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☆ Cars, sugar and cruises: How the Port of Baltimore closure could hurt the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Mark Thompson | Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Port of Baltimore said in a post on X that vessel traffic was suspended until further notice, but trucks were still being processed at its terminals. It said it would discharge cargo destined for Baltimore in other ports nearby, but Maesrk warned customers that could mean delays. Closer to the Midwest than any other port on the East Coast, Baltimore is a major hub for vehicles, containers and commodities. Baltimore ranks first among US ports for autos and light trucks, handling a record 850,000 vehicles last year. While many of the 30,000 to 35,000 cars and trucks that used the Key Bridge daily can be rerouted through the two nearby tunnels, that will cause traffic delays.

Persons: Dali, Judah Levine, ” Maersk, “, VW, Oren Klachkin, Levine, Mark Zandi, ”, Zandi, Wes Moore, Joe Biden, Francis Scott Key, Tasos Katopodis, — Moore, Emily Stausbøll, Matt Lupoli, Hanna Ziady, Peter Valdes, Rob North, Sugam Pokharel Organizations: New York CNN, Baltimore, Atlantic, Nationwide Financial, US, Moody’s, Maryland Gov, Rebuilding, Francis Scott Key Bridge, Domino, Company, Royal Caribbean, Cruises, Cruise, Cruise Lines International Association, Royal Locations: London, New York, Port, Baltimore, East Coast, Singapore, East Coast , Baltimore, Philadelphia, Norfolk, of New York, New Jersey, Asia, Africa, Suez, Maryland, Patapsco, Rebuilding Baltimore, Baltimore , Maryland, Tasos, “, Norway, Royal Caribbean

☆ Royal Caribbean's cruises have never been this popular. Good luck booking one of it's giant ships.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Royal Caribbean Group has half the number of available cabins right now than the same time in 2023. AdvertisementGood luck booking your dream Royal Caribbean vacation this year — the cruise line's giant ships are running low on cabins amid a spike in demand. Trade group Cruise Lines International Association estimates 36 million travelers will cruise in 2024 — a 14% increase from 2023. Cruise ships like the Icon of the Seas will spend the majority of their trip at sea. Royal Caribbean isn't the only cruise giant starting 2024 with exceptionally busy ships.

Persons: —, Brittany Chang, you've, Jason Liberty, Pieter De Boer, Josh Weinstein Organizations: Royal Caribbean Group, Service, Trade, Cruise Lines International, Cruise, Cruise Line Holdings, Carnival Locations: Caribbean, Brittany, Royal Caribbean

☆ Icon of the Seas: Why Americans Are Obsessed With Big Cruise Ships
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Henry Wismayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Love them or loathe them, giant cruise ships are among the most remarkable success stories of the mass tourism age. Rechristened the Mardi Gras, the first Carnival cruise ship sailed out of Miami that March. Cruise ships like the Icon of the Seas will spend the majority of their trip at sea. Eight years later, cruise ships such as the Diamond Princess became early incubators for COVID-19. Cruise Market Watch forecasts there will be 360 cruise ships in service at the end of this year, comprising less than 1% of the global commercial fleet.

Persons: Ted Arison, Arison, Pieter De Boer, Costa, Diamond, Aaron Saunders, We've, Sue Bryant, Z, sass, Emma Le Teace, YouTuber, David Foster Wallace, Harper's, Sarah Knorr, Bryan Comer, Karla Hart, Hart, Saunders, it's, Henry Wismayer Organizations: Port, Passengers, Mardi Gras, Mardi, Gras, Cruise, Royal Caribbean, Costa Concordia, Cruise Lines International Association, Broadway, CivicScience, Royal, Virgin, Business, Transport & Environment, Getty, International Council, Global Cruise, Global Cruise Activist Network, Cruise Market, Royal Caribbean International, New York Times, National Geographic, Financial Times Locations: Port of Miami, Caribbean, Miami, The Port, Tuscany, Italy, Royal Caribbean, TikTok, Panama, Bahamas, Brussels, Netherlands, Douarnenez, Venice, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Amsterdam, Juneau , Alaska, Skagway , Alaska, CocoCay, London

Travelers are looking to cruises in 2024 because they are still cheaper than land-based alternatives. With occupancy levels approaching pre-pandemic levels, operators plan to hike prices in coming months. "Overall the market is extremely strong, especially the top end of the market in terms of the most high-end luxury cruises," said Bob Levinstein, CEO of cruise marketplace Cruise Compete. Even as travelers have canceled or postponed planned vacations to the Middle East, cruise bookings will still hit record levels in 2024, said Truist Securities analyst Patrick Scholes. Prior to the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, industry-wide bookings for 2024 were about 25% higher than in 2019 for bookings in 2020.

