On The Deck

Kevin Tatem, managing director in South East Asia at STAAH reminisces about the good old days and talks about how innovation in technology and industry transformation has changed our…

David Stepetic, general manager of Gili Lankanfushi Maldives, candidly talks about how the hotel is conforming to high-end safety measures mandated by law and international guidelines in the…

Travel entrepreneur Hamish Keith talks about how communication and safety will be the two major drivers to renew the industry

We sat down with EXPH founder and CEO Giancarlo 'Gian' Gallegos, who explained how taking friends and strangers off the tourist grid goes beyond business:

Darvin Kurniawan, the Indonesian co-founder and CEO of Singapore-based start-up Crowdvilla, entered the alternative accommodations industry by way of blockchain-powered cryptocurrency. …

Family-run Variety Cruises has a strong Greek heritage and specialist knowledge dating back to 1949 and is still run by the Venetopoulos family with a focus on experiential, luxury…

You started your new role at MSC only two weeks ago. What are your first views of MSC in the UK market? My initial views in the UK market so far, for travel agents and customers, is…

Silver Discoverer was announced as your new ship earlier this year. Can you tell us more about the ship and its itineraries? Silver Discoverer will join the fleet on 1 March 2014 and…

The recent news that Kuoni's retail arm was to initiate an extension of its cruise product was great news for the industry. Not only was it a validation of what many see as an industry…

The launch of Norwegian Breakaway earlier this year was a special event for everyone involved. The vessel, which is the first in the company’s most innovative class to date, has taken…

MSC Cruises is one of the most exciting cruise lines operating within the industry today. The company, still incredibly young when compared to its competitors, has undergone a rapid…

London will be getting its own cruise terminal in three years, offering a new opportunity for cruise passengers to see and head away from the UK capital. Cruise News caught up with the…

It’s been all change at Carnival UK recently and no one would blame you for not keeping up with what’s been happening. Just to recap: a few months ago the news broke that P&O…

Having led Holland America Line (HAL) for a number of years, she formerly took control of Seabourn’s UK operation in the last 12 months. If managing one cruise line wasn’t enough, how…

Consolidator JTA Travel launched its business to business cruise brand Needacruise.co.uk two weeks ago. The decision to expand into cruise came as a welcome surprise to much of the…

The news that Hurtigruten had experienced a huge boost in its recent Arctic deployment probably hasn’t shocked many people. The small line from Norway has been quietly massing a growing…

The recent announcement that Regent Seven Seas Cruises would be building the ‘most expensive’ luxury cruise ship ever has clearly made some heads turn within the industry. The news, which…

There are few cruise lines that generate as many headlines today as Cunard Line and P&O Cruises. The two companies – both part of Carnival Corp – are renowned for their inherent…

It is finally time for our fourth and final contributor. After the likes of Jo Rzymowska, James Cole and Nathan Philpot have graced these fine virtual pages, there is evidently an…

So, after introducing two of our four industry contributors, we are ready to unveil number three. We have already bought you articles by Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president &…

Last Thursday we explained that we are currently in the process of implementing a number of changes here at Cruise News. The first of those will be four additions to our industry…

Over the next couple of weeks we are going to be introducing some very special changes here at Cruise news. The first will be a number of additions to our team of industry…

Within the current economic climate it would be easy to feel slightly downcast over the negative news stories that are littering our headlines. Tumbling share prices, bad press and shop…

In all the time we have been running our industry interviews, there is one thing, curiously, which we have never done. In the past we have spoken to travel agents, cruise executives and…

Next week we will publish our 2013 How To sell Arctic and Antarctic Cruise Guide. The digital magazine will be a comprehensive selling tool for any travel agent who has an interest in…

It’s a cruel fact of the market but the bigger the cruise line the more it will hoard the attention of the travel press. Whether it’s Royal Caribbean revealing its latest mega-ship or…

If you’ve been keeping up with the news you cannot have failed to notice that things have been moving quickly at Princess Cruises. The company’s newest ship, the Royal Princess, recently…

How many agents do you think could comfortably wax lyrical over the differences between yachting and cruising? How many would be able to correctly profile the ideal passenger seen onboard…

There are few greater worldwide marketing success stories than cruise within the Australian market. By its own definition the sector was highly unfashionable as recently as six years…

With the release of the Passenger Shipping Association’s cruising figures last week, one thing stood out above all else – river cruising is undergoing a boom. At the heart of that…

The rise of luxury cruising has led to a revolution within the industry. The market offering is now broader than it has ever been – and niche sectors that have never had an association…

