Tuesday saw two bits of news showing that the future of hospitality may very well be at sea.

The first was Carnival, jumping 8% after the world’s biggest cruise operator posted a record second quarter and raised its full-year outlook.

The second story was perhaps even more interesting, with Hilton International announcing it would make its first foray into the cruise business, following the likes of Marriott and Four Seasons.

“Even with the price increases we have achieved over the last few years, our tremendous value compared to land-based alternatives has supported our ability to continue demonstrating remarkable resilience amid heightened volatility,” Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein said in a statement.

For what it’s worth, “tremendous value compared to land-based alternatives” belongs in the Louvre.

Over at Hilton, customers will be able to choose from 29 suites across five decks when booking on the Waldorf Astoria Nile River Experience, a press release said.

To quote the bard, everything’s better out where it’s wetter, out on the sea.

The Takeaway

This doesn’t mean that Hilton is getting into the cruise business a whole — the company said the new experience was less about keeping up with the competition as much as revisiting its Egyptian “floating hotel” concept from the 1960s — but it is a sign that one of the most robust businesses in hospitality is now capable of floating hotels.

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