MSC Said in Talks to Buy German State-Held Meyer Werft Stake

 MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. is in talks to acquire the roughly 80% stake in German cruise-ship builder Meyer Werft GmbH held by the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony, according to people familiar with the matter.

The discussions are ongoing, and other suitors could still emerge, said the people, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private. No final decision has been made, and the talks could still fall apart, they said. A potential sale would comprise the company’s shipyards in Papenburg near the Dutch border and the port of Rostock on the Baltic Sea, the people said.

Government officials don’t wish to sell at a loss to their combined investment of €400 million ($459 million), two of the people said. Spokespeople for Lower Saxony and the German government declined to comment. MSC didn’t respond to a request for comment while Meyer Werft declined to comment.

A sale would return control of the more than 230-year-old shipyard to private hands after the two governments stepped in to rescue it, injecting €400 million and granting credit of €2.6 billion in 2024. The shipbuilder ran into financial trouble during the Covid-19 pandemic, when banks started questioning its creditworthiness.

But the tides have turned for the volatile industry, with cruise-ship construction capacity in high demand and control lying in a handful of European yards. 

MSC Cruises is Meyer Werft’s largest customer. It signed a preliminary agreement last year for four next-generation cruise ships and options for another two, a package potentially worth as much as €10 billion. The vessels are due to be delivered annually from 2030 and are expected to keep Meyer Werft’s Papenburg yard occupied through 2035.

It also counts Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. as long-standing customers.

Meyer Werft is a major employer in Lower Saxony, making its future ownership particularly important for the regional economy. Meyer Werft employs some 5,000 people directly, while more than 20,000 additional jobs in the region are linked to the company and its supplier network, according to the shipbuilder.

Malta Eyes Luxury Cruise Growth and Homeporting Expansion

Malta Eyes Luxury Cruise Growth and Homeporting Expansion

Malta is working to attract more boutique cruise ships and expand homeporting operations, according to Arthur Grima, director of marketing for the Malta Tourism Authority.

In 2025, in addition to 4 million tourists, the destination welcomed 870,560 cruise passengers who visited the country as part of 387 calls.

While overall passenger volume increased by 2.5 percent compared to the previous year, the average number of guests per vessel dropped from 2,339 to 2,250.

According to Grima, the change is related to Malta’s interest in appealing to smaller, more manageable cruise vessels.

“We are attracting a lot of these boutique, smaller ships,” Grima said, highlighting new operations from high-end operators like Ponant, Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman.

“These are the types of brands and vessels that we are prioritizing because they help us mitigate the crowds. When you have a large ship coming in and 7,000 people enter Valletta at one go, it doesn’t create a nice impression,” he told Cruise Industry News.

In addition to this new focus on smaller vessels, Malta is also expanding the number of overnight cruise calls. The destination saw nearly 46,000 cruisers stay overnight in 2025, up from roughly 30,000 in 2024.

Grima highlighted the economic impact of the longer stays, noting that Malta continues to push for more homeporting business in Valletta.

He said that homeporting operations drive a higher economic impact with pre- and post-cruise hotel stays and additional onshore spending.

Central to the homeporting strategy is the North American market, Grima explained. Guests from the U.S. and Canada currently represent 21 percent of Malta’s total cruise arrivals, making the region the destination’s top source market.

To capitalize on this demographic, Malta is leveraging a new direct Delta Air Lines flight from New York (JFK) launching this June.

“The new Delta flight is a game-changer for us,” Grima said. “It will provide seamless connections for the American visitor. Homeporting is important for us because it works hand in hand with our aviation strategy. It improves connectivity, so it triggers demand both ways.”

The island’s appeal to these passengers and tourists is based on what Grima described as a 9,000-year history.

He said that Malta serves as a historical crossroads of civilizations and offers a unique cultural mix, including a Semitic language written in Latin script and a gastronomy that blends Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors.

Grima added that beyond its Grand Harbour, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the destination is highlighted by the world’s only underground megalithic temple, the Hypogeum, as well as medieval walled cities like Mdina.

To manage visitor flow and enhance sustainability, Malta is also promoting excursions to the island of Gozo via a 60-minute catamaran connection from Valletta.

Smaller ships can also visit Gozo directly and take advantage of a dedicated cruise buoy that facilitates tender operations, he added.

Grima noted that spreading the passenger load across the archipelago is a key pillar of the destination’s long-term strategy.

