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We’re reintroducing a small fleet of manually-operated vehicles to begin mapping with trained safety drivers behind the wheel.

Our mission

We believe driverless technology has the potential to save lives, enhance access and improve communities. Learn more here .

Tue Apr 09 2024

Cruise resumes manual driving as next step in return to driverless mission

Mon Mar 25 2024

A letter from Cruise leadership

Mon Feb 12 2024

Meet Our New Chief Safety Officer

Our services

The future looks bright for driverless ridehail and delivery. We’re working to bring new transportation options that work for you and your community. Learn more here .

Innovation for everyone

Cruise's path to autonomous driving creates opportunities for increased mobility and independence.

We're here to help

Your feedback is important to us. Whether you have a question or want to report an issue, our team wants to hear from you. Get in touch here .

Cruise ridehail services are not available at this time, but you can join the waitlist to be one of the first.

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Norwegian Joy

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Find your happy place on board Norwegian Joy when she cruises from the Miami to Panama Canal . Or join her in The Caribbean , Bahamas , and Bermuda from Miami, Port Canaveral and New York. Cruise to Alaska from Seattle and explore more of the Last Frontier in a ship built for non-stop memorable moments. Enjoy a rush like no other as you race in the middle of the ocean on a thrilling two–level race track. Be pampered in luxury in our spacious and beautifully appointed accommodations. Enjoy holiday experiences that will delight your senses and calm your soul on Norwegian Joy.

The best way to cruise Alaska just got better as Norwegian Joy joins her sister ship Norwegian Bliss.

• Ship 167,725 Gross Register Tonnage
• Guest 3,776 Guest Capacity double occupancy
• Length 333 m Overall Length
• Width 41 m Max Beam
• Year 2024 Refurbished Year Built 2017
• Crew 1,821 Ship Crew

Norwegian Joy CRUISE SHIP HIGHLIGHTS

NEW! Summer 2021 Western Caribbean Cruises

Sail aboard Norwegian Joy as we get ready break free this summer. As part of our first available sailings, experience 7-day Caribbean cruises from Montego Bay, Jamaica to the Western Caribbean. Explore some of the best of The Caribbean on this port-intensive itinerary.

NEW! Thermal Suite, Expanded Vibe Beach Club & Larger Accommodations!

It'll be a new year and new look for Norwegian Joy in 2024 with many new spaces. Unwind into a more joyous spa experience with Joy's new, Thermal Suite - an exclusive, adults-only complex dedicated to relaxation and rejuvenation. Ready to get your vibe on? We've expanded the adults-only Vibe Beach Club to include more seating and additional private cabanas. And when it's time to wind down, Joy's accommodations will be upgraded, too. So, come aboard in 2024 and experience a whole new level of Joy!

NEW! Starlink High-Speed Internet

Starlink provides fast Internet service at sea and is now available on Norwegian Joy. Using advanced low earth orbit satellites, SpaceX's Starlink delivers industry leading broadband internet connectivity, which will improve the capacity, speed, and reliability of Internet on board.

Norwegian Joy Speedway

Go for the checkered flag on a thrilling two-level race track in the middle of the ocean. Whether you're racing through exhilarating turns or simply relaxing on the top deck, cruising with Norwegian means holidaying at your own speed.

NEW! Norwegian Joy Entertainment: Footloose

Kick off your Sunday shoes and get ready to experience the rockin’ hits and dynamic new musical renditions of Footloose, debuting for the first time at sea on Norwegian Joy. Featuring the hit music of Grammy Award®-winning artist, Kenny Loggins, Footloose celebrates warm and open minds.

Norwegian Joy Cruise Image Gallery

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Discover Her Unique CRUISE DESTINATIONS

Alaska Cruises

Every bit as spectacular as you've heard. Magnificent glaciers, wildlife, and history.

Bahamas Cruises

See famous theme parks, bustling straw markets, lounge in the sun or just take it easy.

Bermuda Cruises

From British-style high tea to teeing it up on the greens, experience your island escape.

Canada & New England Cruises

Feast on lobster rolls. Explore the craggy shores of Nova Scotia. Or count lighthouses.

Caribbean Cruises

Turquoise water and white sands shimmer in The Caribbean. Experience the sublime colourful architecture of these breezy, tropical ports.

Extraordinary Journeys

Set sail from one destination and end in another. It's the ultimate way to experience it all.

Mexico Cruises

The sunsets will melt your cares away, as will the beaches, diving and fun-filled adventures.

Panama Canal Cruises

Take the short cut that made history and make some unforgettable cruise memories.

Weekend Cruises

Leave your worries behind and slip away. Enjoy dinner, dance and take in a show.

See Joy STATEROOMS

• Club Balcony Suite

Hidden at the top of the ship, The Haven features our most luxurious, well-appointed accommodations as well as 24-hour butler service, concierge service and private sundeck.

Finished with the finest touches, spacious suites with luxury accommodations.

Whether it's the two of you or your family, our Club Balcony Suites are accented with the finest touches. And enough room to make memories forever.

See the world like never before. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open to your very own private balcony. Stylish and sophisticated appointments enhance these modern rooms.

Experience comfort all around you. These stylish staterooms feature fine appointments, which are highlighted by nice touches and clear views of the ocean.

Relax in lively style and smart sophistication. Our modern inside staterooms are highlighted with appointments like a TV, sitting area and more.

Experience WHAT’S ON BOARD

• Speciality Dining
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Serving a wide variety of culinary delights to please every palate, our complimentary dining options include two main dining rooms, a help-yourself buffet and a variety of casual cafés, grills and on-the-go choices. Plus, our Main Dining Rooms offer a menu that changes daily, Chef's Signature Dishes and carefully selected wine recommendations, guaranteeing a different culinary adventure with every visit.

Enjoy a night of gastronomic proportions at one of our many speciality restaurants. Sip your favourite cocktail as you select from choice cuts of Angus beef at Cagney's Steakhouse. Enjoy delicious pasta made with the freshest ingredients inside our chic Italian eatery, La Cucina. Or savour French cuisine at Le Bistro. No matter what you choose, our speciality dining options feature the tastes you'll crave.

With so many bars and lounges to discover, finding your favourite may take a few days.

When it comes to entertainment on Norwegian Joy, you won't believe your eyes or even your ears. Get mesmerised by the awe-inspiring acrobatics in Elements. On Norwegian Joy it's showtime, all the time.

From top to bottom and from bow to stern, Norwegian Joy has enough onboard activities to fill every minute of your cruise. Push the pedal to the metal as you race for the checkered flag on a two-level Racetrack at sea. Wanna get lucky? Bet it all at our award-winning Casinos at Sea®.

When you want some "me" time, look no further than Mandara Spa®. Relax with a hot-stone massage, one of over 50 speciality treatments offered. At our onboard spas, treatments range from the classic to the luxurious. Let our pampering professionals soothe and rejuvenate you with facials, massages, acupuncture and a full menu of services.

Forget to pack something? No worries! Our gift shops onboard carry everything you'll need for fun in the sun. Shop from a variety of souvenirs, cosmetics, clothing, snacks and sundry items. Treat yourself at our duty-free shops full of fantastic savings on fine jewellery, accessories, perfume, liquor and tobacco.

Read THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT

Take a Shortcut

Cruise through the Panama Canal, the world's greatest shortcut, comprised of 51 miles of waterway from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans.

Cruise Norwegian App

Download the Cruise Norwegian app. Think of it as your travel companion, helping you experience an unforgettable cruise holiday every step of the way.

