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Resorts World Cruises pioneers high-speed internet at sea with SES mPOWERED and Starlink PRO

Resorts World Cruises, an Asia-based international cruise line renowned for luxury and dynamic lifestyle experiences, has announced a collaboration...

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line resumes Baltimore operations with Carnival Pride

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line resumed operations in Baltimore (Maryland USA) on Saturday, May 25, with the return of the Carnival Pride, reinstating the...

US$100 million renovation underway at Port Seattle's Fishermen’s Terminal

The Port of Seattle (Washington USA) initiated the renovation and modernization of the historic Ship Supply Building at Fishermen’s Terminal on...

Carnival Radiance rescues 25 stranded individuals off Mexican coast

Carnival Radiance successfully responded to a USCG/Coast Guard distress call, rescuing 25 individuals stranded on a small boat off the Pacific coast...

P&O UK's ship Ventura undergoes deep cleaning in Southampton following Norovirus outbreak

P&O Cruises UK's ship Ventura is undergoing an extensive sanitation process at Southampton UK after an outbreak of norovirus affected passengers...

Celebrity Cruises elevates The Retreat with enhanced butler service and dining options

Celebrity Cruises has enhanced its premium offering, The Retreat, by introducing several new features aimed at elevating the guest experience. Each...

Real-time DNA sequencing on Viking ships enhances phytoplankton study

Viking Cruises has announced a significant advancement in marine research with the implementation of real-time environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing of...

MOL Cruises unveils inaugural voyages for MITSUI OCEAN FUJI

MOL Group's subsidiary MOL Cruises Ltd, operating under the brand name MITSUI OCEAN CRUISES, has announced the debut itineraries for its new ship...

New Cruise "Terminal X" set for construction at Port Canaveral FL

Port Canaveral commissioners have approved the initial contract for constructing a new cruise terminal on the port's north side. The new terminal...

MSC Cruises unveils summer 2026 Mediterranean itineraries

MSC Cruises caters to the ongoing allure of the Mediterranean by offering an extensive range of itineraries, allowing travelers to explore multiple...

Food poisoning incident delays Royal Caribbean's ship Allure of the Seas

A food poisoning incident aboard RCI-Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas has affected passengers and caused a delay in the ship's itinerary...

Two PONANT ships (Le Jacques Cartier and Paul Gauguin) cruise in Polynesia in 2026

From 2026, PONANT will expand its French Polynesian cruise offerings with two distinct experiences, showcasing the variety the company provides. Le...

Margaritaville at Sea's ship Islander sets sail for homeport Tampa Florida after major refurbishment

The newest Margaritaville at Sea vessel, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, has commenced her voyage to Tampa, Florida USA. Departing from the...

NCL rolls out new Asia-Pacific and Australia cruises for 2024-2026 seasons

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line is set to launch 30+ new port-intensive cruises across the Asia Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand regions. These voyages...

Andrea Bocelli headlines Cunard's Queen Anne naming ceremony at Liverpool waterfront

The Liverpool Waterfront will host a grand celebration on June 3rd, as the renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performs to mark Queen Anne ship's...

Royal Caribbean Group 2023 Preview

• January 23, 2023

From new cruise ships to new itineraries, destinations and dining menus, the Royal Caribbean Group has a big year ahead in 2023.

Cruise Industry News looks into the most anticipated events taking place across the company’s brands over the year.

Ultimate World Cruise In late 2023, Royal Caribbean International is launching its first complete world cruise. One of the longest global sailings currently available, the 274-night Ultimate World Cruise is set to visit more than 150 destinations in 65 countries .

Sailing roundtrip from Miami, the itinerary onboard the Serenade of the Seas also marks the company’s return to South America and the Middle East.

Celebrity Ascent A newbuild is set to enter service for Celebrity Cruises in late 2023. Part of the company’s Edge class, the Celebrity Ascent will debut in December in time for a winter program in the Caribbean .

A sister to the Celebrity Beyond, the 3,260-guest vessel will sail from Port Everglades during its maiden season, offering seven-night cruises to both Western and Eastern Caribbean.

Silversea’s Green Prototype Ushering a new era for Silversea Cruises, the Silver Nova is also entering service in 2023. A prototype, the new luxury vessel is set to become one of the greenest cruise ships ever, using new technologies that include a fuel cell system and LNG engines .

Featuring what the cruise line calls a “revolutionary asymmetrical design,” the new ship will also offer guests different public areas , including “unprecedented openness to the destinations,” a reimagined, outward-facing pool deck; an al fresco dining area; and a sky bar that offers panoramic views from the ship’s aft.

New Fleetwide Dining Menu Royal Caribbean International is introducing new dining menus across its fleet in 2023. After tests onboard the Wonder of the Seas and the Symphony of the Seas in late 2022, the new set of menus is now being rolled out to the company’s entire fleet.

Featuring a different theme every night, the new menus offer a different selection of dishes, in addition to a new graphic design. The new offering includes American-, Italian-, and French-themed menus, as well as a selection of daily for-a-fee premium options.

Icon of the Seas Set to debut in early 2024, the Icon of the Seas is being delivered to Royal Caribbean International in late 2023.

