GREEN L I ST Working towards building more sustainable ships S ILVER L ININGS Lisa Lutoff-Perlo explains how Celebrity Cruises is returning to the seas stronger than ever before RES IL IENCE Arnold Donald on how Carnival Corporation is staying successful S S / 22
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d s p a c e Photo : Mathieu Dupuis Theworld’s third largest river is a historicwonder of nature featuring magnificent landscapes, incredible wildlife, and 2,000 kilometres of unlimited beauty. Cruising here is like nowhere else on earth. From comfortably spacious docks at nine ports of call, passengers can explore the stunning landscapes all around. There’s always lots of time dedicated to experiencing small villages, rolling farmlands, bustling cities, and unique festivals that celebrate nature, people, art, and life itself. Itineraries are designed to reveal the secrets of a world far beyond the everyday. And each cruise inspires discovery, protects the ecosystem, and promotes communities, while contributing to the well-being of passengers. Now your guests can sail the Saint Lawrence in all four seasons, enjoying trips of a lifetime that feature a magnificent river, a spectacular fjord, a colossal gulf, and an ocean all in one single cruise!
New beginnings Foreword S S / 22 Although Covid-19 continues to be a dominant theme, the perspectives shared within this issue of CFR convey implicit optimism for the future of the global passenger shipping industry. Moreover, other topics are now starting to earn headlines in our consciousness, and these pages, as we fight for a fulfilling future beyond the pandemic. Certainly, the incredible collection of new ships launching this year do not deserve to arrive under a cloud. In the year that Carnival Cruise Line turns 50, it is apt that the brand is taking delivery of Carnival Celebration. Carnival Corporation’s Arnold Donald is understandably sanguine in his keynote, starting on page 12. Celebrity Cruises’ Lisa Lutoff-Perlo will welcome a new addition this year too, Celebrity Beyond. However, in her interview on page 50, her most heartfelt comments are reserved for the company’s crew: “the best part of returning to service was bringing the crew back to work.” And so say all of us. Ferry expert Philippe Holthof inaugurates our new executive interview slot in the Ferry Business section by speaking with Baleària’s Adolfo Utor (page 88), who discusses new market dynamics in the Balearics. Elsewhere, our ‘Interior favourites’ feature on page 154 yields a few surprises. Perhaps not the choice of Carnival’s Christine Duffy, which is well-reasoned despite her claim that “I’m not supposed to have favourites!” We also hear from American Queen Voyages’ Jethro Beck on page 124 and MSC Cruises’ Elisabetta De Nardo on page 212, while ports and destinations share ‘welcome back’ messages in our feature on page 192. Readers can browse through the featured partners in our Marine Operations section on page 148. We’ve endured tough times, but we should be proud of the resilience our industry has shown and celebrate the many people involved in making it happen. Happy reading! Jon Ingleton Executive Editor, Cruise & Ferry Review CONTRIBUTORS CFR would like to thank all of those who contributed to this issue, including: Figen Ayan Figen was appointed as president of MedCruise Association in 2021 and will serve in the role until 2024. She is also chief port officer at Galataport Istanbul in Turkey. Philippe Holthof Philippe began his career as a freelance journalist over 30 years ago and was Shippax’s editor until September 2021, when he stepped down to focus on his consultancy business. He still contributes to select trade publications. Simon Maher Simon Maher is vice president of global sales for cruise maritime services at SES, which provides communication and connectivity services to multiple ship operators. Mary Scott Nabers Mary Scott Nabers is president and CEO of Strategic Partnerships, a USbased business development company specialising in government contracting and procurement consulting. 5
Explore the Great Lakes TO BEGIN PLANNING, CONTACT: REBECCA YACKLEY Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (202) 297-9448 rebecca.yackley@dot.gov Mackinac Island Cleveland Ports of Call Kingston Midland Parry Sound Welland Canal Sarnia Sault Ste. Marie Thunder Bay Tobermory Toronto Windsor Quebec City Three Rivers Chicago Alpena Bay City Detroit Holland Houghton/Hancock Mackinac Island Manistique Marquette Muskegon Port Huron Sault Ste. Marie St. Ignace Traverse City Duluth Buffalo Clayton Rochester Cleveland Toledo Erie Bayfield Green Bay Milwaukee Burns Harbor Atlantic Ocean Oswego Green Bay Milwaukee THE GREAT LAKES ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY SYSTEM is a shared U.S.-Canadian waterway. The natural flow of lakes, rivers nd channels are connected by manmade locks — spanning over 2,000 miles inland from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Duluth, Minnesota on Lake Superior. This growing hub for luxury cruises includes the clear water of the St. Lawrence River and all five Great Lakes. Unique ports are rich with historic, maritime and Midwestern charm. Prime attractions are close to berthing space. Unique onshore experiences immerse passengers in local history, art and architecture, and native cultures. Port communities on the Great Lakes go out of their way to celebrate the ships and their passengers as they sail in throughout the spring, summer and fall. Your passenger won’t want to miss a single season. SHIP FACTS • About 1/3 of cruise vessels built today carry fewer than 400 passengers, providing a more intimate experience. • Ships in the St. Lawrence Seaway are small enough to navigate the locks and channels, but large enough for superior handling and stability in rough seas. • Maximum ship dimensions are length 225.50 m, beam 23.77 m and depth 8.08 m.