Inside Look: The Haven

Bask in true luxury from port to ship and back again. Get the scoop on what it's like to cruise in The Haven, from port to stateroom.

Explore Like a Travel Writer

Get a first-hand look at cruising the Mexican Riviera with Norwegian.

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Norwegian's Newest Cruise Ship Has a Go-kart Track, Infinity Pools, and an Open-air Food Hall

The Norwegian Viva is the line's newest mega-ship, slated to launch with a huge array of bells and whistles in summer 2023.

Paul Brady is the news director at Travel + Leisure and the brand's expert on cruise travel. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 15 years for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler , Skift , and The Huffington Post .

The newest ship from Norwegian Cruise Line will make its debut in the Mediterranean in June 2023, with room for more than 3,200 passengers, multiple infinity pools, an open-air food hall, and an outdoor go-kart track among its countless amenities.

Norwegian Viva was unveiled on Jan. 12, 2022, revealing details on summer itineraries that will take on iconic ports like Athens and Lisbon, along with gateways to Italy including Civitavecchia, near Rome, and Trieste, not far from Venice. After crossing the Atlantic in November, the Viva will home port in San Juan, Puerto Rico, beginning on Dec. 15, 2023.

"We at NCL visit more ports than any other contemporary cruise line, more than Royal [Caribbean], more than Princess, certainly more than Carnival," said Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Harry Sommer, in an interview with T+L. "This will just add to that reputation, if you will, that we keep on going to new and exciting places."

The newly announced ship will feature many of the same over-the-top amenities found on the previously announced Norwegian Prima , a sister vessel of Viva that sets sail this summer. That's no coincidence, Sommer told T+L.

"The Prima was off the charts fantastic for us," Sommer said. "It was the first new ship design for us in a decade, and the concepts of space, service, design, experience, [those] resonated tremendously well with our guests and, as you know, it was a record-breaking launch for us."

"So, I was like, 'Oh my God, we have a hit,' so we're not gonna change too much with [ Viva ]," Sommer added. "The big focus here is on itineraries. We have some nice itineraries on Prima, you know, around Iceland, Norway, Amsterdam, London (Southampton), which are really, really being well received. But on Viva, we're gonna notch it up. We're doing, basically, a tour of all the Mediterranean: Lisbon, Ibiza, Palma, Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Naples, Sicily, Dubrovnik, Venice, Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, Istanbul — and that's like a third of the ports we're visiting."

Guests aboard the 3,219-passenger vessel will have a huge range of options when it comes to staterooms, with budget-friendly choices as well as splurge-worthy suites. Among the most enviable choices will be 107 luxury suites in an exclusive area of the ship known as The Haven by Norwegian , reserved only for suite guests. In addition to the spacious staterooms, The Haven also offers a private restaurant, sun deck, outdoor spa, and infinity pool.

"We've found that, for slightly more affluent guests, Haven really is the perfect balance. They can have the big-ship experience," Sommer said, "plus all the benefits of the small ship where you get butler and concierge service, upscale decor, larger cabin sizes, really it's the best of both worlds." Sommer added, with a laugh, "It sounds like such a cliche but, you know, I've personally experienced it!"

Dining choices will include the Indulge Food Hall, with 11 distinct concepts, as well as an Italian restaurant, Onda by Scarpetta, that's already a favorite aboard the Norwegian Encore . "Everything that we've done on Prima, we're announcing for Viva as well," Sommer said. "We are going to have our next big reveal for food in early March."

In all, Viva will have more than 20 dining venues, Sommer indicated. The new vessel will also have a three-level go-kart track, the Viva Speedway, which can accommodate up to 15 racers, and a series of thrill rides first seen on Prima, such as The Drop and The Rush, that will offer pulse-quickening moments.

The Viva will also come with some features that will reduce the environmental impact of the vessel. Like its sister ship, Viva will have a selective catalytic reduction system to help eliminate many sulfur and nitrogen oxides, Norwegian says, something that's in line with current International Maritime Organization standards . Viva will also have shore power capabilities, which have the potential to dramatically reduce in-port emissions by letting the ship tap into cleaner energy from the grid.

Norwegian Viva will offer eight-, nine-, and 10-day trips beginning June 15, 2023. Rates start at $2,099 per person for the ship's first departure, a nine-day trip from Lisbon to Civitavecchia, Italy, near Rome.

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

The 11 Best Cruises In And Around The U.S.

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• United States

Taking a cruise is an excellent way to explore the country and world without the hassle of constantly packing and unpacking. The U.S. offers a variety of cruises, both on the ocean and river, that cater to different interests, ranging from exploring the wonders of Alaska to savoring the Pacific wine country.

With so many options, finding a cruise that fits your itinerary and budget is easy. In this post, I will share the 11 best cruises in and around the U.S. for seeing the wonders of our country and having an unforgettable vacation. Here they are, in no apparent order.

1. New England/Canada

Holland America offers several New England and Canada cruise options, including a 10-day getaway from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale or a 6-to-8-day journey from Boston to the culturally rich Montreal or Quebec City. The latter option includes stops in Bar Harbor, Maine; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Sydney, Nova Scotia; and back. 

If you prefer a more extended cruise with more days at sea, Holland America has a 10-day itinerary from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale with stops in Port Canaveral, Florida, and Portland instead of Bar Harbor, Maine.

Highlights Of New England/Canada

These Holland America cruises are ideal for those seeking fall foliage, sandy beaches, fresh seafood, the iconic Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, the Anne of Green Gables house and farm, and the East’s most famous attraction — Acadia National Park. I found the 8-mile Confederation Bridge on Prince Edward Island truly fascinating. It stands over the Northumberland Strait and costs $50.25 to cross.

Fun Fact: Confederation Bridge is the longest bridge in the world over icy waters .

2. California Coastal And Wine Country 

Princess Cruises offers several itineraries, with my favorites being California Coastal or the Pacific Wine Country and Coastal, with stops in San Francisco and Santa Barbara , ending in Vancouver, Canada. The 7-day itinerary, which currently runs less than $500 for an inside cabin, is particularly popular. It has been named “Best Cruises from the West Coast” by Cruise Critic.

The California Coastal departs Los Angeles and stops in San Francisco; Astoria , Oregon; and Seattle, and ends in Vancouver. Princess Cruises offers a variety of onboard amenities, such as culinary experiences, the best afternoon tea at sea, and Broadway-style entertainment.

FYI: I’ve been on 54 cruises and this is one of the two I couldn’t get into a port due to the weather. In this case, it was Santa Barbara and because of the fog. Don’t be discouraged when these things happen; the cruise line’s #1 priority is keeping you safe, so you have to roll with the punches. 

Carnival Cruises takes you on a 10- or 11-day journey to wondrous Alaska, departing from Seattle or San Francisco. Expect breathtaking views of natural wonders such as glaciers, fjords, and Alaska wildlife, namely bears, moose, and whales. 

This Alaska itinerary boasts stops in Juneau and Ketchikan where you can explore charming towns and embark on exciting excursions. Carnival Cruises emphasizes fun and entertainment and is one of the many cruise lines that sail to Alaska . 

4. American Rivers (Multiple)

Viking River Cruises offers an exciting journey from Minnesota’s Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico along the Mighty Mississippi River. Three options for the American rivers that I found intriguing were Heart of the Delta (New Orleans to Memphis ), America’s Heartland (St. Louis to St. Paul), and America’s Great River (St. Paul to New Orleans). The journeys take you through iconic landmarks and scenic spots, including the St. Louis Arch, Mark Twain’s boyhood home, and Civil War battlefields. 

