Author: Amber Hickman

Amber is a contributing writer for both the Cruise and Ferry suite of publications and CruiseandFerry.net. She produces daily content for the website and interviews senior executives from across the passenger shipping industry to write features, reports and other articles for the publications.

Interior View: Seabourn’s newest ship, Seabourn Pursuit

Interior View: Seabourn’s newest ship, Seabourn Pursuit

Tihany Design

By Amber Hickman | 03 July 2023

Tihany Design’s Alessia Genova tells Amber Hickman why guests sailing onboard Seabourn’s newest ship can expect to enjoy an expedition in luxury

Tihany Design’s Alessia Genova discuss the luxury expedition experience the new ship will offer  

Swan Hellenic’s SH Diana named by godmother Valerie Ann Wilson

Swan Hellenic’s SH Diana named by godmother Valerie Ann Wilson

Swan Hellenic

By Amber Hickman | 09 May 2023

Cruise line also launched new gourmet dining experience for guests in partnership with Jeunes Restauranteurs

A collaborative future for Anglo-Eastern and CMI

A collaborative future for Anglo-Eastern and CMI
By Amber Hickman | 04 May 2023

Amber Hickman asks Sanjay Sukhrani and Dietmar Wertanzl how Anglo-Eastern’s acquisition of CMI and CMI Leisure will benefit customers in the expedition cruise sector 

Sanjay Sukhrani and Dietmar Wertanzl discuss Anglo-Eastern’s acquisition of CMI and CMI Leisure

Costa Cruises celebrates 75 years of passenger shipping

Costa Cruises celebrates 75 years of passenger shipping

Costa Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 31 March 2023

Anna C departed from Genoa for Buenos Aires with 768 guests on 31 March 1948

Heineken sponsors Seatrade food and beverage event

Heineken sponsors Seatrade food and beverage event

Unsplash/Stella De Smit

By Amber Hickman | 29 March 2023

The inaugural F&B@Sea is dedicated to food and beverage in the cruise industry

MSC World America to sail Caribbean itineraries during inaugural season

MSC World America to sail Caribbean itineraries during inaugural season

MSC Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 29 March 2023

Seven-night trips will call at the Ocean Cay private island in the Bahamas

Emerald Cruises offers digital entertainment with Nevron solution

Emerald Cruises offers digital entertainment with Nevron solution

Emerald Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 24 March 2023

Guests will have access to a range of interactive and personalised entertainment on Emerald Azzurra

Carnival Venezia officially joins the Carnival Cruise Line Fleet

Carnival Venezia officially joins the Carnival Cruise Line Fleet

Carnival Cruise

By Amber Hickman | 22 March 2023

Carnival Cruises’ first ‘Fun Italian Style’ ship will feature new food and entertainment options

YSA Design and Omega Architects create concept boutique cruise ship

YSA Design and Omega Architects create concept boutique cruise ship

YSA Design and Omega Architects

By Amber Hickman | 22 March 2023

The designs visualise a small cruise ship with the characteristics of a luxury yacht

Greenock Ocean Terminal set to break cruise ship record in 2023

Greenock Ocean Terminal set to break cruise ship record in 2023

Cruise Glasgow

By Amber Hickman | 15 March 2023

The Scottish port will host 91 calls this season, a 25 per cent rise from 2022

LG debuts new screens designed for outdoor areas on cruise ships

LG debuts new screens designed for outdoor areas on cruise ships

LG Business Solutions

By Amber Hickman | 15 March 2023

The screens will display a high-quality picture, regardless of the weather conditions

Exploris to streamline management with Lloyd’s Register solution

Exploris to streamline management with Lloyd’s Register solution

Exploris

By Amber Hickman | 01 March 2023

Cloud-based platform will help new expedition cruise brand to improve operational efficiency

Giada De Laurentiis to christen Oceania Cruises’ Vista in Malta

Giada De Laurentiis to christen Oceania Cruises’ Vista in Malta

Oceania Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 01 March 2023

The celebrity chef will also create two signature dishes to be served onboard the ship

Resorts World Cruises ship to homeport in Kaohsiung from April

Resorts World Cruises ship to homeport in Kaohsiung from April

Resorts World Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 22 February 2023

Resorts World One will make 78 calls to the Taiwanese city in 2023

Color Line to improve data management with Telenor Maritime

Color Line to improve data management with Telenor Maritime

Facebook/Color Line

By Amber Hickman | 15 February 2023

Unified Hosting Service will help ferry operator digitise tasks and reach sustainability goals