CONTENTS 70 88 Baleària’s Adolfo Utor discusses the state of the Spanish ferry market and the operator’s transition towards netzero carbon emissions 94 Corrine Storey explains how BC Ferries is managing a pandemic response and meeting its environmental obligations 96 Irish Ferries’ Andrew Sheen details the challenges lying ahead and shares why he believes in equitable regulations across the travel sector 98 Strategic Partnerships’ Mary Scott Nabers outlines how federal funding is helping to improve ferry services across the USA 100 Michael Grey highlights why ferries are becoming a popular form of transport in the wake of the pandemic Cruise Business 54 TUI River Cruises’ Chris Hackney, APT Luxury River Cruises & Tours’ Paul Melinis, CroisiEurope’s John Fair and A-ROSA’s Lucia Rowe update CFR on the state of the river cruise industry 58 Paul Ludlow share why P&O Cruises’ faithful guest base has been a key component in the brand’s recovery 62 Swan Hellenic’s Andrea Zito offers an insight into what guests can expect from the cruise line’s new fleet and latest itineraries 64 Charles B. Robertson discusses American Cruise Lines’ upcoming Project Blue fleet, which will be debuting in 2023 66 Niels-Erik Lund describes how SunStone Ships is continuing to drive innovation in the expedition cruise sector 70 Ben Bouldin outlines why innovation – and fun – is at the heart of Royal Caribbean International’s appeal 72 Viking Cruises’ Wendy Atkin-Smith reveals the driving force behind the line’s continuing success as it celebrates its 25th anniversary 76 CFR asks Kelly Craighead about Cruise Line International Association’s priorities for 2022 Ferry Business 80 Interferry’s Mike Corrigan calls for investment in shoreside electricity supply and explains why the ferry industry is leading post-pandemic recovery 82 Three high-speed ferry operators explain how they plan to reduce emissions and adapt to new fuels 7 Keynote 12 Arnold Donald explains how Carnival Corporation is overcoming adversity to steer its nine cruise brands back to success after a challenging couple of years Marketwatch 22 A collection of news from ship operators, ports and destinations and other businesses operating in the cruise and ferry sectors, plus an update on cruise lines’ environmental investments and a report by Landry & Kling and Inchcape Cover story 50 Lisa Lutoff-Perlo from Celebrity Cruises explains what the brand has been doing to ensure it stays resilient and comes back stronger from the pandemic 22
9 CONTENTS 112 Building and Refurbishment 102 This edition of the annual Green List explores how key industry stakeholders are collaborating to improve the sustainability profile of passenger ships 108 Justin Merrigan reports on the rise in the number of orders for hybrid and zero-emission ferries 111 Austal and Damen share how they are helping ferry operators to create cleaner and greener fleets 112 CFR reports on the range of innovative new cruise ships that will be constructed in the coming years 116 An overview of key refit projects that have been completed on passenger ships over the past six months 120 Magicman’s Mark Henderson details how repair and restoration services can help passenger ship operators to keep interiors spaces in pristine condition 122 Philipp Maracke talks about Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard’s focus on sustainability 123 CFR details how MJM Marine helped to outfit the world’s new largest cruise ship Marine Operations 124 Jethro Beck provides an insight into his new marine operations role at American Queen Voyages and the challenges facing river cruise operators 129 Passenger ship management companies and crewing agencies showcase solutions for the multi-faceted problems that ship operators are facing 132 Pramod Arora of WMS talks about changes in communications technology, the emergence of 5G and what this means for cruise lines 134 Simon Maher of SES explains what cruise lines require from their connectivity solutions 136 Speedcast’s Brent Horwitz on why hybrid networks are a game changer for cruise operators, crew and guests 138 Lars Nupnau from RWO explains how water treatment technologies and regulations are helping cruise operators to cater for greener travel 140 Meiko’s waste management and dishwashing solutions ensure efficiency onboard Color Line’s hybrid ferry, says Maximilian Lichtenberg 142 Harun Duzgoren on how Subsea Global Solutions is growing its capabilities to offer underwater maintenance and repair services 144 The CruiseLink solution from Getslash allows cruise lines to provide costeffective connectivity 145 Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore’s Andreas Ullrich shares how classification societies are helping to reduce carbon production 146 TecnoVeritas is helping Mystic Cruises ensure its expedition vessels comply with IMO’s environmental regulations 147 International Registries is supporting the RMI Maritime Registry as it helps operators to return to service 148 Featured Partners: Marine Operations CFR profiles businesses that provide services to support the operational needs of cruise and ferry brands 129
Cruise & Ferry is proud to partner with the following organisations to support and promote their global visions and objectives The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of 27 countries and territories, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. www.onecaribbean.org CLIA is the world’s largest cruise association and is dedicated to the promotion and growth of the cruise industry. CLIA was formed in 1975 in response to a need for an association to promote the special benefits of cruising. www.cruising.org Interferry is the only shipping association representing the ferry industry worldwide There are currently 220 members (representing approximately 500 individuals) from 34 countries. www.interferry.com The International Federation of Interior Architects/ Designers is the global authority for professional interior architecture and design organisations. It provides a forum for exchanging and developing knowledge and experience in education, research and practice. https://ifiworld.org The World Ocean Council is a global, cross-sector alliance committed to promoting corporate ocean responsibility. It brings together over 35,000 ocean industry and media stakeholders from around the world to collaborate