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…
Europe: Ravenna: Calls and Turnarounds
Up and running only since last year, Ravenna already expects 82 calls and 150,000 passengers in its first full season, according to Captain Giuseppe Fabbro, managing director of the Ravenna Terminal Passeggeri. This includes 50,000 passengers for Pullmantur Cruises’ Zenith, which is turning around in Ravenna, embarking and disembarking in this Adriatic port. The Zenith…
Sustainable Dry Cleaning and Laundry
Cruise ships are going green in laundry and dry cleaning, although using different systems. Aboard Holland America Line ships wet cleaning has replaced dry cleaning, for example, using a system developed by Miele. So-called WetCare cleans garments with water without using harsh chemicals, replacing the standard dry cleaning systems. Water and regular detergents are used…
ECA Restrictions Drive Alternative Approaches
The basic choices to meet ECA SOx emission targets are to remove SOx from a ship’s exhaust as an after-treatment, burn very low sulfur fuel that currently meets ECA limits or burn LNG which does not contain sulfur. The first large LNG-fueled passenger vessel entering service on the Baltic Sea in 2013 will meet all…