industry's yearly gastrointestinal illness outbreak total was that high was back in 2016 — and it's only July. </p><p>In order for the agency to report a cruise ship outbreak, 3% or more of passengers or crew must report symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, such as vomiting and diarrhea, to the ship's medical staff. During the most recent outbreak, a 14-day cruise onboard the Viking Neptune in June, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/110-viking-cruise-passengers-hit-by-nasty-norovirus-outbreak-2023-6">slightly over 13% of passengers (110 of 838) reported being ill</a> with predominant symptoms of abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the CDC. </p><p>The nasty stomach bug isn't just a cruise ship problem, though. Norovirus cases have spiked across the United States this year, which some experts say is the result of <a href="https://www.adventhealth.com/blog/norovirus-rise-heres-what-you-should-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ending COVID-19 restrictions</a>. </p><p>"People often associate cruise ships with acute gastrointestinal illnesses such as norovirus, but acute gastrointestinal illness is relatively infrequent on cruise ships," the CDC explains on its website. "Health officials track illness on cruise ships. So outbreaks are found and reported more quickly on a cruise ship than on land."</p><p>In order to help prevent the spread of stomach viruses at sea, the CDC randomly inspects cruise ships and scores them on a scale of 0 to 100 through the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/default.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vessel Sanitation Program</a>. Inspection scores of 85 and lower are considered "not satisfactory" by the agency. </p><p>The majority of vessels have received scores in the high nineties — only one cruise ship, the MSC Seaside, has failed the CDC's sanitation inspection so far this year. The vessel <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/msc-cruise-ship-health-inspection-fail-lowest-score-in-years-2023-5">received an unusually low score of 67</a>, nearly twenty points below the agency's passing grade.</p><p>An MSC Cruises spokesperson told Insider at the time that the cruise line launched an internal investigation based on the inspector's concerns and took immediate corrective actions. </p><p>"MSC Cruises rigorously adheres to health protocols, and the results of this inspection do not reflect the brand's high standards," the spokesperson added. </p><p>In the past 10 years, only three other cruise ships have received sanitation scores below 70, CDC records show. Violations can include something as small as not posting a raw eggs advisory on the omelette station or a single fly hovering in a food area. But before going on your next cruise adventure, it doesn't hurt to check out the ship's most recent sanitation rating. </p><p>These are the cruise ships with the highest and lowest sanitation scores so far this year:</p><h2>The 15 cruise ships with perfect scores of 100</h2><div type="image" title="Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas" height="1725" width="2300" msid="101614675" hostid="261" sizebytes="330750"></div><table dir="ltr" style="width: 765px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"></colgroup></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Cruise ship</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Cruise line</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">Date</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">Score</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Allure of the Seas</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Royal Caribbean International</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">2/12/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Carnival Celebration</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">1/18/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Carnival Panorama</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">1/7/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Carnival Sunshine</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">2/23/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Celebrity Edge</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Celebrity Cruises</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">4/17/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Celebrity Millennium</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Celebrity Cruises</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">2/3/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Celebrity Summit</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Celebrity Cruises</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">2/15/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Disney Fantasy</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Disney Cruise Lines</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">3/22/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Disney Wonder</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Disney Cruise Lines</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">1/13/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">MSC Seascape</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">MSC Cruise Management (UK) Ltd</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">2/5/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Norwegian Joy</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Norwegian Cruise Lines</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">4/8/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Norwegian Pearl</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Norwegian Cruise Lines</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">3/3/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Oceania Riviera</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Oceania Cruises</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">3/2/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Rotterdam</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Holland America Line</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">3/8/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 182.234px;">Silver Moon</td><td style="width: 249.328px;">Silversea Cruises Ltd</td><td style="width: 95.125px;">3/13/2023</td><td style="width: 216.312px;">100</td></tr></tbody></table><h2>The 15 cruise ships with scores below a 95</h2><div type="image" title="MSC Seaside cruise ship arrives at the Port of Marseille." height="3333" width="4444" msid="101614676" hostid="261" sizebytes="694014"></div><table dir="ltr" style="width: 765px; height: 398px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"></colgroup></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Cruise ship</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Cruise line</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">Date</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">Score</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Freedom of the Seas</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Royal Caribbean International</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">2/6/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">94</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Norwegian Encore</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Norwegian Cruise Lines</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">1/3/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">94</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Norwegian Gem</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Norwegian Cruise Lines</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">1/22/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">94</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Explorer of the Seas</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Royal Caribbean International</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">4/9/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">93</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Azamara Onward</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Azamara Cruises</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">1/8/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">91</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Island Princess</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Princess Cruises</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">5/11/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">91</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Queen Victoria</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Cunard Line</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">1/20/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">91</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Noordam</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Holland America Line</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">4/23/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">90</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Star Pride</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Wind Star Cruises</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">1/7/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">90</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Le Boreal</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Compagnie Du Ponant SA</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">4/19/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">89</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Norwegian Epic</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Norwegian Cruise Lines</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">4/14/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">89</td></tr><tr style="height: 45px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 45px;">Margaritaville at Sea Paradise</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 45px;">Margaritaville at Sea</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 45px;">5/3/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 45px;">87</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Carnival Liberty</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">4/28/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">86</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 22px;">Carnival Pride</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 22px;">Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 22px;">4/1/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 22px;">86</td></tr><tr style="height: 45px;"><td style="width: 183.047px; height: 45px;">MSC Seaside</td><td style="width: 247.234px; height: 45px;">MSC Cruise Management (UK) Ltd</td><td style="width: 94.9844px; height: 45px;">4/27/2023</td><td style="width: 217.734px; height: 45px;">67</td></tr></tbody></table>

