At Monaco Day in Davos, Per Bjornsen, CEO of V.Ships Leisure, highlighted Monaco’s position as a leading maritime hub for cruise and luxury yachting.

The Principality hosts a unique concentration of shipowners, yacht owners, cruise lines and other stakeholders, including the offices V.Ships Leisure.

Five cruise brands are also headquartered in Monaco, as the luxury cruise market continues to evolve based on the superyacht industry, redefining luxury at sea.

One example is the new 108-guest Orient Express Corinthian, which will debut in April and will call in Monaco. The ship will be managed by V.Ships Leisure.

Bjornsen said Monaco provided a highly skilled workforce in the cruise and yacht markets, with Genoa and Marseille nearby. He noted that the Principality offers an attractive place to live and work, bringing in international maritime talent.

“This proximity creates operational synergies with the main cruising and yachting areas in the Mediterranean,” he said.

Client proximity was another key theme. With many clients based in Monaco, close relationships are fostered through regular face-to-face interaction, both formally and informally, while international clients find Monaco easy and attractive to visit, often combining meetings with vessel visits during port calls.