By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review is out now, offering exclusive insights from the leaders of cruise and ferry brands, those managing ports and destinations, and the experts who are designing, building and outfitting the vessels. Subscribe to view the digital edition or order a printed copy.
A June 2024 report by J.P. Morgan delivers a positive outlook for the cruise sector. “We see the industry growing revenues by high-single digits over the next five years, capturing approximately 3.8 per cent of the global vacation market by 2028,” says Matt Boss, head of leisure and retailing at the investment bank.
This in part he attributes to “accelerating new-to-cruise acquisition”, as lines overhaul their offerings to appeal to consumers. Boss highlights megaships and private destinations, and we would add a rapidly growing category to that list: expedition cruise.
We explore why in our special bound-in Expedition Cruise Business supplement, which looks at the brands, ships and destinations that are drawing ever-increasing numbers of guests to this form of vacation.
The supplement, which was created in partnership with the Expedition Cruise Network, includes two features and a keynote with Akvile Marozaite, the organisation’s CEO, who says: “Each expedition has something unique to offer. Learning from experts about a place adds an extra dimension of wonder – these are perhaps the reasons why I fell in love with this form of travel.”
Expedition Cruise Network
Akvile Marozaite, CEO of Expedition Cruise Network, says every expedition cruise has something unique to offer
With itineraries encompassing some relatively untouched regions of the world, expedition cruise lines are particularly conscious of the impact they have on the environment. But the whole industry is prioritising sustainability.
“Our teams have been continuously analysing our operational data and processes to identify every possible opportunity for making energy-efficiency improvements,” says Pierfrancesco Vago of MSC Cruises, who calls for regulators and governments to do their bit to accelerate the decarbonisation of the whole maritime industry in our keynote interview.
Vago also explains how the family-owned company plans to lead the cruise industry into a new era with its high-tech ships and pioneering environmental sustainability technologies.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, calls for governments to help decarbonise the maritime industry in his keynote interview
Meanwhile, in our cover story, Achille Staiano and Koray Savas of MSC Group’s new brand Explora Journeys explain how boutique ships, personalised services, flexible itineraries and exclusive excursions are helping it to redefine the luxury cruise experience.
New ships and guest experiences are some of the key topics covered in the executive interviews in our Ferry Business section, which is published in association with Interferry. One highlight of this section is an interview with Ronny Moriana Glindemann who outlines how FRS Iberia Maroc is becoming a fully integrated member of the DFDS group.
Strait of Gibraltar operator FRS Iberia Maroc is now part of the DFDS group
Elsewhere in the magazine, features, viewpoints and reports focus on timeless interior design, safety at sea, ship refurbishments, newbuild order books, sustainability in ports, and multiple other industry topics. We also report on the latest updates from across the passenger shipping in Marketwatch and profile selected companies in the Featured Partners: Marine Operations section.
We hope you enjoy the read!
Subscribe to read the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review in print or digital format