-Currently 12 private destinations in the Caribbean, more on way -Royal Caribbean's CocoCay helps lift ticket revs 48% since 2019 -Carnival plans $600 million investment in Celebration Key -Direct bookings rise, reducing reliance on travel agents -Public Caribbean destinations see decline in cruise visits Major cruise operators are steering their ships - and millions of dollars in investments - into their own private destinations packed with excursions, beaches, bars and restaurants. The phenomenon appears to have started with Royal Caribbean Group, which in 2019 opened "Perfect Day at CocoCay," an amusement park-like private destination in The Bahamas that has caught the eye of Wall Street. By operating their own private destinations on small Caribbean islands, Roy...
Read MoreTag: cruise ships
Discover a legendary chapter in maritime history as you step aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), the world’s most celebrated ocean liner, now permanently docked as a floating hotel in Dubai. While the QE2 no longer sails the high seas, it remains a living testament to a bygone era of luxury travel and historic voyages. Today, guests have the unique opportunity to explore this iconic vessel through through highly informative and unique guided heritage tours, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the ship’s illustrious past. Ferghal Purcell, General Manager, Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel said, “The Queen Elizabeth 2 is a living piece of history, a vessel that has sailed through some of the most significant moments of the 20th century. Every corner of this iconic vessel tells a story of adventu...
Read MoreGreece to tax cruise ship arrivals to protect popular islands from overtourism
Greece plans to impose a 20-euro levy on cruise ship visitors to the islands of Santorini and Mykonos during the peak summer season, in a bid to avert overtourism, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday. Greece relies heavily on tourism, the main driver of the country's economy which is still recovering from a decade-long crisis that wiped out a fourth of its output. But some of its most popular destinations, including Santorini, an idyllic island of quaint villages and pristine beaches with 20,000 permanent residents, risk being ruined by mass tourism. Speaking at a press conference a day after outlining his main economic policies for 2025, Mitsotakis clarified that excessive tourism was only a problem in a few destinations. "Greece does not have a structural o...
Read MoreCruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, has released its annual Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report, showing continued progress by the sector in advancing its environmental and sustainability agenda, including investments in ships and technologies for the uptake of transitional and alternative fuels. "Cruise lines are continuing to reduce their emissions at sea and at berth in pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050," said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association. "This year's environmental technologies report demonstrates their progress, with the industry investing in engine technologies with conversion capabilities that will allow ships to use more renewab...
Read MoreStarting August 2025, the next combination of every vacation will headline Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, with the record-setting lineup of Icon Class experiences Royal Caribbean International's Star of the Seas will soon double the world's best vacation count in one of the world's top travel destinations, and the full lineup of unrivaled experiences in store has been revealed. From thrills like the fastest and tallest waterslides to 40-plus ways to dine and drink combined with adventures in idyllic destinations like the cruise line's Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, the next combination of the best of every vacation sets the stage for everyone to make memories from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida. Debuting August 2025 in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, Royal Caribb...
Read MoreUnique itineraries, small-group shore excursions, and remote ports allow guests to dive into local life Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, is offering an extensive collection of voyages across East Asia in the first half of 2025 that boast destination-rich adventures for even the most seasoned world travelers. Within the new collection of sailings, Oceania Cruises invites guests to explore the wildly diverse landscapes of Asia from the vibrant city of Hong Kong to the lush coves of Bali, and the ancient temples of Kyoto to the stunning turquoise coastlines of Phuket. Oceania Cruises' small, luxurious ships carry no more than 1,250 guests and are more than an elegant means of travel with exceptional guest-to-staff ratios. They are perf...
Read MoreThe global cruise industry expects to carry 10% more passengers by 2028 than the 31.7 million who took cruise holidays in 2023, when the sector surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but sees some routes exposed to protests over overtourism. Long criticised for its impact on the environment and coastal communities, the industry has ordered 57 more cruise ships in addition to some 300 now in operation to meet the projected demand, said the European director of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Marie-Caroline Laurent. At the same time, companies are working to adapt the ships so they can switch to electricity from highly-polluting marine fuel when they are moored at ports and to be ready to comply with EU maritime environment regulations by 2030. But as travel continues to...
Read MoreEach year, a crush of tourists arrives in Alaska’s capital city on cruise ships to see wonders like the fast-diminishing Mendenhall Glacier. Now, long-simmering tensions over Juneau’s tourism boom are coming to a head over a new voter initiative aimed at giving residents a respite from the influx. A measure that would ban cruise ships with 250 or more passengers from docking in Juneau on Saturdays qualified for the Oct. 1 municipal ballot, setting the stage for a debate about how much tourism is too much in a city that is experiencing first-hand the impacts of climate change. The measure would also ban ships on July 4, a day when locals flock to a downtown parade. The “ship-free Saturdays” initiative that qualified this week will go to voters unless the local Assembly enacts a simil...
Read MoreSet for over $30 billion in revenue and 29 million users in 2024 Over the past four years, the cruise industry has been struggling with the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused its revenue and the number of users to sink deep below the 2019 levels. However, 2024 could mark the turning point for the market and bring the long-awaited recovery. According to data presented by Stocklytics.com, the cruise industry is set to reach pre-pandemic levels, with over $30 billion in revenue and 29 million users in 2024. From the Worst Performer to the Fastest-Growing Segment in the Tourism Industry Confidence in cruise lines plummeted after COVID-19 hit, turning the cruise market into the worst-hit sector of the tourism industry. Cruise lines worldwide practically d...
Read MoreWith enhanced offerings and new personalized amenities, The Retreat delivers the most elevated experience at sea Celebrity Cruises takes the suite life to new heights with new premium and personalized enhancements for The Retreat, providing the most elevated experience at sea. Offering more perks and amenities than ever before, The Retreat isn't just a suite. It's the most elevated experience at sea, period. "At The Retreat, the world really does revolve around our guests," said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises. "We collected extensive feedback from past guests, loyalty members and our trade partners to inform how The Retreat experiences are being reimagined to continue exceeding vacation expectations by delivering on the amenities and experiences Celebrit...
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