From the Newsletter, March 13, 2009
What’s Up?
Carnival Corporation filed a shelf registration, allowing the company to issue an unspecified amount of debt, with the proceeds going to working capital, repayment of debt, to finance capital commitments or possible future acquisitions.
China Deal Pending
The fate of Star Cruises’ Taiwan cruise operations depends on diplomatic relations between the island nation and China, senior company officials told Cruise Industry News.
Sales
Sales offers continue to bombard the market, including free roundtrip airfare from the U.S. to Europe for MSC Cruises seven-day summer programs. And after NCL offered passengers job loss insurance coverage, CruiseOne, Cruises Inc. and eCruise are offering job-loss insurance for all cruises booked through their agencies.
The Celebrity Model
The Solstice is the perfect manifestation of a premium ship, Dan Hanrahan, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises told Cruise Industry News, adding the ship has been transformational for the brand. The Solstice is the first in a series of five new sister ships which will grow Celebrity’s passenger capacity from an estimated 567,750 in 2008 to 985,050 by 2012.
Louis’ Strategy
One of the few cruise lines left operating with older tonnage, Cyprus based Louis Cruise Lines has a multi-pronged strategy, with traditional sales and marketing of its cruises in Europe; marketing only through tour operators in North America; and charter ships.
Having also embarked on an expansion and fleet renewal course, Louis expects to have two or three ships sailing next winter.
And there is more
Island Cruises lives on under the Thomson Cruises umbrella; American Cruise Line may delay the introduction of its new ship, the Independence, until 2010; Celebration Cruise Line has launched service from Ft. Lauderdale; CDF provides an update on the French market; Disney Cruise Line names its new ships; and Royal Caribbean Cruises makes a presentation to financial firm Raymond James, stating that it expects to earn $1.40 per share in 2009.
