CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 1 Magazine Record year in Caribbean cruising REVIEWING CRUISE BUSINESS GLOBALLY SPRING 2025 Unexpected delights around every corner in Hong Kong TUI Cruises introduces inTUItion-class CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 1 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 1 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
2 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 Photo: Fiona Wardle / Aurora Expeditions We build for beyond. sunstoneships.com Whether the destination is to the remotest parts of the planet or to the cultural capitals of the world, SunStone provides all-in-one B2B solutions for small ship cruising on long-term or seasonal charters in cold and warm waters. Our clients and partners depend on SunStone’s commitment to environmental sustainability and pioneering initiatives to build a class of expedition vessels that delivers efficiency, safety, and comfort. CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 2 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 2 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 3 6 Editor’s Commentary 8 Unexpected delights around every corner in Hong Kong 10 Upfront 14 Four Seasons unveils culinary offerings on its luxury cruise vessel 16 PSTF 2025: The cruise industry convenes in Crete 18 Caribbean cruising: 2024 was a record year 23 Interview with Mike Maura Jr. 24 Opinion: How Mexico’s $42 fee could cost more than just money 26 Good news continues in French Polynesia 28 TUI Cruises expands with new class of ships 30 Chat with Malvina Guarnieri, Design Director at TDoS 36 Stena RoRo’s approach to standardized ropax ferry design 38 Anglo-Eastern moves to new offices in Miami, signs with new customers ON THE COVER: Scarlet Lady docked at Virgin Voyages’ dedicated cruise terminal in PortMiami. Photo credit: Virgin Voyages ON THE CONTENTS PAGE: Disney Treasure and Nieuw Statendam at St. Thomas. Photo credit: Carolyn Spencer Brown CONTENTS SPRING 2025 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 3 Photo: Fiona Wardle / Aurora Expeditions We build for beyond. sunstoneships.com Whether the destination is to the remotest parts of the planet or to the cultural capitals of the world, SunStone provides all-in-one B2B solutions for small ship cruising on long-term or seasonal charters in cold and warm waters. Our clients and partners depend on SunStone’s commitment to environmental sustainability and pioneering initiatives to build a class of expedition vessels that delivers efficiency, safety, and comfort. CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 3 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 3 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
4 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2024 Visit viking.com, call 1-800-2-Viking or see your Travel Advisor The Viking Polaris in Antarctica #1 for Oceans... When you are named #1 for Rivers... Onwards . Now it is time for us to work even harder. and #1 for Expeditions, two years in a row... Where do you go next? A Viking Longship in Budapest, Hungary The Viking Sky in the Westman Islands, Iceland CST# 2052644-40 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 4 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 4 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
Ph oto cre dit : Te ijo Ni em elä Visit viking.com, call 1-800-2-Viking or see your Travel Advisor The Viking Polaris in Antarctica #1 for Oceans... When you are named #1 for Rivers... Onwards . Now it is time for us to work even harder. and #1 for Expeditions, two years in a row... Where do you go next? A Viking Longship in Budapest, Hungary The Viking Sky in the Westman Islands, Iceland CST# 2052644-40 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 5 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 5 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
6 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 A lmost 24 years ago, the events of Sept. 11, 2001 created one of the worst crises in the tourism and travel industry in recent decades, surpassed only by the COVID-19 pandemic. After the tragic terrorist attacks, many American travelers chose to avoid flying and to vacation closer to home instead. Norwegian Cruise Line invented the slogan “Homeland Cruising,” offering regional U.S. turnaround ports. Other cruise lines followed suit, and since then we have witnessed a growing number of U.S. homeports. In 2025 we are living in a different world. International travel has rebounded. Traveling abroad from the U.S., which is the largest source market in the cruise industry, is once again popular. As cruise lines have gotten bigger and have been building larger cruise ships, they have also become more visible to lawmakers and policymakers all over the world. In Europe, ports-of-call are beginning to curb mass tourism in locations like Amsterdam, the Balearic Islands, Nice, Venice and some Greek Islands. Similar sentiments have been heard in several North American cities. But the U.S. faces other problems. One is American laws that make it difficult for foreign ship operators to get their vessels flagged in the U.S. Another is the fact that the U.S. itself has a very small domestic fleet of overnight cruise vessels. The largest U.S.