Marella: ‘Optimistic for the Future’
With the addition of a fifth ship in the Marella Voyager, the Marella Cruises brand is set for its biggest year ever, according to Managing Director Chris Hackney. “We are the number three player in the UK market, with just under 20 percent,” he said. The TUI company’s edge is its fly-cruise business model and…
Carnival Cruise Line to Offer New Late Night Snack Menu
Carnival Cruise Line is expanding its dining options with a new menu of late-night snacks. According to the company’s Brand Ambassador John Heald, the new options will complement the selection of pizzas that are currently available across the fleet in late hours. Called “Good Eats: Late Night Snack” the new menu features different choices, such…
Adora’a Chinese Built Cruise Ship Embarks on 9-Day Sea Trial Run
The Adora Cruises newbuild for the Chinese market has embarked on a set of sea trails set to take nine days. The Adora Magic City will now be put through the paces before returning to the outfitting dock in Shanghai, where work will continue to finish the Vista-class ship, which is due to enter service…
Costa’s 2023 Program in the Med to Include 8 Ships, New Homeports
Costa Cruises is offering a strong program in the Mediterranean in 2023. With its entire fleet now back in service, the Italian brand will see its largest season in the region in four years. According to the Cruise Industry News 2023 Annual Report, a total of eight Costa vessels will sail in the Western and…
July Update: Here Are the Latest Five Cruise Ship Moves
The secondhand cruise ship market recently saw an uptick with more cruise lines announcing plans to acquire or sell vessels. More ships, meanwhile, are entering service for new and start up brands. Cruise Industry News looks at the key cruise ship moves that took place between late May and early July. For a complete overview…
Icon of the Seas: No Straight Lines in Innovation
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is different things to different people. A playground to passengers, a paycheck to ports, a home away from home to crew, a profit-driving post-pandemic triumph to Royal Caribbean International, and to the people designing and building the 250,000-plus-ton ship, the largest cruise ship ever built is a floating laboratory….
Disney Dream Sets Sail to Northern Europe
The Disney Dream is starting a repositioning voyage to Northern Europe today. Sailing from Barcelona to Southampton, the seven-night cruise includes visits to ports in Spain, Portugal, France and the United Kingdom, such as Cádiz, Lisbon and Le Havre. Following the open-jaw itinerary, the Disney Cruise Line vessel is set to offer a program in…
Holland America Line Has Highest Booking Day in Brand’s History
Holland America Line bookings on July 11 were higher than on any day in the brand’s 150-year history, according to a statement from the Carnival Corporation brand. Booking revenues also broke the line’s single-day record. Most of the sailings booked July 11 were for 2024 and 2025, showing that cruisers are planning ahead and eager…
MSC Revving Up for Global Exposure
MSC Cruises is aggressively building up its global exposure through sponsorships of sports, including auto racing, soccer and basketball, in addition to the more traditional sales and marketing channels. Comparing the cruise line to the worldwide Formula 1 racing series, Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: “We share common goals; we are focused on…
Limbo Fleet: These Cruise Ships Are Looking For New Owners
While almost all of the global cruise ship fleet is back in service coming out of the pandemic, some vessels continue to sit in limbo around the world. From coastal and expedition vessels to large contemporary cruise ships, Cruise Industry News gathered the latest on some of these vessels. Braemar Last Operator: Fred. Olsen Cruise…
MSC Cruises Heading Back to China in March 2024
MSC Cruises today announced that on March 16 2024 it will return to international sailings from China with the MSC Bellissima becoming the largest and newest flagship in Asia, according to a company statement. The MSC Bellissima will operate international itineraries between March 16 and April 24 2024 to neighboring countries from Baoshan Wusongkou International…
First Look at Next Generation TUI Cruises 2024 Newbuild
TUI Cruises has revealed new details of the outdoor area onboard its eighth ship. Set to launch in 2024, the new ship of the Mein Schiff fleet will provide guests with a new sense of space thanks to extensive, connected outer decks and a large specially designed roof. The top deckwill feature a 25-meter pool…
Costa Introduces Costa Voyages, Longer Itineraries
Costa Cruises is launching Costa Voyages, a new cruise experience designed to explore extended itineraries, according to a press release. Starting in September 2023, Costa Cruises will offer itineraries ranging from 10 to 14 days, allowing guests to visit destinations and explore them in-depth. Voyages include visiting destinations such as the Canary Islands, Turkey, Egyptian…
AIDA Cruises Begins Starlink Rollout For Three Ships
AIDA Cruises has successfully completed the installation of SpaceX’s Starlink broadband internet on the AIDAblu, AIDAbella and the AIDAstella. “Our project team has already equipped three ships in the AIDA fleet with Starlink antennas and the field test has been very convincing. Guests and crew appreciate the faster internet connections and enjoy more comfortable web…
New 2024 Global Cruise Ship Index Out Now
The new 2024 Global Cruise Ship Index by Cruise Industry News has been released, with a single user-friendly file with the entire cruise fleet at a user’s fingertips. The newly released Excel file is a game-changer, offering comprehensive information on over 500 cruise ships. It’s a unique go-to resource for key metrics, including cruise line,…