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Opinion: Immersive design for Generation Z

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 21 May 2025 21 May 2025

Two decades of extraordinary growth in guest numbers demonstrate the expanding appeal, reach and variety of cruise ship vacations. Trond Sigurdsen, Senior Architect, YSA Design considers where Gen Z cruise guests fit in.

If more vacationers than ever before take a cruise each year, pressure remains intense to continuously reinvent the cruising experience – with new vessels, attractions, destinations and adventures enticing guests to join or return to ship.

Today, every proposition is also underpinned the principles of sustainability, as embodied by zero emission battery, sail or shore power, green water treatment and waste disposal, or by using recyclable materials.

Matching guest profiles to the ambience, styling and branding stories which owners aspire to is therefore a constantly refreshed challenge for cruise ship designers.

Exclusive luxury, gourmet dining, private island excursions, concierge or even butler service, immersive adventures, themed cruises, engaging with local cultures and positive guest action on environmental responsibility have all played roles in creating new cruise experiences and differentiating brands. Some cruise lines are even catering specifically to solo travellers.

Generation Z, defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, are increasingly part of the cruise market’s target audience for sustaining growth. While the attractions outlined above will no doubt prove alluring, this is new ground for a cruise industry which has already leant into this source of ideas to extend its growth curve.

Fortunately, Gen Z cruise guests have also been incubating desires of their own for new experiences that are immersive, authentic and - of course - digitally connected.

Satisfying these imperatives will be about more than designing ‘with a twist’ for a new cruise constituency which is coming of age, however.

Bold and vivid experiences

At one level, in a digital age where posting on social media is itself part of the experience, bolder shapes and more vivid colours are a prerequisite. Influencers – or more properly the view of the infinity pool, robot bartender or ship-themed backdrop they will share from - are also already part of the designer’s picture.

But the distinct requirements of Gen Z go beyond personal branding. These guests are also highly sociable in real life and expect to find stylish spaces on board that have been designed for group activities. Celebrity DJ sets, musical festivals at sea, game rooms or exclusive night clubs create the ‘buzz’ that builds communities.

Youth can also limit budget, meaning that while push-button or even app-level control of the cabin environment may be expected – the Gen Z cruise guest may also be prepared to share private spaces too, which has consequences for cabin design. Suites, for example, will need to be flexible enough for to accommodate friends - not just couples and families.

Experiences that last in memory are also generally those outside the comfort zone. For Gen Z thrill seekers, however, the adrenalin rush options include skydiving and surf simulators, as well as climbing walls, rollercoasters, go-kart tracks, zip lines, cantilevered pods and vertical drop tubes. By way of reminder, however, such digital attractions rely in part on physical design to ensure that their VR and AR capabilities deliver the full impact of any 360-degree immersive experience.

Space for good times

Designers for this discerning audience must also be attuned to the new dietary requirements of a generation that is passionate about food and highly sensitive to latest trends, increasingly favours plant-based options, and is vigilant on sourcing and waste disposal. As well as multiplying dining options, designers must also create spaces for the growing popularity of shared eating habits.

Other ideas on what a ‘good time’ consists in are also changing. Gen Z sees well-being and self-development as a vacation goal, rather than its fortunate outcome. Pool decks remain a key area for design innovation, but so do spaces for personal training, yoga classes, spa treatments, mindfulness and meditation.

Gen Z’s consciousness on sustainability goes beyond a preference for environmentally responsible itineraries, low ship emissions and recycled plastic water bottles. The ocean – as well as the ship – is a destination, with Gen Z guests seeking to experience it close up.

Designs that enable access to the sea not only provide opportunities for kiting, scuba diving and sailing; they also create areas for pop up waterside dining or the sea level beach clubs.

At a personal level, this is also a generation that wishes to engage with the local communities it visits in a positive way that benefits the local economy and culture. It is also one that is also happy to spend time in the shipboard lab, make eco-choices during the cruise and, increasingly, seeks out packages with opportunities to volunteer for conservation or clean-up operations.

