Editorial #105
Europe: Flat Year-Over-Year: This year, the total number of passengers expected on European sailings is expected to stay flat from last year at an estimated 6.4 million, according to the 2016-2017 Cruise Industry News Annual Report. The Mediterranean is seeing a decline, while in Northern Europe traffic is up. Meanwhile, Europe’s percentage share of the…
Executive Profile: Proven Track Record
“Our product is about being one of a few instead of many,” said Mark Conroy, managing director for Silversea Cruises for the Americas. “It is also a combination of being exclusive and inclusive,” he added. “I do not like to use the word small, and our ships are not small, ranging from 20,000 to 40,000…
Private Equity: Huge Return Potential
Transparency is not a word that comes to mind when trying to track cruise industry investments by private equity firms. With few exceptions, they clam up. Perhaps it is because their investments did not turn out, or more likely, that they made out like bandits. Apollo Global Management may be on its way to tripling…
Hurtigruten: Back on Track
An ambitious turn-around plan in the works for three years is starting to bear fruit as Hurtigruten has returned to profitability, ordered new ships, and has its eyes firmly set on the high-risk/high-reward expedition market, according to CEO Daniel Skjeldam. “We started cutting costs and focusing more on the income side, with a new strategy…
Far-Reaching Program
Cornelius (Neal) Gallagher, associate vice president of food and beverage operations, is starting year two of a three-year strategic food and beverage plan at Celebrity Cruises that includes everything from fruit in staterooms to flair bartending, menu development and slow-cooking. “Food and beverage is one of the brand pillars of Celebrity,” he told Cruise Industry…
Technical: Royal Caribbean: Ship Optimization
“The biggest opportunities for fleet optimization are in operational excellence and execution of voyages,” said Captain Patrik Dahlgren, vice president of marine operations for Celebrity Cruises and also in charge of global fleet optimization for Royal Caribbean Cruises’ six brands and 45 ships. “We are focused on energy-, asset- and project management.” Captain Dahlgren said….