4 CONTENTS 6 26 Keynote 6 Silversea’s Conrad Combrink discusses his love of expedition cruising and how the brand’s itineraries are designed to deliver unforgettable moments of discovery Marketwatch 12 A collection of news from cruise lines, ports and destinations worldwide, including a look at scheduled maiden port calls for cruise lines for the 20252026 season Cover story 26 Wrenelle Stander of Wesgro shares how a diverse cultural heritage, natural beauty and a wealth of exciting shore excursions have made Cape Town one of Africa’s premier cruise destinations Feature 30 A selection of ports from around the world share what it takes to become a successful cruise destination Maiden Season 38 Norwegian Cruise Line’s first Prima Plus-class ship Norwegian Aqua will embark on a transatlantic voyage and cruises to the Caribbean in its maiden season 40 TUI Cruises’ new ship Mein Schiff Relax will spend its maiden season exploring the Western Mediterranean 42 Oceania Cruises’ newest ship Allura is set to offer experiences for food lovers and adventure-seekers alike when it embarks on its inaugural cruise in 2025 58 Davide Truscello of Costa Cruises explains how the brand is evolving its itineraries to deliver innovative and immersive destination experiences 60 It is crucial for ports to plan for the long-term and work closely with the local community, says Hugues Lamy of Swan Hellenic 44 The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s second superyacht Ilma is to explore the Mediterranean and Caribbean following its inagural cruise in September 2024 Planner perspectives 47 Robert de Bruin shares how Holland America Line decides which ports to visit on its 500+ sailings each year 48 Seabourn’s Jen Martin explains why adaptability and immersive excursions are key components for a successful expedition cruise 50 Turky Kari discusses how Aroya Cruises is aiming to introduce Arabian travellers to the cruise experience with its first itineraries 52 Terry Thornton of Princess Cruises explains how Princess Cruises sets itself apart with its immersive, destination-focused itineraries 54 Carnival’s Jack Cochrane shares the process behind itinerary planning, destination choices and what ports can do to make themselves more attractive to cruise lines 56 Janet Bava discusses Windstar Cruises 40th anniversary and how the cruise line designs itineraries to satisfy the wanderlust of its guests
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQ1NTk=