Cruise News

Royal Caribbean Cruises has new ships coming into the crowded Caribbean market this year, so it's no surprise the company has a positive outlook for the year. But we still wonder how eager cruise passengers will be to sail in the region this hurricane season given the disruption caused by storms in 2017.

Will a traveler who only expects the finest ever decide to board a mass-market cruise ship? Well, the marketplace has spoken and it says, “Maybe, but only under certain conditions.”

Carnival's high-profile new spokesman should earn the brand some fresh interest, but will it be enough to bring new cruisers on board?

As MSC Cruises embarks on a rapid global expansion, it makes sense for the privately owned operator to focus on the popular Caribbean cruise market. The key will be figuring out the best way to make its products stand out in a field crowded with names that are far more familiar to North American consumers.

Carnival Corp. had a good quarter despite the fact that it included two monster hurricanes in key markets. That should bode well for other players in the cruise industry.

We think 2018 is setting up to be a solid year for growth in travel, despite lingering uncertainty over the direction of economic, foreign, and political policies around the world. Subscribe to Skift Research to learn more.

As cruise ships grow in size, the need for innovation in onboard activities and experiences has grown in tandem. Companies like Royal Caribbean Cruises have led the way, but there is still a long way to go until megaship cruises shed their image as a low-brow vacation.

As travelers crave more meaningful experiences during their vacations, where does that leave cruise ship shopping? Cruise operators are trying to figure that out and deliver the kind of retail that passengers will respond to.

People already pay a pretty penny to sail the Galapagos Islands. Will they spend more to do it on a new, high-end ship? Celebrity Cruises is banking on it.

The cruise line tech race is heating up, and that means travelers should prepare for some changes. While ideas such as virtual reality dining are fun, more fundamental innovations including facial recognition, easier activity reservations, and drink delivery should have a greater impact on the cruise experience.