Assuming the title of world’s largest cruise ship, the 250,000-ton vessel is introducing several innovations to the company’s fleet , including one of the largest water parks at sea and the new AquaDome, a unique transformational venue featuring a huge waterfall.

Currently under construction in Finland , the Icon will spend its inaugural season sailing to the Caribbean from PortMiami.

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One of the US's busiest cruise ports can't keep up with America's love for vacations at sea — but an urgent new terminal will help meet the demand for giant cruise ships

• Port Canaveral announced new plans to build a seventh cruise terminal by 2026.
• It scrapped its initial expansion plan because it would've taken longer to build.
• This article is part of " Transforming Business: Infrastructure ," a series exploring the advancements reshaping US infrastructure.  

Florida — home to busy beaches, Disney World, and a cruise industry so successful that local ports simply can't keep up with demand.

The Sunshine State flexes seven cruise ports, three of which — Miami, Canaveral, and Everglades — are among the five busiest in the world.

The state may seem well stocked as far as cruise terminals go. But Port Canaveral is running out of space as demand for these vacation voyages continues to skyrocket.

In 2023 , the Florida port accommodated a record 6.8 million cruisers and 13 homeported ships, leading to an all-time-high revenue of $191 million — more than 80% of which came from its cruise operations.

In 2024, it expects to add another 500,000 passengers to that total.

The influx in demand has left Port Canaveral at "a point where we're starting to turn business away," John Murray, its CEO, said at a press conference earlier this month.

The proposed solution? Expand — and quickly. The port announced plans to build a seventh cruise terminal on its north side by 2026, scrapping its initial proposal for one farther south. The latter would've taken longer to build, but "we need it in two years," Murray said, adding: "Maybe sooner."

The proposed terminal would be at the port's "underutilized" North 8 berth. When complete, it could accommodate the world's largest cruise ships, including Royal Caribbean's new 1,198-foot-long, 9,950-person-capacity Icon of the Seas .

Murray said the project would be "self-funded." There's no word yet on the cost, but a spokesperson for Port Canaveral told Business Insider that the existing berth would make construction cheaper than that of previous cruise terminals. The most recent one, completed in 2020, cost $155 million.

Before unveiling these plans, Port Canaveral intended to build its next terminal in an area known as Bluepoints Marina, farther south. The project would've taken three to four years to complete — too long a timeline for Port Canaveral.

A new cruise terminal "has become more urgent and necessary now," Murray said.

Along with a seventh terminal, Port Canaveral plans to build a 3,000-car parking structure and improve the roads leading into and out of the parking lot.

Expanding parking on land is just as important as in the water: Cruise lines have been increasingly developing private islands and destinations in the Caribbean, often visited during three- and four-day cruises. Murray said these shorter sailings typically bring in more vehicular traffic than their five- to seven-day counterparts.

Wooing cruise lines operating on these itineraries could be especially important for Port Canaveral, which is farther north from the private Caribbean destinations than Miami's and Fort Lauderdale's popular ports.

Competition is stiff. In January, MSC Group announced that its cruise lines would move their operations to Miami. In late 2023, Disney Cruise Line unveiled a new terminal at Port Everglades.

"A place like Port Canaveral is continually thinking about retaining the business it has and, of course, capturing some of that business," Ross Klein, the founder of CruiseJunkie.com and a professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, told BI.

But not everyone is excited

While an influx of travelers can be an economic windfall for nearby restaurants and hotels, not all locals are happy about the new cruise terminal.

The world's largest cruise ships can accommodate more than 7,000 guests. That's a lot of travelers — and traffic, which is a concern for Jamie Glasner, the owner of the Bluepoints Marina-based fishing charter Fin and Fly . (BI spoke with Glasner before Port Canaveral announced its terminal in the North 8 berth.)

"These cruise ships come in, and the traffic is backed up for miles," Glasner told BI, adding that other local business owners complained "about it all the time."

"The traffic is a nightmare. This is crazy," he said.

"It used to only take us 10 minutes to get home," Glasner said. "Now it's taking me an hour."

Cruise travelers accounted for roughly 840,000 cars at Port Canaveral last year, Murray said in late 2023. At the time, he said that updates such as a "pay-on-arrival" parking system and the increased use of facial recognition by US Customs and Border Protection helped improve the flow of traffic.

To lessen traffic stress, the port wants the state to widen the nearby freeway and replace the drawbridge connecting the north and south halves of Port Canaveral with a higher, fixed bridge. The latter often opens for passing ships, further jamming up the roads.

However, these proposals have yet to be included in the Florida Department of Transportation's budget, "so we will continue to make noise on that," Murray said during the announcement of the port's seventh cruise terminal. "We can't shut down operations at Port Canaveral because the state can't get the road infrastructure in a timely manner," he added.

But love it or hate it, the cruise industry continues to grow . And the sooner Port Canaveral can build a new terminal, the happier it, and cruise lines, will be.

"We're going to do what we have to do to get this up and running as quickly as possible," Murray told reporters.

