travel & cruise - 1st qtr 2016

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First Quarter 2016 | Travel & Cruise | 3

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07 Chairmen’s Letter

104 Faces in the Industry

108 Member Highlights

SPOTLIGHT

09 Carnival Corporation Cruising to the Future

The industry’s rapid growth has created more room for Carnival Corporation’s growth, tells Chairman Micky Arison

13 The Evolution of the Cruise Industry

Norwegian Cruise Line President and COO Andy Stuart explains how the industry’s evolution benefits—and needs—all stakeholders

16 Full Steam Ahead for the Cruise Industry

MSC Cruises’ expansion and new developments just the hull of the ship for the continually-innovatingindustry, tells President Rick Sasso

LET’S GET TECHNICAL

19 With Cruising More Popular than Ever, Let’s Keep Destinations Memorable

Destinations control their own destiny in attracting cruises, according to David Candib, VP of Carnival Corporation’s port and destination development, who tells what it takes

22 It Takes a Village to Raise the Cruise Industry Synergy between cruise lines and destinations leads to success for all, tells Federico Gonzalez-Denton, AVP of Royal Caribbean’s government relations

24 FCCA Sourcing Committee Wants You

With redoubled efforts and the direction of Chairman and VP of Royal Caribbean’s supply chain, Michael Jones, the FCCA Sourcing Committee is open for business

MEETINGS AND EVENTS

26 Key Cruise Line Executives and FCCA Platinum Members Gather for Meetings, Business

Opportunities and Family Fun

Another private FCCA membership event brings cruise executives and stakeholders closer together to help close deals

29 Maximizing Seatrade Cruise Global: Easy as FCCA

A horde of events and cruise executives await Seatrade attendees looking to improve their business

RESEARCH AND FINDINGS

30 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook: Continued Evolution of Cruise Travel Drives Industry Growth

Record passengers and continued capacity growth forecast in CLIA’s annual study32 Cruise Tourism Generates Record $3.16 Billion for 35 FCCA Partner Destinations, Leaves

Room for More

Increased cruise passenger spending spurs economic growth in Caribbean and Latin American cruise destinations, finds BREA’s triennial study

ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY PRACTICES

34 Cruise Industry Taking Steps Towards Smaller Environmental Footprint

36 More Bubbles Mean Better Mileage, Royal Caribbean’s Sustainability Report Shows

Innovation Driving Environmental Gains

38 Carnival Corporation’s New Sustainability Report Highlights Key Environmental and Social Initiatives

40 Liquefied Natural Gas Powering AIDA Cruises to Positive Sustainability

41 Cruise Industry Honored with Maritime Award of the Americas for Its Environmental Innovation

NEWBUILDS AND REVITES

42 Carnival Corporation to Launch Four New Ships in 2016 and 17 through 2020

New state-of-the-art ships and refurbishments aim to elevate the experience and efficiency, says CEO Arnold Donald

43 Holland America Line Plans $300 Million Fleet Overhaul

43 MSC Cruises Confirms Two Additional Next-Generation Ships

44 Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils The Norwegian Edge, a $400 Million Fleet Refurbishment

45 Azamara Journey Emerges from Dry Dock

First Quarter 2016www.travelandcruise.com

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Departments

Features

Inside

On the Cover

CONTENTS

09 13 16

FREDERIKSTED, ST. CROIX WEST INDIAN COMPANY, ST. THOMAS

GALLOWS BAY DOCK , ST. CROIX CROWN BAY, ST. THOMAS

THERE ARE PORTS OF CALL, AND THOSE THAT BECKON.Sail to a cruise destination that’s as pleasurable for you as it is

your passengers. The four ports of the U.S. Virgin Islands feature

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will be overcome with our alabaster beaches, great shopping, and

unique cultural and culinary attractions. For more information on

the ports of the U.S. Virgin Islands, visit www.viport.com

and www.wico-vi.com.

©2016 U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism

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CONTENTS

Micky ArisonFCCA Chairman,ChairmanCarnival Corporation

Michael BayleyPresident & CEORoyal Caribbean International

Adam GoldsteinPresident & COORoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Karl L. HolzPresidentDisney Cruise Line

Richard E. SassoPresidentMSC Cruises (USA) Inc.

Andrew StuartPresident & COONorwegian Cruise Line

Michele M. PaigePresident

Omari BreakenridgeDirector, Communications & Design

Terri CanniciVice President, Operations

Adam CeseranoSenior Vice President

Jessica LalamaExecutive Assistant

Raquel NalesAdministrative Assistant

Justin PaigeManager, Communications, Research & Marketing

Carlos SantamarinaDirector, Membership Events & Programs

FCCA Staff

Executive Committee

SHIPBOARD AND LAND-BASED EXPERIENCES48 Disney Cruise Line Delivers New Vacation Experiences at Sea

President Karl Holz shares how Disney uses “the force” and more to Imagineer unique experiences51 Making a Difference by Training Tour Guides and Operators

From tour guides and operators to full destinations, Aquila’s Center for Cruise Excellence has a training program that improves guest satisfaction, tells President Beth Kelly Hatt

52 Harmony of the Seas Amps Up Fun for the Entire Family52 Princess Cruises’ $450 Million Multi-Year Product Innovation, Cruise Ship Renovation and

Guest Experience Enhancement Campaign

DESTINATIONS AND PORTS: THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA57 Cruise Operator CEOs Tell Destinations to Renew and Innovate to Tap the Industry’s Current

and Future Growth From CCL to RCCL, the industry’s elite delivered a consistent and resounding message during the 2015 FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show

61 The Caribbean Staying Afloat Against Global CompetitionFCCA President Michele Paige shares that the Caribbean has retained its heavyweight title, but must continue fighting

65 Caribbean Tourism Reports Tourism Record for 201567 See You in Puerto Rico at the 2016 FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show

Puerto Rico’s improved infrastructure and offerings await attendees in September68 Costa Maya Continues to Innovate and Drive Cruise Tourism

From undeveloped coastline to portside park with zip lines, Costa Maya’s progression shows significance of communicating with cruise lines and understanding cruise passengers

72 Colombia’s Evolution from Cruise Destination into a Procurement Supplier 74 Peru: Land of Hidden Treasures78 Guatemala: Heart of the Mayan World

DESTINATIONS AND PORTS: NORTH AMERICA82 Port of New Orleans to Showcase Its Offerings and Growth to Cruise Executives and

StakeholdersHosting the 2016 FCCA PAMAC gives the opportunity to display New Orleans’ tours, culture, museums and increased cruise capacity

84 Complete Cruise Terminal Renovations – Port Everglades Style 86 Cruising from Port Miami Is Only Getting Better – Offering Travelers Vacations for Every

Taste, Budget and Style

DESTINATIONS AND PORTS: EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA89 Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Ground-Breaking European Summer 2017 Itineraries89 AIDAaura Offers “Best of Northern Europe”

Fincantieri Forming Agreements in IranFrom shipyards to marine propulsion, Fincantieri has formed agreements in a country CEO Giuseppe Bono says has “the highest development potential in the world.”

91 Princess Cruises’ 2017 European Sailings Include Majestic Princess InauguralWith the newest and largest ships in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, Princess President Jan Swartz knows guests will be inspired

DESTINATIONS AND PORTS: AUSTRALASIA93 Cruise Lines Testing the Chinese Waters

The water is just fine in China, but cruise line leaders remind that there are plenty of ships in the sea94 Norwegian Cruise Line Looking to Breakaway in China

President and CEO Frank Del Rio tells NCLH’s purpose-built ship and personalized service will give an edge in the highest-yielding market to introduce a new ship

94 AIDA Cruises to Become First German Cruise Brand in China and Strengthen Carnival Corporation’s Chinese PresenceAIDAbella will become the first German cruise ship homeporting in China and sailing year-round when it docks in Shanghai in spring 2017

96 Singapore Moves Toward LNG Bunkering After awarding supplier licenses, Singapore’s port authority CEO explains the drive to provide LNG bunkers by 2017

96 P&O Cruises to Build New Ship for Australia Australia’s burgeoning cruise market beckons first-ever newbuild tailored to the market, explains Ann Sherry, Carnival Australia’s executive chairman

MEMBERS AND TRAVEL AGENTS98 How to Work with the Cruise Industry: The ABCs of the FCCA

From dinners and trips to meetings and site visits, the FCCA connects cruise tourism stakeholders to the industry’s key decision makers

100 Travel Agent Cruise Industry OutlookNew CLIA quarterly report finds that the overwhelming majority of travel agents forecast cruise bookings growth, especially in North American markets

103 Cruise Lines International Association’s 2016 Travel Agency and Individual Agent Member Programs and Benefits

Features

CHAIRMEN’S LETTER


We often start a new year by thinking how to renew or change ourselves. The fresh calendar’s blank slate sometimesforces us to focus on past faults and errors as we consider resolutions, or perhaps ripping up old calendars and only lookingforward. But we must use our past as a foundation and build onto it.

Surely, preparation for the future is important, but even this requires at least a glance at the past. We look to our experience and knowledge when progressing or expanding, and we use our current relationships and contacts to formnew ones or assist with future ventures.

This first issue of the rebranded and global Travel and Cruise shows that the FCCA and CLIA embrace this philosophy.The recent initiative for the associations to partner in order to expand the FCCA’s successful quarterly magazine and project the industry’s one voice displays one of the many ways that the associations continue to develop their sturdyfoundations. And articles in this issue highlight how the associations work with their partners and the cruise industry toform relationships and aid growth.

The PAMAC Cruise Summit article recaps one of the FCCA’s private annual events that gather Platinum Members withcruise executives; a spotlight on the FCCA’s affiliation with UBM Live and offerings at Seatrade Cruise Global show-cases opportunities available to anyone on the trade show floor; and other articles explain how the FCCA and CLIA canpositively impact your cruise industry business by putting you on a direct line with key players in the cruise industry.

And some of those players use this magazine as a vehicle to talk directly to cruise tourism stakeholders. David Candib,vice president of development and operations for Carnival Corporation, educates how the cruise industry assesses guestsatisfaction and how destinations can master that formula to increase business, and Federico Gonzalez-Denton, associate vice president for government relations for Royal Caribbean, shares another way destinations can use theindustry’s equations to improve competitiveness on a global playing field.

Plus, cruise line presidents, chairmen, CEOs and COOs—including one of yours truly, Micky Arison of Carnival Corporation,as well as Karl Holz of Disney Cruise Line, Richard Sasso of MSC Cruises, and Andy Stuart of Norwegian Cruise Line—takethe opportunity to share their insight and latest and future developments in this exponentially growing industry.

Hopefully you will find inspiration for your own future, and we urge you to explore ways to drive forward without forgetting to set the rear-view mirror. Of course, the FCCA and CLIA offer vehicles for this progression, and you cansee them in motion and learn how we can travel together into a bright future.

Micky ArisonFCCA Chairman;

Chairman, Carnival Corporation

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” -Henry Ford

One Industry – One Voice

Adam GoldsteinCLIA Global Chairman;

President and COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

DOMINICAN REPUBLICDOMINICAN REPUBLICHAS IT ALLHAS IT ALL

By land or by sea.

Carnival Corporation Cruising to the FutureBy Micky Arison, Chairman, Carnival Corporation & plc

Cruising has never been more popular around the worldwith exciting new ships, popular and exotic new destina-tions, expanding cruise markets and terrific new guest

features, food and entertainment options on board. In fact,more than 23 million guests cruised in 2015, and that number isexpected to grow to more than 24 million in 2016.

The Growth of CruisingIn the past 10 years alone, cruising has increased remarkably—more than 68 percent. During the same timeframe, Australiancruise passengers have grown six-fold to sail more than 1 millioncruise passengers annually.

Cruising in China, a country expected to some day be theworld’s largest cruise market, also continues to reach newheights. Carnival Corporation alone has six ships home-based inChina, with two more ships arriving in 2016 and the industry’sfirst purpose-built ship for China from our Princess Cruisesbrand arriving in 2017.

And we are just beginning to see the opportunity for cruise trav-el to Cuba open up to the industry, a market bursting with pent-up demand since it has been closed to U.S. Cruise passengers formore than 50 years.

More importantly, cruising continues to be the greatest vacationoption available and the absolute best value for the money.

In a recent study the World Tourism Organization measuring travelfrom 2004 to 2014, global cruise vacations are growing faster inpopularity than global land-based vacations by a 23 percent margin.

