Genting Dream welcomes aboard MBCCS’ 2 millionth passenger

Resorts World Cruises welcomed aboard Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore’s (MBCCS) 2 millionth passenger for this cruise season from April 2023 to March 2024 on the Genting Dream departing for a 2 Night Cruise to Kuala Lumpur. To commemorate this joyous occasion, Octaviana Tasik and her family, who is MBCCS’ 2 millionth passenger was specially greeted aboard the ship by the President of Resorts World Cruises, Michael Goh; MBCCS terminal operator - SATS-Creuers Cruise Services CEO, Lionel Wong; Genting Dream Hotel Director Jarwin Peralta and Captain Robert Bodin, together with the ship crew.

In conjunction with this, Octaviana Tasik and her family were treated and pampered to a special luxurious cruise vacation on the Genting Dream, receiving a special upgrade to the Palace Suite – a luxury ‘ship-within-a-ship’ private all-suite enclave. As a Palace guest, Tasik and family got to enjoy one of the finest cruise experiences with Resorts World Cruises, including priority service throughout the cruise voyage, complimentary and exclusive access to various speciality restaurants, performances and onboard packages; private amenities, sundeck, gym and other facilities, as well as the Palace’s very own signature 24-hour European style butler service.

“Resorts World Cruises launched its brand two years ago in Singapore, welcoming its first passenger from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS) on the Genting Dream. Today, we are delighted to be part of this celebration to welcome MBCCS’ 2 millionth passenger for this season aboard the Genting Dream,” said Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises. “We had just launched our new season and we are excited to have both our ships, the Genting Dream and Resorts World One meet at MBCCS in June 2024 to offer new sailing destinations to Ko Samui, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Con Son Island and Redang”, he added.

“SATS-Creuers is proud to have served two million cruise passengers at MBCCS this season. This marks a significant milestone and demonstrates that cruising in Southeast Asia has become an attractive option for holiday makers. We are happy to welcome the two millionth passenger and we look forward to welcoming many more passengers at MBCCS in the future,” said Lionel Wong, CEO of SATS-Creuers Cruise Services.

As part of Genting Dream’s new season itineraries from Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore, vacationers can enjoy the 2 Night Weekend Getaway Cruises departing every Friday; 2 Night Kuala Lumpur* Cruises every Sunday and the 3 Night Phuket Cruises or Penang-Kuala Lumpur* Cruises every alternate Tuesday.

Also, for a special limited time only, Resorts World One will be joining Genting Dream in Singapore for the upcoming local school holidays with three special sailings from MBCCS. These include the 6 Day / 5 Night Vietnam Cruise to Ho Chi Minh City (via Phu My) and Con Son Island departing on 30 May 2024, as well as the 6 Day / 5 Night Thailand Cruise to Bangkok (via Laem Chabang) and Ko Samui departing on 4 and 9 June 2024. Both cruise itineraries will also feature a third destination to Redang Island in Malaysia.

Cruise travelers embrace Brightline and connect to South Florida ports

Brightline, the nation’s only provider of modern, eco-friendly intercity passenger rail, is catching the 2024 WAVE season. WAVE season, the January through March booking period, is historically when cruise lines offer savings and deals, giving travelers a chance to jump on their cruise plans. Since launching service in South Florida in 2018 and expanding to Central Florida in 2023, Brightline continues to be a preferred mobility solution for travelers connecting to their cruise port to set sail on their vacation.

Brightline’s From Station to Vacation cruise offer connects cruisers to Florida’s top cruise ports in style. When reserving a PREMIUM ticket, complimentary Brightline+ ride is included so the vacation can begin at the door, by getting picked up from home or hotel, and to the cruise port all in one ticket. The PREMIUM ticket also includes access to exclusive station lounges, priority boarding, extra space, as well as complimentary drinks and snacks along the way. Cruise Ports near Brightline stations include Port Miami, Port Everglades and Port of Palm Beach. Cruisers sailing from Port Canaveral can connect to cruise line transportation available at Orlando International Airport.

For a limited time, family cruisers can take advantage of savings as kids between two and 12 can ride free on select trains (noted with an icon) between South Florida and Orlando with the purchase of an adult SMART fare. Groups of four or more can use the ALLABOARD code at checkout to save 25 percent on select SMART fares, with a maximum of 29 per reservation.

