Jorge Oliver

Editor at Cruise Critic

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Articles

AmaWaterways Debuts in Colombia

1 week ago | cruisecritic.com | Jorge Oliver

(April 14, 2025) -- River cruise line AmaWaterways has officially made its debut in Colombia's Magdalena River with the arrival of AmaMagdalena. The 60-passenger ship was delivered on April 12 and was custom-designed in collaboration with Colombian craftspeople and woodwork specialists, including Cartagena's Ocean Projects.
Azamara Launches Destination Immersion Elevated Initiative

2 weeks ago | cruisecritic.com | Jorge Oliver

(April 7, 2025) -- Azamara Cruises is aiming to 'own the night' with their newest initiative, Destination Immersion Elevated. The initiative consists of curated experiences that explore each destination through authentic local cuisine, cultural engagement, elevated excursions, and more. One of the ways Azamara has set out to deliver this mission is by introducing a new collection of 246 evening and overnight tours throughout the 2025-2026 season.
Ponant Announces Circumnavigation of Antarctica

2 weeks ago | cruisecritic.com | Jorge Oliver

Le Commandant Charcot. Photo courtesy of Ponant Le Commandant Charcot. Photo courtesy of Ponant(April 7, 2025) -- Ponant Explorations has announced a first-ever circumnavigation of Antarctica aboard the cruise line's icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot. The voyage from Ushuaia is scheduled to take place between January and March, 2028. The entire journey will navigate nearly 11,200 miles of Antarctic coastline, roughly 1.5 times the size of the United States.
Three New Ships Coming for Emerald Cruises

2 weeks ago | cruisecritic.com | Jorge Oliver

(April 7, 2025) -- Emerald Cruises is gearing up to welcome two new yachts and a river ship by 2027. The new oceangoing ships -- Emerald Raiya and Emerald Xara -- will each have capacity for 128 passengers and feature all-suite accommodations. The ships will also boast an expansive Sky Deck with private cabanas and a swim-up marina platform, as well as an open-air fitness area, a spa, multiple dining venues and a curated collection of water toys.
Nicky Jam to Headline Virgin Celebration Voyage

3 weeks ago | cruisecritic.com | Jorge Oliver

(April 1, 2025) -- Virgin Voyages' upcoming Celebration Voyages will kick off with a Latin-flavored round-trip sailing from Miami featuring reggaeton artist Nicky Jam. The Boston-born Puerto Rican musician and entrepreneur, who recently signed with Virgin Records, will perform an exclusive live performance aboard Valiant Lady during the May 5 voyage. The five-night sailing will feature calls in Cozumel and Bimini. "Joining the Virgin family feels like coming home," said Nicky Jam.
Power Outage at Heathrow Disrupts Travel

1 month ago | cruisecritic.com | Jorge Oliver

(March 21, 2025) -- A fire caused a major power outage earlier today at London's Heathrow Airport, forcing its closure for several hours and resulting in flight cancellations for thousands of travelers. According to local authorities, a local fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow broke out late Thursday night, knocking out power to the airport and thousands of homes.
Four Seasons Yachts News

Jan 23, 2025 | cruisecritic.com | Jorge Oliver

(January 23, 2025) -- Four Seasons I, the first ship of ultra-luxury cruise line Four Seasons Yachts, has been officially launched at Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard. The 34,000-ton vessel completed its first float out ahead of its official delivery to the cruise line, which is slated to take place at the end of this year. Four Seasons I will embark on its maiden voyage in January 2026: a seven-night sailing from Barbados to Aruba, with calls in St. Lucia, Martinique and Antigua.
Cruise Critic Reveals 2024 Best in Cruise Awards

Dec 8, 2024 | cruisecritic.com | Jorge Oliver

(December 9, 2024) – It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With a new name for a time-honored tradition, Cruise Critic celebrates all the best that the cruise world has to offer – from river to shining sea. The results are in for the 2024 Best in Cruise Awards, selected by the site’s international editorial team and real cruise reviews.
Why Ponant Delivers an Unforgettable Canada Cruise

Dec 6, 2024 | cruisecritic.com | Jorge Oliver

I humbly admit it: my French-speaking skills leave much to be desired. I know enough to read it reasonably well, mostly thanks to its similarities to other Romance languages including Spanish, my mother tongue. But if spoken to in French, I can maybe pick out 40-45% of the words -- depending on how thick the accent is -- and I often find myself powerless to respond coherently. I was therefore a little apprehensive about sailing aboard French cruise company Ponant’s ship Le Bellot.
Mexican Government Approves Cruise Tax

Dec 5, 2024 | cruisecritic.com | Jorge Oliver

(December 5, 2024) – Cruising to Mexico is about to get pricier: $42 per person, to be exact. Following approval from the country’s National Senate through a 80-37 vote, Mexico will begin to impose a visitor tax for cruisers starting on Jan. 1, 2025. The tax, introduced by the Ley de Federal Derechos (Federal Rights Law), has been set at 332 Mexican Pesos or roughly $42 USD. The bill also calls for a hike in airport immigration charges as well as the entry fees for the country’s nature reserves.