CruiseBusiness.com CruiseBusiness.com REVIEWING CRUISE BUSINESS GLOBALLY Magazine Magazine SUMMER 2022 ULTRA-LUXURY REDEFINED Silversea Cruises, which is fully part of Royal Caribbean Group, has not rested on its laurels during the pandemic. Since the end of 2020, it has taken delivery of three ultra-luxury newbuilds. It recently acquired the former Crystal Endeavor, billed as the most expensive expedition ship ever built per berth, and renamed it the Silver Endeavour. The company also launched an immersive S.A.L.T. culinary program and introduced an innovative Otium wellness program on its newest vessels. Next year, it will introduce the first Nova-class newbuild ordered from Meyer Werft. kansi summer2022.indd 1 kansi summer2022.indd 1 17.8.2022 7.31 17.8.2022 7.31
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 mission is to enable world exploration by creating and providing sustainable and innovative cruise solutions to travel companies. 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. Join us today on the expedition cruise of tomorrow. OCEAN ODYSSEY SYLVIA EARLE OCEAN ALBATROS OCEAN VICTORY OCEAN EXPLORER GREG MORTIMER OCEAN DIAMOND OCEAN ENDEAVOUR OCEAN ADVENTURER OCEAN ATLANTIC SEA SPIRIT OCEAN NOVA Delivery 2022 Delivery 2022 Delivery 2023 Follow The Sun Wherever Your Destination, Let SunStone Take You There www.sunstoneships.com SHAPING THE FUTURE WITH INNOVATIVE CRUISE SOLUTIONS kansi summer2022.indd 2 kansi summer2022.indd 2 17.8.2022 7.31 17.8.2022 7.31
THE PORT AUTHORITY OF JAMAICA Adversity is inevitable but our passion pushes us forward. Resilience. grit. fortitude. THE PORT AUTHORITY OF JAMAICA 5 Ports of Call. 5 Unique Experiences: Montego Bay | Falmouth | Ocho Rios | Port Antonio | Port Royal @cruisejamaica 3-4.indd 1 3-4.indd 1 22.8.2022 7.47 22.8.2022 7.47
S W E D E N • P O L A N D • U S A • S I N G A P O R E • T I L L B E R G D E S I G N . C O M Design to enhance your business CruiseBusiness arbetsfil.indd 7 CruiseBusiness arbetsfil.indd 7 2022-08-02 14:01 2022-08-02 14:01 3-4.indd 2 3-4.indd 2 22.8.2022 7.47 22.8.2022 7.47
CONTENTS – SUMMER 2022 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SPRING 2022 5 Ph oto cre dit : Te ijo Ni em elä 8 Editor’s Commentary 12 Upfront 16 Alaska builds for the future 20 Private equity drives growth 26 Disney makes a Wish 32 Shipyards work to produce greener designs 36 Silver Wind transitions to expedition service 40 Beyond the Edge 42 Viking Glory embodies Nordic timelessness 46 Prima starts new era for NCL Seabourn Venture – Seabourn’s brand new expedition ship – and Star Pride, Windstar stretched luxury ship recently met in Iceland. Star Pride, originally Seabourn Pride, was the company’s first ship ever. contents.indd 3 contents.indd 3 26.8.2022 6.44 26.8.2022 6.44
WHEN YOU ARE NAMED #1 ON RIVERS… AND #1 ON OCEANS, WHERE DO YOU GO NEXT? Viking-Cruise-Business-Spread.indd 1 Viking-Cruise-Business-Spread.indd 1 8/15/22 12:38 PM 8/15/22 12:38 PM 6-7.indd 2 6-7.indd 2 19.8.2022 13.25 19.8.2022 13.25
WHEN YOU ARE NAMED #1 ON RIVERS… AND #1 ON OCEANS, WHERE DO YOU GO NEXT? Viking-Cruise-Business-Spread.indd 1 Viking-Cruise-Business-Spread.indd 1 8/15/22 12:38 PM 8/15/22 12:38 PM 6-7.indd 3 6-7.indd 3 19.8.2022 13.25 19.8.2022 13.25
T he cruise business has gradually returned back to normal. Cruise operations have resumed in most regions such as North America, Europe, Australia and South America. International travel has resumed as well. More and more people have flown this summer from North America to Europe for their long-awaited river and ocean cruises, and more Europeans have been able to travel to the U.S. after major travel restrictions were lifted, including mandatory Covid-19 tests. As cruise travelers are again filling ships and traveling to long-haul destinations after a two-year absence, new roadblocks have emerged. Airports and airlines are almost bursting at the seams as travel demand has exceeded initial projections. Although travel has not reached pre-Covid-19 levels, transportation infrastructure has showed its vulnerability. The summer season is always the busiest time for transatlantic flying, and summer 2022 will go into the history books for a laundry list of disruptions: Airports have reported record waiting times to check-in, especially in getting through security; there have been mountains of delayed luggage; airlines have canceled a huge amount of flights; and customers have struggled to get to their final destinations. On top of this, strikes have hit major airlines serving the cruise lines, such as Scandinavian Airlines’ (SAS) two-week pilot strike