By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Spring/Summer 2025 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.
Keeping up with the pace of change is challenging for even the most determined passenger shipping operators. However, the passenger shipping sector is often acknowledged for its spirit of innovation and continues to make great advances this year, including smarter ships, alternative fuels and more personalised services.
Environmental sustainability is referenced frequently within this issue, starting in our keynote interview with Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA Cruises. “Shaping decarbonisation in practice is the greatest challenge facing our society,” he says, giving an insight into the Carnival Corporation brand’s strategy for reaching net zero by 2050.
Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA Cruises, says the Germany-based brand has a clear roadmap for decarbonising its operations by 2050
Bud Darr, the new president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), echoes Eichhorn’s sentiments in an interview in our Cruise Business section, saying: “Decarbonisation is truly an existential issue for all shipping companies – not just the cruise sector.”
In his interview, Darr details how CLIA is working to educate key stakeholders and shape the decisions made by policymakers to facilitate new fuel development and availability at scale. He also describes how it is collaborating with destinations to manage tourism flows and support economic growth.
Meanwhile in our ‘Designing for life’ feature, My Nguyen, director of interior design at Holland America and Seabourn, explains how circular design, take-back recycling strategies and partnerships can help the industry to create more sustainable ship interiors.
Decarbonisation is a key focus for ferry operators around the world too. In our Ferry Business section, which is published in association with Interferry, Société des traversiers du Québec’s Greta Bédard discusses the Canadian ferry operator’s plans for hybrid-electric ships and executives from BC Ferries and DFDS tell us why they are investing in battery-powered vessels in our ‘Electrifying progress’ feature.
In addition, Wightlink's Katy Taylor shares the company’s vision for an all-electric fleet, and Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan outlines how the global trade association will continue to work with ferry operators and other industry stakeholders to spearhead the transition to net-zero operations.
STQ’s Greta Bédard oversees the operations of 23 ferries, which carry more than five million passengers on 13 routes annually
Improving the customer experience is another key topic frequently referenced throughout the magazine, including in our cover story. Pramod Arora, president of WMS, explains how the company’s engineering expertise, new pricing models and partnerships with mobile carriers and satellite technology providers are helping it to pioneer land-like cellular connectivity on cruise ships at sea.
Cruise and ferry passengers now expect uninterrupted access to high-speed connectivity so they can continue using their devices wherever they are sailing
Other features, interviews, commentaries and reports explore the global order books, ship refurbishments, expedition cruising, battery-powered ferries, onboard dining experiences, extended calls in ports, and more. We also profile selected companies in the new Featured Partners section.
We hope you enjoy the read!