The cruise industry continues to expand, also in 2024.

This year ca. 34.7 mio  travellers took a cruise. Considering the number of cruisers pre-pandemic in 2019, 29.9 mio , it is obvious that the cruise industry has bounced back at a rapid pace, in fact it is the fastest growing segment of international tourism today.

In 2027 alsmost 40 million passengers are expected while the number of cruise ship berths will grow from 677K  in2024 to 745K in 2028, this number will increase even more when orders for new ships are placed. A 10% yearly growth of the cruise industy is projected.

Two examples show the significant growth of cruising:

• Cunard saw record-breaking bookings in 2024, following an exceptional year and the launch of their new Queen Anne in May gave booking-leveles a further boost. From January 1 to October 31, Cunard recorded 73,000 more reservations compared to the same period in 2023, and a 23% increase compared to 2023 on a yearly basis.
• Princess Cruises saw record-breaking bookings for 2025 and beyond over the 4-day period from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Bookings increased 32% over the same period in 2023.

However, these successes also have a downside, as over-tourism makes cities like Amsterdam, Venice and Barcelona implement measures to limit or even as much as possible ban cruise ships. For example Amsterdam plans to limit overall tourism to the city to max. 20 million visitors and cruise ship calls will also have to decrease. Here cruising is held responsible for significantly contributing to pollution especially when ships are docked at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam. But on the other hand, the port of Amsterdam will not have shore power available before 2025….

In Germany, The Netherlands and France, climate activists tried to make make their negative opinion about cruise ship pollution known by hindering cruise ships. Unfortunately the process of drawing up, international rules is slow. However, the cruise industry is putting a lot of effort in implementing changes to limit its footprint and make cruising more environmentally friendly (see below).

In September 2024 Greece announced a new tax for cruise ship passengers visiting the isles of Mykonos and Santorini. During the busy peak summer months, cruise ship passengers will be taxed  $22 (20 euro). Greek authorities state “cruise shipping has burdened Santorini and Mykonos and this is why we are proceeding with interventions”. Additionally, the government will start limiting the number of cruise ships allowed to dock at these islands during peak season. The new tax will be implemented by the summer of 2025. 800 cruise ships called at Santorini in 2023, with a total  of 1.3 million visitors onboard. Beginning in 2025, Santorini will cap the number of cruise ship passengers allowed to visit at 8,000 per day.

In 2024, a group of inhabitants of Juneau, Alsaka wanted to significantly reduce the number of cruise ship calls. Although their plans were voted out, it made Royal Caribbean enter an agreement with the town of Junrau to built a new cruise port outside of the town to alleviate downtown congestion just like the port of Venice realised recently , redirecting large cruise ships away from the city’s historic center.

Other area’s like the Norwegian fjords, Antarctica and Gacier Bay, Alsaka have restictions underway or already in place to protect nature reserves for over-tourism. For example Glacier Bay can be visited by just two cruise ships daily. IMO Tier III environmental technologies to lower nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx) need to be implemented before cruise ships are permitted to enter environmentally sensitive regions like the Norwegian fjords which make upgrades necessary especially for older tonnage to become compliant.

However, cities like Hamburg, Port Canaveral and Miami embrace cruising and aim at attracting more cruise calls in the future (in some case with as much as five terminals or more like Hamburg, Southampton and Miami).

Hamburg’s new Hafen City Terminal is currently being built in Hamburg Überseequartier and will comprise of two berths (345 metres & 230 metres long). Cruise ships calling at the new terminal will berth directly in the heart of the city. The new facility is set to open in 2025 and will be equipped with shore power. 

In September 2024, Port Canaveral announced plans to build a new cruise terminal “to meet the growing demands with an ambitious timeline of approximately two years to accommodate the largest ships in the world. The new terminal will bring more jobs ashore and will deliver high value to our regional and state economy” according to the port authority.

In the port of Miami, MSC Cruises had the majority of the construction work for its new terminal done in 2024 and at the end of this year it is nearing completion. It will be the world’s largest cruise terminal, a state-of-the-art facility with an impressive price tag of $450 million. On a daily basis, the terminal will be able to handle 36,000 guests across its three cruise berths. Passenger comfort will be anhanced as the new building makes streamlined operations possible. concerning sustainability, the terminal will incorporate shore power connectivity. Finally, its parking garage will have space for 2,400 cars. Showing its commitment to the region, MSC has als announced the construction of $ 100 mio new headquarters in Miami.

Cruise lines are investing heavily in private islands. Fuel costs can be lowered considerably as these private islands are mostly  within a short sailing distance. It also solves congestion in certain popular ports. An additional advantage of course is exposure for the brand. These privately owned islands with their tropical beaches are packed with attractions. Cruise line-owned private islands have been around  since 1977 when Norwegian Cruise Line introduced Great Stirrup Cay after purchasing a part of the island from the Bahamian government.

Since then, private islands have become a major part of many a cruise line’s offering when other lines soon followed: Half Moon Cay (Holland America Cruises), Princess Cay (Princess Cruises), Ocean Cay (MSC), CoCo Cay (Royal Caribbean) and Celebration Key (Carnival Cruises).