On the infrastructure side, Valletta Cruise Port can currently accommodate up to six ships simultaneously, including four large vessels and two smaller ones.

The port is also advancing its sustainability efforts through shore power infrastructure, which allows docked ships to turn off their engines and eliminate local emissions.

Malta is also investing in other infrastructure initiatives for tourists, including an expansion of the country’s airport and growth in its hotel inventory with brands like Hard Rock, which is opening a property on the island soon.

“We want the visitors to join us and enjoy our culture. We want them to visit as tourists and leave as locals,” Grima said.

“We see the cruisers as a ‘good investment’ because a lot of them return to Malta for longer stays afterward.”

Photo: Arthur Grima, director of marketing for the Malta Tourism Authority with Michelle Buttigieg, North America Representative Malta Tourism Authority.

 

Port of Tokyo: Japan’s Leading Turnaround Port, Welcoming Cruise Ships at Two Terminals

Port of Tokyo: Japan’s Leading Turnaround Port, Welcoming Cruise Ships at Two Terminals

Located in Japan’s capital, the Port of Tokyo is now poised to make a significant leap forward as a cruise ship hub. In 2025, Harumi Cruise Terminal opened at the Port of Tokyo, commencing the acceptance of cruise ships alongside Tokyo International Cruise Terminal. The Port of Tokyo serves as a marine gateway not only for sightseeing in Tokyo but also for tours around Japan. It is frequently used as a turnaround port. Both terminals offer excellent access from the international airports (Haneda and Narita), making the port ideal for “Fly & Cruise” packages.

Tokyo International Cruise Terminal

Tokyo International Cruise Terminal opened in 2020. It can accommodate the world’s largest class of ultra-large cruise ships. The number of port calls exceeded 70 in 2025, and the volume has been steadily increasing since its opening. There are also plans for Disney Cruise Line ships to launch cruises starting from and ending in Tokyo in fiscal year 2028.

Harumi Cruise Terminal had been closed for construction since 2022, but with renewed facilities, it resumed accepting passenger ships in June 2025. Developed to meet the increasing demand for cruise ship calls to the Port of Tokyo, it accommodates small and medium-sized ships capable of navigating under the Rainbow Bridge, which spans Tokyo Bay. It offers good access to central Tokyo, taking approximately 20–25 minutes by car to get to locations such as Tokyo Station.

Both terminals provide convenient access to popular tourist spots for domestic and international visitors, such as Ginza, Asakusa, Akihabara, and Shibuya. Tokyo is overflowing with both new and old charms. Traditional cultural experiences coexist with the latest sightseeing spots in Tokyo, a city that continues to evolve constantly. Its appeal lies in the fact that there are new discoveries to be made every time you visit.

Tokyo International Cruise Terminal

To enhance the presence of the Tokyo Waterfront City (Odaiba, Aomi, and Ariake areas) and create further vibrancy, development is underway for a new landmark fountain in Odaiba Marine Park, “ODAIBA Fountain (tentative name),” scheduled for completion in March 2026, as a community-wide initiative. The performance, combining a 150-meter-high fountain with a 250-meter-wide fountain, will be one of the largest of its kind in the world. Visitors can expect to enjoy a magnificent waterfront show featuring music and illumination, with a motif based on the Somei-Yoshino (cherry blossom), the official flower of Tokyo.

ODAIBA Fountain (tentative name), Scheduled for Completion in March 2026. © Bureau of Port and Harbor, Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Harumi Cruise Terminal:  Major Nearby Attractions

Ginza

Located approximately 10 minutes by car from Harumi Cruise Terminal, this is a gourmet and shopping area. Department stores and luxury brand shops line the main street, offering a great shopping experience. The backstreets also feature long-established famous stores and popular restaurants. Continually evolving, Ginza is a district that generates new energy while retaining the charm of the “good old days.”

Toyosu

The area on the opposite shore from Harumi. Toyosu Market, relocated from Tsukiji Market, is one of the world’s largest wholesale markets for seafood and produce. It is famous as a place to enjoy sushi and fresh seafood, and offers extensive observation tours within the market. The Toyosu area also features large commercial facilities where visitors can enjoy shopping.

Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai, shopping complex

Tsukiji

The Tsukiji Outer Market is a popular area for international tourists as well. Fresh sushi breakfasts and lunches are recommended at the surrounding eateries. Hundreds of shops selling a variety of goods, including seafood, cooking utensils, and tableware, line the streets, making it a fun place for shopping.

