Tag Archives: Asia

CLIA: Capacity up in developing markets

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By Tom Stieghorst
CLIA’s annual report on the economic contribution of the cruise industry highlights growth in less developed cruise territories, including Asia, the Australia/Pacific region and South America.

The report said these three areas recorded 20% capacity growth in 2013 and accounted for more than half the global increase in available bed days. Europe’s capacity growth slowed from 18% in 2011 to 3.5% last year.

CLIA said the number of passengers carried in 2013 by its member lines rose 3.9%, to 17.6 million (river cruises are not included in the tally).

Bed days increased 4.8% because the average cruise was longer and capacity was higher, CLIA said.

Passenger embarkations at U.S. ports fell 1.3%, to nearly 10 million, the first time in at least four years that happened. CLIA attributed the decline primarily to redeployments to markets more distant from the U.S.

Direct spending by cruise lines, passengers and crew in the U.S. crossed the $20 billion threshold, rising 2.4% to $20.1 billion in 2013. More than 80% of that was for wages, taxes, and goods and services. Passengers and crew accounted for $3.63 billion in spending.

CLIA member cruise lines in North America showed a net increase of one ship in 2013, to 178, with a combined capacity of 338,505 berths, the study said.

Azamara Journey returning to duty March 17th

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Azamara Journey will return to service on March 17th, following repairs to the damaged propeller that forced it to cancel its upcoming voyage from Shanghai.

Earlier this week, the ship was forced to cut its current cruise of Asia short after debris caused damage to the propeller. The ship was en route to Tokyo when the 601 passengers and 399 members of the crew on board felt an “unusual vibration”, according to a statement from the cruise line.

A subsequent inspection revealed the damage. Although Azamara said that the required repair work is relatively straightforward, it does require access to a dry dock, which is why the ship will be out of action for the first half of March.

The vessel will travel to Korea’s Orient Shipyard Gwanguang for repairs, according to Seatrade-Insider, before resuming service mid-March with a 17-night cruise around Asia.

A tweet from Azamara read: “It is regrettable that this incident occurred and spoiled our guests’ vacation. We will do everything we can to assist them.”

MSC Cruises to sail to Asia

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MSC Cruises will be making a splash in Asia for the first time ever, when MSC Orchestra sets sail on an all-inclusive voyage from Dubai to Perth next year.

In 2015, the company’s 33-night cruise – departing in February – will stop off in Mumbai and Cochin, India; Colombo in Sri Lanka; Langkawi in Malaysia; Singapore; and Bali, according to Travel Weekly.

The colourful schedule will also take in the best of Australia in the final leg of the month-long cruise, with stops scheduled in Cairns Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle.

Highlighting the emphasis placed on Asia during the voyage, Singapore represents one of two scheduled overnight stops, with Sydney making up the other.

According to the company, there has already been keen interest among passengers in the new itinerary.

Giles Hawke, MSC’s managing director for UK and Ireland, told the news provider: “We have had a number of our past passengers asking for an itinerary which will take them to the Far East and Australia and this gives them exactly what they are looking for.”