Core Insights - Virgin Voyages has been named the 'Best Ocean Cruise Line' in the 2025 Cruise Critic Best in Cruise Awards, highlighting its innovative approach and exceptional onboard experiences [1] - The cruise industry is projected to see nearly 40 million travelers in 2026, indicating significant growth and increasing demand for cruise travel options [1] - The awards are based on expert insights and traveler ratings, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of cruise lines [1] Ocean Awards - **Best Ocean Cruise Line:** Virgin Voyages, recognized for redefining cruising with innovative offerings and nearly all-inclusive fares [1] - **Best New Ship:** Celebrity Xcel, noted for its elevated experience and fresh approach to Celebrity Cruises' Edge-class [1] - **Best Value for Money:** Carnival Cruise Line, praised for its competitive pricing and inclusive offerings [1] River Awards - **Best River Cruise Line:** Avalon Waterways, distinguished for its well-thought-out offerings and diverse itineraries [1] - **Best New River Ship:** AmaMagdalena, designed for Colombia's Magdalena River, showcasing local craftsmanship [1] Luxury Awards - **Best Luxury Cruise Line:** Explora Journeys, recognized for setting new standards in luxury cruising with its boutique vessels [1] - **Best New Luxury Ship:** Oceania Allura, acclaimed for its exquisite design and culinary excellence [1] Expedition Awards - **Best Expedition Cruise Line:** National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, noted for its commitment to redefining exploration [1] - **Best for Adventure:** Quark Expeditions, recognized for providing adrenaline-pumping experiences in polar regions [1] Cruisers' Choice Awards - **Top-Rated Ocean Cruise Lines:** Margaritaville at Sea, Virgin Voyages, and Celebrity Cruises [2] - **Top-Rated River Cruise Lines:** Avalon Waterways, Viking, and Emerald Cruises [2] - **Top-Rated Luxury Cruise Lines:** Viking, Explora Journeys, and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection [2]

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Good Housekeeping Honors Princess Cruises as the Top Choice for Family Travel to Alaska FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises is proud to announce that Discovery Princess has been named "Coolest Way To See Alaska" in the Good Housekeeping 2026 Travel Awards. This prestigious recognition reinforces Princess Cruises' leadership in delivering extraordinary, memory-making vacations. Continue Reading Princess Cruises' Discovery Princess Name ...

Randy Nicholas loves a spreadsheet—he manages 25,000 different items of inventory on the largest cruise ship in the world.We meet him on “The Weekend Intelligence” to learn how to feed thousands of people a day in the middle of the ocean https://t.co/Q44lEFgygp ...

Core Insights - Princess Cruises has launched its first Royal-Class ship, Sky Princess, at Port Canaveral, marking the beginning of a Caribbean cruise season from Central Florida [1][3] - The Sky Princess will operate six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral until March 2026, with plans to return for a second season in November 2026 [1][3] - The ship has a capacity of 3,660 guests and weighs 141,000 tons, featuring contemporary design, award-winning cuisine, and dynamic entertainment [4] Summary by Sections Launch and Operations - Sky Princess has officially arrived at Cruise Terminal 6 in Port Canaveral, starting a new season of Caribbean cruises [1] - The ship will offer roundtrip cruises to various Caribbean destinations, including Turks & Caicos and Puerto Rico, with options for 14-day voyages [3] Accessibility and Convenience - Port Canaveral provides easy access for guests traveling by car, plane, or through the Rail & Sail program with Brightline [2] Company Statements - Jim Berra, Chief Commercial Officer of Princess Cruises, expressed excitement about returning to Central Florida and highlighted the increased capacity and enhanced guest experience with the addition of Sky Princess [3] - Capt. John Murray, CEO of Port Canaveral, praised Princess Cruises as a valued partner and emphasized the high-quality experience expected for guests on the new ship [4] Company Overview - Princess Cruises is recognized as a leading cruise brand, offering a range of destinations and experiences, including luxury accommodations and entertainment options [6]

Steak, lobster tails and a ludicrously intricate watermelon carving: on “The Weekend Intelligence” we explore the food and beverage operations of the world’s largest cruise ship https://t.co/PQmNXpLtFd ...

Core Insights - Carnival's Holland America is participating in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to showcase its long-standing commitment to Alaska, a key cruise destination for over 80 years [1][2] - Alaska represents a significant portion of Carnival's cruise capacity, with over double-digit percentage in the third quarter, highlighting its popularity among global travelers [6] - The booking process has evolved, with the traditional wave period now starting in November, leading to a strong booking momentum for 2026, with 50% already booked [7][8] Company Performance - Holland America and Princess brands combine cruises with land experiences, owning 3,500 hotel rooms and the largest motor coach fleet in Alaska, enhancing the overall travel experience [3][4] - The company reported an 11% increase in yields last year and expects over a 5% increase this year, indicating strong financial performance [9] - In the third quarter, the company achieved over 4.5% yield growth, driven by both ticket price increases and onboard spending [11] Market Trends - There is a growing consumer interest in unique travel experiences, with cruising being perceived as a great value for creating memories with family and friends [12] - The company is exploring new routes, including potential offerings in Antarctica, which is also considered a bucket list destination [13]