Windstar Cruises to implement SpaceX’s Starlink internet across fleet

Windstar Cruises to implement SpaceX’s Starlink internet across fleet

Windstar Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 15 February 2023

High-speed service to deliver more reliable wi-fi for guests sailing on all ships by mid-2023

Fincantieri hosts coin ceremony for Explora II

Fincantieri hosts coin ceremony for Explora II

Explora Journeys

By Amber Hickman | 08 February 2023

New Explora Journeys ship is expected to start sailing in August 2024

Porto Cruise Terminal breaks 2019 record for cruise ship calls

Porto Cruise Terminal breaks 2019 record for cruise ship calls

Porto Cruise Terminal

By Amber Hickman | 08 February 2023

Portuguese port received 112 cruise ship visits in 2022 and is set to hit another all-time high in 2023

Costa Cruises to base multiple ships in Northern Europe and the Med in 2024

Costa Cruises to base multiple ships in Northern Europe and the Med in 2024

Costa Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 02 February 2023

Destinations such as France, Italy, Greece and the Baltic region are included

T. Mariotti to construct luxury yacht for Aman Group

T. Mariotti to construct luxury yacht for Aman Group

Aman Group

By Amber Hickman | 25 January 2023

Project Sama is part of a collaboration between Aman Group and Cruise Saudi

Oceania Cruises’ Riviera to sail first season in Asia in 2024

Oceania Cruises’ Riviera to sail first season in Asia in 2024

Oceania Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 25 January 2023

The ship will offer 25 unique voyages in the region with itineraries ranging from 10 to 82 days

New harbour at Port of Aberdeen to boost Scottish cruise sector

New harbour at Port of Aberdeen to boost Scottish cruise sector

Port of Aberdeen

By Amber Hickman | 25 January 2023

The £400 million facility will allow the port to accommodate larger and a greater number of ships

Viva Cruises begins 2023 river cruising season in Düsseldorf

Viva Cruises begins 2023 river cruising season in Düsseldorf

Viva Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 19 January 2023

Ships Viva One and Viva Moments will be sailing to the Netherlands and Belgium from January to March

Port of A Coruña broke cruise traffic record in 2022

Port of A Coruña broke cruise traffic record in 2022

Port of A Coruña

By Amber Hickman | 18 January 2023

Spanish port beats 2017 record after welcoming almost 223,000 passengers during 136 calls

Nine Baltic ports apply for EU grant to develop shore power

Nine Baltic ports apply for EU grant to develop shore power

Ports of Stockholm

By Amber Hickman | 18 January 2023

The money would fund pilot studies to develop infrastructure for passenger ships and other vessels

Silversea Cruises to offer new public venues onboard Silver Nova

Silversea Cruises to offer new public venues onboard Silver Nova

Silversea Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 11 January 2023

Reimagined restaurants, lounges and bars will feature on the ship, which will debut this August

Viking Neptune named by godmother and NASA astronaut Nicole Stott

Viking Neptune named by godmother and NASA astronaut Nicole Stott

Viking

By Amber Hickman | 11 January 2023

The vessel departed on the 138-day Viking World Cruise in December

Port of Galveston hosted one million cruise passengers in 2022

Port of Galveston hosted one million cruise passengers in 2022

Royal Caribbean International

By Amber Hickman | 04 January 2023

Texan port achieved pre-pandemic levels of cruise traffic and opened new Royal Caribbean terminal

Holland America Line plans new Arctic Circle itinerary for 2024

Holland America Line plans new Arctic Circle itinerary for 2024

Holland America Group

By Amber Hickman | 04 January 2023

The 28-day cruise will allow guests to visit the region during the summer solstice

MSC Cruises and Galveston Wharves plan to develop new homeport

MSC Cruises and Galveston Wharves plan to develop new homeport

MSC Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 21 December 2022

The organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining possible agreement

Rauma shipyard begins construction on second ferry for Spirit of Tasmania

Rauma shipyard begins construction on second ferry for Spirit of Tasmania

Rauma Marine Constructions

By Amber Hickman | 21 December 2022

The two ferries will operate on the world’s southernmost open sea route

Interior design sectors call for sustainability guidelines

Interior design sectors call for sustainability guidelines

SDS UK

By Amber Hickman | 15 December 2022

Industries called for regulators to act during this year’s Sustainable Design Summit

Carnival and Starboard enhance retail experiences

Carnival and Starboard enhance retail experiences

Carnival Cruise Line

By Amber Hickman | 14 December 2022

Carnival Celebration will feature first-at-sea brand launches and themed merchandise

Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku aim to build carbon-neutral ship

Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku aim to build carbon-neutral ship

Royal Caribbean Group

By Amber Hickman | 14 December 2022

Firms sign declaration with Finnish Government to drive innovation and sustainable shipbuilding

Carnival Venezia to feature first-in-fleet spaces

Carnival Venezia to feature first-in-fleet spaces

Carnival Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 13 December 2022

Ship will offer new staterooms, a lido with retractable roof and Italian-style food and entertainment

Tallink Grupp receives MyStar ferry from Rauma Marine Construction

Tallink Grupp receives MyStar ferry from Rauma Marine Construction

Semmeli Korhonen

By Amber Hickman | 07 December 2022

The ship will can carry 2,000 passengers and will operate between Estonia and Finland

Dr Kathy Sullivan named as godmother of Scenic Eclipse II

Dr Kathy Sullivan named as godmother of Scenic Eclipse II

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

By Amber Hickman | 07 December 2022

Nasa scientist is the ‘living embodiment of new yacht’s spirit of innovation and exploration

New shore experiences for P&O cruise guests onboard Arvia

New shore experiences for P&O cruise guests onboard Arvia

P&O Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 01 December 2022

Opportunities for guests on the cruise line’s latest ship include workshops and distillery tours

CSIE 2022: Continental exhibits surfaces and upholstery

CSIE 2022: Continental exhibits surfaces and upholstery

Silversea Cruises

By Amber Hickman | 30 November 2022

The surface designer is showcasing some of its options for furniture upholstery

Virgin Voyages partners with Paysafe for safer transactions

Virgin Voyages partners with Paysafe for safer transactions

Virgin Voyages

By Amber Hickman | 30 November 2022

By implementing the payment platform, the cruise operator aims to streamline booking experiences

Royal Caribbean Group marks 30 years of sustainability improvements

Royal Caribbean Group marks 30 years of sustainability improvements

Royal Caribbean Group

By Amber Hickman | 23 November 2022

Cruise group has reduced the environmental impact of the business and is striving towards net zero

Cruise Gate Hamburg hosts record number of cruise calls

Cruise Gate Hamburg hosts record number of cruise calls

Christian Spahrbier

By Amber Hickman | 23 November 2022

German port beats pre-pandemic levels and expects another increase in ship visits in 2023

Torghatten Trafikkselskap cuts energy use with Schottel EcoPellers

Torghatten Trafikkselskap cuts energy use with Schottel EcoPellers

Torghatten Trafikkselskap

By Amber Hickman | 16 November 2022

Norwegian line records 25 per cent drop in energy usage on ferry after propulsion system upgrade

Chesapeake Shipbuilding begins work on American Cruise Lines’ new ship

Chesapeake Shipbuilding begins work on American Cruise Lines’ new ship

American Cruise Lines

By Amber Hickman | 16 November 2022

American Liberty will be a part of the brand’s coastal cruise fleet in the USA

Bluestone to fit air lubrication systems on two of Princess Cruises ships

Bluestone to fit air lubrication systems on two of Princess Cruises ships

Silverstream Technologies

By Amber Hickman | 15 November 2022

The upgrades on Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess will help reduce emissions and fuel usage

SDS 2022 to help create sustainable interior design framework

SDS 2022 to help create sustainable interior design framework

Ultrafabrics

By Amber Hickman | 14 November 2022

The summit will also showcase green products for the cruise, hotel and aircraft sectors

Valenciaport approves construction of new passenger terminal

Valenciaport approves construction of new passenger terminal

Valenciaport

By Amber Hickman | 14 November 2022

The sustainable facility will cater to different types of ship traffic

Lloyd’s Register launches framework for assessing ship sustainability

Lloyd’s Register launches  framework for assessing ship sustainability

Lloyd's Register

By Amber Hickman | 11 November 2022

The system will assess vessels on how ready they are for operating with zero-carbon fuel

Viking takes delivery of Viking Neptune from Fincantieri

Viking takes delivery of Viking Neptune from Fincantieri

Viking

By Amber Hickman | 11 November 2022

The ship is piloting a small hydrogen fuel cell for onboard operations

Aurora Expeditions launches Sylvia Earle ahead of inaugural voyage

Aurora Expeditions launches Sylvia Earle ahead of inaugural voyage

Benjamin Tan/Aurora Expeditions

By Amber Hickman | 10 November 2022

The new small ship will sail from Argentina to Antarctica in December 2022