These are the cruise ships with the best — and worst — sanitation scores so far this year

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/life-at-sea-around-the-world-cruise-ship-photos-2023-2"><strong>Life at Sea Cruises</strong></a><strong> has delayed its three-year around-the-world cruise.</strong></li><li>The company, owned by parent Miray Cruises, has faced delays closing on the ship it'll use for this sailing.</li></ul><p>On November 1, hundreds of travelers with Miray Cruises' <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/life-at-sea-around-the-world-cruise-ship-photos-2023-2"><u>Life at Sea Cruises</u></a> were set to embark from Istanbul on the ultimate dream vacation — a cruise that would circumnavigate the world every three years.</p><p>But less than three weeks away and days after the company reaffirmed this upcoming sail date, these soon-to-be global cruisers received some bad news: The sail date has been pushed back to November 11, according to an email the company sent to customers on Thursday that was viewed by Insider.</p><p>Additionally, the company still doesn't have the ship it'll use for the sailing, the MV Lara, a Life at Sea Cruises spokesperson told Insider in an email on Friday.</p><p>"Finalizing the funds transfer for the purchase" is taking "longer than expected," according to a statement Life at Sea sent to its future passengers. As a result, closing on its future ship has been delayed, although the company expects to be able to do so, "within the next week."</p><p>The residential cruise company has not publicly confirmed which ship it will be purchasing, although it's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/refurb-interiors/miray-cruises-reported-buyer-aidaaura"><u>reported by trade publications to be the AIDAaura, a ship currently owned by a Carnival subsidiary</u></a>.</p><p>"We can't comment on pending ship sales," a spokesperson for Carnival told Insider.</p><p>But after the acquisition closes, travelers still won't be able to board immediately. The company says the vessel will have to be dry-docked for about 18 days before it is repositioned and ready to sail. Life at Sea had plans to spend "several million dollars" refreshing the 20-year-old Lara and adding amenities like a wine and cigar bar, Kendra Holmes, the CEO of Miray Cruises, told Insider in mid-August.</p><p>Instead of the previously planned launch from Istanbul, travelers will now embark in either Amsterdam on November 11 or Freeport, Bahamas on November 21, according to the email. Buyers were told Life at Sea will help "make changes to [travelers] accommodations and itinerary at Miray's expense."</p><p>"We understand this change is not desirable, but we are doing our best to accommodate everyone and keep this adventure on track, even if it is a little late," Life at Sea wrote.</p><h2>When it sails, Life at Sea is promising a dreamy and affordable escape</h2><p>When it's ready to sail, this vessel could be the perfect affordable option for many <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/around-the-world-cruises-seeing-record-success-photos-2023-3"><u>world cruise</u></a> fans. After all, interior cabins start at a little over $115,500 per person for all three years. Broken down, this per-day cost is cheaper than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/azamara-155-night-world-cruise-in-2026-photos-2023-10"><u>Azamara's recently announced 2026 world cruise</u></a>. The offer is so enticing, <a target="_blank" href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/three-year-cruise-crisis/index.html"><u>a buyer even sold her home</u></a> in anticipation of this journey, CNN reported.</p><p>And unlike a typical world cruise, the vessel will be sailing for much longer than just a few months. Life at Sea says the MV Lara will spend 1,095 days sailing to 382 ports across 140 countries and all seven continents. After this itinerary, the ship will continue its global circumnavigation on different routes every three years.</p><p>As of now, there's only <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-world-residential-cruise-ship-sailing-around-globe-photos-2023-4"><u>one residential vessel currently in operation: The World</u></a>. But unlike this 20-year-old concept, Life at Sea buyers only have to commit to a minimum three-year period.</p><p>The ship will have 540 cabins for between 800 to 900 mostly American passengers, Holmes told Insider in mid-August. At the time, Holmes said about 40% of the ship's available accommodations had already been reserved, including from "a lot of people" who had never been on a cruise before.</p><p>Onboard, Life at Sea says these passengers will have access to amenities like wellness and business centers, Starlink WiFi, a hospital, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/9-reasons-royal-caribbean-icon-of-the-seas-shake-industry-2023-7"><u>typical cruise amenities</u></a> like a pool, restaurants, bars, and a movie theater.</p>

