Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Unveils Bold New Vision for the Future with Strategic Long Term Fleet Expansion and Enhanced Private Island Development

/

Plan includes next generation vessels for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises to be built by Fincantieri, along with infrastructure enhancements for Great Stirrup Cay, all while continuing its disciplined multi-year de-leveraging plan.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) (together with NCL Corporation Ltd., “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings”, “Norwegian”, “NCLH” or the “Company”) today unveiled the most comprehensive new build order in its history—a total of eight state-of-the-art vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, with new classes of ships for each of its three award- winning brands—and the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the Company’s private island destination in the Bahamas and its top-rated Caribbean port of call. This unprecedented decade- long strategy enhances its product offering, guest experiences, and operational infrastructure, supporting the Company’s sustained leadership in delivering innovative cruise vacations.

The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over a ten-year period, between 2026 and 2036. Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing 1 . Building on the success of its Allura Class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,400 guests in 2027 and 2029. Lastly, following the award-winning Explorer Class ships, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029. Details regarding the ships’ amenities, staterooms, dining, recreational, efficiency,

COSTA SERENA RESTARTS IN ASIA: COSTA IS THE FIRST COMPANY TO RESUME OUTBOUND CRUISES DEDICATED TO SOUTH KOREA AND TAIWAN

/

After two cruises out of Thailand, from June to October 2023 Costa Serena will sail on a total of thirty-five cruises from South Korea and Taiwan to Japan, featuring Italian style experiences.

Costa Cruises announces that Costa Serena returned to service in Asia.  After two cruises between Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, Costa Serena departed today from the port of Busan, in South Korea, heading to Nagasaki and Yatsushiro, in Japan.  It is the first outbound cruise to resume in South Korea after the end of cruise travel restrictions.

"With the departure of Costa Serena from Busan, we celebrate a historic event for cruises in Asia. We are, in fact, the first company to resume outbound cruises dedicated to South Korea, and soon also to Taiwan, after the pause due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic. It’s a very important moment for the recovery of the cruise industry in Asia. We achieved this significant result thanks to our historic presence in Asia and established relationship with local partners and institutions" - said Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises.

From June to October 2023, Costa Serena will be operating a program of “charter” cruises in Asia, in cooperation with local travel partners. The total number of cruises is thirty-five. Eight cruises, in June and October 2023, will be dedicated to the South Korean market; from July to October 2023 another twenty-seven cruises are planned for the Taiwan market.

Carnival to sell 18 ships as demand sinks

/
Carnival_Horizon_-_NS_4-700x468.jpg

Carnival Corporation has confirmed it will continue to shrink the size of its fleet as the cruise sector struggles to return from the Covid-19 shutdown.

In July, the company said it would dispose of 13 vessels as demand shrank.

The figure has now been increased to 18 – with Carnival planning to offer approximately 12 per cent less capacity next year when compared to 2019.

Noting all of the ships to be sold were older and less efficient, Carnival said the vessels had only produced three per cent of its operating income in 2019.

Also being older ships, Carnival added their disposal would improve the fuel efficiency at the corporation.

P&O Cruises cancels all departures into 2021

/
PO_Cruises_-_Aurora_-_NS-700x478.jpg

P&O Cruises has confirmed a further extension in its pause in operations, with all sailings cancelled until early 2021.

All Caribbean cruises are cancelled until the end of January next year, while all cruises from and to Southampton are cancelled through February.

This is in addition to trips aboard Arcadia and Aurora, which have already been cancelled through to the end of their spring world cruises

P&O Cruises president, Paul Ludlow, said: “With evolving restrictions on travel from the UK, unfortunately it is necessary to cancel these itineraries.

New Cruise Ship for 2020

/

Industry Growth Means More Hiring

The cruise industry is booming! There are 35 ocean and river cruise ships under construction or on order for deliveries over the next three years (2020 - 2022). Twenty-six of these are large cruise ships carrying over 1,000 passengers each. Eleven are mega cruise ships which each carry over 4,000 passengers. This is in addition to more than 186 cruise ships major cruise line companies have introduced since 2000. As this boom continues, 2020 - 2022 will be an outstanding year for new cruise ships. This is great news for those looking for cruise ship employment and other cruise line employment. Each of these new ocean cruise ships provides an average of over 1,100 new jobs needed to staff the cruise ship and an additional 500+ jobs to provide the support services.