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Norwegian cruise line celebrates military appreciation month with key initiatives supporting the military community, norwegian cruise line celebrates teacher appreciation week with debut of new teacher cruise discount and fifth anniversary of its 'giving joy' campaign, norwegian cruise line unveils all-new culinary experiences to debut aboard norwegian aqua, top stories, norwegian cruise line expands its presence across asia pacific, australia and new zealand with over 30 new itineraries.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) launches over 30 new port-intensive cruises across Asia Pacific,  Australia and New Zealand , for a total of 85 voyages from September 2024 through March 2026 on new-to-the-region ships – Norwegian Spirit, Sun and Sky. 

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) , the innovator in global cruise travel, is celebrating Military Appreciation Month by participating in a series of initiatives and engaging events in support of the U.S. military community, including the first-ever Fleet Week Miami; the Coca-Cola …

Today, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, is honoring Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6 – 10, 2024) with the launch of its all-new Teacher Cruise Discount , offering educators and staff across …

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What's the best state for you », u.s. news announces the 2023 best cruise lines.

Virgin Voyages earns its first No. 1 ranking in the Best for the Money category.

U.S. News 2023 Best Cruise Lines

Washington, D.C. – U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Hotels , Best Vacations and Best Travel Rewards Programs , today released its annual rankings of the Best Cruise Lines .

The 2023 rankings highlight 17 cruise lines to help every type of traveler find the cruise that’s right for them. For the first time, Virgin Voyages takes the No. 1 spot in the Best Cruise Lines for the Money ranking, offering the best value among cruise lines. U.S. News considered the overall cruise line quality and average base fare per night, as well as extra benefits such as free gratuities, Wi-Fi access and all-inclusive package options. Carnival Cruise Line, known for its budget-friendly fares and frequent sales, and Celebrity Cruises, which offers a more upscale experience at reasonable rates, rank No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

For the ninth consecutive year, Disney Cruise Line is the Best Cruise Line for Families . The family-oriented line offers ships with character meet-and-greets, themed dinners, nighttime fireworks, waterslides and more. Royal Caribbean International comes in at No. 2, thanks to its onboard amenities that cater to guests of all ages, while Carnival Cruise Line ranks No. 3, offering family-friendly perks like water parks, basketball courts and ropes courses on its ships.

"After more than two years of sailing restrictions and limited voyage options due to the coronavirus pandemic, cruisers and cruise lines are excited to be on the seas again,'' said Nicola Wood, senior travel editor at U.S. News. "The Best Cruise Lines rankings evaluate a variety of cruise types, making it easy for travelers to find the best options that fit their budgets, cruising styles and desired destinations."

U.S. News ranks cruise lines in six categories: Best Cruise Lines for the Money, Best Cruise Lines for Families, Best Cruise Lines for Couples, Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean, Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean and Best Luxury Cruise Lines. The rankings follow a comprehensive, transparent methodology that factors in expert evaluations of ship quality, traveler ratings, health assessment results and more.

This year's rankings are accompanied by editorial roundups of the top gay cruises for 2023, the top cruise lines for solo travelers and the best cruise insurance ; each piece aims to provide helpful advice and planning information to a wide community of cruisers. U.S. News also offers additional cruise tips and recommendations, such as what to pack on a cruise , the top river cruise lines , fun adults-only cruises and more.

2023 Best Cruise Lines Rankings

See the full rankings here .

Best Cruise Lines for the Money 1. Virgin Voyages 2. Carnival Cruise Line 3. Celebrity Cruises

Best Cruise Lines for Families 1. Disney Cruise Line 2. Royal Caribbean International 3. Carnival Cruise Line

Best Cruise Lines for Couples 1. Viking Ocean Cruises 2. Seabourn Cruise Line 3. Azamara

Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean 1. Disney Cruise Line 2. Virgin Voyages 3. Celebrity Cruises

Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean 1. Viking Ocean Cruises 2. Seabourn Cruise Line 3. Azamara

Best Luxury Cruise Lines 1. Viking Ocean Cruises 2. Seabourn Cruise Line 3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

For more information on the Best Cruise Lines , explore Facebook , Twitter and Instagram using #BestCruises.

Media Contact: Michelle Day, [email protected] , 202-955-2212

About U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

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Best Cruise Lines for the Money

With lodging, food and entertainment all included in one price, a vacation at sea is often a better value than a

With lodging, food and entertainment all included in one price, a vacation at sea is often a better value than a land-based getaway – if you choose wisely. To help you make the most of your travel budget, U.S. News ranked the following cruise lines based on a methodology that factors in itinerary affordability, amenities included in the base fare, health ratings and reputation among experts and travelers. Read on to learn more about this year's best cruise lines for the money, and be sure to check our latest cruise deals for an even more affordable vacation experience. 

Read Best Cruises Methodology

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Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages may not seem like the most affordable offering at a glance, but it presents cruisers with supreme value. Base fares include all onboard dining, gratuities, Wi-Fi access, group fitness classes and more. Add those benefits to Virgin's ongoing sales, and you're looking at a top-notch experience for less. 

• 4.39 Overall Rating
• 3 Ships in Fleet

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises' vessels offer the endless amenities and buffets of its competitors' megaships but maintain the service standard of smaller lines. Rates on Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries run less than $200 per person, and all-inclusive add-on packages are available.

