Carnival Cruises under fire from union

Global cruise industry giant Carnival Cruises has been accused of running a rort. 

The Maritime Union of Australia says Carnival Cruises is running a sham “home porting” operation in Australia while refusing to comply with basic Australian workplace safety laws.

Officials from the MUA this week ccompanied government safety inspectors from SafeWork NSW to an inspection of the cruise vessel Carnival Adventure in New South Wales waters, berthed alongside a NSW Government owned and operated passenger wharf at Circular Quay.

“The actions of Carnival Cruises alongside Circular Quay yesterday were a breach of state safety laws and they will now be prosecuted”, MUA assistant national secretary Jamie Newlyn said.

Changes to the laws in New South Wales activated this month allow worker safety organisations like the Maritime Union of Australia to launch proceedings in the state’s industrial courts to penalise companies who refuse to follow workplace health and safety laws. 

The maximum penalty for refusing, delaying or obstructing the entry of a WHS entry permit holder is $74,849 per incident. The Union and SafeWork NSW have now been refused entry on three separate occasions.

Despite marketing the vessel as being “home ported” in Australia, Carnival has repeatedly refused to recognise the lawful rights of Australian workplace safety officials and union permit holders to access the ship and consult with workers, the union says.

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), authorised inspectors and WHS entry permit holders have a lawful right to enter workplaces to consult with workers and advise them about their health and safety rights.

Newlyn said Carnival’s conduct raised serious questions about whether they should continue enjoying Ministerial exemptions to the Coastal Trading Act which allow them to operate foreign flagged ships in Australian waters.

“Carnival claims vessels like the Carnival Adventure are ‘home ported’ in Australia when it suits their marketing department, but when it comes to obeying Australian laws they suddenly pretend those laws don’t apply to them,” Newlyn said.

“You can’t have it both ways. If you are operating out of Australian ports, carrying Australian passengers, and marketing yourself as part of the Australian tourism industry, then you must obey Australian workplace safety laws.” 

Just stay away: Barcelona to reduce cruise arrivals

Barcelona, the busiest cruise port in Europe, is moving to reduce cruising's impact on the city's over-stretched infrastructure.

The Spanish city is to reduce its cruise terminal capacity by the end of the decade as part of a broader push to rein in surging tourist arrivals.

News hub Travel Mole reports a new agreement between Barcelona City Hall and the Port Authority will see the number of cruise terminals cut from seven to five by 2030.

This move will lower the port’s maximum capacity for simultaneous cruise passengers from 37,000 to 31,000.

“This is the first time in history that limits are being placed on the growth of cruise ships in the city,” said Mayor Jaume Collboni.

The mayor, who has been vocal about addressing over-tourism, previously said he aimed to reduce the number of one-day cruise visits, which often lead to overcrowding at popular sites such as the Sagrada Familia.

The decision comes amid a surge in cruise activity.

Between January and May 2025, cruise ship calls to Barcelona increased by 21%, while passenger arrivals rose by 20% to 1.2 million, compared to the same period in 2024.

These figures marked an acceleration from the 20% overall growth in cruise passengers recorded between 2018 and 2024.

Barcelona has faced increasing push-back from residents over the impacts of mass tourism, including housing pressure, environmental degradation, and congestion at cultural landmarks.

Protests have become more frequent in recent years, highlighting growing frustration with the volume of short-term visitors.

Barcelona began pushing cruise operations away from the city center in 2018, culminating in the closure of the North Terminal at the base of Las Ramblas by 2023.

The port redevelopment plan - already underway - includes the demolition of older terminals and the construction of a new, more sustainable Terminal C, with shore power and expanded capacity for 7,000 passengers.

The overhaul also includes improved shuttle transport, digital crowd-monitoring systems, and a €90 million expansion of the Porta d’Europa bridge to better connect the port to the city. Completion is due in 2027.

Once complete, four of the five terminals will be privately operated by major cruise lines : Terminals D and E by Carnival Corp., Terminal H by MSC Cruises, and the under-construction Terminal G by Royal Caribbean Group. Terminal C will remain publicly owned.

Demolition of the current Terminal C is expected by the end of 2026, with the new terminal slated to open in 2028 and reach full operational capacity by 2030.

