CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 1 Magazine Spirit of Tasmania IV & V take shape in RMC Finland Explora Journeys makes entry in the luxury segment REVIEWING CRUISE BUSINESS GLOBALLY WINTER 2024
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CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 3 4 Editor’s Commentary 8 Upfront 15 Windstar President Chris Prelog: Where will the future lead us in travel? 18 Princess brings new partnerships onboard the Sun Princess 20 Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is in a class of its own 26 Introducing Tim Meyer – Meyer Turku’s helmsman 28 STH – Wärtsilä’s path to sustainability 30 ALMACO helps shipowners change the color of galleys 31 ICS 23: Cruises increasingly emerge as more competitive leisure option 32 Spirit of Tasmania IV and V take shape at Rauma Marine Constructions 34 Explora I begins new journey for MSC 38 Viking continues expansion, plans IPO Viking Mars, one of Viking’s nine ocean vessels, departing Port Everglades CONTENTS – WINTER 2024 Ph oto cre dit : Le n Ka uf ma n
4 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 W hen COVID-19 hit the world and literally halted all cruise operations globally four years ago, the industry was in the process of filling its largest-ever newbuilding orderbook. Already in the early months of the pandemic, stark warnings were given that the crisis would affect cruise shipbuilding activity for years to come. Shipyards were able to stretch delivery times for cruise lines because any new tonnage was required to stay idle. But the outlook for the cruise business looks bright again for 2024. The industry expects to carry more guests than pre-pandemic and cruise operators have started to look again to order new ships and refurbish older ones. During the pandemic, a lot of older cruise ships were sent for recycling to places like Aliaga, Turkey, and Alang, India. So these four years have helped make cruise line fleets younger, more sustainable and commercially more viable. One of the top news stories of January 2024 has been the inauguration of the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean International’s 248,663-gross-ton Icon of the Seas. The company was the first to introduce cruise ships exceeding 200,000 gross tons in 2009. While the brand was alone for a long time in operating such large ships, more and more contemporary brands are now moving to that size category. MSC Cruises introduced the 215,863-grosston MSC World Europa last year, and sister ship MSC World America is soon to follow. Just last fall, the group confirmed orders for two more sister ships from the French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique. And Disney Cruise Line acquired the unfinished 200,000-gross-ton Genting newbuild, which it aims to introduce in the Asian market, based in Singapore. When Icon of the Seas was making headlines in mid-January, rumors from Italy suggested that Carnival Corp. & plc — the largest cruise conglomerate in the world — is looking at newbuildings again. Currently it has just three ships on order from Italy’s Fincantieri, two of which will be delivered this year, with the last one expected in 2025. Carnival has said that it intends to build fewer new ships than in previous years and that in the near future, there will be years with no new deliveries. If the new ships are ordered during the first half of 2024, the first deliveries would not be before 2027 or 2028 anyway. What’s interesting about a potential newbuilding order from Carnival is the possi-bility that the company could join the exclusive group operating ships over 200,000 gross tons, as rumors suggest the size of any newbuilds could be in the range of 208,000 gross tons. Since the introduction of the Oasis class in 2009, there could be close to 20 cruise ships in this size category operating before the end of this decade. However, at the presstime Carnival opted to order 10th Excel class ship from Meyer Werft with a delivery in 2027. During the same week, Royal Caribbean Group contracted for the 7th Oasis class ship from Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Teijo Niemelä EDITOR’S COMMENTARY Newbuilding order activity to return HOW TO FOLLOW US X/@cruisebusiness || Facebook/CruiseBusinessUSA || Instagram/niemelateijo || E-mail christer.gorschelnik(a)kolumbus.fi CruiseBusiness.com Magazine Editor Teijo Niemelä Publisher Cruise Media LLC Chief Content Officer Carolyn Spencer Brown Sales Christer Gorschelnik Art Director T:Anssi/Anssi Lintala COMPANY ADDRESS Cruise Media LLC 209 N Queen Street Chestertown, MD 21620 USA Telephone +1-609-751-2344 E-mail cruisemediallc(a)gmail.com SALES OFFICE USA Teijo Niemelä 209 N Queen Street Chestertown, MD 21620 USA Telephone +1-609-751-2344 E-mail cruisemediallc(a)gmail.com SALES OFFICE FINLAND ChrisGo Consulting Pahtankatu 10 as 10 FI-21200 Raisio, Finland Telephone +358-440-159 554 E-mail christer.gorschelnik(a)kolumbus.fi FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR Carolyn Spencer Brown, the longtime, award-winning Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic, is Chief Content Officer of Cruise Media LLC. In that role, she oversees the company’s branded content projects for cruise lines, business to business clients and ports and destinations: carolynspencerbrown.com
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 5 Design to enhance your business T I L L B E R G D E S I G N O F S W E D E N I S P A R T O F V I K E N G R O U P
6 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 Viking.com With Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 for Oceans, Expeditions and Rivers CST# 2052644-40
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 7 Viking.com With Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 for Oceans, Expeditions and Rivers CST# 2052644-40
8 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 UPFRONT Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corp. & plc, took delivery of the Carnival Jubilee from Meyer Werft on Dec. 4, 2023. The 182,700gross-ton and 5,374-guest newbuilding was the ninth and last Excelclass unit the shipbuilding group has constructed for four different brands, AIDA, Carnival, Costa and P&O Cruises, in its Papenburg, Germany and Turku, Finland, shipyards. In February the parties agreed to build 10th Excel-class ship with 2027 delivery. From left: Captain Andrea Catalani, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, and Managing Directors Dr. Jan Meyer and Bernard Meyer. Seabourn celebrated the grand opening of its new fine dining restaurant, Solis, on Seabourn Quest on Jan. 20, 2023. Pictured here during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the special occasion are from left: Joris Poriau, Captain of Seabourn Quest; Anton “Tony” Egger, Master Chef and Seabourn’s culinary partner; Franck Salein, Seabourn’s Senior Corporate Chef; and Daniel Putzhammer, Seabourn’s Senior Director of Food & Beverage and Housekeeping. Solis will feature Mediterranean cuisine on the line’s ultra-luxury ships. Fincantieri and Princess Cruises celebrated the keel-laying ceremony of the second 175,500-gross-ton and 4,300-guest Sphereclass ship, Star Princess, on Dec. 11, 2023. Princess Cruises President John Padgett welded a Princess Medallion into the ship, believed to bring good luck to the vessel and its passengers and crew. Star Princess will debut in the Mediterranean in August 2025, while its sister ship Sun Princess will inaugurate at press time.
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 9 Royal Caribbean International officially named the largest cruise ship in the world, 248,663-grosston Icon of the Seas, in an event at PortMiami on Jan. 23, 2024. The most decorated soccer player in history, Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi, acted as an official Godfather, while Royal Caribbean International’s President and CEO Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean Group’s President and CEO Jason Liberty and Captain Henrik Loy joined him on the stage. Meyer Turku shipyard and Royal Caribbean International reached a milestone in the wintry Turku shipyard, dating the keel of the second Icon-class ship in December. Star of the Seas will join the fleet in 2025 and will sail 7-night cruises from Florida’s Port Canaveral. After the Star, RCI has a third Icon-class ship on order, which is already in production as well. Co-Godmothers Captain Sandy Yawn, star of Bravo TV’s hit series, “Below Deck,” and her sister, Michelle Dunham, christened the 141,420-gross-ton Celebrity Ascent, the fourth unit of Edge-class, in November 2023. The Godmothers were joined by Celebrity Cruise President Laura Hodges Bethge; Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty; and the ship’s brother co-Captains Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis at the naming ceremony.