• 4.36 Overall Rating
• 13 Ships in Fleet

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises targets more adult travelers (especially on longer voyages) than family-oriented lines like Royal Caribbean International, but at similar prices. Along with lodging and select dining, fares cover activities like cooking demonstrations and educational lectures.

• 4.02 Overall Rating
• 15 Ships in Fleet

Royal Caribbean International

With more than 25 cruise ships, Royal Caribbean is one of the largest lines sailing the ocean today. Having the ability to accommodate thousands of guests per ship allows the company to keep rates low. In fact, travelers may find itineraries in popular destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, the Bahamas and the Pacific Coast for around $250 per person.

• 4.17 Overall Rating
• 25 Ships in Fleet

Holland America Line

Cruisers will find this premium cruise line to be a pretty good bargain, with four-day Caribbean sailings often starting at less than $300 per person, and short voyages along the Pacific Coast coming in around $100 per person. But cutting costs doesn't mean skimping on service; Holland America ships offer individualized attention, free room service and all-inclusive package options.

• 4.14 Overall Rating
• 11 Ships in Fleet

MSC Cruises

MSC offers sailings from North American ports like Miami, New York City and Orlando, Florida, though the majority of its voyages depart from international locales. But even if you have to fly to a foreign port, you'll save money over a typical land vacation abroad. Mediterranean sailings can start at around $100 per person, and the line offers several deals and money-saving packages.

• 3.79 Overall Rating
• 22 Ships in Fleet

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival specializes in budget-friendly fun, offering frequent, significant discounts on already low prices. In fact, itineraries for around $200 per person are the norm. Access to most of the ships' activities won't cost a penny, but keep in mind that some extras (like specialty restaurants, beverages and certain attractions) aren't covered in fares.

• 3.90 Overall Rating

Norwegian Cruise Line

With its popular, frequently running Free at Sea program, Norwegian offers travelers discounts on Wi-Fi, excursions, alcohol, airfare and more on top of its already low prices. And, similar to luxury lines, Norwegian ditches steadfast rules like assigned dining times, but costs a fraction of the price.

• 3.97 Overall Rating
• 19 Ships in Fleet

Cunard Line

While you may not expect to find a more opulent line like Cunard on this list, the cruise provider has a surprising number of relatively reasonable fares for upcoming sailings. Travelers can fully enjoy the line's old-world elegance knowing that room service, onboard activities and most dining options are included in the base price.

• 4.07 Overall Rating

Costa Cruises

A member of the Carnival family, Costa Cruises is primarily based in Europe. The fleet offers lower rates than its competitors, particularly for its Mediterranean itineraries (think: fares starting at less than $100 per person). Although it offers family-friendly amenities, Costa's ships are also well-suited to adults, with various entertainment options like theater shows and casinos.

• 3.50 Overall Rating
• 8 Ships in Fleet

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

American Queen Voyages shuts down, cancels future cruises amid reported service issues

American Queen Voyages has shut down.

An automated voice message on its customer information hotline said the cruise line "has made the difficult decision" to suspend operations, and all future cruises have been scrapped. “Guests and customers should expect to be fully refunded for canceled cruises,” the message said.

The message directed listeners to www.aqvrefunds.com “to begin the refund process,” and said they could find more information at www.aqvinfo.com .

"Despite our best efforts, demand for overnight cruises has not recovered following the pandemic, and AQV has become financially unsustainable," a guest FAQ section on the second website reads. "We thank you for your support and deeply regret any inconvenience this causes you."

No ships were sailing at the time of the closure. Adam Peakes, president of the line's owner Hornblower Group, said it plans to "sell the company, or, if a sale cannot be achieved, its operations will be wound down."

"Please know this decision was not made lightly," he said in an emailed statement shared with USA TODAY. "We are deeply proud of our employees and crew for the outstanding services they have provided our guests over the years. As the backbone of the AQV experience we extend our deepest appreciation to our team for their unwavering commitment, passion and hard work, which has been exceptional. We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our guests, partners, agents and the local communities where we call who have each been integral to our journey."

Your cruise was canceled: Now what?

The news comes after the line reportedly canceled three season-opening sailings set to take place on the Mississippi River later this month, attributing the changes to an extended layup schedule. Multiple industry groups previously suspended sales of American Queen Voyages cruises because of service issues, including delayed commission payments, Travel Weekly reported in January.

The line began sailing as American Queen Steamboat Company in 2011 and was rebranded as American Queen Voyages in 2021 after merging with Victory Cruise Lines.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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Kyle Vogt resignation —

After robotaxi dragged pedestrian 20 feet, cruise founder and ceo resigns, gm-owned cruise "failed to disclose" full video and key crash details, dmv said..

Jon Brodkin - Nov 20, 2023 6:07 pm UTC

The CEO of self-driving car firm Cruise resigned yesterday following an accident in which a Cruise robotaxi dragged a pedestrian 20 feet. California officials accused Cruise of withholding key information and video after the accident, and the company's self-driving operations are on hold while federal authorities investigate.

"Today I resigned from my position as CEO of Cruise," co-founder Kyle Vogt wrote in a post on twitter.com . "The startup I launched in my garage has given over 250,000 driverless rides across several cities, with each ride inspiring people with a small taste of the future," he also wrote.