There is no doubt that the ultra-luxury sector is going through a renaissance right now. The current economic climate has left many of society's richest relatively untouched - and the…

The rise and rise of small shipping cruising is a phenomenon that has not gone unnoticed. The trend has precipitated a rise in growth which has been supported by higher price points and…

The lucrative ultra-luxury market is a sector which will remain out of a majority of our price ranges for most of our lives. However, that's not stopping some agents making some serious…

Last year Voyages of Discovery, owned by the All Leisure Group, launched the mv Voyager – the vessel is confirmation of the direction in which the line is going. And that direction is…

If you’ve been following the news recently you cannot have failed to notice that things have certainly been busy at Pullmantur. The Spanish cruise line – owned by Royal Caribbean and…

When naming the most prestigious river cruise line operators in the world, the name Uniworld is normally somewhere near the top of the list. Renowned for suites which verge on…

It’s pretty undisputable that Vietnam is a destination that is undergoing a surge in popularity. This year will see a continuation in the rise of tourists making the journey east and, as…

Silversea Cruises is a name which holds high regard throughout the cruise sector. It sits within the upper echelons of the industry's luxury market - the so called Ultra-luxury offering…

The ferry industry has been faced with strike action and, like all others, a struggling economic climate. Matt Davies, director at directferries shares his views on how demand for cheap…

Canada is a destination which has undoubted appeal for UK cruisers. For one, there are few countries which are more ideally suited for cruising. Stunning geography, a developed…

If circulated reports are correct Italian family line MSC Cruises underwent a very successful 2012 with rising profits, new ships announced and more itineraries planned. The UK market is…

Tauck River Cruises has one of the most interesting histories in the business. Founded in 1925 by Arthur Tauck, the company made its name, first and foremost as a tour operator,…

You have been in the industry for a long time. How did you get interested in the cruise sector? I was born in the UK and emigrated to Canada as a young boy, something that started my…

The recent announcement that World Travel Holdings was to embark on a multi-million pound partnership  with Hays Travel has made a few people – including us – take notice. The deal,…

Thomson Cruises operates in the three-star category. How has your company fared in that segment over the past couple of years? It’s been largely a good news story for Thomson Cruises…

Disney Cruise Line is a brand which needs no introduction, although hypercritically that's exactly what we're doing here. Founded as an extension of the Walt Disney empire - the line…

It's no exaggeration to say that Oceania Cruises has a mouth watering offering. Renowned for its world-class cuisine and high level of service, the firm attracts 'foodies' from around…

The Luxury Cruise Company is one of the most active groups of cruise experts working within the industry today. Targetting a specifically bespoke, luxury experience onboard the world’s…

After having personally taken a cruise from Saint Petersburg to Moscow with Orthodox Cruise Company, Cruise News has been convinced; Russia is one of the main futures of the entire…

Silversea operates in the ultra-luxury sector. For people who are new to the industry can you please explain what the ultra-luxury cruise sector is all about? Ultra-luxury cruising sits…

How has the ferry industry fared in the past year? Has Stena Line’s performance run in line with this?  2011 was a challenging year for the whole ferry industry and the number of cars…

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is one of the UK's most prestigious and well known brands. Founded well over a century ago, the line has kept up pace with an industry which is moving at…

Cruise News UK sits down with the retail manager of  NoFlyCruising.com to discuss the sector's huge growth, challenges it still faces and what the most popular destinations are amongst…

Cruise News UK sits down with the head of Louis Cruises UK and Ireland to discuss the fractured relationship with the eurozone,  changes in itinerary and how the closure of its UK office…

We are getting mixed messages with some agents doing great and some agents no so good. How has business been for you so far this year and are you upbeat about the short term…

You have now been in your role over here in the UK for almost six months. How have you found the transition period and how are you enjoying the life in the UK? Living and…

Christopher Coates, Commercial Director at Cruises and Maritime Voyages For the benefit of those who are not familiar with your company how long has the company been in existence?…

Sebastian Ahrens, Managing Director, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Hapag –Lloyd Cruises operate in the ultra-luxury sector. Given the tough economic climate in Europe how has your company fared…

The international luxury travel market has faced real challenges in the last few years. How has Crystal fared in the UK in these tough economic times? I cannot argue that 2010 / 2011…

MSC Cruises is a relatively young business in the UK. How long has MSC operated an office in the UK? Eighteen years now! We opened the UK office in 1994 at that time we only had four…

Your company operates a number of smaller ships which are quite old by today’s standards. What continues to make these ships relevant in today’s world of cruise where ships are built…