Cruise ships get a thumbs up from New Zealand

While many destinations around the world are banning or restricting cruise ships the New Zealand government announced they will be permitted to continue sailing Milford Sound.

The decision came after calls to block cruise ships.

Government officials say they have struck a balance by allowing cruise tourism in Milford Sound Piopiotahi while funding $NZ15.2 million for infrastructure improvements and conservation.

“We are supporting the local economy and providing certainty for operators by enabling cruise ships and aircraft to continue to access the fjord,” said New Zealand Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston.

Cruises are already restricted in the Sound and no more than two ships can visit per day.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) welcomed the decision.

“Milford Sound Piopiotahi is one of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural assets and the international cruise industry is strongly committed to protecting it,” the CLIA said.

“The cruise industry will continue to work closely with New Zealand authorities to ensure the appropriate management of cruise tourism.”

All visiting cruise ships must sign a deed of agreement with Environment Southland for managed access to the Southland coast.

Cruise giant orders more ships as industry booms

The cruise industry is an unstoppable force.

No matter how many crises it confronts, the simple truth is that a lot of people are happy to spend good money to be at sea on huge ships.

MSC Cruises, one of the industry heavyweights, this week announced a firm order for two new ‘World Class’ series ships.

This will take the number of MSC ships in the class to six.

The new vessels are currently being referred to as World Class 5 and 6 prior to being named and are expected to be delivered for service in 2029 and 2030.

The pair will be built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard outside Nantes in Frabce and will be powered by alternative fuel sources including LNG, travel portal Travel Mole reports.

The 6,700-guests ships will join MSC World Europa and MSC World America (above), which have already launched, and MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic, which will be delivered over the next two years.

“The confirmation for the two new World Class ships marks a new milestone and the continuation of our long-term industrial plan,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises.

“The highly successful World Class platform combines the very best in environmental technology with the latest advancements in guest experiences.”

The new ships will also have shore power plug-in capability and advanced wastewater treatment systems.

Triple celebration for MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique this week marked significant milestones for three World Class ships in Saint-Nazaire, France.

The delivery of MSC World America (above), coincided with the coin ceremony - a traditional shipbuilding event - of MSC World Asia and the steel cutting for the newly named MSC World Atlantic.

The importance of the occasion meant attendees included Captain Gianluigi Aponte, founder and group chairman of MSC, and Chantiers de l’Atlantique GM Laurent Castaing.

MSC World America is the 23rd ship in the cruise line’s modern fleet and is set to be officially named on April 9 in the US at the company’s new MSC Miami Cruise Terminal, the largest in the world.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman, cruise division, MSC Group, said: “Today is a proud moment for all of us at MSC Cruises and Chantiers de l’Atlantique as we mark these major milestones in the development of our fleet.

"Our new flagship is a testament to our long-standing, innovative partnership spanning over 20 years, resulting in five ground-breaking prototypes and 19 ships.

"Together, we continue to push boundaries, combining cutting-edge design, the latest technologies, and a richness of experiences to set new standards in cruising and always striving to further improve the environmental performance of each ship. We look forward to raising the bar even higher with the upcoming MSC World Asia and MSC World Atlantic.”

A coin cermeony sees commemorative coins placed inside a ship as a sign of blessing during construction and to bring good fortune to the ship.

The third celebration was a steel cutting ceremony to officially start the construction of the line’s fourth World Class ship, MSC World Atlantic, due to enter service in 2027.

MSC World America's inaugural season from Miami starts on April 12.

She will sail alternating seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, San Juan, Puerto Rico and MSC Cruises private island Ocean Cay and seven-night Western Caribbean voyages to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, Isla de Roatan, Honduras, and Ocean Cay.

Carnival cruises into Asian ports

Carnival Cruise Line has announced plans to set sail for the Asia-Pacific region, with Carnival Adventure and Carnival Luminosa (above) poised to explore Asian ports for the first time.

Asia has long been a favourite holiday destination for Australians.