Persons: Queen Mary, Andrew Kelly, Bob Levinstein, Patrick Scholes, Scholes, Jason Liberty, Josh Weinstein, Atle, Kari Dillon, Dillon, InteleTravel, Dave Spinelli, Ben Harrell, Granth, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Cunard Line, Carnival Corporation & plc, Brooklyn Cruise, REUTERS, Travelers, Truist Securities, Cruise Lines International Association, Royal Caribbean, Liberty ., Holdings, Cruisers, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn, Brooklyn , New York City, U.S, BENGALURU, Israel, Caribbean, Oslo, North Carolina, Florida, InteleTravel, Delray Beach , Florida, Royal Caribbean, Bengaluru, Doyinsola, New York

☆ The 3 most-Googled jobs in the U.S. don't require a degree—some can pay over $200K
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

On Google, searches for "no degree jobs" reached an all-time high this year in the U.S., according to Google Trends data shared with CNBC Make It. Most travel agents require at least a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Within Google searches for jobs without a degree, "high paying jobs without a degree" was a top search in 2023. The average salaries for these roles vary: According to ZipRecruiter, the average pay for travel agents in the U.S. is $39,955, while real estate agents are pulling in an average $86,356 per year and notaries earn $129,717. The top 10% of real estate agents and notaries, however, are earning well over $100,000 and $200,000, respectively.

Persons: Lisa Gevelber, ZipRecruiter, Warren Buffett Organizations: Google, CNBC, National Notary Association, Cruise Lines International Association, International Air Transport Association Locations: U.S

☆ From Virgin Voyages to Carnival: These 10 cruises are worth the money, travelers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

When it comes to a cruise vacation, it's all aboard. A study by the Cruise Lines International Association also found that traveling by cruise is becoming one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors. In October, U.S. News and World Report published its 2023 ranking of the best cruises for the money. The report ranked the top ships out of 17 of the most popular ocean cruise lines and gave them a rating of one through five. U.S. News and World Report ranked the cruise lines based on the following factors:

Organizations: Condé, Cruise Lines International, U.S . News, . News Locations: U.S

☆ Disney is the No. 1 cruise line for families, travelers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

1 cruise for families: Disney Cruise LineDisney Cruise Line is the best cruise line for families, with a rating of 4.46. The cruise line has five ships: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish. Disney Cruise Line is the best cruise for families, travelers say. Disney Cruise Line is typically more expensive than other family-friendly cruise lines, the report states. The 5 best cruise lines for familiesDisney Cruise Line Royal Caribbean International Carnival Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line MSC Cruises The second best family-friendly cruise line is Royal Caribbean International with a rating of 4.17.

Persons: Disney, Horacio Villalobos, James D, bauer Organizations: . News, Cruise Lines International Association, Condé, U.S . News, Disney Cruise, Disney, Corbis, Getty, Disney Cruise Line, Cruise, Cruise Line MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Morgan Locations: U.S, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Caribbean, Australia, Pacific, Haiti, Coco Cay, Bahamas, South

☆ The biggest cruise ships keep getting bigger and it's splitting the industry in two
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Brittany Chang | Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

New cruise brands are launching smaller, luxury ships geared toward wealthy travelers. Large cruises are a "cash cow" for operators but experts say smaller ships have distinct long-term advantages. AdvertisementAdvertisementEvery year it seems a new world's largest cruise ship is crowned. To fill this void, several new cruise lines are taking an underdog strategy of building smaller luxury vesselsThe Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection. Smaller ships are better positioned to meet sustainability goalsBrittany Chang/InsiderMega-ships may be popular among some passengers, but the ports they're visiting aren't always fans.

