Holland America: ’Free of Amusement Parks and 2,000 Extra Guests’

Holland America: ’Free of Amusement Parks and 2,000 Extra Guests’

In its new marketing campaign, Holland America Line is taking a unique approach to differentiation by highlighting the qualities it doesn’t possess.

The promotion plan is focused on the Caribbean and aims to highlight the company’s product, which is based on relaxed premium experiences onboard mid-sized cruise ships.

Launched earlier this month, the “Refreshingly Free” campaign was based on research and customer feedback, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kacy Cole, explained.

“As we start to go to market and think about how we want to communicate to guests, we really discovered an opportunity,” she said during a press conference.

“We found that there are a lot of travelers who look at Caribbean cruising and don’t really want the amusement park-like experience,” she continued.

“They are looking for service, relaxation and cultural enrichment,” Cole added, noting a growing preference for cruise experiences that prioritize relaxation, personalized service and cultural enrichment over a high-energy environment.

“Guests also expressed some dissatisfaction with oversized ships, citing issues with overcrowding, long lines, etc.,” Cole added.

As a result, the new Holland America Line campaign is aimed at showing that the company’s vessels and product are “a real alternative for people to invest in and get excited about,” she explained.

“We really want to own differentiation. In putting this campaign together, we’re thinking about this idea of refreshingly free,” Cole continued.

She said that the Caribbean is dominated by short and weeklong cruises onboard large ships.

“That’s really not what we’re known for,” she added. “Holland America has been a trusted brand for more than 150 years, perfecting the art of leisurely travel. No water parks, no roller coasters, no amusement parks at sea.”

Mentioning the company’s “Savor the Journey” slogan, Cole said that the company offers an alternative to conventional Caribbean cruises with “experiences too good to hurry through.”

“That introduces ‘Refreshingly Free.’ It’s the idea that, from what you typically expect of the Caribbean, we are a little different.”

Calling the company’s ships mid-sized, Cole added that Holland America’s fleet carries an average of 50 percent fewer passengers than other ships in the Caribbean.

One of the materials developed by the company will highlight the fact that Holland America ships are “refreshingly free” of 2,000 additional people to spotlight the company’s 1:2 crew-to-guest ratio.

“We are really creating an experience in the Caribbean where you can unwind and be taken care of with our long tradition of genuine service,” Cole said.

The campaign is based on three main pillars, including the relaxed onboard experiences and the fleet’s smaller average size.

“Refreshingly Free” also focuses on Holland America’s culinary offerings with a pillar that highlights the company’s unique and fresh choices.

Cole called the company’s Fresh Fish and Destination Dining Programs “huge differentiators,” noting that Holland America developed options that celebrate the best ingredients and flavors of the region.

“The idea is really to connect the things that we aren’t and how that’s actually a really strong differentiator for Holland America and the Caribbean.”

Zuiderdam Embarks on Holland America’s Grand World Voyage

Zuiderdam Embarks on Holland America’s Grand World Voyage

The Zuiderdam is sailing from Port Everglades on Saturday for Holland America Line’s 2025 Grand World Voyage.

According to Holland America Line, the 124-night itinerary is highlighted by bucket-list destinations, including Machu Picchu, Easter Island and the Great Barrier Reef. The full itinerary includes ports in 34 different countries.

The cruise also features six overnight stays across the globe, including extended visits to Tahiti, Sydney, Cape Town and Barcelona.

After departing from Port Everglades, the Zuiderdam heads south for visits to destinations in the Caribbean before crossing the Panama Canal.

The 2,000-guest ship then heads to South America and the South Pacific, visiting destinations in Ecuador, Peru, Chile and French Polynesia.

Ports of call set to be visited during this segment include Manta, Easter Island, Callao, Moorea, and Raiatea.

The cruise continues with visits to additional island destinations in Polynesia and Melanesia, such as Tonga and New Caledonia, before arriving in Australia.

In late February, the Zuiderdam arrives in Southeast Asia for calls in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and more.

On its way back to the United States, the itinerary includes destinations in the Indian Ocean, such as the Maldives, the Seychelles and Mauritius.

The ship will also visit South Africa, Cape Verde, Namibia, and the Canaries before entering the Mediterranean.

After sailing to destinations in the United Kingdom, Spain, Malta, Egypt, Italy, Portugal and Morocco, the Zuiderdam finally crosses the Atlantic Ocean.

The vessel will return to Fort Lauderdale on May 9, 2025, after a visit to San Juan in Puerto Rico.

