MSC: Market Leader in Europe
MSC has 17 ships in the European market, with 13 sailing in the Mediterranean and four in Northern Europe, said Gianni Onorato, CEO, in an interview with Cruise Industry News. Onorato also pointed out the new 5,400-guest World Asia, which will debut in Europe in 2026, making MSC the only brand putting new tonnage into…
Fincantieri: Underlining Its Position as Leading Shipbuilder
“We have new clients. We are proud to have AIDA. We are also happy to have Marella in our orderbook with very innovative vessels coming in 2030 and 2031,” said Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division. It was a busy spring for the Italian shipbuilder, which also confirmed two more Viking…
Costa: Core Innovations
The focus at Costa is on product innovation, building on the company’s Italian product with a new shore excursion program combined with its Sea Destination initiative, said Mario Zanetti, president. Zanetti told Cruise Industry News that Sea Destinations have been a huge hit with guests. The program brings destinations alive with programming matched to ports….
SunStone: Setting New Standards
The biggest provider of expedition tonnage on charter deals is pushing forward with another newbuild project, while leadership changes are bringing in a new generation. Niels Erik-Lund has turned SunStone Ships over to his sons, Carsten and Christian, and resigned on July 1, 2025, staying on as a non-executive board member. “My brother and I…
Ambassador: ‘Set for Long-Term Success’
The Ambassador Group is stronger as a result of the merger earlier this year between Ambassador and Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC), CEO Christian Verhounig told Cruise Industry News. He said the merger will strengthens the company’s presence in the no-fly cruise market and expand its product offerings, including a new joint Caribbean fly-cruise program…
Carnival Procurement: Bringing Value to the Guest Experience
“As a global company, we are constantly collaborating across the organization, with both our internal stakeholders and vendors, exploring supply markets to bring new and innovative offerings and experiences to our guests across our eight brands and specifically when it comes to food and beverage,” Jon McKeown, chief procurement officer for Carnival Corporation, told Cruise…
Lindblad: One-Stop Shop for Adventure Travel
Lindblad Expeditions is committed to continuing to grow its expedition cruise programs, but also wants to highlight its five land brands, according to Natalya Leahy, CEO. “If people love their experiences on our ships, they will also love the experiences we offer on land,” she told Cruise Industry News. “We have this amazing collection of…
Mein Schiff: Aggressive Growth
With the new Mein Schiff Flow to be introduced next year, following the sister ship, Mein Schiff Relax, this spring, and Mein Schiff 7 last year, the brand is on an aggressive growth path, more than doubling its guest capacity from 2023 to 2026. With nine ships in service, Mein Schiff will have a 35.5…
Costa’s Food and Beverage Program: Always Evolving
Costa Cruises is staying current with the latest trends, said Massimo Leimer, food and beverage director aboard the Costa Diadema, in an interview with Cruise Industry News. “We are a department that is always progressing. We are always making changes adjusting to the newest trends and passenger preferences,” he said. One of these trends is…
MSC’s American Goals
North America is now MSC Cruises’ number one market when it comes to passenger sourcing, according to Gianni Onorato, CEO. “Some time ago, we decided we needed to grow in North America and that is happening for us. We are better positioned and recognized by U.S. customers. We have a distinctive product with strong European…
Luxury Market: Regent’s New Feel
Regent Seven Seas Cruises opened the year with a new brand identity, part of a strategy as the company grows with two new ships and a focus on attracting generation X travelers, said Steve Odell, senior vice president and chief sales officer. Odell called the new ships, coming in 2026 and 2029, part of a…
Cruise Operations: Navigating the Diadema in South America
“We are currently cruising at 17 knots with three generators running, maintaining the necessary speed to arrive at our next port,” Captain Ignazio Giardina told Cruise Industry News onboard the Costa Diadema. The 132,500-ton ship debuted a new seven-night itinerary to Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay this past season. “For us on the bridge, this is…
Explora Journeys: New Take on Ocean Travel
Explora Journeys is an entirely new and fresh take on ocean travel, Anna Nash, president, told Cruise Industry News. “The hardware we have, the ships, is the best in class. The vision comes from a family-owned business with a seafaring heritage of over 300 years; they are masters of the sea. So, we know what…
Windstar: Big Expansion with Two New Ships
“We’re getting two new ships, so with our fleet growing by a third, we have looked at where we want to put additional capacity,” said Jess Peterson, director of destination experience and itinerary planning at Windstar. “With the Star Seeker and our other plans, we are shifting capacity to the Pacific.” After a debut in…
Seabourn: Differentiating Luxury Deployment
Itinerary planning is very much like baking a cake, according to Crystal Morgan, senior director deployment and itinerary planning for Seabourn. Morgan said. “It is the sum of all the ingredients that define a successful itinerary, which is a little bit of science, a little bit of flavor and a little finesse. The end result,…