All articles by Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Plug-in, power-on
In the cruise industry’s bid to cut emissions, there is a strong push to make more use of shore power. As regulations increasingly demand ports and ships turn to cold ironing instead of burning diesel when in port, Jim Banks examines the current state of the industry and asks what might be done to encourage the use of shoreside power capacity.
Cooking up something new
With Holland America Line embarking upon a long-term pilot programme when sailing in the Norwegian World Heritage Fjords, to what extent might biofuels be a viable option for broader use in the industry – and how can such a transition be made possible? Jim Banks investigates.
Extreme Preparation
With climate change intensifying weather patterns and extreme weather events, including extended and more violent hurricane seasons, the cruise industry must navigate emerging challenges to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers. Lauren Hurrell looks at how this is being addressed through planning and design of the cruise experience – as well as cutting-edge developments in AI forecasting.
Extended play
Bookings for extended and world cruises are at an all-time high. Lauren Hurrell dives into the factors driving this growth, from increased solo travel to younger generations tapping into cruising, asking how cruise lines are catering to this new demand – and what is still needed to further consolidate and grow the extended and world cruise segments.
Crusing to Utopia
It may be designed with shorter itineraries in mind, but Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas is also the culmination of many years of design and technology enhancements and refinements in shipbuilding and performance. Fifteen years after the Oasis class was launched, how might its latest member look to break the mould? Janice Jones investigates.
Smiths Detection Unveils the SDX 6040: An Advanced X-Ray Screening Solution Redefining Mobility, Imaging, and Precision Detection
Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies, and a business of Smiths Group plc, today announces the launch of the SDX 6040 Enhanced Image Quality (EIQ), a cutting-edge screening solution designed to meet the dynamic demands of modern security environments.
Luxury cruises welcome families: Crystal, Explora and Hapag-Lloyd’s new family-friendly approach
Luxury cruise operators have long been reluctant to cater to children, but that picture is quickly changing. Andrea Valentino talks to Keith Cox at Crystal Cruises, Koray Savas of Explora Journeys and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Julian Pfitzner to explore what kinds of activities they offer younger passengers, how those dovetails with more educational experiences, and why it’s still important to ensure that adults get some me-time.
Net-zero cruising by 2050: Progress and challenges for leading operators
The cruise industry has set itself an ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, but can it realistically achieve this in an era of increasingly massive vessels, and still little consensus about which fuels and technologies can make the biggest difference? Jim Banks investigates.
Post-pandemic wellness travel: How cruises are meeting the demand for personalised experiences
In the wake of the pandemic, and millennials driving more cruise bookings, there has been a renewed focus on wellness at sea. Elly Earls speaks to Julanda Marais, senior lead of spa and wellness at luxury cruise line Explora Journeys, and James Cole, founder and managing director of Panache Cruises, to find out where we are seeing the most innovation in this space and whether wellness and health can be properly integrated into the cruise experience without undermining its traditional strengths and values.
Green hydrogen in cruising: Insights from Ponant and Carnival on clean fuel innovations
As some cruise lines begin to invest in hydrogen as part of the industry’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and, ultimately, achieve net zero, there remains no consensus about its viability for the industry. Undeniably greener than many alternative fuels, it comes with its own challenges. Jim Banks investigates.