4 9 The Ritz-Carlton brand. This will ensure we set a new bar in luxury cruising, placing our brand in a league of its own. AZ: To ensure success, you must have high-quality hardware and for expediton vessels, high safety standards. This is why we are one of the few building our vessels according to Polar Code Class 5 and voluntary Safe Return to Port notations. Also, our vessels are among the more advanced due to their environmentally friendly technology, innovative designs and onboard amenities, such as the multifunctional observation lounge, spa and marina with Zodiac boats on the lower deck. In addition, we have the best team of people in the market, many of whom have 20-30 years of industry experience. They continuously strive to find new destinations and collaborate with local partners to deliver unparalleled onshore experiences. How do you predict the luxury cruising sector will evolve in the coming years? MG: We’re optimistic that the luxury cruising sector will continue to develop, especially in Asia. The Asian luxury travel industry has been growing at an unprecedented rate due to increasing spending power, a growing middle class, and a demand for private and exclusive spaces while on vacation. As such, the launch of Resorts World Cruises in Asia is timely and we’re in the right market to spur the growth of the region’s luxury cruise sector. JL: We’ll continue to see a trend towards guests wanting to visit open-air, nature-rich places and do things that no one else has ever done. To accommodate this, Seabourn is shifting deployments to take guests to remote areas like hidden Alaska, the Arctic, Iceland and Greenland. We’ve introduced once-in-alifetime experiences such as Northwest and Northeast passage crossings. Guests also want to go beyond typical touring and be highly active on vacation, so we’ve created expedition experiences to get them closer to nature and expanded our marina day operations to offer increased access to Zodiacs, paddleboards and kayaks. RM: The ultra-luxury travel industry and expedition segment will continue to grow, with the appeal of unique experiences motivating travellers to journey further afield and for longer. New players continuing to enter this market will contribute to this growth. Luxury travellers increasingly want to positively impact the people and places they visit, so I have no doubt that sustainability is the future of luxury travel. Together with Royal Caribbean Group, we’ll continue our long-standing commitment to build a more sustainable industry. Our newest vessel, Silver Nova, will be the first cruise ship to operate using a trio of power sources, including a fuel cell system, battery technology, and dual-fuel engines powered primarily by LNG. This pioneering vessel will introduce a new era of luxury cruising that prioritises sustainability, while enhancing the guest experience. CP: Cruising will be even more attractive to luxury travellers. Consider the current rates of luxury hotels, then add the costs of airfare and restaurant bills – nothing competes with luxury cruising from a value for money perspective, or from a product delivery and destination immersion standpoint. I predict that luxury, and particularly small-ship cruising, that takes guests off the beaten path is the future. DP: We’ll see several lines increase their capacity while maintaining an intimate ambience to meet market demands. Affluent cruisers will expect a more intimate atmosphere onboard and spacious accommodation. AZ: Luxury expedition cruising is a niche segment that is still in its infancy, but it’s growing rapidly and more operators are entering this market, mainly with larger ships. However, we believe there will still be a space for small-ship brands like Swan Hellenic that can offer immersive and personalised experiences and calls at remote destinations that are otherwise inaccessible. CFR “ Today’s luxury customer aspires to collect meaningful stories and embraces travel as an opportunity to reconnect” Douglas Prothero, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Windstar Cruises’ guests can relax in luxurious surroundings onboard its ships
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