Journeys Cruises & Travel

12/13/2024

The Full 2024 Cruise Critic Best In Cruise Awards List
Mainstream Category

• Best Mainstream Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International

• Best New Ship: Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas

• Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises

• Best Dining: Virgin Voyages

• Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International

• Best for Families: Disney Cruise Line

• Best for Romance: Princess Cruises

• Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Virgin Voyages

• Best Nightlife: Royal Caribbean International

• Best Service: Holland America Line

• Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line

• Best Spa: Norwegian Cruise Line

• Best Specialty Dining: Celebrity Cruises

• Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International

• Best Suite Complex: MSC Cruises’ MSC Yacht Club

• Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line

• Best App: Royal Caribbean International

• Best North American Homeport: Long Beach, California

River Category

Viking Sobek christening on the Nile (Photo: Harriet Baskas)Viking Sobek christening on the Nile (Photo: Harriet Baskas)

• Best River Cruise Line: AmaWaterways

• Best New River Ship: Viking Hathor & Viking Sobek

• Best for Active Cruisers: AmaWaterways

• Best Cabins: Avalon Waterways

• Best Dining: Riverside

• Best for Entertainment: Scenic

• Best Enrichment: Viking Cruises

• Best for Families: Adventures by Disney

• Best for First-Timers: Emerald Waterways

• Best for Romance: Uniworld

• Best for Luxury: Uniworld

• Best Service: Tauck

• Best for Solo Travelers: American Cruise Lines

• Best Value for Money: Gate 1 Travel

Luxury Category

• Best Luxury Cruise Line: Explora Journeys

• Best New Luxury Ship: Ritz-Carlton Ilma

• Best Cabins: Silversea Cruises

• Best Dining: Explora Journeys

• Best Enrichment: Viking Cruises

• Best for Families: Explora Journeys

• Best for Romance: Emerald

• Best Itineraries: Windstar Cruises

• Best Service: Crystal Cruises

• Best Shore Excursions: Oceania Cruises

• Best for Solo Travelers: Regent Seven Seas Cruises

• Best Spa: Viking Cruises

• Best Value for Money: Seabourn Cruise Line

Expedition Category

Quark Ultramarine (Photo/Tim Johnson)Quark Ultramarine (Photo/Tim Johnson)

• Best Expedition Cruise Line: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

• Best for Adventure: Quark Expeditions

• Best Cabins: Seabourn Cruise Line

• Best Dining: Scenic

• Best Itineraries: Ponant

• Best for Light Expedition: Viking Cruises

• Best for Luxury: Silversea Expeditions

• Best Science Offerings: HX

• Best Service: Silversea

• Best Spa: Viking Cruises

• Best Value for Money: Atlas

• Best in Alaska: UnCruise Adventures

• Best in Antarctica: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

• Best in the Arctic: Ponant Cruises

• Best in the Galapagos: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

Cruisers’ Choice Category
Top-Rated Mainstream Cruise Lines

Margaritaville at Sea

Virgin Voyages

Celebrity Cruises

Top-Rated River Cruise Lines

Avalon Waterways

Emerald River Cruises

Viking Cruises

Top-Rated Luxury Cruise Lines

Crystal Cruises

Explora Journeys

Viking Cruises

Top-Rated Expedition Cruise Lines

Viking Cruises

Quark Expeditions

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

11/27/2024

NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING THE UK. HOW TO APPLY FOR THE NEW
ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION
Starting January 8, 2025, the United Kingdom will require all non-European travelers to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) upon arrival into the country. All visitors, including children, who do not have a visa or other UK immigration status will need to present a completed ETA when entering the region, even when just transiting through the UK. Once an ETA is approved, travelers are permitted to visit the UK for up to six months and take multiple trips through the country over the course of two years (or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first).

WHAT DO TRAVELERS NEED TO APPLY FOR AN ETA?

Pay a fee of £10
Complete the online form through a downloadable phone app or web browser. Find ‘UK ETA’ through the app store on your phone/tablet, or visit their website. Here, you will be asked to 1. provide contact and passport details, 2. provide a valid photo that complies with the digital requirements, and 3. answer a set of questions.

Travelers can start applying in advance, starting on November 27, 2024. The application process is easy, and takes about 3 business days for approval.

05/16/2024

Some very good information on how to protect your next cruise.

Cruise news headlines from across the cruise industry.🛳️𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲 (request a cruise quote): https:...

07/03/2023

A much-feared backup of U.S. passport applications has snarled summer plans for would-be travelers around the world

03/13/2022

Here are 5 things you don't want to miss on Wonder of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's newest and biggest cruise ship.

07/14/2021

Passports are taking months for renewal. Have you checked your expiration date recently?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/passport-renewal-delays-expired-11626144394?fbclid=IwAR3hmRb-UlmjM5oy9NLn273qgm4RSRnlApEWdG016mxvsoJdt3iiA68__fM

Anxious U.S. travelers with expired or nearly expired passports are finding their renewal applications are taking longer than in the past—sometimes up to 18 weeks.

05/22/2021

Your wilderness badge is long overdue. Royal Caribbean returns to Alaska this summer, with two fan favorites sailing from Seattle. Adventures on Serenade of the Seas begin this July, and the biggest ship in the region, Ovation of the Seas, returns in August. It’s time to take on the untamed thrills of the Last Frontier. 🏔 Explore sailings now and book your Alaska cruise starting tonight: www.royalcaribbean.com

05/21/2021

ALASKA, 2021 IS OPEN!!!
Many major cruise lines will be sailing Alaska this summer. If a cruise line is registered in a foreign country (which most are), the U.S. requires the ship to sail to at least one foreign port. With Canada's border still being closed, the cruise lines needed the U.S. government to rescind that ruling, which it temporarily has. Bon Voyage!

04/30/2021

Get excited! It looks like July!!
It appears that the CDC has finally given in to the pressure of the law suits filed by Alaska & Florida & the many petitions made by the public to their state officials. If you were one who filled out the form & sent it to your Congress person & Senators, THANK YOU! If a plane can fly with people sitting in very close proximity to each other, cruise line should be able to sail.
For those that have yearned for the sea and exotic ports of call, this news is long in coming & very welcomed. Cruise ships should be able to sail from U.S. ports again in July,
Personally, I can't wait to set sail!

Cruising could restart in mid-summer in American waters, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a letter to the cruise industry.

04/08/2021

Florida is filing a lawsuit against the federal government and the CDC demanding the reopening of the cruise industry.

04/08/2021

Sad news. But, there is hope that cruises will restart in July.

Important update on sailings through June 30, 2021. 🔗 bit.ly/RCIOperationsUpdate