analysis
“IT’S THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT REALLY SETS THESE CRUISE LINES APART — KNOWING A GUEST’S FAVOURITE TIPPLE, FOR EXAMPLE”
packed with expensive gadgets, from an onboard remote-operated vehicle to a duo of seven-person submarines and two helicopters for flightseeing. Beck calls Crystal’s strategy “the most significant brand expansion in the luxury travel industry”. One operator that’s been successfully
ploughing the small-ship luxury market for some years now is SeaDream Yacht Club. It markets its twin megayachts SeaDream I and II under the tagline, ‘It’s yachting, not cruising’, with intimate, small-ship cruising backed by highly personalised service, with 95 crew members for a maximum of 112 guests. Wind Star Cruises, another company in this market, describes its portfolio of six upscale small ships as ‘yachts’, three of which are indeed under sail. Others nudging the higher-end include Paul
Gauguin, which targets areas such as remote South Pacific islands; and Azamara Club Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises’ take on the smaller- ship luxury market. It has two ships, Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest; the later’s USPs including longer itineraries and a large choice of overnights. Firmly at the expedition end of the luxury
Above form left: Seabourn Encore; Regent Seven Seas Explorer
cruising market lies Hamburg-based Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, part of TUI, whose small ships with low draughts are purposefully designed to reach hard- to-get-to areas, with an emphasis on the Arctic and Antarctica. The line takes a ‘casual luxury’ approach on board its vessels — as evidenced by its most recent launch, the 500-guest Europa 2. As an illustration of how the expedition sector is evolving, look no further than the line’s two high-spec, 138-metre-long new-builds launching
in 2019. The pair, which will accommodate 240 passengers and 170 crew, and boast the highest polar class designation for passenger ships (PC6), will feature everything from spa and fitness areas to watersports marinas and a high ratio of cabins with a balcony. According to CEO Karl J Pojer they’ll not only “offer a modern interpretation” of the expedition model, but also broaden HLC’s international appeal.
LIFE ONBOARD Highly personalised and atentive service delivery remains a sector cornerstone. “What really sets us apart is our people,” says Seabourn’s Narraway. “Our staff almost number our guests one-to-one. It’s the atention to detail that sets these cruise lines apart, such as knowing a guest’s favourite tipple or cleaning their sunglasses as they relax by the pool,” he says. “The luxury river cruise options are also growing, with facilities such as river-view suites, fine dining and transfers to and from the airport.” Operators also set much store by their all-
inclusive approach, with Regent’s proposition extending to everything from pre-cruise hotel nights and flights. Ahead of its fleet refurbishment, Silversea
carried out an extensive consultation of its loyal world cruisers. Enhanced communications and dining were two resulting focuses, with the new-look Silver Whisper boasting faster internet speeds, in-suite interactive TVs and on-demand film services. Silver Cloud will become the only luxury ice-class expedition ship offering five dining options while Silver Muse will feature eight.
countrybycountry.com | ABTA Magazine
33
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 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