Viking River Cruises is ideal for those interested in history, culture, and scenic landscapes, with onboard activities such as lectures, workshops, and demonstrations. All guided tours are included. 

5. Columbia And Snake Rivers

The Columbia and Snake Rivers cruise with American Queen Voyages is a must-do for anyone interested in American history. This cruise follows the path that Lewis and Clark once charted through dense forests, rocky shorelines, and rich wine country.

Departing from Richland, Washington, or Portland, Oregon, this cruise is a bit pricey but well worth the investment for its educational enrichment and natural beauty. Learn about the Native American history of the area, take in breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge , and indulge in delicious regional cuisine.

6. Cumberland And Tennessee Rivers

Immerse yourself in the charm of small-town America and the Great Smoky Mountains on a cruise down the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers with American Queen Voyages. With all guided tours, Wi-Fi, beverages (including alcohol), and a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay included, this trip offers the ultimate vacation.

Learn how to get a National Parks senior pass before you go. 

Highlights Of The Cumberland And Tennessee Rivers

Expect moonshine, Civil War historical sites, country music, Nashville traditions, and the birthplace of the blues — Memphis. While in Memphis, visiting the one and only home of Elvis Presley at Graceland is a must! I’m most intrigued by seeing Paducah, also known as Quilt City and a UNESCO World Heritage Creative City . 

7. Great Lakes

A third cruising option with American Queen Voyages uncovers the grandeur and natural beauty of the Great Lakes (which meet eight states and the Canadian province of Ontario), from Chicago to Niagara Falls. Watch the mesmerizing cascade of Niagara Falls, take a horse-drawn carriage through Mackinac Island, and soak in the fragrant pine forests of the Georgian Bay. 

With carefully selected destinations and daily educational enrichment, this cruise offers a remarkable way to discover America’s northernmost wonders.

Highlights Of The Great Lakes

Having been to Michigan’s Mackinac Island, this is truly one of the treats on this itinerary. Other highlights include:

• Chicago’s photogenic architecture
• Magnificent Mile shopping
• Milwaukee’s craft beer scene
• The Henry Ford Museum
• Traveling through the locks system

8. National Parks And Legendary Rivers

For adventure lovers and nature enthusiasts, the National Parks & Legendary Rivers cruise with American Cruise Lines is a natural fit. This 15-day, 14-night cruise on land and sea takes you through some of America’s most iconic national parks: Glacier, Grand Teton , and Yellowstone . Included are guided excursions with an adventure guide, three daily meals, and breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge and Snake River, all while enjoying comfortable accommodations and hotels. 

This cruise is perfect for those seeking an educational experience or mature adults seeking a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. This might be my future dream cruise itinerary.

9. Mississippi River

A list of the best cruises in the U.S. would only be complete with mentioning a classic Mississippi River cruise. This iconic American river flows through a stunning variety of landscapes, from rich forests to revered southern cities and towns. Enjoy live music, thrilling riverboat casinos, and impeccable southern cuisine on a cruise with American Queen Steamboat Company while taking in the beauty and history of the Mississippi River.

Potential city port visits among these Mississippi River cruise options include Natchez, Mississippi; Cincinnati; Madison, Indiana; Hannibal, Missouri; Dubuque, Iowa; Baton Rouge; and Memphis.

10. San Juan Islands And Puget Sound

A rare and delicious cruise itinerary I found while researching this post is yet another with American Cruise Lines . Have you ever considered cruising in Washington? I know I hadn’t. This enchanting 8-day cruise takes you through the San Juan Islands, with abundant wildlife and natural scenery, to the Puget Sound and Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada.

11. Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is another unique cruise with American Cruise Lines that will allow you to witness breathtaking vistas. A few ports of call on this itinerary, or the Olympic National Park one, are lesser-known towns like Port Townsend and Anacortes.

Melody and her daughter Taylor run both Wherever I May Roam and Travel The South travel blogs. She is a digital influencer, freelances for both print and online publications, and hosts an annual travel conference, Southern Travelers Explore. Melody has been traveling her entire adult life and has visited 49 states and 49 countries. She loves cruising, small towns, historical sights, and National Parks.

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G.M.’s Cruise Moved Fast in the Driverless Race. It Got Ugly.

Cruise has hired a law firm to investigate how it responded to regulators, as its cars sit idle and questions grow about its C.E.O.’s expansion plans.

By Tripp Mickle ,  Cade Metz and Yiwen Lu

Tripp Mickle, Cade Metz and Yiwen Lu have been reporting throughout the year on the rollout of robot taxis in San Francisco.

Two months ago, Kyle Vogt, the chief executive of Cruise, choked up as he recounted how a driver had killed a 4-year-old girl in a stroller at a San Francisco intersection. “It barely made the news,” he said, pausing to collect himself. “Sorry. I get emotional.”

To make streets safer, he said in an interview, cities should embrace self-driving cars like those designed by Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors. They do not get distracted, drowsy or drunk, he said, and being programmed to put safety first meant they could substantially reduce car-related fatalities.

Now Mr. Vogt’s driverless car company faces its own safety concerns as he contends with angry regulators, anxious employees, and skepticism about his management and the viability of a business that he has often said will save lives while generating billions of dollars.

On Oct. 2, a car hit a woman in a San Francisco intersection and flung her into the path of one of Cruise’s driverless taxis . The Cruise car ran over her, briefly stopped and then dragged her some 20 feet before pulling to the curb, causing severe injuries.

California’s Department of Motor Vehicles last week accused Cruise of omitting the dragging of the woman from a video of the incident it initially provided to the agency. The D.M.V. said the company had “misrepresented” its technology and told Cruise to shut down its driverless car operations in the state.

Two days later, Cruise went further and voluntarily suspended all of its driverless operations around the country, taking 400 or so driverless cars off the road. Since then, Cruise’s board has hired the law firm Quinn Emanuel to investigate the company’s response to the incident, including its interactions with regulators, law enforcement and the media.

The board plans to evaluate the findings and any recommended changes. Exponent, a consulting firm that evaluates complex software systems, is conducting a separate review of the crash, said two people who attended a companywide meeting at Cruise on Monday.

Cruise employees worry that there is no easy way to fix the company’s problems, said five former and current employees and business partners, while its rivals fear Cruise’s issues could lead to tougher driverless car rules for all of them.

Company insiders are putting the blame for what went wrong on a tech industry culture — led by the 38-year-old Mr. Vogt — that put a priority on the speed of the program over safety. In the competition between Cruise and its top driverless car rival, Waymo, Mr. Vogt wanted to dominate in the same way Uber dominated its smaller ride-hailing competitor, Lyft.

“Kyle is a guy who is willing to take risks, and he is willing to move quickly. He is very Silicon Valley,” said Matthew Wansley, a professor at the Cardozo School of Law in New York who specializes in emerging automotive technologies. “That both explains the success of Cruise and its mistakes.”

When Mr. Vogt spoke to the company about its suspended operations on Monday, he said that he did not know when they could start again and that layoffs could be coming, according to two employees who attended the companywide meeting.

He acknowledged that Cruise had lost the public’s trust, the employees said, and outlined a plan to win it back by being more transparent and putting more emphasis on safety. He named Louise Zhang, vice president of safety, as the company’s interim chief safety officer and said she would report directly to him.

“Trust is one of those things that takes a long time to build and just seconds to lose,” Mr. Vogt said, according to attendees. “We need to get to the bottom of this and start rebuilding that trust.”