10 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 Deliver the cruise port experience preferred by discerning travelers, from e? ortless access through FLL and modern terminals to exceptional preand post-cruise diversions in Greater Fort Lauderdale. We’ll pamper you, too, with a warm welcome through our Harbormaster O? ce, concierge-style service by our dedicated cruise team and fully scalable amenities all available 24/7. We make it easy. A World-Class Welcome PortEverglades.net UPFRONT Explora Journeys is a new ultra-luxury brand founded by the Cruise Division of MSC Group. Explora plans to introduce at least six ships from shipbuilder Fincantieri, the first of which was delivered last summer. The Explora I was officially named in an event in New York City in November. From left, ship’s Captain Diego Michaelozzi, Godmother Dr. Sylvia Earle, Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, Explora Journeys’ President Michael Ungerer and Daniela Picco. Silver Nova, the 12th ship of Silversea Cruises, was christened in Port Everglades on Jan. 4. Delivered last summer, the 55,541-gross-ton and 728-guest ship represents a new class for the ultra-luxury brand, which is now owned by the Royal Caribbean Group. It is the first for the entire group powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas). From left, the ship’s Captain Cosimo Pontillo, Silversea’s President and CEO Barbara Muckermann, Godmother Nina Compton, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty and TV personality Peter Greenberg. Norwegian Viva was officially christen on Nov 28. The festivities also included the unveiling and dedication of the Knut Kloster Hall, a newly added installation at the NCL Terminal that pays homage to the company’s founder, Knut Kloster, and colorfully shares details on NCL’s 57-year history of innovation in the cruise industry. The dignitaries included NCL’s top management and officials from Miami-Dade and PortMiami.
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 11 Deliver the cruise port experience preferred by discerning travelers, from e? ortless access through FLL and modern terminals to exceptional preand post-cruise diversions in Greater Fort Lauderdale. We’ll pamper you, too, with a warm welcome through our Harbormaster O? ce, concierge-style service by our dedicated cruise team and fully scalable amenities all available 24/7. We make it easy. A World-Class Welcome PortEverglades.net
12 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 Fincantieri floated out the first of Viking’s larger newbuilding, Viking Vela, in Ancona, Italy, on Nov. 30. Viking Vela, which will be delivered before the end of this year, will have a gross tonnage of 54,300 and will carry 998 guests. Since 2015, Fincantieri’s facilities in Marghera and Ancona have constructed 10 ships for Viking’s ocean fleet. Viking Vela will be followed by identical sister ship Viking Vesta in 2025. Asuka III, the third luxury vessel of Japanese NYK Cruises brand, is taking shape at the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The owner and builder celebrated the keel-laying event on Dec. 12, 2023. This will be the first LNG-powered vessel for the cruise line, which has always operated a single ship during its 33year history. The 52,200-gross-ton newbuilding will be handed over in 2025 and will carry 740 guests. Currently NYK Cruises operates Asuka II, which is the former Crystal Harmony from 1990. UPFRONT American Glory, the second Coastal Cat in American Cruise Lines’ new series of 100-passenger ships, was christened in Key West, Florida, on Jan. 21. The celebration took place at Mallory Square where the ship docks when visiting Key West along the company’s newest U.S. itinerary – Florida Gulf Coast & Keys cruises, operating round trip from St. Petersburg. The celebration included local dignitaries, community members, cruise guests, and port and marina officials. Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines, gave remarks and introduced American Glory’s Godmother Teri Johnston, Mayor of Key West. American Cruise Lines has introduced 18 of the 21 U.S.-built cruise ships launched in the past two decades.
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 13 Anglo-Eastern Cruise Management and Anglo-Eastern Leisure Management (formerly Cruise Management International and CMI Leisure Management) are now proud members of the Anglo-Eastern family, which has been managing ships of all types and sizes for high-profile clients around the world since 1974. It’s a legacy we’re proud of and inspired to build upon, through new markets, new partners, and new possibilities. And nothing could be more exciting than leveraging our global scale and expertise for growth in the cruise industry with two of the most trusted experts in the business that share our same commitment to quality, safety, and the enviroment.
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CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 15 As Chris Prelog and his team at Windstar Cruises contemplate not just what will be trendy in travel for 2024, they’re also thinking much longer term. How will travel continue to evolve into the next decade? We had a chance to sit with Chris, President of Windstar Cruises, and talk about a wide-ranging series of thoughts, issues and contemplations. By Carolyn Spencer Brown W indstar Cruises is a unique brand in the cruise business. Founded in 1984, and after multiple owners, it is now part of the Xanterra Travel Collection, which in turn is owned by The Anschutz Corp. What makes Windstar different from most of the other lines is its dedication to the small ship cruise experience: Three of its sailing ships carry between 148 to 342 guests, while its three power yachts, which were recently stretched at Fincantieri’s Palermo shipyard in Italy, each carry 312 guests. Carolyn Spencer Brown: Where will travelers most want to go in 2024, and what’s spurring their interest? Chris Prelog: We are seeing a lot of business in and around Europe and the big news for Windstar is that we’ve expanded to year-round cruising in the Mediterranean. Star Legend is offering winter-in-the-Mediterranean voyages and we’re finding that our travelers, most of whom have already traveled widely in Europe, love the idea of visiting places like Nice, Marseille, Barcelona and Rome at a very different time of year. In December, the Christmas markets were a big draw (and that’s playing out in robust 2024 winter bookings for the coming December) and we’re seeing a lot of interest in exploring cities that are open for business, without crowds. Iceland is another destination in demand, and we’re happy to see that the volcano eruption that occurred over the past two months is no longer affecting life on the island. For our travelers, particularly North American guests who are looking for new discoveries in Europe, we’re also seeing huge interest in Canary Islands cruises. This archipelago of Spanish islands, off the west coast of North Africa, is primarily a draw for nature lovers and there’s also plenty of culture, mostly influenced by Spain, and even very exotic styles of winemaking. It’s funny that for Europeans, the Canaries are part of an established travel map (I first started traveling there from my hometown in Austria as a young boy) and there’s so much to like, including volcanoes, beaches, camels, foliage, a rich culture that has a certain slower quality of life than you will find in Spain. And I can’t fully answer your question about 2024 — and beyond — without talking about French Polynesia, which is a main destination for Windstar. We have a ship change that took place in February with Star Breeze replacing Wind Spirit. This doubles capacity in a region where Windstar Cruises’ President Chris Prelog Where will the future lead us in travel? Windstar recently doubled its capacity in the French Polynesia. Celebrating the event from left to right, Captain Belinda Bennett, French Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson, Windstar President Chris Prelog and Captain Simon Terry INTERVIEW
16 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 we’ve been sailing for over 35 years and a ship truly is the best way to experience Tahiti. It’s also very competitive from a value proposition. Carolyn Spencer Brown: What has Windstar — and the cruise industry — learned from the global conflicts of the recent past and how will these learnings pertain to 2024? Chris Prelog: If the various global events have taught us anything, it is to remain flexible, agile and be quick to adapt to any changes coming at us. You don’t know what happens tomorrow/next week and of course the latest cause to change course has been the conflict between Israel and Gaza, which has affected our Middle East itineraries. Our team has become expert at, with lighting speed, being able to adjust our program and cruises. They make it look easy and trust me, it’s not, but in this case we shifted Star Legend to year-round Mediterranean, and the season is progressing well. In Iceland, recent eruptions have captured global tourism — all quiet, now — but there’s definitely more interest in Iceland because of the volcanoes. We use the time we’re there to show the beauty of Iceland to guests — its waterfalls, underground volcanoes, lagoons, the natural diversity. And we’re always looking to show our guests destinations they perhaps have not seen. The Canaries lend itself so well to our Wind Class of ships because, well, it’s always windy. You get the Sahara winds that blow from Africa over the Atlantic (the beach in Fuerteventura is red because of the sand). Similar in fact to the Greek Islands experience on a sailing vessel. It’s all about providing intriguing destinations with the ideal ship designed for their regions. Carolyn Spencer Brown: How has the onboard