Cruise News: Top Stories From February

As the cruise industry continues to bounce back from the impact of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, positive news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has helped bolster bookings for 2022.

To start the year, cruise lines have been working to improve the passenger experience, including updating COVID-related requirements, announcing new ships, revealing new terminals and so much more.

The cruise industry made major waves over the last month, and here are the top cruise stories from February.

Cruise lines were able to rejoice this month as the CDC lowered its warning for cruise travel to Level 3 from the Level 4 Travel Health Notice issued last month that advised unvaccinated Americans to avoid ships.

The return to cruising has been largely successful; however, with the spread of the Omicron variant, the CDC raised its Health Travel Notice to a Level 4 for cruising. The agency's most recent announcement comes after it updated its guidelines for the industry, which are optional.

Cunard announced the name of its newest ship, dubbed Queen Anne. The new vessel will be the cruise line's 249th vessel, with the addition marking the first time since 1999 the company will have four ships at sea, including Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.

Virgin Voyages also welcomed its second ship, the 2,770-passenger, 110,000-gross-ton Valiant Lady. The new vessel will operate cruises from London International Cruise Terminal in Tilbury and Liverpool starting in March. The ship will move to its homeport in Barcelona in May.

Two Crystal Cruise Line ships that had evaded more than $4 million in unpaid fuel bills and a U.S. arrest warrant by docking in the Bahamas, were seized by federal authorities.

Both Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony were commandeered by authorities and had just crew members remaining on board. It was an extraordinary end to a saga that began last month when Crystal Cruise Lines' parent, Genting Hong Kong-announced it would suspend operations through April.

Disney Cruise Line announced the company's newest ship - Disney Wish - will not be able to make its originally scheduled inaugural voyage in early June. Sailings through mid-July will be impacted by the delay.

While the ship's debut was delayed, Disney outlined the entertainment options aboard the new Disney Wish, which include "Inside Out"-inspired treats, going on a picnic with "Frozen" characters and shows featuring Disney princesses, villains and heroes.

Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises announced they would lift restrictions on indoor smoking at onboard casinos, a protocol implemented last month to combat the spread of the Omicron variant.

The cruise lines revealed that passengers playing at gaming tables and slot machines are now permitted to temporarily remove their masks to smoke, but the rest of the vessels would be off-limits to smoking.

Carnival Cruise Line announced facial coverings would no longer be mandatory on voyages starting on March 1, but the masks would still be recommended overall and required at specified venues and events.

Royal Caribbean International lifted onboard mask protocols for areas of ships that only permit vaccinated passengers, saying that "venues designated for vaccinated guests only, such as select bars, lounges, restaurants, shows and Casino Royale" would no longer require masks.

Norwegian Cruise Line also revealed it would loosen a number of COVID protocols on March 1, with guests no longer required to wear a mask on board on cruises departing U.S. ports. The company said it would allow kids younger than five to board without proof of vaccination.

The United States Coast Guard is investigating why the world's third-largest cruise ship sailed into waters it should not have been in on January 30, causing the cancellation of a SpaceX rocket launch from nearby Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas apparently sailed into the 'exclusion zone' of where the SpaceX rocket would have traveled off the east coast of Florida after launch.

Celebrity Cruises unveiled Hotels by Celebrity, a service that will enable guests to choose from a portfolio of carefully selected and attractively priced international four- and five-star properties for pre- and post-cruise programs.

Hotels by Celebrity can be combined with Flights by Celebrity, which provides guests with 24/7 service to support all their air needs, including finding the best fares possible and taking care of rebookings caused by delayed or canceled flights.

Carnival Cruise Line has announced changes to its 2022 fleet deployment plan, including the retirement of the two oldest ships in the fleet.

The cruise line is bidding farewell to Carnival Sensation, which will not restart guest operations, and Carnival Ecstasy, which will operate its final Carnival cruise on October 22, with a departure from Mobile.

Virgin Voyages founder Richard Branson joined the grand opening celebration for the line's Terminal V at PortMiami. Terminal V, a three-story, 132,000-square-foot building on the northwestern corner of PortMiami, has unobstructed skyline views of Biscayne Bay, downtown and Edgewater.

Terminal V's rooftop resembles the edges of a palm canopy with angular cutouts that allow natural light to stream through. Enveloped by more than 1,000 palm trees, Terminal V features floor-to-ceiling windows, natural skylights, and lush indoor landscaping.