on responsible use of the seas. www.oceancouncil.org Established in Beijing in 2012, World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) is a non-profit international organisation whose members include many major cities and tourism-related institutions. http://en.wtcf.travel £24.00 Optimised logistics for cruise ships Rollcruiser® and laundry trolleys www.wanzl.com I hotel@wanzl.com Optimise your processes with our transport solutions. e Wanzl Rollcruiser enables an extremely quick and gentle transportation of luggage from the harbour check-in desk to the vessel. Facilitate transportation of dirty laundry and clean linen with the agile KT3 laundry trolley. Convince yourself of the different logistics solutions – made in Germany! Rollcruiser KT3 laundry trolley Anz_Cruise_and_Ferry_Optimised_logistics_EN_70x251mm_01_22.indd18.101.22 10:23 Published by Tudor Rose Tudor House, 6 Friar Lane Leicester LE1 5RA Tel: +44 116 2229900 www.tudor-rose.co.uk ISSN 2633-4410 (Print) ISSN 2633-4429 (Online) Printed in Great Britain by Buxton Press. © 2022 Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be stored or transmitted or reproduced in any form or by any means, including whether by photocopying, scanning, downloading onto computer or otherwise without the prior written permission from Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply official endorsement of the products or services concerned. While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of content, no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. Readers should take appropriate professional advice before acting on any issue raised herein. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject advertising material and editorial contributions. The publisher assumes no liability for the return or safety of unsolicited art, photography or manuscripts. Executive editor Jon Ingleton Editor Rebecca Gibson Editorial team Alice Chambers, Richard Humphreys, Alex Smith, Elly Yates-Roberts Editorial contributors Rebecca Barnes, Michael Grey, Philippe Holthof, Justin Merrigan, Susan Parker, Anthony Pearce, Michele Witthaus Ferry industry advisor Simon Johnson, Shipshape Consulting Account managers Kimberley McLean, Shelly Palmer, Benedict Pask, Ben Surtees-Smith Publisher Toby Ingleton Production manager Stuart Fairbrother Design Bruce Graham, Libby Sidebotham, Dhanika Vansia Cover image Celebrity Cruises Website development Chris Jackson Advertise info@cruiseandferry.net Subscribe subscribe@tudor-rose.co.uk www.cruiseandferry.net/subscriptions
1 1 208 CONTENTS Ports and Destinations 192 An overview of how ports and destinations worldwide are preparing for the return of cruise ships 202 Michelle Lupino of Ambassador Cruise Line reveals how the company built itineraries for its inaugural season Europe 206 Cruise Wales 208 Gibraltar Tourist Board Mediterranean 210 MedCruise 211 MLB Malta Cruise Services Red Sea 212 MSC Cruises’ Elisabetta De Nardo outlines what makes the Red Sea a special place to cruise Asia 214 Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau North America 216 Vancouver Fraser Port Authority 218 Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation 220 Port of Seattle Caribbean 222 Guadeloupe Islands Tourist Board 224 Martinique Tourism Authority Onboard Experience 154 Cruise executives and key industry players highlight their favourite onboard spaces 165 MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and selected industry suppliers share how they are improving onboard entertainment 174 Live Business discusses its expansion, how it is attracting new talent and creating bespoke entertainment offerings 176 Studio DADO executives explain why little design details make onboard spaces memorable 178 SMC Design’s Alan Stewart talks about the cruise industry’s intent to progress towards more sustainable interiors 182 Tillberg Design of Sweden showcases how it is using simulation modelling to revolutionise the interior design process 183 Trond Sigurdsen from YSA Design tells CFR why cruise ship operators should seek inspiration from superyacht designers to create onboard spaces 184 Paul Pringle speaks about the benefits of Solarglide’s new range of adhesive solar films 186 Béatrice Balle Coureau from Forbo Flooring Systems explains why flocked floor coverings are ideal for use on passenger ships 188 Dietmar Wertanzl of CMI Leisure speaks about sustainability and the opportunities and challenges created by the pandemic 190 Julia Siebert discusses the origins of Columbia Signature and what it will offer cruise guests onboard Romantika 191 Beadlight’s Matt Swiergon shares the benefits of LED lights 165
Arnold Donald explains to Rebecca Gibson how Carnival Corporation is overcoming adversity to steer its nine cruise brands back to success after a challenging couple of years There is a bright light at the end of every tunnel. This old adage has sustained many people through crises and is one that Carnival Corporation president and CEO Arnold Donald is prioritising as a guiding principle as he works with his team to overcome the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Humanity has faced many seemingly insurmountable challenges – in the last century alone we’ve faced war, pandemics, global financial crashes, natural disasters and a whole host of other issues,” says Donald. “They were all terrible times, but people fought to survive and eventually overcame the hardships. The trick is to remember that no matter how long that dark tunnel in front of you is, all you need to do is stay determined and take one step at a time, and you will eventually get to that light at the end of it. And when you do, great prosperity will await you.” Carnival Corporation has adopted this approach throughout the pandemic by staying informed about the virus, collaborating with medical experts to develop solutions, securing liquidity to stay afloat, and working hard to support employees, guests and the communities it visits. “We keep marching forward, prioritising health and safety, and taking advantage of new opportunities as they arise,” says Donald. “We’re now on the final stretch with the prospect of bright days ahead.” At the time of publication, threequarters of the company’s capacity across eight of Carnival Corporation’s nine brands were back in service, including vessels from AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises and Seabourn fleets. P&O Cruises (Australia) is set to restart at the end of May 2022. They are gradually increasing occupancy levels and taking guests to a growing number of destinations around the world. “It’s all going very well so far and we’re hopefully on track to have all our fleet back in service for our summer season,” says Donald. He attributes much of Carnival Corporation’s restart success to its rigorous health and safety protocols, which were developed in collaboration with medical science, public health and infectious disease control experts, and incorporate mandatory measures specified by Cruise Lines International Association. Built on Carnival Corporation’s pre-existing health and safety measures, the new practices have included and may still include mandatory testing for both crew and guests, vaccinations for all eligible guests and crew members, physical distancing, mask wearing where necessary, strictly controlled shore excursions, and more. The brands have made changes onboard the vessels too, upgrading onboard medical facilities, creating dedicated isolation cabins, increasing cleaning and sanitation procedures, and improving the air filtration and ventilation systems. In addition, Carnival Corporation has developed risk-based response plans for each individual ship to ensure infected guests can be rapidly isolated, tested and treated, or transferred to a shoreside medical facility if necessary. “We’re following expert advice and guidance from the world’s best medical professionals and scientists, and we’ve had great cooperation from both our guests and crew,” says Donald. “We’ve safely sailed with more than 2.2 million guests, and we’ve still been able to deliver exceptional experiences, despite all the additional restrictions.” Feedback has certainly been resoundingly positive. “Our net promoter scores have been at an all-time high since we’ve returned to the seas and guests from around the world have told us they thoroughly enjoyed their cruise experiences,” says Donald. “I’ve had the privilege of boarding a number of the ships to welcome back both our crew and our guests and it’s been an amazing to see their joy and excitement. Both our shipboard crew and our onshore employees are very glad to be back KEYNOTE Staying strong “ We keep marching forward, prioritising health and safety, and taking advantage of new opportunities as they arise” 1 2
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doing what they do best – delivering amazing vacation experiences that meet and exceed guests’ expectations, while ensuring they stay safe and healthy.” However, Carnival Corporation cannot yet sail to all of the more than 700 destinations it visited worldwide before the pandemic. “Some still haven’t reopened their borders and others have such strict protocols that it would be impractical for us to plan itineraries there currently,” explains Donald. “For example, we’re not able to operate world cruises because there are too many uncertainties related to complying with requirements for entry to different countries.” To overcome these issues, Carnival Corporation’s brands are primarily offering shorter cruises. “We’ve mainly organised seven, 10 and 14-day cruises because we know we can manage these effectively in the midst of constantly changing protocols,” explains Donald. “We’re in constant communication with governments, healthcare authorities, port and tourism partners, and other key stakeholders in the destinations we visit to ensure we can understand and comply with the local Covid-related requirements. “We’ve also worked with each destination to map out detailed contingency plans for different scenarios so that all parties know how to handle any issues that may arise. For example, we’ve outlined what would happen if one of our guests tested positive for Covid before arriving in port, as well as what we would do if there was an outbreak on the vessel. This ensures a safe and seamless experience for guests, while protecting the local communities in the destinations.” Guests have been keen to travel to any destination after months of no travelling, but there has been particularly high demand in the drive-to-cruise market. “Most guests are looking for easy travel options, so they’re choosing cruises that depart from ports they can drive to in their own vehicles, rather than those they have to fly to,” says Donald. “Not only is it often quicker and more convenient for guests to drive to their embarkation port, but it also means they don’t have the stress of adhering to the airline’s protocols and figuring out whether they meet the entry requirements of the country they’re flying to. Hence, drive-to cruises are particularly appealing with travel, testing, vaccination, and other regulations changing constantly.” Carnival Cruise Line, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first cruise on 11 March 2022, has taken advantage of the surge in demand for drive-to cruises since resuming operations. “There’s always been a strong drive-to market in the USA and Carnival Cruise Line sails from multiple ports in the country, making its cruises easily accessible to a large source market of guests who live within driving distance of at least one of them,” says Donald. “The brand knows that guests love its Caribbean itineraries, so it has created additional sailings that are very similar to its pre-pandemic cruises in the region, and they’ve been incredibly popular. Carnival Cruise Line has been outperforming every other brand in the cruise industry since the pandemic.” The abundance of convenient cruises and the success of Carnival Corporation’s sailings are encouraging bookings from both repeat cruisers and new-to-cruise guests. “ Carnival Cruise Line has been outperforming every other brand in the cruise industry since the pandemic.” KEYNOTE AIDA Cruises’ newest ship AIDAcosma is one of several LNG-powered ships in Carnival Corporation’s fleet and began sailing in February 2022 1 4
