Today AIDAnova, the 10th cruise ship in the Aida fleet to restart cruises, arrived at the port of Hamburg for the first time. As the ship entered the port the crew onboard sent a lighting message “Moin ❤ HH” to the people of Hamburg along the Elbe River. Since the arrival in the Hanseatic city, the final preparations have been made to welcome the first guests tomorrow, December 14, 2021. AIDAnova is the first cruise ship in the world operated 100% with low-emission liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The first Azamara crew shop was officially open aboard the cruise ship Azamara Pursuit. The onboard management together with Captain Antonio Francisco Toledo and Hotel Director Heike Berdos welcomed crew members to the new and well stocked corner which is very important especially during these times when they have limited access in ports.

France is the first country in Europe to require a booster shot against Covid-19 for cruise ship passengers who wish to disembark in French ports. Starting next year, shore leave in French ports will be allowed only with booster vaccination for all guests age 18 and above. Cruise ship passengers will need to take the third booster dose 14 days before the start of the voyage if they want to take shore leave in France.

MSC Cruises announced voluntary suspension of all sailings aboard the cruise ship MSC Orchestra in South Africa with immediate effect until 8 January, 2022. The reason behind this decision is “the most recent and sudden evolution, particularly in the past week of the pandemic ashore in the country, that puts the health and safety of its guests and crew as its utmost priority.” MSC Cruises said in a press release.

Crystal Cruises announced the return to Alaska with Crystal Serenity. The company had paused from the serene breathtaking views of the Last Frontier for three years and finally reveals a series of unforgettable 7 to 11-night voyages in the next summer, 2022. 

Round-trip and one-way voyages will operate from Anchorage, Alaska, and Vancouver, Canada, from June 23 to August 1.

MSC Cruises has opened the sale of the regular cruise season, scheduled to run between November 2022 and April 2023, off the coast of South America. The company announced its new vessel MSC Seashore and five more ships for the season: four of them with departures from Brazil, one in Argentina and Uruguay and the sixth ship will sail on its Round the World Cruise, including visits of destinations in South America.

MSC Cruises will deploy MSC Lirica to the Eastern Mediterranean for the summer 2022, homeporting at Piraeus, Greece for the first time during the entire season. MSC Lirica will offer a 7-night voyages with 28 departures from Piraeus between April 2022 and October 2023 from calling at Kusadasi, Turkey; Haifa, Israel; Limassol, Cyprus and the Greek islands of Rhodes and Santorini.

Margaritaville announced the newest offering associated with Jimmy Buffet's hit from 1977 "Margaritaville." It will be the only Palm Beach's cruise ship that will relaunch on 30th of April, Margaritaville Paradise. The Grand Classica will change its name in Margaritaville Paradise and the owners, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line will be renamed as well in Margaritaville at Sea. This deal is revealing the partnership between Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and Margaritaville Enterprises LLC. 

The Island Escape ferry was involved in an accident on Monday night and certainly will need time before it resumes transporting passengers. According to the ferry crew, the control system failed, which caused it to drift for a while and soon after, collided with the docked cruise ship Aida Luna, at St John’s Harbour, Antigua.

The Norwegian Dawn, as the 10th ship in the NCL fleet to resume cruises, welcomed guests back on December 8, with cruises from Tampa in Florida. Adding NCL to the choice list for those wishing to sail from Tampa, makes four major US-based cruise lines: Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line.