All articles by Amit Thadani
Amit Thadani
WORLD-CLASS BALLAST WATER TREATMENT FOR FIRST IN WORLD-CLASS MSC WORLD EUROPA
MSC World Europa, the first in a series of four next generation cruiseships to join the MSC Cruises’ fleet, has been delivered with a state-of-the-art ballast water treatment system from the BIO-SEA by BIO-UV Group stable.
Wabtec to Advance Electrification of Vessels in HYPOBATT Project
PITTSBURGH — Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) is working to advance the electrification of vessels by participating in the HYPOBATT (Hyper powered vessel battery charging system) project, which is part of the EU-wide Horizon initiative. The HYPOBATT is focused on developing a megawatt-charging standard and infrastructure for ferries in European ports.
Capital Cruising welcomes 100th cruise ship today with arrival of Emerald Princess into South Queensferry
The majestic Emerald Princess sailed up the River Forth into South Queensferry this week marking the 100th cruise call for Capital Cruising which welcomes cruise liners into its ports in Leith, Rosyth, Dundee and deep-water anchorages at Newhaven and South Queensferry.
Elegance closer to home
Demand for river cruising has never been higher as guests ease themselves back into holiday mode post-pandemic. Europeans looking to explore uncharted beauty close to home can avoid large crowds without compromising on experience. Brooke Theis speaks to Janet Bava, chief marketing officer at AmaWaterways, and the director of global brand at Scenic Nichola Absalom, to discover the benefits of European waterways and what they have to offer guests in the current climate.
Shake it up
Operators are eager to give customers more sophisticated food experiences, encompassing everything from on-board cooking lessons to visits to famous restaurants. Not that any of this is easy. Andrea Valentino talks to Dom Gamba, director of fleet operations at Royal Caribbean and Adam Sachs, director of the S.A.L.T. programme at Silversea to understand how these new culinary adventures take careful planning and solid relationships, both on the ground and at sea.
Surviving in a new world
Australia has always been a seafaring nation – or it was anyway. Even more than the industry as a whole, the country’s cruise industry has suffered heavily from the government’s strict lockdown rules, with international tours only recently restarting. Yet, with new environmental pressures and seaside infrastructure growing apace, the dramas of the past few years seem far from finished. Andrea Valentino talks to Joel Katz, the Australasia managing director at Cruise Lines International Association, and Professor Ross Dowling from Edith Cowan University to learn more.
A thoughtful cruising experience
It often seems like bigger is better when it comes to the cruise industry. From Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas to the Costa’s Toscana, many operators are plumping for miniature cities on the waves, capable of carrying thousands of passengers and offering dozens of activities. Yet, buoyed by environmental concerns and the desire among passengers for more elegant, intimate holidays, some operators are going the other way. Andrea Valentino talks to Silversea Cruises’ Roberto Martinoli, president and CEO, and Roberto Bruzzone, senior vice-president of marine operations, to learn about such a vessel – and how it could presage broader shifts in balancing sustainability and comfort.
What a waste
With new standards and regulations demanding better wastewater management, cruises are required to process all wastewater on board. With this in mind, Royal Caribbean Group is retrofitting several of its vessels with next-generation advanced wastewater purification (AWP) systems. Abi Millar speaks to Nicholas Rose, associate vice-president of environmental stewardship at Royal Caribbean Group, and Johan Johansson Iseskär, principal engineer, maritime advisory at DNV, to find out the benefits of having an AWP system on board.
Revitalising the voyage
The creative team behind Virgin Voyages’ first vessel, Scarlet Lady, brought a new perspective to the design process, having never worked on cruise liners before. Elly Earls speaks to Dee Cooper, senior vice-president of design and customer experience at Virgin Voyages, to find out how approaching the project with fresh eyes allowed them to challenge conventions and reimagine ship design.
Cleaner cruising
With environmental sustainability at the top of the political agenda, cruise ship operators are trying harder than ever to meet their targets. Yet very real challenges remain – not least in waste management. John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises and chief experience and innovation officer for Carnival Corporation, explains how his company is addressing these issues and how it intends to meet its sustainability pledges.