Persons: —, Royal, it's, Aman, Brittany Chang, Stenius, Michael Ungerer, Explora, aren't, Jay Schneider, Schneider, Patrick Scholes Organizations: Service, Royal, Ritz Carlton Yacht, Ritz, Carlton, Shipping, MSC, MSC Cruises, Ritz Carlton, Cruise Lines International Association, International Maritime Organization, Truist Securities Locations: They're, Royal Caribbean, Ritz Carlton ., Europe, Bahamas, Caribbean

☆ These are the top 4 cruise lines in the world, according to travelers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

It looks like more smooth sailing for the cruise industry. An October survey from Condé Nast Traveler revealed that 47% of people said they would be interested in setting sail on a ship — only 27% of readers went on a cruise last year. A recent report from the Cruise Lines International Association shows that traveling by cruise is becoming one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors. Condé Nast Traveler released its top cruise lines ranking based on a two-month-long survey where readers voted on their favorite cruises by weighing them in several categories, including:ServiceFoodAccommodationSustainabilityThe cruises were scored on a 100-point scale. Mega ships have more than 4,000 passengers, while large ships were defined as those with 2,500 to 4,000 passengers.

Organizations: Condé, Cruise Lines International Association

☆ China kicks off its plan to take on the cruise industry: 'There's no turning back'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Hannah Towey | Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

After a three-year hiatus, international cruise lines can resume sailings from China. AdvertisementAdvertisementRoyal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, once the world's largest cruise ship, was originally scheduled for year-round sailing from China. Then COVID-19 shut down the cruise industry and China blocked sailings from international cruise lines. Now, after a three-year hiatus, international cruise lines can resume sailings from China. Enter the Adora Magic City, the first Chinese-built and operated cruise ship.

Persons: —, Kun Cao, Reddal, James D, Morgan China, Cao, Joel Katz, Asia —, Michael Bayley, Bayley, Yang Guobing, Andy Stuart, Skift, it's Organizations: Service, Seas, Royal Caribbean, Magic City, Cruise, Royal Caribbean International, China China's, China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Carnival Corporation, Publishing, Getty Images, Viking Cruises, China Merchants Group, Royal, MSC, CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping, Xinhua, Getty, Cruise Line, Global Times Locations: China, Shanghai, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Southern, Magic, Caribbean, Asia, Australasia, CLIA, United States, Miami, Switzerland, Royal Caribbean, —, Norwegian, Alaska

☆ 6 cruise passengers have gone overboard in 3 months. Here's why most ships still don't use detection tech for rescues.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

An average of 19 people go overboard on cruise ships every year, industry data has found. Less than two months after Peale fell overboard, 30-year-old Jaylen Hill also went overboard a Carnival cruise ship. In total, at least five passengers have gone overboard cruise ships this summer, including Hill. The incidents occurred on the cruise ships Carnival Elation, Spectrum of the Seas, Emerald Princess, Mariner of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas. A Coast Guard spokesperson said there are no regulations preventing cruise lines from installing MOB detection systems on their vessels.

Persons: Ronnie Peale Jr, Peale, Linda Peale, —, Travis Heggie, Hill, Eric Rodriguez, Princess, Joe Perez, Ross Klein, Paul McConnell, Jamie Barnett, James Michael Grimes, Grimes, CLIA, it's, Mike Collier, MOBtronic, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Collier, Blumenthal, Linda Peale Jennilyn Blosser, Blosser, didn't, Barnett, Jim Walker Organizations: US Coast Guard, Carnival, Coast Guard, Bowling Green State University, Cruise Lines International Association, Jacksonville , Florida . U.S . Coast, Washington Post, Carnival Corporation, U.S . Coast Guard, Getty, Cruise Vessel Security, Safety, Guard, International Cruise Victims Association, Line International Association, USA, Royal Caribbean, International, Organization Locations: Virginia's Shenandoah, Connecticut, Hill, Jacksonville , Florida . U.S, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, MOBtronic

☆ A passenger went overboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, the largest operating cruise ship in the world at 18 decks tall and 230,000 tons
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A passenger went overboard the massive Wonder of the Seas cruise ship on Tuesday near Cuba. The Royal Caribbean ship is the largest passenger cruise ship currently in service. AdvertisementAdvertisementA passenger went overboard the largest cruise ship in the world on Tuesday, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirmed to Insider. The 230,000-ton cruise ship was two days into its seven-day itinerary after it left Port Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday. Overboard incidentsThis is at least the sixth person to go overboard a cruise ship in the past three months.

