Figures from Cruise Lines International Association for October showed 67 cruise vessels on order over the next five years, with ‘very strong growth in shipbuilding for smaller, luxury, expedition vessels,’ according to Marie-Caroline Laurent, director general - Europe, CLIA.
Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director Jonathan Daniels observed less focus on larger cruise ships, ‘We're also focusing on the luxury market,’ he said. ‘It's something that we’re going back to: what is old is new again.’ The port is currently preparing to sign a long term agreement with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
These were among the key points to emerge from ‘The Leaders' Panel’ moderated by Virginia Quintairos, global business development director, Intercruises Shoreside and Port Services, at the International Cruise Summit taking place at the Meliá Castilla in Madrid from November 14-15.
Booking trends
The booking pattern for expedition cruising has traditionally been 12-18 months in advance of sailing, Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito explained, so 'recovery has been slower’ than for the rest of the cruise industry, but things are looking up. ‘What we have seen, in the last two to three months, is a huge spike in bookings, especially from emerging markets: China, South America, Middle East,’ said the CEO, with the US still a major source market.
Christopher Prelog, president of WIndstar Cruises, said that while the decision of Booking.com to host a dedicated cruise section on its website is ‘a great opportunity,’ travel agents are essential when it comes to booking luxury cruises. ‘They will always be there, because there's a need for them to be there,' he assrted, describing the connection between agent and passenger as 'really important.’
Technology
Cruise ships on order today will still be operating in 2050 and beyond, but there are still question marks over the best technologies to implement; 34 LNG-powered cruise ships are currently on order and seven ships that will be able to use methanol.
She views the use of artificial intelligence within the industry optimistically. Working with the shipbuilder, a ‘digital twin’ vessel can be designed to allow comparison between the ship’s performance and a virtual voyage, which can improve the vessel's efficiency by up to 10%.
Sustainability
Some 98% of MedCruise member ports are located in a city and 37% are on an island, ‘which is pushing us to improve sustainability in a more sensitive matter,’ stated association president, Figen Ayan.
Ayan went on to describe MedCruise’s work with the European Union on the BlueMissionMed Project.
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