On sale now, Carnival Adventure will offer two itineraries in 2027, exploring Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The program includes a Sydney to Singapore voyage, stopping in Indonesia and a round-trip cruise from Singapore, featuring ports in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Carnival Luminosa will introduce a 14-day voyage in 2026, sailing from Tokyo to Singapore. This itinerary will visit Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Carnival Luminosa will also sail on a 14-day voyage from Singapore to Brisbane via Bali and Darwin.

“We're so excited to bring Carnival's fun to Asia for the first time,” said Kara Glamore, Carnival Cruise Line vice president for sales and marketing.

“This is going to give Australians a new, affordable and thrilling way to visit multiple destinations across Asia, all while enjoying the unparalleled fun of a Carnival cruise.

“Asia has bustling cities, breath-taking scenery, ancient temples, and world-famous beaches, and we can't wait for our guests to explore this magical part of the world.

“These itineraries mark a new chapter in cruising for Carnival, just as we prepare to embark on an exciting expansion to four ships in Australia, when P&O's Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter join the Carnival family in March, and are renamed Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter.”

See www.carnival.com.au. 

Mexico hits cruise ships with new taxes

Add Mexico to the list of countries that is fighting back against the intrusive and costly wave of cruise ship visits.

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) has been spooked after the Mexican government passed a new tax on cruise passengers.

Cruise passengers will face an additional US $42 per person in taxes on top of the current average of US $20 in other taxes and fees the FCCA says is required to visit Mexican ports, news portal Travel Mole reports.

The association says this effectively prices Mexican ports out of the cruise market - which may well be the idea given the increasing cost of catering for cruise ships and the damage they cause the environment.

The law was passed without consultation or any input from the cruise industry, the FCCA says, adding the new tax could disrupt the travel plans of over 10 million passengers expected to visit Mexico in 2025.

“We appreciate President [Claudia] Sheinbaum’s assurance that the change will happen slowly and that she’s instructed federal officials to work with our industry, but we haven’t heard from anyone yet,” FCCA CEO Michele Paige said.

The FCCA says member lines are "eager to collaborate with the government to gain clarity on the details of this implementation and work together to chart a constructive path forward".

“Mexico has long been a cornerstone of the cruise market, that has delivered significant economic benefits to both the industry and local communities,” said Paige.

“However, the unilateral decision to eliminate the in-transit tax exemption without engaging industry stakeholders undermines our partnership.”

The association says cruise ship calls generate over $1 billion in direct spending annually and support more than 20,000 jobs across various sectors.

The FCCA wants Mexican officials to engage in immediate dialogue to address industry concerns.

“Joint efforts between the government and the cruise industry are essential to creating sustainable growth that benefits all parties,” Paige added.

“We are hopeful we can work together to find solutions that preserve Mexico’s vital role in the cruise market.”

Image: Lauren Hudon, Scop.io 

New Zealand slugs cruise ships with increased costs

The New Zealand Government has dealt a financial blow to cruise ship operators - and they are not happy about it.

New Zealand has revealed a hike in border processing fees for cruise ship guests of 88% - scheduled to take effect from December 1.

The Cruise Lines International Association Australasia and the New Zealand Cruise Association both hit out at both the cruise fee hike and the lack of notice, news portal Travel Mole reported.

The say cruise lines won’t be able to pass on the increase to passengers, who have already booked and paid for their cruises.

The trade groups warn it could severely impact cruise traffic to New Zealand with with forecast that passenger numbers are down around 22% this year.

They say New Zealand is one of the most expensive markets for cruise operation costs.

NZ Cruise Association CEO Jacqui Lloyd said: “Cruise lines carefully plan and budget their operations two to three seasons ahead, leaving no room to pass unexpected cost increases to passengers.

“These financial burdens fall squarely on the cruise lines.”

It is not clear why cruise lines would not build such contingencies into their forward planning.

The processing cost for travellers arriving by cruise ship will increase from $11.48 to $21.54, an increase of $10.06 per passenger. This represents an extra $30,000 in costs for a ship carrying 3000 passengers.

 

The CLIA and the NZCA are pushing for urgent meetings with the New Zealand Customs Service and government officials.

Luxury resort operator enters the cruise business

Aman is a brand that is associated with exclusive high-end luxury resorts.

But the resort operator is getting ready to join the competitive cruising yacht market, Travel Mole reports.

