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Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum to examine trends on economic impact of cruise business

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 April 2023 04 April 2023

As the international cruise business prepares for the highly anticipated Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) predicts that the sector will attract up to 33 million passengers in 2023, significantly exceeding the 29.7 million recorded in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.

According to recently released CLIA data, Greece, which is at the forefront of European cruising, is poised to enjoy an increase in economic impact from the industry, with Piraeus, the country’s leading seaport, forecasted to exceed one million passengers in 2023. In 2021, Greece achieved an unprecedented economic impact of €1.1 billion from cruise activities, compared to €957 million in 2019.

The sector supported 315,000 jobs in Europe, with 15,100 of those jobs based in Greece. Greece led the world with a swift and safe resumption of cruising during the pandemic and saw a significant increase in homeporting, leading to cruise lines purchasing goods and services from port suppliers. Also, passengers spent longer periods in port cities and overnight stays in local hotels, contributing to the increase of the economic impact due to longer stays of ships in port to carry out technical work.

Theodore Vokos, Managing Director of Posidonia Exhibitions SA, said that the Forum taking place outside Athens is an exciting development that will potentially further enhance cruising in Greece: "The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum provides a unique opportunity for industry leaders to come together in Greece’s second biggest city and discover the potential of new destinations. With new cruise terminals set to be built in Souda-Chania after 2024, the planned expansion of the Piraeus cruise terminal, and Thessaloniki’s growing potential as an additional cruise hub, the industry's growth is set to continue in Greece for the years to come."

The value of cruise tourism cannot be overstated, with every 24 cruise guests equating to one full-time job and each guest spending on average €660 in port cities during a typical seven-day cruise. Furthermore, 60% of people that have taken a cruise have since returned to a destination they first visited on a cruise ship, hence each cruise is basically a self-funded fam trip. The CLIA Global Market Report 2020 shows that 85% of millennials plan to cruise again, followed by Gen-X (82%), Gen-Z (79%), Baby Boomers (77%), and Traditionalists (73%).

The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will be held in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 25-26 April 2023 and will focus on "The Return to Growth: Challenges ahead for Cruise Lines and Destinations". It promises to be a hub for discussions about the future of the cruise industry and its continued positive impact on the economy.

The PSTF 2023 will also be the platform for the first presentation of a socio-economic impact study produced by Thessaloniki Port Authority and Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation, that will contribute to a better understanding of the benefits of cruising for the local community.

The benefits the cruise industry generates for both destinations and ports are frequently quoted, but the actual economic impact is rarely measured and seldomly reported. Participants at the PSTF 2023 will have a unique opportunity to learn all they need to know about actual passengers' and crew spending levels, their preferred spending patterns, the levels of satisfaction from their visit, as well as the potential of their return to the city.

The presentation will showcase the socio-economic contribution of cruise in the port and city of Thessaloniki and preliminary data already provides useful insight into the spending patterns of cruise passengers and crew members in Thessaloniki. Hence cruise passengers direct their spending towards shopping (44%), restaurants & cafeterias (40%), sightseeing (12%) and food stores (3%). Crew members on the other hand direct their spending towards shopping (55%), restaurants & cafeterias (16%), transportation (14%) and food stores (10%).

Theodora Riga, Chief Commercial Officer & Director of Strategic Communications, ThPA SA - Port of Thessaloniki, commented: “We are financing this study together with the Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation to better understand how the cruise industry benefits our city and how we can further enhance both passenger experience during their stay and the benefits for the local, regional and national economy. Once we better understand passenger expectations as a destination, we will be better able to provide cruise passengers a unique experience. This will serve as our stepping stone to attract more cruise lines to Thessaloniki in the coming years.”

The 2023 PSTF is sponsored by Diamond Sponsor Thessaloniki Port Authority SA, Gold Sponsor Region of Central Macedonia, Silver Sponsor Piraeus Port Authority SA, Bronze Sponsors Celestyal Cruises, Global Ports Holding, Greek National Tourism Organisation, Heraklion Port Authority SA, Kyvernitis Travel and Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation. The official airline is SKY express. PSTF 2023 is supported by AVIS, Global Air Compass and Agora Modiano. The Forum is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy and the Ministry of Tourism and 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.

Saga plc reports strong performance of cruise operations

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 April 2023 04 April 2023

The cruise operations of Saga plc, the UK based company that offers a wide range of services to those over the age of 50, have reported strong performance in the 12 months to 31 January 2023.