Cruise declined to make Mr. Vogt available for an interview. G.M. said in a statement that its “commitment to Cruise with the goal of commercialization remains steadfast.” It said it believed in the company’s mission and technology and supported its steps to put safety first.

Mr. Vogt began working on self-driving cars as a teenager. When he was 13, he programmed a Power Wheels ride-on toy car to follow the yellow line in a parking lot. He later participated in a government-sponsored self-driving car competition while studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In 2013, he started Cruise Automation. The company retrofitted conventional cars with sensors and computers to operate autonomously on highways. He sold the business three years later to G.M. for $1 billion .

After the deal closed, Dan Ammann, G.M.’s president, took over as Cruise’s chief executive, and Mr. Vogt became its president and chief technology officer.

As president, Mr. Vogt built out Cruise’s engineering team while the company expanded to about 2,000 employees from 40, former employees said. He championed bringing cars to as many markets as fast as possible, believing that the speedier the company moved, the more lives it would save, former employees said.

In 2021, Mr. Vogt took over as chief executive. Mary T. Barra, G.M.’s chief executive, began including Mr. Vogt on earnings calls and presentations, where he hyped the self-driving market and predicted that Cruise would have one million cars by 2030.

Mr. Vogt pressed his company to continue its aggressive expansion, learning from problems its cars ran into while driving in San Francisco. The company charged an average of $10.50 per ride in the city.

After a Cruise vehicle collided with a Toyota Prius driving in a bus lane last summer, some people at the company proposed having its vehicles temporarily avoid streets with bus lanes, former employees said. But Mr. Vogt vetoed that idea, saying Cruise’s vehicles needed to continue to drive those streets to master their complexity. The company later changed its software to reduce the risk of similar accidents.

In August, a Cruise driverless car collided with a San Francisco fire truck that was responding to an emergency. The company later changed the way its cars detect sirens .

But after the crash, city officials and activists pressured the state to slow Cruise’s expansion. They also called on Cruise to provide more data about collisions, including documentation of unplanned stops, traffic violations and vehicle performance, said Aaron Peskin, president of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors.

“Cruise’s corporate behavior over time has increasingly led to a lack of trust,” Mr. Peskin said.

With its business frozen, there are concerns that Cruise is becoming too much of a financial burden on G.M. and is hurting the auto giant’s reputation. Ms. Barra told investors that Cruise had “tremendous opportunity to grow” just hours before California’s D.MV. told Cruise to shut down its driverless operations.

Cruise has not collected fares or ferried riders in more than a week. In San Francisco, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Miami, and Austin, Texas, hundreds of Cruise’s white and orange Chevrolet Bolts sit stagnant. The shutdown complicates Cruise’s ambition of hitting its goal of $1 billion of revenue in 2025.

G.M. has spent an average of $588 million a quarter on Cruise over the past year, a 42 percent increase from a year ago. Each Chevrolet Bolt that Cruise operates costs $150,000 to $200,000, according to a person familiar with its operations.

Half of Cruise’s 400 cars were in San Francisco when the driverless operations were stopped. Those vehicles were supported by a vast operations staff, with 1.5 workers per vehicle. The workers intervened to assist the company’s vehicles every 2.5 to five miles, according to two people familiar with is operations. In other words, they frequently had to do something to remotely control a car after receiving a cellular signal that it was having problems.

To cover its spiraling costs, G.M. will need to inject or raise more funds for the business, said Chris McNally, a financial analyst at Evercore ISI. During a call with analysts in late October, Ms. Barra said G.M. would share its funding plans before the end of the year.

Tripp Mickle reports on Apple and Silicon Valley for The Times and is based in San Francisco. His focus on Apple includes product launches, manufacturing issues and political challenges. He also writes about trends across the tech industry, including layoffs, generative A.I. and robot taxis.  More about Tripp Mickle

Cade Metz is a technology reporter and the author of “Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought A.I. to Google, Facebook, and The World.” He covers artificial intelligence, driverless cars, robotics, virtual reality and other emerging areas. More about Cade Metz

Yiwen Lu reports on technology for The New York Times. More about Yiwen Lu

Driverless Cars and the Future of Transportation

Autonomous taxis have arrived in car-obsessed Los Angeles, the nation’s second most populous city. But some Angelenos aren’t ready to go driverless .

Cruise, the embattled self-driving car subsidiary of General Motors,  said that it would eliminate roughly a quarter of its work force , as the company looked to rein in costs after an incident led California regulators to shut down its robot taxi operations.

Tesla, the world’s dominant maker of electric vehicles, recalled more than two million vehicles  to address concerns from U.S. officials about Autopilot , the company’s self-driving software.

An Appetite for Destruction: A wave of lawsuits argue that Tesla’s Autopilot software is dangerously overhyped. What can its blind spots teach us about Elon Musk, the company’s erratic chief executive ?

Along for the Ride: Here’s what New York Times reporters experienced during test rides in driverless cars operated by Tesla , Waymo  and Cruise .

The Future of Transportation?: Driverless cars, once a Silicon Valley fantasy, have become a 24-hour-a-day reality in San Francisco . “The Daily” looked at the unique challenges of coexisting with cars that drive themselves .

Stressing Cities: In San Francisco and Austin, Texas, where passengers can hail autonomous taxis, the vehicles are starting to take a toll on city services , even slowing down emergency response times.

A Fast Rise and Fall: Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, wanted to grow fast. Now, the company faces safety concerns  as it contends with angry regulators, anxious employees and skepticism about the viability of the business .

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Full List: Fort Lauderdale Park & Cruise Hotels Near Port Everglades

When it comes to cruising, the cost of parking often catches people by surprise. For instance, the cost of parking at the Port Everglades cruise port in Fort Lauderdale runs $20 per day . On a 7-day trip, you’re spending $140 on parking alone before you even step onto the ship.

But here’s a money-saving tip: If you are staying in the area the night before your cruise, many hotels have special parking offers. You stay with them for one night and they will let you park your car for the length of your cruise.

This parking is much cheaper than parking at the port, plus many hotels will provide you with a shuttle to the cruise port. Often the cost of parking runs just $5-10 per day, instead of the $20 charged at the port.

Now, if you weren’t already planning to stay near the port the night before your trip, then what you save on parking is not worth the extra expense of the hotel room. However, there’s no doubt that staying in a Fort Lauderdale hotel with cruise parking can save you some serious cash.

That’s why we called dozens of hotels located near the port to ask about their parking deals. We have all the details below.

Click the hotel name to read reviews and see pricing on Kayak.com. For locations with parking packages, you may have to book directly through the hotel. Most hotels you can just let them know at check-in that you’d like to leave your car there.

(Looking for Fort Lauderdale hotels with shuttles to the cruise port? Here’s a list of hotels with cruise shuttles .)

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) Park & Cruise Hotels

Note: This article contains affiliate links to Kayak. We earn a commission for clicks made on their website, at no charge to you. Review ratings come from Google and are rounded to the nearest half point.

Hampton Inn Ft. Lauderdale Airport North Cruise Port You’ll find the Hampton Inn just off the “Marina Mile” in Fort Lauderdale. It’s tucked away off the road, but with easy access to a main thoroughfare through the city and to the port. It also is right next to a grocery store in case you need to pick up some last-minute cruise items. Parking costs just $5 per night . Note this is only for guests who stay at the hotel.

