In a major blow to the cruise industry, the U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Americans should avoid all cruise travel, even if they’re fully vaccinated. The CDC on Thursday upgraded its travel warning advisory for cruising from level three to level four. Level three indicates what the CDC calls a “high” level of COVID-19 and advises travellers to make sure they’re fully vaccinated before taking a trip. Level four is for “very high” levels of the virus and suggests that people “avoid travel” entirely. The world cruise industry was just getting its sea legs back in the Read more
cruise ships
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating some 86 cruise ships for COVID-19, according to multiple reports. The Washington Post said in today’s edition that 86 ships in U.S. waters are being looked at. BNN Bloomberg pegged the number of ships under investigation by the CDC at 89. Several cruise ships were turned away from ports in the Caribbean and Mexico over the past week due to concerns about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. The website Axios said affected cruise lines include Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. The CDC today lists cruise travel at level three in Read more
Several ocean cruise ships were turned away from ports of call or were prohibited from letting passengers disembark in the Americas this week because of Covid-19 cases aboard, CNN reports. That’s nothing like the massive disruption when the pandemic hit in March of last year, but it comes at a time when the cruise industry was just getting back in the swing of things. An Expedia Group study released in late November found that there had been more than a 20% month on month increase in demand in Canadian cruise searches for travel in the fourth quarter of 2021 and Read more
It’s no secret that cruise lines have been hit hard by the pandemic. But $8 billion is still a startling figure. Carnival Corporation, which includes Holland America, Carnival Cruises, Princess Cruises, Cunard, Seabourn, and Costa Cruises, is reporting a $2 billion (all figures USD) loss for the fourth quarter of 2021. Open Jaw reports the company’s loss for the year is nearly $8 billion. Still, Carnival President and CEO Arnold Donald says he sees sunnier days ahead for the second half of next year. “Our cash from operations turned positive in the month of November, and we expect consistently positive Read more
Margaritaville announces Margaritaville at Sea, an offshore resort experience. The first cruise ship, Margaritaville Paradise, will offer the fun, escapism, and state of mind synonymous with the global lifestyle brand. “To me, the only thing better than being on a beach by the ocean, is to be on the ocean. Now you can follow in our wake,” said singer, songwriter and best-selling author, Jimmy Buffett. Departing on her first passenger sailing on April 30 from the Port of Palm Beach Florida to Grand Bahama Island, Margaritaville Paradise will include 10 passenger decks and 658 cabins in various stateroom categories. Following Read more
