Will the Cruise Industry Survive the Pandemic Headwinds?

Pullmantur Cruceros, a joint venture between Royal Caribbean and Cruises Investment Holding, has filed for reorganization under Spanish insolvency laws. Cruises Investment Holding owns 51 percent of the three-ship Spanish cruise line, while Royal Caribbean owns the remaining 49 percent.  … Continue reading

Tens of Thousands of Crew Still Stranded As Cruise Lines Plan Reopening

The major cruise lines have announced plans to restart at least some of their cruise operations in upcoming months, while tens of thousands of crew are still stranded aboard cruise ships. Carnival, the world’s largest cruise line, has announced cruises … Continue reading

Cruise Lines Donating Millions for Bahamas Dorian Disaster Relief

The cruise industry in the Caribbean is donating to help the Bahamian victims of Hurricane Dorian. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian Caribbean and Disney have all pledged millions in hurricane relief. Royal Caribbean is committing $1 million to Dorian disaster relief, … Continue reading

Carnival Cops a Plea — $20 Million Fine for Continuing to Pollute

In April, we posted, Judge Threatens to Block Carnival Cruise Ships from Docking in US Ports, in which U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz considered temporarily blocking the largest cruise corporation in the world from docking its ships at ports in … Continue reading

How Dirty are Cruise Ships? Scrubbing Sulfur and Particulates

How dirty are cruise ships? How much pollution do they really create? It is hard to tell. Several years ago we posted about a claim by the Friends of the Earth which asserted that cruise ships “flushed more than a … Continue reading

Will Whistleblower Rewards & Huge Fines End Cruise Line “Culture of Crime?”

For one Scottish ship’s engineer doing the right thing paid off. In 2013, Christopher Keays risked his entire career when he turned whistleblower shortly after taking a job as a junior engineer on board the cruise ship, Caribbean Princess. At the … Continue reading

Was the Carnival Triumph the Last Straw? Trust in Cruise Lines Plummets According to Poll

What a difference a blackout and overflowing toilets can make.  In September of last year the headline in the L.A. Times was “Cruise industry rebounding from ship accident, woes in Europe.”  The subtitle read, “Cruise reservations seem to be rising, … Continue reading

Updated: Carnival Agrees to Pay and Costa Gets a Slap on the Wrist

Update: Carnival Corp has has agreed to reimburse the U.S. government for costs related to the high-profile fires aboard the Carnival Triumph in February and Carnival Splendor in 2010. Read more here. The juxtaposition is priceless. OK, priceless may be the wrong word … Continue reading

Senator Rockefeller to Carnival’s Micky Arison – Will You Reimburse Taxpayers?

Carnival Cruise Line pays virtually no Federal taxes, yet without the docks, roads, and airports provided by local, state and the federal governments, it would be unable to operate its cruise line.  And, when one of its ships gets into trouble, Carnival … Continue reading

Costa Concordia Update: Search for Missing in Flooded Ship Ends, Salvage Could Take a Year, Cost Could Reach a Billion

The search for the missing in the submerged portions of the Costa Concordia has ended due to concerns for the safety of the rescue workers.  The estimated toll from the sinking stands at 33 dead or missing.  The bodies of … Continue reading

Carnival’s Micki Arinson Faces the Heat, More or Less & American Express Costa Concordia Offer

Carnival’s CEO & Chairman, Micki Arinson has been criticized for maintaining a low profile following the sinking of the Costa Concordia where over 30 passengers and crew are dead or missing.  Last Friday, he made what was believed to be his … Continue reading