Cruise Ship Skips Ports After Breakdown | Loyalty Program Shake-Up

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on several developments within the cruise industry, beginning with mechanical issues affecting the Ruby Princess in Alaska. The vessel has experienced propulsion problems during its eleven day sailing from San Francisco, resulting in cancelled glacier visits and shortened port stays. Marine tracking data supports reports of reduced speeds, and passengers have noted instances of the ship coming to a complete stop. Princess Cruises has issued a fifty dollar onboard credit to guests, though many are still awaiting official communication. The report also covers changes to the Seabourn Cruises loyalty program. The luxury brand is transitioning to a simplified point based system with faster tier progression. However, guests must opt into this new structure by October 20th to avoid losing their current status. This follows a similar controversial shift by Carnival Cruise Lines toward a spending based model. Additionally, Margaritaville at Sea has announced the name of its third ship, the Margaritaville Beachcomber. This former Costa vessel will be the largest in the fleet with a capacity for 3,450 guests. Finally, the report notes a general decline in cruise industry stocks, including Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Viking.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.