Tsukiji Outer Market © TCVB

Juneau Eyes New Seasonal Tax System Aimed at Cruise Visitors

Juneau Eyes New Seasonal Tax System Aimed at Cruise Visitors

After doubling the fees that cruise lines pay to dock in the town, Juneau is now pursuing a plan to introduce a new seasonal sales tax system.

According to KTOO, the change is aimed at capitalising on the 1.7 million cruise ship passengers that visit the town every summer.

The new structure would raise sales taxes in the summer months and lower them in the winter, according to the local news website.

After being greenlighted by the Juneau Assembly, the proposal will now be presented to residents later this month.

Assembly members want to hear from locals before deciding whether to put it on a municipal ballot scheduled for October.

Other Southeast Alaskan towns, including Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway, already adopt seasonal taxes, KTOO said.

Residents and visitors currently pay a five per cent tax on year-round sales in Juneau, the website explained.

If voters approve the proposed seasonal tax system, consumers will instead pay a 7.5 per cent tax in the summer and a 3.5 per cent tax in the winter.

The proposal determines that the summer season starts in April and ends in September, while the winter season runs from October through March.

In June, Juneau agreed to double the fees that cruise lines pay to dock their ships at the city-owned piers.

The change was unanimously approved by the town’s assembly and applies only to large cruise vessels.

At the time, Juneau’s Visitor Industry Director, Alix Pierce, said that the change was aimed at making the dockage fees in the town more competitive with the private sector.

“We know that our rates are definitely low compared to the private docks here, and other ports in the region are also looking at their fee structure,” she explained.

While dockage fees were previously calculated using vessels’ tonnage and length figures, the new rates are based on the ships’ passenger capacities.

Port Tampa Bay Announces Re-Opening

Port Tampa Bay Announces Re-Opening

Port Tampa Bay has resumed vessel operations and our port’s shipping channels are officially re-opened, with vessel movements restricted to daylight hours, the port announced on Saturday.

Throughout the storm, Port Tampa Bay coordinated with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as the maritime community, to respond to the impacts of Hurricane Milton.

In coordination with the Port Heavy Weather Advisory Group, and following detailed assessments of the port, waterways, and channels, the U.S. Coast Guard has reopened the port and set the port condition to normal, with a daylight hour restriction and one-way travel. Port staff fully assessed the docks, wharves, and terminals for safety.

Some of the first vessels to return will be fuel tankers, cruise ships and vessels carrying perishable cargo.

There will be changes to the following cruise schedules: Carnival Paradise, Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas and Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

Carnival Panorama to Have Funnel Removed Before Drydock in Portland

Carnival Panorama to Have Funnel Removed Before Drydock in Portland

Too tall for the bridges of the Columbia River, the Carnival Panorama will have its funnel removed before entering drydock in Portland, Cruise Industry News confirmed.

Facing propulsion issues, the Carnival Cruise Line vessel is currently docked in Victoria, Canada, to get the work done before heading to the Vigor Shipyard in Oregon.

The Panorama will then undergo repairs and a technical overhaul before resuming service on Dec. 23, 2023.

On Dec. 23, the 2019-built ship is scheduled to sail from Long Beach on a seven-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera that features visits to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

After experiencing an issue affecting its maximum cruising speed in early November, the Carnival Panorama saw four of its scheduled cruises cancelled.

“Unfortunately, we will be unable to operate the voyages, as it is necessary to remove the ship from service to complete the required repairs,” Carnival said at the time.

The ship then spent a week docked in Astoria, while the company arranged all the details of the repairs.

Two additional week-long cruises were cancelled on Nov. 17, Carnival said, pushing the vessel’s service resumption to late December.

“While we have secured one of the limited number of drydock facilities on the West Coast for the work to be done, we do not have immediate access to the shipyard and will need more time to complete the work,” the company explained in a statement shared at the time.

The third and final ship in Carnival’s Vista Class, the Carnival Panorama entered service in late 2019. Based on the West Coast, the 4,000-guest vessel sails from Long Beach on a year-round basis.

The program features a series of six- to eight-night cruises to Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera, with visits to La Paz, Mazatlán, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, and ore.

After Record 2022, No Cruise Ships Have Been Scrapped in 2023

After Record 2022, No Cruise Ships Have Been Scrapped in 2023

Disney Dream photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr Photos)

After reaching record levels in 2022, the number of cruise ships being sold for scrapping has come to a halt.