experience, not just at Windstar but also on other luxury and small ship cruise lines, evolved in 2023 and where do you see it continuing to change moving forward? Chris Prelog: For us, an experiment to create new ambiences onboard evolved from a partnership with two sister resorts: Colorado’s Broadmoor and Georgia’s Sea Island. Both properties have compelling ambiences — very different — and we’ve designed existing suites on Star Breeze and Star Legend to evoke their sensibilities and create a link between land and sea. They have been hugely in demand and we’re expanding the redesign to other ships in the fleet. In fact the effort was awarded the best suites design on small ships from Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI). Beyond that, we’re always evolving our onboard product. When we decided to renovate the suites, we didn’t want to do like for like, we wanted a theme. It comes from a place of being 180 degrees from ordinary. Star Pride, as well as its two sister ships, Star Breeze and Star Legend feature expanded pool decks after recent stretching and refurbishment Ph oto cre dit : Te ijo Ni em ela All Windstar ships feature marinas 16 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 17 Another onboard spot we’re focusing on is the marinas that are on all six ships in the fleet. One guest was standing on the marina, and commented, “Now I’m heading into my pool,” and that pool was the ocean — the biggest pool there is. In other ways, a huge evolution in the cruise industry is this: There is now a cruise for virtually every style of travel. There are cruises for traditional travelers who love to go to sea the way they have always been going, and there are voyages that appeal to new-to-cruise travelers who are drawn by smaller ships and expeditions. Many travelers today crave port-intensive schedules, and by that I mean not hustling from one place to another every day but to have more quality time to spend in ports themselves. Theme cruises have taken on a whole new meaning too. From the early days, where they were primarily focused around food and wine (and these are still incredibly popular), we’ve seen great appeal of themes such as Formula One. Sports is a theme that we’re continuing to explore, ranging from participating in events to creating more active experiences that allow travelers to be more engaged in destinations. We are also creating opportunities that have special impact — and also create powerful memories. It’s not just about donating funds — though we believe that’s important, too — but also about exposing guests to unique initiatives that offer new perspectives for them. Our partnership with Coral Gardeners in Moorea is one such example. For me, the biggest luxury is peace and comfort, obviously, but also time. There’s nothing more luxurious than peace and time. Carolyn Spencer Brown: Where will you vacation in 2024 and why did you choose the trip? Chris Prelog: Next year I promised a school friend of mine to come and visit her at a special vacation place in Austria. As a native Austrian, it’s exciting to make discoveries there and my wife, Silke, and I are spending a week at Montestyria in Mariazell, Austria. This is a fantastic property built out of several individual chalets where you can rent a chalet, have pool and full lake access, you can hike, get amazing food and be in total peace and tranquility. And I think that our desire for a “slower travel” vacation mirrors what we’re hearing from a lot of our guests, who are craving a bit of peace and quiet along with discovering new places and experiences. In fact, that’s fueling a renewed interest in longer itineraries — and inspired us to create our 55-day 2026 Grand Caribbean Adventure. This interview was first published on Windstar Cruises’ blog (blog.windstarcruises.com) Wind Surf sailing in St. Lucia waters Chris Prelog CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 17
18 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 Princess brings new partnerships onboard the Sun Princess The 175,500-gross-ton and 4,300-guest Sun Princess represents a clear evolution for the brand. Between 2013 and 2022, the company introduced six 141,000-gross-ton and 3,560-guest Royal class ships, which have been deployed globally on Princess Cruises’ most popular deployments, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Alaska and Australia & New Zealand. Although the new Sun Princess and sister ship Star Princess, which will be introduced in 2025, are considerably larger than their fleetmates, they are designed to operate globally as well. As a matter of fact, both ships will initially spend their inaugural season in the Mediterranean before repositioning to the Caribbean. While we are scheduled to be onboard the Sun Princess on one its first voyages in March and to report both online and for print, we are providing some information here on the new partnerships Princess will introduce on this new class of ships. Collaboration with a Hollywood icon Sun Princess will launch a unique collaboration for the cruise business: a venue called Spellbound by Magic Castle, modeled on an actual private club for magicians in Hollywood. We visited the original Magic Castle in January on an exclusive visit, and now Sun Princess guests will be able to experience a version of this members-only Hollywood icon for themselves. Spellbound will blend the world of magic with the art of mixology to create an intimate, Victorian-inspired experience. A nondescript, speakeasy-style door opens to reveal three themed rooms filled with talented musicians performing feats of magic and many other surprises. Guests will first encounter the essence of the authentic Magic Castle, including the Music Room, adorned with eclectic and mystical artifacts and paintings to pique their curiosity. In the Music Room, guests will meet the spirit of Isabella, who will share her stories of sailing on Sun Princess. The venue also has a vintage Parlor Bar, featuring Artemis the owl, who is revealed through interaction with skilled illusionists before guests enter the intimate 30-seat, Spellbound theater, where they’ll experience close-up magic that will blow their minds. “We are bringing some of the most authentic aspects of The Magic Castle in Hollywood to Sun Princess, complete with incredible magicians and illusionists, so that Princess guests can experience a taste of the worldclass magic that is showcased nightly at The Magic Castle,” said Erika Larsen, President of Magic Castle Enterprises. “It’s an exciting opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in a magical experience typically reserved exclusively for members and their guests.” Performances by world-class magicians handpicked from around the globe will fascinate audiences with mind-bending tricks, awe-inspiring illusions, and mesmerizing acts that promise to leave guests in a state of wonder and disbelief. Meanwhile, the Dome on the forward top of the vessel will house three different, 2030 minute shows of Cirque Eloize. A driving force of Montreal’s cultural scene for 30 years, Cirque Eloize weds the circus arts with music, dance, technology and theater to excite audiences. The performances will be complimentary for Sun Princess guests. New dining concepts Sun Princess features a huge increase in dining options. The 29 signature and new dining and lounge options include, among others, the Kai Sushi, Princess mainstay Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, Umai Teppanyaki and Catch by Rudi — created by renowned Chef Rudi Sodamin. A departure from previous Princess ships will also be the three-deck Horizons main dining room offering views of the ship’s wake. In October, Princess Cruises announced a partnership with “world’s most famous butcher,” Dario Cecchini. This collaboration introduces a new specialty impromptu bistro, The Butcher’s Block by Dario. Steeped in traditions passed down through generations from father to son, and with more than 48 years of experience, Cecchini is recognized around the world for his butcher shop and restaurants located in the Tuscan village of Panzano, Italy. Located on Deck 9, the experience features a large shared, family-style table, where grilled beef and steak will include Cecchini’s signature cuts. In addition, the cruise line’s signature Crown Grill has a refreshed menu designed by Cecchini. In addition to his namesake Catch by Rudi, Chef Rudi Sodamin has created a new dining experience in collaboration with Romero Britto, the world-renowned artist known for his bold, colorful and joyful style. Located on Deck 17, Love by Britto is a groundbreaking addition to the Sun Princess portfolio. Vivid colors and bold patterns in the boutique restaurant’s design enhance the new dining experience. The culinary journey curated by Rudi Sodamin will feature a seven-course, prix fixe ($149 per person), beginning with a flute of Champagne upon arrival and featuring luxury items including lobster, caviar and truffles and dessert options including chocolate fondue, among others. Fresh design features In terms of architectural and interior design, Princess Cruises brought in both experienced cruise ship designers as well as newcomers to the marine field. Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS) was selected as the coordinating architects, while other companies include Beers International, ICRAVE, Richmond International and The Johnson Studio. Princess Cruises has just taken delivery of its first Sphere class ship from Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in Italy. The new Sun Princess features completely new entertainment and dining options for both Princess Cruises as well as its parent company Carnival Corp. & plc. Simultaneously, the “Love Boat” brand brings new exclusive onboard partnerships. By Teijo Niemelä SHIP PREVIEW