Persons: Princess, Travis Heggie, CLIA Organizations: Royal, Coast Guard, Morning, Fox, Passengers, Facebook, Royal Caribbean, US Coast Guard, South, Cuban Border Guard, Hurricane Idalia, Cruise, Bowling Green State University, Cruise Lines International Association Locations: Cuba, Royal Caribbean, Miami, South Florida, Port Canaveral , Florida, Florida

☆ 4 people have gone overboard on cruise ships this summer. Here's why most cruise lines don't use technology that could've helped save them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

An average of 19 people go overboard on cruise ships every year, industry data has found. At 6:36 p.m. — more than 12 hours after Peale fell overboard — Carnival contacted the Coast Guard, according to the agency. Less than two months after Peale fell overboard, 30-year-old Jaylen Hill also went overboard a Carnival cruise ship. Legislation without regulationThe US Coast Guard does not check for man-overboard image capture or detection technology during compliance inspections of cruise ships. A Coast Guard spokesperson said there are no regulations preventing cruise lines from installing MOB detection systems on their vessels.

Persons: Ronnie Peale Jr, Peale, Linda Peale, —, Travis Heggie, Hill, Eric Rodriguez, Joe Perez, Ross Klein, Paul McConnell, Jamie Barnett, James Michael Grimes, Grimes, CLIA, it's, Mike Collier, MOBtronic, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Collier, Blumenthal, Linda Peale Jennilyn Blosser, Blosser, didn't, Barnett, Jim Walker Organizations: US Coast Guard, Carnival, Coast Guard, Bowling Green State University, Cruise Lines International Association, Royal Caribbean's, Princess Cruises, Jacksonville , Florida . U.S . Coast, Washington Post, Carnival Corporation, U.S . Coast Guard, Getty, Cruise Vessel Security, Safety, Guard, International Cruise Victims Association, Line International Association, USA, Royal Caribbean, International, Organization Locations: Virginia's Shenandoah, Connecticut, Jacksonville , Florida . U.S, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, MOBtronic

The logo of the company Royal Caribbean is seen on the 'Wonder of the Seas' cruise ship, the world’s largest cruise ship, docked at a port in Malaga, southern Spain, April 30, 2022. Cruise operators lowered prices to lure passengers onboard following the pandemic, banking on onboard spending that has now reached record levels. Onboard spending in the second quarter rose 49.9% for Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCLH.N), compared with the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. Onboard spending rose about 36.8% for Royal Caribbean Cruises and 17.2% for Carnival in the same period. Carnival and Royal Caribbean said the percentage of guests who were new to cruising surpassed 2019 levels.

Persons: Jon Nazca, Patrick Scholes, Josh Weinstein, Bob Levinstein, Cruise, Carnival's Weinstein, Jason Liberty, Brandt Montour, Granth, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Royal, REUTERS, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Carnival Corp, Carnival, Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Lines, DISNEY WORLD, Walt Disney, Custom Travel, Reuters Graphics, Cruise Lines International, . Carnival, Barclays, Thomson Locations: Royal Caribbean, Malaga, Spain, U.S, Caribbean, Orlando , Florida, They've, Bengaluru, Doyinsola, New York

☆ Are Cruises ‘Corny’? Some First-Time Passengers Looking for a Deal Say Maybe Not.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Ceylan Yeginsu | More About Ceylan Yeginsu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It wasn’t just the horror stories about passengers stuck on cruise ships during the pandemic (though that was part of it). “I always thought of cruises as corny vacations for the elderly,” said Mr. Brown, 32, a member of the logistics team at the New York streetwear company Supreme. “You get to see all these different places and can take day trips without having to lug your baggage around,” Mr. Brown said. Out of the 4,500 respondents who took their first cruise, 88 percent of millennials and 86 percent of Gen X said they would do it again, according to CLIA. The association projects cruise tourism to reach 106 percent of 2019 passenger volume in 2023.