Amazing DestinationsLooking ahead, cruise deployments will continue to be led bythe incredible beauty and allure of the Caribbean, the world’smost popular cruise region, with more than 33 percent of theindustry’s capacity traveling there, followed by theMediterranean with more than 18 percent.

This past year, Carnival Corporation, for instance, just openedAmber Cove, a beautiful new port in Puerto Plata on the north-ern coast of the Dominican Republic. The port welcomes regu-lar cruise ships to the region for the first time in 30 years, addinga new and exotic destination to the Caribbean.

Set in a cove amongst a mountainous and lush tropical land-scape, the region is known for the friendliness of its people, itshistory and culture, and the beauty of its beaches, mountains,forests, waterfalls and rivers.

It is clear that cruising, unlike any other form of vacation travel,offers guests an extremely comfortable and convenient way tosee unique destinations like Amber Cove, but also amazing des-tinations, such as Alaska or Antarctica, that are best seen bycruise ship.

SPOTLIGHT


New Ships in 2016In 2016, nine new cruise ships from throughout the cruiseindustry are entering the market, four of them from CarnivalCorporation brands.

These new vessels offer guests new shipboard features such asthrilling sky rides and zip lining, IMAX theaters and sea walksthat will simply take your breath away, as well giant water slides,micro-breweries and other new options that make cruising evenmore exciting for guests.

These new ships also provide each of the cruise lines the abilityto provide guests with more balcony options, while also deliver-ing the latest in innovation ranging from high-tech WiFi servicesto new entertainment features.

There are even new expanded options for guests to sail withtheir pets on our iconic Queen Mary 2, due to popular demandfor the world’s only remaining trans-Atlantic ocean liner.

In addition, new ships provide cruise lines with a new platformto make ships even more sustainable. The newest ship beingintroduced this year from AIDA Cruises, the AIDAprima, willprovide new “green” cruising features such as a unique environ-mental friendly hull design and the use of Liquid Natural Gas(LNG), the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel, in ports.

Later in 2019 and 2020, Carnival Corporation brands will beintroducing the first ships to use LNG to power the ships as sea,another important milestone for the cruise industry.

New Operational CapabilitiesIn 2016, Carnival Corporation will operate three Fleet OperationCenters that provide real-time support to its 99 ships. The newFleet Operations Centers utilize a state-of-the-art tracking anddata-analysis platform that enables real-time information sharingbetween each of Carnival Corporation’s 99 ships and specializedonshore teams designed to support fleet operations. The propri-etary system significantly improves communication from ship toshore, providing new capabilities for enhancing the safe passageof ships at sea while improving operational efficiencies and sup-porting overall environmental initiatives.

Celebrity ChefsThe meals being offered on ships continue to get better and bet-ter through partnerships with top national and internationalchefs. Whether it is Celebrity chef Guy Fieri or Chef and restau-rateur Thomas Keller, there is a special meal for every guest.

There is the new Salt Grill by Luke Mangan, author of the best-selling cookbook and popular autobiography of the Making ofa Chef.

There are new exotic chocolate offerings created by the famousNorman Love.

Of course, there also are the creations of Chef Curtis Stone,best-selling author and television personality, and there are newwine venues such as Blend in coordination with Chateau Ste.Michele, Washington’s State’s oldest and most acclaimed winery,where guests can blend their own wine.

Cruising for a CauseAlso in 2016, there is the introduction of Fathom, which com-bines people’s love of travel with the desire to make a difference.Fathom, being launched to the Dominican Republic in April,will provide travelers with the ability to work on communityprojects alongside local citizens.

Today, the cruise industry already provides more than $119 bil-lion in total economic value to the markets served, but theindustry also creates nearly one million jobs around the world.

Fathom simply adds to this tradition in the cruise industry ofgiving back.

A Cruise for EveryoneWith dozens of cruise lines and hundreds of cruise shipsthroughout the industry, there is the right cruise for every guest.

We see the desire for luxury cruising on the rise with cruise linessuch as Seabourn, the ultra-luxury cruise brand, or HollandAmerica Line or Princess Cruises, both of which are popularpremium cruise lines, but there also is a trend to bring specificcultural experiences to guests who want to have a taste of Italyby sailing on Costa Cruises or the authentic German cruiseexperience with AIDA Cruises or a uniquely British experienceon P&O Cruises, especially on its newest ship, Britannia.

Of course, if it is a social experience cruise guests are wanting,there is nothing better than Carnival Cruise Line’s 24 fun ships,the most popular cruise line in the world with 4.5 million annual guests.

Looking AheadToday, every guest who experiences a wonderful time on a cruiseship not only returns for additional cruises, but they often bringother family members and share their positive experience withso many others.

Cruising has never been more popular. It is the result of the hardwork and dedications of our cruise line employees around theworld, as well as the dedication of thousands of travel agentsaround the world who spend countless hours educating con-sumers about the value and sheer fun of cruising.

The same is true with our suppliers and partners in each of theports we serve. Without their support and efforts, we would notbe successful. Together, we are able to provide an unrivaled vaca-tion for our guests around the world – and provide millions ofpeople with memories that last a lifetime!

10 | First Quarter 2016 | Travel & Cruise

SPOTLIGHT

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1:54 PM

It’s an exciting time to be in the cruiseindustry. Cruise travel is on the riseand getting more impressive every

day. Because of extraordinary ships, beau-tiful destinations and dedicated travelagents, 24 million people are expected tocruise this year worldwide, more thanever before, according to CLIA’s State ofthe Cruise Industry Outlook. The Outlookalso showed that cruise travel outpacedgeneral leisure travel in the US by 22 per-cent between 2008 and 2014. To keep thisupward trajectory, we have to be active ingrowing the industry. We must evolve torecruit new guests and keep currentguests coming back. This evolution is notexclusive to cruise lines – it has to happenacross the board.

Staying RelevantOne of the greatest examples of evolvingto stay relevant comes from our ownindustry: our travel partners. Not onlyhas the cruising landscape transformedover the years, but the travel agencymodel has changed drastically as well.Customers buy where they are comfort-able, which used to be exclusively withstorefront travel agencies. But as tech-nology grew, the distribution channelexpanded as well. People can now bookonline, through hosts, home baseoffices, consortia, wholesale clubs andtour operators. The distribution channelevolving as customers’ needs evolved is aprime example of adapting to stay rele-vant. If we don’t make adjustments as wego, having continued success will benearly impossible.

The significance of the distribution chan-nel cannot be stressed enough. The cruiseline and travel agent relationship isstronger than ever, and the commitment

to the partnership is evident from theinvestment in dedicated programs thatsupport the travel agent community.Programs like Norwegian’s PartnersFirst, Royal Caribbean’s Loyal To YouAlways and Celebrity’s The CelebrityCommitment were built out of need.These programs are customized to sup-port our partners and equip them witheverything they need to make a sale. Andas the market changes and new needsarise, these programs are able to adjust.They were built on a flexible foundationin order to adapt to new landscapesquickly and seamlessly.

How Norwegian Is Evolving: TheNorwegian EdgeNorwegian is embracing the evolution ofthe industry. So much so that we’ve createdThe Norwegian Edge™, an innovative pro-gram that will introduce a new standard ofexcellence to the brand. It encompasses theentire guest experience, from ship hard-ware to culinary enhancements to exclusiveprivate destination developments.

The Norwegian Edge reflects a signifi-cant two-year $400 million investmentand demonstrates our commitment toexceptional quality and extraordinaryexperiences. The centerpiece is an exten-sive ship refurbishment initiative. We arecompletely transforming spaces onboardnine of our ships to reflect the premiumlook and feel of our newest and mostspectacular ships. This extensiveenhancement will offer much more thanupdated décor. When completed, ourships will look even better than whenthey first left the shipyard.

The Norwegian Edge takes this newstandard all the way to the galleys. Weknow that dining is central to guests’vacation experience, so we are contin-uing to invest in the onboard culinaryprogram. This goes beyond the quali-ty of the food on the plates. It’severything from where we sourceingredients to certifications for ourchefs to ongoing training for oursuperb service staff.


SPOTLIGHT

Evolve Together, and We Will WinBy Andy Stuart, President and Chief Operating Officer, Norwegian Cruise Line

THE EVOLUTION OF THE CRUISE INDUSTRY

Listening to guests is key when evolvingthe industry, especially in the culinaryspace. When we saw a positive reaction tothe new dining menus that debuted onNorwegian Escape, we took action. InJanuary, we began rolling out newenhanced menus to all of our main diningrooms and specialty restaurants fleet-wide.

When it comes to destinations, we’restarting to see trends that show a shift inwhat travelers value. They are starting togravitate towards experiential travel oversightseeing-based travel. To deliver ontheir need for unique experiences, weexpanded plans for our privately-owneddestinations. This included developmentof our premier resort-style experience atHarvest Caye, Belize and brand new fea-tures on our private Bahamian island,Great Stirrup Cay.

Harvest Caye is at the center of the rich-est ecosystem in the region. We’re balanc-ing its natural beauty with elements ourguests have told us they value, whichinclude an expansive pool, exclusivebeach, shallow lagoon for watersportsand private luxury cabanas. Great StirrupCay’s upgrades will enhance the islandexperience with features that mirror theamenities on the ships: new privatespaces, luxury relaxation areas, multiplefood and beverage outlets and a variety offamily activities.

Going GlobalAdapting to growing markets is morethan building new ships and opening newports. It’s making sure that we do both ofthese with purpose. In 2017, Norwegianwill introduce the first purpose-built shipcustomized for the China market. Theship is designed specifically with accom-modations, cuisine and onboard experi-ences that cater to the unique vacationpreferences of Chinese guests.

This ship will be tailored to accommodatewhat modern Chinese travelers value froma premium cruise experience, and the cus-tomization will go far beyond the physicaldesign of the ship. We are working closelywith partners in China and local experts onthe subtleties of Chinese culture to ensurea VIP level of service, cuisine, entertain-ment and overall experience that is simplynot available in China today. As new mar-kets emerge and new needs surface, we canexpect to see more and more of this type ofpurpose-built customization.

Our Tried and True Destination As the industry expands to new andexciting territories, we must not neglectour first destination—the Caribbean. It’sstill the industry leader, accounting formore than 33 percent of cruise linedeployment, more than Northern Europeand the Mediterranean combined, accord-ing to CLIA’s Outlook.

We must constantly invest our time andenergy into the Caribbean to make sure itremains a leading cruise destination anddoesn’t lose capacity to other regions.There are small steps we can take to makea big impact, like adding new itinerariesand rotating ships. Just this year, wemoved Norwegian Getaway from theWestern Caribbean to the EasternCaribbean. This gives guests the opportu-nity to diversify their vacation experi-ence, even if they’ve been to theCaribbean before. It is vital that destina-tions in the Caribbean listen and respondto guest feedback to make sure the expe-rience guests have in the islands exceedexpectations and bring them back timeand time again.

Evolving Together The biggest takeaway here should be thatevolving is not optional. Together as anindustry we have to continually adapt tothe ever-changing market conditions,more demanding consumers and a land-scape of continued capacity growth inorder to stay relevant. We must continu-ally invest in the guest experience and bethe vehicle that shows them the world,one port at a time. The future success ofour industry is a team effort: from travelpartners to suppliers to ports and destina-tions. Together we can make sure thatanyone that goes on a cruise vacationexperiences the best vacation ever.


SPOTLIGHT

H2T 2T3t

This year, immerse yourself in Martinican culture in our Cruise Village, experience our exciting excursions, and take in our spectacular natural landscapes. www.martiniquepro.org/cruise

“If you are looking for something fresh, authentic, and unique in the Caribbean, you will find it all in Martinique!” - Coralie

As a 43-year cruise industry veter-an, I’ve been fortunate enough towitness first-hand the cruise

industry’s incredible success over the pastfew decades. In addition to the remark-able growth in the number of guestsalone—24 million passengers are expect-ed to cruise in 2016, compared to only 1.4million in 1980—the evolution of ships’design, onboard services and experiences,and destinations visited around the worldis beyond impressive.

The cruise industry as a whole continuesto constantly innovate and push bound-aries in order to better serve guests anddeliver the best vacation experience possi-ble; thus, it’s no surprise that what’s tocome in the future could be more impres-sive that anything we’ve seen yet.Personally, never in my career have I beenas excited as I am today about the cruiseindustry in general and, more specifically,what my company, Swiss-based MSCCruises, has in store.