• Distance to Port: 3 miles
• Review Rating: 4 out of 5

Cambria Hotel & Suites Ft. Lauderdale Airport South & Cruise Port Cambria sits in a cluster of several mid-priced hotels just off of I-95, but still secluded from the freeway. It’s among the highest-rated hotels on our list, with an average rating of 4.5 out of five. There are a number of chain stores and hotels nearby and you are only a few minutes from the airport. Parking is $10 per day while you cruise (much cheaper than parking at the port). Simply let the front desk know when you arrive. There is also a shuttle to Port Everglades.

• Price: $$-$$$
• Distance to Port: 4.5 miles
• Review Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Comfort Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport South Another mid-range hotel, this is a good option for those who want to stay near the airport without breaking the budget. Parking costs $15 per day according to the front desk when we called. There is a shuttle to Port Everglades for extra. Getting back to the hotel you’ll need to arrange your own ride, but a quick Uber/Lyft trip won’t cost that much.

• Distance to Port: 7 miles

Best Western Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port Staying here offers a discount off parking at the port, at just $10 per day while you are on your cruise. It’s then a $15 per person shuttle to Port Everglades. The location is convenient and the hotel is priced affordably for Fort Lauderdale. You won’t be at the beach, but still in a nice area that’s only 10-15 minutes from the cruise port.

• Price: $-$$
• Review Rating: 3.5 out of 5

SpringHill Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port Located in a cluster of similar-level hotels, SpringHill offers suites for those needing a little more space. The best news is that parking costs $5 per day . Considering that you save $15 a day off of cruise port parking, that means you’re pocketing $105 in savings during a weeklong cruise. You’re also only about 10-15 minutes from the ships at Port Everglades.

• Distance to Port: 5 miles

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport South Perhaps the easiest hotel to get to if you are coming from the airport, the Holiday Inn Express is a straight shot south on Highway 1 in Dania Beach. The area is busy, and parking is in a garage. Parking costs $10 per day with an $15 shuttle to the cruise port. Your ride to the ships should only take about 10 minutes on the day of your cruise.

Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port One of the best deals in Fort Lauderdale hotels with cruise parking, this hotel offers parking that costs just $10 per night , along with a $20 per person ride to the cruise port (or you can take an Uber/Lyft). You are also extremely close to backside of the airport. Lagoons on both sides of the road make the area feel more secluded despite being in the middle of the city.

• Distance to Port: 5.5 miles

Homewood Suites by Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port Easy access to I-95, yet not right on the freeway, Homewood Suites offers a nice place to stay with easy access to get around the city and to the port. Parking and shuttle are included when booking parking package on the hotel’s website (look for the “Fort Lauderdale Cruise Package”). There are also a number of nearby spots to grab a bite to eat and a relatively easy ride to your ship on cruise day.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ft. Lauderdale Airport/Cruise The Holiday Inn Express and Candlewood Suites (below) share a parking lot, so if one is booked up or more expensive, then you should definitely try the other. They are in a prime location convenient to both the airport and the cruise port. You can simply pay $10 per day for parking and $15 per person for a shuttle. All you have to do is let the front desk know at check-in that you want to park.

Candlewood Suites Ft. Lauderdale Airport/Cruise We consider the Holiday Inn Express and Candlewood Suites to be sister properties. They sit right next to each other and offer many of the same amenities. The hotel features the same $10 per day rate for guests who want to leave their car while they cruise. There is also a ride over to the cruise port for $15 per person. For an affordable price you can get a comfortable stay only a few minutes from Port Everglades.

Extended Stay America – Fort Lauderdale – Convention Center – Cruise Port A nice mix of convenience and budget (assuming you catch them during an off-peak time of year), the Extended Stay is within a decent walk of the cruise port. A call to the hotel told us that parking is just $7 a night while you cruise for guests who stay a night. Compare that to the port at $20 per night, even though it is close to this hotel.

• Distance to Port: 0.5 miles

Hotel Dello Fort Lauderdale Airport Sitting on Highway 1 due south of the airport, it’s a straight shot from Hotel Dello out to the beach, and just about 10 minutes out to the cruise ships. From here you aren’t far from the ships and if you stay, you can also save on parking. The hotel charges $15 per day for cruise parking . Need a ride to the port? They offer a third-party shuttle for $15 per person.

Rodeway Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port The Rodeway Inn & Suites might not impress the folks at your next cocktail party, but it’s a solid choice to stay before your cruise. With a package booked through the hotel , there is long-term parking (10 days) offered while you are on your cruise, plus a round trip shuttle between the hotel and cruise port. The cruise port is a straight shot down Marina Mile Boulevard from the hotel.

Hampton Inn & Suites Ft. Lauderdale Airport/South Cruise Port Clean, comfortable, affordable, and highly rated, Hampton Inn is a solid choice for anyone taking a cruise from Port Everglades. About 15 minutes from the cruise port (and near the airport), the Hampton Inn offers a “Stay, Park and Go” special on its website that includes seven nights of parking a shuttle to/from the cruise port.

Hampton Inn Downtown The hotels we’ve featured so far are all situated around the cruise port and the airport. This hotel is ideal if you want to stay at a comfortable place in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It offers the sort of clean, comfortable room you’d expect from Hampton Inn, along with a “Snooze and Cruise” deal . This offer includes a round trip shuttle for two between the hotel and Port Everglades. There is also parking included for up to seven nights. (Note: We were told you have to call Hilton to get this offer.)

• Distance to Port: 4 miles

Four Points by Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port Sitting near the intersection of State Highway 1 and A1A, the Four Points is in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. That means it’s also right by the port. They offer a complimentary airport shuttle and a transport to the cruise port for $15 per person. If you drive, you can book the “Park and Cruise” deal that includes seven nights of parking after your stay. 

• Distance to Port: 1.5 miles

Home2 Suites Hotel Airport-Cruise Port By distance, this hotel is about six miles from the cruise port, but only about 15 minutes from the ships. Well-reviewed, a phone call to the hotel told us that after your stay you can leave your car parked for $10 per day . Simply let the front desk know that you want to park at check-in. A shuttle is also offered for $15 per person to the cruise ships.

• Distance to Port: 6.5 miles

Hyatt House Fort Lauderdale Airport – South & Cruise Port Hyatt House is an all-suite hotel, making it a good option if you’re looking for somewhere with a little more space. It sits near the southwest corner of the Fort Lauderdale airport, or about 15 minutes from the cruise ships. The hotel offers parking during your cruise for $12 per day if you stay the night before. There is also a shuttle over to the port for $15 per person.

• Distance to Port: 6 miles

Fairfield Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port Fairfield offers a “Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Transportation” package . This deal offers a ride to Port Everglades, plus parking for up to 7 days. In our search, it was only about $70 more than the base rate — a big savings over parking at the port. This unassuming hotel is a great option if you just care about having a decent place the night before your cruise without anything too fancy. Parking is also offered at the hotel through TropicalAirportParking.com at $8.45 per day.

Hilton Garden Inn Ft. Lauderdale Airport-Cruise Port Set back from the street and surrounded by trees, this hotel gives it a bit of a secluded feeling. Here, you’re about 15 minutes from the cruise port. The Hilton Garden Inn offers parking through TropicalAirportParking.com . Head to that website and you can book your parking for $11.99 per day . You’ll just print your parking pass to show the front desk when you arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the closest hotels to the port with cruise parking? If you want close hotel parking, then you’re in luck. Given the popularity of Fort Lauderdale and Port Everglades as a tourist destination, there are tons of hotels in the area.

