52 PLANNER PERSPECTIVE Terry Thornton of Princess Cruises speaks with Alex Smith about how the cruise line designs authentic and immersive itineraries Princess Cruises’ itineraries visit more than 330 destinations across the world, encompassing both the world’s most popular ports and lesser-known places. The process for choosing which destinations make the cut is a complex task that involves evaluating a variety of factors, says Terry Thornton, chief commercial officer of Princess Cruises. “We want to ensure any destination we add fits the Princess experience and will appeal to our guests,” says Thornton. “This includes making sure there are plenty of engaging activities for guests to enjoy through our shore excursions, or by exploring on their own. We must also ensure the port can accommodate our ships safely and efficiently.” A potential destination must also be easy to visit as part of the overall itinerary, says Thornton. “The destination must fit into the voyage in a way that creates a seamless and diverse journey for our guests,” he explains. “An essential factor we also consider is fuel consumption, designing routes that minimise travel distances between each of the ports. This helps us reduce our fuel usage and emissions while maintaining an enjoyable cruise experience for our guests.” However, with cruise ships visiting more destinations and regions across the world than ever before, it can be a significant challenge to provide guests with something different and exciting that will attract them to an itinerary. Princess aims to differentiate itself A meaningful connection Seven Princess Cruises vessels offer voyages to Alaska during the cruise season “ Our approach combines carefully curated destinations with enriching onboard and onshore experiences” Photo: Princess Cruises
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