Cruises 2014: The Top Stories of the Year

It has been a wild year of news in the cruise industry, full of exciting new developments — both behind the scenes and in exciting news for consumers. There has been a consolidation of power players and a lot of musical chairs when it comes to top positions. Above all, it has been a year that has seen upgrades and innovative new products for consumers. 

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Here are my top cruise stories for 2014:

Norwegian Buys Prestige

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which went public in early 2013, purchased Prestige Cruises International in November. The $3 billion deal gives the parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, presence in the upscale cruise segments with the upper-premium Oceania Cruises and inclusive luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Management Shake-Ups Throughout Industry

Whoa. Rarely have we seen so many new faces running cruise lines. Several are new to cruising, others are taking the helm at different companies, and some are rising to the top.

Newcomers include Drew Madsen, a chain restaurant executive who is president and COO of Norwegian Cruise Line as of Oct. 13, and Orlando Ashford, an executive for an international consulting firm who became president of Holland America Line on Dec. 1.

Other new executives include CFO Jason Montague replacing Kunal Kamlani as president and COO of Prestige, Michael Bayley heading Royal Caribbean International, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo assuming the title of president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, Rick Meadows becoming president of Cunard Line-North America (and maintaining the presidency of Seabourn), and former Disney Cruise Line head Tom McAlpin becoming CEO of the new Virgin Cruises. And, on Feb. 1, Christine Duffy moves from the Cruise Lines International Association to lead Carnival Cruise Lines.

Whew!

Quantum of the Seas

New cruise ships almost always generate excitement, Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship reached new heights. The Quantum of the Seas is the showiest, most innovative cruise ship in years, with its bumper cars, sky-diving simulator, cherry-picker thrill ride, robot bartenders, virtual balconies in interior staterooms, and technologically driven entertainment. Too bad it’s leaving the U.S. in May to head for …

China

In 2014, we saw rivals Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. take major steps into the Chinese cruise market. RCCL is redeploying the Quantum to Shanghai, while Carnival moved top executive Alan Buckelew there. Both companies based ships there and launched partnerships with Chinese companies with an eye toward newbuilds purpose-built for that market and/or starting up a whole new cruise line. Will the potential in China live up to the hype? We’ll have to wait and see, but it sure looks like it.

Pearl Seas Starts Up

This news item didn’t generate major headlines around the world, but it’s always big news when a new cruise line starts up, even if it’s done under the radar. Pearl Seas Cruises quietly began operating the 210-passenger Pearl Mist in June. The sister company to fast-growing American Cruise Lines, the Pearl Mist is registered in the Marshall Islands and so offers international itineraries in the Caribbean and Canadian Maritimes, as well as the U.S.