(PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, Wash., Jan. 31, 2023 -- A fundraising effort by cruise line passengers that took place on the high seas around six different continents culminated today with a large donation for Ukrainian relief. Holland America Line presented a check for $450,000 at the Port of San Diego to the global humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief, money raised during the premium cruise line’s On Deck for a Cause campaign. 

For 10 months on every cruise in the line’s 11-ship fleet, guests could make a $25 donation to participate in a fundraising 5K walk during their sailing, in locales ranging from Alaska to Europe and the Panama Canal to Australia.
 
“Our guests and team members, who love to explore the world, wanted to do something to make a meaningful difference for families in a part of the world that desperately needs humanitarian aid,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “We knew our guests were generous, but their support has well exceeded our expectations, with donations totaling $450,000.”  

(PRESS RELEASE)_Underscoring the strength of its business and the deep generosity of its guests, Carnival Cruise Line broke its annual fundraising record for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 2022. Carnival raised more than $3.5 million for the organization this past year, surpassing its highest-ever annual amount of $2.8 million in 2018 and bringing its grand total to $26.2 million raised since the partnership began in 2010. Carnival also achieved its highest fourth quarter amount ever, with more than $1 million raised in the last three months of the year. A testament to the name of Carnival’s newest ship inaugurated in November, guests on that ship celebrated the launch of Carnival Celebration by opening their wallets to support St. Jude, giving 30% of cash collections during its maiden voyage month.

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, FL, January 31, 2023 – Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, introduces Allura today, naming the second 1,200-guest Allura Class ship. Debuting in 2025, Allura is the eighth vessel for the line and will be the sister ship to Vista, which sets sail in May 2023.
 
Named to reflect the excitement of starting an immersive new journey, Allura will entice guests to discover some of the world’s most captivating locations, enjoying the freedom of exploration while sailing the open seas. Allura represents the eternal call of the mysterious and the unknown. The luxurious new vessel will bring travelers a world of enchantment where new adventures, familiar faces, off-the-beaten-path destinations and more await.

(WINDSTAR CRUISES)_More and more ports, famed cities, and environmentally sensitive maritime areas are banning large and mega ships due to overtourism, limiting the number of ships or even capping the number of visitors. Why is this trend happening? In some places up to eight mega-ships bring in tens of thousands of people a day (Like this…), and many local destinations are simply overwhelmed, or the visitation experience is compromised. This is a major move by these destinations, given ships and thousands of guests and crew on a single ship mean revenue for the local economy. 

Contrary to popular knowledge, there are small cruise ship cruise lines that accommodate around 350 guests, are almost yacht-like, and are nimble and unobtrusive enough to negotiate these ports and waterways, leaving a softer footprint on the beaches, national parks, and streets of these fabled destinations. One of these is U.S. based Windstar Cruises.

Seven Ports and Places Where Smaller is Better (and allowed).

Dubrovnik has capped the number of cruise ships that can visit each day and has limited the maximum number of passengers to 8,000. Windstar Cruises accesses Dubrovnik, anchoring in the heart of Old town, on its Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast itinerary aboard its largest yacht which holds just 342 passengers. 

(PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, Wash., Jan. 30, 2023 — In an early sign of a successful Wave season, Holland America Line bookings in the third week of January were the highest on record for any January week for the premium cruise line. The week ending January 20 also exceeded bookings during the same week in 2019 by more than 20%.
 
The rise was especially notable for summer cruises and Cruisetours to Alaska, where Holland America Line offers more cruises to Glacier Bay than any other line and is the only cruise line with owned land operations in both Denali and Yukon. For the week ending Jan. 20, Alaska bookings were 25% higher than in the strongest week in January 2019. 

(PRESS RELEASE)_SEATTLE, WA, January 30, 2023– Quark Expeditions, the global leader in polar adventures, has announced a brand-new cutting-edge Greenland itinerary constructed around Ultramarine’s two twin-engine helicopters—and brought to life with local Greenlandic partners, enabling guests to enjoy the most innovative itinerary in Quark Expeditions’ 32-year history. The 11-day Greenland Explorer: Sail and Soar the Alpine Arctic will launch in 2024.

“Being able to develop this itinerary in full collaboration with local partners in Greenland ensures our guests can enjoy truly authentic experiences no one else can provide, such as Tundra to Table: Inuit Culinary Experience and Greenland Camping along the Tasermiut Fjord,” said Josh Weidman, Director of Product for Quark Expeditions. “The other gems in this new itinerary are Ultramarine’s two twin-engine helicopters, which enable our expedition team to take guests to areas in South Greenland no one else can where they’ll choose from the most robust portfolio of off-ship adventures in the Arctic. It’s our long-standing partnerships with local Greenlanders, and our dedicated expedition team—the best in the industry—that makes us the experts in Greenland adventure.”