Virgin Voyages Adjusts COVID-19 Protocols
Another cruise line drops pre-cruise testing. Virgin Voyages has announced that starting July 24 for Europe cruises, and July 27 for U.S. sailings, it will no longer require that guests present a negative COVID test to sail.
The line is also opening up 10 percent of its cruise occupancy to guests that are not vaccinated.
Virgin continues to require that at least 90 percent of guests on each sailing are vaccinated, and is keeping health protocols in place such as enhanced air purification and sanitization.
STORY: Virgin Voyages Drops Testing, Lets 10 Percent Unvaccinated Sail
Keel Laid For Carnival Jubilee
The keel was laid for Carnival’s third Excel-class ship, Carnival Jubilee, during a ceremony on Thursday at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.
Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy was joined by other Carnival and shipyard executives to place coins under the keel block, including one that depicts Carnival Jubilee and the original MS Jubilee from 1986. Later, those coins will be put permanently into a special compartment near the ship’s mast.
Carnival Jubilee is sister ship to Mardi Gras, which debuted in 2021, and Carnival Celebration, which is scheduled to launch this fall. Jubilee is set to sail from Galveston in November 2023, operating seven-night western Caribbean cruises.
STORY: Keel Laid For Carnival’s Third Excel Class Cruise Ship
Disney Announces Fall 2023 Cruise Schedule
Disney Cruise Line has announced the fall 2023 schedule for four of the ships in its fleet.
Disney Dream will spend beginning of the season departing New York City on four to six-night Bermuda cruises. It will then move to Port Everglades on November 20th, marking the first time Disney has sailed from that port, offering four and five-night Caribbean and Bahamas cruises.
Disney Magic will be on the west coast in fall 2023, operating Mexican Riviera cruises from San Diego.
From Port Canaveral, Disney Wish will continue offering three and four-night cruises to the Bahamas, while Fantasy continues its schedule of seven-night Caribbean voyages.
The cruise line has not announced where Disney Wonder will sail next fall. It will spend summer 2023 operating Alaska cruises from Vancouver.
STORY: Disney Cruise Line to Sail From Port Everglades & West Coast in Fall 2023