According to the latest edition of the Cruise Ship Secondhand Market Report by Cruise Industry News, not a single cruise ship has been sold to the breaking yards in 2023.

With data dating back to 1977, the special report includes a list of key vessels withdrawn from the global market every year.

In 2022 a total of 18 cruise ships were dismantled. Following a trend that started in the early days of the pandemic, the year set a record for recycling yards.

The number of cruise ships being sold to the breakers saw a significant uptick during the health emergency that started in 2020.

While just a single ship had been scrapped in 2019, a total of 38 were demolished over the next three years.

According to the Cruise Ship Secondhand Market Report by Cruise Industry News, the ships dismantled during the period were also newer.

The average age of the ships that were scrapped between 2020 and 2022 was 37, compared to 43 between 2017 and 2019.

Carnival Cruise Line was one of the companies that sent more ships to the scrapyards during the pandemic, with a total of six ships dismantled between 2020 and 2022.

After ceasing operations in the period, Pullmantur Cruceros, Cruise & Maritime Voyages and Star Cruises also sent a total of eight ships for recycling.

Other companies that sold vessels to the ship-breaking yards include Seajets, New Century Cruise Lines, Marella Cruises, Peace Boat Organization and Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line.

Updated in September, the Cruise Ship Secondhand Market Report by Cruise Industry News also includes all the latest vessel transactions, all based on fully independent research.

Cruise Ships Return to Japan Three Years After ‘Diamond Princess’ Kicked Off a Global Pandemic

International cruise ships are returning to Japan, three years after the Diamond Princess became the world’s first luxury ship to face a major Covid outbreak. 

Amadea, operated by Germany-based Phoenix Reisen, is now docked in Tokyo Bay after earlier arriving at a port in Shizuoka prefecture in western Japan, according to shipping data tracked by Bloomberg.

The outbreak on Carnival Corp.’s Diamond Princess, which docked on the country’s shores in February 2020, drew global attention to the risks of infection aboard sea vessels. At one point, the ship had the most cases outside mainland China, where the virus originated. 

A months-long saga eventually ensued after the ship was quarantined off the nation’s shores, with about a fifth of the 3,711 passengers onboard the luxury ship infected and 12 deaths. That crisis also heralded a wider shutdown of the industry during the pandemic. Japanese authorities were criticized by some infectious disease experts for failing to contain the spread of the virus, with people quarantined on the ship without proper ventilation in place. 

Since then, the country has joined other nations around the world in removing pandemic curbs, loosening travel restrictions last October. Meanwhile, major cruise operators like Royal Caribbean have also seen bookings rebound. 

The nation has geared up to welcome back cruise ships, which brought more than 2 million people to Japan in 2019.

In an indication of changed attitudes, there was much fanfare for the crew members and the mostly German passengers on board the Amadea. Local authorities organized a drum performance to entertain guests and rolled out the local mascot, a blue dinosaur called “Shizulla” to greet them. 

As the ship departed to continue its journey to Tokyo, fireworks were set off. “There will be more cruise ships coming in future,” the mascot’s publicity Twitter account said.

MHA Culinary Council to Promote Shipboard Crew Talent

MHA Culinary Council to Promote Shipboard Crew Talent

The Marine Hotel Association’s (MHA) new Culinary Advisory Council will be awarding scholarships to the emerging culinary talent on cruise ships sailing globally in a first-of-its-kind initiative.

The not-for-profit MHA is looking ahead to its annual Conference and Trade Show, taking place in Naples, Florida, April 2-4.

The event brings together food and beverage and hotel vendors along with key decision-makers from cruise lines, and the new Culinary Advisory Council features chefs from a number of cruise brands that will be heavily involved in the Florida event.

The Council will be nominating and recommending chefs working onboard cruise ships for the MHA culinary scholarship.

“This allows us the opportunity to highlight our extraordinary talents onboard and feature their commitment to delivering an ever-evolving world-class experience,” said Eric Barale, Vice President of Culinary for the Apollo Group and Maître Cuisinier de France. “I am truly excited to be able to support and recommend our chefs at sea for the MHA scholarships that focus on the culinary education, development, advocacy and career navigation of our talent.

“The MHA conference and Trade Show will also provide a unique one-on-one networking opportunity for our vendors and teams to address, encourage and visualize the future of trade on the high seas,” he added.