A 3-year-long cruise around the world was delayed just weeks before departure because there's no ship

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Royal Caribbean, the parent company of cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Silversea, has officially dropped the word "<keyword id="499344" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Cruises">cruises</keyword>" from its name.</li><li>The company, now called <keyword id="9672782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="royal-caribbean-group">Royal Caribbean Group</keyword>, rolled out the changes quietly over the course of months, but announced the change on Thursday.</li><li>The move comes as the cruise ship industry has been battered by revenue loss due to the coronavirus pandemic. </li></ul><p>The parent company of <keyword id="1587850" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Royal-Caribbean-Cruises">Royal Caribbean cruises</keyword> officially dropped "cruises" from its name on Thursday, according to a <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-group-sets-sail-with-updated-corporate-identity-301102723.html">press release</a>. The company is also making changes to its logo.</p><p>The company first used the new name "Royal Caribbean Group" rather than "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd" in its first-quarter earnings report back in May. But the cruise line didn't confirm the change until a reporter at <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/news/royal-caribbean-cruises-name-change/">The Points Guy</a> noticed.</p><p>Changes to <a href="http://www.rclcorporate.com/">the logo</a> include sharpening the points of the crown and anchor and adding a surrounding circle.  </p><p>The parent company's old name, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., was often confused with its flagship brand, Royal Caribbean International. The parent company owns several other cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises, Silversea, and Azamara.</p><p>The cruise industry as a whole has been battered by the coronavirus epidemic, and was forced to pause operations after outbreaks on ships like the Diamond Princess. Royal Caribbean has suspended cruises through the end of September, according to the company's <a href="https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/are-all-cruises-suspended">website</a>.</p>

Royal Caribbean Cruises has officially changed its name after quietly dropping the word 'cruises' and tweaking its logo