In addition to its Grand World Voyage onboard the Zuiderdam, Holland America is set to offer a second world cruise in 2025.

Sailing onboard the Volendam, the Pole to Pole Grand Voyage departs from Port Everglades on Jan. 25, 2025.

Holland America Presents ‘Cake Me Away’ Dessert Extravaganza

Holland America Presents ‘Cake Me Away’ Dessert Extravaganza

Holland America’s pastry chefs across the fleet will showcase their favorite desserts during Cake Me Away, a new Lido Market dessert celebration.

Launching in time for National Cake Day on Nov. 26, Cake Me Away presents over 22 five-layer cakes in 16 flavors, according to a press release. 

The cruise line’s international pastry team has also crafted a selection of mini-jar cakes to be added to the daily dessert rotation at Sweet Spot in Lido Market.

 “Our pastry team has some of the most talented chefs in the world, and Cake Me Away allows us to bring flavors from their home countries to our guests,” said Michael Stendebach, vice president of food, beverage and guest services at Holland America Line. “The culinary team is always developing new ideas, and Cake Me Away gives them the opportunity to share their favorites and introduce new original cakes for our guests to enjoy.”

Cake Me Away desserts include gluten-free, vegan and no-sugar added options.

 Featured flavors include:

• Mille Crepe Cake with layers of cream and crepes;
• Heaven and Hell Cake with peanut butter frosting;
• Concorde Cake, a gluten-free option made from chocolate meringue.
• Almond Roca Cake with homemade almond roca (a hard toffee with chopped nuts and chocolate);
• Sans Rival Cake with buttercream, meringue and chopped cashews;
• Carrot Cake with warm spices, chopped nuts and cream cheese frosting;
• Cookies and Cream Cake with crushed chocolate cookies;
• Crème Brûlée Cake, with vanilla cake, creamy custard and pastry cream.

 

The mini-jar cakes offered daily will feature flavors such as Black Forest, Carrot Cake, Key Lime Pie, Red Velvet and S’mores.

Holland America to Offer 53-Day Cruise to Japan from Seattle

Holland America to Offer 53-Day Cruise to Japan from Seattle

Holland America Line is set to offer a new 53-day cruise to Japan in September 2024.

A first for the company, the itinerary sails roundtrip from Seattle onboard the Westerdam.

In addition to the Far East, the voyage also includes port calls in Alaska and Hawaii.

According to Holland America, the nearly two-month cruise, which is included in the company’s Legendary Voyages program, is highlighted by the opportunity to explore 13 Japanese port cities during the autumn season when temperatures are cooler.

“This cruise allows us to offer Japan ‘from your doorstep’ with no more than a domestic air flight to Seattle,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of Deployment and itinerary Planning at Holland America Line.

“Because we can linger on our way, we have chosen to visit some of the best ports in Alaska, including Kodiak and Dutch Harbor, before landing at Kushiro, Hokkaido as the first port of call in Japan”, he added.

Other noteworthy aspects of the itinerary include scenic cruises along Alaska’s Inside Passage and Stephen’s Passage, as well as visits to Juneau, Sitka, Kodiak and Dutch Harbor.

Guests will also be able to visit sites important to World War II history during the voyage, Holland America said, including the Children’s Peace Monument and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Once in Japan, the Westerdam is set to make calls to Kushiro, Hakodate, Yokohama (Tokyo), Kobe, Kochi, Hiroshima, Kanmon Straight, Fukuoka (Hakata), Sakaiminato, Toyama, Kanazawa, Nagasaki, Ishigaki Island and Naha.

The 2004-built vessel is also set to offer scenic cruising around Iwo Jima and Midway Island before returning to the U.S. with stops in three destinations in Hawaii: Nawiliwili, Kauai and Honolulu.

Overnight stays are planned for Yokohama (Tokyo), Kobe and Honolulu.

“This cruise offers an immersive Japan experience, covering the northern and mountainous regions, the population centres of Kobe and Yokohama as well as the east coast of Japan where we steam as far north as Toyama,” Grigsby noted.

“Since it is a September cruise, there is the possibility of viewing the leaves beginning to turn in the high country around Mt. Tateyama near Toyama.”

Royal Caribbean Sails Up as Largest Brand in the Industry

Royal Caribbean Sails Up as Largest Brand in the Industry

Royal Caribbean International will be the largest cruise brand in the world by 2029 noticeably ahead of Carnival Cruise Line, according to the 2023 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

The Royal Caribbean brand will have an annual global capacity of approximately 6.5 million passengers in 2029, compared to 5.4 million for Carnival Cruise Line.