-flagged cruise ship, the 80,439-gross-ton and 2,500-guest Pride of America, which operates in Hawaii, was actually finished in Germany for its owner Norwegian Cruise Line in 2005. The situation has allowed cruise lines to avoid U.S. income taxes. Still, the cruise industry pays $2.5 billion in various taxes and fees and contributes $65 billion annually to the U.S. economy, supporting 290,000 jobs, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) calculations. So why are cruise ships flagged outside the United States? It’s because of the Jones Act and Passenger Vessel Services Act, which dictate that ships in domestic service have to be built in the U.S. and crewed by American citizens and permanent residents. Currently the U.S. has no infrastructure to construct large or even medium-size cruise ships (which is required to obtain the U.S. flag). Recently, we have witnessed a domestic newbuild activity only from American Cruise Lines and Viking. American Cruise Lines is affiliated with Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland. While we don’t see American cruise shipbuilding and U.S.-flagged large cruise ships (with U.S. crews) coming anytime soon, we could suggest that current foreign-flagged cruise ships could increase calls in U.S. ports, and thus support local jobs. Alaska is already popular, which also benefits turnaround ports like Seattle and Canada’s Vancouver. But in many cases Alaska has become as saturated as many ports in Europe. So here’s an idea: extend the season. This past winter, Cruise St. Lawrence did just that by hosting Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant’s icebreaking expedition cruise ship. And here comes the segue: the United States is planning to rebuild its icebreaker fleet during the next few years. Why not build a few icebreakers with luxurious accommodations, restaurants, science centers and public lounges, that could be marketed for winter cruises all over North America, including Alaska, the Great Lakes and the Canadian Arctic? This would pave the way to construct more medium-size cruise ships in U.S. shipyards in the future. I am well aware that bringing cruise shipbuilding to the U.S. could be wishful thinking due to high cost and a lack of supply chains, but it could be done with partners with European expertise. Teijo Niemelä EDITOR’S COMMENTARY Homeland Cruising 2.0 HOW TO FOLLOW US X/@cruisebusiness || Facebook/CruiseBusinessUSA || Instagram/niemelateijo || E-mail christer.gorschelnik(a)kolumbus.fi CruiseBusiness.com Magazine Editor Teijo Niemelä Publisher Cruise Media LLC Chief Content Officer Carolyn Spencer Brown Sales Christer Gorschelnik COMPANY ADDRESS Cruise Media LLC 409 Riverview Road Chestertown, MD 21620 USA Telephone +1-609-751-2344 E-mail cruisemediallc(a)gmail.com SALES OFFICE USA Teijo Niemelä 409 Riverview Road Chestertown, MD 21620 USA Telephone +1-609-751-2344 E-mail cruisemediallc(a)gmail.com SALES OFFICE FINLAND ChrisGo Consulting Pahtankatu 10 as 10 FI-21200 Raisio, Finland Telephone +358-440-159 554 E-mail christer.gorschelnik(a)kolumbus.fi FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR A native of San Diego, David Swanson’s award-winning writing and photography has been featured in the pages of National Geographic Traveler, American Way, and the Los Angeles Times for more than 20 years, along with cruise and travel stories for dozens of U.S. newspapers and magazines. David served as President of the Society of American Travel Writers in 2018-2019. CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 6 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 6 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
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8 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 Bustling Hong Kong is living up to its reputation as a city that never sleeps, offering an ever-expanding array of mega events and festivities on top of renowned UNESCO-honoured historical treasures, city and great outdoors attractions, ready to pack in exhilarating experiences and endless surprises for the onshore programmes of regional and international cruises. Spectacular world-class events delivering money-can’t-buy-experiences Throughout the year, Hong Kong’s mega events scene will continue to thrive with festive celebrations, captivating drone shows, immersive art and culture shows, popular concerts featuring globally acclaimed artists, thrilling international sports events and more. Just like a month ago, the action-packed March has set the scene with a host of international spectacles staged in the month, aptly branded Super March. From the world’s leading sporting events such as World Snooker Grand Prix 2025 on 4-9 March, LIV Golf on 7-9 March and Hong Kong Sevens on 28-30 March to art month fixtures including Art Basel on 28-30 March, Art Central on 26-30 March and ComplexCon on 21-23 March, these exceptional events add extra thrills to shore visits. Spirit-lifting and eye-opening events are lined up all year round in Hong Kong to keep visitor experience always fresh. By collaborating with cruise lines, these special events can be transformed into unique shore experiences, creating once-in-a-lifetime memories for cruise passengers. A notable example of this took place during the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival in October 2024, when an exclusive stage event was held for Silver Nova’s VIPs. They were treated to a specially organised orchestra performance, a sumptuous tasting menu, wine-tasting of Chinese wine and more. Hidden gems and unexpected treats all around Beyond its iconic attractions and classic experiences, Hong Kong continually offers new and impressive discoveries, inviting visitors to explore the different sides of the city at every turn. Within compact Hong Kong lies a wealth of historical buildings and landscapes, some 22 spots have even received the prestigious UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. Among them