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Cruises are setting sail again, and many are requiring passengers to be fully vaccinated.</li><li><keyword id="3116" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Cruise">Cruise</keyword> lines and ports of departure have different safety requirements and vaccine requirements.</li><li>Here's what you need to know before you plan a trip.</li></ul><p>Across the world, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-lines-2021-sailing-plans">cruise ships are setting sail</a> for the first time since the pandemic started. </p><p>The <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-3/coronavirus-cruise-ship">CDC is urging every traveler</a> - including those planning to board cruise ships - to be fully vaccinated.</p><p>Here's what you need to know before booking a fully vaccinated cruise.</p><h2><strong>Safety protocols could vary by your cruise's port of departure </strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="Cruise passengers walk in front of a cruise wearing masks." height="945" width="1260" msid="83764394" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>Cruise lines and departure port locations influence whether travelers are required to be fully vaccinated or not.</p><p>Officials in Texas and Florida have passed measures that ban businesses from requiring proof of vaccination in the state, which goes against some cruise lines' requirements, <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/texas-florida-battle-cruise-lines-124038585.html">CBS reported</a>. </p><p>In a recent court ruling, a federal judge ruled that the <keyword id="6379474" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="cdc">CDC</keyword> can't enforce its conditional sailing orders against Florida cruise ships, which required cruises to run "trial" voyages before operating <keyword id="44992" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Passenger">passenger</keyword> voyages and recommends that 95% of passengers are vaccinated, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-judge-uses-sex-analogy-to-nix-cdcs-cruise-ship-covid-rules-2021-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Insider previously reported</a>.</p><p>Now, the CDC cannot enforce its order on ships within, departing from, or arriving at a Florida port, and starting July 18, the order will become a "non-binding" guideline for ship operators, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/19/business/florida-judge-cruise-ships/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNN</a>.</p><h2><strong>Check your cruise line for its vaccination requirement</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="vaccine passport 8" height="1653" width="2204" msid="83764395" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>Many large cruise lines plan to continue to require a vaccine before boarding a ship. </p><p>Carnival Cruise Lines' first cruises this summer sail from Galveston, Texas, July 3, and Miami, Florida, in July. Its first two cruises will both require everyone to be fully vaccinated, the <a href="https://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/carnival-cruise-line-confirms-plans-july-restart">cruise line announced in a statement</a>.</p><p>On Celebrity Cruises, guests 16 and older will also be expected to bring their vaccination card. Starting August 2, passengers 12 and older will need to be vaccinated, <a href="https://www.celebritycruises.com/health-and-safety">according to Celebrity Cruises' website</a>.</p><p>Norwegian Cruise Line requires vaccinations for every guest through at least October 31, <a href="https://www.nclhltdinvestor.com/static-files/1aa87896-aae4-4475-85cd-77a231290dc6">its website states.</a></p><p>At the time of writing, <a href="https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/health-and-safety/">American Queen Steamboat Company</a>, <a href="https://www.azamara.com/booked-guests/before-you-board/health-safety-cruise-information-hub#cruising-suspension">Azamara</a>, <a href="https://www.crystalcruises.com/crystal-clean?utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=homepagetiles&amp;utm_campaign=crystalclean&amp;utm_content=oceanontent=ocean">Crystal Cruises</a>, <a href="https://www.cunard.com/en-us/the-cunard-experience/sailing-with-confidence">Cunard</a>, <a href="https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/experience-updates/">Disney Cruise Lines in the UK</a>, <a href="https://www.gct.com/marketing/2021/coronavirus-update">Grand Circle Cruise Line</a>, <a href="https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/news/coronavirus-travel-advisory/traveling-and-staying-healthy.html">Holland America</a>, <a href="https://www.expeditions.com/covid-protocol/">Lindblad Expeditions</a>, <a href="https://www.oceaniacruises.com/sites/default/files/2021-04/sailsafe-health-safety-program.pdf">Oceania Cruises</a>, <a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/WAMJCR6X6jhrjENlRs9qQCQ?domain=us.ponant.com">Ponant</a>, <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-with-confidence">P&amp;O Cruises</a>, <a href="https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/uk/summer-seacations/summer-seacations-details.html">Princess Cruises</a>, <a href="https://www.rssc.com/HealthSafetyProtocols">Regent Seven Seas Cruises</a>, <a href="https://travel.saga.co.uk/travel-updates.aspx?icid=ghp%7Cnavbanner%7Ctravel%7Cholidays%7Cupdate">Saga</a>,  <a href="https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/health-safety/guest-protocols.html">Seabourn</a>, <a href="https://www.silversea.com/lp-silversea-hrts-consumer.html">Silversea</a>, <a href="https://uncruise.com/pages/covid-travel-updates">UnCruise Adventures</a>, <a href="https://www.victorycruiselines.com/health-and-safety/">Victory Cruise Lines</a>, <a href="https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/my-trip/health-and-safety/health-and-safety-program.html">Viking</a>, <a href="https://www.virginvoyages.com/ahoy/stories/voyage-well">Virgin Voyages</a>, and <a href="https://www.windstarcruises.com/health-safety/">Windstar Cruises</a> require passengers to be vaccinated. </p><p><a href="https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/press-release/1537/royal-caribbean-internationals-vaccine-policy/">Royal Caribbean International's vaccine requirements vary based on ships' ports of departure.</a> The cruise line requires passengers 16 years and older on ships leaving from all US ports except Florida to be fully vaccinated but says passengers departing from Florida ports are "strongly recommended" to be vaccinated. Those who aren't fully vaccinated will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, according to Royal Caribbean's website.</p><p>As the vaccine continues to be accessible to younger people, more cruise companies may adapt their policies to require passengers 12 years and older to be vaccinated.</p><h2><strong>Many cruise lines are requiring workers to be vaccinated</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="kate mccue" height="675" width="900" msid="83764396" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>While the passengers on the ship might not have to be fully vaccinated, many crew members do. </p><p>Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Silversea are just a few cruises that require their workers to be fully vaccinated. </p><h2><strong>What to expect onboard a cruise</strong></h2><div type="image" title="A birds-eye view of a cruise ship." height="1000" width="1333" msid="83764399" hostid="261"></div><p>Depending on the cruise, there may be a list of accepted vaccines, guidance on whether children need to quarantine beforehand, and other information on how the ship is preparing to welcome guests. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/covid19-operations-manual-cso.html">CDC's current guidelines state</a> that if 95% of crew and 95% of passengers are vaccinated, it's up to the cruise's discretion whether masks and social distancing are in place.</p><p>The <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-3/coronavirus-cruise-ship">CDC also advises all passengers, even if they're fully vaccinated, to get tested for COVID-19</a> one to three days before their trip and three to five days after the trip. </p>

