Cruise Line Hikes Daily Gratuities, NEW Norovirus Outbreak

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on several significant developments within the cruise industry for January 16. Holland America Line has announced an increase in daily gratuities effective February 1. Suite passengers will see rates rise to 19 dollars per person per day, while all other stateroom categories will increase to 17 dollars per person per day. This follows similar gratuity hikes from other major lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Princess over the last year. Additionally, the CDC confirmed a norovirus outbreak on the Celebrity Constellation. The outbreak impacted 68 passengers and seven crew members, with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. The vessel delayed its next sailing to implement enhanced sanitation measures. In West Coast news, the Port of Los Angeles reported a record 1.3 million passengers served in 2023 across 219 ship calls. Each docking event generates over 1.2 million dollars in local economic benefits, and the port plans to expand with a new terminal. Finally, the report notes that cruise line stocks, including Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian, experienced declines on Friday.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.