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1 7 EYEBROW “There’s a lot of pent-up demand for travel, and people are increasingly confident that cruising is the safest and most enjoyable and convenient way to holiday,” says Donald. “They can see that our strict health and safety protocols are working because we’ve had low case numbers onboard our vessels, and those that have arisen have been dealt with swiftly by our trained medical staff. Of course, we’re prepared for demand to decrease in the event of a spike in cases or a new variant emerging, but overall, we’re on a very positive trajectory, especially as a growing number of people get vaccinated and become more confident in living with the virus. This will enable us to bring more ships back into service and gradually increase their occupancy levels.” Four new vessels will also join Carnival Corporation’s global fleet this year, which Donald expects will help to entice any guests who may still be anxious about cruising. “New ships are always exciting, and they are a great marketing tool because they bring a lot of positive attention to both the brand and the wider cruise industry,” he explains. “All of these ships will have innovative new features that will delight and engage our guests.” The first is Princess Cruises’ new 3,660-guest Discovery Princess, which will debut at the end of March with a seven-night maiden voyage from the Port of Los Angeles in California, USA, to the Mexican Riviera. The vessel is the sixth and final in the Royal Class and will offer onboard highlights such as The Sanctuary and multiple dining venues. Guests will also be equipped with a wearable Medallion device to unlock the Princess Medallion Class Vacations experience and benefit from expedited contactless boarding, keyless stateroom entry, and multiple other personalised services. In late November, Carnival Cruise Line will debut its second Excel-class vessel, Carnival Celebration. The ship will feature six separate onboard zones, as well as the Bolt rollercoaster, a Lido, an aqua park, a SportSquare, a plethora of dining options, and three-storey atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows that can be transformed into 16 individually controlled LED screens to augment onboard entertainment. Arvia, which is currently under construction at Meyer Werft’s yard in Papenburg, Germany, will join the P&O Cruises (UK) fleet as a sister to Iona in December 2022. The vessel will boast attractions such as a high-ropes course, a swim-up bar and infinity pool, 12 restaurants and SkyDome, a pool area covered by a retractable roof – a first for P&O Cruises (UK). “All three newbuilds are sisters to existing vessels that have earned rave reviews and tremendous satisfaction scores for the spectacular experiences they offer, so we expect they’ll be equally well-loved,” says Donald. This July, Seabourn will welcome Seabourn Venture, the first of two new Polar Class 6 expedition ships from Italian shipbuilder T. Mariotti. The vessel will carry two custom-built submarines, 24 Zodiacs, kayaks and a 26-person expedition team, and will sail a maiden Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess will debut at the end of March and offer the Princess Medallion Class Vacations experience
1 8 Innovations like the BOLT rollercoaster on the new Carnival Celebration are designed to delight guests voyage from London, UK, to Tromsø, Norway. “Seabourn Venture will offer the type of immersive, one-of-a-kind experience that guests are looking for in the ultra-luxury category,” says Donald. “The ship is designed for exploring the Arctic or Antarctic and we’ve seen very high demand already, even though it is not yet completed.” Like all new vessels joining Carnival Corporation’s fleet in the coming years, the four ships will be equipped with technologies and systems to minimise their environmental impact. Carnival Celebration and Arvia, for example, will be the seventh and eights ships in the fleet to be powered by LNG fuel. “LNG isn’t the ultimate solution, but it’s the most efficient and cleanest burning fossil fuel we have available for wide-scale commercial use at the moment, and it’s certainly helping us to reduce our carbon footprint,” says Donald, noting that the fuel will be used to power a total of 11 ships by the end of 2025, representing nearly 20 per cent of the total fleet capacity. “We’re continuing to partner with key organisations and experts to identify, scale and implement new technologies that will drive further carbon emission reduction efforts and set us on a path to full decarbonisation. For example, we’re exploring the use of bio-LNG, fuel cell technology, Lithium-ion batteries, and more.” Transitioning to alternative fuels and investing in new low- or zerocarbon emission technologies will help Carnival Corporation to meet the new sustainability goals it set in late 2021. By 2030, the organisation aims to reduce the intensity of its carbon emissions by 40 per cent (relative to a 2008 baseline), cut absolute particulate matter air emissions by 50 per cent (compared to a 2015 baseline), halve food waste, install Advanced Waste Water Treatment Systems on more than 75 per cent of vessels, and increase fleet-wide shore power connection capability to 60 per cent of the fleet. And by 2050, it aspires to expand shore power functionality to all ships, send all waste to waste-toenergy facilities, achieve net carbon neutral ship operations, and build zeroemissions vessels. “We recorded a peak in absolute carbon emissions in 2011 and they have been lowering ever since, despite a 20 per cent capacity increase between 2011 and today, and an additional 19 per cent capacity increase on order with new ships,” says Donald. “Since 2016, we’ve invested more than $350 million to upgrade technology, improve energy efficiency, optimise fleet performance and itinerary planning, and more – and it’s significantly reduced our carbon footprint. We’re also making good headway with increasing the availability of shore power capabilities on both our ships and at high-volume ports around the world. “In addition, we continue to make excellent progress with reducing KEYNOTE