Brightline’s Travel Professional Program is offering travel advisors commissionable bookings connecting clients between the ‘Theme Park Capital of the World’ and “Cruise Capital of the World.” Qualified U.S and Canadian advisors can now book clients’ travel on Brightline between Orlando and South Florida (Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach) with access to the lowest published fares and earn commissions of up to 20 percent for both PREMIUM and SMART services on bookings through February 29, 2024.

Brightline is running a full schedule of 32 trains daily with 16 roundtrip departures between Miami and Orlando.

Port of New Orleans cruise passenger numbers back to pre-pandemic levels

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) finished calendar year 2023 with nearly 1.2 million cruise passenger movements and renewed commitments to the New Orleans cruise market from both oceangoing and river cruise lines.

“The cruise business has rebounded in New Orleans and cruise line partners are confident in our Port NOLA cruise market,” said Port NOLA President and CEO Brandy D. Christian. “This is really encouraging as our cruise business drives tourism and contributes significantly to the hospitality industry. We want to thank all our cruise line and hospitality partners as we work together to make cruising out of New Orleans two vacations in one.”

“New Orleans is one of the most popular pre-and post-cruise destinations in the country, which is a tribute to our excellent partners at the Port of New Orleans as well as the work of our team at New Orleans & Company,” said Walter J. Leger III, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company. “Travel drives our economy, but visitors don’t just show up. In a highly competitive marketplace, travelers have choices, and we have to earn their business through aggressive sales and promotion. We are pleased to work closely with the Port, the cruise lines and travel advisors to ensure that extremely loyal cruise passengers are selecting to sail from New Orleans instead of competitor cities.”

Carnival Cruise Line homeports two year-round vessels from Port NOLA, and in 2024 Carnival celebrates its 30th year of cruising from New Orleans. Norwegian Cruise Line will also renew for five more years with additional sailings and a new ship, Norwegian Getaway, to replace the Norwegian Breakaway starting in October 2024.

Disney Cruise Line also returned to the Big Easy with the Disney Magic in January, while Royal Caribbean returns with a new vessel, the Brilliance of the Seas in November 2024. Port NOLA is also seeing record growth in river cruises, with nine homeported vessels including America’s first Viking Cruise that began sailing in 2022. That vessel was built in Louisiana.

Port NOLA set a passenger record in March 2023 for oceangoing and river cruises, topping pre-pandemic levels with 155,225 passenger movements and 39 cruise vessel calls at the Port.

The Port’s previous monthly high was set in February 2020 with 154,409 passenger movements and 31 vessel calls just prior to the entire cruise industry coming to a complete halt in March of that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Port NOLA, 90% of cruise guests travel from out-of-state with 73% spending one or two days in New Orleans either before or after their cruise. That generates more than 300,000 hotel room nights in New Orleans and more than $125 million in local spending each year.

Port Charlottetown sets sail into 2024 with unprecedented cruise figures

Port Charlottetown has announced a remarkable and record-breaking surge in cruise activity for the 2024 season, with a staggering 96 ships, bringing in over 165,000 passengers and employing a dedicated crew of over 74,000. There will be 18 double cruise ship days, 3 triple cruise ship days, and 1 four ship day on October 1st. This sets a new benchmark for the Island, showcasing a thriving cruise sector that continues to elevate our status as a premier destination for cruise.

"We are thrilled to unveil the 2024 cruise schedule, marking a historic milestone for Port Charlottetown. The impressive increase in ship visits and passenger numbers underscores the growing appeal of our destination," stated Mike Cochrane, CEO of the Charlottetown Harbour Authority. "The infrastructural enhancements, including a second berth, reflect our commitment to providing an unparalleled cruise experience."

2024 has Port Charlottetown breaking records by welcoming a record breaking number of anticipated cruise ships and passengers to beautiful PEI. Charlottetown’s walkable downtown, proximity to central PEI, and diverse attractions make it an ideal stop for an immersive and memorable experience three seasons of the year.

"Cruise passengers consistently rate Port Charlottetown among the top ports of call in Canada, and this year's extensive schedule offers an array of experiences for every traveler," emphasized Kelly Murphy, Director of Marketing & Cruise Development for the Charlottetown Harbour Authority. "Our waterfront and historic downtown, just steps away from disembarkation, provide an authentic taste of our vibrant city. Paired with high-quality excursions, passengers can truly savour the best of the Island in their short visit."