The islands themselves also benefit as large sums of money are invested in the upkeep and conservation of these islands as well.

Cruise lines strive for net zero emissons in 2050 and are busy implementing a whole range of measures to achieve this.

In 2024 there were over 30 pilot projects underway with sustainable fuel producers and engine companies testing sustainable fuels and technologies. 24 ships tested biofuels, onboard 10 ships fuel cells were installed and another 10 vessels sailed with bi- or even trifuel capable engines.

Examples of measures taken:

• An increasing number of vessels will either use alternative fuels or be able to incorporate zero-carbon fuels once widely available
• Air lubrication systems and special hull coatings will reduce reduce drag which will increase fuel efficiency by ca. 10%
• Exhaust gas cleaning systems designed to remove 98% of sulphur and over 50% of particulate matter will be introduced also resulting in a 12% reduction in NOx
• Onshore power systems, plugging in when ships are in port allowing ship engines to be switched off for significant emissions reductions. Today, already 120 ships (around half of global capacity) have the ability to use onshore power systems
• Advanced wastewater treatment systems, eliminating discharging untreated sewage at any time. These onboard systems often operate to a higher standard than those based ashore
• Additional measures taken are water conservation systems enabling cruise lines to produce up to 90% of water on board, repurpose as much waste as possible (some ships even repurpose 100% waste), using surplus heat from machinery to heat water for showers and pools, reducing food waste by using bio-digesters and finally reducing underwater noise and vibration around the hull of the ship in order not to disturb marine life.

Several ventures  planned to start operations in 2024. Some of these faced serious problems. Examples are Aroya Cruises, Neonyx Cruises and Villa Vie Residences.

Following the insolvency of parent company Genting Hong Kong, Dream Cruises collapsed. Their World Dream was then laid up in Singapore and sold at auction. In March 2023, the ship was finally sold to Cruise Saudi and renamed Manara. In June of that year, Manara arrived in Bremerhaven for an extensive refit.The ship would become part of the line’s new Aroya brand and was later renamed Aroya, which is a combination of the words Arabian and roya, translating to vision or dream. The inaugural cruise set sail in the Red Sea in December 2024. Passengers will be able to visit AROYA’s private island paradise as well as destinations in Egypt and Jordan.

In 2023, Villa Vie Residences purchased Fred Olsen’s Braemar and renamed her Villa Vie Odyssey, for a planned 3,5 year cruise. She was handed over to Villa Vie Residences in February 2024, with over 70% of the 485 cabins already sold. She was sent to the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast in April 2024 for a refit. The ship was then delayed by rudder and gearbox problems, with new rudder stocks having to be manufactured, while future residents waited for a revised departure date of September 2024. The company paid for their accommodation and travel costs. She could finally depart September 30. After a few days more delay because of what Villa Vie described as “some final bits of paperwork”, Villa Vie Odyssey left her anchorage just outside Belfast at last on October 3, marking the start of her long world cruise.

New cruise line Neonyx Cruises had to postpone its inaugural season in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2024 plans to welcome its first guests in summer 2025, due to unforeseen delays in the refurbishment of their Goddess of the Night (former Costa Cruises’ Costa Magica). The 2,700-guest vessel has recently returned to Greece after a charter operation in Italy in June where she would serve as a floating hotel during the 50th Summit of the Group of Seven (G7) in Brindisi, Italy. The charter was terminated early due to complaints about poor sanitary conditions onboard, and the ship was even seized by local authorities. .Obviously, her 3-year lay-up and lack of mainenance had left its mark. Officially revealed in late May, the Greece-based cruise line plans to offer adults-only cruises to the Greek Isles and Turkey. Sailing from Piraeus (Athens) and Cesme, three- and four-night itineraries will call at Mykonos and Santorini. Goddes of the Night will feature “a product that focuses on parties and nightlife, featuring a lineup of world-famous DJ’s to transform the vessel into a floating electronic/dance music festival” according to Neonyx Cruises.

A new residential cruise line was announced in 2024. Ulyssia Residences, based in Switzerland wants to launch an ultra-luxurious cruise ship in 2028 that people can live on. The 132-cabin Ulyssia will make voyages of 2.5 years around the world. Buyers must have a net worth of at least 25 million euros to qualify for one of the cabins, which cost at least 10 million euros.

Well known cruise operator, P&O Cruises Australia has announced it will soon end operations in 2025. Since their first departure of Strathaird back in 1932 over 90 years ago, the Australian cruisel brand will fold its operations into parent company Carnival Cruise Line starting March 2025. Carnival Corp. bought P&O Autralia in 2003. They state ending operations of P&O Australia is because of the region’s significantly higher operating and regulatory costs and small population.

New ships delivered: almost 70 ships with around 170,000 berths are on order and the impressive growth of the cruise industry was clearly visible again in the total of 14 new ships delivered in 2024.

2024 saw the delivery of Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship delivered by the Meyer Turku shipyard. The 250,000-ton vessel is considerably bigger than the former title holder, the 227,000-ton Wonder of the Seas. Royal Caribbean also took delivery of the last ship of the Oasis class, Utopia of the Seas.