are revitalised buildings like the former police station compound Tai Kwun and restored pre-war traditional tenement The Blue House. Characterful neighbourhoods in Sham Shui Po and West Kowloon offer a taste of quintessential Hong Kong culture and authentic tastes such as egg tarts and milk tea. And don’t miss out on Hong Kong’s hiking trails, beaches and UNESCO Global Geopark to recharge and connect with nature or having an adrenaline rush in style at horse-racing nights, or cruising famous bars listed among Asia’s 50 Best Bars. In contrast, the Kai Tak district, home to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, offers a raft of new developments delivering grand sporty, retail and entertainment experiences, easily accessible by cruise passengers. Most notably, the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park that opened in March has already lined up world-class events, making use of its main stadium that boasts a capacity for 50,000 spectators. More than just events, the sports park also houses the Kai Tak Mall, a retail hub featuring the city’s first and only “sportaiment” shopping concept. Together with the AIRSIDE mall in the vicinity, Kai Tak offers cruise passengers a plethora of retail, leisure and entertainment options a stone’s throw from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. New excitement also awaits at the city’s flagship theme parks. Join the panda mania at Ocean Park Hong Kong (OP) showcasing six pandas, including the locally born twins, and partake in “The Most Magical Party of All” 20th Anniversary celebrations at Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL). Ever expanding and evolving, OP is planning a new Adventure Zone complete with giant ziplines, ropes park, luge, bungy and giant swing and more, while HKDL is expanding the popular Marvel Super Heroes experiences in Tomorrowland with all-new entertainment, shopping and dining offerings. Cruise scene buzzing in March and beyond March was a super month for the local cruise scene, as the city welcomed four and three ships at the same time across two dates – Silver Whisper, Seabourn Encore, Celebrity Millennium and Costa Serena sailed across the Hong Kong waters on 9 March; and Queen Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Norwegian Sky docked on 19 March. Adding pizzazz to its VIP experience on shore, Cunard Line’s newest ship Queen Anne staged a World Cruise Gala-night themed “Story of Hong Kong” at the newly opened Hopewell Hotel for 1,100 VIPs during her overnight stay in town. Beyond March, Astro Ocean Cruise is making long-term homeport deployment in Hong Kong from April. Its cruise ship Piano Land offers international routes to Japan and Vietnam departing from Hong Kong during the deployment, giving convenient access to exceptional cruise experiences for locals as well as fly-cruise and rail-cruise passengers from the region. Additionally, Royal Caribbean International’s Ovation of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas are resuming seasonal deployment in Hong Kong in April and December. The line-up underlines Hong Kong’s growing appeal as a value-added port for international cruises. Cruise to incomparable delights in Hong Kong Hong Kong’s determination to rev up cruise tourism will deliver an ever-expanding array of experiences that excite cruise passengers, contributing to enriching onshore programmes for the global cruise industry. From the moment cruise passengers step off for onshore excitement to re-embarkation, cruise companies can be assured that their deployment to Hong Kong will yield memorable experiences for their guests and generate greater word-of-mouth for cruising. Discoverhongkong.com ADVERTORIAL Unexpected delights around every corner in Hong Kong From year-round exciting events to authentic experiences Chinese New Year Parade CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 8 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 8 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 9 Unexpected delights around every corner in Hong Kong From year-round exciting events to authentic experiences CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 9 Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival Hong Kong at night Hong Kong outdoors CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 9 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 9 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
10 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 UPFRONT Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of its first Prima Plus Class vessel, Norwegian Aqua, from Fincantieri’s Marghera yard on March 13. At 156,300 gross tons, it is 10% larger than the previously delivered Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva and has a passenger capacity of 3,571. From left to right: David J. Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line; Harry J. Sommer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.; and Robert Lunderberg, Norwegian Aqua’s captain. Carnival Cruise Line launched year-round sailings from Norfolk, Virginia on the 102,853-gros-ton and 3,002-guest Carnival Sunshine in early February. This follows the closing of Charleston, South Carolina turnaround operations. The new year-round deployment transforms Norfolk’s Half Moone Cruise Center from a seasonal port to a permanent cruise hub that will sail 150,000 guests annually the highest volume in the city’s history. Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy celebrated her 10-year anniversary at the helm of “The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line.” Duffy came to Carnival after serving as CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) following a career in the travel agency and meeting planning sectors. While she was leading the industry’s trade association, former Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald saw a unique set of leadership skills that could bring a new level of energy and focus to Carnival Cruise Line. Her accomplishments are clearly stated in the infographic. Everything needed for a seamless journey is right here. Port Everglades guests enjoy easy access through a leading international airport, direct highway connections, state-of-the-art terminals, secure parking, and boundless preand post-cruise possibilities in the world’s most inviting destination, Greater Fort Lauderdale, where Everyone Under the Sun is embraced with open arms. We make it easy. PortEverglades.net This Port is Paradise. Welcome to smooth sailing the voyage begins here CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 10 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 10 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 11 Everything needed for a seamless journey is right here. Port Everglades guests enjoy easy access through a leading international airport, direct highway connections, state-of-the-art terminals, secure parking, and boundless preand post-cruise possibilities in the world’s most inviting destination, Greater Fort Lauderdale, where Everyone Under the Sun is embraced with open arms. We make it easy. PortEverglades.net This Port is Paradise. Welcome to smooth sailing the voyage begins here CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 11 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 11 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
12 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 12 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2024 UPFRONT TUI Cruises received its first-ever Fincantieri-built ship on Feb. 7. The 157,651-gross-ton and 3,984-guest Mein Schiff Relax belongs to a new inTUItion-class and is considerably larger than Mein Schiff 1 to 7 vessels built previously at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. Pictured from left to right: Fincantieri’s Cristiano Bazzaro, and TUI Cruises’ CEO Wybcke Meier and CFO Frank Kuhlmann. UPFRONT Crescent Heights, one of the largest real estate developers in the U.S., announced in March the launch of Crescent Seas, an exclusive new residential model offering luxury residences at sea. Crescent Seas will launch with the 28,550-grosston Navigator – in agreement with the ship’s owners, which are affiliates of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH). The ship is currently operating as 490-guest Seven Seas Navigator. Sealing the deal, from left, Harry Sommer, President & CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Russell Galbut, Managing Principal of Crescent Heights. American Legend, part of American Cruise Lines’ Project Blue series, was officially christened in Key West, Florida in February. The ceremony included speeches, plaque exchanges, and local musical performances. Surrounded by cruise guests, the ship’s official Godmother, Key West Mayor Danise “DeeDee” Henriquez, joined American Cruise Lines’ President & CEO, Charles B. Robertson, for the traditional bottle smash on the top deck. CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 12 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 12 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 13 The Maltese government signed in March the first Power Purchase Agreement in the Mediterranean cruise region with Carnival UK & P&O Cruises on behalf of all Carnival Corp brands. The introduction of fully electrified cruise berths developed under the Shore-to-Ship initiative will allow cruise ships to reduce their carbon footprint by drawing power from the grid while in port. Pictured from left to right: Max Kommorowski, proprietor of MKO Marine Consulting; Norbert Grech, Senior Manager at Transport Malta; Roland Texeira de Mattos, President of European Onshore Power Supply Association; Miriam Dalli, Minister for Energy and the Environment; Prime Minister Robert Abela; Chris Bonett, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure; Paul Ludlow, President of Carnival UK; Stephen Xuereb, COO of Global Ports Holding and CEO of Valletta Cruise Port; and Kurt Farrugia, CEO of Transport Malta. Get in touch! anttimarine.fi Fire safety, sound insulation, and durability requirements make ship doors relatively heavy. However, thanks to over 30 years of experience and active product development, Antti Marine has now successfully managed to reduce the weight of its next-generation doors. The new optimized structural and insulation solutions in Antti doors benefit both shipowners and our shared environment. LIGHTER ANTTI DOOR – LESSER LOAD FOR THE SHIP CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 13 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 13 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
