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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings News

28 Feb 2024

Mauritius Allows Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship to Dock After No Trace of Cholera Found

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Mauritius will allow a ship belonging to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings to dock after no trace of cholera was found in samples taken from passengers on board, a senior health official said on Monday.Authorities on the island nation off the coast of east Africa prevented the Norwegian Dawn from docking over the weekend over what they said were "health risks," without elaborating.Samples were taken from around 15 passengers who were experiencing a mild stomach illness.Bhooshun Ori…

26 Feb 2024

Mauritius Stops Norwegian Cruise Line Ship from Docking, Cites Health Risk

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Mauritius stopped a ship belonging to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings from docking at its ports due to what it said was a health risk and took samples from about 15 passengers who were in isolation on board, its port authority said on Sunday.The Norwegian Dawn had been scheduled to dock in Port Louis on Sunday, but since it had not gone to Reunion Island, it arrived in Port Louis a day earlier, the Mauritius Ports Authority said in a statement."The decision not to allow the cruise ship access to the quay was taken in order to avoid any health risks…

29 Jan 2024

ABB and Norwegian Cruise Line Solidify Long-Term Partnership

Norwegian Getaway (Photo supplied by ABB)

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has signed a partnership agreement with ABB to accelerate the decarbonization and digitalization of the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet.Targeting increased safety and efficiency, the agreement covers 14 existing ships and a further four vessels due for delivery from 2025 to 2028.The first phase of the partnership includes a 10-year Azipod propulsion service agreement for the fleet, providing efficient preventive maintenance to support safety and maximize vessel availability as well as fast turnaround for planned Azipod propulsion maintenance.In addition…

03 Nov 2023

Royal Caribbean Alters 2024 Cruise Itineraries to Skip Israel

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Royal Caribbean Group is removing Israel from its 2024 itineraries due to the Israel-Hamas war, according to an email sent to travel agents on Thursday seen by Reuters, making it the second major U.S. cruise operator to alter its plans over the conflict.The Miami, Florida-based cruise operator is modifying itineraries as late as October 2024 for its Royal Caribbean International unit that stops in Israel, the email said.Travel has declined sharply across Israel and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank.

03 Aug 2023

Norwegian Viva Delivered by Fincantieri

Norwegian Viva is the second of six new generation cruise ships of the new First Class for Norwegian Cruise Line. Image courtesy Fincantieri

Norwegian Viva, the second of six new generation cruise ships of the new Prima class for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), was delivered at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard.At 143,500 gross tons, almost 300 meters in length and with a capacity to accommodate around 3,100 passengers, Norwegian Prima and her sister ships will form the backbone of NCL's future fleet. Deliveries are expected until 2028.The Prima class is based on a prototype project developed by Fincantieri which enhances the consolidated characteristics of NCL's freedom and flexibility with an innovative product configuration…

01 Jan 2023

US Judge Orders Norwegian Cruise Line to Pay $110 Million for Use of Cuba Port

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Norwegian Cruise Line must pay $110 million in damages for use of a port that Cuba's government confiscated in 1960, a U.S. judge ruled on Friday, a milestone for Cuban-Americans seeking compensation for Cold-War era asset seizures.The decision by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami follows her March ruling that the use of the Havana Cruise Port Terminal constituted trafficking in confiscated property owned by the plaintiff, Delaware-registered Havana Docks Corp."Judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiff Havana Docks Corporation and against Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings…

16 Sep 2022

Foreship Hires Harris in Director Role

Brendan Harris (Photo: Foreship)

Naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy Foreship said it has appointed Brendan Harris as Director, Project Management Services, Foreship LLC, as the firm aims to grow its US-based business activities.Harris will be based at Foreship’s Seattle offices and take responsibility for driving regional growth in the group’s project management of ship refurbishment, focusing on returning demand in the cruise sector and opportunities in the ferry market.Harris joins Foreship from BC Ferry Services…