Aman has started construction of its first luxury motor yacht for the Aman at Sea brand with a traditional steel cutting ceremony at the T.Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy.

As part of a joint venture with Cruise Saudi, Aman at Sea is set to launch in 2027.

The vessel will have 50 spacious suites with balconies and aims to replicate Aman’s hotels’ ethos of luxury hospitality at sea.

“We are partnering with T.Mariotti to bring to life our vision for Aman at Sea, providing a whole new category in on the water exploration,” said Vlad Doronin, CEO of Aman Group.

The new vessel will measure 183 metres and be the first dual-fuel powered new build, using marine diesel oil and methanol.

The cruise yacht will offer various dining options, a club and lounge, an Aman Spa with a Japanese garden, and two helipads.

The keel laying is expected to take place this northern summer and the vessel’s official name will be announced later.

Aman was founded by tourism innovator Adrian Zecha in 1988, but is now a Swiss-headquartered multinational that operates 34 properties in 20 countries. 

Mariotti is known for building ultra-luxury cruise ships and megayachts.   

Virgin Voyages backs out of Australian commitment

Virgin Voyages' Resilient Lady was launched in Australia and the Pacific with much fanfare just a few months ago. 

But Virgin has made the decision to withdraw Resilient Lady from its Australian deployment in 2024-25, Cruise Weekly reported. 

The cruise line said concerns about potential escalations in the Red Sea region over the next 12 months were the reason, but some industry experts expressed scepticism. 

Virgin said events in the Middle East had made conditions for repositioning to Australia too unsafe - but there are other ways to get a boat to the southern hemisphere. 

The cruise line had originally committed to a second season in Australia. 

"To say that we are disappointed to have come to this tough conclusion is an understatement," Virgin said in a statement.

The cruise line said it is currently working through options to return to Australia and the Asia Pacific region once repositioning opportunities become more tenable. 

Instead, the ship will relocate from Europe in late 2024 to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a new Caribbean season offering 7, 8, 10 and 11-night voyages.

It will visit St Maarten, St Vincent, Colombia, and Dominica.

The dirty secret the cruise industry would rather you did not know about

It is the little secret that cruise lines would rather passengers did not know.

Your cruise ship can change its itinerary at any time - with little or no recourse for customers.

You may recall last month when cruise passengers on board the P&O ship Pacific Adventure had booked for a cruise to some of the best ports in New Zealand - only to find themselves visiting Hobart and Eden in Australia after their ship was denied entry to New Zealand.

And also had a proposed docking in Port Arthur scrapped due to bad weather.

Some the guests from Hobart were less than pleased to find themselves back in their home city rather than exploring New Zealand.

Cruise schedules are created by cruise lines many months in advance - but passengers are never certain of actually visiting the ports advertised.

Guests sailing on board Regal Princess (above) on January 21 out of Galveston, Texas, will be missing out on a highlight destination: the island of Roatan off Honduras.

Princess Cruises announced that instead of sailing to the tropical island paradise of Roatan, guests will spend the day at Belize City, Belize, instead.

The change in itinerary was made by Princess Cruises in light of congestion in Roatan. The small island has a limited number of berths and can only accommodate three cruise ships at the same time.

In a statement sent to guests booked onboard, Princess Cruises said: “Itinerary Change, please be advised that due to cruise ship congestion in Roatan, Honduras, Regal Princess will no longer call on Roatan on Thursday, January 25, 2024. Instead, we will now visit Belize City, Belize from 7am to 5pm on the same day."

If you booked because you wanted to visit Roatan: tough luck.

It is a fact that cruise lines are fully within their rights to make changes to itineraries for a wide variety of reasons.

This can include port congestion, as is the case with Regal Princess, but also adverse weather conditions, or even to make an itinerary more fuel effective. 

Like it or lump it. Check the terms and conditions before you pay. Caveat emptor.

Meet a bigger-than-ever floating casino

Bigger is better. That's often the motto in the US, and also the cruise industry, which just loves big things.

Now Princess Cruises is set to launch its biggest-ever casino at sea.

The 4,300-guest Sun Princess will have an expanded ship casino with 50% more space and 30% more machines than the line’s regular Royal Class ships.

Sun Princess sets sail in February 2024 and sounds like a floating RSL to me. 

