Free Republic

The headlines on Sunday about a Norwegian Cruise Line ship sailing in the Gulf of Mexico were alarming. There was an “outbreak” of COVID-19 taking place on the brand’s giant Norwegian Breakaway, as many news outlets put it, and the vessel was just hours away from docking in New Orleans. To a casual observer, it may have seemed like we were right back to early 2020 when the just-emerging coronavirus was running rampant around cruise ships, prompting panic in port towns, quarantines on ships and the sight of ambulances meeting vessels as they docked. But this isn’t early 2020. As...

At the onset of the pandemic, many investors wrote the cruise ship industry off for good but some operators like Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH) are looking to climb back on board. Companies in the industry faced an existential crisis this year with ships harbored at the port for months on end, customers demanding refunds and lawsuits costs piling up during a period of high uncertainty. This pushed Norwegian Cruise Line stock to new lows. On March 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a no-sail order for all cruise ships stating that it was one of the...

What’s next for Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL)? RCL stock has rebounded off last month’s lows as investors bet on a recovery post-novel coronavirus. Things may not be so dire for other hard-hit industries. But, for the cruise line industry, it’s a long road to recovery. Sure, you can make the argument that cruise ships aren’t toast. Once the pandemic subsides, cruise ships could make a comeback, as millions getting “cabin fever” right now decide to take long-overdue vacations. But this is assuming operations will resume within a few months. That’s the current projection, but with multiple stakeholders mulling when it’s safe...

After waiting more than 10 hours to board a celebratory cruise, Nathan and Jennifer Leslie were stunned when the ship's captain kicked them off the ship Sunday and left them stranded in the Bahamas. Their crime? Complaining about the bevy of problems they had experienced with Carnival Cruise Lines' Sensation, which began when they were locked inside a Port Canaveral terminal Thursday, waiting because the ship failed inspections. Cruise officials say they were aggressive. The Winter Haven couple, who were celebrating their recent wedding anniversary and Nathan Leslie's return in October from serving in the Iraq war, arrived in the...