14 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 As Four Seasons prepares to bring its reputation for hotel luxury to the high seas with the 2026 launch of Four Seasons I, it has announced the restaurants and lounges that cruise guests will have available to them onboard the 14-deck, 195-guest yacht. Four Seasons I is currently in the outfitting stage at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard in Italy. According to a press release from Four Seasons, the 679-foot (207-meter) vessel features 11 restaurants and bars that promise “a unique gastronomic experience.” The ship’s design is crafted by Tillberg Design of Sweden. “Our restaurants and bars are the heartbeat of our hotels, and when we set sail in 2026, the same will be true aboard Four Seasons I, creating moments of connection, celebration and culinary excellence at sea,” says Alejandro Reynal, Four Seasons’ President and Chief Executive Officer. The new oceangoing venture builds “on the success of our more than 600 restaurants and bars around the world, while introducing something entirely new,” says Reynal. Featuring 95 suites with floor-to-ceiling ocean views, private terraces, double vanity bathrooms and walk-in closets, the vessel launches in January with a 7-night maiden voyage in the Lesser Antilles. Cruises are also planned in the Mediterranean, among the Greek isles, along the Dalmatian coast and the Bahamas, among other destinations. Menus aboard the Four Seasons I will be “curated by Four Seasons craftspeople, including chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists,” and will be “ever-evolving to ensure each venue has a distinct concept and personality,” according to the company press release. Children’s menus will also be available. Breakfasts will be complimentary “and all other dining and beverage experiences will be offered a la carte,” according to Four Seasons. The gastronomic centerpiece onboard Four Seasons I is the Sedna, which, according to Four Seasons, will be “home to rotating master chefs-in-residence, with a calendar featuring culinary talents from Four Seasons restaurants around the globe.” When a guest chef is not onboard, the Sedna will “present a menu rooted in modern French techniques with global influences, enhanced by sommelier-curated wine pairings.” A private dining room for up to 10 guests will be available for special events. Another onboard restaurant, Terrasse, is inspired by the Côte d’Azur, offering “Mediterranean dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner.” The Terrasse will feature fresh-caught seafood and “light, seasonal dishes crafted from locally sourced ingredients.” It has an indoor-outdoor design with an “open kitchen and live culinary stations.” The vessel’s Miuna restaurant offers up to 16 guests a full-immersion omakase experience, according to Four Seasons, featuring high-quality seafood, interactions with the sushi chef, and “signature beverage pairings -whether it’s a rare sake from Kyoto or Fukushima or a carefully constructed Japanese-inspired cocktail.” Light breakfasts, sweets, artisanal coffee and tea will be offered in the Pistachio cafe. Guests seeking a quick bite, or heading out to explore the port-of-call, can stop by the Pistachio for fresh croissants, petite gâteaux, and house-churned gelatos, among other offerings. The Salon, a lounge onboard Four Seasons I with all-day service, is envisioned as the yacht’s “living room,” where guests can mingle, enjoy an a la carte breakfast, afternoon tea, curated bottled cocktails, and an evening glass of wine. The poolside bar Piscine will feature “Mediterranean-inspired bites,” jeroboams of rosés from Provence and Champagne, Mojitos, and a curated soundtrack to set the mood, according to Four Seasons. Adjacent to the Sedna restaurant is Champagne & Caviar, an adults-only terrace bar overlooking the pool deck that will serve Balik salmon, rare caviar, grand cru and grower Champagnes, as well as Proseccos, cavas, and wines from around the globe. Four Seasons describes the ship’s Horizon Lounge as a “Moroccan-inspired retreat,” open midday throughout the evening and offering Levantine dishes, complemented by “classic and exotic cocktails.” When the Four Seasons I anchors on dedicated marina days at various locales, the Marina Bar offers light fare, watersports, and in the evening an opportunity for open-air stargazing while enjoying cocktails and bottle service. Guests desiring “an ultra-glamorous setting reminiscent of 1960s jetset Europe” will find it at the vessel’s Bar O, with its crafted drinks, “rare vintage liquors and tableside mixology.” At the Arabic-inspired Cigar Lounge, cruise guests can treat themselves to cigars, “rare spirits, and a unique premier cru chocolate pairing experience,” according to Four Seasons. Four Seasons unveils culinary offerings of its luxury cruise vessel SHIP PREVIEW Horizon Lounge CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 14 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 14 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 15 Champagne & Caviar Salon Cigar Lounge Terrasse Marina Bar CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 15 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 15 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 15 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
16 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 The cruise industry convenes in Crete: What you need to know The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will gather for the eighth time since the first conference in Athens in 2011. Since then, Greece has regained its position again as a major turnaround point in the Eastern Mediterranean, thanks to investments at the Port of Piraeus and improved air links to Athens airport. But due to the popularity of just a handful of ports in Greece, the country has also experienced some growing pains — especially in the popular ports of call Mykonos and Santorini. The 8th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum (PSTF 2025) is set to bring together an elite assembly of global cruise industry leaders in Heraklion, Crete, on May 6-7. With the strong support of the Region of Crete and the Heraklion Port Authority, this premier event will convene executives