North America: San Diego Poised to Bounce Back
After losing nearly 70 percent of its cruise business on a weak Mexico market, San Diego has found some solid footing and is anticipating an uptick in cruise calls in the coming years. “We need to re-introduce why San Diego is a great cruise destination,” said Adam Deaton, the port’s cruise marketing representative. “We were…
Canada/New England: Sleeping Easier
The Emissions Control Area has been resolved for now with exemptions for the main cruise lines through 2018. That has Canadian ports feeling better about their cruise business. Numbers were decent for 2013 and are on par for the most part, or trending slightly upwards, for 2014. Cruise Industry News caught up with the players…
New Ships: Pearl Mist Ready for 2014 Debut
When the Pearl Mist enters service in June for Pearl Seas Cruises, it will be more than a full year after the vessel was towed from Irving Shipbuilding in Canada to Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland. For Pearl Seas CEO and shipyard owner Charles Robertson, it’s a brand and ship he was expecting to launch in…
Refurbishments: First Windstarization Planned
It will take 18 days, but the Seabourn Pride will become Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride in Barcelona this April. “We are going through the yacht from stem to stern and making the necessary changes to fit the ship into the Windstar type of experience, which is casual elegance,” explained Theresa Rasmussen, marine hotel superintendent, Windstar…
Editorial: Being Relevant
Continuing to stay relevant to the industry, among the topics we cover in this issue are shipbuilding, with the yards going through difficult times, and new technologies. We see two powerplant options going forward: the diesel engine, which, lagging far behind automotive applications, can be developed much further; and the gas turbine, which is small,…
Asia-Pacific: Strategic Markets
The big news for Royal Caribbean International in the Asia/Pacific market this year has been the repositioning of the Mariner of the Seas alongside her sister ship, the Voyager. “We now have the two largest ships sailing from China,” commented Adam Goldstein, president and CEO. Replacing the 1,800-passenger Legend, brand capacity will not only be…
Asia-Pacific: Driving Yield
Following five years of tremendous growth, Gavin Smith, regional vice president Asia-Pacific for Royal Caribbean Cruises, said that the 2013/2014 season will be a year of stability and consolidation for Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises in Australia. The Voyager, Radiance and Rhapsody of the Seas, as well as the Celebrity Solstice, will sail in…
Asia-Pacific: Costa and Carnival Climbing Asia
While much of Costa Crociere’s focus, and international attention, is on the Concordia disaster, former chairman Pier Luigi Foschi is now in Asia where Costa, and Carnival Corporation as a whole, are moving new tonnage and discovering new challenges. The 85,619-ton Costa Atlantica sailed to Asia in May, joining the 76,000-ton Costa Victoria already positioned…
Asia-Pacific: ‘The Timing is Right’
“Going into Asian markets has been part of a strategic planning process, whereby we reviewed market opportunities for the industry and for the Princess brand,” said Jan Swartz, executive vice president, sales, marketing and customer service for Princess Cruises. “We have studied China for a number of years and concluded there is real interest in…
Asia-Pacific: 20 Years of Leading the Market
With five ships, a newbuild on the way, a recent big-budget refurbishment program, and new homeports, Star Cruises is underlining its leadership position in the Asia/Pacific market. “Starting this November we will deploy the 1,511-passenger SuperStar Aquarius from Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), calling at Brunei’s Bandar Seri Begawan and Sarawak’s Bintulu,” said William Ng, chief operating…
Asia-Pacific: Henna Marks One Year
Since its maiden voyage on January 26, 2013, from Sanya, China, HNA Cruises continues to make waves and gain ground within the Chinese cruise marketplace. Hao Zhang, CEO of HNA Cruises, is pleased with its steady development thus far. “We have served over 20,000 passengers onboard the Henna,” he said, in an exclusive interview with…
Shipbuilding: Nine and Counting
The current generation of ships being built offers many new product features and behind the scenes technical innovations, according to Gabriele Cocco, senior executive vice president of merchant shipbuilding for Fincantieri. “All our newbuildings represent steps forward,” he said, “using new technologies and complying with the new rules and regulations.” Furthermore, he said: “The new…
Shipbuilding: Cruise, Ferries and Ice-Going Vessels
At the Turku Shipyard, the Mein Schiff 3 was in the hull erection phase, and the Mein Schiff 4 was in the prefabrication and block stage at press time, according to Jari Anttila, executive vice president and COO of STX Finland. “The progress of both ships is good and we are exactly on schedule,” Anttila…
Working at Sea: Norwegian: A Better Life
During his five years at the helm of Norwegian Cruise Line, CEO and President Kevin Sheehan said he has worked continuously to improve the work environment aboard the ships. “Today, many crew have single cabins,” he said. “They can lock their doors and have some privacy. When I first came aboard and visited some of…
Technical: Environmentally Friendly
Norway’s Fjord Line began service with the Stavangerfjord this past July. Running solely on LNG, the cruise ferry sails between Bergen and Stavanger in Norway and Hirtshals, Denmark. Originally set to enter service in May, construction delays pushed the introduction back. More complications followed as existing Norwegian regulations do not allow bunkering of LNG with…