Destination Focus Europe: European Challenges
One of the biggest issues facing the European market is the environment. As the climate-change debate heats up, more industries are under pressure to reduce harmful emissions, and the cruise industry is no exception. MedCruise is focusing heavily on environmental issues, said President Laurent Monsaingeon, who is also director of French Riviera Ports; and Bill…
Strategy Expanding Opportunities
There is growing demand and interest in cruising in markets around the world, according to Michael Bayley, senior vice president international, Royal Caribbean Cruises. “There is probably not one economically developed country that would not do well,” he said. “We offer a great product, wonderful hardware and a tremendous value proposition. The issue is more…
Focus Green: Leaving a Greener Wake
Today, a cruise ship’s wake must be environmentally clean and “green.” “It is a very complex issue, but the environment is almost everything today,” explained Karl Morten Wiklund, director of passenger ships at Det Norske Veritas (DNV). The operating challenges require the best marine engineering practices and the latest innovative technologies to ensure that no…
The Cruise Experience: Praise and Critique
Cruise passengers’ glowing reviews at the end of a cruise might be legitimate and heartfelt, but that same passenger may give quite a different report a few days later in an online chat room. It’s sad but true: We remember the negative more than the positive. The travel agents that spoke with Cruise Industry News…
F&B: F&B’s Evolution
The job of managing dining operations aboard cruise ships has changed enormously in the last decade. F&B directors who used to govern the one main dining room of cruise ships past, now find themselves in charge of a dozen restaurants on each ship, each with different menus, ambience and even clientele. Here’s how Frank Weber,…
Outlook 2008: Starting Strong. . .
2008 is going to be a good year for the industry, was the consensus among financial analysts that follow the industry as this issue was going to press. “It will be a good year, with bookings and pricing up year-over-year,” said Felicia Hendrix, managing director at Lehman Brothers. “But it will not be spectacular,” she…
Itinerary Planning: Driving New Markets
With the globalization of the cruise industry, more ships are spanning the globe. While the cruise companies are tapping into new markets worldwide, their existing customer base is also looking for new experiences. In addition, passengers are willing to spend more for a cruise that is perceived to be more exotic. The combination is driving…
Caribbean: Destination Evolution
Pull into port, get off the ship. Sun on the beach. Do a little shopping. Ogle the crystal-clear Caribbean waters, the architecture, the quaint town. Swim with dolphins. Then get back on the ship, sail overnight, and do it all again the next day. This may sound like the typical to-do list of a cruise…
Luxury/Adventure: On a Growth Course
The luxury and adventure markets are two separate niche markets. While luxury passengers may seek enrichment on their cruise, some may want to sip a martini in Monaco or have lunch in Portofino. But the true adventure passenger wants to experience enrichment whether that includes paddling up an African river or jumping ashore on the…
Winter 2007-2008: Editorial
Working at Sea: The industry’s focus is increasingly on recruitment and retention as the cruise fleet grows larger along with the world’s shipping fleet and the competition for qualified people heats up. At the same time, there are efforts underway to improve the living and working conditions on all ships at sea. We are glad…
Competing for Manpower
With all the new and bigger cruise ships entering service over the next few years, the industry’s biggest challenge may be the human element and finding enough qualified seafarers. While recruitment needs for the cruise industry are estimated to be in the range of 50,000 over the next five years, according to Cruise Industry News,…
Marine Operations: Focus on Fuel and Crewing
The marine operations function faces a variety of challenges as the industry sails into 2008. Fuel consumption continues to be a major concern due to dramatically increasing prices, but recruitment of deck and engine crew and officers are also taking on added significance in an overheated maritime employment environment. At the same time, the eroding…
Hotel Operations: Wooing Passengers and Crew
“We are always focused on the food – we look at it, analyze it and study trends; food is always in the picture,” said Natko Nincevic, senior vice president of hotel operations at Carnival Cruise Lines. At Holland America Line, Johan Groothuizen, vice president of marine hotel operations, said that he was concentrating on the…
Company Profile: Royal Caribbean Cruises: Global Business Model
While there are many new and exciting developments at Royal Caribbean Cruises these days, Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said the most important aspect of the business is the strength of the market positions of its cruise brands. “It is tempting to talk about what’s new, but the bottom line is to continue to operate…
Destination Focus: Mexico: Building Up Their Cruise Future
Mexico is highly regarded and critically important to the cruise industry, despite a recent passenger tax passed by the country’s congress. At the October meeting of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) in Cozumel, port and tourism officials of this northernmost Latin American nation earned kudos for their professionalism, their awareness of what is needed…