In some ways, these reflections on the place humans occupy in the world have parallels in the language of design. Many may understand their built surroundings simply through touch and feel, fashion and function. For professionals, however design is also the discipline of expressing the values and motivations that lie behind its creation.

For Gen Z’s self-conscious cruisers, designers must work to make sure that brand identification cuts through. Rather, a ship’s amenities, attractions, itinerary, identity and built environment must be ambassadors for those who made it.

Trond Sigurdsen, YSA Design

MAN Energy Solutions to deliver world's most powerful methanol engine

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 21 May 2025 21 May 2025

MAN Energy Solutions has announced that it will deliver the world's most powerful two-stroke methanol engine in June 2025. The engine, an MAN B&W 12G95ME-C10.5-LGIM (-Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) type rated at 82,440 kW @ 80rpm, is currently being built by Chinese licensee, CSSC-MES Diesel Co., Ltd. (CMD).

The engine is the first of 12 bound for a series of 12 × 24,000 teu container vessels currently under construction: seven at Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (NACKS) for shipowner, Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. (OOCL); and five at Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (DACKS) for shipowner, COSCO Shipping Lines Co., Ltd. Each engine will also feature MAN Energy Solutions’ proprietary EGRTC (Exhaust Gas Recirculation Turbocharger Cut-out) emissions system, the largest two-string EGR system on a two-stroke engine to date.

Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “At MAN Energy Solutions, our vision of 'Moving Big Things to Zero' motivates everything we do in developing the engine technology to operate on those fuels vying for prominence in the future market. This latest, remarkable milestone – the world’s most powerful methanol engine – is just the latest fulfilment of that. By harnessing the potential of methanol, we are bringing the maritime industry closer to zero-emission solutions and we fully expect methanol to figure prominently as a future-fuel across all segments. Our thanks go to CMD, OOCL and COSCO Shipping, valued partners with whom we continue to share so many highlights.”

Christian Ludwig, Head of Two-Stroke Sales and Promotion, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “As we move towards a multi-fuel future, interest in methanol has grown steadily. To date, between newbuild engines and retrofits, we have won over 230 ME-LGIM references that have accumulated over 600,000 hours running on methanol alone. With ME-LGIM technology reaching 10 years in the market, it represents mature, proven technology and reflects MAN Energy Solutions’ ability to develop attractive technology to enable shipping’s carbon transition. Furthermore, while methanol produced from renewable sources is an attractive marine-fuel option due to its low carbon-intensity, an engine using green methanol can even provide carbon-neutral propulsion – adding to the benefits the ME-LGIM brings to the table.”

NIT Naval Interior Team announces changes in the management and ownership

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 15 May 2025 15 May 2025

Oy NIT Naval Interior Team Ltd.’s ownership base has been expanded. The new shareholder, Roni Nuttunen, who is the company’s long-term project manager, will strengthen the company with his extensive project management skills and expertise. Sebastian Lagerlöf, Jari Suominen, Ilkka Hiekkanen and Juhani Määttänen will continue as shareholders of the company.

Roni Nuttunen will join the company’s Board of Directors and Management team. The new board held its first official meeting on May 9th, 2025. The Board of Directors consists of Chairman Kari Pöri and members Jyrki Heinimaa, Ilkka Hiekkanen, Sebastian Lagerlöf, Juhani Määttänen, Roni Nuttunen and Jari Suominen.

The Board of Directors of Oy NIT Naval Interior Team Ltd has decided at its meeting on May 9th, 2025 to change the company’s Managing Director. The company’s shareholder and board member, Ilkka Hiekkanen, has been appointed as the company’s new Managing Director. He will start his position immediately. Hiekkanen will continue to be strongly involved in Turku projects, as he has been until now. Nuttunen will maintain his role as project manager for the public areas of Turku projects.

At the same time, the Managing Director of NIT Naval Interior Team GmbH will also change. The company’s shareholder and board member Juhani Määttänen has been appointed as the new Managing Director. He will start his position immediately.

The outgoing Managing Director, Sebastian Lagerlöf, will continue in the company’s Management team as Sales Director, on the Board of Directors and as a shareholder.

NIT is a Finnish turnkey shipbuilding company, delivering full-service solutions from concept to construction for any type of vessels.

V.Ships Leisure launches dedicated service offering for large yachts

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 09 May 2025 09 May 2025

V.Ships Leisure, part of V.Group has launched V.Yachts to provide bespoke management, crewing and consultancy services to the yacht sector, the company announced recently. This dedicated offering will provide yacht owners with access to in-depth industry expertise, as well as allow them to take advantage of V.’s global scale and reach, to help enhance safety, compliance and efficiency.

V.Yachts will be based in Monaco and will provide an integrated offering of professional services for large yachts, primarily in private use. With an emphasis on collaborative partnerships, the team at V.Yachts will work with yacht owners to deliver solutions spanning technical management, International Safety Management Code compliance, new build and refit project management, crewing, crew travel, digital payment solutions and insurance.

Having managed yachts for a number of years, the creation of V.Yachts is a natural evolution for V.Ships Leisure and comes in response to growing interest in the yacht sector, involving a rise in operational and maintenance costs, safety concerns, regulatory compliance, crew recruitment and retention challenges as well as demand for a more curated experience.

Speaking on the launch of V.Yachts, Per Bjørnsen, CEO of V.Ships Leisure, said: “The yachting sector has not been immune to wider changes in the marine space, from evolving regulations and safety standards to global logistics challenges. In light of these developments, we’ve seen a real demand for professional services to help owners manage this complexity.

“Our solution for the sector will allow owners to benefit from the best of both our local presence and our global footprint. We’re laser-focused on offering yacht owners what we already do best as a group: operational excellence, backed by decades of experience, international scale and a robust safety culture.”

Smiths Detection secures deal to supply SDX 6040 systems to major cruise lines

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 20 April 2025 20 April 2025

Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies, and a business of Smiths Group plc, recently announces it is to supply SDX 6040 X-ray inspection systems to a number of major cruise lines.

With thousands of people and large quantities of cargo coming onboard, screening systems are vital in helping detect weapons, explosives, drugs, and other prohibited items hidden in luggage or supplies. The SDX 6040 offers the best image quality on the market, with unmatched clarity in detection that enables operators to quickly screen bags, ensuring that boarding the ship is safe and seamless for passengers.

The SDX 6040’s portable and flexible design makes it the perfect solution for cruise line operators seeking a mobile X-ray inspection system that delivers high protection and operational efficiency. Its compact footprint means it can be easily manoeuvred onboard and conveniently stored within the vessel. It can also fit through a standard door, eliminating the need for complicated installations and concerns about fitting into tight spaces.

The system’s smart image display features, including organic stripping and enhancement modes, provide superior discrimination between organic and inorganic materials, critical for the precise detection of explosives, drugs, and other contraband -- while its high throughput capability ensures that large volumes of luggage can be screened quickly and efficiently, minimizing delays and maintaining smooth operations.

The SDX 6040’s advanced detection system provides a complete 100% view of every item, eliminating blind spots and significantly enhancing security. Additionally, the scanner integrates seamlessly with iCMORE AI technology, offering automated threat detection for a wide array of prohibited items, including currency, weapons, lithium batteries, and other hazardous goods. The system's algorithms can be updated as new threats emerge, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of the cruise industry.

Matthias Springer, VP of Sales at Smiths Detection Inc., said of the sales: “At Smiths Detection, we serve customers in a wide range of market sectors, with a significant focus on cruise lines. The SDX 6040 is revolutionizing maritime security, providing our customers with the highest levels of safety and assurance while maintaining efficient throughput of passengers. With superior image quality, portability, and flexibility, it is an ideal solution for the dynamic environments of cruise ships.”