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 19 Sun Princess is scheduled to sail its maiden voyage on February 28 Spellbound Foyer Spellbound Parlor Bar Cirque Eloize Dario Cocchini has created a new dining concept for carnivores CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 19
20 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is in a class of its own 20 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 AquaDome Surfside Central Park
The largest passenger ship ever built left its birthplace, Meyer Turku shipyard, on Nov. 28, 2023. It was a huge endeavor, from conception to planning to building, that spanned eight years. The vessel is now well on its way to becoming the Royal Caribbean Group’s most successful ship, after record pre-launch sales. CruiseBusiness.com charts its voyage from the drawing board and outlines some of its unique features. By John Pagni Such an enormous ship cannot be covered in one report, so we will not attempt such a herculean task. Indeed, Icon of the Seas is so full of maritime firsts it could have been named Superlative of the Seas. “The first meeting in November 2015 at the RCG office in Miami was for a lengthened Quantum-class ship of 180,000 gross tons,” Meyer Turku Project Manager Olli Jantunen said. “There was soon a re-think of the concept and after four totally different types of GAs and many new ideas, the contract was signed April 2017, but with no AquaDome or WaterPark, though something was anticipated despite the weight and space reservations we had.” For example, he revealed that there was a 1,000-ton weight reserve budgeted area for future features that were to be decided. But that was later exceeded. “However, we had margins, so everything was squeezed in,” he said. “Because of AquaDome, we had to modify the forward lines of the vessel to accommodate it and the Thrill Island WaterPark came even later and the first version was only half of what it is now on board.” “When starting a new class project that will change the market, it is hard to anticipate in 2017 what the customer wants some years later,” explained Tim Meyer, Meyer Turku Managing Director. “It is our strength that we can develop with the customer by pushing the borders of what is technically possible.” “Not everything is possible, but there is a lot of modification in the process.” Many features of Icon of the Seas are first of a kind and that definitely applies to the AquaDome located forward of the ship. This is a world-class structure for a ship, a self-standing structure 164 feet (55m) in diameter and 82 feet (25m) high with 600 glass panes — a record at sea. “Normally in a ship’s structure, there are pillar lines from the bottom up to the highest decks, but in the AquaDome there are none, as it is like an eggshell supporting itself and it can withstand hurricane-force 4 winds too,” said Jantunen. This engineering masterpiece was made onsite at the yard in 12 segments and then lifted on board in one piece, which was yet another special feat using Meyer Turku’s biggest single investment: the 1,200-ton Goliath gantry crane. “The cupola weighs about 380 tons plus the lifting jig is 115 tons so it needed wires and delicate coordination,” explained Jantunen. “The preparations for lifting consisted of lifting logs, force transducers and wires while preparation of the lifting jig alone took 10 days altogether. The actual lifting maneuvers started precisely on schedule at 4 p.m. on Nov. 4 and the AquaDome was fixed on board by 3 a.m. the following morning so the operation was 11 hours long.” The AquaDome has capacity for 700 to watch its performances in the AquaTheater that will have divers jumping off two 56-foot (17m) platforms above into a 15-foot (4.6 m) deep pool as part of its Aqua Action show. “The pool was another complex structure with its seven moving stage platforms that needed strict tolerances. Then there is the huge video screen (approximately 500m²/598 sq yards) with 216 moving parts and 108 motors for opening the screen elements,” Jantunen said. “The AquaDome is not a normal turnkey area, but a technically very complex venue.” Behind the stage there are various seating areas and bars for passengers to have an incredible panoramic view. Looking over the UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF YOUR SHIP DOORS The all-new Icon of the Seas, the greatest cruise ship ever, comes equipped with over 3200 intelligent cabin doors. The intelligence lies in e-hinges which open a variety of smart options for remote control. Should your next ship also get e-hinges? See more on our website: anttimarine.fi/icon-of-the-seas
22 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 AquaTheater is the Coastal Kitchen with the Hooked seafood restaurant and AquaDome Market eateries on the sides. Such is the scale of the ship that many of the engineering innovations Jantunen and Meyer referred to required the use of extra high-tensile steel (EHT-690) for the first time. “This was for the Infinity Veranda Staterooms on three decks. This steel has a yield strength of 690 N/mm2 which is double the usual high-tensile strength number,” Jantunen said. The Infinity Veranda Staterooms have an opening window. When this window is closed, the balcony is part of the cabin interior, and when open, the area is a normal balcony. “Due to this new balcony feature, the structural backbone of the vessel had to move from the outside shell bulkhead to between the cabin and restroom,” revealed Jantunen. Passengers spoiled for choice The ship has three neighborhoods that are also found on RCG’s Oasis-class ships: Central Park, Boardwalk and Royal Promenade, but five new neighborhoods have been created. AquaDome is one, as well as Thrill Island, Chill Island, Surfside and The Hideaway. These contain the seven pools, six waterfalls (one is the biggest at sea) and water slides (again the longest at sea) and the largest water park afloat in Thrill Island. A suspended infinity pool in adult-only The Hideaway is another feature. Absolute Zero (cap: 850+) houses the ice rink and theater, Swim & Tonic has the longest swim-up bar and The Pearl on Royal Promenade is a sort of art piece and stairway. The main theater is Broadway standard and RCG has the rights for The Sound of Music nightly for up to 1,200. Similar to the Oasis-class, there are 10 specialty dining options and 11 complimentary. These are served by their own galleys with 21 on board. The Main Dining Room restaurant spreads over three decks seating 2,874 per sitting. How does it go? In order to power the ship’s propulsion and activities, six Wärtsilä dual fuel engines were chosen. Three Wärtsilä 14V46DF and three 12V46DF have a total output of nearly 90MW. 22 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 23 SeaKing supplied several catering areas for the Icon of the Seas CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 23 Empire Supper Club Pearl Cafe Empire Supper Club Ph oto cre dit : Ka ri Pa lsi la
24 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 All are IMO Tier III compliant and will mainly operate on liquid natural gas (LNG), but can also operate on marine diesel oil (MDO) and can be modified for ammonia and methanol in the future. Three ABB Azipods 20MW each form the propulsion unit with five Wärtsilä bow thrusters 4.8MW each for maneuvering. When docked in a port with an onshore power system (OPS), the ship can go into cold ironing mode and turn off its engines. Meyer Neptun Werft supplied the two LNG tanks weighing 307 tons each that hold a maximum of 4,500m³/5,886 cubic yards. LNG and the Wärtsilä engines will result in very low SOx, NOx and zero particulate emissions and 25% lower GHGs (greenhouse gases) with lower consumption a factor too. It is said to be the most energy-efficient passenger ship afloat and consumes 20% less than the Oasis-class despite bigger capacities and statistics. Water is made by reverse osmosis desalination using the latest technology that needs 65% less energy compared to traditional evaporators. Waste heat recovery is comprehensive. Lastly, both Jantunen and Meyer are impressed with the Kone elevators and their lobbies. “They were completely re-thought with RCG and are oval-shaped having a destination control system that increases their operations efficiency by 50% over traditional ones now in use. Passengers just push a button to where they want to go instead of ordering an elevator first,” Jantunen said enthusiastically. Accommodation tailored for all Of the ship’s 20 decks, 18 are for its guests with 28 accommodation categories with 14 new classes. Cabin is a rather old-school way to describe them, as they are more hotel-style in design. At double occupancy, 5,634 guests can be comfortably accommodated in 2,818 units. But as RCG wants to encourage families, this can reach 7,600 with children’s, relatives’ and friends’ beds en suite. Some suites are able to lodge three generations with a capacity of up to eight people in the two-story Ultimate Family Townhouse, which has three separate bathrooms with bedrooms, a lounge and dining room plus a kitchenette. The modular size of the smallest single Balcony Stateroom is 18.7m² (201 square feet) with the largest Ultimate Family Stateroom measuring 174m² (1,873 square feet). To look after all these people, the ship has a crew of 2,350 made up of technical, hotel and activities personnel. This brings the most that can be on board to just under 10,000 or a small-size town. The crew has not been forgotten either. “Their cabins are really nice new types designed by Priestman Goode of the UK and we worked hard on them at the request of RCG,” confided Jantunen, who feels they are the best aboard a ship he has seen. Tim Meyer likes the Coastal Kitchen and is proud of the 20% energy efficiency figure achieved and the whole team that worked on the vessel in its various phases. “It was not easy to cost manage a prototype and the overall building environment was challenging,” he said. Where to? Icon arrived in Miami flying the Bahamas flag on Jan. 6 after its transatlantic voyage from Cadiz, Spain, where final touches were made and calls at chosen ports for test docking. The maiden revenue cruise was a seven-day itinerary taking in Basseterre in St. Kitts & Nevis and Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas. Other ports of call are in Mexico (Costa Maya and Cozumel), Philipsburg (St. Maarten), Roatán (Honduras) as well as RCG’s own resorts of Labadee (Haiti) and its Perfect Day at CocoBay in the Bahamas. 24 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 Water Park ICON OF THE SEAS Technical information Gross tonnage 248,633 Length oa 365 meters (1.996 ft) Breadth 48.5 meters (159 ft) Design draught 9.1 meters (30.3 ft) Passengers 5,634 (double occupancy) Crew 2,350 Classification society DNV Flag Bahamas Engines 3 x Wärtsilä 14V46DF 3 x Wärtsilä 12V46DF Propulsion 3 x ABB Azipods, each 20MW Bow thrusters 5 x Wärtsilä bow thruster, each 4.8MW
