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Martinoli: Refurbs offer ‘excellent ROI’

Martinoli: Refurbs offer ‘excellent ROI’
Though the newbuild business is slowing, the outlook for refurbishments is bright as cruise lines seek to homogenize aging vessels with the rest of the fleet and add modern features to their older ships.

So said Roberto Martinoli, president and coo of Norwegian Cruise Line, in his keynote address at a Cruise Shipping Miami session on expanding and refurbishing the fleet.

Moreover, refurbishments — and lengthenings — present good opportunities to increase a ship’s profitability by adding cabins, balconies and energy-saving features, he said.

‘In general, refurbishments offer excellent returns on investment. If well thought out and well executed, they can be quite significant for profitability,’ Martinoli told the session.

The NCL president also noted the pool of refurbishment contractors is becoming larger, more professional and experienced. While the majority are concentrated in Europe, such contractors are becoming more active in the US and Canada, he added.