To date, the accomplishments of MSCCruises, the world’s largest privatelyowned global cruise line, have beenremarkable. The company has set recordsgrowing 800 percent between 2004-2014—making MSC Cruises the fastest-growing brand in industry history. Ourcurrent fleet of 12 ships is the youngestfleet in the world, which means MSCCruises has some of the most contempo-rary and beautiful vessels afloat. Onboardwe’ve introduced innovative amenities,including the MSC Yacht Club—anexclusive private enclave of 69 butler-ser-viced suites—along with unique activitieslike aqua cycling and wine blending andworld-class partnerships with brandssuch as Cirque du Soleil, LEGO, Chicco,Eataly, Segafredo, and Venchi.

What excites me the most though is thatthe cruise line has no plans for slowingdown any time soon. MSC Cruises haskicked off an ambitious $5.5 billioninvestment plan that includes orders for

seven new ships in two state-of-the-artprototypes. The new builds—along withthe recent completion of MSC’s‘Renaissance Program’ that involvedlengthening and renewing four ships inthe existing fleet—will allow MSCCruises to double its capacity and gofrom carrying 1.7 million passengerstoday to 3.3 million passengers by 2021. Currently recognized as the number onecruise line by capacity in Europe, SouthAmerica and South Africa, MSC Cruises’growth plan also means that the companyis now able to position itself as a majorplayer in North America. The massiveexpansion of the brand in North Americahas already begun with MSC Divina, oneof the line’s youngest and most ultra-modern ships, sailing year-round fromMiami to the Caribbean.

MSC Divina will then be joined by ournext-generation cruise ship, MSCSeaside—known as the ‘ship that followsthe sun’—when it debuts in December


Full Steam Ahead for the Cruise IndustryBy Rick Sasso, President, MSC Cruises

SPOTLIGHT

2017. Both MSC Seaside and MSC Divinawill sail to the Caribbean from a newlyrenovated and expanded dedicated berthand terminal at PortMiami.

Furthering our commitment to NorthAmerica, the company also recentlyannounced that MSC Divina and MSCSeaside, as well as other MSC Cruises’ships in the Caribbean area, will visit anexciting, new private destination calledOcean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, locatedjust 60 miles from Miami.

As we break ground on the developmentof the Ocean Cay project in the comingmonths, MSC Cruises will work hand-in-hand with the Bahamian Government andecologists to develop a thriving marinereserve that will harmoniously coexistwith the local ecosystem. The end resultwill be an authentic and quality marinereserve island experience that will includemore than 11,000 feet of pristine beach—meaning more beach space per guest.

Of course, in addition to our physicalproduct and offerings, a key element ofensuring MSC Cruises’ future success isprioritizing our travel agent partners andmaking it as easy as possible for bothtravel agents and consumers to work withus. To help with this, last year welaunched MSC Book, a completely new

booking engine for travel agents that hasbeen a game changer in terms of makingthe booking process quick and simple. Inaddition, we implemented a new ContactCenter platform with an improved cus-tomer relationship management (CRM)technology that allows our cruise linerepresentatives to more efficiently assistguests and travel agents with their book-ings.

Another critical component of the cruiseline’s strategy for growing in NorthAmerica is building brand awareness andensuring consumers are familiar withMSC Cruises. This past year we startedmajor national TV advertising and haveeven developed a campaign where a fewlucky chosen travel agents are able to winthe opportunity to appear in a nationalTV commercial. Over the next year, we’llbe launching even more creative efforts toeducate the market on the MSC Cruises’brand and offerings.

MSC Cruises’ plans for the future arewhat keep me motivated and excited tocome to work every day, but I also knowthat we can expect to see great thingsfrom the industry at large.

Cruise lines will continue to invest in newships. As we expand our capacity, we’llalso enter new regions, similar to how

MSC Cruises is now able to sail to placessuch as Cuba and China, providing travelagents with increased opportunities tosend their clients to unique destinations.In addition, we’ll see an expansion in sea-sonality of deployment, as ships will staylonger in destinations that traditionallyonly offered sailings for a portion of theyear.

In the next 10 years, emerging marketswill become more mature, and ongoinginnovation will add value to the cruisingexperience and ensure high guest satisfac-tion. But the continued success of theindustry will also be based on how weembrace the importance of safety andenvironmental stewardship. Cruise shipstoday are already among the safest vaca-tion options available, thanks in large partto the industry working closely togetherto implement strict regulations and pro-tocols. The industry will need to contin-ue to collaborate as we make even furtheradvancements to ensure the safety of ourguests and make sure we are doing ourpart to protect the environment, includ-ing designing new builds to be as envi-ronmentally friendly as possible.

The cruise industry has come a long wayand has a lot to be proud of, but thefuture looks even brighter, and I know Ican’t wait to see what’s next!


Cruising has several major advan-tages that make it an enticing vaca-tion choice for consumers looking

for a great holiday. Guests enjoy being ableto experience multiple destinations fromtheir cruise ship with the convenience ofonly having to unpack once. They alsoappreciate the great value that cruisingprovides as compared to similar land-basedvacations. And of course, cruise lines con-stantly roll out innovative new features,amenities and entertainment onboard.

These are just a few of the reasons whythe cruise industry enjoys consistentlyhigh guest satisfaction ratings. It is alsowhy we as an industry are in excellentposition to capitalize on the growingpopularity of cruising as a great vacationat an exceptional value. In fact, globalcruise vacations have grown faster inpopularity than global land-based vaca-tions by a 23 percent margin between2004 and 2014.

While this is exciting news for our indus-try, we all know this is no time to rest onour laurels. To remain competitive, it is

important for us to look beyond theonboard experience and be sure we aregiving passengers the best experiencepossible in port and at each destination. Akey part of this includes working withlocal governments to continue to raisethe bar in providing memorable experi-ences at our destinations.

When it comes to designing the bestitinerary options, some of the criteriaconsidered include the safety of theguests and crew, maritime infrastructure,the variety of shore excursion offerings,port usage fees, location relative to otherdestinations and various other factors.For most of these elements, a destinationhas the power to control its own attrac-tiveness and to work alongside industryexperts on initiatives to stay atop the listsof the best ports of call.

Some factors, such as location, may limita destination’s attractiveness for keyseven-day United States homeportitinerary options. However, the combina-tion of many European brands home-porting seasonally in the Caribbean and

some brands success with longer cruiseitineraries (take for example the very successful Carnival Journeys 9+ day sailings), there still is a need for attractivedestinations in the Southern and far-east-ern Caribbean. It’s all just another impor-tant element of the ultimate goal—satis-fied guests who can’t wait for their nextwonderful cruise experience.

How do we, as a company and an industry,assess guest satisfaction?

As a company, we begin with a deep com-mitment to exceeding the expectations ofpeople who trust us with their decision tohave a great vacation. That is a specialtrust, as people have limited vacation timeand budgets. As an industry, we wanteveryone who sails on a cruise ship tocome away feeling that they had an excel-lent time, and that they cannot wait totake another cruise. As guests share theirpositive experiences by social media andin conversation with friends, family andassociates, this increases the likelihood ofattracting new cruisers—an importantcomponent of growth for the industry.


LET'S GET TECHNICAL

By David Candib, Vice President, Development & Operations, Carnival Corporation’s

Global Port & Destination Development Group

With Cruising More Popular than Ever, Let’s Keep Destinations Memorable

With our company operating 10 differentand distinct brands around the globe, ourteams at each brand fully understand thatthe experience must align to how guestsidentify with what a specific brandpromises, even though we find guestswho sail on multiple brands throughoutthe years (these sailings tend to be forspecial occasions such as a multigenera-tional family vacation).

To that end, we mainly rely on our travelagent partners to guide guests to the idealbrand and the right ship matching a cus-tomer’s personal interests. We also posi-tion our brands and their offerings usingthe latest psychographics to build uponthe available demographic information,such as age, education and occupation.We use these findings to add visibility andassist in adding another level of depth tothe analysis of vacationers, what theirhobbies are or what interests compelthem, which helps to create a more complete profile. Josh Leibowitz leadsour Global Strategy team and cross-brandcollaboration effort to capture and usethis data.

Our industry attracts a wide range ofguests who choose cruising as a vacation.This makes it easy to underestimate thechallenges represented by having a varietyof destinations. For example, if you lookat a development like our newest port,the exciting Amber Cove in theDominican Republic, you will find thatduring the course of this year we expectto welcome eight of our 10 cruise linesand 23 different ships These numbers aremore often seen in the more mature destinations as well, such as St. Maarten,Grand Turk, Cozumel or Jamaica.

Over a year, a destination such as thisone will welcome guests from suchdiverse nationalities, backgrounds anddemographics that it may be hard toidentify what experiences or offeringswould be “best.”

I believe this is a difference between alandside vacation and a cruise. A hotel canattract guests based upon many factors,such as location, price or rating, and the experience would generally remain consistent since they are not leaving theproperty for multiple destinations.

By contrast, take Puerta Maya, our portin Cozumel that can now accommodatethree ships simultaneously and fre-quently receives ships are from threedifferent brands. Puerta Maya serves asthe gateway to three unique destina-tions: Cozumel, Playa del Carmen andMerida on the Yucatan Peninsula, whereguests can visit Chichen Itza, one of theSeven Wonders of the World. This pre-sents guests with the opportunity toselect from approximately 120 differenttours, each of which can cater to eachbrand’s guests.

For example, the AIDA guests sailing inthe Caribbean tend to be very active, andyou will see many disembark with bicy-cles in hand, ready for a ride and touraround the island. Princess passengersmay be more intrigued by cultural andauthentic culinary experiences, whileguests on a Carnival Cruise Line sailingmay gravitate towards a beach, adventureexperiences and family outings.

As we also operate four ports in theCaribbean region, we see that the behav-ior and spending at the shops varies bybrand and even by deployment within thesame brand. Our food and beverage oper-ators at the ports have even perfected thetype of music to play depending upon theship in port.

A destination must find a balance of offer-ings, accomplished via a variety of shops,food and beverage choices and shoreexcursions that achieve a combination ofkey elements. This is how to ensure aguest enjoys his or her stay while in a par-ticular port and ultimately influences theoverall cruise vacation to have been awonderful (and repeatable!) experience.

Our shore excursion teams are dedicatedto developing offerings with local opera-tors to cater to a variety of guests, whichcan be as simple as a minor tweak to anexisting operation to launching entirelynew experiences.

It is challenging to develop and operatedestinations that offer broad appeal, butworking alongside local governments, aswell as teaming with our brands, makesthe entire experience exciting and worth-while, while ultimately providing localbusiness opportunities.

Whether it’s partnering with operators andbusinesses in creating something new to seein St. Maarten or designing a new destina-tion from the ground up, like Amber Cove,the future success of the industry mustcount upon both cruise operators and desti-nations to continually innovate, keep expe-riences fresh and memorable, and alwaysstrive to exceed our guests’ expectations.


LET'S GET TECHNICAL

Carnival Corporation's new three-berth pier at the company's Puerto

Maya port in Cozumel, Mexico

It’s always a challenge to explain the role of governmentrelations to people. When asked what I do, more often thannot, people expect me to say that I work for a foreign gov-

ernment (which I don’t), that I’m some sort of diplomat (mywife’s wish) or that I’m a spy or agent (my wish). When myanswer involves none of the above, I almost immediately feel asense of disappointment and disenchantment. But after giventhe opportunity to explain that government relations is basical-ly an educational process, I feel a slight degree of interest com-ing back my way. And that’s what government relations is, aneducational process driven by advocacy, and it’s an essentialcomponent for any business or initiative subject to any sort ofgovernment regulation.

When I refer to government relations as educational, I apply thisprinciple to both internal and external operations. Laws and reg-ulations impact business, and my internal role is to explain thepolitical environment giving rise to a particular government’sactions, along with how that impacts our business. Externally,that means educating government representatives about howour business works and the effects of any proposed legislationor government’s decision.

As many likely know, this educational process takes placethrough different paths. Directly representing a company orbusiness is one, and the other is through an association repre-senting an industry. The latter is the part that I will discuss inthis article on behalf of the Florida-Caribbean CruiseAssociation (FCCA). Let me begin my discussion by first not-

ing the significance of the work the FCCA and its MemberLines do by representing the cruise industry in the Caribbean,Latin American and Floridian cruise destinations.

The linkage, or synergy, between the FCCA and cruise destina-tions has been a key factor in the continuous development of theindustry in the individual destinations and entire region, as wellas the wellbeing of the communities served. However, despitethe Caribbean’s long-standing position as the preferred cruiseregion in the world, other regions are aggressively promotingtheir virtues and, little by little, capturing market share.