Cruise Ships Celebrate New Year in Funchal

Cruise Ships Celebrate New Year in Funchal

Various cruise ships were welcomed in 2023 in Funchal as guests were onboard dockside and in the harbour for the city’s spectacular fireworks display.

Ship Line Up

• Marella Cruises: Marella Explorer
• Nicko Cruises: Vasco Da Gama
• AIDA: AIDAsella
• Fred. Olsen: Borealis
• TUI: Mein Schiff Herz
• Cunard: Queen Victoria

The city’s New Years' eve celebration has quickly become a cruise tradition for European brands, which often time their itineraries with an overnight call to Funchal on New Year's Eve. It’s among a handful of ports around the world already in a key cruise region at the right time of the year where guests can stay on the ship and have a front-row seat to a fireworks show.

Fincantieri: Building the Future

Fincantieri: Building the Future

“We are redesigning the future of navigation on a strategic and technological level,” Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the Merchants Ships Division at Fincantieri, told Cruise Industry News.

“The ships we are building will increasingly resemble large, hyper-connected, energy self-sufficient, lighter and greener, propelled floating cities, capable of recycling up to 90 per cent of the waste produced onboard.

“With the technologies already available today, we can thermally recover up to 20 per cent of the energy contained in the fuel,” he continued.

“And the efficiency measures recently introduced in non-propulsion systems onboard have led to further reductions. For example, a ship of about 130,000 tons is able to reduce its fuel consumption up to 1,200 tons per year, which corresponds to about 7 per cent of the ship’s annual fuel consumption.

“We have validated and applied a series of initiatives on the ships we are building. Examples of energy-saving solutions include fan coil installations in cabins and public areas, variable-speed electric motors, recalibration of fresh-water production systems, LED and other high-efficiency lighting and automatic lighting controls, and much more. Each of these solutions can reduce fuel consumption from 48 to 290 tons per year. This is the path we are on.”

Playing a fundamental role in the green transition will be hydrogen and hydrogen carriers, such as ammonia, liquid hydrogen carriers and synthetic hydrocarbons derived from hydrogen, according to Matarazzo. But this will require the creation of a supply chain based on renewable energy sources, which is able to meet the increased demand without negative side effects on global warming, he added.

“On the technological level, the main obstacles are generated by constraints in terms of space and weight. Fuel cells, batteries, fuel tanks, energy recovery and auxiliary systems have a significant impact on the onboard space and weight of a ship.

“However, I want to stress that the challenges do not lie solely with the cost-efficient application of new technologies. In fact, there are important non-technological barriers.

“In terms of resources, there is still no clear and well-defined scenario regarding the future availability of hydrogen and its derivatives, which will also certainly drive pricing (of fuels).

“Production capacity and a network of supply hubs will be key enabling factors to accelerate the decarbonization of the shipping sector.”

Since 2021, Fincantieri has been committed to implementing measures to improve its yards’ impact on the environment. The latest initiative is solar farms being built at five of the yards to generate more green electricity while also reducing the energy bill, said Matarazzo.  Installations will feature 22,000 solar panels covering an area of more than 50,000 square meters, able to produce about 10 MW.

Fincantieri is also part of a public-private partnership launched by the European Commission and the Waterborne Technology Platform to decarbonize waterborne transport, as well as several joint ventures with private companies and research organizations exploring new fuels.

Meanwhile, the next 18 months will be busy for Fincantieri.

“In Monfalcone, by the end of this year we will deliver the MSC Seascape, the second EVO class ship and the fourth vessel in MSC Cruises’ Seaside class, and then, in 2023, Explora I, the first of six luxury ships ordered by MSC’s Explora Journeys brand,” Matarazzo said.

“Also next year, Marghera will deliver the second ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima class, the Norwegian Viva, followed by Cunard Line’s Queen Anne. The Sestri yard will deliver the Vista, the first of two new-generation ships that will start the Allura class for Oceania Cruises; a fourth ship for Virgin Voyages; a ninth and tenth ship for Viking Cruises; and the newest ship for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.”

Excerpt from Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine: Fall 2022 

The city of Liverpool turn to the Cruise Industry for floating hotels for the EuroVision 23

Celebrity Silhouette berthed in the city of Liverpool Photo Credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr) 

Cruise ships are being considered as alternative accommodation options for those travelling to Liverpool for Eurovision 2023 after the city’s hotels begin to sell out, according to reports in the national press.