Royal Caribbean will sail 30 ships versus 27 for Carnival.

While Royal Caribbean will be the largest globally, based on known deployment and the current orderbook of new builds to be introduced, Carnival will most likely continue to dominate in the Caribbean where the brand tends to concentrate its deployment.

The other largest brands on a global scale in order of size will be MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess, Celebrity, AIDA, Costa, TUI and Holland America.

Two question marks would be what happens in China with Carnival’s joint Adora venture that could grow quickly when the Chinese market returns, and if more Costa ships were to be transferred to Carnival’s Fun Italian Style product.

The 2023 Cruise Industry News Annual Report is in digital and printed formats. Order today by clicking here.

Panama Canal to Receive Over 200 Transits by Cruise Ships This Season

Panama Canal to Receive Over 200 Transits by Cruise Ships This Season

The Panama Canal announced the transit of Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Spirit, which will kick off the 2022-2023 cruise season, with over 200 transits by new and returning cruise ships expected in the waterway this season, according to a press release.

Over the next few months, the Panama Canal will facilitate over 200 cruise ship transits, 17 more than was expected in the 2019-2020 season, including two transits by the Norwegian Encore, according to the Panama Canal.

“We anticipate a record number of Neopanamax vessel transits this year, which will help boost Panama’s tourism sector. Given our role in international trade, we are thrilled to welcome visitors from around the world to experience the Panama Canal first-hand and to discover what our country has to offer,” commented Albano Aguilar, international trade specialist, at Panama Canal.

The cruise season for the Panama Canal stretches from October to May. This season will see the return of several cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean Cruises, all of which will offer passengers itineraries that include a full or partial transit of the Panama Canal.

In addition, at least 12 cruise ships are scheduled to make their first transit through the Panama Canal this season, including the Fridtjof of Nansen, Seabourn Venture, World Navigator, Celebrity Edge, Sea Cloud Spirit, World Voyager, Evrima, Le Bellot, Spirit of Adventure, Viking Neptune, Viking Octantis, and Viking Polaris.

Carnival Corporation: On Course for Recovery

Carnival Corporation: On Course for Recovery

Cash from operations is turning positive and the company has turned the corner of its recovery trajectory, according to Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald, who spoke on today’s second-quarter business update call with analysts.

“We are aggressively ramping up to full operations, driving higher occupancy on our ships, and focused on increasing revenues,” Donald said.

Bookings are expected to continue to improve during the rest of the year and reach historical levels in 2023, according to David Bernstein, executive vice president and CFO. He also said that there is the potential that EBITDA will be greater in 2023 than it was in 2019. The wild card is the cost of fuel. The target for 2023 is to carry 14 million guests.

Contributing to the recovery will also be fleet optimisation, reallocating ships to the strongest markets, such as introducing the new Costa by Carnival brand in North America.

Donald noted that European markets are in many ways more challenging than North America from a consumer standpoint as it relates to travel and added that moving Costa ships was also about right-sizing the Italian brand. A big chunk of Costa’s capacity has been in China, he said, and with that market closed, it made more sense to expand the strong North American market than to put all that capacity in Europe.

Bernstein added that North America and Europe are headed in the right direction, but that the company’s North American brands are doing better than their European counterparts.

As for other headwinds, such as the impact of the recession, Donald said the industry is resilient, offering a strong value proposition and that people feel entitled to their vacations. In addition, there is a tailwind of pent-up demand, he added, and the relaxing of health protocols is also expected to attract more people who may have been on the sidelines.

As for any other allocation moves, Donald said: “We are very pleased with our portfolio of brands but will always have an open mind to do what makes sense for our shareholders.”

He also said that since 2019, the company has shed 23 less efficient ships while adding nine larger, more efficient ships, including more premium-priced staterooms, while reducing operating expenses, including fuel, on a per available guest day basis.

San Diego to Welcome Ships and Passengers Back

The Port of San Diego will welcome the return of cruise lines and cruise passengers on Friday, October 1, when the Disney Wonder and Grand Princess will be the first sailings out of San Diego since spring 2020. The Disney Wonder is setting sail for a four-day cruise beginning in San Diego to Cabo San Lucas and back. The Grand Princess sailing will begin in Los Angeles on September 30 and stop in San Diego on October 1 on its way to Ensenada and back to Los Angeles.