from the world’s major cruise lines, industry associations, destinations and maritime tourism authorities from Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean to engage in high-level discussions on the evolving landscape of cruise tourism. The forum will address a broad spectrum of industry challenges and opportunities, shaping the future of sea tourism in the region. In 2023, the cruise industry generated €2 billion for the domestic economy of Greece and €1 billion in direct spending, supporting 22,600 jobs. The number of cruise passengers reached approximately 7 million last year. The success has created some problems with overtourism. For example, Santorini received 800 cruise ship calls during 2023. Theodore Vokos, Managing Director of Posidonia Exhibitions S.A., the forum’s organizer, said: “Over the next three years, 40 new cruise ships will be delivered, adding another 90,000 berths to global capacity. With the East Med becoming more important to the industry due to plans for increased ship deployment in the region, it is natural that all major and niche cruise lines will want to be in Crete for PSTF 2025.” Over the course of two days at the state-ofthe-art Mikis Theodorakis Convention Centre, key decision-makers will explore strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the region’s most sought-after destinations. Conference program On Day 1, discussions will focus on striking a balance between growing passenger demand and responsible tourism management, as well as fostering collaboration to introduce cruise travelers to emerging ports with marquee potential. With sustainable sea tourism at the forefront, the forum aims to shape a resilient and forward-thinking cruise landscape for the region. Elisabetta de Nardo, Senior Vice President, Global Port Relations & Commercial Services, MSC Cruises, highlighted the forum’s significance: “The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum is a fantastic opportunity to exchange the knowledge that can help inform and shape our continued growth path. It is in the interests of all cruise lines, ports, destinations, and other tourism industry stakeholders to ensure we POSIDONIA SEA TOURISM FORUM 2025 Torsten Büssow CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 16 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 16 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 17 The cruise industry convenes in Crete: What you need to know work together to address the issues facing us in the Mediterranean, such as ensuring frameworks are in place for the introduction of OPS, and the work underway to mitigate overcrowding, an issue of particular focus in the host nation, Greece. As Europe’s leading cruise line, MSC Cruises is committed to a cooperative approach towards responsible tourism, ensuring we meet the needs of our guests while protecting the destinations we visit and the marine environment on which we rely.” One of the must-attend panel discussions on the opening day of PSTF 2025 is the Small Ships Panel, introducing a dynamic and rapidly growing market segment to the region. With increasing interest from major hotel conglomerates in ultra-luxury small cruise ships, this panel will explore how these vessels — perfectly suited for the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean — are reshaping the cruising experience. Attendees will gain insights into how small cruise ships offer a more intimate and personalized onboard atmosphere, along with greater flexibility in itinerary design, allowing access to smaller, off-the-beaten-path ports. Industry experts will discuss the demand and future construction of these ships, operational challenges in serving remote destinations, and key factors that set this niche apart from mainstream cruising. Spyros Almpertis, Vice President Port and Destination Operations at Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, commented: “We believe that the East Med will play a crucial role in our future plans, as we aim to provide our guests with unique opportunities to explore lesser-known ports while enjoying the highest standards of luxury. The PSTF 2025 is an invaluable forum for connecting with industry leaders and stakeholders. It provides opportunities for dialogue around sustainability, innovation and the future of the maritime industry — values that resonate deeply with the Ritz-Carlton brand. We are excited to introduce our new yacht collection to this dynamic region and are committed to delivering exceptional service while promoting responsible tourism practices that support local communities and preserve the delicate marine environment.” The event’s exhibition floor will provide a prime networking space for regional destination stakeholders to connect with itinerary and excursion planners, as well as with leading cruise industry executives keen to engage with both established and up-and-coming destinations looking to leverage the sector’s rapid expansion. Greek Celestyal Cruises offering destination-rich cruises The two-ship Celestyal Cruises is the major operator headquartered in Piraeus, Greece. It recently completed the acquisition and refurbishment of two secondhand ships, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey replacing its two older vintage vessels. Both have a capacity of in the range of 1,300 guests and can easily navigate to smaller, lesser-known islands. Chris Theophilides, CEO of Celestyal shared his vision: “The Central and Eastern Mediterranean remains a core region for Celestyal, with our beloved Iconic Greek Islands, Idyllic Greece, and Heavenly Greece, Italy & Croatia itineraries. Coupled with our