Ocean and River Cruise Ships Being Built

Ocean and River Cruise Ships Launching in 2020

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

Lindbald

NG Endurance

126

January 2020

Regent

Splendor

738

Q1 2020

Ponant

Le Bellot

180

Q1 2020

Crystal

Endeavor

200

Q1 2020

Virgin Voyages

Scarlet Lady

2,860

March 2020

Celebrity Cruises

Apex

2,900

April 2020

P&O Cruises

Iona

5,200

Spring 2020

Silversea

Silver Moon

596

April 2020

Scenic

Eclipse II

228

Q2 2020

Ponant

Le Surville

180

Q2 2020

Saga Cruises

Spirit of Adventure

1,000

Summer 2020

SunStone

Unnamed

160

August 2020

MSC Cruises

Virtuosa

4,888

September 2020

Royal Caribbean

Odyssey of the Seas

4,100

October 2020

Dream Cruises

Unnamed

5,000

Q4 2020

Costa Cruises

Unnamed

4,232

TBA

Carnival Cruises

Mardi Gras

5,200

August 2020

Princess Cruises

Enchanted Princess

3,600

June 2020

Quark

Unnamed

200

TBA

Ocean and River Cruise Ships Launching in 2021

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

Disney Cruise Lines

Disney Wish

2,500

January 2021

Virgin Voyages

Unnamed

2,860

Early 2021

Royal Caribbean

The wonder of the Seas

2,860

Early 2021

AIDA Cruises

Unnamed

5,200

Spring 2021

Celebrity Cruises

Unnamed

2,900

Fall 2021

Holland America Line

Ryndam

2,660

May 2021

Princess Cruises

Unnamed

3,600

November 2021

Costa Cruises

Unnamed

5,776

2021

Ocean and River Cruise Ships Launching in 2022

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

Virgin Voyages

Unnamed

2,860

Early 2022

Cunard Cruises

Unnamed

3,000

Early 2022

Celebrity Cruises

Unnamed

2,900

Fall 2022

Norwegian Cruise Line

Unnamed

3,300

2022

Carnival Cruise Line

Unnamed

5,200

2022

MSC Cruises

Unnamed

5,400

2022

Disney Cruise Lines

Unnamed

2,500

2022

Royal Caribbean

Unnamed

5,000

2022

Cruise Ships Launched in Prior Years

Ocean and River Cruise Ships Launched in 2019

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

Coral Expeditions

Adventurer

120

Q1 2019

Viking Ocean

Viking Jupiter

930

February 2019

MSC Cruises

Bellissima

4,500

March 2019

Costa Cruises

Costa Venezia

4,232

March 2019

Hapag-Lloyd

Hans. Nature

230

April 2019

TUIMein Schiff 2

2,900

Spring 2019

Royal Caribbean

Spectrum

4,100

Spring 2019

Hurtigruten

Roald Amundsen

530

Spring 2019

Oceanwide

Hondius

196

May 2019

Celebrity Cruises

Flora

100

May 2019

Saga Cruises

S/Discovery

1,000

Summer 2019

Ponant

Le Bougainville

180

Summer 2019

Ponant

Le Dumont d'Urville

180

Summer 2019

SunStone

Greg Mortimer

160

August 2019

Hapag-Lloyd

H/Inspiration

230

October 2019

Costa Cruises

Costa Smeralda

5,176

December 2019

Princess Cruise Line

Sky Princess

3,600

October 2019

Norwegian Cruise Line

Encore

4,200

October 2019

MSC Cruises

Grandiosa

4,888

November 2019

Carnival Cruise Line

Panorama

4,200

Fall 2019

Antartica XXI

M/Explorer

100

Q4 2019

Ritz-Carlton

Unnamed

298

Q4 2019

Hurtigruten

Fridtjof Nansen

530

TBA

Ocean and River Cruise Ships Launched in 2018

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

Star Clippers

Flying Clipper

300

March 2018

Carnival Cruise Lines

Horizon

4,000

March 2018

MSC Cruises

Seaview

4,140

May 2018

TUI

Mein Schiff 1

2,900

May 2018

Seabourn Cruise Line

Ovation

604

April 2018

Norwegian Cruise Line

Bliss

4,200

April 2018

Ponant

Le Laperouse

180

June 2018

Viking Ocean

Viking Orion

930

June 2018

Ponant

Le Champlain

180

July 2018