The port said it currently anticipates more than 100 cruise calls through May 2022. Those calls will primarily be from Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line.

According to a prepared statement, health and safety is a top priority. To safely resume cruising, the port said it is working with the cruise lines, along with various other local, state, and federal agencies to put extra precautions in place to minimize community spread of and exposure to COVID-19.

In conjunction with the cruise lines, precautions include that all crew members and eligible guests must be fully vaccinated (currently ages 12 and up; in special and rare cases, medical exemptions may be allowed, but Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess must maintain that at least 95% of all guests are vaccinated; Disney Cruise Line will be testing all guests on embarkation days).

All unvaccinated guests must provide negative PCR test results between three days and 24 hours before embarkation day. All persons must complete a health screening form to declare they have been vaccinated, are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, and had a recent negative COVID-19 test result (if pre-testing was required by the cruise line).

All persons must wear a face covering while inside the cruise ship terminal.

Whenever possible while in the cruise terminals, all persons are strongly encouraged to social distance from other persons, not in their own travelling party.

To prevent an influx of passengers and to help ensure social distancing, the cruise lines have implemented a passenger appointment system for check-in/screening times.

The port will be fully cleaning and disinfecting the terminals immediately following each embarkation and disembarkation, plexiglass partitions have been installed in some areas, and hand sanitiser will be available throughout the terminals.

San Diego is California’s third busiest cruise port behind Long Beach and Los Angeles. And, according to the port, each homeported cruise has an economic impact of $2 million. While a single in-transit call (one stop on the cruise itinerary) generates a total impact to the region of nearly $600,000.

 

Saga Welcomes Two New Captains

Saga Cruises is welcoming two new captains for the Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure, as they return to service.

Darin Bowland and Jason Ikiadis will join Kim Tanner as the Captains of Saga’s cruise ships that are exclusively designed for guests who are over 50.

Bowland will take the helm of Spirit of Discovery on June 27 as she heads off around the British Isles, and Captain Tanner will take Spirit of Adventure on her inaugural 15-night cruise around the British Isles on July 26, according to a press release. 

Bowland has previously held positions with Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corporation (Holland America), after starting his career as a cadet with the Royal Canadian Navy in 1985.

On joining Saga Cruises, he said: “When I first joined the cruise industry the business was all about the guests. After many years of driving larger ships with 3000+ passengers, I am really looking forward to getting to know our guests and crew. Also, I love exploring, and I can’t wait to show our guests the many fantastic destinations that Saga offers.”

Ikiadis comes from a long line of seafarers, including his own father who was a ship’s captain, and his paternal grandfather who was in the Royal Navy.

“Following in their footsteps was inevitable” he added.

Ikiadis first went to sea in 1984 and has held many positions since, working up the ranks to Captain for cruise lines such as Azamara and TUI.

“Saga is a well-established and well-known brand, with a loyal base of guests who enjoy that personal experience,” said Ikiadis. “Being able to Captain two brand-new ships is really exciting. The sister ships give a respectful nod to previous Saga cruise ships but these are thoroughly modern and contemporary in design. They’re also a dream to drive thanks to the fact they boast the very latest in ship technology.”

Regular Saga Cruisers will also recognize Captain Kim Tanner who has been with the cruise line for five years and is popular with guests and crew alike. C

Captain Tanner said: “I’m so looking forward to getting out to sea on our ships again. Although we successfully delivered Spirit of Adventure last year she still hasn’t had any of our guests on board and I really can’t wait to show everyone how beautiful she is. The best part of the job is being out on the ocean and showing our guests what Saga cruising is all about with our fantastic modern and contemporary boutique cruise ships.”

Carnival Corp to dispose of 13 ships

Carnival Corp to dispose of 13 ships

Carnival Corporation has confirmed it will dispose of 13 ships across its brands as well as delaying the deliveries of new ships.

The cruise giant said the move to reduce its fleet size was in response to an expectation that “future capacity [will] be moderated by the phased re-entry of its ships. The 13 ships represent a 9% reduction in current capacity.

The news comes just days after it was confirmed P&O Cruises had sold one of its oldest vessels, Oceana.

Carnival Corp said it had agreements for the disposal of five ships and preliminary agreements for an additional three ships, all of which are expected to leave the fleet in the next 90 days.

It said these agreements were in addition to the sale of four ships which were announced prior to the current financial year.

On future deliveries, the company said it expects only five of the nine ships originally scheduled for delivery in the 2020 and 2021 to be delivered before the end of the 2021 financial year. It also expects ships that were scheduled to launch in 2022 and 2023 to move to alter delivery dates.

