Cruise News: Top Stories From June

The cruise industry is one of the cornerstones of travel and tourism and companies continue to feel the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

From cruise lines changing COVID-related protocols and requirements to brands taking deliveries of new ships, the industry continues to bounce back.

Add in vessels adding new food and drink options and even the rise of gambling on the high seas, and it's been a month to remember for the cruise industry.

Cruise lines made major waves over the last month, and here are the top cruise stories from June.

Carnival Cruise Line announced updated rules and protocols for unvaccinated passengers sailing on its ships through the end of December. The most notable changes include unvaccinated guests now being permitted to go ashore to enjoy one of Carnival's tours or independent sightseeing events. As of June 15, guests booked on Caribbean itineraries seeking a medical exemption from the cruise line's vaccination requirement will not require a doctor's note for approval.

The cruise industry applauded the end of the COVID test requirement to enter the U.S. from abroad. The move will minimize fears of being stuck in quarantine overseas and could help boost cruise bookings. As a result, a new survey found that the cruise industry is making a comeback, due in part to rising confidence amongst travelers.

Due to an increased number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Alaska, multiple major cruise lines have reimplemented mandatory mask protocols for passengers visiting the state, including Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Lindblad Expeditions.

Holland America Line announced it had returned all of its ships to service with the re-debut of Westerdam at Port of Seattle in Washington. To celebrate the ship's return and the company's full fleet back in service, HAL held a ceremony in the Seattle terminal attended by Westerdam's captain and senior officers.

Disney Cruise Line (DCL) took delivery of the company's newest ship, Disney Wish, as part of a ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. The vessel will replace Disney Dream at Port Canaveral after almost a decade of departures from the dock, which is physically the closest point of embarkment from Disney World itself in Orlando.

Carnival Cruise Line is helping cruise guests access allergy information at all dining venues with its Menu Mate food ingredient program, now extended fleetwide. In addition, Silversea Cruises' newest ship, Silver Nova, will have several restaurants that will be larger than previous ships.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is looking to partner with Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink to bring Wi-Fi capability to its ships. Although not as fast as fiber optic, the internet service is becoming a strong option for travel-related businesses, especially those with mobility such as airplanes and cruise ships.

BetMGM announced a new partnership with Carnival Corporation to deliver world-class retail and mobile sports betting and iGaming experiences to cruise ship guests. Through this partnership, gaming will be available on more than 50 ships ported in the U.S. spanning Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises. BetMGM's platform will roll out in phases over the coming months.

Carnival announced that Costa Luminosa would join its fleet in September from sister company Costa Cruises. The ship will start guest operations as Carnival Luminosa in November 2022 from Brisbane, Australia.

In a partnership with the Porsche Club of America, Princess Cruises will give away an iconic Princess-branded all-electric Porsche Taycan to one lucky winner during a sweepstakes now through November 30.

American Cruise Lines is offering to pay airfare through July for guests who book one of two itineraries that travel the Mississippi River. One itinerary is on the American Melody riverboat, which cruises the upper portion of the Mississippi River, and the other is on the American Splendor, a paddlewheel boat that covers the entire mighty river.