Global Deployment Pattern Set to Continue

Posted on 26 June, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

The cruise industry’s 2026 global deployment pattern is forecast to continue based on port infrastructure and destination attractions.

For 2026, the Caribbean attracted nearly 41 percent of the global cruise passenger capacity, up from 39 percent in 2019, according to the 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

This year, the Caribbean will see an estimated total of about 17 million passengers, compared to 11 million in 2019.

The Caribbean capacity has been on a linear expansion curve over the past several decades.

The Mediterranean is the second largest sailing region with 15 percent of the industry capacity in 2026 and 6 million passengers up from 4 million passengers and the same market share in 2019.

The third largest deployment is found in the Asia-Pacific region with more than 4.4 million passengers sailing there for a market share just north of 11.4 percent, compared to 3.4 million passengers and a 12 percent market share in 2019.

Only the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asia-Pacific command double digit market shares.

Next is Northern Europe with 9 percent, the West Coast (of the United States) 5 percent, Alaska 4.7 percent, Australia 2.6 percent, the Canary Islands 2 percent, down to world cruises at 0.1 percent.

The deployment pattern is driven by demand combined with infrastructure development.

The total estimated passenger number for 2026 is 40 million.

Princess Adds More Touchless Technology On Cruise Ships

Posted on 4 December, 2020 by Spacejunkie2

As part of its Medallion Class upgrades, Princess Cruises is rolling out a number of new touchless guest experiences when its fleet returns to service in 2021.

TrulyTouchless Arrival and Embarkation

Embarkation day will leverage OceanMedallion technology to reduce friction, remove a contact, and avoid crowds, streamlining arrival and check-in, as well as completely reinventing the traditional muster drill.

OceanReady

All guests will now be required to become OceanReady before leaving home, creating a touchless, expedited arrival experience and embarkation. Guests will use the MedallionClass app to upload travel documents and complete a health questionnaire in advance as well as provide important emergency information and form of payment, take a security image, personalize their Medallions and order accessories to be shipped to their home or ready for pick up upon arrival.

Simplified Safety Training

A new approach to the safety assembly on embarkation day lets guests watch an important safety video on their mobile device anytime on embarkation day via their stateroom TV and verify their designated muster station with a quick, contactless check-in at their convenience anytime between boarding and sail away. The OceanMedallion system provides the verification needed by the ship’s captain to confirm muster drill check-in while strengthening safety and security operations onboard, safeguarding guest and crew health, and increasing operational efficiency.

Stateroom Entry

Access to staterooms is now said to be a seamless experience where each guest is securely validated as their cabin door automatically unlocks as they approach. The do-not-disturb sign also becomes a thing of the past as the feature is integrated with the personalized portal outside each cabin, allowing guests to request privacy or designate their room for service by touching the display or using the MedallionClass app.

TrulyTouchless Commerce

MedallionPay is now and eliminates the need to carry cash and credit cards onboard and in Princess Cays, the line’s private island.

The system allows for “effortless” payment when purchasing anything on the ship – food, beverages, merchandise, excursions, even laundry tokens.

OceanNow Service On-Demand

Food, beverage, retail orders and service are delivered directly to a guest’s location.

Guests can place orders using their smart device, their stateroom TV or with a crew member, as the Medallion continuously ensures great service wherever a guest may go onboard.

The connecting-cabin conundrum

Posted on 10 February, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

MSC connecting Balcony Cabin.

One frustration for travel agents is when clients want to book a cruise on short notice with the expectation that they’ll be able to stay in connecting cabins. It can sometimes be hard to find rooms that adjoin or are on the same deck, much less those that connect.

But cruise lines could do more to help the situation, some travel agents say. The issue came to light at a recent travel agent forum on Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas.

Agents said that Royal often allows connecting rooms to be booked online as singles, negating the advantage of having the connecting door between the two cabins.

“Royal Caribbean is great for families, but it is a real struggle on some of your popular sailings to find connecting rooms that do not have one already booked,” said Elise Aust, of Custom Cruise & Travel, Omaha, Neb.

Aust suggested that Royal hold the cabins back from full inventory to ensure that people who actually need them get to use them. “The last thing I’d want if I was booking a single cabin is a door to another room if I didn’t need it,” she said. “I think you would get a lot more families.”

Royal President Michael Bayley agreed that the idea made a lot of sense. “We’ll take a look at it and speak to our revenue team and see what we can do.”

Aust’s other suggestion, by the way, was to put magnifying mirrors in the bathrooms, an idea that seemed to confound Bayley.

“Really? That sounds horrifying,” he said. But he added that Royal would take a look at it for its new ships.