Arnold Donald, Carnival Corporation’s president and chief executive, said the decision meant his brands would emerge “leaner” and “more efficient”.

He said: “We have been transitioning the fleet into a prolonged pause and right-sizing our shoreside operations. We have already reduced operating costs by over $7 billion on an annualized basis and reduced capital expenditures also by more than $5 billion over the next 18 months. We have secured over $10 billion of additional liquidity to sustain another full year with additional flexibility remaining. We have aggressively shed assets while actively deferring new ship deliveries. We are working hard to resume operations while serving the best interests of public health with our way forward informed through consultation with medical experts and scientists from around the world.

Carnival cruises' Mardi Gras in Meyer Turku shipyard.

“We will emerge a leaner, more efficient company to optimize cash generation, pay down debt and position us to return to investment grade credit over time providing strong returns to our shareholders.”

In June, Carnival Corporation said it was speeding up the disposal of ships after a registered $2.4 billion adjusted net loss in the three months to May 31.

Carnival Corporation today said it had raised $10 billion through a series of financial transactions since March, adding that it had “taken significant actions to preserve cash and secure additional financing to maximise its liquidity.

It has also confirmed $8.8 billion of credit facilities to fund ship deliveries originally planned through to 2023.

In a trading update, Carnival Corporation claimed demand remained for 2021 sailings, despite “substantially reduced marketing and selling spend”. It said almost 60% of bookings in the first three weeks of June were new business bookings, with the remaining amount coming from guests using their Future Cruise Credits from a previously cancelled cruise.

Chief financial officer and chief accounting officer David Bernstein said: “Quickly recognising the financial situation, we took swift action to improve our liquidity by reducing expenses and leveraging our strong balance sheet to complete several capital transactions”.

Highlighting the cost of pausing its global operations, Carnival Corporation side its monthly average cash burn rate for the second half of 2020 would be an estimated amount of approximately $650 million, adding that it was looking at ways to reduce that figure.

Holland America Line takes delivery of Nieuw Statendam ship

Holland America Line takes delivery of Nieuw Statendam ship

The new Holland America Line ship Nieuw Statendam has been delivered by Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice.

The vessel is the 16th Holland America Line ship built by Fincantieri and is the line’s second Pinnacle-class ship after Koningsdam, delivered in 2016.

Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri will also build the third vessel in the series, due to be delivered in 2021.

Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation’s chairman; Arnold Donald, the corporation’s president and chief executive; Stein Kruse, the chief executive of Holland America Group; and Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line, all attended yesterday’s ceremony.

According to the shipbuilding team, the 99,500-tonne vessel’s technology is aimed at ensuring energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact.

Fincantieri is currently designing or building 53 other ships across all of its yards.

Mexico: Acapulco: Calls and Homeporting

Norwegian Sun in Acapulco.

Thirty calls are scheduled for the 2017-2018 season for Acapulco. That is a slight dip from last year because Holland America cancelled eight calls when Carnival Corporation did not conduct its destination site inspection, despite being invited by the port, explained Alex Casarrubias, port director. “We are confident that once Carnival, as well as Royal Caribbean, visit our destination, their ships will return,” he said. 

“Our top client is Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings with Norwegian, Oceana and Regent,” Casarrubias continued. “Last year we also added the Magellan and Astor of Cruise & Maritime Voyages.

“The Magellan will homeport in Acapulco for three months, starting in February 2019.”

Acapulco was also a homeport in 2010 and 2011 and has since accommodated a number of turnarounds. This season, 90 percent of its traffic is transit calls and 10 percent turnarounds, but those percentages will change next season.

Recent turnarounds for Phoenix Reisen’s Albatros and Artania meant that passengers flew directly to Acapulco from England and Germany.

Casarrubias pointed out that nonstop airlift from Los Angeles started in December and that nonstop flights from Montreal and Toronto are starting in January.

Meanwhile, the Acapulco Cruise Committee’s priority continues to be to showcase Acapulco as a safe destination with top-notch infrastructure and services, he said. “We are in constant communication with the cruise lines and our main priority right now is to get Carnival to do its site inspection so they can confidently resume their cruise operation in our port.”

Passengers will find a “renewed” Acapulco. Grupo Autofin’s $1 billion master plan includes renovations of the Pierre Mundo Imperial and Princess Mundo Imperial resorts, as well as a number of new developments – hotels, shops, restaurants, spas, an eco-amusement park, a tennis stadium, a medical center and more, slated to be completed between now and 2022.

