Major Cruise Line Announcements and Deals in November 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, cruise lines are gearing up for their busiest time of the year, with enticing promotions surrounding Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the upcoming wave season expected to inspire bookings for 2025 and beyond. Here’s a roundup of some of the biggest cruise industry highlights from November 2024.
Disney Cruise Line Welcomes Disney Treasure
Disney Cruise Line officially added the Disney Treasure to its fleet in November. After assisting in the rescue of multiple passengers from a sinking catamaran off Bermuda, the brand-new ship docked at Port Canaveral before embarking on a journey to New York for a christening ceremony. The ship’s godparents—employees of The Walt Disney Company—offered their well wishes for safe and prosperous travels.
ASTA Hosts Inaugural Virtual River Cruise Week
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) held its first-ever virtual River Cruise Week in mid-November, attracting nearly 700 travel advisors. The free event featured sessions and panels from top river cruise lines, including Avalon Waterways, Viking, AmaWaterways, and others, offering insights into river cruising and travel trends.
Royal Caribbean Group Dominates 2024 Travvy Awards
Royal Caribbean Group triumphed at the 2024 Travvy Awards, taking home 26 Gold, Silver, and Bronze honors. The awards, determined by votes from travel advisors, recognized the best cruise lines, ships, and river cruise offerings. This recognition reflects the continued strength and innovation within the cruise industry.
2024-2025 Antarctic Cruise Season Begins
The 2024-2025 Antarctic cruise season kicked off in November as travelers ventured to the icy continent. Expedition lines like HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) and Silversea resumed their voyages, marking the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Windstar Cruises Featured on “The Golden Bachelorette”
Windstar Cruises received significant exposure on the reality TV show The Golden Bachelorette. Partnering with Air Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Tourisme, Windstar featured in a special collaboration offering cruise, air, and hotel packages for the show’s star, Joan Vassos, in her search for love.
Viking Introduces New Nile River Ships
Viking debuted two new Nile River ships, Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek, expanding its fleet in Egypt. The sister ships, each with 82 guests, are now offering Viking’s 12-day “Pharaohs & Pyramids” itinerary along the Nile River.
Cruise Lines Offer Black Friday Promotions
Black Friday saw a surge in cruise deals, with many lines offering enticing promotions to inspire travelers to book their dream vacations for the upcoming year. These promotions helped boost bookings during a traditionally busy time in the cruise industry.
Port Canaveral Achieves Record Passenger Numbers
Port Canaveral reported a record 7.6 million passengers in fiscal year 2024, a 12% increase from the previous year. This milestone highlights the port’s popularity among travelers and its continued growth as a key hub for cruising.
American Cruise Lines Welcomes New Ship
American Cruise Lines introduced the American Legend to its fleet in November, marking the launch of its newest Coastal Cat ship. The vessel began its maiden voyage on the eight-day “Florida Gulf Coast & Keys” itinerary.
Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels Voyages
Norwegian Cruise Line announced the cancellation of certain cruises between November 2025 and April 2026, impacting voyages on the Norwegian Dawn, Star, and Jewel. The cruise line cited the opportunity to introduce enhanced voyages in response to guest demand.
Carnival Cruise Line Unveils Mascot
Carnival Cruise Line introduced “Ducky the Duck,” an official mascot to complement the popular passenger-led trend of hiding rubber ducks around ships for guests to find.
CruiseWorld Conference Brings Industry Together
Travel advisors and cruise executives gathered at Northstar’s CruiseWorld conference in Fort Lauderdale this November. The event featured keynote speeches from leaders at Royal Caribbean Group, as well as workshops and seminars focused on industry trends and business development.
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