Focus: Energy Savings Up To 40%
There is no single solution – no miracle solution – that will reduce energy demands dramatically on cruise ships tomorrow, according to the classification society experts interviewed by Cruise Industry News. Instead, the cruise lines should look at fuel savings from many aspects and work out their own best models. But with the proper approach,…
Focus: Future Ships of Tomorrow
Naval architects and cruise-ship designers are usually fairly conservative in speculating about the next generation of ships – for good reason. New ships require an enormous investment. Venturing too far on a limb could result in a very ugly – and public – fall if a revolutionary concept did not work out. But what might…
Focus: Newbuilding Scenarios Vary
The newbuilding pace going forward (beyond 2011-2012) is expected to slow down, Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation, and Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, told Cruise Industry News. “Many factors come into play,” Arison said, “starting with the strategic needs of the individual brands and the markets, and ultimately,…
Shipbuilding: The Next Wave of Orders
When will the next wave of new orders come, and where will they be placed? The candidates are Fincantieri, STX Europe and Meyer Werft. Mitsubishi has told Cruise Industry News that they are “not interested in entering the cruise-ship business at this time with the current strong market for newbuildings of conventional ships and the…
Ship Review: Silver Wind: Delivering Six Stars
A six-star cruise offers personal, attentive, but not obtrusive service; fine dining when you want and with whom you want; spacious public rooms and comfortable suites. And there is no sales pressure in the spa or the stores; there are no ships’ photographers and no art auction. And that is what Silversea Cruises is all…
Princess Cruises: For the Experienced Cruiser
Princess Cruises is always improving and at the same time consistent and predictable, according to Alan Buckelew, president and CEO. “We are always working to evolve and improve our product and our relationship with travel agents,” Buckelew told Cruise Industry News. “We believe in continuous improvement and apply this both onboard and in the marketplace….
Editorial: Food for Thought
The cruise industry is working hard at its “green” image in its marine operations and some aspects of hotel operations. It has also adopted socially responsible policies in its employment practices and in other areas, while supporting worthy causes and encouraging employees to give back to their communities. In keeping with the reputation of the…
Destination Focus Europe : Europe is Heating Up
Europe is on a growth course. Of 51 new ships on the orderbook, 21 are for European brands. In addition, ships ordered for American-based cruise lines may be also dedicated to European markets, year-round or seasonally, as is the case with the Independence of the Seas. The European growth is driven by the markets in…
Destination Focus Europe: European Challenges
One of the biggest issues facing the European market is the environment. As the climate-change debate heats up, more industries are under pressure to reduce harmful emissions, and the cruise industry is no exception. MedCruise is focusing heavily on environmental issues, said President Laurent Monsaingeon, who is also director of French Riviera Ports; and Bill…
Strategy Expanding Opportunities
There is growing demand and interest in cruising in markets around the world, according to Michael Bayley, senior vice president international, Royal Caribbean Cruises. “There is probably not one economically developed country that would not do well,” he said. “We offer a great product, wonderful hardware and a tremendous value proposition. The issue is more…
Focus Green: Leaving a Greener Wake
Today, a cruise ship’s wake must be environmentally clean and “green.” “It is a very complex issue, but the environment is almost everything today,” explained Karl Morten Wiklund, director of passenger ships at Det Norske Veritas (DNV). The operating challenges require the best marine engineering practices and the latest innovative technologies to ensure that no…
The Cruise Experience: Praise and Critique
Cruise passengers’ glowing reviews at the end of a cruise might be legitimate and heartfelt, but that same passenger may give quite a different report a few days later in an online chat room. It’s sad but true: We remember the negative more than the positive. The travel agents that spoke with Cruise Industry News…
F&B: F&B’s Evolution
The job of managing dining operations aboard cruise ships has changed enormously in the last decade. F&B directors who used to govern the one main dining room of cruise ships past, now find themselves in charge of a dozen restaurants on each ship, each with different menus, ambience and even clientele. Here’s how Frank Weber,…
Outlook 2008: Starting Strong. . .
2008 is going to be a good year for the industry, was the consensus among financial analysts that follow the industry as this issue was going to press. “It will be a good year, with bookings and pricing up year-over-year,” said Felicia Hendrix, managing director at Lehman Brothers. “But it will not be spectacular,” she…
Itinerary Planning: Driving New Markets
With the globalization of the cruise industry, more ships are spanning the globe. While the cruise companies are tapping into new markets worldwide, their existing customer base is also looking for new experiences. In addition, passengers are willing to spend more for a cruise that is perceived to be more exotic. The combination is driving…