fleetwide year-round operations now in place, we are excited to present our upgraded brand, enhanced services, and expanded itineraries. Our investment in both our fleet and guest experience underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional, destination-rich cruises. With our recent expansion into the Arabian Gulf, offering new year-round itineraries, we are thrilled to bring Celestyal’s signature experience to even more travelers. The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum is a great opportunity to connect with industry partners, explore new collaborations, and showcase our vision for the future. I am looking forward to meeting industry peers, partners, and local authorities to discuss the exciting opportunities ahead.” Sponsors for the 2025 PSTF include: Diamond sponsor Heraklion Port Authority; Gold sponsors Region of Crete and Hellenic Organisation of Cultural Resources Development (ODAP); Silver sponsor Piraeus Port Authority; Bronze sponsors Celestyal, Heraklion International Airport and Kyvernitis Travel Group; sponsor Thessaloniki Port Authority, and official airline SKY express. The forum is organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy and the Ministry of Tourism, and is supported by the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MedCruise) and the Union of Cruise Ship Owners & Associated Members of Greece. Mykonos is one of the busiest ports-of-call in Greece Ph oto cre dit : Te ijo Ni em elä CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 17 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 17 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
18 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 Some of the popularity can be attributed to simple proximity. Nassau and other Bahamian ports are an easy overnight sail from South Florida, meaning even a 3or 4-night cruise out of Miami or Ft. Lauderdale can deliver a couple days of island rhythms while minimizing fuel consumption. While the December-March winter season sees the bulk of the cruise traffic, most of the contemporary brands maintain a presence in the islands during summer months. For summer 2025, Royal Caribbean International will operate 15 ships in the Caribbean — more than half of the line’s 29-ship fleet — including its three latest and biggest showstoppers, By David Swanson DESTINATION REPORT 2024 was a record year, but some ports struggle No question: Cruisers love sailing the Caribbean. The region — which includes Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean coast of Mexico and Central America — captures the largest market share of any cruise area in the world, and the passenger count continues to rise. In 2019, the region had a 39% share of global cruise capacity. For 2024, projections show the Caribbean has grown to capture 42% of the world’s cruisers — more than two-and-a-half times the market share of the next most popular area, the Mediterranean. Caribbean cruising: 18 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 #WeLoveCruising CRUISE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD ® PortMiami.biz START your CRUISE ADVENTURE from MIAMI Nassau Cruise Port Ph oto cre dit : Te ijo Ni em elä CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 18 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 18 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 19 Ph oto cre dit : Te ijo Ni em elä #WeLoveCruising CRUISE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD ® PortMiami.biz START your CRUISE ADVENTURE from MIAMI Nassau Cruise Port CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 19 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 19 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27
20 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 Icon of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas and Star of the Seas. Other cruise lines, such as Carnival and Disney, have an even larger share of their berths vested in the Caribbean’s summer season. Although the threat of hurricanes looms for several months, July through October, the Caribbean’s great variety and spread of ports means cruise ships can alter itineraries when a major storm spins through, making the region truly a year-round cruise option. Across the Caribbean, destination development follows different business models. The traditional path has been island governments overseeing port operations, either through the public or private sector, or a combination of both. Caribbean destinations where this has been the case for years include the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, St. Maarten, the Port of La Romana in the Dominican Republic, and the Crown Bay Center on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Jamaica faces challenges The island of Jamaica has no less than five cruise ports, owned by different combinations of government, government agencies and private entities. The ports at Montego Bay and Ocho Rios have longstanding relationships with the cruise industry, but for the development of the Historic Falmouth Port in 2011, the Port Authority of Jamaica entered into a joint venture with Royal Caribbean. Today, Falmouth is the island’s busiest port, with capacity for two of the line’s Oasis-class ships simultaneously. Other brands regularly calling on Falmouth include Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, MSC, and Norwegian. Passenger cruise visits to Jamaica have not kept pace with land vacations which, at 4.3 million visitors in 2024, are basically even with 2019 numbers. During the same period cruise visitors declined 19%, to 1.25 million in 2024. Despite