Within minutes of the announcement, many of Liverpool’s hotels were reportedly fully booked on 13 May, including all of the city’s Premier Inns and Travelodge hotels.

 

According to ITV, some city-centre rooms and apartments were available on Booking.com, with the cost of a one-night stay ranging between £855 and £1,444.

Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for culture and visitor economy, Cllr Harry Doyle, said: "I’m disappointed with some accommodation providers who have hiked prices.

 

"That’s normal, apparently after the initial announcement. We had planned for this and are looking at alternative arrangements including a cruise ship and campsites."

Speaking to BBC News, Chris Brown, director of Marketing Liverpool, said the city will release more accommodation options "soon".

 

"That could involve cruise ships or opportunities around a campsite, but we do have a pretty robust plan," he added.

 

"We will certainly be addressing [hotels who have hiked their prices] who we feel are put together, or behaving in a way that we would not say is in the spirit of the ethos of why Liverpool went for Eurovision."

CDC Cruise Ship Timeline: From No Sail to the End of the COVID-19 Program

CDC Cruise Ship Timeline: From No Sail to the End of the COVID-19 Program

With the CDC  dropping its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships, Cruise Industry News looks at the timeline that led to the decision.

Week of March 9, 2020: Despite efforts by the industry’s lobby group CLIA, cruise lines decide to voluntarily suspend operations in the United States. Most companies plan 30-day operation pauses, aiming for early April resumptions.

March 14, 2020: The CDC issues a No Sail Order, essentially banning cruise ship operations in U.S. ports for 30 days.

April 9, 2020: The No Sail Order is extended for the first time and is now valid for an additional 100 days. During the same announcement, the health agency defines additional parameters for the expiration of the ban, such as the official end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.   

July 16, 2020: The CDC extends the No Sail Order again, this time setting a September 30 expiration date.

July 23, 2020: After extending the No Sail Order, the CDC asks for public input on new cruise protocols.

September 30, 2020: Previously set to expire on September 30, the No Sail Order is extended for another month.

October 30, 2020: The CDC finally drops the No Sail Order, replacing it with a new Conditional Sail Order. The 40-page regulation plan is said to allow cruise lines to start planning their return to service through a framework of phases and public health measures.

November 21, 2020: While cruise operators work to meet the Conditional Sail Order requirements, CDC raises its warning for cruise travel. The health agency now advises against cruising, with a Level 4 warning.

December 31, 2020: As the year ends, no operator has been granted permission to return to service in the U.S. under the original Conditional Sail Order guidance.

March 24, 2021: After Royal Caribbean’s then-CEO Richard Fain speaks out against CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sail Order, calling it “unworkable," more pressure is put on the organization to relax its set of rules for cruising. Mentioning the advance of the COVID-19 vaccination across the country, CLIA asks the health agency to allow for a return of operations by the beginning of July.

April 2, 2021: The CDC issues the first new cruise guidance since October 2020, outlining a technical framework that would allow for the resumption of sailing.

April 3, 2021: Three U.S. Senators introduce an act to revoke the Conditional Sail Order. Called CRUISE Act, the bill requires the CDC to provide mitigation guidance for cruise lines to resume safe domestic operations.

April 5, 2021: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces a lawsuit against the Biden Administration, the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services to allow cruises to restart in the United States.

April 25, 2021: The CRUISE Act is blocked from passing in the Senate and the Conditional Sail Order continues to be the way for the service return.

April 28, 2021: In a letter sent to cruise lines, the CDC says it is looking at a timeline that will allow restarting of the U.S. cruise industry by mid-July.

May 5, 2021:  In yet another step for cruise resumption, the CDC publishes technical instructions for cruise ship operators preparing to conduct simulated voyages in advance of restricted passenger voyages under the COVID-19 Conditional Sail Certificate.

May 15, 2021: The CDC releases further updates to the Conditional Sail Order, paving the way for the restart of cruise operations in the United States. The changes add new rules for screening of embarking passengers, vaccination requirements and more.

May 18, 2021: The State of Florida's lawsuit to reopen the cruise industry against the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services heads to mediation.

May 25, 2021: Under the Conditional Sail Order, Royal Caribbean International becomes the first cruise line to receive the CDC’s approval for a simulated voyage with volunteers.