I guess the market will decide. It might appeal to folk from Big Butt, Arkansas, where they don't have RSLs.

Located on deck 8 adjacent to the ship's piazza, there will be over 200 slot machines, video poker games and live table games.

“Princess has embraced the casino experience and is proud to offer such exciting gaming surrounded by dining and entertainment,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises, said in a media statement.

The cruise ship casino will have a high-limit slot area, with high-end seating and other new gaming experiences.

Sun Princess is currently under construction at the famous Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.

Inaugural 2024 cruises to the Mediterranean, Europe and Caribbean are on sale now. For more information, visit www.princess.com.

Is this hell on earth?

This, believe it or not, is a promotional pic of new cruise ship Icon of the Seas.

To me it looks like hell on earth. An American theme park but with less taste and decorum.

It accompanied the news that Royal Caribbean has taken delivery of Icon of the Seas.

The 250,800-tonne ship, boasting 20 decks, becomes the largest cruise ship in the world.

It has capacity for 7,600 guests and with crew members aboard that adds up to nearly 10,000 people on the high seas.

What a horrendous thought.

But don’t expect any negativity in the glossy magazines and travel supplements. They would’t exist without cruise industry advertising, so have to remain positive

“We are celebrating more than a new ship; it’s also the celebration of the culmination of more than 50 years of innovation to create the ultimate vacation experience,” said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty.

Icon of the Seas will sail to Cadiz, Spain, for some finishing touches before a transatlantic voyage to its new home in Miami, Travel Mole reports.

The maiden voyage, a week-long Caribbean cruise, is scheduled to depart on January 27, 2024.

The ship features 40 bars and restaurants, seven pools, a FlowRider wave simulator and a mini golf course.

There are 28 different stateroom categories including the three-level Family Townhouse.

Not for me thanks.

Cruise industry chaos in both hemispheres

# UPDATE 

More bad news for passengers on board “the cruise that will go anywhere that will take us”. 

The proposed stop in Port Arthur is off due to “bad weather”. But bus transfers from Hobart will be available. 

I’m not sure anyone books a cruise to spend up to five hours in a bus. 

And then it got even worse for long-suffering cruise passengers. 

In Brisbane, Royal Caribbean’s Quantam of the Seas sold too many cabins - leaving several groups of travellers unable to embark. 

What a shambles this industry is. 

—

In the southern hemisphere, cruise passengers looking towards exploring some of the highlights of New Zealand will instead be visiting Tasmania and the south coast of New South Wales.

In the northern hemisphere, gullible folk who signed on for a three-year luxury cruise around the globe will be going absolutely nowhere after their cruise company discovered it did not have a suitable ship.

Cruise companies have a record for shooting themselves in the foot, but the latest catastrophes were biggies, even the by industry's lofty standards.

First off the blocks was P&O Cruises. Owned by Carnival Corporation and headquartered in Sydney, P&O is led by Sture Myrmell, who is a big cheese in the cruise business in Australia.

Yet P&O was not organised enough to have the barnacles scraped off the hull of one of its ships before entering New Zealand, where they are considered a biohazard. The ship was turned around. 

Those affected included a couple who had planned to disembark the cruise and get married in New Zealand. Their wedding had to be scrapped.

P&O had planned to have the ship's hull cleaned by divers off the Bay of Plenty but weather forced that plan to be scrapped. There was no back up plan.

And P&O decided not to wait for better weather but instead divert back to Hobart, Port Arthur and Eden, which was not what those on board the Pacific Adventure (above) had booked and paid for on their 13-day 'Kiwi Adventure' voyage - which will not visit New Zealand at all.

The barnacles are not wanted in New Zealand, but are apparently fine in "clean, green" Tasmania.

In a statement provided to passengers on board, and later shared on social media, P&O said: "Unfortunately the weather has not aligned with the predicted forecast and conditions dramatically changed upon the divers entering the water [to clean the ship]."

Some passengers wanted to return to Sydney, but this was not possible.

Passengers were given a $300 on-board credit and a 50% credit for a future trip, but P&O later said "a more generous compensation offer had been provided after feedback from affected customers".

Translation: Enough passengers kicked up a stink to make us do better."