2 0 single-use plastics, increasing recycling, and installing food waste biodigesters across our fleet to lower the volume of waste going to landfill. Similarly, we’ve significantly cut water consumption and usage on our ships. And we’ve enhanced our ability to produce about 80 per cent of the water that we need onboard.” Despite this success, Carnival Corporation is not resting on its laurels. “We have a long way to go before we can achieve our net carbon neutral aims and it’s going to require us to be innovative and inventive, but I’m confident we can do it,” says Donald. Carnival Corporation’s sustainability efforts aren’t just restricted to its ships. It has also set goals to ensure it has a positive impact on the environment, culture and economic prosperity of the destinations it visits. “The cruise industry has a huge responsibility and shared commitment to making travel and tourism sustainable – maintaining a healthy planet is not just an operational necessity, but also a moral obligation,” says Donald. “Our highest responsibility and top priority has always been to ensure environmental compliance and protection, as well as the health, safety and well-being of our guests, employees and the people in the communities we visit. “We know that our business depends on us being able to take guests to beautiful destinations where they’re welcomed by the locals. For this to happen, it’s vital that we listen closely to the locals’ concerns and collaborate with our destination partners to do everything we can to comply with any requirements, so they feel like the community benefits more if we visit than if we don’t. Fortunately, we’ve already achieved this goal in most of the destinations we call at today.” Another key business imperative for Donald is to build a more diverse and inclusive organisation that provides all employees with a safe, healthy and positive work environment that offers equal opportunities for personal and professional growth. Donald, who views his employees as Carnival Corporation’s greatest asset, says: “We’re already among the most diverse companies in the world as our global employee base represents people of all genders and ethnicities from well over 130 countries, but we want to engineer more shipboard and shoreside diversity, equity and inclusion across all ranks and departments by 2030. We see it as a critical business imperative because it spurs innovation and drives better business results. Not only does it allow us to enhance guest experiences and operations, but it also produces great returns for our shareholders. Of course, it’s also the right thing to do from a social responsibility perspective too.” As part of its commitment to provide a safe and healthy working environment for employees, Carnival Corporation plans to introduce global well-being standards by 2023. “The ‘happy crew, happy guests’ mantra is very much true and when we have happy employees, the business performs well too,” says Donald. “We take a holistic approach to protecting and improving the physical and mental well-being of our employees, listening to them to fully understand their needs or concerns and implement improvements. Often, it’s the simple changes that have the biggest impact, such as expanding broadband capacity onboard our ships to make it easier for crew members to stay connected with loved ones back home. “Now, we’re taking it a step further by sharing best practices across our nine brands and learning from both our industry peers and other businesses to develop consistent standards, so we continue to get closer to our aim of being the greatest place to work in the world.” In his relentless pursuit to continually improve how Carnival Corporation operates, Donald capitalised on the pause in global cruise operations to analyse every area of the business and identify new opportunities for optimisation. “One silver lining of the pandemic is that it forced us to improve communication, collaboration and coordination across our nine brands and that’s something I’ve been striving to do since I took the helm of Carnival Corporation,” he says. “Now, we’re operating as a true federation of nine brands, communicating regularly and share skills, knowledge and ideas across sourcing, ship design and construction, revenue management, marketing and public relations, and many other areas. “Working together on projects has led to greater ideation and the rapid adoption of best practices, which will ultimately make us stronger, leaner, and more efficient by improving cash flow, increasing returns for stakeholders and enabling us to develop even greater experiences for guests. Now each brand is stronger and more successful as part of the whole than it would be if it was operating in isolation.” Carnival Corporation’s other outstanding priority is to continue to counter the claims of industry detractors and regulatory bodies who still deem cruising as risky. “One of the most KEYNOTE
2 1 challenging parts of the cruise comeback is that our industry seems to have been singled out for more criticism and held to a higher standard than almost every other sector but it’s not clear why,” says Donald. “We’ve always had rigorous health and safety standards, and historically, we’ve been better at dealing with this type of health crisis than wider society. The data shows our protocols are working and cases on cruise ships are low compared to elsewhere.” Donald is determined that Carnival Corporation will lead the way in driving regulatory changes, particularly because he is acutely aware of how many people worldwide depend on the cruise industry reopening successfully. “The cruise sector supports half a million jobs in the USA alone, and there are nation states that are totally dependent on travel and tourism. We’re obligated to honour the duty we have as a responsible corporate citizen to prepare the data and communicate with various authorities around the world to show that cruising is safe and enjoyable.” Despite these challenges, Donald remains resolutely positive that the cruise industry – and the wider travel sector – has a bright future. “We’ve always said the industry would survive, and the road forward is now clear and we’re on a positive trajectory,” he says. “Two years ago we had no ships operating at all, one year ago we only had a few sailing with low occupancy, and now we’ve got eight brands and 75 per cent of our fleet capacity back in service. By our summer seasons, we hope to have the majority – if not all – of our vessels back in service.” While he concedes that new variants pose a potential risk, Donald is cautiously optimistic that the virus is becoming less threatening. “Omicron seems to have been mild for most and has caused significantly fewer hospitalisations and deaths, plus vaccination rates are higher and treatments have advanced,” he explains. “This is prompting destinations to open up and is giving people confidence to socialise and travel again. Hence, we expect to soon be able to go back to ‘normal’ operations and offer guests itineraries to destinations worldwide within the next 12 months. We’re hopeful that 2023 will be great for both the cruise industry and guests.” CFR “ We want to engineer more shipboard and shoreside diversity, equity and inclusion across all ranks and departments by 2030.” Carnival Corporation is investing in LNG and other alternative fuels and technologies to accelerate its journey towards decarbonisation
