Cruise Saudi, a government agency tasked with growing the local cruise industry in Saudi Arabia, has recently acquired the World Dream cruise ship from Genting Hong Kong. This $330 million acquisition represents a significant step towards expanding the country's cruise industry, as Saudi Arabia opened its ports to cruise ships for the first time in 2021 and plans to become a major cruise destination by 2035.
On February 28th, the port of Nassau set a new record for the highest number of daily arrivals, with a total of 28,554 passengers and 10,302 crew members. This was made possible by the presence of two of the largest cruise ships in the world - the Wonder of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International, as well as four other large cruise ships, such as Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras and MSC Cruises' MSC Meraviglia.
Cunard has launched Sea Views Exhibition to commemorate its century-long history and proud British maritime heritage.
A cruise ship crew member has been fired for allegedly filming a woman from a restroom cubicle. The incident occurred on the MSC Meraviglia, where a passenger named Saja reported that a man had locked himself in a public toilet stall and appeared to be recording her with a camera. Saja shared a video of the incident on TikTok. In the video, several women can be seen confronting the man wearing an MSC employee uniform.
Since 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has incorporated methanol as a future marine fuel in its strategy and is now planning to introduce two cruise ships that can run on methanol for the first time. The last two ships in NCL's Prima class will be equipped with technology that can easily be converted to run on methanol without significant effort.
On Wednesday, the cruise liner Amadea operated by Phoenix Reisen, arrived at the port of Shizuoka, marking the first arrival of a foreign cruise ship in Japan in the past three years due to the government's suspension of cruises. The Amadea, operated by German company Phoenix Reisen, carried approximately 500 passengers and 300 crew members and was the first of 212 vessels scheduled to arrive in Japan in 2023, with some ships expected to make multiple port calls.
The singer and songwriter Gary Barlow, will raise funds for two charities by performing on two P&O Cruises voyages, departing Southampton with Iona later this year. He will perform in the Headliner's Theater on a Spain and Portugal cruise leaving October 29 and, on a Spain, Portugal and Canary Islands cruise leaving November 12.
The Marine Hotel Association’s new Culinary Advisory Council will be awarding scholarships to talented culinary professionals working aboard cruise ships in a first-of-its kind initiative. The not-for-profit MHA will host its annual Conference & Trade Show, taking place at Naples Grand Resort in Naples, Florida, April 2-4.
Royal Caribbean Group will open an office in Cyprus which will serve as a center of its cruise activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
CLIA strengthened its structure by appointing Sascha Gil as Vice President in charge of sustainability. The Cruise Lines International Association, which is the main voice of the cruise sector worldwide has chosen an experienced professional to further encourage environmental innovation in the sector.
