Mike Faust is an avid world traveler, often found traversing city streets in Asia and Europe rather than his home city of Boca Raton. Mike has touched down in 39 countries, set sail on 35 cruises, and flown over 400,000 lifetime miles.
Well, I guess we can call this my first journal entry for my Zuiderdam cruise. Right now it is 4:06 pm, Wednesday, June 19th and I am currently packing for both my Zuiderdam cruise and my trip to Vancouver for Cruise360. For those of you who don’t know, Cruise360 is a yearly convention aimed at […]
Viking Cruises has announced it has cut steel in the construction of its first ocean cruise vessel, Viking Star, marking a major development toward the company’s ocean product. The steel cutting took place at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard outside Venice, Italy. Viking Star is scheduled to be delivered in early 2015, with maiden voyages beginning in April 2015. “This is a […]
The Galapagos National Park has reinstated Celebrity Xpedition’s operating license beginning with the June 30th sailing. This time frame for the return of operations will cancel one more sailing, the June 23rd sailing. Here is the official statement from Celebrity on the situation: “Celebrity Xpedition’s license that is necessary to enter the Galapagos National Park […]
Earlier this month, Cunard’s Queen Victoria debuted a new alternative dining option, The Verandah, on her June 1st St. Petersburg & Baltics Cruise. The new restaurant has replaced the Todd English Restaurant and features a more refined menu, created by Chef Patron Jean-Marie Zimmermann, global culinary ambassador for Cunard Line, who is also a Michelin-starred chef. […]
Earlier this weekend, the South Carolina Supreme Court dismissed lawsuits filed by the Preservation Society of Charleston, the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and neighborhood groups against Carnival Cruise Lines. The lawsuits alleged that Carnival’s ship operations in the city violated local noise and pollution laws. The groups sought to have cruise operations blocked in the […]
In a spectacular ceremony today in Southampton, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge named the new ship Royal Princess when she released a bottle of champagne that smashed against its hull. Standing on the naming platform with the ship’s Captain Tony Draper, The Duchess pronounced, “I name this ship Royal Princess. May God bless her and […]
The Carnival Triumph has docked in Galveston, Texas and is currently preparing for her first cruise since an extensive drydock in both Mobile, Alabama and Freeport, Bahamas. The newly renovated Carnival Triumph will sail her first cruise tomorrow, June 13th. She will be taking guests on a 4 day western Caribbean sailing with a single […]
Earlier today, Norwegian Cruise Line announced that Certified Angus Beef will now be exclusively served in select specialty restaurants throughout the Norwegian fleet. This move in beef selection now makes Norwegian Cruise Line the only cruise line to serve Certified Angus Beef at sea. Certified Angus Beef brand steaks are rated above USDA Prime, Choice and Select, […]
When Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge christens Royal Princess on June 13, the nearly 2,000 invited guests in Southampton will not be the only ones to enjoy the festivities. Viewers around the world can also watch the celebrations as Princess Cruises will be streaming the ceremony live online at www.princess.com, so everyone can share in the spectacular event, which […]
Carnival’s retired President, Bob Dickinson, has been hired by Carnival Corporation as a special consultant. Dickinson’s re-entrance to Carnival Corporation comes at a time of “choppy waters” with the general public. Some cruise experts have suggested that Dickinson’s new involvement in Carnival Corporation will help re-boost Carnival’s public image and restore trust with the general […]
Recent protests and civil unrest in Turkey has caused at least one cruise line to modify itineraries to the middle eastern nation. Costa Cruise Line’s Costa Mediterranea replaced today’s port of call in Izmir, Turkey with Holzheimer, Turkey. The new port of call was deemed a safer, more “stable” port of call for guests wishing to […]
Royal Caribbean has announced that Quantum of the Seas will be making its inaugural 8-night westbound transatlantic voyage from Southampton on November 2, 2014, arriving in the New York area at Cape Liberty Port, New Jersey, on November 10. Bookings for Quantum of the Seas opened to loyalty program members on May 28, 2013 and to the general public […]