Persons: Holden Brown, “, ”, Brown, Genevieve, ” Mr, Gen X Organizations: Norwegian Prima, Cruise Lines International Association Locations: York, Norwegian, Barcelona, Rome, Florence, Italy, Valencia, Ibiza, Spain, Cannes, France, millennials

June 23 (Reuters) - Carnival (CCL.N) is expected to post robust second-quarter revenue growth as new and younger customers, undeterred by high inflation, spend on novel experiences such as cruising. While Americans have cut back on purchasing big-ticket non-essential goods due to soaring costs, protracted confinement to their homes during the pandemic has whet their appetite for outdoor experiences. Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and GenX (born between 1965 and 1981) have reached peak earnings years and are feeding multi-generational travel as they spend on cruises and bring their families along, according to J.P. Morgan analysts, who lifted rating on Carnival stock to "overweight" last week. A younger customer base is helping fuel this demand, with 88% of millennial and 86% of GenX travelers that have past cruising experience intending to sail again, according to a report from Cruise Lines International Association. "Given (cruise) is a vastly under-penetrated travel product ... more marketing instead of price cuts drives growth in new-to-cruise, which has a reasonably high conversion rate to repeat-cruisers," Barclays analyst Brandt Montour said.

Persons: Morgan, Millennials, GenX, Brandt Montour, Granth, Vinay Dwivedi Organizations: Reuters Graphics Reuters, Morgan, Bank of America, Cruise Lines International Association, Barclays, Refinitiv, Thomson Locations: J.P, Bengaluru

☆ A Carnival cruise passenger on a Bahamas vacation is missing after he leaned over his balcony and fell overboard, officials said
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A man is still missing after he went overboard on a Carnival cruise ship on Monday. The unidentified 35-year-old man was aboard the Carnival Magic cruise ship. A man went overboard on a Carnival cruise ship returning to Virginia from the Bahamas — and he remains missing after officials said he leaned over a balcony railing and plunged into the water. Under the 2010 Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, cruise ships must have 42-inch guard rails and man-overboard imaging or detection systems. Have a tip or story to share about man-overboard incidents on cruise ships?

Rewards Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Intro Offer Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. $95 APR 20.74% - 27.74% Variable Rewards Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. We've cruised with MSC in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Greek Islands, and Norway. See Insider's picks for the best cruise travel insurance companies »Finally, cruising provides entertainment around the clock.

☆ Authorities search for Australian man who went overboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship as the boat crossed the Pacific in the dark
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Coast Guard is searching for a man believed to have gone overboard a cruise ship this week. Insider previously reported that man overboard incidents are relatively rare. The US Coast Guard is still searching for an Australian passenger believed to have gone overboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship hundreds of miles from Hawaii on Tuesday night. Officials first received a call from the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship about a man overboard at 11:03 p.m. on Tuesday. The search for the overboard man resumed Wednesday morning as a Coast Guard helicopter conducted a six-hour aerial search in the area, but failed to locate the missing man.

☆ Photos show how cruising has changed over the last century, evolving into a $7 billion industry carrying nearly 30 million every year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Between 2009 and 2019, the number of people going on cruises steadily increased each year from 17.8 million to 29.7 million, according to Statista— until COVID sent those numbers crashing down. A drone image shows decommissioned cruise ships being dismantled at Aliaga ship-breaking yard in the Aegean port city of Izmir, western Turkey, October 2, 2020. REUTERS/Umit BektasSource: Statista, Cruise Lines International Association

☆ 5 cruise workers reveal the best and worst parts of their jobs — from in the kitchen to on stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Most jobs onboard cruise ships require grueling hours, cramped cabins, and no days off. Insider talked to 5 cruise workers about the best and worst parts of their jobs. Insider spoke with five cruise ship workers including a dancer, musician, chef, and photographer about the best and worst parts of their jobs. And nearly all cruise workers — with entertainers being a notable exception — do not have protected days off until their contract is complete. For many, the unique jobs available on cruise ships are a more intriguing alternative to 9-to-5 desk jobs.

☆ I'm a Disney World expert who runs my own travel agency. Here are my best tips for an affordable — and headache-free — trip to the parks.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Julie Halpert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

I've been to Disney World more than 50 times, and I go to Disneyland every few weeks. The first time I went to Disney World was when I was nine months old. I became an expert in planning Disney trips not just through my own excursions but by planning vacations for friends and family who asked for help. I plan trips for all Disney destinations, including Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani, and Adventures by Disney. Planning Disney trips was a side hustle that became a full-time careerMertzman with Minnie Mouse.

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