Due to recent ongoing political and social instability in Egypt that is impacting security conditions in multiple major cities, Costa Cruises is canceling all calls at Egyptian ports scheduled on Egypt and Red Sea cruises during the autumn and winter 2013-14 season. This is the second cruise line, following MSC Cruises, to halt service to the destination.
Existing calls to Egyptian ports will be replaced by alternate itineraries. Bookings on Costa Voyager's seven-day cruises in the Red Sea are canceled and protected on Costa Fortuna's seven-day cruises in the United Arab Emirates. The ''Thousand and One Nights'' itinerary sails roundtrip from Dubai, with calls at Muscat and Khasab, Oman and Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Bookings on the Costa Voyager positioning cruise scheduled Nov. 11 in the Red Sea are protected on the Costa Fortuna positioning cruise to Dubai. More information can be found here.
Oceania Cruises is gearing up to launch the largest refurbishment program in the company's history, renovating the Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, its trio of R-Class ships, starting early next year. The ships will receive a $50-million upgrade in a six-week timeframe that includes the refurbishment of suites, staterooms and public rooms. The dry docks are scheduled from April 24 to June 6, 2014 with Insignia and Nautica being refurbished in Marseilles, France and Regatta in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Additionally, in UBS Investment Research’s latest “Cruise Capacity Monitor,” cruise industry financial analyst Robin Farley was quoted saying Carnival Corporation may be in discussions with shipbuilders to construct a new Seabourn order, which could be announced byfore the end of 2013. The order is estimated to be in the range of a 450-600 berth vessel. Farley said her firm believes Carnival “is done ordering for 2016” and that any new Seabourn order would come for 2017 delivery.