In the year 2023, the positive economic impact generated by cruise visits surpassed an impressive milestone, contributing over $21.5 million dollars in direct economic impact to the Island. Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture Corey Deagle, commented, “The cruise industry has been a great companion to the Island’s tourism sector for many years. I am thrilled to hear Port Charlottetown is looking forward to another very successful season. The economic impact that cruise visitors bring to PEI is a testament to all the hard work done by the team at Port Charlottetown. Congratulations on helping make PEI a world-class destination for a cruise experience.”

In addition to the impressive numbers, six ships will make their inaugural calls, marking their first visit to Port Charlottetown. As the Port embraces this record-breaking season, they are incredibly grateful for the partnerships that have been built.

"One thing that truly distinguishes PEI is the collaborative spirit among our tourism partners and operators, combined with an innovative approach to product and experience development," noted Murphy. "This collective effort ensures that as a premier cruise destination, we continue to grow and provide unforgettable experiences for all."

The 2024 cruise season promises to be a testament to our Island's captivation and commitment to excellence, further establishing Port Charlottetown as a remarkable destination in the global cruise industry.

Galveston Wharves, MSC Cruises finalize agreement on 4th cruise terminal complex

The Galveston Wharves, a major U.S. cruise home port, and MSC Cruises have finalized an operating agreement for a fourth cruise terminal complex at the Port of Galveston. MSC Seascape will homeport at the new terminal beginning in November 2025.

The port will develop the $100 million cruise terminal, $42 million parking garage, internal roadway and other improvements at Pier 16 beginning in early 2024. The estimated $142 million project will be funded with port cash reserves and revenue bonds. The port will convert an existing cargo warehouse into the 165,000-square-foot cruise terminal.

Under the 20-year agreement, which includes four 5-year extension options, MSC will have a set cruise schedule beginning in late 2025 when the terminal opens. The port also can negotiate with other cruise lines to use the terminal based on availability.

Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, said, “We’re excited about this mutually beneficial public-private partnership. Adding MSC to our family of cruise lines offers our cruise guests an elegant, European-style family cruise experience. It also elevates our status as a top U.S. cruise home port and moves us up to the eighth largest cruise port in the global market, while paving the way for MSC to reach millions of cruise passengers in the Central U.S.”

Rubén A. Rodríguez, President of MSC Cruises USA, said, “We want to give more guests the opportunity to experience MSC Cruises’ unique European flavor, and bringing MSC Seascape to Galveston allows us to be more accessible to millions of people in the central part of the country. A great cruise starts with a top-notch terminal, and we’re excited to partner with the Galveston Wharves to ensure our guests enjoy the experience from end to end. We think it’s important to support the communities we serve and look forward to working with leaders in Galveston to make this project a reality.”

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise brand, with much of its growth focused on the North American market. Galveston will become the line’s fourth home port in the region upon completion of the terminal project. MSC Seascape, which launched in 2022, is the latest in MSC Cruises’ Seaside class of ships, which were designed specifically for Caribbean cruising and feature enlarged and enhanced outdoor spaces. It can accommodate 5,632 passengers and 1,648 crew members.

The Port of Galveston is the fourth most popular cruise home port in the U.S., hosting 1.49 million cruise passengers in 2023, a 43 percent increase over 2022.

Rees said, “That MSC chose Galveston as its newest home port is a tribute to our strong and growing cruise market. Our popularity is reflected in the growth of our passenger counts and sailings. In 2024 we have berth reservations for 388 sailings with the potential for more than 1.6 million cruise passengers. This will exceed records set in 2023. This is great news for the port and our region because our cruise business is a major revenue and jobs generator, which boosts regional and state economies.”

Regional economic benefits

The local impact of the port’s 2022 cruise activity included 3,500 jobs, $568 million in local business revenue, and $73.5 million in local purchases by passengers and crew. A fourth cruise terminal is forecast to generate an additional 925 jobs and $177 million in local business revenue annually. The city of Galveston will benefit directly with passenger fees and sales tax revenues from cruise parking.

Rees added that, according to the port’s 2019 board-approved 20-Year Strategic Master Plan, the fourth cruise terminal was not anticipated to be needed until 2031.

“We’re able to begin this new project now because Del Monte Fresh Produce Co., a long-standing cargo tenant, has outgrown its facilities in Galveston. We are happy to see that Del Monte was able to relocate 30 miles to the south in Freeport, thus retaining its regional economic impact. We leveraged this opportunity based on the unprecedented popularity of the cruise industry and our optimal location in the central part of the United States,” Rees said.