Cruise is owned by General Motors, which bought the company in 2016. Vogt expressed optimism about Cruise's future without him, saying the team is "executing on a solid, multi-year roadmap and an exciting product vision."

"As for what's next for me, I plan to spend time with my family and explore some new ideas. Thanks for the great ride!" Vogt wrote.

On Saturday, one day before resigning, Vogt reportedly apologized to staff in an email. "As CEO, I take responsibility for the situation Cruise is in today. There are no excuses, and there is no sugar coating what has happened. We need to double down on safety, transparency, and community engagement," he wrote in the email quoted by Reuters .

Robotaxi kept moving after hitting woman

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) last month suspended Cruise's permits for autonomous vehicle deployment and driverless testing. Cruise subsequently announced a "pause" of all of its driverless operations in the US, which includes San Francisco, Austin, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, and Miami. Cruise said the pause affects about 70 vehicles.

The DMV action came three weeks after a Cruise vehicle hit and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco. A woman entered a crosswalk at nighttime and was hit by two cars, the second of which was the Cruise vehicle. First, a Nissan Sentra "tragically struck and propelled the pedestrian into the path of the AV," Cruise said in a description of the incident .

The Cruise vehicle then moved "rightward before braking aggressively, but still made contact with the pedestrian," the company said. "The AV detected a collision, bringing the vehicle to a stop; then attempted to pull over to avoid causing further road safety issues, pulling the individual forward approximately 20 feet."

The accident happened at 9:29 pm on October 2. The Nissan driver fled the scene, and Cruise said it was sharing information with authorities to help them track down the hit-and-run driver. The woman suffered severe injuries and was reportedly still in "serious condition" at San Francisco General Hospital in late October.

In an order of suspension that was published by Vice , the California DMV said that in a meeting on October 3, "Cruise failed to disclose that the AV executed a pullover maneuver that increased the risk of, and may have caused, further injury to a pedestrian. Cruise's omission hinders the ability of the department to effectively and timely evaluate the safe operation of Cruise's vehicles and puts the safety of the public at risk."

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on October 16 opened an investigation into Cruise vehicles after receiving reports of two pedestrian injuries, including the October 2 incident. The Cruise cars "may not have exercised appropriate caution around pedestrians in the roadway," the agency said. Another Cruise robotaxi hit a fire truck in San Francisco in August.

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Cruise’s C.E.O. Quits as the Driverless Carmaker Aims to Rebuild Trust

Kyle Vogt, a founder of Cruise, resigned from the company on Sunday, weeks after it suspended all of its self-driving operations.

By Yiwen Lu and Tripp Mickle

Reporting from San Francisco

Kyle Vogt, a founder and chief executive of Cruise, the driverless car subsidiary of General Motors, resigned on Sunday, less than a month after Cruise suspended all autonomous operations after a series of traffic mishaps.

The resignation is a stunning fall from prominence for one of the tech industry’s most outspoken champions of self-driving cars. He leaves behind a company in deep crisis and an industry that is confronting increased public and regulatory scrutiny.

Cruise pulled all of its driverless cars off the road after its license to operate them was suspended in California. With its costs spiraling, the company is considering layoffs. And it is awaiting a report from an outside law firm’s investigation into how it responded to a crash last month in which a Cruise car dragged a woman 20 feet .

In the face of those challenges, General Motors, which acquired Cruise for $1 billion in 2016 , has taken a more active role in its subsidiary, and it is expected to deepen its involvement in Mr. Vogt’s absence. Instead of installing a new chief executive, G.M. appointed two presidents who will report to its board: Mo Elshenawy, Cruise’s executive vice president of engineering, and Craig Glidden, G.M.’s general counsel.

The upheaval at Cruise has caused worry among driverless car rivals that regulators could increase their enforcement and scrutiny of the industry, slowing the expansion plans of Aurora; Zoox, a division of Amazon; and Waymo, which has been operating robot taxis in San Francisco largely without incident.

Mr. Vogt, 38, didn’t respond to requests for comment. In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, he said, “The last 10 years have been amazing, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped Cruise along the way.”

Mr. Vogt started Cruise a decade ago and promoted driverless cars as a way to stop car-related deaths while generating billions of dollars. But ever since the crash last month, that future has been in doubt.

Mary Barra, General Motors’ chief executive, sent an email to Cruise’s employees on Sunday in which she thanked Mr. Vogt for “his tremendous vision” and said that the board understood and respected his resignation.

“The board and I also want you to know that we are intensely focused on setting up Cruise for long-term success,” she wrote. “Public trust is essential to this. As we work to rebuild that trust, safety, transparency and accountability will be our north stars.”

Cruise’s troubles accelerated over the summer as the company expanded its self-driving taxi fleet in San Francisco. Over a few months, 10 Cruise vehicles stopped functioning in the middle of a busy street. In a separate episode, a Cruise car collided with a fire truck. Another one of its vehicles drove into wet concrete and got stuck .

