Articles tagged “cruise lines”

TUI is using some of the cash it amassed from selling companies such as Hotelbeds to buy a business from ... Hotelbeds. Maybe its taken a bit of time for the management to realize that tours and activities are strategic and a potential growth area.

The rise of uber-luxury cruise ships is well documented, but what about high-end cruising without the bling? We've said it many times before, but it is worth repeating: Experience counts much more than it used to. An intimate vacation on a tiny barge or a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica can still be luxurious.

The cruise industry has long boasted of its value compared to land vacations. But Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is notably not emphasizing low prices. It is instead working to get passengers to spend more on tickets, shore excursions, and onboard extras.

Experience and sustainability are losing their equity as more brands cynically pile on. These are examples of emerging, global brands with depth to their practices. Intrepid travelers should take note.

While wellness tourism might be growing in popularity, setting up a dedicated cruise line is another matter. First you've got to finance the venture, then you must convince consumers that you're a better bet than the existing lines.

A new cruise line is betting that focusing on a specific market niche will be a winning strategy. We look at the game plan behind the new fitness-focused concept and consider whether it can work out.

Many cruise passengers sail because it's a more economical way to visit a destination. Caribbean countries like the Bahamas have known this for years and are getting more ambitious about trying to attract more flights — a perennial problem — and hoteliers that can help do a better job at growing their economies in the long term.

A growing number of mainstream cruise lines think they can capture luxury travelers by offering them a premium product. The approach makes sense. After all, not every luxury cruiser wants the intimacy and exclusivity of a small ship.

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 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.