Cruise & Ferry Itinerary Planning 2024

8 see the corporate changes playing out in the company’s overall strategy? “In terms of the bigger picture, the realigned structure optimises our support of the business and brands and helps to expedite the achievement of our longterm goals, as we rebuild our financial fortress and deliver shareholder value over time,” she says. “From a corporate perspective, the realignment created an opportunity to establish our new strategic operations function, which I’m honoured to be able to lead. Our new group brings critical teams closer together for even greater collaboration and impact as we continue pushing forward important company initiatives, while helping optimise execution at the brand level to boost our overall collective success.” Crucially, the new group structure will allow for greater freedom for each of the company’s cruise lines to shape product offerings to the needs of their customers. “Each of our brands offers a distinct guest vacation experience,” says Swartz. “Our new structure will allow our brands to move faster in responding to their guest and travel agent needs.” In her capacity as executive vice president of strategic operations, Swartz has begun the process of collecting feedback from all the brands. “After announcing our corporate realignment, I spent eight weeks on a global listening tour,” she says. “I’ve gathered great input from our talented teams on how we at corporate can best support their brand efforts and help drive company priorities even further.” As one of the global company’s most experienced executives, Swartz is keen to share what she has learned over the years with the current brand heads too. She adds: “My personal experience in leading several of our brands also helps inform how we will approach future collaboration across the brands. Our key priorities will be supporting the brands in driving next-level revenue generation capabilities, enhancing our destination development efforts, and increasing our engagement with many external global stakeholders.” “ Each of our brands offers a distinct guest vacation experience. Our new structure will allow our brands to move faster in responding to their guest and travel agent needs” KEYNOTE Holiday highlights Collectively, Carnival Corporation’s brands sail to more than 700 ports around the world, aiming to offer guests the opportunity to explore both well-known and off-the-beaten track destinations during itineraries of various lengths. Below are some of the notable itineraries for the 2023-2024 and 20242025 seasons. AIDA CRUISES Germany-based operator AIDA Cruises’ 2023-2024 winter programme includes various itineraries to destinations in Asia, the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, South America, the Seychelles, the Indian Ocean and the United Arab Emirates. CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE In September 2023, Carnival Cruise Line launched sales on approximately 400 cruises that will bring guests to its new purpose-built cruise destination for its guests in the Bahamas, Celebration Key. The first of these calls will take place in July 2025. COSTA CRUISES Costa Serena is to become the largest cruise ship to operate domestic itineraries in India in November 2023. The ship will provide 33 sailings calling at Mumbai, Cochin, Goa and, for the first time, the Lakshadweep islands. Meanwhile, six ships will offer new extended Costa Voyages in spring and autumn 2024 to destinations like Egypt, the Azores, the Balearic and Greek islands, Morocco and Northern Europe. CUNARD Two of Cunard’s ships will offer world cruises in 2024, with Queen Victoria operating a 107-night roundtrip from Southampton, UK, to North America, Australia, Asia, South Africa and Europe. Queen Mary 2 will offer a 123-night voyage from New York, USA, to the Mediterranean, Asia, Australia, South Africa and Europe. Carnival Corporation’s restructure will make it easier for brands to deliver new onboard experiences tailored to their guests’ specific interests Photo: Princess Cruises

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