Cruise News

Wearable technology offers plenty of upsides for travel brands. But it also involves lots of complex, behind-the-scenes moving pieces to make it run smoothly. Assuming they can pull off the logistics, Carnival's Ocean Medallion program seems like a good move both for passengers and the company's bottom line.

Since the heady days of a stock market floatation in 2007, there has not been much to shout about for All Leisure Group. Like a number of other travel companies, it has not been able to cope with the level of geopolitical upheaval in key destinations. It is unlikely to be the only big travel casualty of 2017.

We think this will take some getting used to for cruise passengers and crew alike. But the widespread acceptance of Disney's MagicBand — at least in Florida parks — shows that vacationers can adapt and embrace new forms of technology, especially if it improves their trip.

Cruise lines have been working on ways to improve guest-facing technology so passengers have a better experience on their trip. But it sounds like those efforts are moving to a new level this year — which should be good news for cruisers.

Being small isn't quite enough to stand out in the cruise crowd. But elements of quirkiness, fun, and surprise — along with the advantage of greater access to some destinations — could do the trick.

This move combines Fathom's two aims — social impact in the Dominican Republic, culture-focused visits to Cuba — in one trip. Although the experiences in each will be truncated, this could be enough to attract passengers looking for variety rather than a full week in one country.

Cruise operators are counting on Cuba to stir up new interest in long-established Caribbean sailings. That could ultimately increase demand and prices for cruises that are typically budget-friendly. But as Carnival's CEO said, adding Cuba as a destination may not do much for the bottom line at first.

Uniworld is making an interesting play to expand the market for river cruising. We'll be curious to see how the new brand tries to create an experience that appeals to millennials without pandering.

Royal Caribbean is hoping to accomplish major progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and landfill waste by a self-imposed 2020 deadline. The problem is that the cruise giant fell short of its 2015 goals, and faces an uphill battle to reach its ambitious goals for the future.

The cruise industry is generally very good at getting passengers to fill all their ships, especially new ones with the latest bells and whistles. Executives have also been trying to get those passengers to pay more for their trips, which is sometimes a struggle.