Virgin’s Voyage Well Plan
“There is no silver bullet to fight COVID-19, this is a multi-level approach,” Frank Weber, senior vice president of hotel operations for Virgin Voyages told Cruise Industry News. “The first step is to keep it off the ship, and then it comes down to the mitigating factors we have onboard, detection, and to be prepared…
Vancouver Planning Simulation for Return
The Port of Vancouver has a simulation program that enables it to see how different variables may affect the flow of passengers and luggage throughout Canada Place, its cruise terminal facility. “Planning for the return to cruising, we are able to look at simulations of how such considerations as social distancing will be affecting us,…
Genting: ‘Keep Thinking Bigger’ for Crystal
“Being able to bring Crystal Cruises into the Genting Hong Kong family in 2015 was a rare opportunity to acquire an industry-leading, ultra-luxury cruise brand with well-maintained vessels, a loyal customer base, an experienced management team and a majority market share in the luxury cruise segment,” said Kent Zhu, president of Genting Cruise Lines. The…
Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Hoping for a Strong Restart
There are high hopes for Hong Kong and the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal when the world returns to normal, as Hong Kong represents the 12th largest outbound tourism market, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. By the end of October, a new elevated walkway with a hanging garden and a small park will…
Costa Driving Demand in China for 2021
“There is potential everywhere. We are still at a very early stage of the development of the cruise industry in China,” said Mario Zanetti, chief commercial officer of Costa Cruises and president of Costa Group Asia. The line’s 2021 deployment is seeing a mix up. The Costa Venezia will trade Shanghai for Tianjin, as the…
Fincantieri: ‘Confident Future’ in Cruise Ship Building
Fincantieri has 29 cruise ships on its orderbook for deliveries within the next four years, Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the Merchant Ships Business Unit, told Cruise Industry News. The total order backlog is for 41 cruise ships, stretching to 2027. “The collaboration between cruise lines and shipbuilding companies have been crucial,” he said. “We…
Optimistic and Realistic Approach in Australia for Carnival
“There is optimism combined with a realistic and pragmatic approach knowing that the challenges of COVID-19 will remain,” Sture Myrmell, president of Carnival Australia answered, when asked about the mood in the Australian market. “However,” he added, “it is also fair to say that as progress continues towards effective vaccines and treatments, the emphasis here…
Azamara: Connections and Destinations
“We will get out of this (COVID-19), and when we do, this (cruising) is something people will need even more, to get that joy back in their life, to keep their minds expanding, and we will be there for them,” said Carol Cabezas, chief operating officer for Azamara. What attracts passengers to Azamara are the…
Lindblad Expeditions: Diversity and Surprises
“Our destination experience must blow people away, knock their socks off,” Trey Byus, chief expedition officer for Lindblad Expeditions, told Cruise Industry News. “Within that, diversity is important,” he continued, “so if it is wildlife, for example, we are not just looking at a few species, but for diversity. On the flip side, the same…
Celebrity Apex Brings Food and Beverage To The Next Level
When Celebrity Cruises introduces the Apex, there will be some new experiences on the culinary side, according to Cornelius Gallagher, vice president of food and beverage operations. In an exclusive interview with Cruise Industry News, Gallagher said: “The biggest change for me is that we have completely changed the concept of the Eden Restaurant. On…
Cooking with Jon Ashton
Crystal Cruises has found a way of communicating with its guests via weekly half-hour cooking demonstrations on its Facebook page, hosted by Chef Jon Ashton. Part of a bigger effort to stay in touch, Cooking with Jon Ashton runs Sunday afternoons, while weekdays feature Storyteller Mondays, Wellness Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursday cocktail recipes; entertainment selections in…
Carving Out Luxe-Adventure
Five ships and 1,000 berths are heading for the North American source market with Atlas Ocean Voyages between 2021 and 2023, offering a luxe-adventure product at a five-star level. Headquartered in Florida, President Alberto Aliberti is leading the charge for the Mystic brand. The company spans just over 15 employees and is continuing to grow…
Driving Innovation
This year there will be quite a big focus on enhancing the experiences with guest services and embarkation. What can we do to streamline it, make it smoother and make it shorter; mobile applications are being tested for boarding,” said Frits van der Werff, vice president of hotel and food and beverage services for Holland…
Strong Deployment Footprint
Seabourn is moving its Alaska program to combinable and open-jaw, between Vancouver and Juneau, this year. A few thousand miles east, the Eastern Mediterranean is back in a big way as the brand is returning to Turkey. “The return to Istanbul and other Turkish destinations like Kusadasi and Bodrum, just having that ability to go…
MSC Accelerating Expansion
With up to 22 new ships on order for deliveries through 2030, Achille Staiano, vice president of global sales for MSC Cruises, told Cruise Industry News that the company is continuously looking for new destinations. “We have grown 800 percent over the past 10 years,” he said, “and we are accelerating our rate of growth…