Hurtigruten

Roald Amundsen

600

August 2018

Scenic

Eclipse

228

August 2018

Celebrity Cruises

Edge

2,900

November 2018

Holland America Line

Nieuw Statendam

2,660

November 2018

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Symphony

5,400

March 2018

Mystic Cruises

World Explorer

200

November 2018

AIDA Cruises

AIDAnova

5,200

December 2018

Ocean and River Cruise Ships Launched in 2017

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

Viking Ocean

Viking Sky

944

February 2017

TUI

Mein Schiff 6

2,500

April 2017

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Joy

4,200

April 2017

Silversea

Silver Muse

596

April 2017

MSC Cruises

Meraviglia

4,500

April 2017

Princess Cruises

Majestic Princess

3,600

May 2017

AIDA Cruises

AIDAperla

3,250

June 2017

Viking Ocean

Viking Sun

944

October 2017

Dream Cruises

World Dream

3,360

October 2017

MSC Cruises

Seaside

4,140

November 2017

Ocean Cruise Ships Launching in 2016

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

Holland America

Koningsdam

2,660

February 2016

Royal Caribbean

Ovation of the Seas

4,180

April 2016

Viking Ocean

Viking Sea

930

April 2016

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Vista

3,954

May 2016

Royal Caribbean

Harmony of the Seas

5,497

June 2016

Regent Seven Seas

Regent Seven Seas Explorer

738

July 2016

Seabourn

Seabourn Encore

604

December 2016

Ocean Cruise Ships Launched in 2015

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

P&OBritannia3,610March 2015

AIDA

Unnamed

3,250

March 2015

Royal Caribbean

Anthem

4,100

April 2015

Viking Ocean

Viking Star

890

April 2015

TUI Cruises

Mein Schiff 4

2,500

April 2015

Norwegian

Escape

4,200

October 2015

AIDA

AIDAprima

2,250

Fall 2015

Cruise Ships Launched in 2014

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

Norwegian Cruise LineGetaway4,020January 2014

Princess Cruises

Regal Princess

3,600

May 2014

Viking River

Viking Longship Buri

190

March 2014

TUI Cruises

Mein Schiff 3

2,500

June 2014

Royal Caribbean

Quantum of the Sea

4,100

October 2014

Costa

Costa Diadema

3,700

October 2014

Cruise Ships Launched in 2013

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

AIDA

AIDAstella

2,194

March 2013

MSC

Preziosa

4,345

March 2013

Norwegian

Norwegian Breakaway

4,000

May 2013

Hapag-Lloyd

Europa 2

516

May 2013

Princess

Royal Princess

3,600

June 2013

Ponant

Le Soleal

264

June 2013

Cruise Ships Launched in 2012

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

Disney Cruise LineDisney Fantasy4,000March 2012

Oceania Cruises

Riviera

1,258

April 2012

Costa

Costa Fascinosa

3,012

May 2012

Carnival

Breeze

3,650

June 2012

AIDA

AIDAmar

2,174

May 2012

MSC

Divina

3,500

June 2012

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Reflection

3,028

October 2012

Cruise Ships Launched in 2011

Cruise Line

Vessel

Capacity

Set Sail

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Dream4,000January 2011

Oceania Cruises

Marina

1,250

January 2011

Carnival

Carnival Magic

3,650

March 2011

AIDA

AIDAsol

2,170

April 2011

Ponant

L'Austral

264

May 2011

Seabourn

Quest

450

June 2011

Costa Cruises

Costa Divina

3,012

July 2011

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Silhouette

2,850

October 2011

*The lists above do not include luxury riverboats, harbor cruise vessels, & big passenger ferries, each of which provides many employment opportunities.