Everything you need to know about fully vaccinated cruises

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An industry group of roughly 60 <keyword id="4809154" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="cruise-lines">cruise lines</keyword> announced on Wednesday that they won't sail from US ports until October 31 at the earliest.</li><li>This extension from an earlier September 15 date comes amid multiple outbreaks of the coronavirus aboard cruise ships worldwide that recently began sailing.</li><li>The cruise industry has taken a huge economic hit as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and this further extension will magnify the impact, but it's almost certain to help curb the spread of COVID-19.</li></ul><p>Some of the most well-known cruise lines in the world won't be sailing out of the US any time soon.</p><p>An industry group of nearly 60 cruise lines announced on Wednesday that cruise companies including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney cruises would be waiting until at least October 31 before setting sail from US cruise ports.</p><p>The sail date extension from September 15 to October 31 comes amid <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-outbreaks-cruise-ships-bad-sign-industry-return-2020-8">multiple outbreaks</a> of the coronavirus aboard some of the first cruises to set sail since the pandemic forced closures across the industry. Two cruise ships in Europe and one in the South Pacific have experienced <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-outbreaks-cruise-ships-bad-sign-industry-return-2020-8">coronavirus outbreaks</a>. This included Norway's Hurtigruten, Germany's AIDA, and Paul Gauguin in the South Pacific region. </p><p>"This is a difficult decision as we recognize the crushing impact that this pandemic has had on our community and every other industry," the cruise industry group <a href="https://cruising.org/en/news-and-research/press-room/2020/august/clia-announces-third-voluntary-suspension-of-us-cruise-operations">said</a> in a statement.  <em>"</em>However, we believe this proactive action further demonstrates the cruise industry's commitment to public health and willingness to voluntarily suspend operations in the interest of public health and safety, as has occurred twice prior. CLIA [Cruise Line International Association] cruise line members will continue to monitor the situation with the understanding that we will revisit a possible further extension on or before 30 September 2020. At the same time, should conditions in the US change and it becomes possible to consider short, modified sailings, we would consider an earlier restart."</p><p>The cruise industry is bound to take an even bigger hit as a result of this announcement. Maintaining and storing the ships is a major expense in terms of overhead. But even so, the companies need to weigh the health risks of setting sail with passengers confined to tight spaces on a ship while the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic that's forced many countries into lockdown. </p><p>Cruise activity in the US supports 421,000 jobs and generates $53 billion annually in economic activity, <a href="https://cruising.org/en/news-and-research/press-room/2019/november/cruise-industry-contributes-nearly-53-billion-to-us-economy-in-2018">according</a> to the CLIA's Economic Impact Study published in November 2019. Not to mention, each day of the suspension of US cruise operations leads to a loss of up to $110 million in economic activity, including 800 direct and indirect domestic jobs.</p><p>Listed below are the cruise lines that won't return to business in the US until October 31.</p><p><strong>Global Cruise Line Members:</strong></p><ul><li>AmaWaterways</li><li>AIDA Cruises</li><li>American Cruise Lines</li><li>Avalon Waterways</li><li>Azamara Club Cruises</li><li>Carnival Cruise Line</li><li>Celebrity Cruises</li><li>Celestyal Cruises</li><li>Costa Cruises</li><li>Crystal Cruises</li><li>Cunard Line</li><li>Disney Cruise Line</li><li>Emerald Waterways</li><li>Holland America Line</li><li>MSC Cruises</li><li>Mystic Cruises</li><li>Norwegian Cruise Line</li><li>Oceania Cruises</li><li>Pearl Seas Cruises</li><li>PONANT Yacht Cruises and Expeditions</li><li>Princess Cruises</li><li>Regent Seven Seas Cruises</li><li>Riviera <keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Travel">Travel</keyword> River Cruises</li><li>Royal Caribbean International</li><li>Scenic Luxury Cruises &amp; Tours</li><li>Seabourn</li><li>SeaDream Yacht Club</li><li>Silversea Cruises</li><li>TUI Cruises</li><li>Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection</li><li>Virgin Voyages</li><li>Windstar Cruises</li></ul><p><strong>European Regional Cruise Line Members:</strong></p><ul><li>A'Rosa</li><li>Amadeus by Luftner</li><li>Belmond Cruises</li><li>CroisiEurope</li><li>Hapag Lloyd Cruises</li><li>Marella Cruises</li><li>Pandaw River Expeditions</li><li>P&amp;O Cruises UK</li><li>Pullmantur</li><li>Riviera Travel</li><li>Saga</li><li>Shearings Holiday</li></ul><p><strong>Australia Regional Cruise Line Members:</strong></p><ul><li>APT Group</li><li>Aqua Expeditions</li><li>Coral Expeditions</li><li>Dream Cruises </li><li>Ganges Voyager</li><li>P&amp;O Cruises Australia</li><li>Riviera Travel</li><li>Star Cruises</li><li>Travelmarvel</li></ul>

Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, and dozens of other cruise lines won't sail out of the US until at least October 31

Princess Cruises just extended its sailing pause. See when major cruise lines plan on operating again.

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><a href="https://www.oculus.com/"></a></div><p></p></div></div>Oculus Rift, the virtual reality company that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-to-buy-oculus-rift-for-2-billion-2014-3">Facebook bought for $2 billion last year</a>, has become the next new advancement in technology, giving us the chance to experience virtual reality in areas we may have never imagined.</p><p>In the last few years, the technology has begun transforming the ways in which we can experience gaming, entertainment, science, and now, <keyword id="6354692" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword>. </p><p><span>Numerous travel companies are using the technology to inspire people to travel by creating virtual tours that let them experience the destinations before they actually visit.</span></p><p><a href="http://www.marriott.com/marriott-hotels-resorts/travel.mi">Marriott</a> Hotels capitalized on using the Oculus Rift technology through its<a href="http://travel-brilliantly.marriott.com/our-innovations/oculus-get-teleported?scid=087d0b84-3c23-4653-bba0-dc8ef077e01d%20"> "Teleporter,"</a> a phone booth-like structure combining the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, wireless headphones, and 4-D sensory elements to offer virtual reality tours of destinations. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Launched in 2013</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, the Teleporter takes users through two different tours: Hawaii's </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Wai'anapanapa Black Sand Beach</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> in Maui and London's skyscraping </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Tower 42</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">What Marriott has done that makes the experience all the more lifelike is add in 4-D sensory elements so that you're not only getting the look of the destination, you're also getting its smells and sounds. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">So when you're transported to the beach in Hawaii, you can feel the mist of the ocean spray, smell the saltwater, experience the sensation of warm sun on your skin, and even feel waves lapping against your legs.</span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In the London tour, the floor tilts up to push you forward, giving you the sensation that you're actually standing 42 floors up in the air. You can feel the wind whipping through your hair and hear the sounds of traffic from below. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"One of the first things people say after seeing these destinations through the technology is, 'I want to go there,'" said Michael Dail,  Vice President of Global Brand Marketing at Marriott. "It really stimulates the reasons and the passions that people have for traveling because it's so immersive and visual."</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">See what it's like to experience Marriott's Teleporter:</span></p><p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Marriott is not the only travel company using Oculus Rift, though. Tourism boards, tour operators, and cruise ship companies are also jumping on board, creating virtual tours to entice travelers.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="http://www.destinationbc.ca/News/Local/Destination-BC-Creates-The-Wild-Within-VR-Experien.aspx#.VYF9alxVhHw">Destination BC</a>, the tourism board for the Canadian province of British Columbia, started using the technology early on to let tourists tour the province with a 360-degree video operated by Oculus Rift. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Viewers are virtually transported to the Great Bear Rainforest, where they can see barking sea lions, clear waters of the Pacific Ocean, waterfalls cascading in the distance, and mountainside trails. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p><p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Azamara Cruises launched <a href="http://www.azamara3di.com/">Azamara 3DI</a>, a virtual reality tour of its ships and some highlights of activities in its port cities, including cruising through the locks of the Panama Canal, zip lining through a rainforest in Costa Rica, and taking a horse-and-carriage ride through Cartagena, Colombia.</span></p><p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">British tour operator, </span><a href="http://www.thomascook.com/press-centre/thomas-cook-brings-holiday-experience-to-high-st-industry-first-virtual-reality-trial/">Thomas Cook</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, launched a range of virtual reality tours in 2014, testing them out in their concept store in Kent and rolling them out to stores across Europe for trial runs. <span>There were New York experiences where customers were taken on helicopter tours of the city, drives around Times Square, viewings from the top of Rockefeller Center, a boat tour around the Statue of Liberty, and hotel tours across destinations like Greece and Egypt. </span></span></p><p class="p1">By allowing travelers to virtually visit destinations, Oculus Rift is allowing people to access places of interest in an entirely new way.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trying-oculus-rift-first-time-henry-blodget-2015-5">This is what it's like trying the Oculus Rift for the first time</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="wyZXVhcjqlAiaZTCD-lgoWLwGFPi_WF0" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Oculus Rift is letting travelers experience destinations in a whole new way before they visit