or Lufthansa’s ground-staff strike, both in July. Nor did it help when London-Heathrow and Frankfurt – both major transit airports – anEditor Teijo Niemelä Publisher Cruise Media LLC Chief Content Officer Carolyn Spencer Brown Copy Editor M.T. Schwartzman Sales and Production Christer Gorschelnik Art Director Julle Järvinen, Julle Oy COMPANY ADDRESS Cruise Media LLC 209 N Queen Street Chestertown, MD 21620 USA Telephone +1-609-751-2344 E-mail cruisemediallc[a]gmail.com SALES OFFICE FINLAND ChrisGo Consulting Pahtankatu 10 as 10 FIN-21200 Raisio, Finland Telephone +358-440-159 554 E-mail christer.gorschelnik[a]kolumbus.fi SALES OFFICE USA Teijo Niemelä 209 N Queen Street Chestertown, MD 21620 USA Telephone +1-609-751-2344 cruisemediallc[a]gmail.com FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR M.T. Schwartzman has covered Alaska tourism and the cruise industry since 1988. He has written hundreds of articles on the state for consumer, trade and business publications. He also is the Copy Editor of CruiseBusiness.com Magazine. PRINTED IN FINLAND – PUNAMUSTA OY, HELSINKI EDITOR’S COMMENTARY nounced they would limit the number of daily passengers, forcing airlines to cancel reservations for thousands of travelers on a daily basis. S o, why am I concerned about airports and airlines? The airline industry is a vital partner to the cruise lines – both for its crew and its passengers. As a lot of crew live in countries far from their workplaces, reliable airline services are important to minimize disruptions. For passengers, missing a segment of their flight itinerary could mean a chain-reaction: missing the departure of their cruise and having to make a difficult re-routing to their ship’s next destination. But the airline industry is complex. During the Covid-19 pandemic, airlines and their support industries such as airports and ground operators let go a lot of their workforce. As travel has increased, many of these people have chosen different careers. A lot of airlines were already suffering pre-Covid, resulting in pay cuts, so in many cases aviation is not a sought after career path anymore. It also requires a lot of specific training and background security checks, so manpower cannot be immediately available. As an example, one of the most iconic European airlines is in need of extra capacity. It still has a lot of grounded aircraft, including Airbus A380 super jumbos; however, to get such a plane back to being airworthy requires a lot of maintenance. The company made a decision this past June to bring back six of these double-deckers, but they will not be available until summer 2023 due to the complexity of returning them to service. A great piece of advice for travelers has always been to use a reputable travel agent for travel planning and to fly at least a day early to the port of embarkation. This seems to be even truer today. Teijo Niemelä HOW TO FOLLOW US Twitter.com/cruisebusiness n facebook.com/CruiseBusinessUSA n Instagram.com/niemelateijo CruiseBusiness.com Magazine 8 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 AIRLINE WOES C M Y CM MY CY CMY K CRUISE_Cruise_Business_Review_210x297_ESE.pdf 1 12/03/21 09:41 8-9 .indd 2 8-9 .indd 2 17.8.2022 7.43 17.8.2022 7.43
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K CRUISE_Cruise_Business_Review_210x297_ESE.pdf 1 12/03/21 09:41 8-9 .indd 3 8-9 .indd 3 17.8.2022 7.44 17.8.2022 7.44
UPFRONT 10 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 Holland America Line officially named its latest addition, the Rotterdam, in its namesake city in Holland during Dutch Heritage Day on May 30. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands served as godmother and officially named the ship in front of invited dignitaries and guests. At 99,500 gross tons, the Rotterdam is the third Pinnacleclass vessel and has a double-occupancy capacity of 2,668 guests. Costa Cruises celebrated the christening of its second LNG-powered newbuild, the Costa Toscana, in a pier-side event at the Port of Barcelona on June 16. The godmother of the ship is Chanel, the artist who represented Spain in the last edition of Eurovision. Attending the ceremony were, among others, Bernard Meyer, Tim Meyer, Mario Zanetti, Arnold Donald, Micky Arison and Michael Thamm. Carnival Cruise Line brought some Texas flair to Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, for the keel-laying of the brand’s third Excelclass vessel, the Carnival Jubilee. Wearing cowboy-shaped hard hats, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy was joined by Meyer Werft Managing Director Bernard Meyer and Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Newbuilds Ben Clement (pictured from left), among others, to celebrate the construction milestone by placing coins under a 375-ton keel block. The Carnival Jubilee will begin sailing from Galveston in November of 2023 on 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries. 10-15.indd 2 10-15.indd 2 24.8.2022 6.55 24.8.2022 6.55