This is why the relationship between the FCCA and destina-tions has become even more vital to keep the region competi-tive. After all, keeping destinations appealing to both the cruiselines and passengers is important to the FCCA and all of theMember Line representatives who serve on its OperationsCommittee and other committees.

This is what we try to communicate each time the OperationsCommittee has the opportunity to meet with representativesfrom a particular destination, either from the public or the pri-vate sector. And the message is a simple one—we try to educateand explain the possible business consequences of a determined


LET'S GET TECHNICAL

TO RAISE THE CRUISE INDUSTRYIT TAKES A VILLAGE

By Federico Gonzalez-Denton, Associate Vice President, Government Relations, Latin America and

the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and Vice Chairman, FCCA Operations Committee

“Synergy - the bonus that is achieved when thingswork together harmoniously.” -Mark Twain

decision or regulation. This doesn’t mean we would always haveto agree and take the same path, but without a doubt, all recom-mendations made by the Operations Committee are based onand guided by the fundamental principle of keeping the destina-tions and region as competitive as possible to face the challengesof a truly global market.

Therefore, it shouldn’t be a surprise to know that we alwaysmonitor any public or private initiative that could impact thecruise industry’s operational costs or revenue generation becausethose initiatives always have the potential of making a productless competitive for cruise guests looking for a compelling andunique value proposition. (Though it might be surprising to learnthat the decision from a single destination’s private or public sec-tor not only can affect the entire destination’s competitiveness,but also the whole region if it limits itinerary options.)

However, the synergy between destinations and the cruiseindustry certainly is not limited solely to the discussion ofoperational costs. Our exchanges usually focus on how toimprove the destination products, including port infrastruc-ture, attractions, shore excursions, land and water transporta-tion, security, etc. And the FCCA Operations Committeeprides itself on bringing these issues to the forefront in a direct,effective and transparent way to lead to mutually beneficialresults for all parties involved—and even those not at the table,from local taxi drivers and tour guides to the entire region ben-efitting from having more options, improved products andincreased demand.

As I mentioned before, the region faces plentiful challengesand exponentially-increasing competition. Those of you whohave attended past Seatrade events have probably noticed thesurge of destinations from around the globe aggressively andefficiently promoting their competitive advantages and theuniqueness of their products. In some instances, sub-regionshave been formed to strengthen their product offering, such asthe South Pacific Cruise Alliance and Cruise Baltic, just tomention a few. These alliances present a united front to explorebusiness opportunities for all their members. In fact, I haveseen these global destinations, year after year, becoming morepassionate about the industry and their desire to enter into thecruise action.

That’s the reason why I strongly believe in the need to contin-ue our efforts of mutually educating ourselves. We must notlose sight of the fact that the cruise industry represents morethan $3 billion in direct expenditures and the creation ofapproximately 75,000 jobs and more than $950 million isemployee wages for the Caribbean and Latin American destina-tions participating in a 2015 study from Business Research &Economic Advisors.

It’s the mission of the FCCA and all of the members of itsOperations Committee to ensure that we continue bringingeconomic development to the region while empowering desti-nations to not only help themselves understand and improvetheir cruise tourism business, but also to improve business over-all and increase their competitiveness for stay-over tourism.

LET'S GET TECHNICAL


Did you know the FCCA recent-ly redoubled its efforts toenhance cruise lines’ purchas-

ing from local suppliers in theCaribbean and Latin America? Underthe direction of Michael Jones, vicepresident of supply chain for RoyalCaribbean Cruises Limited and chair-man of the FCCA SourcingCommittee, the FCCA and its MemberLines have further opened the lines ofcommunications to achieve long-termpartnership with local suppliers.

Building strong partnerships with thesupplier base is important to the cruiseindustry, as their success depends onthis. Of course, strong partnershipsrequire time, patience, understandingand trust to develop; this takes a long-term commitment to service, along

with hard work, dedication, persever-ance and a strong desire to do businessin this sector.

These are the qualities and partnershipinstilled by the FCCA SourcingProgram. Obviously it informs thecruise lines about the program partici-pants and their products, but it alsohelps these participants understand theunique facets of the cruise industry andhow they relate to supply chain.

Cruise lines operate year-round, sosuppliers may be required to deliverproducts on the weekends and publicholidays, and perishable items must lastcruises’ duration. Additionally, thereare occasionally last-minute add-onorders by the vessel, and lines generallypurchase directly for volume to keep

costs down, ensure consistent supplyand maintain uniformity throughout afleet.

The cruise business is also market-driv-en, with its success directly linked withits ability to provide the goods and ser-vices that the market demands. Cruiselines discovered this successful formulalong ago, and companies seeking busi-ness in this arena must learn to positiontheir products to meet the marketneeds and cruise line requirements.

If you believe your company and prod-ucts meet these criteria, you might beone step closer to doing business withthe cruise industry. Of course youprobably also want to know what prod-ucts cruise lines need.

While many more items are sourcedfrom the Caribbean and Latin America,the below items are the most requestedand needed by a cruise vessel in itsports of call.

Food ProductsProduce; fruit; herbs and spices; gro-ceries (sugar, salt, flour, oil); dairy prod-ucts (fresh milk, yogurt, cottage cheese,ice cream); seafood/shellfish; bakeryitems; and sandwich bread, rolls, etc.

BeveragesFruit juices, water and soda

BarLiquor, beer and wine

Plus, food and beverage departmentsare making great efforts to develop newmenus and sample different products,and options reflecting local cuisine haveproven popular.

So if you think you can take the nextstep to source business with the cruiseindustry, the FCCA SourcingCommittee wants you. To learn moreabout the program, contact AdamCeserano, senior vice president of theFCCA, via e-mail ([email protected])or phone (1-954-441-8881).


LET'S GET TECHNICAL

FCCA SourcingCommittee Wants You

Speak with a drinks & beverage fashion consultant at (800) 851-9273 or Order Direct at Restaurantware.com

Acluster of star-powered cruiseexecutives and FCCA PlatinumMembers and their families gath-

ered onboard Celebrity Constellation onJanuary 14. The group of nearly 500embarked for a three-day schedule thatmoved relationship and business buildinginto high gear on the high seas.

As usual, the annual FCCA PAMACCruise Summit’s agenda ranging fromone-on-one meetings to tours offered ahealthy balance of business sessions, net-working opportunities and family fun.After all, linking some of the premierplayers of the destinations’ private andpublic sectors with the high-level cruiseexecutives not only offers valuable collab-oration and promotion, but also makesthem comfortable together to forminvaluable partnerships.

“FCCA membership events like thePAMAC Cruise Summit are essential toboth the members and cruise line repre-sentatives,” said Micky Arison, chairmanof Carnival Corporation & plc and theFCCA. “They join some of the industry’smost influential decision makers with sig-nificant stakeholders from the Caribbeanand Latin America, which leads to posi-tive developments for all parties.”

Activities began almost as soon asCelebrity Constellation sailed from PortEverglades, when the crowd congregatedfor the Business Card Exchange andReception. Here, members and execu-tives exchanged cards and words, dis-cussing recent trends and develop-ments—from a new tour product to anew child.

Dinner followed, where members andexecutives joined to continue their dis-cussions or start a new one by sitting withsomeone different. Tables set aside forthe group provided a selection of conver-sation partners, from family and otherPlatinum Members or a choice of cruiseexecutives that decide where ships call,what sells onboard and how to invest inproducts, infrastructure and technology.

The next day started with a two-hoursession of one-on-one meetings, wheremembers privately met with pre-selectedexecutives. Often these executives filleda required need for discussing and pre-senting new business, as they decidewhere ships call, what tours and productssell onboard, and how to invest in infras-tructure. Additionally, they have theknowledge to offer their input and cruiseline’s perspective to make a more viable

business model and tailor offerings forthe line and industry.

“The one-on-one meetings allow for us toaddress the specific concerns or learnabout new products from PlatinumMembers,” shared Federico Gonzalez-Denton, associate vice president, govern-ment relations, Caribbean & LatinAmerica, Royal Caribbean CruisesLimited. “This is an important tool forboth the members and the cruise indus-try. For us, we frequently learn about newdevelopments and products, and we areable to help fine-tune them to best fit thecruise lines. For the members, it givesthem a real vantage point in knowingwhat the lines are looking for and how toappeal to them.”


MEETINGS AND EVENTS

“This is an important tool for boththe members and the cruise indus-try…we frequently learn about newdevelopments and products, and weare able to help fine-tune them tobest fit the cruise lines.” - FedericoGonzalez-Denton, Associate VicePresident, Government Relations,Caribbean & Latin America, RoyalCaribbean Cruises Ltd.

Key Cruise Line Executives and FCCA Platinum MembersGather for Meetings, Business Opportunities and Family Fun

A free day in Key West followed themeetings, with Old Town Trolley Tourshuttling the group to the notable sitesaround the city and putting the shoe onthe other foot, allowing the group to seewhat they want to experience and howthey want to be treated, along with get-ting a different perspective of crowdcontrol, passenger flow, transportationfrom and to the cruise ship and tourguide interaction.

Alarm clocks announced the followingday, with the group again rising early forone of the Summit’s most important pro-ceedings, the PAMAC Meeting. A fixtureof PAMAC events, the Meeting allowedmembers to present and discuss their lat-est developments and issues with anexpert panel of executives.

“[The PAMAC Meeting] is an importantfeature for relaying all of the latest infor-mation to the members while also giving achance to know how to best learn from itand implement what they need to fully takeadvantage of this knowledge—from anindividual operational level to steps theymust take to improve their regions,” toldMatthew Sams, vice president of Caribbeanrelations, Holland America Line.

Many jumped the alarm for the next andfinal day. Blue Lagoon Island rolled out thered carpet for the group. From water activ-ities to close encounters with dolphins, thetours brought the participants closer.

After a site visit at Pirate RepublicBrewing company, the group boarded andgathered for the last night featuring an

opportunity to invite a cruise executive todinner at a restaurant of choice. Thisensured that members had the opportuni-ty to talk with whomever they needed andleft no ends untied. The sense of urgencyencouraged them to wrap up (or begin)ongoing discussions or business propos-als, but this did not stop many from sim-ply enjoying their company and meal.

In all, the FCCA PAMAC Cruise Summitprovided another successful example ofwhat FCCA’s Platinum Member eventsseek for its members and executives: toprovide the knowledge and opportunitiesto develop products and destinations for—as well as appeal and promote them to—cruise lines, all while having some laid-backfun in comfortable settings that lead to realconnections and relationship building.


Seatrade Cruise Global is an exciting time for the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), synonymous withrenewing and creating business partnerships, discussing

ideas and tackling industry issues with the attending cruise linerepresentatives and global stakeholders. Of course, these oppor-tunities are vast during the event’s standard programming, butthe FCCA maximizes these chances for its Platinum Members.

After all, UBM Live—the organizers of Seatrade—and theFCCA have developed a strong, synergistic relationship, work-ing together for nearly a quarter-century. The collaborationbegan back in the early 1990s, with the FCCA actively partici-pating in the planning and organization of Seatrade and UBMsupporting the FCCA’s Caribbean-based annual conference,fundraising events and charitable activities.

As UBM grew its global portfolio of events—including SeatradeCruise Asia, Med, Europe and Middle East, plus an array of dig-ital products like webinars and virtual shows—the FCCA con-tinued to be a supporter wherever the collaboration took it.

That collaboration currently benefits FCCA members partici-pating in Seatrade Cruise Global. As with everything in whichthe FCCA participates, one of its main goals is to positivelyimpact the working relationship between its members and 19Member Cruise Lines.

It does this by providing multiple events and opportunities toput members on a first-name basis with FCCA Member Lineexecutives, presidents and CEOs—interactions that spawn rela-tionships and put a foot in the door. This is a key component ofthe FCCA Platinum Membership program and a vital resourcefor any entity doing or desiring business with the cruise industry.

“FCCA events always give me an opportunity to meet valuableindustry stakeholders,” said Adam Goldstein, president andCOO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “These are the peoplewho have ideas and projects I want, and need, to know about.”

To foster these engagements during CSM and actualize itsresources and attendees, the FCCA programmed a block of func-tions coinciding with the event to ensure that Platinum Membershave a direct line to the FCCA Member Line executives.

The FCCA booth itself (#115) will serve as the site for many ofthese. Besides being a one-stop shop for all attendees to learnmore about the FCCA and what it offers, the booth will alsohost cocktail receptions to promote destinations and companieswhile bringing together Platinum Members and cruise execu-tives in a private atmosphere. Plus, many of the same executivesand members cycle in and out of the booth for meetingsarranged by the FCCA.