This year will also see the inauguration of a new terminal at the airport.

The most obvious attraction is Acapulco’s stunning landscape, according to Casarrubias, with its lush green mountains and sandy white beaches, in addition to its well-developed tourism infrastructure.

Carnival Corp ups full year revenue forecast on back of higher prices

Carnival Corp ups full year revenue forecast on back of higher prices

Carnival Corporation’s cumulative bookings for the next three quarters are at higher prices than last year and concentrated in the core cruise markets in North America and Europe.

Adjusted net profits for the last quarter edged up by $8 million year-on-year to $370 million as revenues grew from $3.7 billion to $3.9 billion on the back of a 4% increase in capacity.

The figures for the three months to May 31 were boosted by a 5% improvement in overall cruise ticket prices for the parent company of brands such as P&O Cruises, Cunard and Princess Cruises.

The improved rates affirmed efforts to increase demand “by building positive word of mouth through the delivery of exceptional guest experiences as well as our and public relations programmes,” said president and chief executive Arnold Donald.

The company expects full year 2017 net revenue yields in constant currency to be up approximately 3.5%, better than guidance given in March of up by around 3%.

Chief finance officer David Bernstein said: “Since the end of February, booking volumes for the next three quarters have been running in line with the prior year at nicely higher prices.

“At this point in time, cumulative bookings for the next three quarters are ahead of the prior year, again, at nicely higher prices.”

Looking forward, Donald said: “We are realising sustained strength in booking trends across all core products.

“We are delivering on our strategy to grow demand in excess of measured capacity growth while leveraging our industry-leading scale resulting in increased return on invested capital.”

The world’s largest cruise conglomerate saw the delivery of Princess Cruises’ Majestic Princess, the first ship tailored for Chinese passengers, as well as the addition of AIDAperla to German brand, AIDA Cruises.

AIDAperla.

Two additional Princess Cruises ships, Caribbean Princess and Royal Princess, were fitted with the technical requirements to switch them early next year to the Ocean Platform featuring Ocean Medallion, the interactive technology for passengers which will debut on Regal Princess in November.

Donald told analysts in a conference call: “We have and we’ll continue to create carefully engineered high-quality destination experiences that are uniquely tailored to our guest references from our private islands like Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay to the planned expansion of our cruise terminal in Barcelona to our most recently completed port destination Amber Cove, in the Dominican Republic.

“We’re providing exceptional guest experiences that enable our brands to capture a price premium. We have many more innovations planned in port development that we expect to rollout in the coming years.”

He identified “new destination opportunities” in Cuba, the Bahamas and China.

The company expects to benefit from growing populations, increasing wealth and developing countries in addition to increased spending by consumers on “experience versus products”, all of which are contributing to 4% annual growth expected in travel globally.

Carnival, Holland America will sail to Cuba as planned

Carnival Fathom in Havana

Carnival Corp. said it understands the policy changes on Cuba that President Trump will announce in Miami today do not include any changes for cruises.

In a statement, Carnival said it is "pleased" that its ships will continue to sail to Cuba.

Carnival Cruise Line plans sailings from Tampa to Cuba starting later this month and Holland America Line recently announced plans to visit Cuba in the fall.

Trump is expected to end the ability of travelers to "self-certify" that they comply with rules for traveling to Cuba, which became the practice last year under President Obama.

"We will review the extent of the tightening of the travel rules, but our guests have already been traveling under the 12 approved forms of travel to Cuba since we undertook our historic first cruise to Cuba more than a year ago," a Carnival Corp. statement said.

The first cruise to Cuba from a U.S. port in decades was by Carnival's Fathom brand, which has since returned its single ship to P&O Cruises.

"Our experience in Cuba this past year has been extremely positive," Carnival Corp. said. It also said other Carnival Corp. brands have applied to travel to Cuba.

Costa included Cuba on some itineraries from 1995 to 1998, before it was purchased by Carnival Corp. from its Italian owners.

Other cruise lines chimed in after Trump finished giving his speech in Miami.

"Based on the information shared today, we are very pleased to learn the news that cruises to Cuba will continue under the new guidelines laid out by the administration," a statement from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said.

NCLH operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, all of which sail to Cuba.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. also praised the new Cuba policy.

"Royal Caribbean is pleased there is no impact to any of our cruises to Cuba as announced in the new U.S. policy toward Cuba today," said a statement from RCCL, whose Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises brands make stops in Cuba.

