Global Cruise Ship Orderbook Expands to 60 Ships Through 2036
The global cruise ship orderbook now extends the farthest out it ever has, with new ships on order through 2026, thanks to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings which announced a large newbuild deal with Fincantieri in April. In the latest update to the cruise ship orderbook from Cruise Industry News, eight new Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings…
Virgin’s Brilliant Lady to Debut in September 2025 from NYC
Virgin Voyages will put its fourth ship, the Brilliant Lady, into revenue service starting September 2025 and sailing from New York City. Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, said, “Virgin Voyages started as a simple idea for me and has blossomed into the world’s top cruise line with a full fleet of ships. This…
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 and provided guidance for the second quarter and full year 2024. First Quarter 2024 Highlights: Generated total revenue of $2.2 billion, a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2023 on 8% capacity growth, with GAAP net income…
Lindblad Calls Out Other Expedition Operators for Discounting
Sven Lindblad, founder and CEO of Lindblad Expeditions, took aim at other expedition cruise lines for pricing practices on Lindblad’s first quarter earnings call on Tuesday. “As 2023 evolved through the summer and fall, we started seeing more and more dramatic price actions, sometimes even two-for-one offerings for prime seasons in places like Antarctica,” Lindblad…
Explora Journeys Sets Sights on Luxury Dominance
“Our Yacht Club offering gave us an understanding of our passengers wanting more, and wanting a luxury experience,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the cruise division of MSC Group. “The Yacht Club is able to offer privacy and luxury in a world of choice, having a larger ship downstairs.” It was then a natural…
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity: Strategic Deployment Approach
“The general strength of the Caribbean has been a factor,” said Marc Miller, director, deployment and itinerary planning, Royal Caribbean Group, pointing to more capacity in the region for both the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises brands. “For Royal Caribbean we have added more hardware year-round and we also have two Celebrity ships in…
Carnival Pride Repositions to the East Coast
After completing its winter 2023-24 program in Tampa, the Carnival Pride recently repositioned to the East Coast. The Carnival Cruise Line vessel is now offering a series of seven- to 14-night cruises departing from Norfolk. The itineraries were initially scheduled to depart from the Port of Baltimore, which remains closed following the collapse of the…
Spectrum of the Seas Marks Royal Caribbean’s Return to China
Marking Royal Caribbean International’s return to China after a four-year hiatus, the Spectrum of the Seas arrived in Shanghai today. Ending an eight-night repositioning cruise that started in Singapore, the 2019-built vessel docked at the Shanghai Baoshan International Cruise Terminal after visits to Vietnam and Hong Kong. The Spectrum of the Seas is now set…
Royal Caribbean Reports 2024 Q1; Increases Guidance
Royal Caribbean Group today reported first quarter Earnings per Share (“EPS”) of $1.35 and Adjusted EPS of $1.7, according to a press release. These results were better than the company’s guidance due to stronger pricing on close-in demand, strength in onboard revenue and favorable timing of expenses. As a result of an exceptional WAVE season…
Crystal Offering ‘Unique Brand’ in Luxury Market
“Crystal is truly unique in the market, epitomizing the unparalleled sophistication we offer with award-winning service, exquisite culinary experiences and remarkable innovative entertainment. But what truly sets us apart is how we are rethinking, repositioning and elevating the brand to make it a lifestyle brand at sea,” said Jacqueline Barney, senior vice president of marketing….
Former Braemar Sails from Scotland Ahead of Villa Vie Debut
The former Braemar has sailed from Scotland ahead of debuting for Villa Vie Residences. After spending almost four years docked in Rosyth, the 1993-built vessel left the port under its own power on Tuesday morning. Set to be renamed Villa Vie Odyssey, the cruise ship is now on its way to the Harland & Wolff…
New Norwegian Aqua Floats Out At Fincantieri
Norwegian Cruise Line and its partners at Fincantieri celebrated the float out of the Norwegian Aqua from the drydock at the shipyard in Marghera (Venice), Italy. This marks the completion of the external work on the ship ahead of its April 2025 debut. As per maritime tradition, two ceremonial coins were welded into the Norwegian…
Carnival Sunrise Conversion Marks Five Years
The Carnival Sunrise conversion is marking five years this month. The $200-million project took place in Spain and saw the Carnival Cruise Line ship essentially being rebuilt. As part of the bow-to-stern makeover project, the former Carnival Triumph received all-new public areas, as well as additional cabins and new features. The two-month-long refit took place…
Princess Cruises: 2024 Capacity Breakdown
Princess Cruises continues to invest in its core markets in 2024. According to the 2024 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, the Carnival Corporation brand will see most of its capacity concentrated in North America. The premium brand is set to offer strong programs in the Caribbean and Alaska, which account for almost half of the…
Azamara: Diversifying Itineraries More
Highlights of 2025 will include an extended Greenland program and the addition of a series of Canada and New England sailings, according to Michael Pawlus, head of itinerary planning. “For 2025 and 2026 we are also diversifying more. We have had all our eggs in Europe (in the summer), but it is hard to predict…