Those closest to the port with parking include:

• Candlewood Suites Ft. Lauderdale Airport/Cruise
• Extended Stay America – Fort Lauderdale – Convention Center – Cruise Port  
• Four Points by Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise Port

Why are the prices for hotels in the area so high? As you might guess, the hotel rates can vary widely depending on the particular date you sail. Want to stay during Spring Break? You will be shelling out more dough for the same room. You’ll obviously find lower rates if your able to sail during the offseason or if you sail out mid-week and don’t need to stay overnight during the weekend.

Which Fort Lauderdale hotels offer free or included parking? Free parking is a rarity in Fort Lauderdale. In our search, hotels near the airport and cruise port either have parking packages (which are priced higher than the regular room rate) or charge a flat daily fee for parking.

That said, the cheapest parking we found is with SpringHill Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port ($5 per night) and Hampton Inn Ft. Lauderdale Airport North Cruise Port  ($5 per night). 

More on Cruising From Port Everglades

Getting to Port Everglades — Transportation options from airports and the area to the cruise port. Everything you need to know to get to the port and start your vacation.

Port Everglades Cruise Parking — Parking at the port? We’ve got you covered with all your parking options, including costs and discounts.

Port Everglades Hotels with Cruise Shuttles — A number of hotels will give you a ride to the port. Look at this list of hotels that offer cruise shuttles to the port with a one-night stay.

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies.

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After the cruise now do you get back to a hotel where you have left your car for the week ?

You can take an Uber/Lyft or a taxi.

Hello, Are there any hotels in Fort Lauderdale with extended parking that provide shuttles to Miami international airport? … We are flying to Europe from MIA to cruise transatlantic into Fort Lauderdale. Thanks

Not that we know of. If traveling to the Miami airport, your best bet is to use Uber or Lyft. As for parking, there are a number of hotels that have parking for you but you’ll need to arrange your transportation to the airport.

Some of the links are directing correctly. Such as the Holiday Inn Express cruise port location. It seems to be going to tripadvisor Hampton Inn instead. FYI

Fixed. Thanks!

Two years ago is was free to park at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ft. Lauderdale Airport/Cruise. My husband and I just called the hotel front desk this evening and they are currently not offering any parking until February-ish of 2018, when their parking garage is predicted to be complete. Parking will then be $10/day.

Where did you parked, and how much cost, if you don’t mind please. Thanks and God bless!

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Galveston Cruise Parking (Where to Park): Prices, Profiles, & Map

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A Cruise Ship With Go-Karts: Norwegian Cruise Line

When you think of cruise ships, you think of relaxation. You think of bars, lounges, shows and areas where you can spend the days with your loved ones – or alone too, if you’re traveling alone. Believe it not, there are two cruise ships that have something much more exciting and adrenaline-inducing than the usual activities or sipping a margarita overlooking the beautiful ocean – a go-kart race track! Here are some of the highlights:

• Go-karts feature speeds of up to 30 mph
• Features custom-built multi-level race track
• $15 per race or 199.95 for the Unlimited Pass
• Safety gear provided by Norwegian Cruise Line
• Amazing racing experience with an unbeatable view

Inspired by the grandkids of the company’s CEO, these karting tracks are the first of their kind on any cruise ship. It’s important to note that they are not just amusement-park karting race tracks either – they feature an authentic racing experience similar to the one you can experience at indoor go-kart racing facilities on land. 

Featuring a platform where people can sit and spectate, a covered pit lane, a system that times your laps, and even floodlights to let you race at night, this go-kart track on a cruise ship will give you an absolutely unique experience while being in the middle of the ocean! How exciting is that?

With all of this available on a cruise ship, your adventurous side will thank you for giving this thrilling activity a shot. Karting in itself is one of the most fun and challenging motorsport activities that you can experience. Doing that in the middle of an endless ocean brings this experience to a whole new level!

On What Cruise Ships Are Go-Karts Available?

At this point in time, you’re able to experience go-karting on the Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy. Both of these cruise ships are part of the Norwegian Cruise Line. At sea, the Norwegian Bliss has the longest race track providing an unparalleled experience to anyone who loves motorsports.

If you’re the type who likes quiet and peace while at sea, don’t worry. The tracks are located towards the back of the ship so you’ll be able to enjoy and relax, as well as refuel your adrenaline.

What Kind of Race Tracks Are Available?

The race track featured on both cruise ships is named Encore Speedway and even for indoor karting standards, is relatively large. To be more specific, the race track is 1150 feet (350 m) long and features a track width of 18 feet (5.5 m). There are also plenty of turns and straight sections built into it that provide plenty of overtaking opportunities. The tracks are also multi-level so you can expect some inclinations at certain points to get an even better view of the ocean! How cool is that?

To add to the racing experience, the electric go-karts produce sounds of race car engines while you drive, making it feel even more authentic. And with a crowd cheering you on from the stands, you’re sure to get into the racing mood.

While the race track is 18 feet (5.5 m) wide, overtaking can be challenging in certain areas, so you’ll have to factor that in. However, this also makes the overall experience more fun and challenging. Slower drivers may also be enjoying the ocean views while racing, so you should always be mindful of that. 

But with a little bit of patience, a positive attitude and some racing skills, you’ll be able to overtake them at strategic sections of the race track. The races last for about 8 – 10 minutes, with each lap taking up around 30 seconds, depending on how fast you are. That means that if you’re standing in line for your turn, you won’t have to wait that long.  

What Type of Go-Karts Are Available?

The go-karts featured on the Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy are all-electric SiNUS iONs that have been customized for corrosion-resistance, due to the saline environment. These go-karts are known to be of high-quality and are extremely fun to race with!

A lot of people on cruises are with friends or family. That’s one reason why there are two-seaters karts, as well as the standard one-seaters go-karts available. This allows you to share this amazing racing experience with someone else. Whether it’s your partner, your parent or your kid, being able to race a kart on top of a ship in the middle of an ocean is an experience not many things can beat.

Another cool thing about these go-karts is that they are fully electric. They’re extremely quiet but they do feature authentic engine sound effects to make you feel like you are going much faster than you actually are. With a top speed of up to 30 mph, you’re able to race at decent speeds, considering you’re on top of a cruise ship.

If you’re wondering who actually customized the go-karts, then you’d be happy to know that they’re custom-built for the tracks by none other than Alex Vega – a name that is sure to be recognized by car fans around the world who watch ‘The Auto Firm with Alex Vega’. If you’re interested, you should watch the episode of the show that features these exact go-karts.

To keep the karting experience safe for everyone, the staff has the ability to control the speed of the go-karts for passengers who require some assistance. At the start of the race, the speed may be throttled for a while, but eventually you’ll be able to fully control the speed yourself. This feature is also introduced for safety reasons and they will also reduce the speed of racers, if there are any incidents on the track to ensure everyone’s safety.

Does the Cruise Ship Provide Safety Gear?

Norwegian Cruise Line provides a helmet with a visor, as well as a balaclava to all racer. The helmet sock fits over your head like a ski mask and prevents the helmet from touching your bare head. Not only is this more hygenic, but it’s also much more comfortable. The helmet socks are also washed after every single use so the whole experience is very clean and sanitary.

How Much Does a Karting Session Cost?

If you want to have the experience of driving go-karts on top of a cruise ship, you can do that for $15 per race. This gets you one ride that will last for about 8 – 10 minutes. This is a great option for people who just want to try it out. If you’re into go-karting and enjoy the motorsport, the better option to go for multiple races, as you can bundle these up. 

And if you fall in love with the experience and can’t get enough of it, you can also splurge for the Unlimited Weekly Pass that costs $199.95 and allows you to go to the track whenever and however many times you want for the whole week that you’re on the cruise. You’ll also get to use a priority line, which drastically reduces your waiting time!

