Cruise Passenger Arrested, Left Behind in Greece

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on several developments within the cruise industry for July 15. A passenger on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, which is currently under charter by Atlantis Events, was arrested in Crete on drug related charges. Local media reports that a 35 year old Spanish passenger was found to be in possession of cocaine and cannabis by Greek authorities. Although prosecutors ordered his release, the individual was not permitted to reboard the vessel and was left behind. This event follows previous challenges for the charter, including entry denials from Turkey and Egypt. In other news, Royal Caribbean is extending the removal of Labadee, Haiti, from its itineraries through at least May 2027. The cruise line is rerouting affected guests to alternative ports such as Nassau and Cozumel due to safety concerns and the ongoing US travel advisory for Haiti. Additionally, Port Canaveral is undergoing significant expansions, including the doubling of cruise terminal 5 and the construction of a new 13 story parking garage to accommodate passenger growth. Finally, the report notes a downward trend in cruise stocks for Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Viking.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.