Although cruise lines appear to have emerged unscathed from the Cuba policy review, the exact impact will depend on rule revisions forthcoming from the Treasury Department and other U.S. agencies.

"We will continue to review the full and exact scope of the policy changes and any updated regulations during the implementation period which may take several months," RCCL said.

Both cruise companies emphasized that their shore excursion programs were already in compliance with Treasury regulations governing Cuba tourism.

Both also said that their cruises with Cuba in the itinerary are popular. NCLH said it has 70,000 bookings for future cruises that include Cuba. "We are delighted our guests will continue to have the opportunity to experience the wonderful culture and incredible history of Cuba." the statement said. 

6 Reasons to Consider a Clothing Optional Cruise

They’ve got special cruises for singles, Weight Watchers members, and foodies. So, why not nudies?

Yes, clothing optional cruises are a thing, and for good reason. With enough people interested in nude cruises, it was inevitable that cruise lines would jump at the chance to get on board.

Bliss Away couple’s cruises offer the world’s only 5.5-star clothing optional cruises for couples “looking for fun, freedom, and exciting vacations.” Of course, other cruise operators have gotten on board, and some travel companies even host nude cruises on Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America ships.

The main thing you should know about these is that you don’t have to go nude, but you should expect plenty of other people to be. If you’re okay with that, then it should be fine.

Meet like-minded people:

The best part about clothing optional cruises is that they attract people who love being naked. If you fall into that category, you should plan on meeting others who feel just like you.

With so much in common already, you’re bound to make friends on a nude cruise. Plus, nude people tend to be carefree, easy-going, and laid-back.

Get comfortable in your own skin:

A lot of people say going nude helps them feel free. With no clothes weighing them down, they’re light as a feather and completely uninhibited.

If you’re someone who has had trouble feeling comfortable in your own skin, being around others who feel so free just being themselves might provide you with comfort. Plus, if you’ve ever wanted to experiment with a clothing-optional setting, what better way to get acquainted with one than to dive right in?

You can get away with packing light:

If you hate lugging around a heavy suitcase or planning your apparel for a long trip, you’re going to love a clothing-optional cruising. Pack about half what you normally would and skip checking a bag. Really, you just need lounge wear and clothes to wear on land and in the airport. As a bonus, you won’t return home to a huge pile of laundry, either.

You got a good shot at some action:

While some nude cruisers may just want to mingle with other naked folks, it’s inevitable that a certain percentage of the crowd is there for more than handshakes and hugs. In other words, you may have a better shot at hooking up than you would on, say, a Carnival cruise mostly packed with families.

There’s no guarantee of this type of thing, but it’s safe to say your chances for intimacy will improve in a crowd of people who aren’t interested in wearing clothing. 

You’ll get a great, even tan:

Hate tan lines? Boy, have we got a treat for you. You’ll never worry about the placement of your straps or swim trunks on a clothing optional cruise.

If you’re wanting a clear, even tan that lasts, sunbathing nude is your best bet.

No kids:

If you want to have fun in an adults-only atmosphere, you can’t do much better than a clothing-optional cruise. Kids aren’t allowed for obvious reasons, so you’ll never have to endure a crying toddler or kids splashing in the pool.

The Bottom Line:

Clothing optional cruises may not be for everyone, but it’s easy to see why this option exists. Even if they never flaunt their love of nudism, plenty of eager travellers want nothing more than to enjoy a vacation without worrying over what to wear.

Should you join? The naked truth is, only you can decide.

Port Everglades enables mobile customs declaration

Passengers disembarking from cruise ships at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale will be able to use an app on their smartphones to fill out re-entry forms for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Airports, including those in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, already have this feature but Port Everglades will be the only U.S. cruise port to offer it, port director Steve Cernak said.

"An added bonus is that [the system] will be in service in time for the arrivals of Royal Caribbean International's Harmony of the Seas and Holland America Line's Koningsdam," Cernak said.

Port Everglades plans to go live with the service on Nov. 4.

The app is currently available for Apple phones and is expected to be available for Android phones later this month.

Developed by Airside Mobile and Airports Council International-North America in partnership with the CBP, the app allows U.S. citizens with a passport debarking a cruise ship to complete their customs declaration using their smartphones or other mobile devices, expediting their clearance process in the terminal.

A physical passport or passport card is still required for re-entry.

The Fort Lauderdale port also recently completed pilot testing of the Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks in two of its cruise terminals, another CBP initiative to streamline the traveler-screening process.


