News in Brief:Seatrade Cruise News Latest Headlines

 

Hotels may be seeing price sensitivity but Royal Caribbean is not: Liberty Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty pushed back on investor concerns springing from some hotel operators reporting pricing sensitivity, especially among lower-income consumers. Full article

Icon of the Seas hitting 132% occupancy but there's still room to carry more cruisers World's largest cruise ship Icon of the Seas is now sailing at 'about 132% load factor, at very high guest satisfaction. We're just delighted,' Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley said Thursday. Full article

Stockholm shore power becomes operational with arrival of AIDAdiva The shore power plant in the Port of Stockholm became the first of its kind in Sweden to go into regular operation with the arrival of AIDAdiva yesterday.   Full article

The leading cruise industry figures delivering Seatrade Cruise Med keynote The influential figures set to appear on the ‘State of the Mediterranean Cruise Industry’ keynote panel at Seatrade Cruise Med have been revealed. Full article

Strong demand pushes up Royal Caribbean profit and outlook, dividend reinstated Better than expected demand and strong onboard spending pushed Royal Caribbean Group's second quarter profit higher than forecast, and the company raised its full-year outlook and became the first cruise operator to reinstate a dividend. Full article

One week left to enter the Seatrade Cruise Awards 2024 The deadline is approaching with seven days left to enter this year’s Seatrade Cruise Awards, now in their 18th year. Full article

Silversea's Michael McCarthy now VP operations and brand optimization In the new Silversea role of VP operations and brand optimization, Royal Caribbean Group veteran Michael McCarthy will now lead hotel operations at the luxury brand. Full article

DMC Nordic appoints Heidi Thon to its board Heidi Thon, an accomplished Norwegian business leader with extensive experience in travel and tourism, joined the board of DMC Nordic. Full article

Landry & Kling Global Ship Solutions continues ship charter work to assist governments Landry & Kling Global Ship Solutions, experts in seagoing meetings and events, incentive travel, ship-based housing and support, disaster relief and charter/broker services, continues its work on all these fronts. Full article

Barbara Biffi takes over global sales at Silversea as Massimo Brancaleoni exits Silversea veteran Barbara Biffi, formerly VP brand, was promoted to SVP global sales, taking over from Massimo Brancaleoni, who's exiting to pursue other opportunities. Full article

Princess Cruises sending 8 ships to Alaska in biggest 2026 season Princess Cruises' biggest-ever 2026 Alaska season features eight ships including its newest, 2025's Sphere-class Star Princess. Full article

Niels-Erik Lund passes the SunStone torch to sons Carsten and Christian SunStone Maritime Group founder and CEO Niels-Erik Lund handed over the company's management authority and responsiblity to sons Carsten and Christian. Full article

Genting Dream becomes largest vessel to call alongside in Phuket Genting Dream yesterday became the first cruise ship over 150,000gt ever to go alongside at Phuket Deep Sea Port. Full article

India proposes 'simpler' tax regime for foreign cruise lines (updated) India Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday proposed a simpler tax regime for foreign operators of domestic cruises. Full article

Victory Cruise Lines implements Resco's cruisePAL Victory Cruise Lines implemented Rescompany Systems' cruisePAL central reservations system. Full article

CLIA Australasia announces Cruise360 2024 speakers International and local speakers were revealed for the sold-out Cruise Lines International Association Australasia Cruise360 to be held at Sydney’s International Convention Centre on August 30. Full article

Secret Atlas unveils 2025 polar voyages Secret Atlas announced its micro cruise schedule to the polar regions for 2025, which includes even more departures to destinations like Greenland, Norway and Antarctica. Full article

CMT appoints Junma for expansion into Singapore CM Technologies strengthened its global sales and distribution network with the appointment of Singapore’s Junma Services. Full article

Chesapeake Shipbuilding delivers Coastal Cat American Liberty Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland delivered the 100-passenger American Liberty to American Cruise Lines. Full article

MSC World America's The Harbour a new outdoor family fun area A water park, 11-deck spiraling dry slide, rock wall, ropes course and over-water swing ride are among the highlights of The Harbour, MSC World America's new outdoor family area. Full article

Guangzhou homeport for Adora Cruises' second newbuild Adora Cruises' second China-built ship is scheduled to operate from Nansha, Guangzhou. Full article

St. Lucia Cruise Port settles $17m in Air & Sea Ports Authority debt Global Ports Holding subsidiary St. Lucia Cruise Port, the new operator of Port Castries' cruise facilities, settled cruise-related debt of more than $17m on behalf of the Saint Lucia Air & Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA). Full article

Green light for St. Thomas harbor dredging 'big win' for US Virgin Islands The US Virgin Islands Port Authority received approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers to dredge Charlotte Amalie Harbor to handle larger cruise ships. Full article