UPFRONT UPFRONT CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 11 Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of the Norwegian Prima – the first of six 142,500 gross ton and 3,100-passenger Prima-class newbuilds – from Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard. Pictured are Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager Merchant Ships Division of Fincantieri and Harry Sommer, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. Steel cutting for the first of two 160,000 gross ton, LNG-powered newbuilds for TUI Cruises – a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group – took place in the presence of Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, and Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager Merchant Ship Division of Fincantieri, in San Giorgio di Nogaro (Udine) at Centro Servizi Navali, a company specializing in logistics and production of sheet metal for the Fincantieri yards in northeastern Italy. The new units will be built at the Monfalcone shipyard and delivered in 2024 and 2026, respectively. Royal Caribbean International’s upcoming Utopia of the Seas – the first LNG-powered unit in the industry-defining Oasis class – reached a major milestone with the keellaying ceremony at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, on July 1. The event celebrated the official start of the Utopia’s physical construction ahead of the ship’s introduction in spring 2024. 10-15.indd 3 10-15.indd 3 24.8.2022 6.55 24.8.2022 6.55
UPFRONT 12 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 River cruise line AmaWaterways celebrated the christening of its newest ship, the AmaLucia, with a ceremony in Rüdesheim, Germany, on July 31. Pictured from left are Rudi Schreiner, President and co-founder of AmaWaterways; Jackie Friedman, President of Nexion Travel Group and godmother of the AmaViola; Gerrie van Tiem, TeamCo Shipyard B.V; Marcel Zweers, TeamCo Shipyard B.V.; Kristin Karst, Executive Vice President and co-founder of AmaWaterways; Will Farmer, co-godparent of AmaLucia; Colin Farmer, Senior Managing Director of Certares; Riley Farmer, co-godparent of AmaLucia; Captain Arjan; Patty Farmer, grandmother of Will and Riley Farmer; Wine Princess Franciska; Mayor Klaus Zapp; Wine Princess Mazi; and Wine Princess Isabel. AmaWaterways operates 26 river cruise ships. Viking named its newest identical ocean ship, the Viking Mars, during a private ceremony in Valletta, Malta, on May 17. As part of the event, the ship’s ceremonial godmother Lady Fiona Carnarvon, Countess of Carnarvon of Highclere Castle, offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the ship – a naval tradition that dates back thousands of years. 10-15.indd 4 10-15.indd 4 24.8.2022 6.55 24.8.2022 6.55
The second of three Vega-class ships under construction in Helsinki for Swan Hellenic’s heritage brand was named at Helsinki Shipyard. The naming ceremony was held on July 11 with. Patrizia Passalacqua as the godmother of the vessel. From left, Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito, Godmother Patrizia Passalacqua and Helsinki Shipyard BoD member Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch The Viking Saturn, the newest ocean cruise ship that Fincantieri is building for Viking, was floated out at the Ancona shipyard in the presence of Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, and Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri, on June 23. Godmother for the ceremony was Elena Del Mastro, a shipyard employee. As with its sister ships, the Viking Saturn registers 47,800 gross tons and has 465 cabins with accommodations for 930 passengers. CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 13 10-15.indd 5 10-15.indd 5 24.8.2022 6.55 24.8.2022 6.55
