News In Brief: Seatrade Cruise News Latest Headlines

 

Buoyant state of the industry outlook from cruising's top leaders After four years darkened by the COVID pandemic and recovery, the cruise industry is emerging into the light, participants in the State of the Industry debate told an overflow audience at Seatrade Cruise Global on Tuesday. Full article

NCLH orders 8 cruise ships for 3 brands, all new classes and bigger Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings placed the largest newbuild order in its history — eight ships for three brands — at Fincantieri, and confirmed a two-berth pier at Great Stirrup Cay. Full article

Cruise leaders pitch benefits of joining the industry at 'Tomorrow's Talent Today' With the cruise industry expanding its fleets, demand is high to bring on quality personnel among all brands, and not just at sea. Full article

Rep. Robert Garcia: US should support future fuels, cruise port infrastructure Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), a freshman congressman who co-chairs the Congressional Ports Caucus, told a Seatrade Cruise Global audience Congress has to be a federal partner in the future of cruising. He highlighted two areas. Full article

Ports in Asia share cruise update in Miami An update on cruising in China, Korea and the Philippines was shared this afternoon during a lunch organised by Hong Kong Tourism Board on the first day of Seatrade Cruise Global 2024.   Full article

Seatrade panel weighs plusses and minuses of off-season cruising Autumn cruises in Canada and New England are typically oversubscribed with leaf-peeping guests, but in early 2025 the region has successfully attracted a ship visit during the freezing dark of the Canadian winter. Full article

Celebrity Cruises unveils new 'Nothing Comes Close' brand positioning Celebrity Cruises is beckoning discerning travelers to come on board and discover a world where ‘Nothing Comes Close' to the elevated experiences that await. Full article

When it comes to tours, weaving a good story is vital Memorable shore excursions have a lot in common with Hans Christian Anderson or Lewis Carroll. Both the authors and the tours rely on creative and clever story-telling to draw their audiences into another world. Full article

From honey buckets to cruise line president, MSC’s Rick Sasso ‘I went from honey buckets to the president of a cruise line… that could happen to any one of you,’ was Rick Sasso’s message to students during the kick off of the Tomorrow’s Talent Today programme at Seatrade Cruise Global. Full article

Actress Hannah Waddington is Sun Princess godmother Award-winning actress and performer Hannah Waddingham will serve as the godmother for Sun Princess during naming festivities April 23 at Port of Barcelona. Full article

Jim Barreiro de Leon launches Ship Management Group Jim Barreiro de Leon, with more than two decades of ship management experience, launched Ship Management Group with seasoned colleagues and offices and representatives in key maritime centers. Full article

NCL increases APAC sales support as bookings grow Following robust bookings growth in the region, Norwegian Cruise Line promoted Damian Borg to director of sales strategy and operations for Asia Pacific. Full article

Cruising's embrace of AI, Virgin's Nirmal Saverimuttu profiled in Seatrade Cruise Review As Seatrade Cruise Global opens in Miami Beach, the latest edition of official publication Seatrade Cruise Review is out with a cover feature on ways the industry is embracing AI. Full article

Spain's Alma Cruceros is Ocean Victory's Med charterer Alma Cruceros, a new Spanish operator, is the charterer of SunStone Group's Ocean Victory for summer Mediterranean service. Full article

Seattle cruise season opens with shore power coming to Pier 66 The Port of Seattle's 2024 cruise season opened Saturday with expectations for 1.7m revenue passengers (more than 800,000 individual passengers) on 275 calls. Full article

Maëlysse Guibourt moves up to CFC president Maëlysse Guibourt was appointed president at CFC-Compagnie Française de Croisières, succeeding Philippe Mahouin, who had been hired in October. Full article

Global Ports Holding awarded preferred bidder status for Casablanca Cruise Port A consortium led by Global Ports Holding(51%), local shareholder Steya(40%) and Ocean Infrastructures Management(9%) has been awarded bidder status for a 15-year concession to operate Casablanca’s new cruise terminal. Full article

Jessica Hoppe interim CEO at The World, Residences at Sea Jessica Hoppe is stepping in as interim CEO for The World, Residences at Sea, following Tom Wolber's departure, for personal reasons. Full article

Clement Mousset joins Orient Express as chief strategy officer Former CFC-Compagnie Française de Croisières co-founder Clément Mousset joined Accor's Orient Express as chief strategy officer. Full article

Fincantieri: Technology for the climate 2023 is the year Fincantieri began to rewrite its future. It is no coincidence that the Group chose “Future On Board” as the new claim. Full article