New Ships: Is Bigger Better?
Cruise companies share the same objective: that is to make as much money as possible. Yet, the business models of the two largest companies, Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises, are different. Royal Caribbean thinks the best course to profits is with bigger ships; Carnival thinks the best course is with big ships, but not…
Editorial: An Energetic and Innovative Industry
Record Orderbook: The cruise industry is back on its growth course with a record orderbook, including new generations of mega-ships that will undoubtedly take cruising to a new level by attracting ever broader markets. In addition, existing classes of ships are evolving – offering more passenger comforts and features than ever – promising to satisfy…
Growth Course
The European cruise industry is expanding on several fronts – with leading European cruise brands introducing new ships, and with American-based lines dedicating more ships to Europe. European Growth The European cruise capacity is set to grow from an estimated 2.8 million passengers in 2005 to 3.2 million in 2006 (14.2 percent), to 3.5 million…
On An Island
Annual capacity among U.K. operators, as estimated by Cruise Industry News, is up 14 percent in 2006 over last year – and perhaps the most significant increase comes from Island Cruises, which doubled its capacity to nearly 160,000. Along with the Island Star, the line’s newest ship, the Island Escape (ex-Horizon), introduced at the end…
German Shipbuilding: Diversified Infrastructure
The German shipbuilding industry has a diversified infrastructure with at least three yards involved with cruise ships: Meyer Werft as a builder of new ships and Blohm + Voss Repair and Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven in repairs and conversions. In addition, Neptun Werft – which is owned by Meyer – builds river cruise vessels and has…
Food & Beverage: A Lot at Stake
When Helga Finnsdottir was named the executive chef onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Grandeur of the Seas in 1999, it marked the first time in the line’s history a woman held the high-ranking position. But Finnsdottir, senior executive chef, wasn’t to spend much time in a single ship’s galley: in 2001, she helped launch the Explorer…
Aker Finnyards: Taking a Bigger Share of the Market
Aker Finnyards is set to play a bigger role in cruise-ship building as the Finnish yard is integrated with Chantiers de l’Atlantique. It is Aker Yards, the Finnish shipbuilder’s parent company that is acquiring the French shipbuilding facilities of Alstom Marine. A new company will be established by the end of March, with Aker holding…
Company Profile: Celebrity Cruises: It’s All About Service
“We are focusing on three areas: to manage our day-to-day operating costs efficiently; to create a clean and integrated brand-communication platform; and to ensure that we deliver the experience that our guests expect,” said Dan Hanrahan, president of Celebrity Cruises. On his plate is also the $55 million revitalization of the Century slated for this…
Itinerary Planning: Princess Cruises: Destination Trades
Cruise lines are offering broader and more varied itineraries to attract more, new passengers, and to convince past passengers to cruise again. They also plan itineraries further in advance as the booking window is moving out. Cruise Industry News has talked to some of the leading cruise lines and asked them what is new; why…
Company Profile: Holland America Line: Fresh, Passionate and Relevant
“Our goal is to be the undisputed leader in the premium (cruise) market,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. “As a company, we have very clear objectives; we know what we are and where we are going. We know what our mission is: Through excellence we will deliver a-once-in-a-lifetime experience to…
Marine Operations: Safety At Sea Cruise Industry Drives New Rules
Industry focuses on the concept of Equal Safety, New Stability Rules, Fire Prevention, Weather Conditions, Accident and Evacuation Scenarios, and the bottom line: the Human Factor. New rules are providing greater freedom for innovative thinking, according to Robert Wright, principal surveyor of statutory passenger ships at Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (LR). He said that the…
Marine Operations: A Full Plate
Fuel, power plants and pods, environment, refurbishment and maintenance, drydockings, recruitment and training, safety and security, and running 24/7. Fuel consumption, environmental protection, recruitment and training are at the top of the list of priorities for marine operations in 2006, in addition to the continuous focus on the safety and security of the ships with…
Shipbuilding & Repair: 360 Degree Horizon
While the order flow may fluctuate, cruise lines are staying in close contact not just with the yards that are building their ships, but also with the other building yards. “Everybody is keeping all doors open,” according to one yard source. “While owners may have preferential relationships, orders can never be taken for granted, and…
New Ships: Liberty: Proven Design
Giuseppe Messina knows that a lot can go wrong when building a cruise ship. That’s why Fincantieri’s project manager for Carnival Cruise Lines’ newbuildings (which recently completed the $450 million Carnival Liberty in Monfalcone) places such high priority and importance on one thing: proactive risk management. “As you can imagine, designing and building a project…
Shipbuilding & Repair: Worldwide Repair Business
While cruise-ship building is concentrated at four yards in Europe, repairs and refurbishments take place on a broader scale, usually near where the ships are sailing. But the repair business may be consolidating into fewer yards as well, as the builders are also looking to get into the repair and maintenance side of the business;…