P&O Cruises Australia, like all cruise companies, alerts customers in its terms and conditions that changes to the itinerary can sometimes be made during the voyage. But that usually covers weather and political occurences, not the company failing to plan properly.

P&O can get in the bin along with Optus.

Meanwhile, in Istanbul, Turkey, a lot of rich folk were stranded after signing up for a cruise that sounded too good to be true. And was. 

Those who signed up and paid for the Life at Sea inaugural cruise - billed as three years travelling in a luxury cruise ship - found there was no ship at. 

Many were left having sold or rented out their homes and with nowhere to return to CNN reported.

The cruise line told passengers that it has no ship, and had cancelled the departure, promising to refund those who’d signed up for cruises costing up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Good luck with that. 

The cruise was originally due to depart Istanbul, Turkey, on November 1, but shortly before that date, departure was postponed to November 11 and relocated to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and then to November 30, again from Amsterdam. 

A total of 111 cabins were apparently sold. 

The company has said it will make repayments in monthly instalments, starting from mid-December. It has also offered to pay for accommodation until December 1 and flights home for anyone now stranded in Istanbul. 

Life at Sea Cruises had reportedly been planning to buy the AIDAaura, a ship retired this summer by AIDA Cruises, a German subsidiary of Carnival Corp. 

It was due to be rechristened as the MV Lara and to be renovated before the voyage. Life at Sea Cruises advertised the ship on its remarkably amateurish website https://www.lifeatseacruises.com/ without owning it. 

On November 16, however, Celestyal Cruises said it had purchased the AIDAaura.

Vedat Ugurlu, the owner of Turkish-based Miray Cruises, which operates Life at Sea, said he was "extremely sorry for the inconvenience”. 

He said that while the company had made the down payment for the ship, investors “declined to support us further due to unrest in the Middle East.”

Ugurlu also told passengers that day that the company then tried and failed to buy another ship, and that it was working on a third. Remarkably, bookings are still available on the website. 

The message: If you are booking a cruise then do your homework, know your rights and be prepared to scream and holler if necessary. 

Cruise industry buoyant as MSC orders two new high-tech ships

The cruise industry is in an optimistic mood with one of the leaders, MSC Cruises, today confirming the order of two liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessels with French ship builder Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

The two new ordered vessels - currently referred to as World Class 3 and 4 - will be delivered in 2026 and 2027, and there is an option for another ship.

MSC World Europa (above) and MSC World America- the first two ships in the World Class fleet - are already touted as "the most energy efficient ships in the industry" performing significantly better than the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirement.

The new ships are described as an evolution of the state-of-the-art World Class prototype "with innovative solutions to maximise the energy efficiency, with extensive use of heat recovery and other technological solutions, which will see the vessels having an even further reduced carbon footprint".

In addition, the new ships will be ready for a variety of alternative fuels including bio and synthetic methane and green methanol. The ships will also be fitted with the next generation dual fuel internal combustion engines with reduced methane slip.

“We are proud to continue our 20-year partnership with the Chantiers de l’Atlantique, with whom we have already built 18 ships with our 19th under construction," said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises.

"The World Class is a truly innovative prototype and together we are building some of the most advanced ships in the world.

"We are committed to researching and investing in future environmental technologies as they become available, to ensure we continue progressing on our decarbonisation journey to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”

Laurent Castaing, general manager for French shipbuilders Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire added: “At a difficult time for the European shipbuilding industry, MSC Cruises has shown its confidence in our abilities and skills with this order.

"We would therefore like to express our gratitude to MSC Cruises for its renewed confidence at this crucial time. In addition, MSC Cruises, always seeking to reduce the environmental impact of its ships quickly and significantly, has accepted a significant cost premium to improve the energy efficiency of these new ships which, according to the IMO's EEDI index, will emit 50% less CO2 than the IMO's 2008 benchmark.”

The new World Class vessels will feature shore power plug-in connectivity to reduce carbon emissions in port, advanced wastewater treatment systems designed in line with the IMO, new advances in waste management, and a range of onboard energy efficient equipment to optimise engine use and hotel energy needs to further reduce emissions.