26 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 It has been four long years since Tim Meyer took over at the Meyer Group’s Finnish shipyard. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, access was limited, but the second scion of the German shipbuilding family to head Turku has now spoken to cruisebusiness.com about his tenure as Managing Director. Unlike his elder brother Jan, Tim Meyer’s background was not purely in shipbuilding (see CBR 1/2016). “I have a degree in industrial engineering from the Technical University of Dresden, which combined both engineering and business administration,” Meyer explained. After graduating from that prestigious institution, he then remained firmly on land and began his career at German sports carmaker Porsche in Stuttgart. He worked there for nine years in various departments including production and planning. “Porsche is a very interesting company. Its products from production to supply chain are sophisticated with just-in-time principles and how the production is organized. I began in logistics planning, then to production planning,” Meyer recalled. “Porsche expanded its main factory in Stuttgart, then started another in Leipzig, which was a big project. They were exciting times and l learnt a lot in a high-performance company,” he said. “I joined Meyer Werft (the main family company) in 2016 as a member of the management team — my father Bernard was then the Managing Director. But here in Turku, l am responsible for the whole organization.” He recalled that when Jan became boss of their new Finland subsidiary in 2014, it was a different situation than when he took over in the middle of the pandemic. “I had to immediately take some tough decisions,” he said. “Overall, we could build on what we had done, investing to build the company up for the future, with a long-term perspective. The previous owner (South Korea’s now defunct STX) had taken a short-term view of investment and not too much in facilities — so Jan had to do more than we expected. “But what we found was a lot of good people with a bank of knowledge and experience, which was the driving force of why we got engaged here.” The intention was always that there would be rotation as the seventh generation took over from their father, who became Meyer Group Chairman in 2020. Jan Meyer then became head of Meyer Werft and Tim Meyer head of Turku. Youngest brother Dr. Paul Meyer is in charge of all IT as CIO of the group’s three yards. “COVID brought forward the rotation by a year. I was a regular visitor to Finland every second month or so anyway — as Jan is now — and I go to Papenburg often too. And naturally, we talk a lot as we work closely together.” As the cruise sector knows too well, COVID-19 caused not only many problems, but for a long period, a complete halt in operations. “When l came, there were interruptions in production — due to restrictions, nobody could work as usual such with distancing and so on. In the end, we were quite successful in keeping operations more or less daily, but there were limitations like closing a department for some time. “But it was a big success by the team to keep going,” Meyer said. “The orderbook was stretched and we had to stop initiatives that had started (pre-pandemic) as we were in a high-demand period in the cruise market, then suddenly in an uncertain situation. “But as Jan and l agreed — Turku was an important member of the Meyer family and everyone has to spend time here.” In the little free time that a man with a young family has available, Meyer is active. “I like cycling and running — and shipbuilding is my hobby too!” he said, laughing. He is also well known for his sense of humor. When a Dutch journalist pointed out that only the last two generations were smiling in a presentation of the Meyer family tree, he responded quickly, “We have more to smile about!” He has a soft side, too. As Icon of the Seas set sail from the yard, Meyer confessed to Finnish broadcaster YLE, “It brings a tear to my eye to see the ship leaving for Miami.” Passion and emotion are perhaps the Meyer family’s secret to success and longevity in the cyclical, turbulent shipbuilding world. ”Overall the market looks good, and demand, especially for sustainable cruise ships, is there, which is why we are working on this NEcOLEAP (climate-neutral) program,” he said. “I believe this will be our future competitive advantage.” INTERVIEW Delivery ceremony of Icon of the Seas at Meyer Turku shipyard. In front: Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Tim Meyer and Meyer Group Chairman Bernard Meyer. Standing behind: Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean Group Chairman Richard Fain, Dr. Jan Meyer and Captain Henrik Loy Introducing Tim Meyer – Meyer Turku’s helmsman By John Pagni
28 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 STH – Wärtsilä’s path to sustainability SUSTAINABILITY The global marine engine manufacturer decided to decarbonize its business a few years ago. An important outcome of this vision was its state-of-the-art Sustainable Technology Hub (STH) encapsulating the new concept. Its mission is to enable R&D of sustainable solutions and production. By John Pagni “The STH better reflects our strategy to decarbonize our global Marine and Energy businesses by innovation across the board,” states Juha Päivike, Director of Logistics Chain Management, who was previously involved with the STH project in building and establishing new processes. An ecosystem of suppliers, partners, customers and academia was involved in looking at revolutionary technology linking the stakeholders. Its cornerstone is sustainable fuel usage in Wärtsilä engines with digital and lifecycle support further optimizing customer operations. Once planning was finished, construction on the greenfield site began in July 2019 and was completed in November 2021. To save time and money, process installations took place simultaneously, “which, during COVID restrictions, increased project management complexity,” he says. The STH cost of €250 million ($270M) represented the company’s largest-ever single investment and demonstrated Wärtsilä’s intent to seriously decarbonize. Today 1,500 employees work there with hundreds more at partner premises located nearby to intensify cooperation. For example, DHL operates Wärtsilä’s large logistics center across the road. “We at Wärtsilä do not always know the best answers,” Päivike candidly admits. “But our ecosystem approach allows us to tap into other experts who are capable of managing and tackling issues — like DHL.” The vast area, covering about 22.2 acres (90,000 square meters) has a production center with laboratories to test products replacing the 13 previously scattered around the Vaasa region, but are now under the same roof, maximizing synergies and innovation cycles in the same facility. The STH is not just for brainstorming. “Machining of our key components — engine blocks, cylinder heads and connecting rods, plus the main assembly — take place here,” Päivike said. “Flexible operations means manufacturing and managing lifecycle operations are under the same umbrella, whereas service workshops were separate. Working together, they can anticipate things that used to crop up later in the process or delivery.” The Fuel Laboratory is a good example of integrated product testing that enables a faster ramping-up. As Juha Kytölä, Director of R&D and Engineering, puts it: “In the last few years, we have created better technologies and introduced new products launching a portfolio of engines, new fuels and their capabilities.” He adds: “STH is an extraordinary place where we can do it all.” Engines on gas In recent years, as Kytölä said, a range of new
