Cruise & Ferry Interiors 2020

1 5 is immense,” says Swann. “This big challenge can only be overcome with clear and precise communication and proactive collaboration among everyone, working across multiple time zones.” “The supply chain is huge so everyone must be precisely tuned into the process and share the same vision, every step of the way,” adds Lang. Patience is a helpful trait, too, with years of work required before efforts are fully rewarded. “There’s a eureka moment, maybe two to three months out from delivery on a first-of-class ship, when everything really comes together. We draw a parallel with a flower that finally decides to reveal itself to you,” Swann describes. “It’s only at this moment that you know it’s all worked. You can suddenly see all of the beauty in what you’ve created and that’s a magical moment.” CFI Quick-fire thoughts On the response to coronavirus: “Our chairman has shared many messages of hope through this crisis that I and others have found inspirational. The human desire to explore, our innate curiosity, is far too strong to be quashed by this pandemic,” says Swann. “The whole industry is working together to find the most effective solutions to the challenges that we’re currently facing. We’re doing everything that we can to prepare for a safe return to cruising,” says Lang. On creating ‘experiences’: “We look for design that reinforces the brand’s mantra of modern luxury on every imaginable level so we focus our attention on creatives that really embrace that dichotomy of innovation and elegance. We strive to create design and execute design in spaces that transport our guests to a new destination, mentally and emotionally, in a way that feels natural and authentic,” says Swann. “The social experience on our ships is very important – We take quite a casual approach to cruising but we still cater for those special more exclusive and intimate moments,” says Lang. “There are repeating human patterns but we can positively influence human choice to manage flow through design and operational interaction to enhance their experience.” On the ‘magic’ of design: “Instantly recognisable interiors is part of the magic that makes Celebrity so distinctive but there’s a lot of work that goes into making that happen for our guests. We’re looking to implement design that delivers magic in its discovery, a feeling of coming home. And that’s the part that I love the most,” says Swann. On trends: “For us it’s not just about seeing and delivering a visible trend, we’re creating new trends. This innovative spirit is inherent in everything we do. When our guests go on a new Royal Caribbean ship they know that they’ll have access to all of their favourite activities, but they also know that they’re going to get something new and on trend,” says Lang. “We’re not just trying to be trendy with our advances, they all have to blend seamlessly into the overall design and that requires us to sustain a holistic vision for what we’re building throughout the process.” On timelines: “For newbuilds, especially when starting a new class of ship, the timeframe from aligning on all of our ambitions to the delivery of a ship can be anywhere from five to seven years. We start with the big picture and keep drilling down into the minutia until we’ve got it really tightly defined. For revitalisations, 18-24 months is ideal – to develop the vision and align the ambition and make sure that the improvements are addressing our guests need, anticipating what they don’t yet know they want,” says Swann. On learning lessons: “We log numerous data sets to inform future decisions. Lessons are continually being learned so our ships can evolve,” says Lang. “There are countless refinements from one ship to another in the same class. the introduction of a new class enables us to apply all of our latest knowledge, referring frequently back to lessons learned. This process of continuous improvement is central to our shipbuilding philosophy.” On Harri Kulovaara, executive vice president for maritime and newbulding for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.: “Rarely does a week pass that I don’t marvel at his knowledge and insight,” says Swann. Paris Swann and Sascha Lang share quick insights into some key topics