Cruise Ship Rescues Stranded Students, Port Rejection

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on several developments within the cruise industry for May 22. In the Pacific, P&O Cruises Australia assisted sixteen teenagers and their chaperones who were stranded on the island of Vanuatu. The group was on a volunteer medical trip when a local airline went bankrupt and canceled all flights back to Australia. After receiving social media assistance, the students boarded the Pacific Adventure to return to Sydney. Additionally, Carnival has announced plans for Starfish Lagoon at its new Celebration Key destination in Grand Bahama. Opening next July, the family friendly area will include a large freshwater lagoon, water slides, a splash pad, and various recreational amenities like kayaks and paddle boards. In South Carolina, local officials unanimously rejected a proposal for a new cruise terminal near Charleston. State law prohibits cruise ship operations at Patriots Point, which is located across the river from the current downtown pier. This decision follows the South Carolina Ports Authority's decision to sell the land for development without ship operations included. The rejection impacts local businesses and the longshoreman association that supported the dock for economic reasons. Finally, the report notes mixed performance for cruise line stocks, with Royal Caribbean rising while Viking saw a decline.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.