Are cruises in trouble 2023?

The 2023 cruise industry is booming. It has far surpassed 2019 levels, breaking sales records in a furious, post-pandemic comeback. Like most tourism sectors, cruising is reaping the benefits of “revenge travel”— vacationers making up for the time that was lost during the pandemic.



People Also Ask

With 2023 poised to be a big year for both new and frequent cruisers — thanks in part to an abundance of new ships and itineraries — Travel + Leisure has hand-selected 16 different types of adventures to consider in the year ahead.

MORE DETAILS

Royal Caribbean has cancelled a second Radiance of the Seas cruise due to continued propulsion issues and needed repairs. Royal Caribbean International has begun reaching out to guests booked on the September 8, 2023 departure of Radiance of the Seas with the news that the sailing has to be cancelled.

MORE DETAILS

Royal Caribbean has a massive amount of debt on its balance sheet that it accumulated during the pandemic to stave off bankruptcy. At the end of Q2, the company had $18.7 billion in long-term debt and $1.7 billion in current debt (meaning debt due within 1 year).

MORE DETAILS

Thirteen norovirus outbreaks have been reported on cruises so far in 2023, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which keeps a record of annual case counts dating back to 1994.

MORE DETAILS

Covid-19 shut the industry for the best part of two years, leaving the Big Three — Carnival Corp, Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — under an unprecedented pile of debt that they will be paying down for years. Carnival is $35bn in the hole, Royal Caribbean owes $24bn and Norwegian owes $13.4bn.

MORE DETAILS

However, investors should note that Carnival's debt levels more than tripled throughout the COVID-19 crisis. It ended the first quarter of fiscal 2023 with $32.7 billion in long-term debt, compared to $9.7 billion at the end of fiscal 2019, which gives it a staggering debt-to-equity ratio of 5.6.

MORE DETAILS

For 2023, the passenger capacity is forecast to grow another 18 percent, with the full fleet sailing, plus new ships entering service, offset by the retirement of older ships and some brands that ceased service during the pandemic.

MORE DETAILS

The 2023 cruise industry is booming. It has far surpassed 2019 levels, breaking sales records in a furious, post-pandemic comeback. Like most tourism sectors, cruising is reaping the benefits of “revenge travel”— vacationers making up for the time that was lost during the pandemic.

MORE DETAILS

While the cruise lines have been sailing around 60-80% capacity in 2022, some are predicting they will reach 100%+ occupancy by the middle of this year. So, with more individuals wanting to cruise, this means higher cruise fares. We are already feeling these effects when trying to plan trips for the year ahead.

MORE DETAILS

If you're bringing the whole family, a 5 or 7 day cruise might be the best way to make sure everyone has an awesome getaway. And for those lucky folks with even more time to spare, a cruise of 10 days or more will give you an incredible experience of all the best things a cruise has to offer.

MORE DETAILS

There are several affordable cruise options available, such as MSC, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Holland America Line, offering various itineraries and destinations for travelers on a budget.

MORE DETAILS

While there is not a clear winner across all of the categories, Carnival, MSC and Royal Caribbean offer the lowest prices for those wanting to cruise. These costs were compared solely on the cruise fare, which does include complimentary dining venues as well as most of the onboard activities and entertainment.

MORE DETAILS

On most cruise ships, the most luxurious accommodation is on the upper decks. Here, you'll find a selection of elegant suites, with generous outdoor space, separate living areas, and amenities ranging from all-inclusive drinks to the service of a concierge.

MORE DETAILS

  • Flu and other respiratory illnesses. Flu season spiked early this year in the U.S., along with another respiratory illness that can be particularly dangerous for older adults, respiratory syncytial virus, which is known as RSV. ...
  • Norovirus. ...
  • Measles. ...
  • Seasickness. ...
  • Burns and bites.


MORE DETAILS

2023 American Splendor Legionnaires' Disease Hotel General Manager Jay Hasan notified American Splendor passengers of water test results that were positive for Legionella on September 18, 2023, the second-to-last day of a week-long cruise, according to the USA Today report.

MORE DETAILS

Food poisoning. Or maybe it's norovirus, a contagious virus that often keeps you at the toilet for several days. Some people know it as the “cruise ship virus” because it's often the cause of over 90% of diarrhea outbreaks on cruise ships, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

MORE DETAILS