MSC Splendida to Swap China for Brazil for 2024-25 Season
The MSC Splendida will reposition to South America for the upcoming winter, MSC Cruises announced in a press release. Previously poised to become the company’s second ship in the Chinese market, the 3,300-guest ship will now sail from different ports in Brazil for the 2024-25 winter season. According to MSC, the change strengthens its leadership…
Windstar to Celebrate 40 Years of Small Ship Sailing in Ephesus
Windstar Cruises will commemorate its 40th anniversary with two special cruises: the Aegean Sea Odyssey on October 12 aboard the Star Legend, and the Treasures of the Greek Isles on October 13 aboard the Wind Spirit. The Star Legend and the Wind Spirit are set to meet in Kusadasi on October 16 for a celebration…
Holland America Line Introduces New 2026 Celestial Cruises
Holland America Line is introducing a new series of 2026 cruises to take guests to experience celestial events, according to a company statement. Starting July 31, travelers can book these special Celestial Cruises to see sights like the Northern Lights, a total solar eclipse, or the summer solstice above the Arctic Circle. “After the excitement…
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas Sailing at 132 Percent Occupancy
Royal Caribbean International’s new Icon of the Seas is resonating well in the family cruise market, and is currently sailing at 132 percent occupancy, according to Michael Bayley, president and CEO of the Royal Caribbean brand. With the ship’s double occupancy at around 5,600, a 132 percent load factor would mean there approximately 7,400 guests…
Royal Caribbean Reports 2024 Q2 Earnings: Dividend is Back
Royal Caribbean Group today reported second quarter Earnings per Share (“EPS”) of $3.11 and Adjusted EPS of $3.21. According to a statement, these results were better than the company’s guidance due to stronger pricing on close-in demand and continued strength in onboard revenue, as well as favorable timing of expenses of approximately $0.15. As a…
MSC Cruises Unveils Details of the World America’s Harbour
MSC Cruises has revealed the attractions and experiences for guests in The Harbour, the new outdoor space on the upcoming MSC World America, launching in 2025. Located in the ship’s Family Aventura district, The Harbour is an outdoor park offering a variety of activities as well as live music in the evenings, according to a…
Carnival Corp. Orders Three Additional Cruise Ships for Carnival Brand
Carnival Corporation today announced an order for three new ships for its Carnival Cruise Line brand for a new class of vessel, at nearly 230,000 gross registered tons. The agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri provides for the design, engineering, and construction of these liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ships, which will be delivered in the summers…
Eastern Cruise to Launch New Operation with Former Pacific Venus
South Korea-based Eastern Cruise is set to launch a new cruise operation in Asia with the former Pacific Venus. Renamed the Eastern Venus, the 720-guest vessel is set to enter service for the startup brand in August 2024. Plans call for cruises in Northeast Asia from April to October with South Korea homeports, and in…
Port Canaveral Marks Maiden Voyage of Royal Caribbean’s Newest Ship
Nearly 800 people lined the shoreline at Port Canaveral’s Jetty Park on Friday to bid “Bon Voyage” to Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas as she embarked on her first revenue sailing from Port Canaveral, according to a press release. “The World’s Biggest Wave Out” party was hosted by the Port for the local community,…
Jamaica Seeking to Become Key Supply Center for Cruise
Jamaica is making significant progress to becoming a key supply logistics center for cruise ships in the Caribbean, according to a statement by Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett. He said he believes this “will revolutionize Jamaica’s tourism sector and create unprecedented opportunities for local businesses.” “Several major cruise lines, including industry leaders such as Carnival,…
Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Philadelphia as New Homeport
Norwegian Cruise Line will become the first cruise line to sail from Philadelphia in over 15 years as it announced a 2026 homeporting program from the city with the Norwegian Jewel. On April 16, 2026, the ship will start a program of seven-to-nine-day cruises to Bermuda. Departing from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex, where plans…
Atlas Ocean Announces Record-Breaking Sales in June
Atlas Ocean Voyages announced in a press release that it had a record-setting sales performance in June. The performance marked a significant milestone in its growth trajectory, the company stated, with bookings reaching unprecedented levels. According to Atlas Ocean, the record was made possible by a robust start to the year, as well as expanded…
Asia/Pacific To See Significant Cruise Capacity Increase in 2024
According to 2024 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, cruise capacity in the Asia/Pacific region is set to see a significant increase this year. After several years below historical levels due to the pandemic capacity may be up to the tune of 89 percent this year. The increase is being driven by Adora Cruises and Resorts…
Royal Caribbean’s Utopia to Visit CocoCay Twice on Same Cruise
Royal Caribbean International has changed an itinerary of a 2025 cruise onboard the Utopia of the Seas to include a second visit to its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. As part of the ship’s schedule of short cruises to the Bahamas, the voyage is set to depart from Port Canaveral on Feb. 3, 2025….
Secondhand Update: Five Cruise Ships Are Set to Change Hands Soon
After being part of various recent transactions, these five cruise ships are set to soon debut for their new operators. For a complete overview of the market, see the Secondhand Market Report by Cruise Industry News. Pacific Encounter Capacity: 2,600 guests Tonnage: 109,000 Year built: 2002 Current operator: P&O Cruises Australia Next operator: Carnival Cruise…