09 Aug 2022

Norwegian Cruise Says Pre-pandemic Occupancy Still a Year Away

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd forecast a loss for the current quarter and revenue below estimates as occupancy rates remained stubbornly below pre-pandemic levels, sending its shares down 12% on Tuesday.Its second-quarter occupancy of 65% compared with more than 107% in 2019, a level the company does not expect to reach till the second quarter next year.In contrast, rival Royal Caribbean Group forecast triple-digit occupancy by the end of this year and Carnival Cruise Line…

29 Jul 2022

Norwegian's First Prima Class Cruise Ship Delivered

Norwegian Prima (Photo: Fincantieri)

Norwegian Prima, the first of six vessels from Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) new Prima Class of ships was delivered at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera on Friday.Along with her sister-ships, Norwegian Prima will form the backbone of the future NCL fleet, at more than 142,500-tons, almost 300 meters long, and accommodating 3,215 guests. Deliveries are scheduled through 2027.Starting in the summer of 2022, Norwegian Prima will offer itineraries in Northern Europe with voyages from Amsterdam…

10 May 2022

Norwegian Cruise Expects Positive Current Quarter Operating Cash Flow

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd forecast operating cash flow to be positive for the current quarter on Tuesday, as the U.S. cruise operator benefits from higher on-board spending and prices with its full fleet back in service.Shares of the company rose about 3% in early trade, as the company also said that booking trends remained strong despite a hit from Omicron variant of the coronavirus and the Russia-Ukraine conflict."We are seeing an explosive showing by consumers, particularly American consumers.

06 May 2022

Royal Caribbean Flags Slow Summer Demand in Europe as Ukraine Crisis Weighs

Credit: Phuong

Royal Caribbean Group on Thursday flagged slow summer demand for European cruises due to the Ukraine crisis, after a dull first quarter as it reeled under a resurgence in COVID infections in some parts of the world.Shares of the cruise operator fell about 5% to $73.87 after Royal Caribbean Group said higher fuel and food costs, spurred by inflationary and supply chain-related challenges, are expected to weigh on 2022 earnings.The company said while bookings for Europe sailings improved throughout the first quarter, they slowed following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in late February.

06 Apr 2022

Carnival Reports Record Week of Cruise Bookings

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The world's biggest cruise operator Carnival Corp on Tuesday reported its busiest booking week in history as leisure travel continues to rebound from a long pandemic-led hiatus.The news sent shares of Carnival up nearly 4% in afternoon trading. The stock traded up more than 8% earlier in the session on the New York Stock Exchange. The news also earlier lifted rivals Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.Carnival said in a news release that the week of March 28-April 3 showed a double-digit increase from the previous record 7-day booking total.The U.S.

30 Mar 2022

US CDC Scraps COVID Warning for Cruise Travel After 2 Years

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday removed its COVID-19 notice against cruise travel, around two years after introducing a warning scale showing the level of coronavirus transmission risk on cruise ships.The move offers a shot of hope to major U.S. cruise operators such as Carnival Corp, Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd that have struggled to bring in revenue since the pandemic started.Cruise operators had also said the health agency was discriminating against the industry…

03 Mar 2022

Royal Caribbean Joins Rivals Canceling Sailings to Russia

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Cruise operators Royal Caribbean Group and Viking Cruises canceled sailings to Russia on Wednesday, joining their rivals and many Western brands in suspending operations in the country after its invasion of Ukraine.Celebrity Cruises, owned by Royal Caribbean, said it was removing Russian port city St. Petersburg from upcoming itineraries, adding that it would visit other Scandinavian ports in its place.Silversea Cruises also said it would re-route summer voyages scheduled to stop in Russia and Ukraine, while Royal Caribbean International said it had canceled its visits to St.

03 Mar 2022

AIDA Cruises Cancels Stops at Russian Port

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Carnival Corp-owned AIDA Cruises said on Thursday four of its ships would not stop at St. Petersburg port in Russia this summer as were previously scheduled, after the country’s invasion of Ukraine.The move comes after most major U.S.

