News In Brief: Seatrade Cruise News Latest Headlines

 

More new to cruise, many millennials or younger at Royal Caribbean New-to-cruise numbers are up more than 16% year-over-year at Royal Caribbean Group while almost one in two guests are millennials or younger. Full article

Chris Austin promoted to North America president at Explora Journeys Chief Sales Officer Chris Austin was promoted to president, North America at Explora Journeys. Full article

Sven Lindblad's 2023 compensation valued at $2.3m Sven Lindblad, who returned to CEO of Lindblad Expeditions in July 2023, received compensation valued at more than $2.3m last year. Full article

Carnival cuts interest costs in series of refinancings Carnival Corp. & plc closed its private offering of €500m 5.75% senior unsecured notes due 2030 and is putting the proceeds toward redeeming higher-cost notes. Full article

Princess UK & Europe VP Eithne Williamson has plenty to smile about Eithne Williamson had a big smile on her face at the Sun Princess naming ceremony which took place in Barcelona this week. Full article

CLIA Australasia figures show New Zealand on track for recovery In 2023, the first full year since cruise ships returned to New Zealand after the pandemic, 86,300 New Zealanders took an ocean cruise. Full article

Royal Caribbean China bookings, pricing 'significantly higher' than 2019 Royal Caribbean International resumed cruising from mainland China this month, and CEO Michael Bayley called booking volume and rate 'significantly higher than in 2019.' Full article

Royal Caribbean beats Q1 forecasts, lifts guidance (again) on strong demand Royal Caribbean Group shot past first quarter profit expectations and lifted its full-year guidance to $10.70 to $10.90/share on strong demand and record bookings. Full article

Big plans for Nordfjordeid and small nearby village Nordfjordeid aims to start shore power installation this year or in 2025, according to John Olav Lefdal, owner, Port of Nordfjordeid. Full article

Celebrity Ascent arrives in Europe to sail first Med summer season Celebrity Ascent, which debuted late last year, has returned to Europe where she was built, and is set to start a series of Mediterranean sailings. Full article

Cruise Norway fam trip heads to Eidford, experiences top attraction The cascading Veringsfossen waterfall, Eidfjord’s main attraction, was the first stop for cruise line representatives on Wednesday as part of a Cruise Norway familiarisation trip to southwest Norway. Full article

New cruise day passes from WMS-Verizon and Telenor-AT&T WMS launched the first Verizon Cruise Daily Pass, and Telenor Maritime teamed with AT&T on a Cruise International Day Pass. Full article

New culinary-focused sailings with Heritage Line along the lower Mekong River Heritage Line is offering new culinary-focused sailings along the lower Mekong River visiting Vietnam and Cambodia. Full article

'Honorary Italian' Jonathan Bennett names Carnival Firenze in Long Beach Actor Jonathan Bennett was made an honorary Italian on stage in order to fulfill his godfather's duty: naming Carnival Firenze during Long Beach festivities Wednesday evening. Full article

Wallem Ship Agency dynamo Dickson Chin: always on the go Asia cruising is back, declared Dickson Chin, md of Wallem Ship Agency during a panel discussion focussing on the region he moderated at Seatrade Cruise Global. Full article

Herrera plays up value message as NCL's 9-ship Europe season opens As Norwegian Cruise Line's nine-ship Europe season gets under way, President David Herrera is touting value. Full article

Viking seeks to raise up to $1.1b in IPO Viking Holdings launched an initial public offering of 44m shares at a price expected to be between $21 and $25 per share, or up to $1.1b. Full article

Virgin Voyages will briefly match airline, hotel loyalty program status For a three-day window through April 26, Virgin Voyages will extend its Sailing Club status match to honor airline and hotel loyalty programs. Full article