Norwegian Joy Resumes Service Following Drydock in Europe

Norwegian Joy

The Norwegian Joy is back in service following a major refurbishment. After completing the enhancement at Damen, the Norwegian Cruise Line vessel welcomed guests back in Southampton, England on Feb. 13, 2024. Currently cruising in the North Atlantic, the Joy is offering an 11-night transatlantic to Miami. With no ports of call, the one-way cruise…

Royal Caribbean Group Signs with Chantiers For Next Oasis Class Ship

Harmony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Group  announced today that it has entered into an agreement with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique to order a seventh Oasis Class ship for delivery to its Royal Caribbean International fleet in 2028. “While we eagerly anticipate the debut of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas this summer, we’re already dreaming up her…

Antarctica21 To Build New Ship Magellan Discoverer

Magellan Explorer

Antarctica21 has announced an expedition newbuild, the Magellan Discoverer, set to join its fleet for the 2026-27 Antarctic season. The ship will be a sister to the Magellan Explorer and built at ASENAV, and is a result of the increasing demand for their unique fly and cruise Antarctic expeditions, a model of polar travel pioneered…

Carnival Cruise Line Orders New Ship for 2027 Delivery

Carnival Jubilee

Carnival Corporation and Meyer Werft announced they have reached an agreement to build another cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line. The ship will be a sister to the Carnival Jubilee, which was delivered in 2023, and is scheduled to be delivered in 2027. “We are very pleased that the partnership between the Meyer Group and…

TUI 2024 Q1: Cruise Occupancy Up at Higher Rates

Mein Schiff 5

TUI Group reported its first quarter 2024 numbers, noting an increase in occupancy and ticket price for its trio of cruise lines in TUI Cruises, Marella Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. “In cruises, the strong trading environment coupled with the quality of product we offer, drove an increase in occupancy at higher rates, with all three…

February Update: Holland America Line Fleet Locations and Itineraries

Rotterdam

Holland America Line is offering a complete winter program with ships sailing in the Caribbean, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the West Coast, South America and more. Here are the locations and itineraries of every ship in the company’s fleet as of February 9, 2024: Rotterdam Year Built: 2021 Capacity: 2,660 guests Location: Southern Caribbean…

Chinese Cruise Lines Set to Form New Cruise Company

Piano Land

Six Chinese cruise companies may come together to form a new cruise holding company in Huaxia International Cruises. According to local sources in China, the new company will operate under a shareholder cooperation agreement that was signed in late December. Huaxia International Cruises aims to become a leader in the country’s cruise industry development, a…

Galveston and MSC Cruises Finalize Agreement on 4th Cruise Terminal

MSC Seascape

Galveston Wharves and MSC Cruises have finalized an operating agreement for a fourth cruise terminal complex at the Port of Galveston, according to a press release. The MSC Seascape will homeport at the new terminal beginning in November 2025.  The port will develop the $100 million cruise terminal, $42 million parking garage, internal roadway and…

Royal Caribbean: Mobile Devices Driving Onboard Spending

Quantum in Brisbane

More and more guests are prebooking onboard experiences and spending money on their mobile devices on Royal Caribbean Group ships, said Jason Liberty, president and CEO. “The outsized increase in our onboard revenue over the past couple of years has been fueled by new capabilities introduced to make it easier for guests to pre book…

Royal Caribbean: 2024 Opens in Record Booked Position

Harmony of the Seas

2024 has opened with Royal Caribbean Group in the strongest booked position in the company’s history from both a pricing and volume standpoint, according to President and CEO Jason Liberty, speaking on “the company’s fourth quarter and year-end earnings call. “Momentum continues in 2024 with a record breaking start to the Wave season,” he said….

Royal Caribbean Reports Strong Q4 2023; Forecasts Record 2024

Icon and Celebrity Beyond

Royal Caribbean Group today reported 2023 Earnings per Share  of $6.31 and Adjusted EPS of $6.77. These results were better than the company’s guidance due to stronger close-in demand, according to a press release. The strength is continuing into 2024 with Adjusted EPS expected to be in the range of $9.50 to $9.70 per share….

Carnival Jubilee Fueled with LNG at Galveston Port

Fueling with LNG

Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Carnival Jubilee, was fueled with liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the first time at its Gulf Coast home port before sailing on Dec. 30, according to a press release. “Providing LNG fuel at the port opens opportunities for the Port of Galveston to attract newer, technologically advanced cruise and…

Welbilt GalleyCare: Redefining Support for Cruise Lines

GalleyCare Support

Earlier this year Welbilt launched their unique GalleyCare package for the marine industry. Six months in, we get an update from Alexis Bourgault, Director of Global Strategic Account at Welbilt Marine, about the offering and how it is changing the face of ongoing relationships with cruise operators. Can you explain what Welbilt GalleyCare is? Welbilt…

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 Completes Two Decades at Sea

Cunard's Queen Mary 2

The Queen Mary 2 is completing its second decade at sea in 2024. Having started sailing in early 2004, the 151,400-ton vessel was the result of the “Queen Mary Project.” Announced by Cunard Line in 1998, the project called for the construction of the “the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner ever.” After being built…

Oceania Cruises’ Riviera Arrives in Asia for the First Time

Oceania Riviera

The Riviera is currently offering its first ever season in the Asia-Pacific region for Oceania Cruises. After debuting crossing the Suez Canal in December, the Oceania Cruises’ vessel is now offering a series of itineraries to Southeast Asia, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. After leaving from Mumbai on Jan. 8, the Riviera is…