May 26, 2021: The CDC significantly relaxes cruise ship regulations for passengers and crew that have been vaccinated against COVID-19, allowing a quicker restart of the industry.

June 17, 2021: Seven months after raising it, the CDC lowers its warning against cruise travel from Level 4 to Level 3.

June 26, 2021: As more cruise lines get ready for test voyages, Celebrity Cruises becomes the first cruise major company to resume service in North America. Sailing from Port Everglades, the Celebrity Edge launches the first U.S.-based cruise in over 15 months.

First Week of July 2021: More operators resume service in the U.S., including Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.

August 21, 2021: The CDC issues updated guidance that says that people who are at high risk of severe complications from COVID-19 should avoid cruise ships.

October 25, 2021: With most of the U.S.-based cruise lines and various ships now in service, the Conditional Sail Order is extended by the CDC. The extension of the framework is valid through January 15, 2022.

December 30, 2021: The CDC once again raises its warning for Americans going on cruises, telling them to avoid cruise travel, regardless of vaccination status. After being lowered just a few months back, the warning returns to Level 4, the highest such level.

January 15, 2022: Despite pushbacks from some U.S. politicians, the CDC lets the Conditional Sail Order expire. To replace the guidance, the health agency prepares a new voluntary plan, which cruise lines will opt-in.  

February 9, 2022: The CDC finally releases its new COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships operating in U.S. waters. The program is recommended and includes the continuity of the agency’s colour status system for disease cases on ships.

February 19, 2022: Ten days after the revelation of the new CDC program, 18 cruise brands and 110 ships have officially enrolled in it.

March 15, 2022: After being initially lowered in February, the CDC’s warning for cruise travel goes down once again. For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk is classified with a Level 2 (moderate) warning.

March 30, 2022: The CDC finally drops its cruise health travel warning notice after two years.   

July 18, 2022: The CDC ends its COVID-19 program for cruise ships. The health agency also reportedly stops tracking cases of the disease on cruise vessels.

Where Are the Cruise Ships Originally Built for the Chinese Market?

Where Are the Cruise Ships Originally Built for the Chinese Market?

Several cruise ships were specifically built to serve the booming Chinese market in the last decade.

Too much capacity followed by COVID-19, in addition to other factors, changing the course of the local business, all of the vessels are now sailing elsewhere.

Here’s what happened to all of the former China-bound newbuilds:

Ovation of the Seas
Company: Royal Caribbean International
Built: 2016
Capacity: 4,100 guests
Tonnage: 158,000
Current Sailing Region: North America

The Ovation of the Seas became the first Royal Caribbean International new build to debut in China when it arrived in Tianjin in 2016.

With several custom-designed features, the Quantum-class ship continued to serve the local market until 2018.

Beginning in 2019, the ship started to alternate summer seasons in North America – where it is currently sailing – and winter seasons in Australia.

Genting Dream
Company: Dream Cruises (Genting Cruise Lines)
Built: 2016
Capacity: 3,400 guests
Tonnage: 150,000
Current Sailing Region: Southeast Asia

As the first cruise ship to enter service for Dream Cruises, the Genting Dream originally served the Chinese market.

With several features to cater to Chinese guests, the Genting-owned cruise ship had already been repositioned out of China when the pandemic broke in 2020.

The health crisis, however, led to the collapse of Genting Cruise Lines and Dream Cruises. After a few months laid up waiting for a new operator, the 2016-built vessel was chartered by Resorts World Cruises in mid-2022.

Norwegian Joy
Company: Norwegian Cruise Line
Built: 2017
Capacity: 4,200 guests
Tonnage: 163,000
Current Sailing Region: North America

Norwegian Cruise Line made a grand entrance into the Chinese market in 2017 with the Norwegian Joy.

Built at the Meyer Werft shipyard, the vessel was custom designed to serve the local market with exclusive features that include a virtual reality gaming centre, a tearoom and more.

The vessel was pulled out of China in early 2019. Following a refit – that removed all of the ship’s original purposely-designed features – the vessel repositioned to the North American market in time for a summer program in Alaska.

Majestic Princess
Company: Princess Cruises
Built: 2017
Capacity: 3,600 guests
Tonnage: 141,000
Current Sailing Region: North America

Following years of investment into the local market, Princess Cruises decided to send a custom-design new build to China with the Majestic Princess.