2 2 MARKETWATCH Cruise lines increase environmental investments Members of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have pledged to achieve net carbon neutral cruising by 2050. CLIA’s 2022 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook details the pursuit of innovative solutions and technologies to bring about an impactful change to the cruise industry’s environmental footprint. According to the report, cruise operators are investing in recycling protocols, waste-to-energy initiatives, energy-efficient ship designs, supply chain sustainability programmes, reverse osmosis water filtration systems and alternative fuels in an attempt to reduce their carbon usage. Investments in LNG-powered vessels is a major example of how CLIA members are implementing cleaner cruising practices, producing 25 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than diesel. Of the 16 upcoming ships that will join CLIA’s fleet this year, five will operate on LNG, beginning with AIDA Cruises’ new vessel, AIDAcosma, which was delivered to her homeport of Hamburg in Germany by 26 February 2022. She is the second AIDA vessel to run on LNG, with the first being sister ship AIDAnova. A new CLIA report predicts members will continue investing in LNG ships, shore power, advanced wastewater treatment systems and scrubbers to meet carbonneutral goals by 2050 SUSTAINABLE MARIT IME INTERIORS The Cruise & Ferry team is currently compiling a report to investigate the progress that the industry is making towards delivering more sustainable passenger ship interiors. With over 100 contributors across all interior disciplines, the report has received widespread industry support as this community seeks to accelerate the pace of environmental change. To contribute, please email news@cruiseandferry.net.
2 3 Having been completed in December 2021, Costa Toscana departed for her maiden voyage on 6 March 2022, helping Costa Cruises to become more sustainable with her LNG propulsion engines. Carnival Cruise Line will also welcome its second LNG ship in 2022. Designed as a sister ship to Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration is scheduled to set out on her maiden voyage on 6 November 2022 as part of the cruise line’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Mardi Gras was the first LNG-powered cruise ship to operate in the Americas and began service in January 2020. P&O Cruises is adding a second LNG-powered ship to its fleet with its new vessel, Arvia, scheduled to be completed in December 2022. MSC Cruises’ first LNG vessel, World Europa, will also be completed towards the end of the year and departs for her maiden voyage from Qatar, Doha, on 20 December 2022. Over the next five years, a growing number of CLIA members will debut LNG-powered vessels, with the total number expected to hit 26 vessels by 2027 (representing 16 per cent of global capacity). By this date, 231 vessels in CLIA members’ fleets will also be fitted with advanced waste water treatment systems, while 176 will have exhaust gas cleaning systems. CFR Sustainable transformation through shore power CLIA predicts that 174 cruise ships will be equipped with shore power connectivity by 2027, so ports worldwide have begun to invest in building the infrastructure to meet this demand. Karmsund Port Authority has signed a contract with PSW Power & Automation and Havnekraft, owned by Norwegian power company Haugland Kraft, to provide a high-voltage shore power system for cruise ships in Haugesund, Norway. The system will have capacity for up to 16 million volt-amperes according to IEC 80005-1 and will supply power to over 100 cruise ships per year. Portsmouth International Port aims to be the UK’s first zero-emission port by 2050. The port, which is extending its terminal to accommodate the expected increase of cruise passengers in 2022, has been awarded £11.25 million ($15.35 million) in funding from the UK’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to facilitate its ambitious shore power plans. Spain’s Tarragona Port Authority is also investing €5.5 million ($6.2 million) in a new solar-powered terminal facility, which will provide shore power to four cruise ships at a time. Photo: Karmsund Havn Photo: Port of Tarragona Carnival Celebration will join Carnival’s first LNG-powered ship, Mardi Gras, as part of the cruise line’s 50th anniversary celebrations
2 4 MARKETWATCH Tillberg Design of Sweden prioritises sustainability Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS) has decided to make sustainable practices, choices and materials into its business standard, rather than as an additional benefit. To achieve this, clients will automatically receive general average suggestions and a material report showing the percentage of sustainable materials used in their work. Already firmly committed to several of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, TDoS is producing an annual report to analyse its environmental footprint, as well as employee well-being, with the target to improve every year. By actively applying and sharing knowledge and expertise on sustainability with partners, clients, media, and others, TDoS hopes to contribute in making sustainability the standard in design, rather than an added benefit. Logo: United Nations The gold stamp of green approval Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ new cruise facility in Miami, Florida, USA, has become the first terminal in the world to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. LEED is a widely used green-building rating system that recognises sustainable achievement. The new 188,000-square-foot terminal, which accommodates up to 5,000 cruise guests, opened in August 2021 and is designed to operate with high energy performance. The terminal