News

European cruise market growth accelerated to 3.3% to 7.17 million passengers in 2018

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 15 April 2019 15 April 2019

The European ocean cruise passenger market grew by 3.3% to 7.17 million in 2018, marking an acceleration of expansion from 2.0% in 2017 on the previous year,. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) figures show.

Strong growth was seen in cruise passengers travelling to the Eastern Mediterranean, up 8.5% to 746,000 passengers, which illustrates a beginning of a return to confidence in the region. Other areas seeing significant growth, from a smaller base, include the Canary Islands, up 9.6% and the Baltics, up 9.0%

The central and western Mediterranean region remains the number one destination for European cruise passengers, and saw growth up by 1.2%, equivalent to 2.27 million passengers. Northern Europe was up 4.8% in 2018, to 1.43 million passengers, CLIA said in a statement.

RCCL orders fifth Edge class ship for Celebrity Cruises

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 11 April 2019 11 April 2019

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), the world’s second largest cruise shipping group, said it has entered into an agreement with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique to order a fifth Edge-class ship for delivery in the fall of 2024.

"Edge class made an immediate hit with Celebrity Cruises guests and is a state-of-the-art example of technical excellence and elegant design," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, RCCL. "We can't wait to build the next one."

"Celebrity Edge has delighted our guests and affirmed Celebrity Cruises as the leading modern luxury brand. Chantiers de l'Atlantique has been a brilliant partner and we look forward to creating another amazing vessel with them," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.

"We are really proud and happy to have built such an outstanding relationship with our customer, based on mutual trust and driven by the spirit of innovation," said Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l'Atlantique. "After the four Millennium-class ships at the beginning of 2000's and the four Edge-class ships, this is the ninth ship ordered by Celebrity Cruises at our shipyard and it will be the 24th vessel built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique and operated by RCCL. This is a real testimony of the exceptional level of cooperation we reached together."

Celebrity Edge was delivered in 2018. Three other Edge-class ships were ordered earlier and are scheduled for delivery in 2020, 2021 and 2022. This new order is contingent upon financing.

RCCL is a global cruise vacation company that controls and operates four global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Silversea Cruises. We are also a 50% joint venture owner of the German brand TUI Cruises and a 49% shareholder in the Spanish brand Pullmantur Cruceros. Together these brands operate a combined total of 61 ships with an additional 15 on order as of March 31, 2019. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on all seven continents.

Global cruise market grew 5.3% to 28.2 million passengers 2018 – CLIA

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 10 April 2019 10 April 2019

The number of cruise passengers worldwide rose by 5.3% to 28.2 million last year, slightly less than the 5.9% increase in the previous year, figures published by CLIA show.

The organisation is forecasting that the pace of growth would accelerate slightly, to 6.0% this year and that a total of 30 million passengers would cruise in 2019.