Tag Archives: travel

Costa World Cruise Departs from Trieste on Deliziosa

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Costa World Cruise Departs from Trieste on Deliziosa

Costa Cruises announced that its 142-day World Cruise sailing departed on Friday from Trieste (Italy) aboard the Costa Deliziosa. The sailing will conclude on April 11, 2026, in Trieste.

The company said in a press release that the sailing will offer guests its most extensive world cruise ever, featuring over four and a half months of sailing to discover 51 destinations in 33 countries. The voyage will cross five continents and three oceans.

In 142 days, the Costa Deliziosa will complete a circumnavigation of the globe, sailing westward. From Italy, the ship will cross the Mediterranean and Atlantic to the Caribbean, visiting France, Spain, Morocco and the Canary Islands before reaching Barbados.

After transiting the Panama Canal, the ship will explore the heart of Latin America, including Peru, Chile and Easter Island.

The itinerary continues across the vast Pacific Ocean to the Pitcairn Islands, French Polynesia, the Samoan Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, as well as Australia.

From there, the route heads north to Papua New Guinea and Japan, including Tokyo, Kobe and Nagasaki, then onward to South Korea.

Sailing west again, guests will visit Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.

The ship then sails to Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Mauritius, and then heads to Southern Africa.

Costa added that it will offer a rich program of land experiences, with over 200 shore excursions. Iconic highlights include Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat and Victoria Falls.

Guests will celebrate Christmas and New Year on the festively decorated ship, with dedicated shows and musical parties, and the ship will offer an international culinary offering created exclusively for the World Cruise.

Each week, Costa’s Michelin-starred chef partners will serve a signature dish. There will also be entertainment inspired by the cultures of visited countries, themed lectures and wellness spaces.

Costa will offer two world cruises departing in 2026: In October, the Costa Serena will depart from Tokyo to Buenos Aires for a 66-day world cruise across Asia, Oceania and South America.

In November, the Costa Deliziosa will return with an exclusive 139-day itinerary featuring destinations in North America, Hawaii and the private island of Half Moon Cay.

Aurora Releases 2025 Impact Report

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Aurora Releases 2025 Impact Report

Photocredit Spacejunkie2, Flickr account https://flic.kr/ps/GkiQt

Aurora Expeditions has released its 2025 Impact Report, showcasing the company’s strides in environmental stewardship, scientific collaboration and community engagement globally.

“Every expedition leaves a footprint, and our responsibility is to minimise that impact and create a shift in the way people think so that they come back with a passion to protect our planet,” said Michael Heath, CEO of Aurora Expeditions.

“Our 2025 Impact Report reflects our commitment to investing in restoring and regenerating the environments we visit,” Heath added.

The company said in a press release that highlights from the 2025 report include the following:

  • The launch of the Ocean Regeneration program: Aurora funds the planting of kelp forests, seagrass meadows and coral restoration, along with the removal of ocean-bound waste.
  • It became the first expedition company to trial Counter Current’s AI ship routing, designed to allow ships to flow with currents, reducing fuel consumption.
  • With Cleaner Seas, Aurora was the first expedition company to install microplastic filters on a ship, preventing microplastics from entering the ocean.
  • More than 74,000 children accessed free environmental courses through Aurora’s partnership with Upschool, and
  • The Sylvia Earle was the first Infinity Class ship to trial a 100 per cent biofuel.

According to the press release, additional highlights from the report’s two focus areas include the following:  

Planet: Restoring Ocean Health and Reducing Emissions

  • The expansion of partnerships with global conservation leaders, including Mission Blue, CleanHub and Veritree, supporting habitat restoration from the Coral Triangle to British Columbia, and
  • The removal of salmon from onboard menus starting in the 2025-26 season to align with stricter sustainable seafood practices.

 People: Inspiring Global Ambassadors for the Natural World

  • Seven Citizen Science projects, from whale tracking (HappyWhale) to ice studies (TIPI), are engaging passengers in research that advances global climate understanding
  • $236,436 USD in-kind expedition support provided to environmental scientists and researchers, plus $90,937 USD in donations to conservation organisations
  • Continued support for the Inuit Community Ambassador Program with The Oxen Network
  • Having a Certified B Corporation 87.5 B Impact Score, well above the global average of 50.9, and
  • The company’s commitment to recertify under the new B Corp standards by 2027, ensuring continuous improvement across governance, community, and environmental performance.

The full Impact Report is available to view here.

Image credit: Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Advises Guests of Check-In Process at Hotel

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Norwegian Advises Guests of Check-In Process at Hotel

Guests boarding the Norwegian Dawn for its Dec. 7, 2025, cruise will complete their check-in processes at a hotel in Tampa.

According to a statement issued by Norwegian Cruise Line, passengers must proceed to the Hilton Tampa Downtown instead of the port on that date.

“Please note that check-in and embarkation arrangements have changed due to updated port availability,” the company said in its letter to booked guests.

“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we make these arrangements to ensure a smooth start to your vacation,” Norwegian added.

The company said that guests who arrive early are welcome to check in with NCL staff, drop off luggage, and explore Tampa before boarding.

While check-in is expected to take place between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., complimentary transfers to the ship will begin at 6:00 p.m.

According to the statement, no check-in will take place at the cruise terminal, and all guests are required to proceed to the Hilton before boarding.

The company noted that several restaurants are located inside and near the Hilton, which will also provide a free downtown trolley with stops at both the hotel and the cruise port.

Pool and day room passes will be available for purchase at the hotel and other nearby sister properties, NCL added.

In addition to using the company’s complimentary transportation, guests are also welcome to proceed to the cruise terminal independently after checking in.

While the Norwegian Spirit is now scheduled to depart at 9:00 p.m., passengers must proceed to the port before 7:00 p.m.

“We sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience, and although the situation is beyond our control, we recognise the inconvenience it may cause,” Norwegian added.

The Norwegian Dawn is set to offer a seven-night cruise to the Caribbean on Dec. 7, 2025. Sailing round-trip from Tampa, the ship will visit destinations in Mexico, Belize and Honduras.

In addition to one day at sea, the itinerary includes stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán and Harvest Caye.

Three additional ships are scheduled to sail from Tampa on Dec. 7, including the Carnival Miracle, the Celebrity Constellation and the Margaritaville at Sea Islander.