He told Seatrade Cruise News, ‘2023 turnover is up. For the first time, with over €200m of pre-tax turnover, we have exceeded the €196m we recorded in 2019, which was our reference year.’
Impact of the war in Ukraine
A 20% increase in passenger spend since from 2019 compensates for a slight decrease of 7-8% in the number of passengers. ‘Due to inflation, purchasing power has dropped and cruise operations and flights are more expensive,’ Schmitter said. ‘The war in Ukraine deprived us again of our Volga cruises. Some international clientele, mainly from Germany, are lagging, while some 40% of our turnover comes from foreign markets.’
Corsica sailings and safari-cruise programs a hit
Active throughout 2023, CroisiEurope described its Corsica season with La Belle des Océans and its Croatia itineraries operated by La Belle de l'Adriatique as ‘a hit.’
As for the company's river cruises, ‘Our paddle ship on the Elba – launched in 2018 and operating between Prague and Berlin, or Prague to Prague – was also a success.’
When it comes to safari-cruise programs in Southern Africa, Schmitter said its two ships and lodges are '100% full' from August-December 2023.
Mekong cruises are also making a strong comeback, he said.
New 2024 itineraries
After a winter in the Canaries, La Belle des Océans will be back in Corsica from May to October homeporting in Nice, and will operate new cruises along the Italian coast which will include Toscana, Sardinia, Elba and Cinque Terre (departures on July 12, August 16, September 13.)
As for La Belle de l'Adriatique, it will turn around in Naples or Catania, followed by cruises between Cyprus and Greece, a new route in the Cyclades and Dodecanese from April to June, before returning to the Adriatic with calls in Greece, Albania and Montenegro.
Two 10-day Spitsbergen cruises planned to depart June 19 and 28 from Longyearbyen are new for the line and will be operated by the 98-passenger Ocean Nova.
Additional highlights coming in 2024 include a six-day program in the Venice lagoon with an optional stay in Milan and Lake Como.
In South America, a Brazilian Amazon itinerary is scheduled for 2024.
Nature ‘our most valuable asset’
‘The environment is our best ally and nature our most valuable asset,’ stated Schmitter. Following successful tests carried out on the Seine River with CroisiEurope's partner AS Energy, the cruise line now uses gas-to-liquid fuel, which combusts more uniformly and results in lower emissions.
Among its environmental initiatives, CroisiEurope ships have water-saving devices, filtered water fountains which save 30t of plastic per year and sophisticated drainage systems, while food waste and biowaste are converted into biogas.
CroisiEurope received the Green Award for six vessels in the Rhine/Danube fleet.
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