Cruise Passengers Will Pay New Fee for Skipped Dining Reservations

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on several developments within the cruise industry. Royal Caribbean is implementing a new fleetwide fee for guests who fail to show up for specialty restaurant reservations without canceling. The company states this measure aims to protect seating availability for other passengers. While the specific cost is unannounced, guests in Starclass suites and those with existing dining packages are currently exempt from this policy. In Athens, a 62 year old port worker died after collapsing while loading baggage at the Piraeus Cruise Terminal. The worker was employed by a private contractor, and the local port workers union is calling for an investigation into workplace safety enforcement. This tragedy occurs during a period of record cruise traffic in the region. Additionally, Celebrity Cruises announced plans to enter the river cruise market with the launch of two ships, the Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, in 2027. These vessels will navigate the Rhine and Danube rivers and will feature amenities such as infinity plunge pools and a cantilever dining platform. Finally, the report provides a summary of recent cruise industry stock performance, noting mixed results for major corporations including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Viking.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.