74 INTERVIEW Lowering the entry barrier SunStone Maritime Group’s Carsten Lund explains to Alex Smith how the company’s technical expertise is enabling its charterers to deliver a quality cruise experience Those weighing up the possibility of entering the cruise industry must take a formidable risk. Buying a ship requires a significant investment, while building one is an even more expensive prospect. There is, however, another option. Chartering agreements in which a shipowner hires out their vessel to a client provides an alternative path into the cruise industry, lowering the barrier of entry for potential operators. One of the experts in this type of arrangement is SunStone Maritime Group, which has been delivering chartering services for over three decades. The company began providing management services for all types of passenger ships, before focusing specifically on the expedition cruise industry from 2003. “The barrier for entry into the cruise industry is extremely high,” says Carsten Lund, SunStone’s chief commercial officer. “Our model provides an opportunity for our clients to offer an expedition cruise product without necessarily having a wealth of maritime
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