All articles by julian turner
julian turner
A regal remastering – the Queen Mary 2
Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 has undergone a major renovation, involving a 25-day dry-dock refurbishment at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg. Almost every part of the ship has been made over, with contemporary touches balanced by a reverence for the past. Abi Millar looks into what these changes involve and how they have been executed.
Bold expansion – Genting Hong Kong
With the €230.6-million acquisition of Nordic Yards’ three shipyards in Wismar, Warnemunde and Stralsund, as well as a string of new investments across the northern European shipbuilding market, Genting Hong Kong has made a bold move that could give it the capacity to dramatically expand Crystal Cruises, Dream Cruises and Star Cruises. Colin Castle examines the nuts and bolts of the agreement, the benefits of the ability to build at an operator’s own pace, and whether cruise lines in the shipbuilding game are set to become the new normal.
Treasure of the seven seas – inside the world’s most luxurious cruise ship
When Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Explorer set sail on its maiden voyage in July, it was hailed as “the most luxurious cruise ship in the world”. With its supersized suites, seven open-seating gourmet restaurants, nine-deck atrium, two-storey theatre and $90,000 horsehair mattress, it is undeniably high-end, but can it truly justify this claim? Abi Millar takes a look at this bold celebration of all things opulent.
Release the report cards – selling sustainability
In recent years, some cruise operators have significantly advanced their green agendas, although this hasn’t always been successfully conveyed to the public. World Cruise Industry Review hears from Carnival Corporation’s Tom Strang and Elaine Heldeweir, Hans Eivind Sievers of DNV GL, and Marcie Keever of Friends of the Earth on the progress made so far. We examine some of the more interesting technologies and systems currently gaining in popularity, and ask why some industry players seem reluctant to use sustainability as a selling point.
Cruising on gas – the LNG revolution
It has been estimated that, by 2025, 80% of cruise ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas, but what is the likelihood of this being true for new builds and existing ships, and how would the cruise industry make it work in practice? Rod James sits down with operators and consultants to find out more.
Stay connected – the mobile journey
As on-board connectivity continues to improve, the cruise industry is getting closer to providing a seamless mobile journey for passengers and crew members. Elly Earls meets Carnival Cruise Line’s vice-president for guest technology, Gabriela Gonzalez, to find out more.
Something for everyone – serving Chinese retail customers
Cruise capacity in China is predicted to grow by 220% in the next five years, and with operators keen to make their mark on the market, maximising the availability of on-board retail will be essential to retaining customers and building profitability. Colin Castle speaks with Simon Weir, Royal Caribbean’s COO for China, and Erin Rafter, the company’s head of on-board services, about the popularity of shopping among Chinese customers and the importance of keeping up with trends.
A sip of something new – onboard wine trends
Cruise operators are upgrading their wine offerings to attract a growing band of oenophiles. Matthew Plowright speaks to Carnival’s Anthony Habert and AmaWaterways’ Rudi Schreiner to find out how their brands are keeping up with the latest shoreside wine trends.
The cruise that gives back – the rise of voluntourism
Voluntourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of travel, with research showing an increasing desire among guests – especially millennials – to use their leisure time to ‘give back’ to the global community. As cruise lines take up the mantle, Sarah Williams speaks to John Stoll, vice-president of land programmes at Crystal Cruises, and Yoshioka Tatsuya, founder and director at Peace Boat, about creating programmes that go beyond the feel-good factor to make a real difference.
On stranger tides – the growth of the expeditions market
Founded in 1979 and partnered with National Geographic for the past 12 years, Lindblad Expeditions has provided small-ship voyages to some of the world’s most remote and intriguing destinations, from the icy wilderness of Antarctica to the dramatic fjords of Alaska’s Inside Passage. In 2015, as part of a $439-million acquisition deal, the line announced an order for two new builds, the first in its history. Sarah Williams speaks to CEO and founder Sven-Olof Lindblad to find out what this move tells us about the growth of the expeditions market, and what traditional operators can learn from this destination-led model.