Ponant released details of its 30-passenger boutique expedition motor yacht in partnership with Paspaley Pearls.

The Australian Federal Court released its judgment in the long-running class action by Ruby Princess passengers during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Justice Angus Stewart finding Princess Cruises ‘engaged in misleading representations.’

Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific kicked off today in Hong Kong, with a government representative describing the destination’s major comeback from the pandemic and the outlook for cruising in the Asia Pacific region. 

Despite teething issues associated with Asia’s restart, Royal Caribbean International has ‘high hopes, high expectations’ for the Asia Pacific market, which is also proving ‘important’ for Ponant.

John Padgett, making his first trip to Australia since being appointed president of Princess Cruises in October 2021, was in Sydney Monday to welcome the inaugural arrival of Royal Princess, which will homeport there for the next six months.

Royal Princess made its first call to New Zealand as one of five Princess Cruises ships that will visit this summer, bringing more than 100,000 visitors and almost $150m in economic value.

With Norwegian Jewel sailing today from Tokyo, commencing a six-month Asia season, Norwegian Cruise Line is back in the region for the first time in more than three years.

An economic impact assessment jointly commissioned by Cruise Lines International Association Australasia and the Australian Cruise Association found the industry injected a record A$5.63b into the national economy during the 2022-23 financial year.

Resorts World Cruises continued expanding itineraries with Resorts World One’s inaugural five-night sailing from Hong Kong to Okinawa this week, with calls at Naha and Miyakojima.

An estimated 360,000 passengers and 149,000 crew are heading to New Zealand for the local summer cruise season which gets underway October 15.