Of course, there are also the annual FCCA events that havebecome a traditional part of Seatrade for many cruise executivesand Platinum Members. An annual pre-event welcoming partywill offer members and cruise executives an intimate affair sothey can reacquaint and prepare for the long days ahead.

The FCCA’s Masquerade at Sea will take place on the evening ofTuesday, March 15. Following a long day of meetings and work-shops, sore and tired Platinum Members will loosen their tiesfor a fun night with some of the cruise industry’s most impor-tant decision makers.

On the following evening, the FCCA Gala Dinner will providea unique opportunity for any participant to have a private dinnerwith a cruise line executive or even a CEO, such as MickyArison, chairman, Carnival Corporation & plc; AdamGoldstein, president & COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd;Karl Holz, president, Disney Cruise Line; Richard Sasso, presi-dent & CEO, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.; and Andy Stuart, pres-ident & COO, Norwegian Cruise Line.

They will be on-hand with all attendees for a 90-minute net-working reception and silent art auction sponsored by Park WestGallery before sitting down to host a private dinner with a sideof relationship and business development. Individual ticketswere also available with executives ranging from managers tosenior vice presidents.

More than just admission, these tickets included full access—from the networking reception to a sit-down dinner with a pre-selected executive—and benefited a good cause, with all pro-ceeds benefiting the FCCA Foundation, the non-profit, charita-ble organization that funds humanitarian causes in theCaribbean and Latin America. Most recently, more than 8,000underprivileged children had something to celebrate becauseone of the Foundation’s annual events, the Holiday Gift Project,delivered gifts, festivities and smiles.

Indeed, 2016 Seatrade Cruise Global will benefit participants withits success-proven formula combined with many new features byUBM, but the FCCA offers backstage passes to visit the real rockstars—key decision makers from FCCA Member Lines.

Or, as Arison, said, “The FCCA opens the door to the cruiseindustry and puts you in the middle of the action.”

MEETINGS AND EVENTS


“The FCCA opens the door to the cruise industry

and puts you in the middle of the action.” - Micky

Arison, Chairman, Carnival Corporation & plc

and the FCCA

Maximizing Seatrade Cruise Global: Easy as FCCA

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) released the2016 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook, revealing globalcruise travel is continuing to grow and evolve at a record pace.The industry shows no signs of slowing down, with 24 millionpassengers expected to sail in 2016, a dramatic increase from 15million just 10 years prior (2006), or even 1.4 million whenCLIA began tracking passengers in 1980.

CLIA also revealed that member cruise lines are scheduled todebut 27 new ocean, river and specialty ships in 2016 for a totalinvestment of more than $6.5 billion in new ocean vessels alone.Travel agents are also experiencing a higher demand for cruisetravel. Eight out of ten CLIA member travel agents stated they

are expecting an increase in sales in 2016 over last year.“In an effort to make cruising the best overall vacation experi-ence available, the industry is continuing to evolve to ensurethere truly is a cruise for every travel style and budget,” saidCindy D’Aoust, CLIA acting CEO. “By creating unique ships,new experiences and access to destinations around the world,the evolution, appeal and value of cruise travel continues todrive the overall growth of the industry.”

Cruising also generates a substantial positive economic impactglobally. Cruise industry expenditures generated $119.9 billion intotal output worldwide, supporting 939,232 full-time equivalent employees who earned $39.3 billion in income in 2014.



State of the Cruise Industry Outlook:Continued Evolution of Cruise Travel Drives Industry Growth


Following are the Lucky 13 Cruise Industry Trends showcasing how the cruiseindustry has transformed to meet today’s travelers’ styles and preferences:

Rise of the River Cruise – River cruises are growing in popularity, introducingthe value and unique travel experience to new cruise travelers. CLIA CruiseLine Members currently deploy 170 river cruise ships with 18 new river cruiseships on order for 2016, an increase of more than 10 percent.

More Ships, More Options – In 2015, there were a total of 471 cruise shipswith an additional 27 new ocean, river and specialty ships scheduled to debutin 2016.

On the Map – Five years ago, cruise travel was almost unheard of in Asia. Today,the region is the fastest growing in the cruise industry. Between 2012 and 2014,passenger volume grew from 775,000 to nearly 1.4 million passengers, a 34 per-cent compound annual growth rate.

G’Day for a Cruise – While Asia continues to grow rapidly, Australia also con-tinues to experience record growth. In fact, Australia’s cruise industry sur-passed a major milestone in 2014, exceeding more than one million passengersin a calendar year. In ten years, Australia’s cruise passengers have grown morethan six-fold, from a base of 158,000 in 2004.

Cruise Specialists – The cruise industry continues to leverage the expertise ofcruise specialists to help guide travel decisions. Today, there are more than 30,000CLIA-Member Travel Agents globally compared to 12,000 travel agents in 2010.

Connectivity and Cruising – The cruise industry has made consumers’ desire tostay connected while traveling a priority. Most of today’s cruises offer a myriadof Wi-Fi, onboard texting and data options.

A Love for Luxe – The desire for luxury travel continues to rise. Specialty cruiselines are responding with yachting experiences, concierge services, exclusivetours, gourmet dining and personal butler service.

Brands at Sea – Cruise lines are leveraging the cross-promotional appeal ofbrands to appeal to new cruise travelers. From family-friendly household nameslike LEGO and Dr. Seuss, to upscale luxury brands like Hermes and VeuveClicquot Champagne, and even dining options like Johnny Rockets andMargaritaville, brands are setting sail on cruise lines.

Ships Are the Destination – While cruise ships were once considered a mode oftransportation to get to a desired destination, today, for many, a cruise shipoffers the experience of a destination. Today’s latest ships offer unprecedentedonboard experiences and amenities for travelers, from Broadway productionsand designer shops to zip lining and bumper cars.

Stay the Night – Many cruise lines are offering overnight stays at designatedports of call to give cruisers an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in theexperiences available at the destination.

Grand(parent) Travel Experiences – Intergenerational cruising has become apopular selection for family reunions or the family vacation of a lifetime. Withcruise amenities designed to satisfy every age from toddler to seniors, cruisesprovide the togetherness (and the independence) that makes intergenerationalfamily travel a success.

Cruise Voluntourism – More “voluntourism” cruises are available in 2016 withseveral ships including excursions to help areas of need around the world. Theseservice-oriented cruises offer a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningfuldifference in the communities cruise ships visit and a rare experience to embraceand impact local culture.

Culturally Customized – Cruise lines are continuing to customize cruise shipsbased upon passenger cultures. From shopping and dining preferences, vesselsare being outfitted to serve guests as well as pay homage to their ports of call.

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Every three years, the FCCA and itspartner destinations engage anindependent study by Business

Research & Economic Advisors (BREA)to analyze spending related to cruisetourism and its impact on the destina-tions’ economies. A record 35 destina-tions throughout the Caribbean, Mexicoand Central and South America partici-pated in the latest study, which found thatcruise tourism—and the 23.6 million pas-sengers and 4.5 million crewmembers dis-embarking and visiting the destinations—generated $3.16 billion in direct expendi-tures, along with 75,050 jobs and $976.5million in employee wages among partici-pating destinations during the 2014/2015cruise year.

Though the record amount of partici-pants clouded some comparisons to the2012 study, the 20 common destinationsexperienced a 15-percent growth of totaldirect cruise tourism expenditures, from$1.99 billion to $2.29 billion—a result ofa 7.2-percent increase in passengeronshore visits and a 7.6-percent growth inaverage total spending per passengers.

Average spending per passenger alsoincreased in the overall study, climbing to

$103.83, 8.25 percent higher than the2011/2012 cruise year, and accountingfor a total of $2.45 billion. Driving thisincrease were passengers spending 30percent more on shore excursions, 20percent more for local crafts and sou-venirs and two percent more for foodand beverages, along with a higher per-centage of passengers making purchasesin each of these categories. In fact, 65percent made at least onshore purchase,excluding shore excursions, and morethan half of all transit passengers thatwent ashore purchased a shore excursionand food and beverages.

Just over 75 percent of passenger expen-ditures were made in four categories:watches and jewelry ($877 million), shoreexcursions ($551 million), clothing ($238million), and food and beverages ($189million). Shore excursions was the mostpopular category, with over half (53 per-cent) of all passengers purchasing thisand local tour operators receiving an aver-age of $43.99 per passenger directly fromcruise passengers and cruise lines.

Beyond spending, the study delved intoother metrics that divulged some insightinto passengers’ onshore actions and

experiences. It showed destinations usu-ally have an opportunity to make a grandfirst impression, with 63 percent of pas-sengers making their first visit at the des-tination and 93.7 percent going ashore foran average of 4.38 hours.

Plus, visit satisfactions surveys indicatedthat cruise passengers were very satisfiedwith their overall destination visit; shoreexcursions received the highest score ofall visit attributes; and passenger interac-tions with residents and store employeeswere very positive.

Passengers did not get all the attention,however. The estimated 4.5 millioncrewmembers disembarking and visitingthe destinations spent approximately$302.2 million for goods and services,with an average per crew expenditure of$67.10, primarily on food and beverages,jewelry, and electronics.

Cruise lines also directly contributedtheir share. Through payments to localtour operators, payments to ports forpassenger taxes and port services, pay-ments to local businesses for suppliesand services, cruise lines accounted for$400.8 million.



Cruise Tourism Generates Record $3.16 Billion for 35FCCA Partner Destinations, Leaves Room for More

Based on these average numbers, a sin-gle call from a mid-sized ship (130,000GRT, carrying 3,000 passengers and1,250 crewmembers) generated approxi-mately $291,900 in passenger spending,$62,910 in crew spending and $110,000in cruise line expenditures: a total of$505,365, not including employee wagesand indirect contributions, includinggoods such as gas and vehicles pur-chased by tour operators.

Though these average numbers impresson their own, the study shows the signif-icant impact of maximizing passenger andcrew spending. For instance, applyingthose highest figures—$191.26 in St.Maarten and $149.44 in Puerto Rico,respectively—moves those numbers upto $558,290 in passenger spending and$140,100 in crew spending, a total of$808,390 for that same ship.

Conversely, the lowest averages, $42.58 inpassenger spending and $21.50 in crewspending, would bring $119,690 and$20,155, respectively—a total of $249,845.

The top destinations in the study furtherproved this point. Despite ranking thirdin passenger and crew visits, St. Maarten

led all destinations in economic impact.Its nearly $423 million in cruise tourismexpenditures was driven by the highestaverage total expenditure per visit—awhopping $189. The expenditures alsogenerated an estimated 9,259 jobs paying$189 million in wage income—the high-est income impact and second-highestemployment impact.

Also proving the importance of optimiz-ing passenger and crew spending was theU.S. Virgin Islands. Its 2.19 million pas-senger and crew visits trailed TheBahamas by 1.84 million and Cozumel,Mexico by more than 940,000, but bypunching above its weight with averagepassenger and crew spending, the destina-tion came in a close fourth place in totalexpenditures with $344.3 million.

Of course, volume has its advantages.The Bahamas showed that by garneringthe second-highest in direct expendi-tures, $373 million, through the highestvolume of passenger and crew visits, 3.93million, spending an average of $95. TheBahamas also benefited from the genera-tion of 7,954 jobs paying wage income of$138 million, the third-highest totals inboth categories.

Cozumel—the site of the study’srelease as the host destination of the22nd annual FCCA Cruise Conference& Trade Show—ranked third in overallexpenditures, $366 million, through thesecond-highest volume of onshore pas-senger and crew visits, 3.07 million,with an average total expenditure of$119 per passenger and crew visit.Cruise tourism in Cozumel also gener-ated an estimated 9,727 jobs, thestudy’s highest level, paying $61 millionin wage income.

The FCCA partners with participatingdestinations in this study as one ofmany ways it works with destinations tofoster understanding of cruise tourism,its benefits and how to best actualize itspotential. The study’s release during theFCCA Cruise Conference & TradeShow further added to the event’s focuson maximizing this potential through aseries of meetings, workshops and net-working opportunities between destina-tion stakeholders and cruise executivesto offer insight and develop businessand relationships.

This study and past versions are available fordownload at www.f-cca.com/research.html.


Cruise Industry Taking Steps Towards Sma l l e r Env i ronmen t a l Foo tp r i n t

The cruise industry recently made some large announce-ments benefiting the environment. A batch of CarnivalCorporation’s new vessels will start using Liquefied

Natural Gas—the world’s cleanest-burning fossil fuel—to sailthe world’s seas and generate power in port, pioneering a newera in sustainable fuels and significantly reducing emissions.

