Cruise Ships Outrun Hurricane, New Loyalty Program Tier

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on significant weather disruptions and corporate updates within the cruise industry. Hurricane Raphael is currently impacting itineraries in the Gulf of Mexico, causing ships such as Jewel of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Carnival Breeze to return to Texas ahead of schedule. In the Western Caribbean, several vessels have dropped ports, while strong winds in the Bahamas have forced ships to bypass private islands like Half Moon Cay and Perfect Day. Parker notes that there have been fifty global itinerary changes this week due to these weather conditions. In corporate news, MSC Cruises has revamped its Voyager Club loyalty program by introducing a new Blue Diamond tier. This tier offers perks including flexible check-in, free Wi-Fi, and My Choice dining, alongside priority embarkation and luggage services. Additionally, all loyalty tiers now feature extended membership options ranging from three to five years. The report also covers the return of Oasis of the Seas to Florida following refurbishments in Spain. Finally, Parker highlights a positive trend in cruise line stocks, noting significant gains for Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Viking.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.