But the most problematic episode happened on Oct. 2 when a Cruise car dragged the woman. A car had hit the woman in a San Francisco intersection and flung her into the path of one of Cruise’s driverless taxis. The Cruise car ran over her, briefly stopped and then dragged her before pulling to the curb.

When California’s Department of Motor Vehicles investigated the accident, it said that Cruise had omitted footage of the woman being dragged from a video it had provided to the agency. The D.M.V. said that Mr. Vogt was not among three executives who attended a meeting about the accident.

On Oct. 24, the D.M.V. told Cruise to shut down its driverless car operations in the state. It said that it had met with the self-driving car company approximately 50 times in 2023.

After the accident, Cruise said that it had hired Quinn Emanuel , a law firm, to investigate the company’s response to the crash. It also hired Exponent, a consulting firm that evaluates complex software systems, to conduct a separate review of the crash.

The timing of Cruise’s suspension was unfortunate for Ms. Barra. She has spent years promoting its potential to benefit G.M.’s business. She was a co-chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s business conference this month in San Francisco, which was attended by dignitaries from around the world, including President Biden. The event should have afforded her a chance to show off Cruise’s ability to chauffeur people around the city in Chevy Bolts without drivers. Instead, its driverless cars were parked.

Mr. Vogt has been dreaming of building self-driving cars since childhood. He started Cruise after his first start-up, a company that became Twitch, was bought by Amazon for $1 billion.

In his post on X, Mr. Vogt expressed pride in what he had achieved and channeled Silicon Valley’s mythology about start-up founders who build businesses in a garage.

“The start-up I launched in my garage has given over 250,000 driverless rides across several cities, with each ride inspiring people with a small taste of the future,” Mr. Vogt wrote.

Yiwen Lu reports on technology for The Times. More about Yiwen Lu

  More about Tripp Mickle

Driverless Cars and the Future of Transportation

An Appetite for Destruction: A wave of lawsuits argue that Tesla’s Autopilot software is dangerously overhyped. What can its blind spots teach us about Elon Musk, the company’s erratic chief executive ?

Along for the Ride: Here’s what New York Times reporters experienced during test rides in driverless cars operated by Tesla , Waymo  and Cruise .

The Future of Transportation?: Driverless cars, once a Silicon Valley fantasy, have become a 24-hour-a-day reality in San Francisco . “The Daily” looked at the unique challenges of coexisting with cars that drive themselves .

Stressing Cities: In San Francisco and Austin, Texas, where passengers can hail autonomous taxis, the vehicles are starting to take a toll on city services , even slowing down emergency response times.

A Fast Rise and Fall: Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, wanted to grow fast. Now, the company faces safety concerns  as it contends with angry regulators, anxious employees and skepticism about the viability of the business .

Cruise settles with person dragged under one of its robotaxis

The GM-owned self-driving company suspended operations after the crash, but is starting to make a comeback.

SAN FRANCISCO — General Motors-owned self-driving car company Cruise reached a multimillion-dollar settlement this week with the pedestrian that was dragged by one of its cars in October.

Fortune first reported the settlement, which The Washington Post independently confirmed. Cruise paid the victim between $8 million and $12 million, according to Bloomberg News .

The incident, where a woman was hit by a human-driven car and knocked into the path of the Cruise, which then dragged her for 20 feet before stopping, contributed to the company being blocked from operating in San Francisco and halting its operations around the country for months.

“The hearts of all Cruise employees continue to be with the pedestrian, and we hope for her continued recovery,” a spokesperson for Cruise said. The Post has been unable to reach the victim or her lawyer.

Before the crash, Cruise’s autonomous cars had been a common sight on the streets of San Francisco. They were open to the public, and many people used an app to hail a ride, just like a passenger might with Uber or Lyft. But the company suspended its operations after its car dragged the woman for 20 feet at roughly 7 miles an hour, after another car flung her into its path. The human driver who initially hit the woman fled the scene. The pedestrian was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

The company initially told reporters that the car had stopped just after rolling over the pedestrian, but the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates permits for self-driving cars, later said Cruise had covered up the truth that its car actually kept going and dragged the woman.

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The crash and the questions about what Cruise knew and disclosed to investigators led to a firestorm of scrutiny on the company. Cruise pulled its vehicles off roads countrywide, laid off a quarter of its staff and in November its CEO Kyle Vogt stepped down . The Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating the company, adding to a probe from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In Cruise’s absence, Google’s Waymo self-driving cars have become the only robotaxis operating in San Francisco.

But Cruise has begun its comeback. On Monday, the company said it would start driving in Phoenix again, with human safety drivers in the vehicles. And in June, the company’s president and chief technology officer Mohamed Elshenawy is slated to speak at a conference on artificial-intelligence quality in San Francisco.

How one of Mary Barra’s most promising investments went from GM’s ‘crown jewel’ to a liability

Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Reese’s Book Club dominates the literary landscape, five states will have abortion rights on their November ballots, and GM tries to salvage its $10 billion investment in self-driving business Cruise after a scary safety incident. Have a productive Monday! – Safety first. As General Motors poured $10 billion into autonomous driving startup Cruise, GM CEO Mary Barra hoped that the investment would help the automaker pull ahead in the EV race. GM has manufactured electric vehicles since the 1990s, but has been outshone by Tesla—and GM’s strategy is still go to 100% electric by 2035. Barra believed in the technology so much she posted a video on her LinkedIn two years ago in which she was thrilled by her first ride in a Cruise car. “I can’t stop smiling,” she said at the time.

