Viewpoint: Abi McMahon Learning about luxury cruising Over the past couple of years, upmarket hotel brands such as The Ritz-Carlton and Aman have entered the cruise market for the first time, with fellow luxury hospitality companies Four Seasons and Accor following in their footsteps in late 2022 and early 2023, respectively. Each brand promises to deliver an exclusive yacht-like experience, with Four Seasons indicating that its first ship will have just 95 suites and Accor revealing that new vessel Silenseas will be an extension of its long-established prestige brand, Orient Express. Meanwhile Aman’s new ship, which will be developed in partnership with Cruise Saudi and is currently known as Project Sama, will have just 50 suites and is being promoted as the “first resort at sea”. Existing cruise brands have also been capitalising on the luxury cruise market boom. MSC Group’s new venture, Explora Journeys, is set to sail in 2023 with Explora I, the first of what will eventually be a six-ship fleet. Another operator looking to redefine and enhance its existing luxury offering is Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which is scheduled to debut newbuild Regent Seven Seas Grandeur in the final quarter of 2023. One of the highlighted features onboard this new vessel will be a display with a seven-inch Fabergé egg, which is part of the brand’s collaboration with world-renowned jewellery firm House of Fabergé. The 2023 edition of Cruise Ship Interiors Expo America (CSI) will Experts from across the cruise ship interior design industry will head to Cruise Ship Interiors Expo America and the new co-located Hotel and Resort Design Show South in June 2023 to discuss the latest innovations that are transforming the cruise experience MARKETWATCH 48
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