21 Feb 2022

Carnival Cruise Line to Ease Mask Mandate for Passengers

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Carnival Cruise Line plans to make masks optional for its guests from March 1 after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eased its warnings for cruise ships, the company said in a statement late on Friday.The company said masks would be recommended but not required."There may, however, be certain venues and events where masks will be required," Carnival said in the statement.Carnival also said it plans to be offer more flexibility in pre-cruise testing requirements.The cruise line…

10 Feb 2022

Norwegian Cruise Expects Net Loss Till Regular Voyages Resume

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd said on Tuesday it expects to report a net loss until it can resume regular voyages, as the Omicron variant stalls a rebound in a sector ravaged by the pandemic.Cruising demand was slammed by rising COVID-19 cases during the Delta and Omicron waves as operators had to tweak their itineraries halfway through sailings or cancel trips hours before the start.Still, the company said it expects to have positive net income on an adjusted basis for the second half of 2022.In November, the cruise liner forecast a return to profitability in the second half of the year.

07 Feb 2022

Royal Caribbean's Return to Profit Delayed by Omicron Surge

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Cruise operator Royal Caribbean Group said on Friday the lightning spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant would delay its return to profitability by a few months, another blow for one of the companies worst affected by the pandemic.The bleak prediction, as well as a larger-than-expected quarterly loss, sent Royal Caribbean's stock down 4% and also weighed on shares of rivals Carnival Corp and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.The Omicron surge has in recent months forced cruise operators to change their trip itineraries and even cancel voyages…

27 Jan 2022

Sea Machines Forms Strategic Advisory Board

Rear Admiral Mark Buzby (top left), Kathleen Haines (top right), Denise Kurtulus (bottom left) and Rear Admiral Mary E. Landry (bottom right). (Courtesy Sea Machines)

Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics, developer of autonomous command and control systems for commercial vessels, announced Thursday it has formed a strategic advisory board made up of industry experts to help steer strategic vision and growth.The Boston-based company said it has been growing rapidly and will rely on its new board as it develops new products and creates partnerships.Sea Machines’ advisory board is made up of Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) and retired rear admiral U.S.

05 Jan 2022

Norwegian Cruise Cancels Sailings as Omicron Cases Surge

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Norwegian Cruise Line on Wednesday canceled trips on eight ships, a few with embarkation dates as far out as late April, signaling a blow to the recovery of the pandemic-ravaged U.S. cruise industry.The division of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd made the decision with the United States reporting nearly one million new coronavirus infections on Monday, the highest daily tally of any country."Due to ongoing travel restrictions, we've had to modify a few sailings and unfortunately have had to cancel…

31 Dec 2021

US CDC Says to Avoid Cruise Travel as Omicron Cases Surge

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said people should avoid traveling on cruise ships regardless of their vaccination status, as daily COVID-19 cases in the country climb to record highs due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant.The move delivers another blow to the cruise industry that had just started returning to the seas in June after a months-long suspension of voyages caused by the pandemic.The CDC on Thursday raised its COVID-19 travel health notice level for cruise ships to its highest warning level…

29 Dec 2021

Carnival Says Most Itineraries Unchanged as Omicron Cases Rise

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Carnival Corp (CCL.N) said on Tuesday a majority of its ships' itineraries were unchanged despite a surge in cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant, which has threatened to stall a recovery in the cruise industry.The world's largest cruise operator, however, said a few destination ports were reviewing their protocols and processes due to the fast-spreading new variant.Many passengers and media reports, including those from CNN and Euronews, said authorities of a few ports in the Caribbean…

21 Dec 2021

Carnival's Long-term Demand Indicates Omicron Threat Will Fade Soon

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Carnival Corp on Monday flagged a hit to its near-term bookings from Omicron, even as demand for cruises late next year and beyond suggest a short-lived impact from new coronavirus variants.Shares of Carnival gained 3.3% as the cruise operator said new COVID-19 variants have not had a significant impact on its plan to return its full fleet to operations in the spring of 2022.The fast-spreading COVID-19 Omicron variant has been a cause of concern over the last month, creating some…