The company operates two high end of the market ocean cruise ships and seven river vessels.

Euan Sutherland, Saga's Group Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement:"Our Ocean Cruise business continued to see strong customer demand and bookings for 2023/24 are on track to meet our targets. In Travel, bookings are significantly ahead of the same point last year and that business will return to profit this year.”

· Ocean Cruise reported an Underlying Loss Before Tax of £0.7m for the full year but with considerable improvement in the second half, when the business reported an Underlying Profit Before Tax¹ of £6.2m.

· Ocean Cruise revenue, of £168.3m, was more than 100% ahead of 2021/22, supported by a full year load factor of 75% and per diem of £318. This compares with 68% and £299 in the prior year.

· Ocean bookings for 2023/24 are strong, representing a load factor of 72%, and per diem of £339 at 26 March 2023. This places us on track to achieve our target of £40m EBITDA (excluding overheads) per ship.

· River Cruise business reported revenue of £28.8m compared with £1.7m in the prior year, and an Underlying Loss Before Tax of £5.1m.

· River Cruise bookings for 2023/24 are very positive with the number of booked guests 23% ahead of the same point last year, reflecting a load factor of 63% and per diem of £298 at 26 March 2023.

· Customer satisfaction across both Ocean and River Cruise remains exceptional at 9.0 and 8.2 out of 10, respectively at 31 January 2023, the company said.

Meyer Werft lays the keel for Disney Treasure

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 April 2023 02 April 2023

Disney Cruise Line has once again partnered with Meyer Werft, as construction of the new cruise ship Disney Treasure has now begun with the keel laying ceremony. Like its sister ship Disney Wish, delivered by Meyer Werft in 2022, the ship will be equipped with low-emission LNG propulsion.

On March 31st, Meyer Werft and Disney Cruise Line celebrated the start of hull assembly for the new cruise ship Disney Treasure by placing the first component in the more than 500-metre-long covered building dock. The so-called block for the ship's bow weighs 719 tons, is 30,9 metres breadth and 23,3 metres long. The height is 12,6 metres.

In keeping with maritime tradition, Philip Gennotte, portfolio project management executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Germany placed a lucky coin under the keel of the new ship before the shipyard gave the signal to lower the block onto the bracing and coin.

"The Disney Treasure will once again be a ship that will be constucted with MEYER quality and once again meet Disney's high standards for entertainment and equipment. With the keel laying, we have now reached an important milestone in this respect," says Jan Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft.

The new ship for Disney Cruise Line will have 1,240 cabins and a size of 144,000 gross tons. Completion of the Disney Treasure is scheduled for 2024. Beyond Disney Wish Meyer Werft already delivered the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy to Disney Cruise Line in 2010 and 2012.

Pearl Mist receives complete interior redesign

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 March 2023 31 March 2023

To celebrate the opening of the 2023 cruise season, Pearl Seas Cruises announces a major interior redesign of the Pearl Mist. The company has offered personalized destination-focused cruises on the Great Lakes, New England, and Canada since 2014, and has a fabulous new season of small ship cruises beginning in May. The 210-passenger Pearl Mist remains the only fully stabilized all-balcony small ship cruising the Great Lakes and the surrounding U.S. and Canadian coastal regions.

Pearl Seas Cruises commissioned Miami-based design firm, Studio DADO, for the redesign of Pearl Mist. Studio DADO is renowned throughout the industry for sophisticated, contemporary, and elegant ship interiors. The design company was recently contracted to do all the interior projects for Pearl’s affiliated company, American Cruise Lines, creating two, stunning new series of U.S. riverboats and small cruise ships. Pearl Mist’s beautiful new redesign will be revealed to guests aboard the first cruise of the season, which departs from Portland, Maine May 6th, 2023.

“We have been so pleased to work with Studio DADO again on the recreation of the Pearl Mist. The design projects they completed for our affiliated company, American Cruise Lines, have been widely acclaimed. DADO combines both modern sophistication and worldly design elements into every interior space they create. They have elevated Pearl Mist’s décor to the finest available in in small ship cruising--masterfully blending the casual elegance and comfortable luxury our guests enjoy,” said Carter Robertson, President of Pearl Seas Cruises.

From the staterooms and suites to the lounges and dining areas, the Pearl Mist has been completely made over with fresh color palettes, sumptuous textiles and linens, new furniture and carpets, and regionally inspired artwork and flourishes. Studio DADO has reimagined every space aboard the ship, incorporating themes that expertly highlight the local historical, cultural, and geographical influences characteristic to the regions Pearl Mist sails.