But a serious safety incident last year has put that all in jeopardy. In October 2023, a self-driving robotaxi in San Francisco hit a woman, ran over her, and dragged her for 20 feet. The car incorrectly labeled the incident a “side collision” and tried to pull over, not registering it was dragging a person along with it.

The non-fatal incident set off a wave of re-evaluation and restructuring at GM and Cruise, my colleague Jessica Mathews reports in a new Fortune investigation . For GM, the incident has taken one of Barra’s most promising investments (GM owns 80% of Cruise) from a “crown jewel” to a “liability,” Jessica writes.

The upheaval arrived as Barra was simultaneously managing last year’s UAW strike against the Big Three automakers. GM replaced most of Cruise’s management team and eventually settled with the woman who was hit for somewhere between $8 million and $12 million. And as Jessica writes, the incident showed the power of a Fortune 500 giant like GM to salvage an upstart self-driving business, compared to a typical startup trying to save itself after a disaster. When an analyst said that the incident was “un-GM-like,” Barra told him, “I agree with you.”

Read Jessica’s full investigation here .

Emma Hinchliffe [email protected]

The Broadsheet is Fortune’ s newsletter for and about the world’s most powerful women. Today’s edition was curated by Joseph Abrams. Subscribe here .

ALSO IN THE HEADLINES

- Five and counting. Five states will now put abortion rights on their November ballots. South Dakota and Colorado are the latest to approve ballot measures that will ask voters whether to enshrine abortion rights in their state constitutions. NBC News

- Read with Reese. How did Reese Witherspoon's book club take over the literary world? Print sales of Reese's Book Club picks totaled 2.3 million in 2023 and outsold those of both Oprah's Book Club and Jenna Bush Hager's Read With Jenna. New York Times

- Chair in the hot seat. Tesla chair Robyn Denholm says her job does not include babysitting CEO Elon Musk and fought back against accusations that the exorbitant wealth she’s amassed via Tesla obstructs her oversight of the company. She’s working to garner shareholder support for CEO Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package and reincorporate Tesla in Texas ahead of an annual company meeting next month. Financial Times

- Blame the wife. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Sen. Bob Menendez (D–N.J.) have both blamed their wives after being caught in hot water; Alito for a "Stop the Steal" symbol at his house, and Menendez for bribery allegations. It's an age-old political strategy that raises questions of sexism and stereotypes. New York Times

- Custody battle. Japan's parliament passed an amendment permitting joint custody, rather than sole custody, of children after divorce. However, the change has drawn criticism from women's rights activists who say it can put victims of domestic abuse in harm's way. Nikkei Asia

- #MeToo boom. A French short film spotlighting the testimony of thousands of sexual assault victims is reinvigorating the country’s MeToo movement after its debut at the Cannes Film Festival. Moi Aussi , or Me Too , was produced by French actress Judith Godrèche, one of the first women to make accusations against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Bloomberg

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Dior CEO Delphine Arnault , a   favorite candidate to succeed her father Bernard Arnault at LVMH, is taking a broader role across LVMH's fashion portfolio after the abrupt departure of executive Michael Burke.

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A woman was dragged by a self-driving Cruise taxi in San Francisco. The company is paying her millions

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General Motors’ autonomous car company, Cruise, has reportedly agreed to pay an $8-million to $12-million settlement to a woman who was hospitalized after getting dragged along the pavement by a self-driving taxi in San Francisco last year.

The woman, a pedestrian, was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle at 5th and Market streets and thrown into the path of Cruise’s self-driving car, which pinned her underneath, according to Cruise and authorities. The car dragged her about 20 feet as it tried to pull out of the roadway before coming to a stop.

She sustained “multiple traumatic injuries” and was treated at the scene before being hospitalized.

It’s unclear when the settlement was reached or the exact amount, sources familiar with the situation told Fortune and Bloomberg . The condition of the woman, whose name was not released by authorities, is unknown, but a representative of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital told Fortune that she had been discharged.

Cruise initially said that its self-driving car “braked aggressively to minimize impact” but later said the vehicle’s software made a mistake in registering where it hit the woman. The car tried to pull over but continued driving 7 mph for 20 feet with the woman still under the vehicle.

“The hearts of all Cruise employees continue to be with the pedestrian, and we hope for her continued recovery,” Cruise said in a statement.

What does the future of driverless taxi service in Los Angeles look like? It’s already here

Waymo, the self-driving taxi company owned by Google’s parent, Alphabet, gets the green light to expand its robotaxi service to Los Angeles County.

March 25, 2024

Cruise halted its driverless operations after its autonomous taxi license was suspended by California’s Department of Motor Vehicles. The company was also accused of lying to investigators and withholding footage of the car crash.

Cruise said this week that it would start testing robotaxis in Arizona with a “safety driver” behind the wheel in case a human needs to take control of the vehicle, according to a company news release.

“Safety is the defining principle for everything we do and continues to guide our progress towards resuming driverless operations,” according to the release.

