Mexico: Rebuilding Pacific Traffic
The cruise industry has high priority on the national tourism development agenda, according to Fernando Olivera, undersecretary of Tourism for the Federal Secretariat of Tourism for Mexico. Speaking to Cruise Industry News, Olivera said that Mexico is committed to developing better products for passengers and better opportunities for cruise lines to generate more revenue on…
Hotel Ops: Efficient as Can Be
Norwegian Cruise Line is pushing Freestyle forward, according to Michael Flesch, senior vice president of hotel operations. He highlighted the following aspects as being new and notable: New production shows are debuting, and have been created in-house. Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay, will be the No. 1 port of call for the line this…
Holland America Line: ‘Evolutionary’
In the current economic environment, running a successful cruise line requires a finer balancing act between revenues and costs. How effective that performance is depends on how competent management is, according to Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. “We have full understanding of where the costs are and how we best can…
Marine Ops: ‘Safely, Reliably and in Compliance’
At Royal Caribbean International, the mantra for marine operations is to sail “safely, reliably and in compliance,” according to Captain William Wright, senior vice president of marine operations. While the overriding focus is on safety, the company continues to work to gain further energy efficiencies. With fuel prices not trending in a positive direction, Wright…
Next Generation: Optimizing Ship Designs
The next generation of ships needs to be of flexible design, according to Giuseppe Torrente, head of the design department at Fincantieri’s Merchant Ship Business Unit. He said they need to be energy efficient and economical to operate. “Already more hydrodynamic hull forms require less propulsion power,” he explained. “The starting point is the speed….
Shipbuilding: Yards Battle for Orders
There were 22 ships on the orderbooks at press time, including options and memoranda of agreement, for deliveries from 2012 through 2016. While all the new ships are trending larger, they are not going anywhere near the size of the Oasis class. Instead, Royal Caribbean International’s new so-called Sunshine class is the largest among the…
Azamara: Flaunt Your Stuff!
Why is Azamara Club Cruises such a carefully kept secret in this industry? It is perplexing that this excellent product has to work so hard to rise above the marketing noise and clutter. Word of mouth still counts, however, particularly now with instant user internet reviews. We hope and feel strongly that Azamara will hold…
Disney: Legacy of Storytelling
Disney Cruise Line created the blue print for family cruising, according to Karl Holz, president of the cruise brand. He said the product is based on the story-telling legacy of Walt Disney and world-class entertainment. “Since its launch in 1998, the cruise line has continued to evolve, driven by its focus on innovation and leveraging…
Green: Environmental Society on Explorer
Onboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas, the eco-culture extends from a recently advanced wastewater purification(AWP) system installation to garbage processing, recycling, fuel savings, education and more, as showed by Richard Pruitt, Royal Caribbean Cruises’ associate vice president of environmental programs, and Explorer of the Seas Environmental Officer Bridget Sullivan, on an exclusive ship visit…
In Person: ‘Continuous Improvement’
His title sounds daunting, but Doug Santoni, senior vice president of strategic planning and continuous improvement at Royal Caribbean Cruises, seems to have both feet planted solidly on terra firma. He and his team work mainly for the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises brands. The strategic planning horizon is five to 10 years, going…
New Ships: Gains From New Hull
The new Princess Cruises’ ships will each have a 52 MW powerplant, consisting of two 12-cylinder and two 14-cylinder Wartsila F series engines. The engines will feature dual pumps to optimize fuel consumption, according to John Gunner, senior vice president of technical operations. With a hydro-dynamically improved hull form, the required propulsion power to run…
Green: Shorepower: Yes or No?
With stricter environmental regulations being introduced in North America and Europe, the cruise industry is working to keep up with innovative solutions and compliance. Contributing to so-called green ports and reduced emissions in metropolitan areas, ships are burning low-sulfur fuel in ports in Europe, according to a European Community directive, while some U.S. ports are…
F&B: Mixing Traditional and New
Interactive dining experiences, sustainable seafood, fresh local products, healthy options, and creative solutions to rising food costs characterize the latest developments in cruise line food services. Interactivity takes various forms. At AIDA Cruises, “all restaurants are connected by one idea: our guests should see what we serve. Therefore, we prepare dishes right in front of…
F&B: Pouring in New Directions
From molecular mixology’s colder-than-ice concoctions to self-service soft drinks, both presentation and guest attitudes are adjusting. “We’re trying to move to a much more forward thinking program,” said Scott Steenrod, associate vice president of food and beverage operations for Celebrity Cruises. Added Rudi Scholdis, Silversea Cruises’ culinary director: “Consumers feel more and more that they…
Costa: Focusing on the Future
Costa is introducing its new flag-ship this summer, the 114,200-ton, 3,012-passenger Costa Favolosa, entering service in July, following her christening in Trieste, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Italian unification. Costa President Gianni Onorato said that the company has invested in the cruise facilities in Trieste with the objective of developing it as a homeport, starting…