Southampton's QEII cruise terminal set for £5m upgrade

A £5 million revamp of Southampton port's QEII cruise terminal will begin this winter.

ABP Port of Southampton and Carnival UK are jointly funding the improvements.

The work is being carried out over two phases in 2015/16 and will include a ship-to-shore walkway to replace the existing one, which was initially installed for Cunard’s.

This will ensure a greater range of ships can use the terminal with new technology, improving passenger flow and experience.

The terminal upgrade will also include improvements to the existing check in, baggage and passenger X-ray areas, installing a new 46-person lift and re-organising the passenger drop-off area.

The first phase of the work is due to be completed in spring 2016. The second phase, which includes the installation of the new walkway, will be finalised in winter 2016.

ABP Southampton director, Nick Ridehalgh, said: “The number of cruise passengers coming through Southampton’s port continues to rise, with 1.75 million expected to pass through this year.

“It’s therefore vital that we ensure our facilities are in the very best shape to accommodate these passengers and that they are laid out in a way that gives people a seamless and stress-free start to their holidays.”

Carnival UK port services and government affairs director, Steven Young, said: “We are delighted that these works, following on from recent improvements to both the Ocean and Mayflower cruise terminals, will give our guests a consistent and improved experience regardless of the terminal at which they join or leave the ship.

“As well as Cunard and P&O Cruises other Carnival brands including Princess, Holland America and Aida will benefit.”



Holland America’s Koningsdam to feature wine-blending experience

MS Koningsdam

When the ship enters service next April, Holland America Line’s Koningsdam will feature a venue where passengers can blend their own bottle of wine to take to dinner.

The venue, called Blend by Chateau Ste. Michelle, is an expansion of the cruise line’s partnership with the winery.

The two Seattle-area companies announced the partnership at a luncheon on Monday at the Chateau Set Michelle headquarters in Woodinville, Wash.

Guests will choose to blend their wines from five vintages: two cabernet sauvignons, two merlots and a cabernet franc.

“I have to say, it is one of the most exciting, engaging activities that people can do,” said HAL President Orlando Ashford. “All of you who have a competitive streak, you’re going to love it.”

There will be a facility for wine blending on Deck 2, the first at sea, according to HAL. It will be a piano-shaped room enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass on two sides, with a table for 10 guests. 

A package that includes a lecture about how to blend the wines, and a bottle to take to dinner, will cost in the $90 range, said Michael Smith, HAL’s senior vice president of guest experience and product development. Once guests have created a blend, they can have a bottle blended for them at dinner for a reduced price.

Lisa Anciaux, director of travel products at AAA Washington, said the idea plays into heightened interest in food and wine. “People are looking for that experience. It’s a perfect fit for HAL. It’s going to go gangbusters for them,” she said.

MSC Cruises also has a wine blending experience on some of its ships, but not in a purpose-built room.

Ashford said the idea is “taking something guests already enjoy and adding a personal touch."

New cruise port at Dominican Republic's Amber Cove to open in October

An aerial view of Amber Cove.

Cruise passengers will have a new stop in the Caribbean in October when ships pull into Amber Cove port in the Dominican Republic.

The new port facility is expected to revive interest in the north coast of the Dominican Republic, which hasn't been a regular cruise stop since the 1980s, Carnival Corp. announced Wednesday.

Amber Cove adds more cruising cachet to the Caribbean, already the world's largest cruising market. It accounts for more than a third of the cruise business globally.

The Carnival Victory will be the first ship to visit the $85-million port on Oct. 6. Other lines in the Carnival family -- Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, German line AIDA and British-based P&O Cruises -- will follow suit later this year and in 2016.

Carnival Corp. was a partner in developing the new port facility. Ships (it was built to accommodate super-sized cruise ships) are expected to bring more than 250,000 cruise passengers to Amber Cove in its first year of operation, the announcement says.

The port is near the city of Puerto Plata (it made Travel + Leisure's Best Places to Travel in 2015 list) where there's an Amber Museum that displays insects and flowers trapped in the ancient resin and a marine park called Ocean World.

The new stop allows Carnival brands to offer more than 40 new shore excursions -- including beaches, water sports, culinary and cultural tours -- as well as new itineraries in the central Caribbean.

Thirteen ships across six Carnival brands are expected to make 57 port calls between October and April 2016.

Upcoming visits include Cunard's Queen Mary 2 on Nov. 22, the Costa Deliziosa on Dec. 31 and Holland America's ms Eurodam on Jan. 19.