IS A U.S. CRUISE LINE’S DEMISE AN EARLY WARNING?

Their Great Lakes cruises included Chicago to New York with stops in places like Wyandotte, Mich. and Cleveland. The fleet’s three river-cruise sized ships offered few balcony cabins and a BYO bar program, even though the fares were as steep as much newer and more upscale ships that offered more exotic itineraries.

Many regular cruisers hearing that Blount Small Ship Adventures is ceasing operations may not shed tears. But the fact that the line is calling it quits due to the ongoing pandemic is a caution flag for the major cruise lines which are continuing to bleed money and regularly postponing the dates that they plan to get back to cruising.

A couple of niche cruise operators in Europe have also thrown in the towel and Hong Kong-based Genting Cruises, which owns Crystal Cruises, has fallen behind on its payments in the bookings drought.

Read it all in The Cruisington Times

Grand Mariner