The 2017-built vessel was considered the first built specifically for Chinese guests, offering unique features such as a Cantonese restaurant, a VIP casino, a tea bar and karaoke rooms. 

The Chinese venture, however, proved to be short with the brand dropping plans for a year-round deployment in the country just months after the debut of the 3,600-guest ship. Initially redeployed to Taiwan and Australia for most of the year, the Majestic Princess arrived in the North American market – where it’s currently sailing – in 2021.

World Dream
Company: Dream Cruises (Genting Cruise Lines)
Built: 2017
Capacity: 3,400 guests
Tonnage: 150,000
Current Sailing Region: Laid-up

The World Dream entered service for Dream Cruises in 2017. Sporting several features for the local market, the vessel originally offered an upscale product in China.

With Genting Cruise Lines collapsing earlier this year, the ship continues to wait for a decision regarding its future while laid up in Southeast Asia.

 Norwegian Encore
Company: Norwegian Cruise Line
Built: 2019
Capacity: 4,200 guests
Tonnage: 163,000
Current Sailing Region: North America

Norwegian Cruise Line originally planned to send the fourth Breakaway Plus-Class cruise ship to China.

The vessel, which later became the Norwegian Encore, would add capacity to the local market, which was already being serviced by the 2017-built Norwegian Joy.

The plans, however, were scrapped while the ship was still being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard. Instead of China, the Norwegian Encore debuted in the North American market, where it’s still sailing to this day.

The spectrum of the Seas
Company: Royal Caribbean International
Built: 2019
Capacity: 4,200 guests
Tonnage: 168,666
Current Sailing Region: Southeast Asia

Royal Caribbean International sent a second new build to China in 2019 with the Spectrum of the Seas.

As the first Quantum Ultra-Class vessel, the 4,200-guest ship was designed with new features to cater to the local market, including an expanded VIP suite enclave and a set of new Asian speciality restaurants.

With the COVID-19 hitting Asia first, the Spectrum was briefly redeployed to Australia in early 2020 before entering a long lay-up status. Currently, the ship is offering short cruises departing from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Terminal.

Costa Venezia
Company: Costa Cruises
Built: 2019
Capacity: 4,232 guests
Tonnage: 135,500
Current Sailing Region: Mediterranean

The Costa Venezia entered service in 2019 as Costa Cruises’ first designed-for-China new build.

Built-in Italy, the 135,500-ton vessel offers custom-designed features, including a karaoke entertainment complex and larger casino and shopping areas.

With the pandemic, the ship spent most of the last three years laid up in Asia. Currently, in service for Costa Cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean, the ship will be positioned in North America starting in 2023, kicking off a series of cruises from New York City for the new Costa by Carnival concept.

Costa Firenze
Company: Costa Cruises
Built: 2020
Capacity: 4,232 guests
Tonnage: 135,500
Current Sailing Region: Mediterranean

A sister to the Costa Venezia, the Costa Firenze was set to debut in China in late 2020. Also, custom-designed to serve the local market, the 4,232-guest cruise ship was equipped with several unique features.

The pandemic, however, forced Costa Cruises to change plans for the vessel. Unable to sail to Asia, the Firenze debuted in Europe in 2021 and has been serving Western markets ever since.

After a winter season in Brazil, the vessel is now set to debut in the United States in 2024, offering West Coast cruises under the Costa by Carnival concept.

The wonder of the Seas
Company: Royal Caribbean International
Built: 2022
Capacity: 5,448 guests
Tonnage: 227,625
Current Sailing Region: Mediterranean

Currently, the world’s biggest cruise ship, the Wonder of the Seas was originally bound for year-round service in China.

Featuring interior designs and concepts to appeal to the local public, the Royal Caribbean International ship was set to debut in the Chinese market in mid-2021, offering a series of cruises departing from Shanghai.

The pandemic, however, led the company to deploy the Oasis-class vessel in the Western Hemisphere, with a series of Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries.

Global Dream
Company: Dream Cruises (Genting Cruise Lines)
Built: 2022
Capacity: 5,000 guests
Tonnage: 208,000
Current Sailing Region: Unfinished

Previously set for a 2022 debut, the Global Dream was poised to become one of the biggest ships in the Chinese market.

With custom-designed features and attractions, the 5,000-guest ship was under construction in Germany when Dream Cruises collapsed earlier this year.

Now sitting unfinished at its building dock at the MV Werften, the vessel is looking for a new operator.