What Are the Requirements to Race?

One of the best things about these tracks is that there is no age limit to drive karts on them. You just need to be at least 55 inches tall. It doesn’t matter how old you are! Another requirement to go on the tracks is to have the proper attire. This is very important, as it ensures the safety of the racers. 

You shouldn’t be wearing sandals when going karting. You are required to wear closed-toe shoes, as well as clothes that are not loose. Items like an open jacket or a scarf are not allowed as they run the risk of getting stuck on the wheels which could cause potential accidents. Other than these standard karting rules that you should be following, there’s not much stopping you from being part of this amazing oceanic karting experience.

Do I Need a Reservation to Ride Go-Karts?

Do you need to get a reservation? No. But should you? Absolutely!

These tracks, as you may have assumed, are the most popular parts of these two ships so they are going to be pretty much always occupied. If you want to save yourself from the long lines, it’s best to have a reservation for a spot the moment you board the cruise. 

Otherwise, you’re going to probably end up waiting for your turn for a much longer time than the actual lap will take. Alternatively, you can always opt for the Unlimited Weekly Pass for those extra queueing perks!

Is Go-Karting on a Cruise Ship Worth It?

If you’re going on a cruise, it’s great to do whatever you can to make memories that will last a lifetime. Usually, these experiences are more relaxing in nature but having an exciting option like being able to race go-karts on a custom-built race track in the middle of the ocean is something you’ll probably only do once in your life. 

So the definitive answer is, yes! For larger families the karting experience can be a little pricey. But when you think about the fact that you’d be having this amazing experience in the middle of an ocean on one of the very first race tracks on top of a cruise ship, spending the money is worth it. Especially if you just intend to do it just for the experience.

In fact, most indoor karting arenas feature similar prices, although the length of a race may be a little longer. But who are we kidding? Of course, it will be an extremely awesome and thrilling experience. You’ll be racing on top of a cruise ship! Not only will you be able to get the thrill of racing go-karts but you’ll also have the thrill of that with the ocean right in front of you. 

It’s like having the best of both worlds – you get the adventure of karting and you get to do it with a view! So, the answer is a definitive yes! Don’t miss out on this experience.

About Gerrit

Owner, Researcher, Writer & Editor at GoKartGuide.com

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5 can't-miss events when Kool April Nites classic car show rolls into Redding this week

Five kool april nites events not to miss when redding's classic car celebration revs up this week..

Time to dig out your leather jacket, saddle shoes or bell bottom jeans for some citywide throwback fun.

The first events in Redding’s huge spring festival, the Kool April Nites classic car show, will drive out this week.

Kool April Nites celebrates America’s affection for vehicles and 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s car culture with a 10-day schedule packed with variety shows, community breakfasts, a concert, a drive-in movie and daily 'show and shine' car displays at venues throughout Redding and Anderson.

Started in 1990, this year’s festival is the 32nd Kool April Nites. The non-profit’s board of directors had to cancel the show in 2020 and 2021 due to social gathering restrictions during the COVID pandemic.

The citywide celebration returned with gusto in 2022, Kool April Nites President Debra Fox said.

About 10,000 people typically flock to the Big Show and Shine held during Kool April Nites at the Redding Civic Auditorium. The celebration packs hotels and restaurants, attracting visitors from throughout the West, according to the Redding Chamber of Commerce.

If you can’t make it to all of the more than 40 official Kool April Nites events, here are five no-miss activities to check out this year.

Classic cars cruise around Redding

The Cruise is one of the most popular Kool April Nites events and the kickoff for the weekend program.

Motorists parade their classic cars through central Redding from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 26.

Drivers in the cruise ride along Dana Drive from the Mt. Shasta Mall, turn right onto Churn Creek Road, then right onto Cypress Avenue, right onto Hilltop Drive and back onto Dana Drive.

The city closes off these stretches of road at 5 p.m., while spectators start setting up folding chairs and picnic blankets along the cruise route. Event planners recommend people arrive early to find a spot, but you can see the cruise from the sidewalk anywhere along the route.

Admission is free.

Take in a family-friendly drive-in movie at the Redding Civic Auditorium

C.R. Gibbs American Grille hosts the Kool April Nites Drive-In Movie Night at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24 at the Redding Civic Auditorium, 700 Auditorium Drive.

Park on the lawn to watch this year's car-themed comedy film, the 1969 classic Walt Disney movie "Herbie, the Love Bug." After numerous wins, race car driver Jim Douglas (Dean Jones) credits his mad driving skills for taking him to the top ― until he realizes his car, Herbie, is both brains and brawn behind his success. This film is rated G.

Classic cars park on the lawn starting at 7 p.m. All other vehicles park starting at 7:30 p.m. People on foot can bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs to watch.

See the Big Show and Shine at the Redding Civic

Kool April Nites' main event is the Big Show and Shine from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.

See up to 2,000 classic cars on display at the Redding Civic Auditorium.

Cost is $10 for a wristband that admits holders to all areas of the show. Wristbands are available at the gate or in advance at local Napa Auto Parts stores. People ages 70 or older and those ages 12 and younger get in free.

The Big Show and Shine is the final and largest of the 32 Kool April Nites official show and shines in Redding and Anderson. The first, the Spring Fest Car and Bike Show, takes place from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19 at 1504 Market St. in downtown Redding.

For more information go to koolaprilnites.com .

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Pig out on pancakes flipped by North State 'cowboys'

North State philanthropic group the Asphalt Cowboys cook up two community pancake breakfasts, both from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday April 27 and Sunday April 28 at the Redding Civic Auditorium.

Cost is $7 for pancakes, sausages, and a choice of orange juice, milk or coffee, Asphalt Cowboy Andy Clemens said.

Attend a concert or musical variety show by North State rock band, high school

North State classic rock tribute band Jinx takes the stage from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday April 27 at the Redding Civic Auditorium. Sing along to high-energy favorites by the Cars, Pat Benatar, Pink Floyd, Joan Jett, Billy Idol, John 'Cougar' Melencamp and other '70s and '80s rockers.

This year's Kool April Nites lineup also includes three high school productions at the Redding Civic Auditorium.

• Students in Enterprise High School's music department perform the Starship Variety Hour from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday April 22. Ticket prices have yet to be announced.
• Students in Parsons Junior High School's vocal music department perform "Puttin' on the Glitz" from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday April 23. The concert is free. A fundraiser dinner costs $15.
• Foothill High School's Club Cougar Orchestra hosts a dinner show with dancing before the drive-in movie, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday April 24. Dinner is catered by O’Dell’s Craft Barbecue. Tickets are $20 at ticketleap.com.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic  and on Facebook . Join Jessica in the  Get Out! Nor Cal  recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

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Oil prices flat as economic headwinds counter Mideast supply fears

Oil prices settled marginally lower on Tuesday after economic headwinds pressured investor sentiment, curbing gains from geopolitical tensions with eyes on Israel and its pending response to Iran's attack on Israeli territory over the weekend.

1 dead, several injured in Honolulu after shuttle bus crashes outside cruise terminal

One person has died and multiple people were injured in a shuttle bus crash in Honolulu , Hawaii on Friday.

"Nine Carnival Miracle guests were hit by a shuttle bus in the transportation area outside the Honolulu cruise terminal on Friday morning," Matt Lupoli, senior manager of the Carnival Cruise Line , told USA TODAY. "Sadly, one guest has died from her injuries. She was traveling with her husband, who was also injured and is expected to recover."

