LNG: Fuel of Choice
LNG is the next fuel of choice due to its availability and cruise lines’ need to meet environmental regulations, according to Paul Davis, technical manager, risk assessment marine at Lloyd’s Register (LR). “The market will choose the fuel,” he said, “and we (LR) will help the industry adapt to its fuel of choice in a…
F&B: Explorer Stays True to Regent
Ramping up Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ all-inclusive food and beverage offerings for its largest ship might seem like a gargantuan undertaking. But the line’s culinary mastermind said not only will there be no dip in service and product offered, but the new restaurant designs should elevate the level Regent cruisers have come to expect. The…
Editorial #105
Europe: Flat Year-Over-Year: This year, the total number of passengers expected on European sailings is expected to stay flat from last year at an estimated 6.4 million, according to the 2016-2017 Cruise Industry News Annual Report. The Mediterranean is seeing a decline, while in Northern Europe traffic is up. Meanwhile, Europe’s percentage share of the…
Executive Profile: Proven Track Record
“Our product is about being one of a few instead of many,” said Mark Conroy, managing director for Silversea Cruises for the Americas. “It is also a combination of being exclusive and inclusive,” he added. “I do not like to use the word small, and our ships are not small, ranging from 20,000 to 40,000…
Private Equity: Huge Return Potential
Transparency is not a word that comes to mind when trying to track cruise industry investments by private equity firms. With few exceptions, they clam up. Perhaps it is because their investments did not turn out, or more likely, that they made out like bandits. Apollo Global Management may be on its way to tripling…
Hurtigruten: Back on Track
An ambitious turn-around plan in the works for three years is starting to bear fruit as Hurtigruten has returned to profitability, ordered new ships, and has its eyes firmly set on the high-risk/high-reward expedition market, according to CEO Daniel Skjeldam. “We started cutting costs and focusing more on the income side, with a new strategy…
Far-Reaching Program
Cornelius (Neal) Gallagher, associate vice president of food and beverage operations, is starting year two of a three-year strategic food and beverage plan at Celebrity Cruises that includes everything from fruit in staterooms to flair bartending, menu development and slow-cooking. “Food and beverage is one of the brand pillars of Celebrity,” he told Cruise Industry…
Technical: Royal Caribbean: Ship Optimization
“The biggest opportunities for fleet optimization are in operational excellence and execution of voyages,” said Captain Patrik Dahlgren, vice president of marine operations for Celebrity Cruises and also in charge of global fleet optimization for Royal Caribbean Cruises’ six brands and 45 ships. “We are focused on energy-, asset- and project management.” Captain Dahlgren said….
Editorial #104: Captains of Ships and Industry
Captain Claus Andersen and his crew aboard the Anthem of the Seas received praise from the U.S. Coast Guard for their “capable and professional” handling of the storm that the ship ran into last month. Meanwhile, and for unrelated reasons, cruise managements have received less “praise” by Wall Street as cruise stocks have nosedived. It…
Latest Chinese Cruise Line: Diamond Cruise
Another new Chinese cruise line is set to start up this year: Diamond Cruise, sailing the Glory of the Seas. With the exit of HNA at the end of 2015, Diamond joins Bohai as the only other true domestic Chinese cruise line. Legally, Diamond was established in the Bahamas last summer, with headquarters in Shanghai,…
Royal Caribbean/Celebrity: New Ports and Destinations
“We try to optimize the fleet for each brand – to deliver on the brand promise and on the sourcing mix of passengers,” said Chris Allen, vice president of deployment and itinerary planning at Royal Caribbean Cruises, where he and Marc Miller, director of deployment and itinerary planning, are responsible for the Royal Caribbean International…
Holland America: Analyzing Deployment Options
While the biggest news at Holland America Line is the new Koningsdam, which will cover the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caribbean this year, the line is building back up on the West Coast next winter, adding more sailings to the Mexican Riviera as well as Hawaii and through the Panama Canal. “The (market) is…
From Bar to Shore with Norwegian
Norwegian Cruise Line is building on successful brand partnerships in the beverage area to drive guest satisfaction and onboard revenue, all based on deployment. “Guests have told us, and research has told us, that they want to see things that are unique to the region and obviously that will entice them to cruise more,” said…
Seabourn: Growth Trek
The 40,350-ton Seabourn Encore will be delivered later this year, marking a natural evolution of the brand, said John Delaney, senior vice president of marketing and sales. Building on the three-ship Odyssey class, the Encore will trend bigger at 600 passengers, but still offer a Seabourn vibe. A sister ship, the Ovation, will follow from…
Royal Caribbean Reducing Air and Water Emissions
Reduced air and water emissions are essential parts of Royal Caribbean Cruises’ environmental stewardship strategy, according to its recent sustainability report. The company has been investing in emission purification systems (scrubbers), advanced wastewater, ballast water and bilge water treatment systems, in addition to energy saving technologies. Today, 82 percent of its berths are covered by…