AZ: Once upon a time, luxury cruising was associated with the older generation who enjoyed gala dinners and traditional entertainment, but this perception is changing, especially on expedition ships as experiences and destinations become more innovative. We’re seeing increasing interest from younger passengers who want to explore destinations, cultures and our planet more deeply than ever before. Today’s luxury guests want to enjoy relaxed, yet high-quality, experiences, and they expect more choice, particularly when it comes to the dining experience. That’s why we’ve included three dining venues onboard our new SH Vega, all of which enable guests to enjoy different culinary experiences during their cruise. What initiatives have you implemented to ensure your brand remains a top choice for guests? MG: We’ll continue with what we do best, capitalising on our vast affiliated experience in Asian hospitality to enhance luxurious guest experience in The Palace on our ship Genting Dream. Our strategy is to position ourselves as the go-to brand for luxury cruising in Asia. We’ll also continue to work with our affiliated partners under the Resorts World brand, as well relevant travel and commercial partners to expand our database reach across the different markets in Asia. JL: Our new purpose-built expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, will offer an unparalleled active luxury experience. The onboard amenities and innovations – including two submarines – are redefining the future of travel, not just cruise. These ships are designed to go anywhere in the world, with reinforced steel hulls to allow them to sail through ice 1.5 metres thick. However, the real measure of luxury service is that each ship will have 26 expedition teams members to serve just 264 guests in 132 suites – nearly one for every 10 guests. Each vessel will also have 24 Zodiacs so guests can experience landings wherever we sail, as well as kayaks, snorkelling and more. There are eight dining options and facilities such as the Bow Lounge, where live feeds of wildlife up to four nautical miles away can be projected on a big screen for the ultimate wildlife experience. RM: We’ve observed growth in both segments, and we continue to innovate to remain at the forefront of these sectors. We’ve introduced four new ships since 2020 to enhance the range of options and experiences for our guests and invested heavily to strengthen our destination leadership. For example, we introduced our fly-cruise programme to provide the fastest, most direct route to Antarctica. Our guests can now fly over the Drake Passage in European business-class comfort, saving four days at sea on the roundtrip. This gives guests the luxury of choice, making it the most diverse offering in ultra-luxury Antarctica cruising. CP: We are expanding to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf to attract more of our customers who want to cruise in luxurious destinations with impressive Unesco sites, beautiful beaches, unique wildlife, top-rated golf courses, amazing snorkelling/diving, and great shopping. We’re excited to introduce guests to this region with Star Legend’s new itineraries in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar, which begin in November 2023. DP: Our competition may not necessarily be another luxury cruise or expedition line, but rather an alternate travel experience such as a remote luxury resort onshore. We’re seeing that the experience offered by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection appeals to existing Ritz-Carlton and other customers who would not consider a cruise but would entertain a highly curated yacht-style experience with The Ritz-Carlton. Hence, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will continue to offer a breadth of truly singular programming, access to some of the world’s most coveted destinations that larger ships cannot visit, and the legendary service of ROUNDTABLE Guests sailing on Seabourn’s ships can enjoy luxury dining experiences in upscale restaurants, as well as adventurous activities 4 8
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