p15 Cruise_Q&A 20/3/09 14:12 Page 15
Q&A Cruise
Q&A
Ryan Wahlstrom
Ryan Wahlstrom is a business development manager
in Miami. Ryan blogs about cruise industry trends and
marketing at cruisemarketwatch.com. When not
cruising at sea, Ryan cruises around south Florida on
his customised 2001 Yamaha V-star motorcycle
WHAT TRENDS WILL MAKE IT.ACROSS THE. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO A UK AGENT.
POND IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO?. WHO HAS NEVER SOLD CRUISE BEFORE?.
Tighter consumer budgets mean shorter Educate yourself about the product. An
holidays, cruising to closer destinations, effective salesperson believes in the product
departing from closer homeports and booking and the more you can understand about the
closer to the departure date. There will also be cruise experience (the value, the amenities and
a highly competitive pricing environment destinations) the better able you will be to
while oil prices remains low. Consumers are match those to your customers’ needs and
also looking for all-inclusive, while cruise lines desires. With current cruise pricing, it is often
will seek more ways to segregate and charge less expensive to take a cruise than stay home.
for onboard amenities. We’ll also see more We have a case here in Florida where a retiree
partnerships, such as Ryanair and Costa. is continually booking a cruise week after week
rather than living in a retirement home.
HAS THE DOWNTURN HIT CRUISE LINES’.
SHIP BUILDING.PROGRAMMES?. ARE YOU SEEING A CHANGE IN THE TYPES OF.
Only Norwegian Cruise Line has cancelled one
CRUISES CUSTOMERS ARE BOOKING?.
of two F3 ship builds. Carnival stated publicly ■ Consumers are placing more emphasis on
it does not see cancellations as an option. Much physical and spiritual health with dining
more likely, the cruise lines will negotiate choices, spa treatments and onboard activities.
moratoriums on debt loads (delaying principal ■ We can also expect more “green” marketing
payments for a couple of years). and shipbuilding, and more opportunities in
itineraries to engage with friends and family
HAS THE US CRUISE MARKET DROPPED OFF IN.
and educate oneself.
THE LAST YEAR? WILL THE UK DO THE SAME?.
CV Ryan Wahlstrom
■ In the long term we will see better access to
Passenger volume has not dropped off, but technology onboard, so cruisers will be using
prices have. What we are seeing is a higher their iPhones and BlackBerries on lounge chairs In the past Ryan has been a research
percentage of former cruisers onboard as they instead of reading books. analyst and consultant and he once
understand the value and take advantage of owned and operated a horse-drawn
the aggressive pricing. As long as oil prices stay
WHICH NEW SHIPS ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT?.
carriage service for cruise passengers
low, UK travellers should also take advantage. ■ Oasis of the Seas, with a passenger capacity in the port of Old San Juan in Puerto
of 5,400, is an incredible feat of engineering. Rico.
IS THE LUXURY CRUISE MARKET BEING.
Its monstrous size as the world’s largest-to-be Since 1997 he has been a marketing
AFFECTED BY THE GLOBAL DOWNTURN?.
cruise ship makes it a floating village. research manager, online
Yes, reports from our Cruise Pulse agent survey ■ Seabourn Odyssey, the first new luxury ship strategic marketing and business
show that luxury cruise is down. Worldwide in six years. Sailings will include Seabourn’s development manager for print,
wealth has lost $30 trillion in a short period, so first world cruise. To see the world while getting cable and online media companies.
we are seeing a sharp retrenchment in spending. a good pampering – what could be better?
TTG Knowledge – March 2009
15
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52