this, Joy Roberts, Executive Director of Jamaica Vacations, says expanding Falmouth Port has been discussed. “We’re looking at additional fingers, but there’s no timeline yet,” says Roberts. “Our biggest challenge is road infrastructure, and that is being developed.” However, additionally because Grand Cayman not being able to accept larger vessels there has been a challenge for cruise lines being able to make an itinerary that includes Jamaica. Roberts notes that the port of Ocho Rios has been impaired by an accident in February 2024, when strong winds caused Carnival Magic to slam into the pier, causing significant damage to both the ship and pier. Currently operating as a tender port, Robert anticipates the Ocho Rios pier will be fully operational again by September. Following the opening of Falmouth, the Port of Montego Bay slid to a number three position in arrivals for the country, but still lures such lines as Carnival, Cunard, Oceania, Viking and European operators AIDA and TUI. With its location close to Montego Bay Airport, one of the Caribbean’s best-connected airports, Roberts says that the government has looked at using Montego Bay as a homeport for Jamaica-focused itineraries, possibly with one of the European cruise brands. “The airport has just built a special cruise lounge so that passengers can be checked in at the airport and bags can be sent directly to the ship,” Roberts adds. Other Jamaican ports such a cruise could visit include Port Antonio, where the Ken Wright Pier currently serves a few smaller ships annually (under 1,000 passengers). Explora Journeys, Oceania and Crystal each have scheduled calls in Port Antonio during the 2026-27 seasons. The Historic Naval Dockyard at Port Royal was restored and opened as a cruise port in January 2020. It’s located about 15 miles from downtown Kingston but has not yet caught on as a regularly scheduled cruise call. Barbados find success with homeporting A Caribbean destination that has had success with homeporting is Barbados. The achievement is all the more notable given the island’s location at the far southeast of the region, a three-and-a-half-hour flight from Miami. Tia Broomes, Senior Business Development Officer for cruise at Barbados Tourism Marketing, says infrastructure, efficiency of turnaround operations, and constant upgrades to the port have been key. “It was originally a cargo port,” Broomes explains. “But we’ve undertaken a multimillion project to separate cruise from cargo. With rapid development of the cruise business, and with the decline of sugar production over the years, Barbados has become more of a cruise port.” Broomes says turnaround operations are increasing on the island, and that homeporting has grown “dramatically, by almost 50%.” For the 2025-26 season, Barbados expects to host a wide variety of brands for homeporting — from small-ship operators like Star Clippers and Windstar, to European brands such as P&O, Marella and AIDA, to luxury operators Silversea and Seabourn. “We’ve got Ritz-Carlton coming in for its third winter season and Four Seasons Yachts will use Barbados as a Caribbean homeport,” adds Broomes. “We deliver memorable days for guests preand post-cruise, so they really get to experience the island.” Global Ports Holding expanding operations Global Ports Holding is the world’s largest cruise port operator, with a presence in the Mediterranean and Asia-Pacific, as well as the Caribbean. Global Ports’ operation in the Caribbean includes the ports of Antigua, St. Lucia, San Juan, and Nassau, which celebrated a record-breaking year in 2024, with 5.6 million passengers. Nassau’s growth comes on the heels of a $300 million project to enhance the passenger experience, including redeveloping the waterfront, a new terminal building, new food and beverage facilities, and the addition of an event and entertainment amphitheater. Loading areas, traffic flow and signage were improved, and 60 retail spaces were created, hosting both luxury goods and local crafts. The port has six operational berths and can accommodate three Oasis-class ships simultaneously, as well as the new Icon class. (Including cruise line-managed private island ports and Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, the Bahamas overall attracted 9.35 million cruise guests in 2024.) In Antigua, where cruise passenger arrivals grew 23% in 2024 — a record year for the island — Global Ports announced the start of construction in February on a new cruise terminal at the port’s fifth berth. Last December, St. Lucia also celebrated an increase in cruise arrivals, up 18% over 2023, while also embarking on a cruise port redevelopment project, to modernize the island’s cruise tourism infrastructure. In 2024, Global Ports signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Puerto Rico Ports Authority for the San Juan Cruise Port, and last year announced plans for $100 million focused on critical infrastructure repairs at Pier 4 and Pan American Piers I and II, in addition to upgrades to the terminal buildings and the passenger walkway. Future development in San Juan includes an estimated $250 million investment to expand the port’s capacity by building a new cruise pier and state-of-the-art homeport terminal at Piers 11 and 12 to handle the largest cruise ships. San Juan, St. Kitts, St. Maarten still struggle Last year was a record year for cruising in the Caribbean, but not all ports are seeing growth. Since 2019, the last full year of cruising prior to the pandemic, the ports of San Juan, St. CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 20 CB-TAITTO SPRING 2025.indd 20 4.4.2025 13.27 4.4.2025 13.27