Leibowitz: ‘Brand Driven’

“Guests sail on our nine brands, and our strategy is to have the world’s leading cruise brands, some of which are global and some of which are local,” said Josh Leibowitz, chief strategy officer for Carnival Corporation and senior vice president for Cunard North America. “Each of the brands are targeted to market segments and…

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Focused on Target Markets

Working for both the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises brands, Chris Allen, vice president of deployment and itinerary planning, said that itineraries are designed to fit the target audience and guest demographics of each brand, supporting their (brand) pillars. “We work very closely with the leadership groups of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity to ensure…

Continuous Analysis Drives Deployment Planning

The Amsterdam departed Port Everglades for her 113-day world cruise on January 22 this year, a few weeks later than usual. The simple deployment move meant Simon Douwes, senior director of deployment and itinerary planning, could mix in Northern Europe in an acceptable weather climate at the end of the voyage. “That has proved to…

Driving Galley Production

“Each main dining restaurant has their special menus,” said Shyam Jeetun, executive sous chef on the Celebrity Edge. The ship’s main dining room has essentially been carved up, with four unique smaller restaurants sharing one finishing galley, also separated into four areas. The four venues share the same core menu, with each restaurant offering up…

Ocean Medallion: The First Smart City

Princess Cruises and Carnival Corporation officials are still pondering how to best present their much-anticipated Medallion Class to passengers. It’s not a new waterslide or port of call; it’s bigger than that – yet it’s intentionally nearly invisible. Interactive maps, keyless staterooms, streamlined passenger check ins and countless other current and in-production functionalities of the…

Celebrity Edge Brings Technically Advanced Platform

From the bridge wing of the Celebrity Edge while maneuvering into port, Staff Captain Matthaios Karandreas is looking down through a glass window at the pier, lining up gangway and mooring arrangements as is tradition. On the rest of the bridge the cruise industry is looking to the future with 11 new systems, and five…

Silversea Sets Aggressive Growth Course

“We have made the decision go grow aggressively because we believe in this segment of the market and see the opportunity grow quite dramatically in the years to come,” said Roberto Martinoli, CEO of Silversea Cruises. “Demographic trends and the demand we have seen over the past two to three years support our decision. “In…

Prothero: ‘Great New Concept’

More than half of the bookings for the inaugural season of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection have come from guests that have never taken a cruise before, according to CEO Douglas Prothero. “They are coming because of the brand and because of the design,” he said. Delivery of the company’s first 298-guest ship is scheduled for…