Plus, Royal Caribbean’s recently announced five-year partner-ship with World Wildlife Fun (WWF) aims to cut cruise shipgreenhouse gas emissions 35 percent by 2020 and improveresponsible sourcing and destination sustainability.

But these announcements are just one pixel in the industry’s bigpicture to reduce its environmental footprint. Below are somesteps the industry has taken towards a more sustainable future.

The FCCA’s, Member Lines’ and Cruise Industry’sCommitment to the Environment

The cruise industry constantly demonstrates its dedication toprotecting the environment, with policies and best practices thatregularly exceed regulations and demonstrate social responsibil-ities. Here are some ways the industry and FCCA/CLIAMember Lines raise the bar on environmental stewardship:

Waste ManagementRecognizing that waste management is fundamental to protect-ing the environment, FCCA/CLIA Member Lines enacted theWaste Management Policy—adopted by the CLIA Board ofDirectors and reviewed annually by Member Line CEOs andperiodically by environmental committee meetings consisting ofofficers and crew to assess practices and discuss improve-ments—to meet or exceed legal requirements.

All sewage must be treated to international, regional, nationaland local standards prior to any discharge, and the industry’swaste management policies exceed legal requirements.FCCA/CLIA Member Lines may not discharge untreatedsewage anytime or anywhere.

Member Lines have a zero discharge policy for trash, with crewfollowing strict waste management plans and comprehensivetraining programs that drive the safe and hygienic collection,minimization separation, and processing of wastes onboard andoffloads to approved shoreside waste vendors.

Member Lines also promote recycling and waste minimizationby passengers and crew through announcements and informa-tional videos and pamphlets, leading to 800,000 tons recycledeach year by cruise lines and the average cruise passenger pro-ducing upwards of 70 percent less garbage.

Air Quality ProtectionOver the last decade, the cruise industry has invested signifi-cantly in new technologies that help reduce air emissions,including:• Exhaust gas scrubbers• Diesel electric engines and more efficient engines• Alternative fuel• Shore-based power to shut off engines when docked• Variable ship speeds

Improving Fuel Efficiency and Lowering Energy ConsumptionBetter fuel efficiency represents a win-win for cruise lines, withlower costs and environmental impact. Member Lines haveextensively invested in developments to improve fuel efficiency,along with retiring older ships from the fleet, meaning a reduction



in air emissions. Lines have also lowered energy consumption byusing heat exchangers that recycle hot water to heat passengercabins, installing special window tinting to keep passagewayscooler while using less air conditioning, and switching to low-energy LED lights, with lighting on newer ships accounting foronly about 10 percent of power consumed—an improvement ofnearly 20 percent. Other initiatives include:• Ecological hull coatings, with new paints and varnishes

estimated to reduce fuel consumption by as much as five percent• Propulsion and hull design optimization• Solar panels that provide emission-free energy available on

some ships• Testing of other alternative/renewable forms of energy (e.g. wind)• Water used to cool engines also utilized in evaporators to

distill fresh water for the air conditioning system• Water desalination plants and water use minimization (low-

flow showers and faucets and vacuum toilets)• High-efficiency appliances and heating, ventilation and air

conditioning systems • Automatic lighting and air conditioning control systems

Cleaner Water and PlanetThe advanced wastewater treatment systems pioneered by cruiselines produce cleaner water than most wastewater treatmentfacilities in U.S. coastal cities. Many cruise lines employ prac-tices and procedures substantially more protective of the envi-ronment than required by law.

Team EffortRecognizing that environmental stewardship’s significance alsoapplies to passenger and crew, the cruise industry activelyencourages their assistance through videos and numerousonboard resource conservation programs and recycling options.

Checks and BalancesVessels regularly independently monitor their daily water con-sumption and other environmental performance measures, andMember Lines have senior-level staff responsible for trainingcrewmembers in environmental programs and implementingrequired environmental practices onboard.

Though Member Lines pride themselves in establishingbest practices that exceed standards, they must at leastcomply with international standards set forth in theInternational Convention for the Prevention of Pollutionfrom Ships (MARPOL), the main international conventioncovering prevention of pollution of the marine environ-ment by all oceangoing ships, and the International SafetyManagement (ISM) Code, which monitors and audits prac-tices for environmental standards.

Member Lines also work closely with the InternationalMaritime Organization (IMO) to develop sound environmen-tal practices; support the IMO’s Energy Efficiency DesignIndex, which requires a 30 percent reduction in ships’ CO2emissions by 2025; and meet or exceed international andnational standards for sulfur emissions within EmissionsControl Areas (ECA) and worldwide. In U.S. Waters, theEnvironmental Protection Agency and U.S. Coast Guard regu-late and enforce rigorous requirements on air, water, power, andwaste, including provisions of the U.S. Clean Water Act andNorth America ECA.

For more information about environmental practices, policies or reg-ulations, please visit www.cruising.org or www.cruiseforward.org, orcontact Bud Darr, SVP, Technical and Regulatory Affairs, CruiseLines International Association.




The tiny bubbles effortlessly flowing into celebratorychampagne flutes, first introduced by French monks,took ingenuity and years of perfecting to get just

right. A new set of bubbles are now flowing into the cruiseindustry, creating an occasion to celebrate. Royal Caribbean’sair lubrication system, which creates a reduced friction layerof billions of microscopic air bubbles on a ship’s hull, hashelped the company launch some of the lowest-emission shipsin the industry.

The same commitment to innovative design that creates crowd-pleasing consumer features like robotic bars and skydivingmachines also leads to a dedicated search for improved envi-ronmental performance, like the air lubrication system, andRoyal Caribbean’s sustainability report shows that this has ledto improved efficiencies across the fleet and some of the low-est-emission ships in the industry. The Quantum-class ships,for example, emit about 20 percent less carbon dioxide thanprevious designs.

"At Royal Caribbean, we are working to ensure that sustain-ability remains at the heart of our business," said Richard D.Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Webring 5,000,000 guests to nearly 500 ports around the worldevery year, and we understand the need to act responsiblytowards the oceans that we sail and the places we visit. Ourmantra is continuous improvement and we constantly strive tofind new and better ways to meet those goals."

With 43 ships sailing all seven continents to provide memorableexperiences for more than 5 million guests a year, RoyalCaribbean Cruises Ltd. views sustainable practice not only as amatter of self interest, but as a solemn duty.

The company’s 114 percent increase in waste recycled across thefleet, expansion of its Advanced Emissions Purification pro-gram, creation of the largest scale partnership of its kind tofocus on destination sustainability in the Americas, and progressin the ongoing Save the Waves environmental initiative to helppreserve the ocean are just a couple elements of the 102-page2014 Sustainability Report—RCL’s seventh such annual analysisand the second prepared in accordance with Global ReportingInitiative (GRI) guidelines.

Highlights of what Fain calls the “never-ending journey” ofimproving environmental practices include:

• A 21 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 to 2014.

• A decrease in waste sent to landfills – 1.14 pounds per available cruise passenger day in 2012 to 0.55 pounds per ACPD in 2014.

• Contributions of nearly $40 million to The Ocean Fund, 2012-2014. RCL set up the fund in 1996 to provide grants to marine conservation organizations around the world.

More Bubbles Mean Better Mileage, Royal Caribbean’s Sustainability Report

Shows Innovation Driving Environmental Gains

Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants is an essential partof RCL’s environmental stewardship. Pictured above are the three main ways RCLseeks to minimize pollution on their ships.

RCL often provides disaster relief to the communities where their ships sail or wheretheir employees live. Pictured above is Richard Fain at the opening of L’ecole NouvelleRoyal Caribbean, one of the first schools built in Haiti after the earthquake.

• Creation of the Sustainable Destinations Alliance for the Americas (SDAA) – a partnership between RCL, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Organization of American States, U.S. State Department and Sustainable Travel International – the beginning of the next era ofRCL’s work to support sustainable tourism.

• Launching the 43rd ship in the RCL fleet, Quantum of the Seas, outfitted with “best-ever energy efficiency, state-of-the-art waste treatment – and not a single incandescent light bulb.”

• The start of retrofitting 19 older RCL ships with advanced emission purification equipment that “scrubs” engine exhaust of up to 97 percent of sulfur dioxide before it can be released into the air.

• Continued progress toward 2015 Save the Waves goals of processing bilge water to an effluent quality three times

more stringent than international standards; having fully half of all shore excursions third-party verified to aninternationally recognized sustainability standard; increasingby 125 percent the volume of waste recycled from RCL ships since 2007; and ensuring that 80 percent of guests, 100 percent of crew and key people at cruise destination are familiar with the cruise line’s environmental principles, Save the Waves and The Ocean Fund.

• Increased responsible local sourcing in Europe, Asia and Australia and New Zealand, with a 20 percent increase in Australia and New Zealand.

Additional information on those principles; RCL’s Above andBeyond Compliance (ABC) approach to existing laws and reg-ulations; the company-wide Safety, Quality and EnvironmentalManagement system (SQM); and more can be found in the 2014 Sustainability Report, available atwww.RCLCorporate.com/environment.


Carnival Corporation & plc released its 2014 SustainabilityReport in December detailing the company's sustainabilityefforts across its 10 cruise line brands, including its 2020

sustainability goals.

"As the largest cruise company in the world, with healthy oceansand seas core to our operations and with most of our employees liv-ing and working at sea, the very essence of our business is built onsustainable and transparent practices," said Bill Burke, chief mar-itime officer for Carnival Corporation. "Our goal is to make sureour 11 million annual guests have a great vacation experience, andto maintain a positive and thriving workplace for our employees.We maintain this commitment by keeping our guests and crewmembers safe, providing extraordinary customer service, protectingthe environment in which we work and live, hiring great employeespassionate about their work, having positive relationships with oursuppliers and other stakeholders, enhancing the port communitiesour ships visit and the communities where we work, and maintain-ing our fiscal strength. These core values are among the corner-stones to our success as a business."

Sustainability GoalsAs highlighted in the report, Carnival Corporation has established10 goals for reducing its environmental footprint over the next fiveyears, while enhancing the health, safety and security of its guestsand crewmembers, and ensuring sustainable business practicesamong its brands, business partners and suppliers. Three of the 10goals focus on developing, deploying and operating exhaust gascleaning systems for clean air emissions, increasing cold ironingcapacity and further reducing the intensity of equivalent carbondioxide emissions (CO2e).

Carnival Corporation announced in November 2014 that it had metits corporate goal to reduce its rate of CO2e emissions from ship-board operations by 20 percent a year ahead of its initial plan. Aftermeeting this initial goal, Carnival Corporation has renewed its goalto continue reducing the rate of CO2e emissions, or greenhouse gasemissions, by 25 percent from its 2005 baseline.

This renewed goal for 2020 extends and reinforces the company'saggressive initiative to further reduce the intensity of greenhousegas emissions. As part of the effort, the company and its 10 globalbrands have developed strategic energy reduction and conservationinitiatives, many of which exceed current laws and regulations.

Sustainable Practices Highlighted in ReportRecently the company announced its four next-generation cruiseships to be built for Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises will be thefirst in the industry to be powered at sea by Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG), the world's cleanest burning fossil fuel. Pioneering a newera in the use of low carbon fuels, these new ships will use LNG togenerate 100 percent of the ship's power both in port and on the

open sea – an innovation that will significantly reduce exhaust emis-sions to help protect the environment and support overall sustain-ability initiatives.

In 2014, the company released its Business Partner Code of Conductand Ethics to help business partners within the supply chain to morefully understand and comply with Carnival Corporation's expectationfor legal compliance and ethical behavior. This includes the areas oflabor and human rights, environmental protection, business integrityand health, safety and security.

In June 2014, the Carnival Foundation donated $2.5 million over afive-year period to The Nature Conservancy, one of the world'sleading conservation organizations, to advance the preservation ofthe world's oceans and seas. Carnival Corporation's support to TheNature Conservancy will significantly accelerate coral reef restora-tion initiatives, enhance the value of marine ecosystem servicesthrough the Mapping Ocean Wealth program and continue toadvance important science that shows how natural systems canhelp reduce risks to coastal communities from storms and risingsea levels.

In June 2015, the company introduced Fathom, a new brand pio-neering a new travel category called impact travel, which is builtaround mindful, purpose-driven activities and programs that enableguests to make a real sustainable impact in the communities towhich the company travels. In 2016, Fathom began voyages to twovibrant Caribbean destinations, Cuba and the Dominican Republic,each with different cultures and different objectives, but both withcommon dreams for the well-being of their people.

