Carnival Reports
Carnival Corporation gave a positive outlook for 2011 in its fourth quarter and year-end earnings call Dec. 21, forecasting earnings per share in the range of $2.90 to $3.10. Chairman and CEO Micky Arison said in a prepared statement that booking trends have continued to improve for both the North American and European brands, particularly for the peak summer season. And the company expects a strong wave season. The market responded by sending the shares up 4.5 percent or $1.93 by the end of the day to $45.18.
New Mexican Brand
Ocean Star Cruises plans to launch Mexican Riviera service with the Ocean Star Pacific, the former Aquamarine of Louis Cruises.
Korean Start Up
Harmony Cruises plans to launch service with ships in the 500-passenger range as early as September.
Shore Power
With a $7.1 million installation, the Port of San Diego hooked up its first ship to shorepower on Dec. 11. Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, cruise lines must use shorepower for 50 percent of their calls in California ports. New York will be ready this coming fall.
Capturing Benefits
Belize is working to capture more of the economic benefits from cruise tourism, “making it more equitable for more people.”
And there is more: Appointing a new president and CEO, is the Cruise Lines International Association moving north again(?); Carnival cancelled another month worth of cruises on the Splendor to complete repairs; STX starts construction on the GNTMC ship; and stormy seas in the Gulf, the Mediterranean and Antarctica remind us of the inherent dangers of the sea.
FOR THE FULL REPORTS, READ THE DECEMBER 23, 2010 ISSUE OF CRUISE INDUSTRY NEWS, THE NEWSLETTER. SEE SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION OR CLICK HERE.
