Cruises

Viking Sky Cruise Passengers Being Airlifted off Ship in Treacherous Rescue Conditions

Jari Tanner, Associated Press

Carnival Boosts Star Power Strategy With Emeril Restaurant

Hannah Sampson, Skift

Carnival Cruise Line is launching its biggest ship next year, so it makes sense the operator is looking to raise the bar with a well-known name in dining. It's an approach the line has embraced in recent years.

Norwegian Cruise Boss Zeroes In on Higher Prices

Hannah Sampson , Skift

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio has been preaching the gospel of higher prices for years now — and practicing what he preaches. For now, it looks like passengers are willing to keep paying up.

Windstar Eyes the Future of Cruising With a Major Renovation Project

Windstar Cruises + Skift

Travel providers need to step up the experiences they offer to compete in an increasingly crowded market –– and those in the cruise sector are no exception. With the recent announcement that it’s overhauling three of its ships, Windstar Cruises is one example of a cruise brand that realizes this.

Virgin Voyages Wants Cruisers to Pay a Premium (and Like It)

Hannah Sampson, Skift

Virgin Voyages has set its prices much higher than a typical Caribbean cruise, but the operator is including more perks in the price — and insists it will be anything but typical. Will fans of the brand pony up?

Royal Caribbean Is Getting Chinese Cruisers Out of China

Hannah Sampson, Skift

Royal Caribbean has spent more than a decade in China building a reputation and customer base. Now that work appears to be paying off in a global way.

Can Cunard Create a New Hospitality Model for the Next Generation of Cruisers?

Colin Nagy, Skift

Cunard is striking an interesting balance between old-school, traditional luxury and fast-paced, data-driven, adaptive hospitality on its longer journeys across the sea. As competition heats up, the line needs to make a compelling sell to attract a younger audience. But a few currents and trends are colliding that just might make this possible.

Philippines Mulls Limiting Cruises to Boracay as Overtourism Worries Mount

Maria Stella F. Arnaldo, Skift

The Philippines wants cruise dollars. But Boracay, which has reopened after some rehabilitation, does not. The island is a key cruise stop but can carry only so much. Tourism authorities and cruise lines should work out the sums.

Cruise Lines Are Going Just About Everywhere in 2019

Fran Golden, Bloomberg

High-end cruise lines are going to harder-to-reach places this year, and those rarefied trips will be priced accordingly. Popular destinations such as Alaska and Cuba will continue to see crowds from brands that range from budget to luxury.

Why Royal Caribbean Is Thinking Beyond Ship Size

Christopher Palmeri, Bloomberg

When a cruise line can fit more than 6,000 passengers on a single ship, it needs to know how to keep them happy. Royal Caribbean International has been building the world's largest vessels for several years; this story looks at how the company is innovating beyond just going big.

Carnival’s Lackluster Outlook Raises Concerns for 2019

Hannah Sampson, Skift

Carnival Corp. had a rough day on Wall Street after its forecast for 2019 disappointed. Executives at the world's largest cruise company are hoping to far surpass the low expectations they laid out Thursday.

Carnival Plans Onboard Roller Coaster for Biggest Cruise Ship Ever

Christopher Palmeri, Bloomberg

Cruise lines continue to compete by upping the ante with onboard attractions. As ships get bigger and more profitable, there is more room for experimentation with theme park-style attractions.