MSC to debut two new ships during summer 2021 programme

/

Key Take Away

The cruise company revealed that it will further extend the temporary fleet-wide halt of its cruise operation through to  July 31, 2020. 

It also announced that it will debut two new ships, MSC Virtuosa and MSC Seashore, during the summer 1 August 2021 program due to the delay that was caused by the temporary closure of the shipyard due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It will offer the popular ‘Six Pearls’ itinerary calling the Italian cities of Genoa and, for visits to Pompeii, Naples; Messina, Sicily; Valletta, Malta; Barcelona, Spain, and Marseille, France. 

For More Information

www.iol.co.za/amp/travel/travel-news/msc-to-debut-two-new-ships-during-summer-2021-programme-48999344

download (26).jpg

WTTC launches Safe Travels protocols for aviation, airports, MICE and tour operators

/

Key Take Away

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled the second phase of measures to rebuild global consumer confidence to encourage the return of traveling. The latest protocols are designed to drive the return of safe travel and enable industries, namely tour operators and convention centers, meetings, and events to thrive once again.

The welfare of travelers and the millions of people employed throughout the Travel & Tourism sector at the heart of this new comprehensive package of Safe Travels protocols.

WTTC divided the new guidance into four pillars including operational and staff preparedness; ensuring a safe experience; rebuilding trust and confidence; innovation; and implementing enabling policies.

Additional and separate measures for the Cruise sector and Insurance businesses, amongst others, are currently in development and will be announced in due course.

For More Information

www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4098955.html

.

download (25).jpg

Time for the Hotel Industry to “Remove the Box”

/

The hotel industry is one of the worst-hit industries during this crisis. A lot of studies have been conducted to help us understand the impact on the economy and our organization's bottom-line. Industry experts, through their various associations, have predicted that the average hotel occupancy in Malaysia for the year will stand at around 25% or less.

According to a recent study by Malaysia Association of Hotels (MAH), the industry is looking at a potential loss of RM6.3b in rooms revenue alone. Assuming rooms revenue accounts for 60% of the total hotel revenue, with F&B and other income accounting for the remaining 40%, the industry is facing a RM10.5b in potential losses.

MAH represents about 1,000 hotels out of the 4,880 hotels registered with the Ministry of Tourism Arts & Culture (MOTAC). However, these 1,000 hotels with 164,000 rooms represent 56% of total rooms inventory available throughout Malaysia.

 The number of hotels closing for business is increasing by the day, indicating not only loss of business, but also loss of jobs. The current estimate is that 1 million travel industry personnel (including hotel, airline, cruise and travel agents) will lose their jobs by the end of this year.

While we take stock and moan how the hotel industry's poor prospects, let us focus our attention on what we can, and should, do moving forward.

According to a study by the University of Singapore Technology and Design, China is expected to be the first to get back to normalcy while Malaysia's magic date is predicted to be July 6. Whether we like it or not, we should look at China as one of our main feeder markets, besides the domestic market of course. Consider appointing representatives or affiliates based in key cities in China to work with online platforms and mainstream travel agents there and start re-promoting Malaysia as a destination. Hoteliers need to actively prepare for this, and as soon as China reopens its doors, hotels must already be "Chinese friendly" at all service touch points

A financial reprojection is necessary to understand your hotel's new breakeven point. We often hear that the breakeven point (BEP) in an operating hotel is at 40% occupancy levels

At least for the short to mid-term, hotels will be looking at domestic travellers as a main source of customers. This will indeed be the fastest strategy to regain some occupancy. Malaysians still love the "Cuti-Cuti Malaysia" short getaways

Hotels may in the near future need to be certified "Social Distance Compliant" by authorities after they have practised and passed SOPs set by authorities. This is going to be very similar to the HALAL certification we see displayed on public areas. This could be something we will all be used to in the near future.

xxl_153114490.jpg