Hear from industry leaders at the State of the Mediterranean Cruise Industry Keynote Under the umbrella Steering Change Together, this session will hear from a panel of cruise leaders to explore the return to cruise in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas. As the Med maintains its strong position as the world’s second cruise destination, what is driving deployment decisions in this region? This discussion will explore the industry’s commitment to a carbon zero future, the work of the industry as a trailblazer for modelling responsible tourism practices, as well as its dedication to deliver world-class passenger experience that makes cruising the superior way to travel the world. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that will explore how the industry can work together to continue to steer this change towards a stronger future for cruise. Junta de Andalucía Consejería de Turismo, Regeneración, Justicia y Administración Local Hosted by 10-15.indd 6 10-15.indd 6 24.8.2022 6.55 24.8.2022 6.55
Hear from industry leaders at the State of the Mediterranean Cruise Industry Keynote Under the umbrella Steering Change Together, this session will hear from a panel of cruise leaders to explore the return to cruise in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas. As the Med maintains its strong position as the world’s second cruise destination, what is driving deployment decisions in this region? This discussion will explore the industry’s commitment to a carbon zero future, the work of the industry as a trailblazer for modelling responsible tourism practices, as well as its dedication to deliver world-class passenger experience that makes cruising the superior way to travel the world. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that will explore how the industry can work together to continue to steer this change towards a stronger future for cruise. Junta de Andalucía Consejería de Turismo, Regeneración, Justicia y Administración Local Hosted by 10-15.indd 7 10-15.indd 7 24.8.2022 6.55 24.8.2022 6.55
16 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 C ruise lines are bullish on Alaska, as evidenced by the growing number of infrastructure projects either newly built or in the planning stages. From Ketchikan at the southern gateway of the Inside Passage to Whittier at the head of Prince PORT DEVELOPMENT ALASKA BUILDS FOR THE FUTURE Despite the pandemic and a two-year disruption of its cruise business – or maybe because of it – there has been a flurry of cruise infrastructure development in Alaska. Some of these projects have already come online; others are under construction, and still more are in the planning stages. By M.T. Schwartzman William Sound – and at Klawock, Sitka, Hoonah, Juneau and Seward in-between – major cruise lines and their destination partners are building new docks and related facilities to handle the increasing number of cruise passengers that visit Alaska – forecast to be 1.6 million in 2023 if ships sail at full capacity. (At the time of writing, ships arriving in Ketchikan and Juneau were averaging about 70% capacity.) Two cruise companies in particular – Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. – have been instrumental in moving these projects forward. Their partners on the destination side include Huna Totem Corporation, Ward Cove Dock Group, LLC and Halibut Point Marine Services. Easing ‘pinch points’ “The cruise industry has long viewed Alaska as one of its strongest markets. The pandemic did not change that and, if anything, may have strengthened it,” said Lalanya Downs, Senior Director of Community Relations & Public Affairs for CLIA Alaska. Aerial view of Ward Cove cruise facility 16-19 alaska.indd 2 16-19 alaska.indd 2 22.8.2022 7.46 22.8.2022 7.46
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 17 ? ALASKA BUILDS FOR THE FUTURE “With the growth Alaska was experiencing pre-pandemic and projected future growth, cruise lines were and are seeking projects and opportunities to keep providing a highquality product and an amazing customer experience,” she said, adding. “As part of long-term and ‘big picture’ thinking, cruise lines also seek partnerships and ways to positively impact the ports and communities they visit. You aren’t only seeing investment in infrastructure, but investment in communities. When you see investments like these, you know the cruise lines are dedicated to Alaska long-term.” One objective of these infrastructure projects is to relieve “pinch points,” she continued, which have sometimes resulted in congestion at Alaska’s somewhat small port communities. “These pinch points could be limited dock availability in certain ports, or Panorama picture of the Ward Cove dock, near Ketchikan Ph oto cre dit : Te ijo Ni em elä Indoors at the Ward Cove cruise terminal Numerous excursions are offered from the Ward Cove 16-19 alaska.indd 3 16-19 alaska.indd 3 22.8.2022 7.46 22.8.2022 7.46
