Travel Sector News

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri on Wednesday announced it has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Explora Journeys, the luxury travel brand of the MSC Group's cruise division, for the construction of two hydrogen-powered luxury cruise ships.EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will feature a new generation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines that will tackle the issue of methane slip and will also be equipped with industry first environmental technologies and solutions, including a containment system for liquid hydrogen that will enable them to use this promising low-carbon fuel.

The first cruise ship to leave Venice since coronavirus restrictions were eased set sail on Saturday, but some local residents protested over the return to normal, unhappy about the passage of giant liners through the historic lagoon city.Hundreds of people rallied on land and small boats fluttering flags saying "No big ships" surrounded and followed the 92,000-tonne MSC Orchestra as it departed Venice port en route for Croatia and Greece. "We are here because we are against this passage but also against a model of tourism that is destroying the city…

While nothing lasts forever, the cruise industry – and particularly the ‘expedition’ cruise sector – remain on a historic run with no indication of a near-term slowdown.The leisure travel sector, of which expedition cruising is a part, offers numerous possibilities for delivering new “experiences” unlike industrial shipping businesses (or even conventional ferry and passenger transport), which can only grow as fast as the demand in a particular sector.Though there is no precise definition of “expedition”…

Virgin Voyages, formerly Virgin Cruises, has unveiled its plans for a new terminal at PortMiami.Sir Richard Branson's cruise line said in a press release that the new Virgin Voyages Terminal will be located on the northwest side of the port in Miami, giving it incredible views of the city’s skyline. Construction is due to start next year and will be completed by November 2021, the beginning of the year’s cruise season.“Miami is an incredible city and one of my favourite places to work and play,” Richard Branson said. “From our headquarters for Hotels, Voyages and now Trains USA, South Florida has quickly become another home for Virgin brands in the leisure travel sector.”The new 10…

Costa Cruises, the first international company to open the cruise market in China in July 2006, received three international in November: the “China Award 2008" from the Italy-China Foundation/Class Editori, the “Best Brand Campaign 2008” from Travel Weekly China and the “Top Cruise Line of Popularity 2008” from World Traveller Media. The Italy-China Foundation/Class Editori presented the “China Award 2008” to Costa Cruises in the "Lombard Elite" category, for companies that have distinguished themselves in relations with China for having represented the best of “made in Italy”. Costa Cruises was selected by a jury chaired by Cesare Romiti, president of the Italy-China Foundation, and Paolo Panerai, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Class Editori.

According to Lazard Freres and Co., the impact on Carnival's (CCL) business in the first week following terrorist attacks on September 11th is estimated at around $20 million, including loss of revenue from canceled cruises, port reposition costs, and additional transportation expenses. They have since dropped to about 50 to 60 percent of typical levels for this period, but cancellations, which had increased sharply in the days immediately following September 11th, have started to decline steadily with new bookings now outpacing cancellations. Luxury product continued to suffer in the quarter- the company has sold two vessels from the Seabourn fleet and reduced staff at Cunard/Seabourn by 25 percent.