Uniworld Adds Egypt for Families

Families have a new way to explore the ancient historic treasures of Cairo and the Nile River this winter. Uniworld will add Egypt to its Generations Collection program which features exclusive activities for your children ages 4 to 17 years old and includes dedicated Family Hosts. Sailing dates are December 16, 23,  and 30, 2023 for 11 nights. Witness the Pyramids of Giza, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Karnak, the Temple of Luxor, the Egyptian Museum, and many other historical sites.  Your family will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with local children and have the option to donate gifts such as school supplies, books, and games. Four nights in Cairo and a 7-night cruise along the Nile River make up this amazing experience including the services of an experienced Egyptologist. Sail the upscale and all-suites River Tosca with spacious cabins of 315 or 650 sq. ft. The ship accommodates just 82 guests and has shaded cabanas, a small pool, a gym, a restaurant, a lounge, and a library. Book early for the best cabin availability!

Moana Explorers in Tahiti

Paul Gauguin Cruises will host its Moana Explorer Program for younger guests and their families on 21 dedicated summer and holiday sailings in 2023 and 2024. Tailored to children ages seven to 15, the unique program is offered in collaboration with Te mana o te moana, a South Pacific marine education and conservation foundation, and is designed to engage children with hands-on, interactive activities both on board and ashore showcasing the natural wonders and unique cultures of the South Pacific. The program is geared to children and teens. From visiting a sea turtle care center to playing real-life beach “Survivor” games, hiking volcanic mountains, and snorkeling in pristine lagoons, the program goes far beyond the formulaic structure of children’s programs on other lines. Depending on the itinerary, your children can explore underwater life, conduct water experiments, create natural jewelry, go on a treasure hunt, learn about Tahitian culture, discover island legends and geology, design a Polynesian tattoo, and more. The program is available throughout the summer months.

RCCL’s Newest Ship

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Icon of the Seas, will begin sailing in January 2024 and is open for booking!  With 20 decks and 2,805 cabins accommodating over 7,600 passengers; it will become the largest cruise ship in the world!  The ship is currently scheduled to sail out of Miami from January 2024 through April 2025 altering Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.  Its asymmetrical layout has oodles of waterslides, pools, and other water attractions including new waterplay areas just for young families. The ship will also feature an indoor AquaDome for water shows, an adult-only pool retreat area, the line’s first swim-up pool bar, a skywalk/ropes course, a Flowrider surf pool, a new rock-climbing expedition, mini-golf, sports court and more.  RCCL’s “neighborhoods” are back including a new one of just suite cabins with added amenities and dining.  Choose from 28 different cabin categories including new options designed for families of up to six!  Let us help you sort out the best sailing options for your family.

Club Med 2 Returns

We are so excited that Club Med is bringing back Club Med 2, their tall sailing ship!  The five-masted yacht underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation that features all-new teak decks, outward-facing cabins, and new furniture in the restaurants and lounges.  The ship will offer 186 cabins, two seawater pools, live entertainment, an ocean-view spa, a yoga deck, and several dining options.  Watersports will add to the fun with windsurfing and paddleboarding, and new experiences like Wing Surfing (which uses a handheld sail) and the Hobie Eclipse Mirage (a stand-up paddleboard with a steering handlebar)!  Specific family-friendly sailings for ages 8 and up can be booked for the summer and holiday seasons with a children’s program included.  A really cool way to explore either Europe or the Caribbean!  The Caribbean sailings will also showcase a new all-inclusive Caribbean Beach Club day trip featuring beach activities, water sports, live music, and a beachside lunch topped with free-flowing champagne and refreshments. 

Disney Cruise Line News

Disney Cruise Line has revealed the name of its sixth ship, Disney Treasure.  The ship will have a distinct Aladdin theme, launch in 2024, and will be the line’s second Triton Class ship. Disney Cruise Line will also be heading Down Under to Australia and New Zealand for the first time ever. Cruises will depart from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland on the Disney Wonder beginning in late October 2023 through February 2024. Repositioning voyages will call at Fiji and Samoa. The cruise line also gave updates on their new private island destination in Eleuthera, Bahamas, called Lighthouse Point. It will have a distinct Bahamian design theme and open in 2024. Disney has pledged to develop less than 20 percent of the property, to generate 90 percent of the site’s energy from solar panels, to use sustainable building practices, and to donate more than 190 acres of privately owned land to the local government. Environmental management programs have already been formed and will be carried out throughout the construction and operation phases in the area.

