Carnival Sells Cruise Ship, Tender Boat Runs Aground

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on several developments within the cruise industry for December 20. Carnival Corporation has sold the former P&O Pacific Explorer to Resorts World Cruises. The vessel is scheduled for a 50 million dollar refurbishment and will begin operating Southeast Asian itineraries in early 2025. This sale follows the announcement that P&O Cruises Australia will cease operations next year, resulting in the transfer of two ships to Carnival Cruise Line Australia. Additionally, Carnival is addressing a website glitch caused by extended maintenance updates. While the site is functional, some passengers report difficulty using onboard credits for pre-cruise purchases such as internet and drink packages. Carnival has stated that pre-cruise pricing will be honored on board for immediate sailings. In separate news, a Princess Cruises tender boat ran aground near Kangaroo Island, Australia. Following an engine failure, over 30 passengers were forced to wade through thigh deep water to reach the shore. The tender was eventually towed back to the Crown Princess without further incident. The report concludes with a photo of Santa Claus on the Celebrity Reflection and a summary of stock market performance for major cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Viking.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.