<p><div class="image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"> Christian Lambert Photography via Compfight cc</p></div></div></div>There's never been a better time to take to the seas. </p>
<p><strong>Because the new ships are seriously cool. </strong>Launching in November, Royal Caribbean International's 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas is so high-tech that industry insiders are calling it truly revolutionary. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">On board? A glass viewing capsule that rises 300 feet above the sea on a mechanical arm. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">You will find a laser-shooting range on the new Regal Princess and on the Norwegian Getaway, a "plank" for guests to walk that juts over the water. (Don't worry, you'll be harnessed in.) </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">River ships are breaking new ground (er, waters</span><em style="line-height: 1.5em;">)</em><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, too: with Scenic Cruises, your cabin's balcony becomes a sun room on cool days; Tauck River Cruising's new ships have 22 suites with some 300 square feet of space, larger than any other staterooms on European rivers. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Starting this spring, Emerald Waterways will offer European itineraries on two ships equipped with heated pools and movie theaters. Scenic Cruises, A-ROSA Cruises, Tauck River Cruising, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Viking Cruises are among the other lines with new vessels this year. Amenities include butler service, free Wi-Fi, and floor-to-ceiling views.</span></p>
<p><strong>Because the food rivals what you'll find on land. </strong>Immersive culinary experiences are now so much a part of cruising that you can try some of the top city restaurants at sea. Geoffrey Zakarian, chef at Manhattan hot spot the Lambs Club, has restaurants on the Norwegian Breakaway and the Norwegian Getaway<em>.</em> </p>
<p>You'll find outposts from Michael Schwartz of Miami's Michael's Genuine Food &amp; Drink on Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas<em> </em>and<em> </em>Allure of the Seas.<em> </em>Don't miss the molecular and ice bars on Celebrity and Carnival; they're as chic as any urban boîte.</p>
<p><strong>Because going digital has never been easier at sea. </strong>Most mega-ships now have digital directional signs, language apps and culture guides with GPS mapping. Crystal Cruises provides live streaming of TV news and movies in all cabins. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is making the Wi-Fi experience so much better: double the satellite bandwidth, greater speed, and even free service for guests in concierge-level and higher suites.</p>
<p>Robots are on board, too: a remote camera on Lindblad Expeditions' new National Geographic Orion<em> </em>lets you see down under, while Quark Expeditions' Antarctic ships have drones with GoPro cameras that give you a view from above. On Quantum<em>,</em> interior staterooms offer real-time ocean views on their virtual balconies.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>Because you'll have exclusive, insider-only experiences. </strong>In Europe and the Americas, cruisers will mix visits to much-loved cities and heritage sites with VIP adventures, behind-the-scenes access, and events including the World Cup, the British Open, and the Grand Prix of Monaco (all of which tend to make booking hotel stays on land a challenge).</p>
<p>Guests of Celebrity can spend a day driving a Ferrari through villages around Nice, France, while with Seabourn, you can walk through penguin colonies on the Antarctic ice before slipping into the spa back on board for a Thai herbal-poultice massage.</p>
<p><strong>Because you may just learn something. </strong>Among the guest lecturers on board ships this year?</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Retired archbishop Desmond Tutu (on the March 28 Holland America sailing along the coast of South Africa)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Former CIA operative Tony Mendez, whose Iran hostage rescue inspired the movie Argo, on Seabourn Sojourn's 116-day world cruise, departing Los Angeles January 4</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">On select Quark Expeditions polar itineraries, Jonathan Shackleton, co-author of "Shackleton: An Irishman in Antarctica." He's also a cousin of Ernest Shackleton.</span></li>
</ul>
<div><strong><span style="line-height: 22.5px;">Check out the latest up-and-coming cruise ports and the best new ships:</span></strong><span style="line-height: 22.5px; font-size: 1.5em;"></span></div>
<h2>Russia's Historic Hotspot</h2>
<h2> </h2>
<p><strong>Port:</strong> Sochi, Russia</p>
<p><strong>Excursion:</strong> Long before this city was chosen to host the <keyword id="45145" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="2014">2014</keyword> Winter Olympics, the region was a favorite retreat of Joseph Stalin. Tour the dictator's austere 1937 dacha, still filled with his personal possessions. The day ends in the 30-acre subtropical Dendrary Botanical Garden (mind the roaming ostriches!).</p>
<p><strong>Voyage:</strong> <a href="http://www.celebritycruises.com/home.do">Celebrity Constellation</a>, to and from Istanbul. October 14; 11 nights from $2,499.</p>
<h2>Temples of Burma</h2>
<p><strong>Port:</strong> Rangoon, Burma</p>
<p><strong>Excursion:</strong> This two-day jaunt is worth the quick flight to Pagan: you'll see a few of the 2,000 pagodas and temples from a traditional horse cart, with stops at a lacquerware workshop. Includes an overnight stay in a local hotel.</p>
<p><strong>Voyage:</strong> <a href="http://www.seabourn.com/main/Main.action">Seabourn Odyssey</a>, to and from Singapore. November 9; 14 nights from $6,999.</p>
<h2>California Wine Country</h2>
<p><strong>Port:</strong> San Francisco</p>
<p><strong>Excursion:</strong> Take a three-hour ride through Napa Valley on a restored 1915 train-passing wineries such as Far Niente (established in 1885), Robert Mondavi, and Opus One. Bonus: thanks to a conductor turned designated driver, feel free to enjoy the tasting bar, replete with some 50 local bottles at any given time.</p>
<p><strong>Voyage:</strong> <a href="http://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/">Azamara Quest</a>, from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. February 10; eight nights from $1,499.</p>
<h2>Colonial Colombia </h2>
<p><strong>Port:</strong> Santa Marta, Colombia</p>
<p><strong>Excursion:</strong> In Colombia's oldest city, you'll see artifacts of the Kogi and Arhuaco peoples in the Gold Museum-and tour the final home of 19th-century liberator Simón Bolívar.</p>
<p><strong>Voyage:</strong> <a href="http://www.oceaniacruises.com/">Oceania's Regatta</a>, from Miami to Los Angeles. December 5; 15 nights from $3,499.</p>
<h2>Indonesia's Art Island</h2>
<p><strong>Port:</strong> Lombok, Indonesia</p>
<p><strong>Excursion:</strong> Visit nearby villages to see locals dye fabrics using ikat techniques and mold decorative pots, then stop at the Sayang Sayang art market to shop for intricate rattan baskets and wooden boxes inlaid with pearl and filigree panels.</p>
<p><strong>Voyage:</strong> <a href="http://www.crystalcruises.com/">Crystal Symphony</a>, from Sydney to Bali.February 16; 12 nights from $4,055.</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/tls-guide-to-cruising-2014/7">Keep reading at Travel + Leisure &gt;</a></h2>
<p><strong>More from Travel + Leisure:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-places-to-travel-in-2014">Best Places to Travel in 2014</a><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-places-to-travel-in-2014"></a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/hotel-travel-tips">Hotel Travel Tips</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/air-travel-tips">Air Travel Tips</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-tapas-restaurants-in-the-us">Best Tapas Restaurants in the U.S.</a><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-tapas-restaurants-in-the-us"></a></strong></li>
<li><a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/secret-caribbean-hotels"><strong>Secret Caribbean Hotels</strong></a></li>
</ul>

