Cruise & Ferry Itinerary Planning

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CRUISE ROUTES

2024

Executive Editor: Jon Ingleton
Editor: Alex Smith

The 2024 issue of Cruise & Ferry Itinerary Planning offers exclusive insights from cruise leaders, itinerary planners, destinations and associations into the process of developing the cruise voyages that take guests around the world.

A keynote interview with Jan Swartz, Carnival Corporation’s executive vice president of strategic operations, sees her discuss the cruise company’s recent restructuring and how it’s giving power back to its nine individual cruise brands to enable them to develop the voyages that best suit its guests. Our cover story, meanwhile, explores the unique appeal of Hong Kong as a destination as the city charts its return to its position as Asia’s premier cruise hub.

Six more cruise executives also share their insights into the itinerary planning process in our Planner Perspectives section, including leaders at Azamara, TUI Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Marella Cruises and APT. Our Maiden Season articles also preview the itineraries of some of the most anticipated new cruise ships in the industry, including newbuilds for Silversea Cruises, Cunard, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.

Elsewhere, we examine the growing momentum behind shore power initiatives in our ‘Sailing towards a greener future’ feature, as ports and technology providers discuss their progress in installing the emission-reducing technology. We also highlight the outstanding natural features and phenomena that travellers can experience on a cruise in our ‘Naturally appealing’ feature.

In the Association Highlights section, we begin with a special report on the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and Atlantic Canada, before hearing from cruise associations from around the world about their work promoting the industry in their region. Other highlights include reports, perspectives and interviews from ports and destinations, a regional spotlight on cruise itineraries in Asia, and the latest news and developments in the Marketwatch section.

Magazine highlights

Reclaiming the cruise crown

Hong Kong has long been one of the most popular tourism destinations in Asia. With the sector now showing strong post pandemic recovery, the city is poised to regain its position as the region’s premier cruise hub too. Alex Smith reports

A new strategy

Carnival Corporation’s Jan Swartz tells Michele Witthaus how the organisation’s recent restructure will empower its nine brands to create more distinct guest experiences

Naturally appealing

From whale watching in Alaska to solar eclipse experiences in Australia, cruise lines are seeking to deliver more natural experiences for their guests. Alice Chambers asks a selection of ports and destinations around the world to highlight a natural feature or phenomenon that has proven to be popular with visiting cruise passengers