oversaturation in others. It is important to maintain a strong product, while finding ways to expand that product and options for visitors.” Echoing those comments was John Binkley, former president of CLIA Alaska and one of the principals of Ward Cove Dock Group. “In order for the cruise industry to grow in Alaska, we must do it in a way that reduces the impact on the resources that make Alaska so special. Those resources are the environment, the wildlife and the people,” Binkley said. “Small Alaska communities can be overwhelmed by the large number of guests that arrive by ship. In Ward Cove we have over 250 acres of land that is set apart from the downtown core. Developing Ward Cove as a destination allows people to experience the area without negatively impacting the quality of life for the people who live in Ketchikan,” he concluded. Seven capital projects Altogether, there are at least seven of these capital improvement developments to talk about. Here’s a rundown of their main features and operational or construction status. Projects are listed in geographical order from south to north: WARD COVE (KETCHIKAN:) Officially known as The Mill at Ward Cove, this twoberth Welcome Center and Passenger Transfer Facility was built by Ward Cove Dock Group, LLC in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings seven miles north of Ketchikan at the location of a former pulp mill and Superfund site. Ward Cove had its soft opening on August 12, 2021, when the Norwegian Encore docked with the first revenue passengers aboard. Norwegian has preferential berthing rights for the next 30 years at the new docking facility, which can accommodate two Breakaway Plus-class vessels at once. Billing itself as a “cruise destination,” Ward Cove offers a variety of shore excursions designed to get passengers out into the wilderness. Complimentary shuttle service takes passengers to downtown Ketchikan and back. There’s also a museum, restaurant and retail shops on-site inside 57,000 square feet of the historic Ketchikan Pulp Mill building, with even more offerings planned for next season. For 2022, Ward Cove expects 162 calls and approximately 370,000 passengers in its first full season. Besides NCL, other callers this year include America Queen Voyages, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Royal Caribbean International. KLAWOCK: The latest addition to Alaska’s cruise ports will be a new destination on the Inside Passage in the small Native community of Klawock. Developed jointly by Klawock Heenya Corporation and NaDena` (itself a joint venture of Huna Totem Corporation and Doyon, Limited), the new facility will be modeled on HTC’s highly successful Icy Strait Point (see below). Located on 16 acres of Klawock Island, the port will sit on the Pacific coast side of Prince of Wales Island along Klawock Inlet and be ideally positioned for both north and southbound Alaska itineraries, according to the 18 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 Marella Cruises decided to retire Marella Celebration last year Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal 16-19 alaska.indd 4 16-19 alaska.indd 4 22.8.2022 7.46 22.8.2022 7.46
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 19 developers. The guest experience will emphasize the area’s Native culture – including its rich totem-carving tradition – and will feature an Alaska-only retail program. The first ship scheduled to call will be a vessel from Oceania Cruises in May 2023. SITKA: Long a tender port, Sitka finally has a proper passenger facility – the privately owned Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, located six miles north of downtown Sitka. The dock is majority owned by Halibut Point Marine Services, a Sitka family-owned business, with financing support and minority ownership by Royal Caribbean Group and Ceres Terminals Inc. It was originally built in 2011 to handle a single vessel – with the first ship to dock being the Celebrity Century in September 2012 – but can now accommodate two neo-Panamax ships simultaneously thanks to a two-phase upgrade initiated during the pandemic. Phase 1 was unveiled on August 17, 2021, when Royal Caribbean International’s Ovation of the Seas docked at the newly extended pier. Phase 2, a 40,000-square-foot cruise terminal, made its official debut this year on May 7 when the Ovation of the Seas and Royal Princess arrived on the same day. The terminal features six retail shops and two restaurants (all locally owned), an outdoor covered terrace and a staging area for shore excursions. In 2022, up to 424,000 passengers are expected on 205 calls from 11 cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Viking and Windstar Cruises. ICY