is equipped with facilities for protecting manatees and reducing pollution discharges, as well as shore power capabilities that will be available by autumn 2023. Viewpoint: Tina Kjeldgaard How Danish Decoration is helping clients to achieve their sustainability goals Now that sustainability is a key aim for every passenger ship operator, marine interior outfitter Danish Decoration has noticed more clients wanting to go green than ever before. Many operators aim to reduce both waste and their environmental impact across the supply chain, so it is essential for Danish Decoration to source suppliers with more sustainable materials for use during their cruise ship and passenger ferry refurbishment projects. However, this can be challenging because all onboard materials need to be approved for marine use. Danish Decoration collaborates and communicates with clients and suppliers to ensure it can overcome these issues and meet sustainability goals in a cost-effective, timely and realistic manner. For example, we have invested time to find new suppliers that are focused on operating sustainably. We ask them to outline all of their sustainability policies and procedures to ensure that they are as committed to recycling and reusing materials as our clients. No customer has the same sustainability goal. Consequently, it is essential for Danish Decoration to pay great attention to detail and remain flexible to ensure we can meet the specific demands of each client. Tina Kjeldgaard is the project manager for Danish Decoration Danish Decoration completed the conversion of an old card room into a new escape room on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas in 2019
Cruise Lines International Association members are demonstrating their commitment to protecting the environment by: Using special paint coatings on ship hulls to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency Engaging with partners that provide efficient and sustainable strategies to waste onshore Educating crew, guests and the communities in destinations to increase environmental awareness Implementing practices to recycle 60 per cent more waste per person onboard their ships than the average person recycles onshore each day Meyer Turku to lead €100 million project for carbon-neutral cruise ship Meyer Turku is to lead a €100 million ($113 million) project to develop carbon-neutral technological solutions for cruise ships after receiving finance from Business Finland, which aims to increase research and development investments in Finland. The eventual goal of the NEcOLEAP project will be to develop a climateneutral cruise ship concept by 2025 and to achieve carbon-neutral shipbuilding by 2030. Meyer Turku estimates that one climate-neutral ship order will create approximately 9,500 jobs for the shipyard and its partners, with an impact of approximately €1 billion ($1.13 billion) on net sales. www.bolidt.com For every conceivable area Bolidt offers innovative decking solutions. Environmentally friendly Durable Cost efficient Light weight Maintenance friendly Unlimited design options Our specialised application teams work world wide, for new build as well as refit. Bolidt, no limits! DID YOU KNOW? 1.2 million jobs are supported by the global cruise industry, according to Cruise Lines International Association, across a wide variation of industries and sectors, such as ground and air transportation, food and beverage, hotels and manufacturing.
2 6 MARKETWATCH Viking Lines’ new ferry, Viking Glory, underwent final outfitting at Finland’s Port of Turku, in preparation for when she began service on 1 March 2022. The ship arrived in port on 6 February and was welcomed by the port by the Arma Aboa Association’s artillery of cannons, daytime fireworks and the navy band’s ceremonial marches under the direction of Viking Line’s mascot, Ville Viking. The celebration was streamed live online for the general public. Viking Glory is now operating on the Turku-MariehamnStockholm route, having replaced Amorelia which will move to Helsinki. The new flagship will increase capacity on the route by about 10 per cent. Viking Glory starts service in Scandinavia Netherlands-based public transport company Gemeentelijk vervoerbedrijf (GVB) is replacing the existing diesel-powered fleet on its North Sea Canal routes in Amsterdam with five new electric ferries. The ferries, which will be equipped with power conversion technology supplied by ABB, will be ready by 2023 as part of GVB’s strategy to become emission-free. The new GVB ferries can carry up to 400 passengers, 20 cars or 4 trucks across the North Sea Canal routes, operating on a 24-hour schedule. Based on a plug-in hybrid design, they will run on electric power from their 680-kilowatt-hour batteries and switch to generator power if weather conditions are above eight on the Beaufort Scale. Finnlines’ new Europalink joined its sister ship, Finnswan, on the route between Naantali, Finland, and Kapellskär, Sweden, on 27 January 2022. Europalink has capacity for 554 passengers and 1,200 lane metres for cargo, making her larger than Finnfellow, which previously operated the same service. Both Europalink and Finnswan will operate morning and night, each departing from either end of the route and call at Långnäs, Lumparland, halfway through the journey. Finnfellow will now offer sailings between Malmö, Sweden, and Travemünde, Germany. GVB to roll out five new electric ferries for Amsterdam Læsø Municipality has contracted DanishNorwegian Ferry Consortium (DANOF) to design and develop a new ferry that will travel between Frederikshavn, Denmark, and Læsø, an island in the North Sea that is 19 kilometres off the nearest coast of the Jutland Peninsula. The existing Læsø ferry, Margrete Læsø, was built in 1996 at the North Sea shipyard in Ringkøbing, Denmark. The new ferry is expected to be ready in 2024 for operating the 1.5-hour journey between Frederikshavn and Læsø, replacing Margrete Læsø. “With DANOF’s great competencies within ship and ferry design, we are in safe hands and well equipped to be able to acquire a new ferry capacity for the benefit of Læsø’s population and guests,” said Tobias Birch Johansen, mayor of Læsø. Danish-Norwegian Ferry Consortium orders new Læsø ferry New ferry doubles Finnlines’ passenger capacity
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