Connect at Sea

Royal Caribbean Group recently implemented SpaceX’s Starlink, making it the first in the cruise industry to adopt its high-speed, low-latency connectivity fleetwide. The broadband internet service will be installed on all current Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises ships, along with any new ships that come out moving forward.  Installation across the company’s fleet is scheduled for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2023. The new service will improve and enable more high-bandwidth activities like video streaming as well as activities like video calls. Starlink is an interconnected internet network of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit that SpaceX envisions will deliver high-speed internet anywhere on the planet. The company has launched about 2,700 satellites to date!

Special Galapagos Cruise

Quasar Expeditions has introduced a new Galapagos itinerary specifically designed for children with autism and their families to experience the natural wonders of these amazing Ecuadorian islands. The seven-night sailing departs on June 24, 2023, and will be limited to 32 guests.  It will be led by a special needs expert who designed elements of the trip with quiet zones aboard the expedition yacht, comfort supplies (like weighted blankets, beanbag animals, and fidget spinners), and evening parental discussion groups.  The trip is sailing on the 192 ft. Evolution yacht which has spacious social areas, an oversized jacuzzi, and a dive deck.  There will be opportunities to snorkel, kayak, hike, and go on panga boat rides. All along the way, your family will see many of the Galapagos’ endemic species, like marine iguanas, fur seals, penguins, and giant tortoises. The ship will sail round-trip from San Cristobal Island with stops including Santiago Island, Prince Phillip’s Steps, Floreana Island, and Santa Cruz Island to visit the Wild Land Tortoises Reserve and Charles Darwin Research Station’s Breeding Center.

The Broadway Cruise

Musical theater fans shouldn’t miss the maiden voyage of a cruise ship starring a boatload of musical theater stars — including Tony Award-winners Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, and Lena Hall — that will set sail next spring. The Broadway Cruise will sail round-trip from New York City to Bermuda from March 31 to April 5, 2023, on the Norwegian Gem and will also feature Tony nominees Joshua Henry, Taylor Louderman, and Jeremy Jordan, as well as Broadway favorites Randy Rainbow and Sierra Boggess. Producers promise intimate and grand-scale shows and cabarets from Broadway’s coolest talent as well as tips and techniques from some of the best and brightest creative talent working today. Tony-nominated scenic designer David Korins will discuss his creative process when designing settings for the stage and Tony-nominated choreographer Kelly Devine will discuss the art of the dance. Break a leg!

RCCL’s Credit Extension

This month, Royal Caribbean International kindly announced that any unredeemed Royal Caribbean Cruise with Confidence future cruise credits (FCCs) will no longer expire.  The change in this policy also applies to Celebrity Cruises. This extension pertains to credits you received during the pandemic between 2020 and early 2022.  Note that if you received a voucher for 125% of your cruise fare, the new rule only applies to 100% of the fare.  The rest of the value will still expire on the original date.  We have been told that RCCL’s system will still show an expiration date, and it will be moving that date to one far in the future. All other FCC types from the cruise line remain unchanged and they will continue to enforce the expiration date noted on the credit.  Many cruise lines continue to use full and partial Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) for other cruise-related issues as well, such as when a cruise is canceled due to a mechanical issue, or if an itinerary is significantly altered. Bon voyage!

Family River Cruising

Looking to explore Europe this summer with your family or extended family?  River cruising is an easy and relaxing way to visit multiple cities and even multiple countries.  This June and July, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises includes a slew of added amenities for families sailing on select cruises on the Danube, Rhine, and Po Rivers.  Cruises last 7-9 nights:

• Two dedicated Family Hosts to oversee all activities for Junior Cruisers (ages 4 to 12 years) and Teen Cruisers (ages 13 to 17 years)
• Fun shore excursions tailor-made for families and hosted by local experts
• Child-friendly menus for each meal and unlimited beverages onboard
• Young Travelers’ Table, a special dining table reserved on certain nights supervised by Family Hosts
• Onboard activities just for children, such as cooking classes and dessert-making with the ship’s chef and pastry chef
• Hands-on craft workshops tailored to the destinations you visit
• Young travelers’ lounge and game room, complete with PlayStation, games, movies, and local treats
• Opportunities to “Live the Lingo” and learn words and phrases in other languages from the Family Hosts
• Child-only movie nights
• A special VIP ship tour with the Captain or Hotel Manager
• Complimentary bicycles, helmets, and Nordic walking sticks for use onshore