Core Insights - Cruise operators are experiencing a surge in leisure demand, with increased occupancy, onboard spending, and advance bookings as consumers prioritize experiential travel [1] - Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) are standout performers, each achieving record financial results through different strategic approaches [1] - Carnival focuses on scale-driven efficiencies and disciplined yield management, while Norwegian Cruise emphasizes brand segmentation, premium pricing, and targeted cost transformation [1] Summary of Carnival Corporation (CCL) - Carnival is enhancing its commercial position with strong demand across major brands and regions, emphasizing disciplined pricing and improved brand segmentation [3] - The company is tightening cost structures through fleet efficiencies and effective use of shared systems, alongside investments in ship upgrades and digital tools to improve guest satisfaction [4] - Management is focused on reducing leverage through stronger cash generation and a measured approach to new capacity, gradually rebuilding financial flexibility [5] - Challenges include a substantial debt balance and higher interest costs, which are impacting earnings, along with expected pressures in 2026 related to loyalty programs and increased operating expenses [6] Summary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) - Norwegian Cruise is refining its commercial strategy with strong demand across its three-brand portfolio, focusing on short Caribbean sailings and enhancing family appeal [7] - The company is achieving margin expansion through cost control, scale efficiencies, and record pre-cruise sales, while digital and loyalty upgrades are improving guest engagement [9] - Despite strong demand, NCLH faces pressures from a higher family mix, increased costs related to destination development, and elevated leverage, which constrains financial flexibility [10] Financial Performance and Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carnival's fiscal 2026 sales and EPS indicates year-over-year increases of 4.3% and 10.8%, respectively, with earnings estimates rising by 3.5% in the past 60 days [11] - For Norwegian Cruise, the 2026 sales and EPS estimates suggest year-over-year increases of 10.2% and 27.2%, with earnings estimates for 2025 jumping by 1.2% [13] - Carnival stock has gained 2.3% over the past year, while Norwegian Cruise shares have declined by 31.8% [16] - Carnival's forward 12-month P/E ratio is 10.73, below the industry average of 15.64, while NCLH's P/E multiple is 7.06 [19] Comparative Analysis - Carnival appears better positioned for balanced follow-through with steadier cost execution and improving fleet efficiencies, while NCLH's outlook is marked by variability due to pricing dilution and elevated leverage [21][22] - The combination of improving operational visibility and a more stable financial path gives Carnival a relative advantage in the current cruise industry environment [21]

The global cruise industry, which was brought to a standstill by the CO9 pandemic back in 2020, is sailing into a new era. Once stereotyped as being stacked with the newlywed, the overfed, and the nearly dead, cruisers are now attracting a fresh wave of younger passengers who are being lured in by cheaper prices, comprehensive amenities, and convenience. The broadening demographics of passengers on board the everex expanding mega ships that define the cruise industry has helped the sector to defy the gloom ...

Core Insights - Viking Holdings has been recognized as the leader in the cruise industry by topping the U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Cruise Line Rankings, highlighting its excellence and competitive edge [1][5] - Goldman Sachs maintains a Neutral rating on Viking Holdings but has raised the price target from $64 to $66, indicating a positive outlook for the company's future performance [2][5] - The current stock price of Viking Holdings is $61.61, reflecting a slight increase of 0.65% or $0.40, with a market capitalization of approximately $27.3 billion [3][4][5] Market Performance - The stock has experienced fluctuations today, with a low of $61.32 and a high of $63.90, indicating volatility in the market [3] - Over the past year, Viking Holdings has seen a high of $65.37 and a low of $31.79, further reflecting its market volatility [3] - The trading volume for Viking Holdings today is 2,081,966 shares, indicating active investor interest [4]

Core Insights - Royal Caribbean Group is the leader in the global cruise industry with a market cap of $67.3 billion and operates a modern fleet of 68 ships under five brand names [2] - The cruise sector is viewed as compelling due to improving returns on invested capital and an expanding total addressable market [4] - The global cruise industry is projected to grow from $7.67 billion in 2022 to $18.3 billion by 2030, reflecting an estimated 11.5% CAGR [5] Company Overview - Royal Caribbean operates its largest brand, Royal Caribbean, with 34 ships, accounting for half of the Group's total fleet [1] - Celebrity Cruises is the second-largest brand with 14 ocean-going ships and 2 river cruise ships [1] - The company also owns a 50% stake in TUI, which controls the German brands Mein Schiff and Hapag-Lloyd [2] Financial Performance - Royal Caribbean reported $5.1 billion in total revenue for Q3, a 4.3% year-over-year increase, but missed forecasts by $29.34 million [7] - The non-GAAP earnings per share were $5.75, exceeding expectations by 7 cents [7] - Norwegian Cruise Line reported a record quarterly revenue of $2.9 billion, up 5% year-over-year, but missed revenue estimates by $88.5 million [11] Market Outlook - Approximately 58% of international cruise passengers are first-time travelers, indicating a growing customer base [4] - Royal Caribbean is expanding its private destination offerings, including the Royal Beach Club Santorini, set to open next year [6] - Norwegian Cruise Line expects an occupancy rate of 101.9% in Q4 and load factors of 105% next year [12] Analyst Ratings - Wells Fargo analyst Trey Bowers has an Overweight rating on Royal Caribbean with a price target of $320, indicating a potential 27% gain [9] - Norwegian Cruise Line also holds an Overweight rating with a price target of $30, suggesting a 68% upside potential [12] - The consensus rating for Royal Caribbean is Strong Buy, while Norwegian Cruise Line has a Moderate Buy rating [9][13]