Another significant new cruise ship is Cunard Line’s Queen Anne.

Queen Anne was officially delivered to Cunard on April 19, 2024, at the Fincantieri Marghera yard. Her naming ceremony was held during her first round Great-Britain voyage, the British Isles Festival cruise on June 3, 2024, partly while docked at the Liverpool cruise terminal in Liverpool and later during the actual naming ceremony after she had moved to the middle of the river Mersey to give spectators a better view. The special event was hosted by Mathew James Willis (English musician/singer, co-founder of Busted pop band) and Emma Louise Willis (English TV personality). The naming event was attended by Katie McAlister (Cunard’s President) and Andrew Lewis (Liverpool City Council) and featured live performances by Andrea Bocelli, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Never seen before, in a surprise move Cunard named the entire City of Liverpool as godparent of Queen Anne – instead of a member of the Royal family as had been the case since the Queen Mary in 1936 – because of the special relation Cunard has always had with the city. From 1840 until 1919 their transatlantic liners sailed from Liverpool to America. The City was represented by five successful female residents – Melanie Jayne Chisholm (aka Melanie C from Spice Girls), Ngunan Adamu (founder and CEO of iWoman Media and iWoman Academy), Natalie Celia Haywood (founder and Managing Director of LEAF restaurant), Jayne Casey (artistic director) and Katarina Mary Johnson-Thompson (heptathlon athlete).

As mentioned above, Queen Anne is largely responsible for the spactacular increase in booking levels Cunard experienced this year.

A complete overview of cruise ships delivered in 2024 can be found here.

A number of ships debuted for new operators in 2024 after having been rebuilt/ converted.

Examples of the most significant conversions this year:

• Celestyal Discovery, Celestyal Cruises, debut: March 2024. After having been sold by Carnival Corporation and previously operated by AIDA Cruises as Aidaaura, the 2003-built vessel was completely converted for her new role,

• Carnival Firenze: Carnival Cruise Line, debut: April 2024. After being transferred to Carnival Cruise Line, the former Costa Firenze underwent a major refit at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz in early 2024. She was mainly restyled with Carnival’s signature public areas, having multiple public spaces converted into the company’s trademark venues,

• Margaritaville at Sea Islander, Margaritaville at Sea, debut: June 2024. After major conversion work at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Northern Ireland, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander (formerly Grand Classica for Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line) started operations for her new owners,

• Villa Vie Odyssey, Villa Vie Residences, debut: September 2024. The former Braemar of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines was refitted and turned into Villa Vie Residences’ first residential ship. After a lengthy stay at the Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast and after many technical problems emerging during the refit, she could finally leave Belfast for her first 3,5 year world cruise in September.

• Aroya, Aroya Cruise, debut: December 2024. Formerly the World Dream of Dream Cruises Hong Kong, the Aroya entered service in December as the first cruise ship forthe national market of Saudi Arabia. Several public rooms had to be restyled to make her suitable for her new market which was done at the Lloyd Werft in Germany.

Like 2023 when not one cruise ship went tot he scrappers, 2024 again was a quiet year for ship breakers. Apart from Celestyal Olympia (1982, ex Song of America,, Sunbird, Thomson Destiny, Louis Olympia) and Diamond XI (1973. ex Begonia, Explorer Starship, Song of Flower, Le Diamant, Ocean Diamond), not a single vessel was permanently taken out of service.

However, there is one special vessel, the Astoria, the world’s oldest cruise ship and famous for her collision with the Italian liner Andea Doria in 19.. She has not been snet to the breakers (yet), but still is laid-up has been in the port of Rotterdam where she has been for the last for 4 years. There have been many rumours about her being sold for scrap. Her current owners still say they have plans for her and they won’t sell her. These plans concern Astoria and another classic cruise ship they own, the Portuguese Funchal. One would sail between Lisbon and Funchal, Medeira and the other wold become hotel  ship in Lisbon. Untill today, nothing has happened and parking fees in the port of Rotterdam must have risen skyhigh in the mean time.

See my article on the Astoria here

in 2024, rescue operatons were needed for two European shipyards.

Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, owned by the Meyer family for more than 220 years, fell into financial trouble during the Covid-19 pandemic. A reported €2.7bn ($3bn) deficit in its finances could not be fixed despite a recent contract with Disney Cruise Lines for four new cruise ships that took its orderbook value to more than €11bn. Problem for the yard was 80% of the building costs of each individual vessel is paid upon delevery and this amount has to be prefininced. Luckily the yard has been saved as the German government’s has taken an 80% stake in Meyer Werft and will contribute €400m in equity and bank loans to help the company get back on its feet.

Another yard having seen severe financial problems in 2024 was Irish Shipbuilder Harland & Wolff, the Belfast company famed for building the Titanic. It plunged into administration in September for the second time in five years but has now been bought by Spanish state-owned business Navantia, which in the process secured a £1.6billion contract to build three ships for the Royal Navy at Harland & Wolff after the government agreed to amend the existing contract improving its terms for Navantia.

Harland & Wolff also maintain cruise ships, recently Margaritaville at Sea Islander and Villa Vie Odyssey were upgraded by the yard.