Royal Caribbean: More New to Brand Guests
“In the second quarter, the percent of guests were either new to brand or new to cruise surpassed 2019 levels by a wide margin, and we have seen post-cruise repeat booking rates nearly double 2019 levels,” said Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, speaking on the company’s second quarter earnings call. “While we have…
New Carnival Jubilee Gets Its Funnel
The new Carnival Jubilee has gotten its funnel, as the winged funnel synonymous with the Carnival Cruise Line brand now adorns the ship. On Tuesday, cranes lowered the top of the funnel in place atop the Carnival Jubilee, which is docked alongside the outfitting pier at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. The ship’s crowning took…
AIDA Cruises: Summer 2023 Deployment Breakdown
With one of the biggest summer seasons in its history now underway, AIDA Cruises is offering different itineraries in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. The program includes a total of nine ships sailing from different ports in Germany to several destinations in the Baltic, the North Sea, Scandinavia, Iceland and even the Arctic. The Carnival-owned…
Holland America Announces a New Legendary Voyage
Holland America Line announced a new addition to its Legendary Voyages, the 42-day Ultimate Mediterranean and Atlantic Passage journey aboard the Volendam. The new itinerary is departing on November 9, 2024 and was inspired by a journey the cruise line operated nearly 100 years ago. The original voyage departed New York City on February 4,…
Costa Journeys to Sail to the Holy Land, Azores, Tunisia, the Canary Islands, More
Costa Cruises new Costa Journeys program is set to explore different and unique destinations in 2023 and 2024, with six ships featured in the new itinerary program. The recently announced experience include “extended itineraries,” Costa said, as part of longer cruises to the Holy Land, Egypt, the Azores Archipelago, the Canary Islands, Morocco, Tunisia and…
10 Norwegian Cruise Line Ships to Sail in the Mediterranean in 2023
After deploying the Norwegian Sun for a winter season in the region, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a big summer program in the Mediterranean in 2023. According to the 2023 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, a total of ten ships from the U.S.-based cruise line are set to sail in different parts of the Mediterranean…
Port Everglades Study Shows Cruising Is Back
In an effort to get to know its cruise guests better, Port Everglades completed that included interviews with more than 7,000 travelers. “We really want to know how we can improve the guest experience, and also how the port impacts the economic well-being of Broward County,” said Port Everglades CEO and Port Director Jonathan Daniels. …
Historic Week for Luxury Cruise Industry: New Ships, Brands and Crystal Return
The week of July 17 marked a historic five days for the luxury cruise market, with two new ships delivered, a new brand launched by the industry’s fastest-growing company and the handover of the Crystal Serenity to the “new” Crystal brand. Marking its debut on the luxury segment, the MSC Cruises Group took delivery of…
New Explora I Cruise Ship Delivered by Fincantieri
Explora Journeys, the new luxury cruise line from MSC Group, today officially took delivery of Explora I, the first luxury ship to join its fleet, from the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The investment in the new ship amounted to more than Euros €500 million, with a total investment plan of Euros €2.5 billion for…
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….