The shuttle bus crashed into pedestrians and two concrete barriers at the terminal. The shuttle bus driver mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the break when they attempted to stop the bus from moving, Hawaii News Now reported.

All of the victims were taken to local hospitals and are being treated for their injuries. The victims are in different conditions ranging from serious to stable, the news outlet said.

"Members of the Carnival Care Team are assisting the guests. Our thoughts are with the guests affected and their loved ones," Lupoli said.

USA TODAY has reached out to the  Honolulu Police Department and the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services for comment.

1 dead, 13 injured: After man crashes truck into Texas Department of Public Safety building

Eyewitnesses share their experience after the Honolulu shuttle bus crash, reports state

Eyewitness told KITV Island News that the relaxing Friday morning turned deadly after the shuttle bus crash.

"We heard the tire of a vehicle screeching," Lillian Le, a visitor from Denver told the broadcast station. "We looked and it was a bus running over people and hit against a wall."

An employee at the complex said he has never experienced this before.

"We saw the first responders coming, it was substantial, probably about 10 a.m., four or five ambulances, two fire trucks, ten cop cars, looked pretty bad - it's really distressing," Mark Elwell, an employee at the complex wher the accident occurred. "I've worked here 21 years, I've never seen anything to this magnitude, really sad to see, obviously people were hurt pretty bad to be taken away by ambulance."

Jessica Lani Rich, a visitor at the Aloha Society of Hawaii told KITV Island News that the woman who died was celebrating her 46th wedding anniversary with her husband.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at  [email protected] . Follow her on  Instagram ,  Threads  and  X @forbesfineest.

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• autonomous driving

Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driver assist under investigation after two fatal crashes

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating two fatal crashes involving two separate Ford Mustang Mach-Es crashing into stationary vehicles, where three people have died. In at least one of the crashes, Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driver-assist system was activated at the time of the crash, while the second one is under preliminary investigation. Here’s what happened.

The first fatality occurred in San Antonio, Texas, after a 44-year-old Mustang Mach-E driver using the driver assist system crashed into a stationary Honda, killing the 56-year-old driver. Another Mach-E driver was involved in a fatal crash in Philadelphia on March 3, although it’s not known yet if the BlueCruise played a role.

The incident in Texas involved a driver of a 2022 Mach E striking a 1999 Honda CR-V that was stopped in the middle lane of I-10 with no lights at around 9:50 p.m. – a challenging scenario for any oncoming vehicle. The second accident near Philadelphia, which killed two people, involved a Mach-E that hit two stationary vehicles on Interstate 95 at 3:13 a.m. on March 3. Both drivers of the stationary cars were killed, and one of the victims may have been standing outside of their car, the Associated Press reports.

In regards to the February crash, the NTSB states that “based on the data obtained from the vehicle, the driver had been operating the vehicle in BlueCruise mode before the crash.”

While the Honda driver died, the Mustang driver sustained minor injuries, and police found no signs of intoxication. According to the NTSB report, a witness who had been traveling in the center lane in front of the Mach-E reported that she saw the Honda in the center lane and that the car had no tail or hazard lights illuminated. After changing lanes to avoid hitting the car, she then saw another vehicle crash into the Honda. The NTSB released a preliminary report on its investigation, with the final report likely to be published in a year or two.

Top comment by Martin Winlow (Electric Martin)

Why don't people read the information they have to hand and then use their intelligence and life-experience to consider the situation at hand before leaping to a ( usually hysteria-based) conclusion and condemning an entire nascent industry with the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives every year to the scrap heap?

Like so many Tesla incidents that have been reported over the years (usually with screaming headlines - especially those involving stationary emergency vehicles) this is clearly a scenario which would have caught out just about any average human driver.

Car A is following car B (too closely, as completely usual). Car A comes across car C in unusual situation eg (as in this case) in the middle lane of a large highway, stationary without lights, during hours of darkness. Car A's driver manages (just) to swerve to an adjacent lane avoiding a collision wth car C; car B does not have enogh time to react (due to following car A too closely) and collides with car C.

This is such a common scenario, I simply cannot understand what all the hullabalo is about. Can remind readers that 40 THOUSAND people die on the roads of the US every year ?!

Indeed, if you take vehicular autonomy to its natural conclusion, cars A and B in the above scenario would never have even come close to colliding with car C because they would have learned via WWW before they actually encountered it that car C was there and would have changed lanes in good time to avoid any danger.

BlueCruise is Ford’s marquee driver assist system, which enables hands-free driving on some highways. Ford doesn’t promote the system as autonomous driving, and drivers, while allowed to take their hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals, are required to keep their eyes peeled at all times and be ready to take control of the car. This is enforced with a driver monitoring system that deactivates BlueCruise if the driver looks to be distracted or sleepy.

Surveys have shown that people often over-rely on ADAS, treating them as fully automated driving systems, with their reaction times slower than what is considered safe when it’s time to take back control.

The NHTSA has spent nearly three years investigating more than a dozen accidents involving Tesla drivers using Autopilot. This is the first investigation into Ford’s ADAS, but as with Tesla, as more of these are on the road, more crashes and investigations will surely take place. Tesla, for its part, recently settled a lawsuit bought on by the family of Apple engineer Walter Huang, who died when his Model X crashed using Autopilot in 2018.

While GM’s Super Cruise is usable in more places, the BlueCruise is considered one of the best available , and the crash is notable because it is the first to involve a hands-free driving assist available to the public. Also, Ford offers other passive safety features, such as Co-Pilot360 with forward collision warning and emergency brake and steering assist to avoid obstacles, so this news potentially points to failures in those systems as well.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

The Ultimate Guide to the Ford Mustang Mach-E

Jennifer is a writer and editor for Electrek. Based in France, she has worked previously at Wired, Fast Company, and Agence France-Presse. Send comments, suggestions, or tips her way via X (@JMossalgue) or at [email protected].

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Live updates, texas mom left young kids, 6 and 8, home alone for nearly a week while she vacationed on a cruise: cops.

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A Texas mother was arrested after she allegedly abandoned her two young kids to go on a cruise — leaving the children home alone for nearly a week, officials said.

Lakesha Woods Williams, 29, was hit with two charges of child endangerment last Thursday after officers found her 8-year-old and 6-year-old alone in their high-rise apartment complex in Houston with no adult supervision, according to the Harris Country Constable- Precinct 5.

Williams left her kids to take her solo vacation on April 4 and returned the night of April 10. She was arrested the following day.

Concerned neighbors called emergency responders after worrying about the siblings’ welfare, according to the constable.

The neighbors saw Williams leaving the building with luggage on April 4 and noticed she failed to come home after several days, according to court records obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Deputies visited the apartment on April 9 and found the two kids alone in the apartment trashed with garbage and food all around the floor and a “potent smell of urine,” the documents state.

The place was in “complete disarray,” deputies said.

The children said their mother had left to go on a cruise and was communicating with them through a camera in the apartment and via text messages to the 8-year-old.

The kids were checked by paramedics as well as Child Protective Services. They were removed from the apartment and are now in the care of their aunt.

Neighbors told deputies it was “not the first time” they had been left at home with no adults.

“We are still putting together the facts and circumstances of how these children were left alone for several days,” Constable Ted Heap said. “But the important thing is they are safe now and those responsible should be held accountable for leaving these kids in an unsafe situation.”

Williams was booked into Harris County Jail on a $40,000 bond, according to jail records.

She is set to be in court Monday.

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