“It’s a Dall sheep!” the train tour guide exclaims as we swoop past a jagged cliffside dotted with fuzzy white creatures impressively balanced on their rocky perch.
30.09.2024 - 17:45 / skift.com / Dawit Habtemariam / Josh Weinstein
Carnival Corp. said Monday that Alaska has emerged as one of the cruise line operator’s top destinations this year, especially for first-time cruisegoers.
“Alaska, in particular, for this past year was off the charts,” said Josh Weinstein, president, CEO, and chief climate officer, during a third-quarter earnings call.
A large share of the demand growth for Alaska has been from customers who are first-time cruisegoers.
“[Alaska] was absolutely phenomenal, and that tends to skew higher to new-to-cruise because if you’re going to go to Alaska, which everybody should go do, the only way you can go see it is by a cruise ship to really appreciate it,” said Weinstein.
Weinstein’s comments on Alaska come as locals in Juneau vote through Tuesday on a ballot initiative that would ban large cruise ships of over 250 passengers on Saturdays and the Fourth of July.
Carnival has donated to Protect Juneau’s Future, the coalition opposing the ballot measure.
Carnival has been charging higher prices for its cruises, but consumers haven’t been deterred. The overall new-to-cruise segment was up 17% year over year in the quarter.
“Every brand in our portfolio is well booked at higher pricing in 2025,” said Weinstein. “We’re about two-thirds booked when you look at the next 12 months. We’re in a pretty enviable place.”
When asked by an analyst if there are any consumer behaviors to watch moving forward, Weinstein said, “I’m happy that I just have to say, ‘no.’ We’re seeing that demand for all the brands pretty much across the portfolio.”
In the third quarter, revenue hit an all-time high of almost $8 billion, up nearly $1 billion more than last year’s record level. Net income was $1.7 billion, up over 60% from last year.
Executives aren’t interested in pursuing the Chinese cruise market even though it’s now open to international cruising.
“It’s not something that we’re pursuing at this time,” said Weinstein. Before the pandemic, Carnival only dedicated a “few percentage points” of its capacity to China.
The Asia and Pacific region has been making a steady recovery. “With respect to the region overall, when it comes to Japan, Taiwan, and other regions, that’s going well. People like cruising with us before, and they continue to enjoy it now.”
Carnival also has no plans to return to the Middle East due to the ongoing regional conflicts. “We weren’t banking on it getting better and hope to God it doesn’t get worse,” said Weinstein.
The removal of the Middle East from Carnival itineraries has not had a significant impact on Carnival’s bottom line. “Our business isn’t really contingent on it. It’s not a major source market for us, and we’re not going to the region,” said Weinstein.
The hurricane has had minimal damage to
“It’s a Dall sheep!” the train tour guide exclaims as we swoop past a jagged cliffside dotted with fuzzy white creatures impressively balanced on their rocky perch.
Exploring the West Coast just got easier with new airline routes.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennison Grigsby, an American mom and yoga teacher who lives in Valencia, Spain. It's been edited for length and clarity.
Silversea is celebrating the successful completion of Silver Nova’s first season in Alaska.
Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, October 1, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
With holiday travel approaching using airline miles and points is a smart way to avoid a possible hefty price tag. However, certain award currencies provide better value than others during peak travel times.
October is here and so are these great points and miles deals, and the latest in credit card perks—all of which come in handy for leaf-peeping trips, spooky getaways for Halloween, and last-minute journeys to chase some autumn sun. (Need some ideas? Check out this list of the best places to visit in October to get the travel inspiration going.) And for the aviation geeks: Here’s a rundown of the latest loyalty industry news and perks, so you don’t have to scour the internet to find them. Register for these points and miles deals to boost your account balances, and then start planning where you want to go next. We've got all the best points and miles deals for October, below.
There's been a major development in the merger of Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, as the two carriers just launched the ability to transfer miles between their respective loyalty programs. While post-merger plans call for a single, combined loyalty program, this is an important first step — and opens up a lucrative new avenue for those with American Express Membership Rewards points.
Fall is finally here. As we embrace the chillier months, travel brands are already preparing for the upcoming holidays. Just in time for spooky season, Extra Holidays is offering up to 20 percent off resort stays located in cities with Halloween spirit, activities vary from family-friendly to completely frightful—you've been warned. Marriott Bonvoy is having a Fall Flash sale where members can save up to 20 percent off of weekend hotel stays, perfect for those looking for a regenerative staycation or who want to attend an away game this football season.
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The city of Madrid is filled with enough sights and activities to keep visitors entertained for weeks. While first-timers might be tempted to stick to popular areas like the central Sol-Gran Vía and regal Austrias districts, there are historic landmarks, picturesque plazas, and outstanding culinary offerings throughout the vibrant Spanish capital. You’d need a lifetime to fully explore Madrid’s 131 neighborhoods, each with its own personality showcasing a distinct part of everyday Madrileño life. But you can get a head start by venturing to these underrated neighborhoods that hold tons of appeal for travelers — beginning with the fact that they’re less touristy.