Additional Sustainable InitiativesIn addition to these initiatives, Carnival Corporation and its 10brands implement extensive measures to deliver on the corporatecommitment to continue to keep guests and crewmembers safe andcomfortable, protect the environment, develop and provide oppor-tunities for its workforce, strengthen its stakeholder relations andenhance the communities in which the company visits and operates.These efforts are detailed in the 2014 sustainability report, and-highlights include:

• Spotlighting Carnival Corporation & plc Board Member Debra Kelly-Ennis for her leadership and board membership since 2012.

• Focusing on hiring and retaining a team of diverse, highly motivated and engaged employees.

• Designing and developing an industry-first Maritime Security Training Program in the Philippines in 2013 and 2014. The program was launched in January 2015. Corporate Security standards require all new security guards to attend the certified training program prior to joining a company ship.



Carnival Corporation's New Sustainability ReportHighlights Key Environmental and Social InitiativesReport details company's 2020 goals, reinforcing commitment to protecting environment by increasing water efficiency and reducing wasteproduction, greenhouse gases and other emissions

Liquefied Natural Gas PoweringAIDA Cruises to PositiveSustainability

AIDA Cruises continued its coursetoward sustainability and its commit-ment to reducing emissions in 2015. Theyear included launching in-port opera-tions powered by Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG), ordering two new ships fullypowered by LNG, installing compre-hensive filters to reduce waste gas, andcontinuing its climate protection pro-gram to reduce CO2 emissions.

The two new ships ordered from MeyerWerft, slated for 2019 and 2020, will bethe first in the world operated solely onthe low-emission LNG. AIDA alreadyhas experience with the environmental-ly-friendly fuel. Last year AIDAsolbecame the first cruise ship suppliedwith LNG-generated power while at theHamburg Cruise Terminal HafenCitythrough the LNG Hybrid Barge—apilot project from Becker Marine

Systems and AIDA Cruises for low-emission power supply of cruise shipsthat was designed, constructed andcommissioned in only three years.

LNG power for AIDA vessels does notstop there. AIDAprima, expected to sailin 2016, and her currently unnamed sis-ter ship will be the first cruise ships inthe world to feature dual-fuel engines,which can be operated with LNG inports where the necessary infrastructureexists, an important step with the aver-age cruise ship spending 40 percent ofits operating time in port.

There is currently no more environmen-tally-friendly way to supply a cruise shipwith power. Compared to conventionalmarine diesel with sulfur content of 0.1percent, the use of LNG leads to a 100-percent reduction in the emission ofsoot particles and sulfur oxides, an 80-percent reduction in the emission ofnitrogen oxides, and a 20-percent reduc-tion in the emission of CO2.

Beyond LNG, AIDA also took moresteps toward green cruising in 2015,including installing comprehensive filtersystems to reduce waste gas on tradi-tionally-powered vessels across the fleet.

AIDA also built onto its climate protec-tion program launched in 2014 in part-nership with the climate protectionorganization atmosfair, which compen-sates for the CO2 emission of all itsemployees’ business trips through cli-mate protection projects by atmosfair.Since March 2015, it has also offered itsguests the opportunity of a voluntaryCO2 compensation for their cruise. Aspart of a pilot project and for the supplyof its cruise ships in the future, AIDACruises is testing the possibility of uti-lizing LNG that has been produced fullyCO2-free through the power-to-gasmethod with wind or solar power.

Since October 2015, AIDA Cruises hasalso supported the 2° Foundation intheir work of engaging in dialog with




policymakers and members of academiain order to establish an effective market-based framework for climate protectionand spur German entrepreneurs to cre-ate solutions in this area.

“To us, economic success and sustain-able action are not mutually opposed,quite the opposite; this is the basis forlong-term success,” said Dr. MonikaGriefahn, Chief Sustainability Officerat AIDA Cruises. “AIDA is a trailblazerin terms of climate protection in thecruise industry.”

Cruise Industry Honored withMaritime Award of theAmericas for Its EnvironmentalInnovation

The Secretariat of the Inter-AmericanCommittee on Ports (CIP) of theOrganization of American States (OAS)announced Cruise Lines InternationalAssociation (CLIA) as the winner ofthe 2015 Maritime Award of theAmericas in the Environmental WasteManagement in Cruise Lines category.The award process was highly competi-tive, and the winning practices “showedmeasurable outcome and significant sus-tained impact.”

“We congratulate CLIA Members ontheir dedicated efforts in the area ofenvironmental protection, and we areproud of their leadership in environ-mental waste management,” said BudDarr, CLIA’s SVP, Technical andRegulatory Affairs. “In many areas,CLIA Members employ practices andprocedures that are substantially moreprotective of the environment than reg-ulations require. The cruise industry hasa great responsibility as environmentalstewards, and we thank theOrganization of American States forpublicly recognizing the cruise indus-try’s collective excellence, innovationand leadership.”

For years, CLIA and its Member lineships have had policies and proceduresin place to reduce the industry’s envi-ronmental footprint. For example,

cruise lines pioneered advanced wastew-ater treatment systems that producecleaner water than most wastewatertreatment facilities in U.S. coastal cities.

Some CLIA Member cruise lines’ shipsare already repurposing 100% of thewaste generated on board by reducing,reusing, donating, recycling, and con-verting waste into energy. Careful wastemanagement and recycling practicesensure that unrecyclable waste on cruiseships can be as little as 1.5 pounds perperson a day compared to the average of4–5 pounds per person on land in theU.S. In an average year, the cruise indus-try recycles 80,000 tons of paper, plastic,glass and aluminum cans.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.and World Wildlife Fund FormGlobal Partnership to SupportOcean Conservation

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. andWorld Wildlife Fund formed a five-yearglobal partnership to help ensure thelong-term health of the oceans. Thepartners will set measurable and achiev-able sustainability targets that willreduce Royal Caribbean’s environmen-tal footprint, raise awareness aboutocean conservation among the compa-ny’s more than five million guests, andsupport WWF’s global oceans conser-vation work. The announced targetsfocus on supply chain sustainability andemissions reductions through 2020,including cutting cruise ship green-house gas emissions by 35 percent andresponsibly sourcing seafood. Targetsare also being developed to strengthenthe company’s sustainable sourcingstrategy and destination stewardshipand sustainability.

CDP Recognizes CarnivalCorporation for Climate ChangeTransparency

Carnival Corporation has been identifiedas a leader for the quality of climatechange-related information that it dis-closed to investors and the global market-place through CDP, the international non-profit organization that drives sustainableeconomies. Carnival Corporation hasbeen awarded a position on the FTSE 350and the S&P 500 Climate DisclosureLeadership Index (CDLI) because of itshigh quality carbon emissions and energydata, scoring 99 out of 100.

P&O Cruises and Cunard Winningthe War on Waste

The two Carnival UK brands of P&OCruises and Cunard have made majorprogress in reducing fuel consumption,emissions and waste. The latest annualSustainability Report reveals that energy-saving measures led to fuel consumptiondecreased five percent from 2013 to 2014and 18 percent compared to 2011. Thisreduction was also a factor in cutting CO2emissions by nearly five percent, helpingto ensure that parent company CarnivalCorporation & plc was able to reach itstarget of reducing its greenhouse gases by20% since 2005 by 2014 – a year ahead ofschedule. The level of food waste producedwas also cut back for the second consecu-tive year, resulting in a level less than 75percent of the 2012 total. Plus, CarnivalUK was active in maintaining its supportof the environment through alliances withUK wildlife trusts and by introducing anincreasing number of “green” shore excur-sions and enabling passengers to check thecarbon footprint of tours’ transportationbefore booking them.



Carnival Corporation to LaunchFour New Ships in 2016 and 17through 2020

Carnival Corporation & plc will launchfour new ships in 2016 across four of itsglobal cruise brands. These additions arepart of the 17 ships scheduled for deliv-ery through 2020 for CarnivalCorporation's 10 brands, creating mea-sured capacity growth over time andenabling the company's global fleet tomeet accelerating demand for cruisevacations in every region of the world.

"As we execute our fleet enhancementplan—which includes a long-term strat-egy for bringing highly efficient, state-of-the-art ships to market and elevatingthe overall cruise experience—we areexcited about seeing these new shipscome to life this year," said ArnoldDonald, CEO of Carnival Corporation."With each new ship we introduce, wegenerate new levels of excitement it cre-ates for our guests and the industry. Italso supports our goal to provide thebest possible vacation experience at avalue that land-based vacations cannotmatch. In the end, with our existing andnew ships, our focus is for our guests tocome away from a cruise vacation havinghad a great time and looking forward togoing on another cruise."

"We also remain focused on managingour fleet capacity in a responsible wayby delivering and refurbishing ships thatare innovative and efficient, while wephase out some of our existing ships—all designed to reinvigorate the optionsavailable to travelers looking to explorethe more than 700 destinations we visitaround the world," Donald added.

The four new ships scheduled tojoin Carnival Corporation's industry-leading fleet of 99 ships in 2016 include:

Holland America Line: msKoningsdam (Official delivery dateexpected in April 2016)

Currently under constructionat Fincantieri's Marghera shipyardin Italy, the 99,500 gross ton Koningsdamrepresents a new Pinnacle class of ships

for Holland America Line, and it is beingdesigned by famed hospitality designerAdam D. Tihany and architect anddesigner Bjørn Storbraaten.

Guests will have the opportunity toenjoy fine dining in several alternativerestaurants, including Sel de Mer, a newFrench seafood brasserie; a new immer-sive farm-to-table dinner experience inthe Culinary Arts Center presentedby Food & Wine magazine; a re-designed casual Lido Market withthemed serving stations; a stunningmain dining room; and favorites suchas Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto Italianrestaurant and pan-Asian Tamarind.

The ship also will feature HollandAmerica Line's first purpose-built state-rooms for families, in addition to singlestaterooms that together make up spa-cious accommodations for the ship's2,650 guests.

Onboard entertainment will be taken toa new level with the energetic MusicWalk area featuring all genres of musicshowcased in venues including LincolnCenter Stage, offering chamber musicnightly; Billboard Onboard, where livemusicians rock the crowd with chart-topping hits; and the popular B.B.King's Blues Club in the Queen'sLounge, bringing the bestof Memphis music to sea. World Stagebrings 270-degree LED projection tothe main show lounge, enabling newconcepts for show-time performancesand immersing the audience inpanoramic visual and sound effects.

Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Vista(Official delivery expected in April2016)

From a unique suspended cycling expe-rience called SkyRide and the innova-tive Family Harbor staterooms andsuites featuring a "family concierge" tocruising's first IMAX Theater and theline's first on-board brewery, CarnivalVista promises fun for guests of all ages.

The largest ship in the Carnival fleet,Carnival Vista will measure 133,500tons, 1,055 feet long and have a guest

capacity of 3,954. Carnival Vista isscheduled to enter service on May 1,2016, initially sailing from Europe. Afterrepositioning to New York for a seriesof voyages in November 2016, CarnivalVista will reposition to Miami to launchyear-round Caribbean service later thatmonth.

AIDA Cruises: AIDAprima (Officialdelivery date expected in April 2016)

AIDAprima will be the newest flagshipfor AIDA Cruises, with 1,643 cabins at124,100 gross tons. In addition to beingone of the most technologicallyadvanced vessels in the world, it will joinits fleet as the most environmentallyfriendly cruise ship in the world. A newair lubrication system will pump bubblesbelow the waterline, reducing frictionand lowering fuel consumption by allow-ing the ship to ride on a cushion of air.

Ship features include "The Beach Club,"a transparent dome providing a place forguests to hang out by the pool regard-less of weather, a water slide, high ropescourse and the new AIDA Mini Club,which will provide childcare for kids sixmonths and up.

Seabourn: Seabourn Encore – (Officialdelivery date expected in December2016)

Seabourn Encore, fashioned by hospital-ity design icon Adam D. Tihany, willfeature contemporary interiors andmodern design elements and innova-tions consistent with the line's reputa-tion for understated elegance. SeabournEncore will expand and build on theline's award-winning and highlyacclaimed Odyssey-class ships, whichrevolutionized ultra-luxury cruisingwith enhanced accommodations andinnovative amenities when they wereintroduced between 2009 and 2011.

The 40,350-gross ton ship will be config-ured with one additional deck and newexpanded public areas, and is expected tocarry 600 guests, based on double occu-pancy. In addition, every suite will fea-ture a private veranda. Seabourn Encorewill maintain the line's high ratio of


space per guest, enabling highly person-alized service by close to one staff mem-ber for each guest on board.

