Luxury Market: New Guest Profiles?
The luxury market has always been a small segment of the total cruise market, representing some 1.5 percent of the overall passenger capacity. This year, the brands that traditionally define the market – Crystal, Hapag-Lloyd, Regent, Seabourn and Silversea – can carry an estimated 295,000 passengers. In addition are other brands such as Ponant and…
Operations: Setting Measurable Targets
“We set (fuel-savings) targets on corporate and group levels,” said Tom Strang, senior vice president of marine operations for Costa Crociere. “We have targets for this year and longer term through 2017. We also have targets set for each ship and for each itinerary. There is a team dedicated to fuel savings.” Strang explained that…
Editorial: Inspiration
We get inspired when we interview people who are striving to improve. And that has been the case in this issue, whether for cruise line executives, port authorities or suppliers. The companies and the individuals that are most successful are those that never stop looking for a better way. Recent accidents have also led the…
Executive Profiles: Donald, Onorato, Bornstein
‘Our Strength is Scale and Our Brands’ Ultimately the market will decide, but after a long exclusive interview with Cruise Industry News, Arnold Donald conveyed that he has what it takes to bring Carnival Corporation back on course. Assuming the role of CEO as of July 3, 2013, he left no doubt as to who…
Operations: New Ships Drive Product Experience and Push Revenue
The response to the Norwegian Breakaway has been good, to put it mildly, and Michael Flesch, senior vice president of hotel operations, pointed to the onboard revenue as “fantastic.” As the ship went into operation, Flesch said the team was set up for a successful first year by a smooth delivery, giving them more time…
Operations: IT Upgrade for New Class of Princess Ships
For Princess Cruises, the new Royal Princess is the first ship for the brand that fully incorporates the digital age. “Everything runs on the network, and therefore the network design includes considerable resiliency,” said Mark Dundore, senior vice president, chief information officer, Princess Cruises. “Our previous delivery, the Ruby Princess, was delivered with around 800…
Carnival Cruise Lines: Rebuilding the Fun Brand
Carnival Cruise Lines is working hard to repair its relationship with travel agents, rebuild consumer confidence and return to the level of profitability it has enjoyed in the past. Anecdotally, the Carnival product is better than ever, but the brand still has a way to go before its pricing is back on track. “We have…
Mexico: Cruise Commitment
“We are building direct communication links with cruise lines and cruise industry associations, and we are holding meetings with them, working on what we want to build to have higher cruise arrivals,” said Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, undersecretary in the Mexican Ministry of Tourism. “In this government, we realize it is essential to promote the most…
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…