More to Read

L.A. to pay $9.5 million to settle lawsuit over ‘dangerously designed’ intersection

April 9, 2024

Tesla settles lawsuit over fatal crash involving Autopilot software

Letters to the Editor: Automate everything? Driverless taxis mean more jobs taken from humans

March 16, 2024

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Summer Lin is a reporter on the Fast Break Desk, the Los Angeles Times’ breaking news team. Before coming to The Times, she covered breaking news for the Mercury News and national politics and California courts for McClatchy’s publications, including the Miami Herald. An East Coast native, Lin moved to California after graduating from Boston College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Lin was among The Times’ staff members who covered the Monterey Park mass shooting in 2023, which was recognized by the Pulitzer Board as a finalist in breaking news.

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2 dead and 5 missing after a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary

Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Police said they determined that a river cruise boat had been in the area at the time of the accident. They stopped a cruise boat with a damaged hull near the town of Komarom, more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) further upriver.

Damage is seen on the front of the cruise ship which was involved in a Danube River accident earlier in Budapest Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

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Police investigators examine the bow of a river cruise ship after an incident, in Komarom, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the capital, Budapest. (Csaba Krizsan/MTI via AP)

The bow of a river cruise ship is examined by police experts after the ship was stopped in Komarom, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Last night the ship crashed with a motor boat with eight persons onboard on River Danube, north of Budapest. One person has been rescued with serious injuries, two bodies have been recovered and five passengers of the boat are being looked for. (Csaba Krizsan/MTI via AP)

Police look at a river cruise ship after an incident, in Komarom, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the capital, Budapest. (Csaba Krizsan/MTI via AP)

Police officers stand on the deck of a river cruise ship after an incident, in Komarom, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the capital, Budapest. (Csaba Krizsan/MTI via AP)

A view of the damage of the bow of a river cruise ship after an incident, in Komarom, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary. Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the capital, Budapest. (Csaba Krizsan/MTI via AP)

A car of the diving service of the fire brigade is parked behind the closed gate of a military port where rescuers search for victims of a boat accident in Northern Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Last night a motor boat with eight persons onboard crashed with a large river cruise ship on River Danube, north of Budapest. One person has been rescued with serious injuries, two bodies have been recovered and five passengers of the boat are looked for. (Peter Lakatos/MTI via AP)

his photo provided by BRFK Facebook shows a damaged boat at the northern edge of Budapest where it was towed, after being discovered in the water by police following a boat collision on the Danube River Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say people have died and several are missing. (BRFK Facebook via AP)

This photo provided by BRFK Facebook shows a damaged boat at the northern edge of Budapest where it was towed, after being discovered in the water by police following a boat collision on the Danube River Sunday, May 19, 2024. Police say people have died and several are missing. (BRFK Facebook via AP)

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Police say two people have died and five are missing following a boat collision on the Danube River in Hungary.

Hungarian police received a report late Saturday night that a man had been found with a head injury on the shore of the Danube near the town of Veroce, around 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the capital, Budapest. The bodies of a man and a woman were later discovered nearby.

Hours after police began their search, they discovered a damaged boat in the water, which they towed to shore. They are still searching for five adults — three men and two women — who they believe were on the boat.

Police said they determined that a river cruise boat had been in the area at the time of the accident. They stopped a cruise boat with a damaged hull near the town of Komarom, more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) further upriver.

Hungarian public television station M1 reported that the cruise boat, Heidelberg, is a 109-meter (357-foot) Swiss craft that can accommodate 110 people. No passengers on that boat sustained injuries, M1 said.

The Danube at Veroce is roughly 1,500 feet (460 meters) wide and is in the center of an area called the Danube Bend where the river makes a sweeping, nearly 90-degree turn to the south. The area is a popular recreational and boating destination and is on a route often used by cruise boats between Budapest and the Austrian capital, Vienna, some 140 miles (230 kilometers) upriver.

The deadly accident comes five years after at least 27 people were killed in Budapest when a river cruise boat collided with a smaller tourist vessel , sinking it in seconds.

The tourist boat Hableany, carrying 35 people who were mostly South Korean tourists, was overtaken from behind by the much larger cruise boat, Viking Sigyn, beneath Budapest’s Margit Bridge, in May 2019.

The Ukrainian captain of the Viking Sigyn was last year found guilty of negligence leading to a fatal mass catastrophe and sentenced to five years and six months in prison. He has appealed the decision.

Police on Sunday said they have initiated criminal proceedings against an unknown perpetrator on suspicion of endangering water transport and causing the death of several people.

A spokesperson for the Directorate General for Disaster Management told Hungarian news agency MTI that a group of nearly 90 people from several regional disaster management agencies were conducting the search for the missing from the land, water and sky.

Twelve boats and three drones are involved in the search, and two rescue divers are also involved, Imre Doka said.

1. Electrostal History and Art Museum

2. Statue of Lenin

3. Park of Culture and Leisure

4. museum and exhibition center.

5. Museum of Labor Glory

7. Galereya Kino

8. viki cinema, 9. smokygrove.

10. Gandikap

11. papa lounge bar, 12. karaoke bar.

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