MSC Cruises is the world’s third-largest cruise brand and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It has a fleet of 22 vessels projected to grow to 23 cruise ships by 2025.

China wants a slice of the global cruise market

China is eyeing the global cruise market with the first large home-built Chinese cruise ship being named and another in the pipeline.

The Adora Magic City was unveiled in Shanghai at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao shipyard and is the first large cruise ship to be entirely constructed in China.

The 135,500 tonne liner, which will be part of the Adora Cruises fleet, will accommodate up to 5,246 cruisers, Travel Mole reported.

The ship is constructed to a design initially developed by Carnival Corp and Fincantieri ship builders during a partnership with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

It was based on Carnival’s Vista class ship design and has been planned since 2018.

The new cruise ship houses 26 restaurants and bars, a duty-free retail mall and a brewery.

There is a large entertainment venue and kids activities.

The ship officially begins international cruises in January 2024 and a sister ship is now under construction.

Cruise line helping out the environment

Cruise ships are often linked - rightly or wrongly - with pollution. For that reason it is great tp see a leading cruise line doing its bit for the environment.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is partnering with Take 3 for the Sea in Australia to support the organisation’s work in reducing plastic pollution in Australian waterways and oceans.

It also aims to inspire NCL staff, travel partners and guests to be part of the change.

Take 3 for the Sea is a not-for-profit organisation that advocates for everyone to ‘take 3’ pieces of rubbish with them each time they visit a beach, park or bushland area as part of its plan to remove 50 million pieces of rubbish from waterways by 2025.

As Take 3 for the Sea’s partner, NCL will create and undertake a range of engaging activities to encourage awareness of the movement among the travel community, including dedicated clean-up experiences for staff, travel partners and guests, including NCL’s annual Walk for Wellness initiative, which kicks off in October.

“Conserving the health of our oceans and reducing plastic pollution is an important part of our comprehensive Sail & Sustain program,” said Ben Angell, managing director and vice president of NCL APAC.

“As the first major cruise line to eradicate single-use plastic water bottles from our ships, we’re proud to say that so far, across our three sister brands at NCLH we’ve kept over 14 million water bottles and 50 million plastic straws from harming the environment.

“As an avid surfer and swimmer, the ocean is a big part of my life. Together with my family, I’ve been ‘taking 3 for the sea’ for many years in my local community.

"Now, I’m honoured to share my passion and roll up my sleeves alongside my colleagues, travel industry partners and NCL guests to empower others to get involved.”

Jacquie Riddell, CEO of Take 3 for the Sea, said: “We are delighted to have NCL on board ... recognising that doing good for the planet can promote a sense of personal wellbeing.”

Recent consumer research conducted by NCL showed that 44% of guests feel sustainability is a very important factor when choosing their cruise line.

Image: Jacqui Riddell, CEO of Take 3 for the Sea and Ben Angell, NCL’s managing director and vice president, APAC, at Freshwater Beach, NSW

It's over: cruise company officially out of business

Cash-strapped Crystal Cruises has officially shut down its operations. 

A Florida court approved Michael Moecker & Associates to act for the cruise line under an assignment for the benefit of creditors (ABC) filing. 

This specialist company now has control of what's left of Crystal's non-ship assets, its accounts and records and will be collecting creditors' claims for payment. 

This includes the claims of passengers, travel advisors, vendors, shoreside employees and crew.

Crystal said all 238 employees at its Miami base have been laid off. 

"We are taking the action because we will be undertaking an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or seeking similar relief," Crystal said in a letter to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

Interim president and CEO Jack Anderson said: "This was an extremely difficult decision but a prudent one given the current business environment and recent developments with our parent company, Genting Hong Kong."

Two Crystal ships were seized earlier this month in the Bahamas over $US4.6 million in unpaid fuel bills.

The US Federal Maritime Commission is advising customers to make a claim with their credit card issuer, or via their insurer, to speed up processing.

Anderson estimated over $US100 million is being held by Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

Crystal Cruises was headquartered in Miami after being founded in 1988 by Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha. 

It had been owned since 2015 by Hong Kong-based Genting Hong Kong, which subsequently encountered financial difficulties. 

Both brands have now ceased all operations. V.Ships Leisure has been appointed to manage Crystal's fleet of ships.