NCL's second Prima-class ship to be named Norwegian Viva

NCL's second Prima-class ship to be named Norwegian Viva

Norwegian Cruise Line’s second Prima-class ship will be called the Norwegian Viva and will enter service in June 2023.  The ship will spend its first summer in the Mediterranean and its first winter in Puerto Rico.  The Viva will sail Mediterranean itineraries…

CDC expects to expire Conditional Sail Order as planned

CDC expects to expire Conditional Sail Order as planned

CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a Senate hearing on Tuesday that she expects the Conditional Sail Order (CSO) will expire as planned on Jan. 15.   However, she also said that there had been a 30-fold increase in Covid cases on…

UnCruise Adventures and Hapag-Lloyd to require Covid booster shot

UnCruise Adventures and Hapag-Lloyd to require Covid booster shot

Two cruise lines will require guests to have Covid-19 booster shots.  UnCruise Adventures said that boosters for eligible guests will be required starting Feb. 5. Royal Caribbean-owned German luxe brand Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will mandate boosters for guests 18 and older, beginning Feb…

Connecticut senator calls for pause in cruising because of Covid-19

Connecticut senator calls for pause in cruising because of Covid-19

With several cruise ships recently dealing with Covid-19 infections aboard, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) has called for a pause in cruising. In a Twitter post on Tuesday, Blumenthal said, “Our warnings have proved sadly prescient & continuously compelling. Time for CDC &…

Viking takes delivery of first expedition ship

Viking takes delivery of first expedition ship

Viking on Wednesday took delivery of its first expedition ship, the Viking Octanis. The delivery took place in a ceremony at Fincantieri’s Vard shipyard in Norway, which is building two purpose-built expedition ships for Viking. Its sister ship, the Viking Polaris, is…