STRAIT POINT (Hoonah): Since opening in 2004, when the Celebrity Mercury made its inaugural call, Huna Totem’s Icy Strait Point has won accolades for its design and passenger experience. The Native owned and operated destination now has two cruise ship docks, including the original Adventure Landing and the new Wilderness Landing – a vehicle-free zone opened last year featuring the Transporter Gondola, a high-speed tram designed to carry passengers between the two piers. A second high-speed gondola named the Sky Glider opened this spring, bringing travelers to the top of Hoonah Mountain for hiking trails and panoramic views from 1,600 feet above sea level. Visitors can choose from over 30 shore excursions, including whale-watching, helicopter flightseeing, bear-viewing, ATV and Jeep expeditions or a ride on the world’s largest ZipRider. In 2022, Icy Strait expects 400,000 passengers on 235 calls by 13 cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn Cruise Line, Viking and Windstar Cruises. JUNEAU: With two city owned piers and two privately owned piers already in operation, Juneau may soon have a fifth pier for cruise ships under plans put forth by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Most recently, the Juneau Assembly in March approved an amendment to the city’s Long Range Waterfront Plan that would allow for construction of a dock on the proposed site – a three-acre parcel of land along Egan Drive, which was purchased by NCLH in September of 2019. According to plans developed by MRV Architects and available online, the facility known as Auke Landing would incorporate open community park space and a pedestrian bridge linking the terminal to downtown shops and restaurants. It would also provide public access to the waterfront by extending the existing pedestrian Seawalk. Shore power is under consideration as well. Juneau has 682 calls scheduled for 2022, according to the CLIA Alaska website, representing just about every cruise line sailing in Alaska. SEWARD: Long a mainstay of Gulf of Alaska crossings to and from Vancouver, Seward recently got a lift when the Alaska Railroad Corporation announced plans to replace its aging cruise passenger facilities with a new dock and terminal. The railroad will issue bonds to finance the project, estimated to cost about $80 million. At the same time, the railroad and Royal Caribbean Group announced plans for a multi-year berthing agreement that will continue to bring the Group’s three brands sailing in Alaska (RCI, Celebrity and Silversea) to Seward. Under the current construction timeline, the new passenger dock will be operational for the 2024 season. The terminal facility would be operational by 2025. Seward has 82 calls with several overnights scheduled in 2022, according to CLIA Alaska. Besides the brands of Royal Caribbean Group, cruise lines visiting Seward this year include Hurtigruten, Lindblad Expeditions, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Scenic, Viking and Windstar Cruises. WHITTIER: The original turnaround point for Gulf cruises has since 2004 had only one pier frequented by Princess Cruises. Joining Princess in Whittier this summer is sister brand Holland America Line. (Crystal Cruises was scheduled to call here, too, until the line suspended operations a few months before the start of the 2022 Alaska cruise season.) Come next year, Huna Totem Corporation hopes to have a rival pier in operation that will be utilized by the vessels from the three brands of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises). This marks the second joint development project between the NCLH and HTC; the two previously partnered to develop the second cruise pier and other facilities in Icy Strait Point. A test run of the new Whittier facility is planned for the end of the 2023 season and a full season expected for 2024. n Klawock 16-19 alaska.indd 5 16-19 alaska.indd 5 22.8.2022 7.47 22.8.2022 7.47
20 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 FINANCE PRIVATE EQUITY DRIVES GROWTH Private equity has played a role in transforming cruise shipping companies and thereby the industry. These investors remain very much involved in financing companies at different stages of their development, but private equity may also come to play a role in the cruise industry’s efforts to rebuild its balance sheets in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. By Kari Reinikainen Azamara added fourth vessel to its fleet this spring, thanks to an investment made by Sycamore Partners Ph oto cre dit : Te ijo Ni em elä 20-25.indd 2 20-25.indd 2 22.8.2022 7.45 22.8.2022 7.45