You Searched For "azamara" and got 12 results

A Florida-based cruise line has unveiled a five-month, around-the-world cruise in 2024 for $34,700— see what it'll be like

Brittany Chang

Royal Caribbean has sold its Azamara brand including 4 ships for $201 million as the company continues to push back 2021 sail dates

Brittany Chang

9 new around-the-world cruises have joined Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise at sea. See what they're like — from a sold-out 6-month luxury cruise to a cheaper $21,100 option.

Brittany Chang

5 reasons Royal Caribbean's 9-month Ultimate World Cruise is unlike most around-the-world cruises

Brittany Chang

These are the cruise ships with the best — and worst — sanitation scores so far this year

Hannah Towey

A 3-year-long cruise around the world was delayed just weeks before departure because there's no ship

Brittany Chang

Royal Caribbean Cruises has officially changed its name after quietly dropping the word 'cruises' and tweaking its logo

Isabella Jibilian

Everything you need to know about fully vaccinated cruises

Monica Humphries

Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, and dozens of other cruise lines won't sail out of the US until at least October 31

Evan Sully

Princess Cruises just extended its sailing pause. See when major cruise lines plan on operating again.

Brittany Chang

Oculus Rift is letting travelers experience destinations in a whole new way before they visit

Talia Avakian

Your Guide To Cruising In 2014

Travel + Leisure

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides