Royal Caribbean officials and representatives of the Virgin Islands Port Authority announced a major increase in cruise visits for the Virgin Islands during Seatrade. Royal Caribbean Group VP Destination Development and Deployment Joshua Carroll, said that RCG will be sending up to 70% more passengers to Crown Bay in St. Thomas and will triple the […]
Cruise
Harding Retail launches Somrus onboard Carnival and Virgin Voyages to great success
The House of Somrus, the cream liqueur brand inspired by flavors from India—has made a big impact in travel retail since launching in the channel through high-profile digital “coffee breaks” during the Virtual Travel Retail Expos in 2020 and 2021 and the Virtual Summit of the Americas last year.Represented in the channel by Duty Free […]
CLIA releases Cruise Industry 2022 Outlook
Report quantifies value of cruise tourism, underscores leadership in health and safety, environmental sustainability and destination stewardship More than six million guests have sailed since cruise ships resumed operations in July 2020, reports Cruise Lines International Association, which this week released the 2022 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook report. CLIA also said that 75+% of ocean-going member […]
Dufry extends La Romana duty free concession in the Dominican Republic for 10 years
Global travel retailer Dufry has extended its duty free concession at La Romana Int. Airport & Seaport (AILR & CPLR) in the Dominican Republic for another 10 years. The company has been opera-ting at La Romana for more than 14 years, where the combined airport and seaport location welcomes more than 700,000 passengers a year, […]
Hawaii signs new cruise travel agreements
The cruise industry is returning to Hawaii this year, for the first time since the pandemic began two years ago. The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Harbors Division has announced that it has executed the first port agreements with Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) to formalize health and safety protocols for cruise […]
CLIA disputes CDC’s anti-cruising advisory, calling it “perplexing”
Cruise industry organization Cruise Lines International Association says that last week’s advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warning against cruising is “particularly perplexing.” On Dec. 30, the CDC raised the travel level warning against cruising to its highest level as positive cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant sweep the world. Nevertheless, CLIA […]
Cruise leaders discuss future of industry as Seatrade holds first live show post-pandemic in Miami
Amid fist bumps, masks and stringent health and safety protocols, the cruise industry came together for its first live gathering at the 35th Seatrade Global Cruise Conference in Miami during the last week of September. Even as the organizers knew that travel restrictions would keep attendance to a fraction of its normal 8,000+ of years […]
Carnival focuses on ports, private island destinations and protocols
Cruises have restarted, and with COVID now part of our life for the foreseeable future, people are learning to live with vaccines, boosters and other health and safety protocols as they return to leisure activities. With Carnival Cruise Lines reporting they will be back to sailing nearly 90% of their U.S.-based capacity by next February, […]
Seatrade Cruise Global will hold hybrid live/virtual event in Miami on Sept. 27-30
The cruise industry’s premier business-to-business event, Seatrade Cruise Global, returns to the Miami Beach Convention Center, September 27-30, in a new hybrid format. This year marks Seatrade’s 35th anniversary edition. In conjunction with its traditional program, this year’s edition will feature a virtual conference track, giving the community additional options to participate. The four-day event will […]
Sustainability, experience drive Harding’s immersive retail program onboard Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady
Sustainability and experience are driving the collaborative retailing partnership between Global travel retail and cruise retail specialist Harding and Virgin Voyages onboard the Scarlet Lady, whose maiden voyage sailed from Portsmouth on Friday, August 6. Set over 550 sq-meters of retail space, Harding’s immersive on- board retail experience includes a pioneering approach to sustainability. Harding […]
Harding launches first BVLGARI pop-up concept at sea onboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady
As part of its innovation with Virgin Voyages, Harding is partnering with BVLGARI to bring the Italian allure and craftsmanship of the brand to a concept pop-up store onboard Scarlet Lady. The pop-up concept store will feature all the iconic collections of the brand, including B.Zero1, Bvlgari Bvlgari, Serpenti, Divas’ Dream and Octo. The BVLGARI […]
Montblanc boutique allows Celebrity Apex guests to explore fine watchmaking, creative lettering and more
The Celebrity Shops onboard the new Celebrity Apex, which launched in June from Starboard Cruise Services, cover more than 7,000 square feet of space and encourage guests to Find Your Apex amid a wide selection of experiential retail. The Apex introduces the first Montblanc lifestyle boutique, spotlighting the brand’s rich tradition and craftsmanship by offering […]
New Seaports Report shows Florida’s ports poised for recovery in 2021 as fundamentals of cruise industry remain strong
The Florida Seaports Transportation and Economic Development Council (FSTED) has released Seaport Mission Plan: Navigating Beyond the Pandemic, providing in-depth data on COVID-19’s impact, as well as forthcoming opportunities, for Florida’s 15 seaports. Prepared by FSTED since 1990, this annual report provides data on cargo and cruise activities at Florida’s seaports, as well as updated international trade […]
U.S. Circuit Court reverses course on COVID-19 cruise ship regulations, lifting CDC’s safety measures– again
In what some observers are comparing to a game of ping-pong, things have changed again for the cruise industry in Florida. The same Eleventh Circuit panel that reinstated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions on the cruise industry on July 17, reversed course one week later, allowing a Florida federal judge’s […]
MSC Seashore to present high-end retail that is “One with the Sea”
MSC Cruises upcoming flagship, MSC Seashore, which will sail its inaugural season in the Mediterranean from August, before heading to PortMiami in November 2021 to sail The Bahamas and the Caribbean, says that it has elevated the guest experience to a whole new level, including in its retail offer. Designed specifically for warmer weather and […]