The beautiful new spaces DADO has envisioned for the Pearl Mist have elevated the ship, showcasing the finest interior design available in small ship cruising today. By Implementing their own signature style while retaining elements true to the pristine waterways Pearl Mist explores, Studio DADO has truly created a small ship masterpiece.

This May, Pearl Seas Cruises’ 2023 season begins with a 7-Night Maine Coast & Canadian Harbors cruise, roundtrip from Portland, ME; followed by the Line’s longest itinerary, a 15-Night Canadian Maritimes & St. Lawrence Seaway cruise, from Portland, ME to Toronto, Canada (both cruises are offered again in fall 2023).

Pearl Seas Cruises’ popular Great Lakes season opens on May 28th, 2023, with the Line’s 11-Night Great Lakes & Georgian Bay itinerary, followed by Pearl’s shorter 7-Night Great Lakes itinerary departing June 8th. Both Pearl’s Great Lakes itineraries operate all summer through the end of August 2023. In the fall, Pearl also offers 10-Night Canada & New England Fall Foliage cruises between Quebec, Canada and Portland, ME.

Guests aboard the Pearl Mist, enjoy amazing views from their private balconies, offered in every stateroom. Cruises also offer all-inclusive fine dining, complimentary cocktails each evening, complimentary beer & wine with lunch and dinner, as well as award-winning onboard enrichment programs, entertainment, and guided shore excursions at every port.

Fully stabilized and purposely built to smoothly navigate the waters of the Great Lakes, and the picturesque U.S. and Canadian coasts, Pearl Mist has always been a standout choice for small ship explorations. This season, with brand-new interior design and 100% private balcony accommodations Pearl Mist will be the finest small ship sailing the region.

Celebrity Cruises’ new Edge-Series ship leads the industry in fuel flexibility with Wärtsilä’s future fuel engine

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 March 2023 31 March 2023

Close cooperation between Royal Caribbean Group (RCG), the Chantiers de l’Atlantique (CdA) shipyard, and Wärtsilä will enable RCG’s latest vessel to lead the cruise industry into a new era of alternative fuel use.

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply the engines for Celebrity Cruises’ new ship, the fifth vessel in the company’s revolutionary Edge Series. Close collaboration between RCG, CdA, and Wärtsilä will enable the ship to be capable of operating with a methanol fuel option, thus advancing the use of alternative fuels for the cruise industry. The methanol-ready engines will give the new ship unmatched fuel flexibility. The order for the engines was included in Wärtsilä’s order book in January 2023 and the vessel is scheduled for delivery from the yard in 2025.

To enable this advance, Wärtsilä will convert two Wärtsilä 46F engines to allow them to utilise methanol as fuel, marking the first-ever such conversion for this particular engine type. The engines will also be capable of operating with two other conventional fuel types. The conversion project not only promotes lower carbon cruising, but by adding methanol as a fuel option, emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter are significantly reduced.

“With the launch of our Edge Series of ships in 2018, we set ambitious sustainability goals to make these ships the most energy efficient large vessels at sea,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. “Working collaboratively with our expert partners, we have continued to develop new technologies and achieve breakthroughs with each subsequent ship.”

“Wärtsilä has invested heavily into researching viable future carbon-neutral fuels for the marine industry, and methanol has emerged as one of the most promising candidates. This will be the second methanol-fuelled engine conversion that we have undertaken, and the first with the Wärtsilä 46F engine. We share a commitment to decarbonise shipping, and the transparent partnership between our three companies for this newbuild project represents an important milestone along the path to achieving this goal,” commented Håkan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä.

Celebrity Cruises, along with its parent company Royal Caribbean Group, has for 30 years been committed to the innovation and advancement of solutions that support greater sustainability. The incorporation of methanol-ready engines represents the company’s next step towards achieving Destinations Net Zero, its vision for net zero emissions by 2050.

The full Wärtsilä scope includes two 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 46F engines capable of operating with methanol as fuel, two 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 46F engines, and one Wärtsilä 32 engine. Wärtsilä will convert the 46F engines to run on methanol at the yard, prior to commissioning.

Laurent Castaing, General manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard says “Development and integration of methanol systems on a cruise ship is a new challenge for Chantiers de l’Atlantique and, for the first time, is part of our decarbonisation programme”