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 29 STH – Wärtsilä’s path to sustainability engines have been made available for customer consideration. Last December, Wärtsilä’s methanol portfolio broadened as there is now high interest from the passenger ship sector as well as cargo carriers. “The methanol version of Wärtsilä 32 gained a lot of market traction for both auxiliary and main engine propulsion. Based on this, four more types for methanol were added: Wärtsilä 20, 31, 46F and 46TS,” he says. “Methanol is attractive as it combusts efficiently and cleanly,” adds Kytölä. “No sulfur, while particles (ppm) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) are far below those for diesel engines with efficiency similar to gas or diesel.“ The difference between gas, diesel or methanol versions is not big since the fuel-related components are on top of the engine in place and adaptations can even be made during a service. Methanol tanks and fuel-handling systems are additionally needed for the ship, which typically demands finding more space. Duel fuel is methanol plus diesel — there is no demand currently for triple-fuel engines. However, only one passenger reference exists: Stena Germanica operates Sweden-Denmark and was retrofitted one engine at a time. The world’s first ammonia engine was created out of a Wärtsilä 25 in response to market need for zero-carbon requirements. Viridis Bulk Carriers is among the potential customers that wanted a “full ammonia solution,” reveals Kytölä. Wärtsilä offers a full ammonia solution from bunkering, tank and catalyst to release systems, safety and training. NH3 is a dangerous toxic gas, thus no release is permissible, but the technologies involved allow safe operation and are similar to LNG, adapted for ammonia. “Ammonia is well known to shipping companies as already dozens of vessels carry it as cargo in tandem with diesel in dual fuel engines,” sums up Kytölä. Wärtsilä’s 4-stroke multi-fuel methane 31DF engine operates on liquid and gas. “But on natural gas operation, methane slip is an area of concern (where unburnt gas is released into the atmosphere as a harmful GHG with the exhaust). LNG is mainly methane,“ explains Kytölä. “In the past, engines were not optimized to minimize slip, but environmental awareness has risen.” Wärtsilä’s focus to cut methane slip resulted in the Wärtsilä 31DF as “best on market” using technology created to raise efficiency resulting in 41% methane emission on the already efficient Wärtsilä 31DF engine. “Great environmental performance as can be seen on Aurora Botnia,” says Kytölä. Of the four W31DF8V engines on the Sweden-Finland ferry Aurora Botnia (see CBM Winter 2022), one is used by Wärtsilä as a laboratory guinea pig for validating new technologies. The spectacular improvement at 50% load indicated methane slip reduction by 56%, while NOx fell 86%. “It’s a product of great environmental significance. So therefore we released the figures and the product on the market,” says Kytölä. An addendum to this is that the shipowner, Wasaline, conducted a pilot project from October to Christmas 2023 called Green Fridays to monitor customer reaction. Bio-methane (B100) produced in Vaasa was used in all four engines on all four departures that day making totally climate-neutral crossings. According to Wasaline, the performance was fantastic and greatly appreciated by its passengers and freight customers. Although biogas is more expensive than LNG, Wasaline covered the costs as a loyalty gesture. Wärtsilä campus in Vaasa, Finland. In the background Aurora Botnia
30 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 Galleys are hives of activity at mealtimes when the atmosphere is generally greasy, smokey and deliciously tasty with various ingredients and meals being prepared. Energy use peaks during these periods, which necessitated looking at the process from another angle. ALMACO is a company with global operations that focuses on ships’ interiors such as accommodation areas, galleys, laundries and provisions areas. In line with its sustainability policy, the company’s Catering Division has formulated its Green Galley Concept. ”Our customers want to build more sustainable ships and keep a close eye on energy consumption,” states Johanna Tenovuo, Vice President of Newbuild Catering Sales at ALMACO, ”Our designers and engineers listen to our clients and incorporate the combined ideas of both parties into the space available and choose the right equipment accordingly.” The Green Galley Concept is a service that ALMACO can offer its customers to make their catering areas more efficient, long-lasting and sustainable. The concept includes smart design with galley equipment chosen according to best possible sustainability score in addition with planned lifecycle service to prolong equipment lifetime. The longer the equipment is kept in good condition, the longer the equipment’s lifetime is, which is good for the wallet and the environment. “For this we have developed tools to help out the owners.” Tenovuo compares it to a modern car where the owner is informed when a service should be booked and gives alerts when something needs replacing or is not working properly. Digital solutions can prolong equipment lifespan and reduce critical downtime on board, especially at sea where specialized service is not always close by. However, as Tenovuo explains “Ships have a longer working life than galleys. But we can extend the galleys’ lifetime by up to two years by choosing the right equipment, maintaining it well and training the crew to use it the right way. For example, proper cleaning and on time service helps a lot.” As part of the smart design service in the Green Galley Concept, ALMACO helps its customers optimize catering area spaces, ensure food safety and hygiene, integrate energy-efficient equipment and offer the crew ergonomic workspace. The concept also helps enables easy technology integration. The Green Galley Concept does not only improve sustainability aspects, it also enhances the overall dining experience for customers, while improving operational efficiency. Tenovuo’s colleague Tapani Wendelin, ALMACO’s Vice President of Business Process Development and Sustainability supports this saying, “In the pre-development phase with shipowners, it is vital to focus a lot on the technology needed. One of the main reasons for this is the vastly increasing focus on sustainability within the industry, which is enforced by rules and regulations as well as the passengers and destinations. And we want to support shipowners with this transformation.” ALMACO’s Catering division works with all the major shipyards. Some projects are full turnkey catering area deliveries including galleys, bars, pantries, refrigeration machinery and provision stores. Other deliveries only consist of limited parts of the catering areas. Some shipowners tend to have preferences when it comes to brands and models, and ALMACO is able to provide them with the equipment of their choice as well as to offer value engineering services to find the best fit. Overall, ALMACO is recognized for its expertise, reliability, and commitment to delivering high-quality outfitting solutions for marine and offshore applications. TECHNOLOGY ALMACO helps shipowners change the color of galleys By John Pagni One of the latest references of the ALMACO is the galley and pantry areas on the new ultra-luxury Silver Nova
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 31 Last November, cruise industry leaders and executives convened for the 13th edition of the International Cruise Summit (ICS) in Madrid, emphasizing the heightened competitiveness of cruising in contrast to traditional travel options of flights and hotels, which have witnessed exorbitant price hikes. The ICS 2023, hosted Nov. 14-15, explored the strengths of the cruise industry, showcasing its longstanding commitment to sustainability. Key discussions included the impact of new European immigration regulations, mental health considerations for both crew and passengers, and the industry’s responsiveness to the LGBTQ+ community. Inaugurated by Miguel Ángel Sanz Castedo, General Director at Turespaña, and Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, President at Ports of Spain, the event drew top-level participants from over 25 cruise lines, ports, tour operators, travel agents, shipping agents, consultants and companies worldwide. A prominent theme that emerged from the summit was the value proposition of cruises, with more moderate price increases compared to flights and hotels. The industry is experiencing a favorable resurgence, aiming to surpass 2019 passenger figures this year and projecting a 20% increase by 2024. Noteworthy developments include the introduction of the new EU immigration regulation by Frontex, anticipating the implementation of a border control system (EES) within a year. This regulation, involving biometric measurements and fingerprinting for non-European citizens outside the Schengen area, will necessitate significant adjustments to cruise terminal controls. With a focus on environmental sustainability, the summit highlighted ongoing programs and plans to electrify docks in the coming years. The meeting also shed light on crucial issues such as mental health for both crew and passengers and the necessity for training throughout the value chain to prevent uncomfortable or discriminatory situations with the LGBTQ+ community. Christopher Prelog, President of Windstar Cruises, interviewed by Virginia López Valiente, CEO at CruisesNews Media Group, emphasized the pivotal role of travel agents for luxury cruises. He underscored the importance of precise trip organization for discerning clients and affirmed Windstar Cruises’ commitment to Europe and Spain, including the repositioning of a ship in Barcelona and plans for the Canary Islands in 2024. As part of its sustainability program, CruisesNews Media Group collected used books during the event for the libraries of hospital ships operated by the NGO Mercy Ships, which conducts essential operations in developing countries for people in need. Additionally, all materials from the summit were donated to various associations. Looking ahead, the dates for ICS 2024 have been announced, with the event scheduled for Nov. 12-13 at the Hotel Meliá Castilla in Madrid. The summit promises to be a continued platform for industry leaders to address emerging challenges and opportunities in the dynamic world of cruising. INTERNATIONAL CRUISE SUMMIT 2023 Cruises increasingly emerge as more competitive leisure option International Cruise Summit has established its presence among the top events in the cruise business
