Costa: Pushing Italian Lifestyle
“We have to make sure that our product is different than our competition,” said Neil Palomba, president of Costa Crociere. “We have to differentiate ourselves from the competition and this is the key, it is linked to our Italy’s Finest positioning. “We meet and exceed our customers expectations and they feel like they are in…
Ponant: Adding International Touch
The fastest-growing source markets for Ponant are Australia, France and the United States, according to Herve Bellaiche, executive vice president of sales. The company has recently seen a significant expansion in the U.S. market with the purchase of assets from Travel Dynamics. The office has grown from a few workers in Miami to a staff…
Working at Sea: Nautical Careers
Once facing a shortage of future officers, economic factors in Italy and poor employment opportunities shoreside have led to an increase in the number of applications to nautical schools. The training has become more demanding, with new criteria targeting a quality labor force aboard ships. “Due to the type of school we are, we have…
Food+Beverage: Koningsdam Offers More Choices
When Holland America Line’s new Koningsdam enters service next March she will have some familiar and some new dining venues and eateries, Michael Smith, senior vice president, guest experience and product development, told Cruise Industry News. “It comes down to offering our guests more choices,” he said. Among the new venues will be Sel de…
Food+Beverage: Oceania’s Chef Kelly
At Oceania Cruises, Executive Chef and Culinary Enrichment Director Kathryn Kelly is responsible for developing the curriculum for the classes aboard the Marina and the Riviera and the line’s culinary discovery shore excursion tours. “I also serve as one of the instructors onboard and lead culinary tours ashore,” Kelly told Cruise Industry News. “We visit…
Editorial No. 100: With Our Thanks
This marks the 100th issue of the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine and the 30th year for Cruise Industry News. We started out with a printed newsletter, which for all intents and purposes now is part of our website news. The newsletter was followed by an annual industry report – with the 28th edition available…
Executive Profile: ‘Think Big, Start Small and Move Fast’
“I believe in the collective intelligence of people and will invest in processes that will allow it to prosper,” Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line, told Cruise Industry News. “A group will always outsmart individuals. A group can be more innovative and come up with better solutions.” Named president of the cruise line only…
Overseeing Operations Across Carnival Corp
Carnival Corporation is taking a proactive approach to marine operations among its operating brands and a huge fleet of ships, under the leadership of Admiral William (Bill) Burke, who has been on the job as chief maritime officer since late 2013. “The job and goal is to avoid low probability, high-consequence events,” said Burke, who…
SkySea Cruises Launches in China
Ctrip may be the newest entrant into China’s cruise market, but plans have long been in the works for the country’s largest online travel platform. Announced as SkySea in a joint venture with Royal Caribbean Cruises last November, the company will start service this May with the Celebrity Century. Ctrip had set its eye on…
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ‘Bold Moves’
Moving the Quantum of the Seas to China is undoubtedly the biggest deployment news for Royal Caribbean International and perhaps the industry as well. Chris Allen, associate vice president of global deployment and itinerary planning for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, described the move to Cruise Industry News as “bold.” Also new this year, Royal…
Itinerary Planning: Consistent Deployment
Looking at trends, Simon Douwes, director of deployment and itinerary planning at Holland America Line, sees a bigger shift toward Asia and Australia/New Zealand, as well as stronger content in Northern Europe. “Those are safe bets,” he said, “but, that doesn’t mean any less content in the Mediterranean.” The latter is where Holland America will…
Caribbean: Routine Ceiling Check
For the first time since 2008, Caribbean capacity will be down year-over-year. Three hundred thousand people will be the difference, as Caribbean capacity dips to just about 8.8 million passengers, according to Cruise Industry News. Most of that dip comes from a decision by Royal Caribbean International to take the Allure of the Seas to…
Food+Beverage: Princess: Flexible Strategic Planning
Trend-setting and exciting food and beverage products aboard Princess Cruises’ ships start with laying down a strategy, according to Jonathan Wilson, vice president, guest food and beverage experience, product development and hotel analysis. “We like to think of it as a five-year plan of what our food and beverage should look and taste like, but…
Luxury Market: Seabourn’s Sweet Spot
Seabourn Cruise Line has made a big move, exchanging its venerable 10,000-ton vessels for two new ships more than four-times their size. Rick Meadows, the cruise line’s president, said the new 40,350-ton, 600-passenger Seabourn Encore and Ovation will inspire awe for their impeccable, personalized service, which he called a Seabourn core principle. “Keep in mind,…
Still Saving Fuel
No stone has been left unturned when it comes to operating cruise ships more efficiently. With fuel prices low for now, cruise lines are working hard to wring the last bits of savings out of their fleets while building new ships with the latest gadgets to conserve energy. Annual conservation targets will keep Wall Street…