32 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 Spirit of Tasmania IV and V take shape at Rauma Marine Constructions Spirit of Tasmania — or TT-Line Company — has ordered two new ropax ferries for its Trans-Tasman service between Geelong and Devonport. The ships are being built on the other side of the world, at Rauma Marine Constructions in Rauma, Finland. What kind of ships can their passengers expect? We will take a closer look. Spirit of Tasmania operates one of the most iconic ferry trades traveling across the Bass Strait — between Geelong, Victoria, and Devonport, Tasmania. Its fleet includes two identical vessels, the 1998-built Spirit of Tasmania II and III. During the offseason, the ships operate only nightly, but during high season, there is also a day service. The 242-nautical-mile crossing takes 9.5-11.5 hours depending on the season. The company employs over 600 people and transports over 450,000 passengers annually., In April 2021, Spirit of Tasmania — officially named TT-Line Company — entered a contract with the Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions to replace the current vessels. The contract represents the largest individual export from Finland to Australia. The first of the vessels will be delivered to TT-Line at the end of 2023 and the second at the end of 2024. Previously, Spirit of Tasmania has operated the route only with second-hand tonnage. Its current vessels were originally built for Superfast Ferries of Greece at another Finnish shipyard, Kvaerner Masa-Yards, which is today Meyer Turku. The new vessels will have a gross tonnage of 48,000, an overall length of 212 meters and a beam of 31 meters, compared to the current ships that are 194 meters long with a beam of 25 meters. The increased size allows for more capacity and better onboard facilities. The ships can carry 1,800 passengers and will provide 4,098 lane meters to vehicles. The engine rooms will be fitted with four Wartsila 9-cylinder dual fuel engines able to run either with the liquefied natural gas (LNG) or marine gas oil. The ships can reach 26 knots service speed. Spirit of Tasmania’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Dwyer, said the new vessels were the first purpose-built for Spirit of Tasmania for operation on Bass Strait. “These ships are much bigger than the current vessels — they have substantially larger capacity for passengers, passenger vehicles and freight — and will be a major contributor to Tasmania’s visitor economy and the broader Tasmanian economy for many years to come,” he said. Over AU$100 million of Australian content One of the unique features will be that the new ships will reflect the destination where they will operate. “They will feature up to $100 million in Tasmanian and Australian content. A number of contracts have been awarded to Tasmanian firms including for the provision of catering and hotel equipment, marine fire safety insulation material, carpeting, marine blinds, arcade games, water-filling stations, artwork and beer and post mix system equipment.” Dwyer said. A unique example of Tasmanian products for the vessels is that more than 6,000 lineal meters of celery top pine sourced from the Lake Pieman region on the state’s west coast will be used as feature wall cladding on two semi-enclosed deck spaces. Rauma Marine Constructions and TT-Line Company celebrated a major milestone of the project when Spirit of Tasmania IV was launched and christened on Oct. 27. After the float-out, the work shifted from hull construction to equipment assembly and interior work. The focus has been on finishing plumbing and electrical work as well as interior design for the hotel area. Furthermore, the work around the vessel’s engine room and car deck will continue. The equipment assembly phase will continue with the implementation of various systems, culminating in sea trials conducted before the handing out of the vessel. After the float-out, the construction for the second vessel also began in the building dock. Experienced builder of ferries Rauma Marine Constructions is one of the most experienced builders of ropax and cruise ferries in Northern Europe. During the last few years, it has delivered new cutting-edge vessels with a strong focus on sustainable operations. Tallink Grupp took the delivery of 50,629-gross-ton MyStar shuttle ferry last year, while 24,300-gross-ton Aurora Botnia, specifically designed for the world’s northernmost year-round international ferry route between Vaasa, Finland, and Umea, Sweden, was handed over in 2021. Artist’s rendering of new ropax ferry for Spirit of Tasmania ROPAX FERRIES
34 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 The year 2023 was eventful in the ultra-luxury cruise segment. Several major players, such as Regent Seven Seas, Scenic, Seabourn, Silversea and Viking, introduced new tonnage, while Crystal Cruises re-entered the market with new ownership. Perhaps the biggest milestone, however, was the Explora I entering service. The Swiss MSC Group has a near-term plan to bring at least six luxury ships to its new Explora Journeys brand. By Teijo Niemelä Explora I begins new journey for MSC SHIP REVIEW The maiden season has taken Explora I to the Northern Europe, North America and the Caribbean, among others. Here the new ship on its maiden call in Boston Photo credit, all photos: Teijo Niemelä 34 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 35 T he Cruise Division of MSC Group is no stranger to the cruise business with more than two decades of experience. The Geneva, Switzerland-based company is part of the MSC Group, the largest container ship operator in the world. But cruise operations were for many years on the company’s sidelines until it began an ambitious expansion program in 2003 with the delivery of its first newbuilding, MSC Lirica. Since then, it has increased its fleet with 19 brand-new (two second-hand) ships exclusively from the French Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Italian Fincantieri shipbuilding groups. However, MSC Cruises was its sole brand until it unveiled Explora Journeys. Other large cruise corporations the same size as MSC operate multiple brands ranging from contemporary segment to ultra-luxury. MSC Cruises, however, has offered a luxury product on its mass market vessels. When its 137,936-gross-ton MSC Fantasia entered service in 2008, it also launched a ship-withina-ship concept, called MSC Yacht Club. Since then, this has been featured on every single newbuilding, apart from one, introduced by MSC Cruises brand. Creating Explora Journeys rather than acquiring an existing luxury cruise brand was a bold move by MSC, but it follows its long-term strategy. Apart from two ships in its cruise ship fleet, all units have been acquired new from the shipbuilders rather than purchased secondhand. This has allowed MSC to design its fleet from a clean sheet. All Explora ships have been ordered from Fincantieri — the Explora I was delivered from its Monfalcone facility — but the next ones are being built in Genoa-Sestri shipyard. The Explora II will be delivered this year, while the last unit, Explora VI, is expected in 2028. Six new vessels MSC Group launched Explora Journeys as a luxury travel lifestyle brand in a bid to redefine the luxury cruise segment. Explora Journeys has its own management team, led by President and CEO Michael Ungerer with headquarters based in Geneva — just like sister brand MSC Cruises. Previously, the ultra-luxury cruise market experienced an ambitious launch when Viking entered ocean cruising in 2015. Viking has since then captured the largest share of the berths deployed in this segment, quite an achievement in just nine years. Like on MSC Cruises’ platforms, Explora Journeys created the new class of ships as a clean sheet design. Explora I is slightly larger than the other entrants for the 2023 luxury segment, such as Viking Saturn (47,900 gross tons), Silver Nova (55,541 gross tons) and Seven Seas Grandeur (55,500 gross tons). Explora I is 248 meters long and has a beam of 32 meters. Gross tonnage reaches 63,900 and capacity to 922 guests in 461 suites, which all feature private balconies. This provides a comfortable space ratio of 69.3 tons per guest. Number of crew reaches 700. Interestingly, Explora sourced many hotel crew members without previous shipboard experience from CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 35
36 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 Fil Rouge serves French-inspired international cuisine Journeys Lounge is a step-up from the traditional show lounge Shops are very high-end, including this on selling Rolex watches Atrium 36 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024
CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 37 the luxury hotels in the Middle East, especially from Qatar, which hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Explora I differs from traditional cruise ship design. In many ways, the ship is more like a luxury hotel at sea rather than a cruise ship. Although the ship’s General Arrangement plan follows the traditional layout and guest flow, Explora I, as an example, does not have a main dining room or large multi-deck show lounge. Similarly, the two-deck atrium is more reminiscent of a hotel lobby than a focal point of a typical cruise ship. The decor of the ship is designed by the Genoa, Italy-based Studio de Jorio, which has been behind almost all spaces on the MSC Cruises newbuildings. However, the Aponte family, which is the owner of the MSC Group, has always been very involved in the design decisions. Layout easy to navigate Explora I Deck Plan and layout is easy to navigate, but there are also some hidden surprises. All guest suites are located in the superstructure on Deck 6 to Deck 10. Meanwhile, the public rooms can be found on Decks 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 and 14. While Deck 5 accommodates lifeboat stations, there is also an outdoor promenade, which does not encircle the vessel. The starboard side promenade is also used often for embarkation and disembarkation. The ship is fitted with two stairwell and elevator lobbies. There are four guest elevators in forward and another four in amidships. When guests first embark the Explora I, they usually arrive in the Crema Cafe, located on the starboard side of the two-deck lobby. Deck 4 below houses Journeys Lounge in the forward and small casino behind. Guest and destination services are in the lobby area along with a centrally located lobby bar. This area is populated with multiple shops selling everything from souvenirs to high-end apparel. When moving further amidships, two specialty restaurants, Fil Rouge and Med Yacht Club, occupy the space. The large galley takes the rest of the ship to aft. On the forward of Deck 5, guests can find a large Ocean Wellness the Spa, which traditionally on most of the ships is located one of the uppermost decks. However, a new trend is the separation of the spa and fitness area, which can be found from the starboard side of Deck 12. When moving toward amidships of Deck 5, there is the Anthology Restaurant (specialising menus from guest chefs) on the port side of the atrium, and behind that, Marble & Company Grill Restaurant. Aftmost of the Deck 5 is another specialty restaurant, the Sakura — serving pan-Asian cuisine — and Astern Lounge, which acts as a multipurpose setting for everything from daily dance classes and trivia to nightly disco parties. Both Sakura and Astern Lounge have access to Astern Pool and Bar area. This is a hidden gem onboard, offering comfortable seating and an infinity pool with a view to the ship’s wake. When moving to aft of Deck 10, there is another full-size pool area with a bar and access to the Ocean Wellness Fitness Centre on the starboard side. However, the main pool area, called Conservatory, is located on the Deck 11 amidships under the sliding glass roof. Explora I is among just a few ship classes in the ultra-luxury segment offering a covered pool area for use during inclement weather. There are also two large whirlpools with sea views through the glass walls. Additionally, there are two more outside bars and more whirlpools above on Deck 12 and 14. Conservatory also houses a pool bar and Gelateria & Creperie serving sweet desserts. Behind the Conservatory is an expansive Emporium Marketplace Restaurant, which is a departure from an ordinary cruise ship buffet. While it is still self-serve, the 18 cooking stations are divided between various food options, and in many cases, the food is prepared a la minute in front of the guests. 461 oceanfront suites Explora I features 461 oceanfront suites, penthouses and residences (despite the names, residences are not available for full-time ownership). We stayed in the standard Ocean Terrace Suite, which at 35 sq.m (377 sq.ft) is among the largest in the category. They are well-equipped with large oversized floor-toceiling windows and balconies large enough with chairs, table and a sun bed. Indoors there is a lounge area with a coffee/dining table, which is separated from the bedroom by a bookshelf. Meanwhile, the spacious bathroom features a walk-in shower and heated floor. While standard suites account for 301 rooms from the ship’s inventory, there are 67 larger Ocean Penthouses, ranging from 4368 sq.m (463-732 sq.ft) and 22 Ocean Residences ranging from 70-149 sq.m (753-1,604 sq.ft). In this category among the highlights is a larger balcony with an outdoor whirlpool. A “cherry in the cake” is the single Owner’s Residence with a total space of 280 sq.m (3,014 sq.ft). Interestingly, this most expensive accommodation has been located in the aft of Deck 8, but it provides views also on both sides of the vessel. So, how much would it cost to travel on the Explora I? It is a very inclusive product with complimentary beverages, specialty dining, free Wi-Fi and gratuities included. We looked at a classic 7-night roundtrip cruise per person (double occupancy) from the PortMiami on Jan. 7, 2025, and Ocean Suites would start from $3,160, Ocean Penthouses from $5,450, Ocean Residences from $8,450 and Owner’s Residence $29,950. Explora V and VI to operate with LNG and hydrogen In September Explora Journeys confirmed firm orders for two hydrogen-powered ships with Fincantieri and pledged to continue its push towards a net zero-carbon emissions target by 2050 by investigating additional new and advanced environmental technologies for the luxury ships. The deal completes a total investment of €3.5 billion in six luxury ships for Explora Journeys. Explora V and Explora VI will have new stateof-the-art energy efficiency measures and will also be capable of using alternative fuels such as bio and synthetic gas and methanol and the Cruise Division will work in the future with Fincantieri to equip the ships with future technologies including carbon capture, and more advanced waste management systems. The two confirmed additions to Explora Journeys’ fleet will be delivered in 2027 and 2028. The two new ships will pursue the use of liquid hydrogen with fuel cells for their hotel operations while docked in ports to eliminate carbon emissions with the vessels’ engines switched off. The ships will also feature a new generation of LNG engines that will further tackle the issue of methane slip with the use of containment systems. Med Yacht Club is one the 11 different dining choices onboard Conservatory is the main pool area onboard under the glass roof Astern Pool and Bar area provides an infinity pool
38 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 20 61 40 25 Register today: www.seatradecruiseevents.com/global Viking, which is the leading river cruise operator in the world as well as a major player in the luxury segment of ocean and expedition cruising, has outlined its expansion plans for the next few years. In a rather surprising move, Viking announced in late February that it could also file an Initial Public Offering (IPO). By Teijo Niemelä During its 27-year history, Viking has had one of the most tremendous expansions in the industry. It started by operating in the major European rivers and later expanded to areas such as Egypt and Asia. By last summer, its fleet counted 79 river vessels with more in construction. In 2015, the company introduced its first ocean vessel, 47,800-gross-ton and 930-guest Viking Star. Currently the ocean fleet includes nine vessels and six more are on order. While the first 10 ships were identical in design and size, the next batch will be longer and register 54,300 gross tons with a passenger capacity of 998. The first two of the new ships are named Viking Vela and Viking Vesta and they will be delivered at the end of 2024 and 2025. The number of ocean ships excludes the former Viking Sun, which operates in a joint venture under the Chinese flag and primarily serves the Chinese market with few exceptions. The company also entered into the expedition market two years ago with two purpose-built vessels, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, carrying 378 guests each, and into the U.S. Mississippi River cruise market, with the time-chartered 386-guest Viking Mississippi. On these two segments, Viking has not yet announced further expansion. Viking recovered faster from COVID When celebrating the naming ceremony of Viking Saturn in June in New York, Chairman Torstein Hagen provided an extensive presentation about the company’s history and future. According to Hagen, Viking reached $3 billion in ticket revenues in 2022, an amount it last reported in 2019, while larger multi-brand cruise corporations were still lagging behind 2019 ticket revenues. Meanwhile, Viking reported a profit of $375 million in 2022. Interestingly, Viking also reported higher ticket revenue per passenger in 2022, reaching $6,290, while the comparable figure, for example, for Carnival Corp. & plc, the largest player in the market, was $912. However, larger cruise corporations traditionally earn more in onboard sales than luxury lines, such as Viking, which are more inclusive. One of Viking’s strengths in the cruise business is its typically long booking window. In early February, S&P upgraded Viking Cruises Ltd.’s credit rating from B to B+ based on strong performance and positive outlook. According to S&P, Viking had already sold 70% of its 2024 capacity by the end of 2023. The report also stated that Viking’s 2024 advance bookings for both its river and ocean cruise segments are above 2023 levels. With $3 billion in revenues, 10,000 employees and 470,000 guests in 2022, Viking is still privately owned, but with two “valuable” partners and minority shareholders: TPG Capital and CPP Investment Board. Change may, however, be coming. On Feb. 23, 2023, it provided the following statement: “Viking Holdings Ltd. today announced that it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to the proposed initial public offering of its ordinary shares. The number of ordinary shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The initial public offering is expected to occur after the SEC completes its review process, subject to market and other conditions.” Several news outlets, such as Bloomberg, reported that Viking would like to raise $500 million, but nothing has been confirmed yet. The industry, however, is closely following how Viking fares if it decides to go through with the IPO. Overall, cruise shares have been on the upswing since the pandemic. Viking continues expansion, plans IPO BUSINESS UPDATE Chairman Torstein Hagen onboard one of the ocean vessels calling in the homeport Bergen
40 CRUISEBUSINESS.COM MAGAZINE WINTER 2024 CCrruuiissee JJaammaaiiccaa @cruisejamaica Best of Jamaica. On Repeat. Montego Bay | Falmouth | Ocho Rios | Port Antonio | Port Royal @portauthorityja