More New Ships to Join the Fleet inComing Years

In December, Carnival Corporation announced that it has signed a memo ofagreement with Italianshipbuilder Fincantieri S.p.A. to buildfour new cruise ships with final con-tracts expected to be executed in 2016.Two of the four new ships will be builtfor Costa Asia for deployment in China,and one will be built each for P&OCruises Australia and Princess Cruises.

Additionally, in 2015 Carnivalannounced the finalization of a contractwith Meyer Werft to build four next-generation cruise ships with the largestguest capacity in the world. The shipswill be manufactured for CostaCruises and AIDA Cruises, and theywill be the first in the cruise industry tobe powered at sea by Liquefied NaturalGas (LNG)—the world's cleanest burn-ing fossil fuel.

With these new agreements, CarnivalCorporation has 17 new ships scheduledto be delivered between 2016 and 2020.

Carnival Inspiration UndergoesMulti-Million-Dollar Renovation

Carnival Inspiration underwent an exten-sive multi-million-dollar dry dock at the

Vigor Shipyard in Portland, Oregon. Thethree-week renovation added a numberof dining and bar concepts, includingGuy’s Burger Joint, a Mexican eaterycalled BlueIguana Cantina, the cocktailpharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar and twonew poolside watering holes, RedFrogRum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar.Plus, the 2,052-passenger vessel wastaken out of the water to undergo rou-tine maintenance, including a new hullcoating and the addition of shore powercapabilities, before returning to its home-port of Long Beach, California for itsyear-round schedule of three- and four-day Baja cruises.

Holland America Line Plans$300 Million Fleet Overhaul

As part of a $300 million brand develop-ment initiative, Holland America Line isplanning exciting improvements to itstop staterooms with new furnishings,décor, amenities and upgrades for allsuites on the line’s Signature-, Vista- andR-Class ships.

The first ships to undergo the suitetransformation was ms Eurodam inDecember 2015, which will be followedby ms Oosterdam in April and then msNieuw Amsterdam, ms Westerdam, msZuiderdam and ms Noordam.Additionally, ms Amsterdam, msRotterdam, ms Volendam and msZaandam will receive the suite enhance-ments as they head into their scheduleddry docks over the next few years.

“Our suites are the epitome of luxuryand pampering, and the new amenitiesand upgrades will ensure that our suiteguests continue to enjoy the finest incruise accommodation,” said OrlandoAshford, Holland America Line presi-dent. “We have an ongoing program inplace to keep our ships looking fresh,but dry-docking gives us an opportunityto take enhancements to the next levelto ensure we deliver the elements thatmake up the Holland America Linecruise experience.”

The refurbishments include refreshing

the main living area in each suite with anew sofa, lounge chairs and desk chair. Astylish new headboard, new carpet andwall coverings bring a contemporary feelto the suites, while new soft goods—including a privacy curtain, drapery, bedrunner and bed skirt—add a touch ofelegance. Plus, a new quartz stone top onthe desk, dresser, nightstands and dress-ing table, along with new vanity lighting,enhance the transformation.

Electronic upgrades include a new USBoutlet added to the bed’s headboard,bedside LED lights that facilitate late-night reading, upgraded electrical out-lets and a lighted closet rod that makesit easy to select the day’s attire.

A new interactive television system isalso set for installation, with complimen-tary movies on demand, as well as easyaccess to the daily program and ship-board information including restaurantoverviews, spa services and guest billing.

Suite bathrooms will also receive amakeover with a wall of designer glasstile serves as a backdrop to the newdressing area that includes new stonetops, modern taps and under-mountsinks. Other improvements include newcontemporary mirrors with integratedside-by-side LED lighting, stylish floortiles, as well as a nightlight whichenables guests to easily find their way inthe dark.

Starting in January 2016, all suites acrossthe fleet also started to receive new ameni-ties to complement the strong offering ofamenities that already include priorityembarkation, disembarkation and tenderservice; exclusive use of the NeptuneLounge for Neptune and Pinnacle suiteguests; private breakfast service in thePinnacle Grill; and complimentary laun-dry and dry cleaning services.

MSC Cruises Confirms TwoAdditional Next-Generation Ships

At the coin ceremony for MSCMeraviglia held February 1, MSC Cruisesconfirmed the existing STX France



options to build an additional two shipsin the Meraviglia class. The two newly-announced Meraviglia-Plus next-genera-tion ships will feature increased tonnageand overall size, with a total of 2,444 cab-ins and a maximum LSA (passengers andcrew) of 8,000, and innovations like thefirst and only classic and contemporaryfine art museum at sea.

Following MSC Meravigila’s enteringservice in June 2017 and a secondMeraviglia vessel slated for winter 2019,the two new Meraviglia-Plus next-gen-eration ships will be delivered inOctober 2019 and September 2020,completing the order of four Meravigliaships by STX France two years earlierthan anticipated.

“The two Meraviglia-Plus vessels will beeven larger and longer as well as richer infeatures and amenities, thus confirmingMSC Cruises as the industry’s boldestinnovator when it comes to ship designand experiences we create for ourguests,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, MSCCruises executive chairman.

With its elegant, cutting-edge designand exceptional features, every detail ofthe Meraviglia-Plus class embodies theelegant side of the Mediterranean, whichlies at the heart of the MSC Cruisesexperience. At 331 meters long and withthe addition of 200 more cabins thanMSC Meraviglia, the two ships will fea-ture a maximum capacity of nearly 6,300guests. Plus, with the ability to dock inmost ports, they will maximize guests'choice of itineraries and destinations.

The unique public spaces filled withboutiques, restaurants and tranquilspots for shopping, eating and relaxingas well as socializing have also been fur-ther improved. The interior promenadewill be an impressive 111 meters longwith an LED sky screen above it beam-ing out visual events and vistas aroundthe clock to animate the entire prome-nade from above and create a uniqueatmospheric experience.

Another key distinguishing element ofthe MSC Cruises experience is its com-mitment providing its guests the richest

array of entertainment possible. As withthe recently announced Cirque du Soleilpartnership, which will bring world-class shows exclusively to MSC Cruisesin co-designed, purpose-built dining andentertainment venues guests,Meraviglia-Plus ships will feature aunique, cultural experience for guests atsea with the first-of-its-kind classic andcontemporary fine art museum. Thisindustry-first feature will enable gueststo discover world culture not onlythrough rich and varied itineraries butalso onboard by experiencing master-pieces from around the globe in collabo-ration with the world’s premier culturalcenters, classic and modern art muse-ums as well as public and private institu-tions.

Additionally, Meraviglia and Meraviglia-Plus ships will look to set a new stan-dard in smart ships with the recentlyannounced partnership with Samsungthat brings next-generation technologywith everything from the latest displaysand mobile solutions to medical equip-ment, as well as products for enhancedreality experiences.

The two new ships will be worth €1.6billion, thus bringing MSC Cruises’investment for the two Meraviglia plusthe two Meraviglia-Plus ships to a totalof €3 billion.

Norwegian Cruise Line UnveilsThe Norwegian Edge, a $400Million Fleet Refurbishment

Norwegian Cruise Line recentlyrevealed The Norwegian Edge™, aninnovative program that promises tointroduce a new standard of excellencethat encompasses the entire guest expe-rience, from ship hardware to culinaryenhancements and exclusive private des-tination development. The NorwegianEdge™ reflects a significant two-year$400 million investment by the compa-ny through 2017 and demonstrates theline's commitment to exceptional quali-ty and extraordinary experiences. Thecenterpiece of the program is an exten-sive ship refurbishment initiative that

will elevate the experience on board theNorwegian fleet to this new standard.

"Norwegian has a long history of invest-ing in its fleet to offer guests the latestand greatest innovations, but the invest-ment to raise our ships to TheNorwegian Edge™ standard of excel-lence takes it to new levels," said AndyStuart, Norwegian Cruise Line presi-dent and chief operating officer. "Thenew standards of The Norwegian Edgeprogram will entice our guests to returnagain and again to ships that will lookand feel as if they were just delivered,with all new menus and new diningexperiences, visiting incredible exclusivedestinations that reflect the quality fin-ishes, amenities and outstanding servicefound across the Norwegian fleet."

The Norwegian Edge program seeks tocreate modern, relevant and delightfulvacation experiences for guests at everyturn—an approach that dovetails per-fectly with the brand's unique promiseof freedom and flexibility, all which isshowcased through Norwegian's newmarketing campaign, Feel Free.

Fleet EnhancementsThe extensive ship revitalization pro-gram at the heart of The NorwegianEdge will completely transform manyspaces on board nine of the fleet's shipsto reflect the premium look and feel ofthe line's newest and most spectacularships. As the cruise line with theyoungest fleet in North America, thisextensive enhancement program willoffer much more than the traditionalsoft goods décor updates and serve tomake the line's ships into essentiallynew vessels.

The refurbishment program began inOctober 2015 with a full refresh ofNorwegian Epic that included the debutof brand new venues like The CavernClub; complete restaurant makeovers inLa Cucina and a new look for Cagney's,Le Bistro, Moderno Churrascaria, TheManhattan Room and the Garden Café,now with a sleek and crisp white palette;and refreshed décor, furniture and floor-ing in many public spaces, including TheHaven Courtyard, Lounge and

Restaurant, for a more modern andclean design.

Norwegian Gem followed in November,debuting significant enhancementsincluding a complete makeover of BlissLounge; extensive interior refurbish-ments; refreshing of décor includingnew furniture and new flooring in allspecialty restaurants and several compli-mentary outlets, as well as bars andlounges, to reflect a more contemporarylook; new pool deck furniture; interac-tive digital signage and wayfinding tech-nology; new teak flooring throughoutoutdoor spaces and corridors of upperdecks; and upgrades to The HavenCourtyard and Sundeck with a new lookincluding more shaded areas, cabanasand lounge chairs.

Throughout the course of the refurbish-ment program, a total of seven addition-al ships will go into dry dock for bothguest-facing and technical enhance-ments: Pride of America and NorwegianSun in spring 2016; Norwegian Dawn insummer 2016; Norwegian Spirit,Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Pearl inwinter 2017; and Norwegian Jade inspring 2017.

Culinary ProgramAs the innovator of freedom and flexi-bility at sea with no set dining times andup to 28 dining options per vessel,Norwegian understands that dining iscentral to guests' vacation experience.Therefore, the line is continuing toexpand investment in the onboard culi-nary program, to create exceptionalexperiences, from gourmet meals tosuperb service.

New for 2016, all ships in Norwegian'sfleet now offer upgraded complimenta-ry dining room menus and the additionof optional à la carte priced items in themain dining rooms, such as grilled lob-ster tails and surf and turf entrees, pro-viding guests additional choice andtastes to create their ultimate diningexperience. The new complimentarydining menus offer an increased variety- featuring appetizers, soups and salads,featured entrees, and dessert - and havebeen carefully developed by

Norwegian's culinary team with a focuson balancing popular traditional disheslike prime rib, chateaubriand, rack oflamb and escargot with current diningtrends and heightened guest expecta-tions. New offerings include moreseafood selections such as freshgrouper, along with contemporary dish-es like shrimp ceviche, seared Atlanticscallops with fennel puree, and braisedbeef short ribs.

Norwegian also expanded the new spe-cialty dining menus that debuted onNorwegian Escape across the fleet. Theintroduction of these new enhancedmenus at the line's signature specialtyrestaurants—Cagney's Steakhouse, LeBistro and La Cucina—along with newofferings at Moderno Churrascaria andTeppanyaki will further elevate guestsdining experience by providing addi-tional choices and new flavors.

The menus include traditional Frenchfavorites at Le Bistro such asBouillabaisse, Pan-Seared Jumbo BayScallops and Veal Medallions with SauceMorrel, and a more robust menu at LaCucina featuring antipasti, risotto andtraditional secondi courses like OssoBuco alla Milanese or Pan-Seared SeaBass Filet.

In addition to the new menus,Norwegian is also further expandingtraining and certification for the fleet'sculinary and dining teams. All ExecutiveChefs, Executive Sous Chefs and otherculinary staff are certified by AmericanCulinary Federation (ACF).

The line is also working toward a certi-fied service training program toinclude all guest-facing positions andthree new training and developmentcenters have opened across the globeto help train crew members prior toboarding ships, so they are immediate-ly able to provide excellent service assoon as they step onboard.

Guests should also expect to see theexpansion of popular existing partner-ships with culinary experts for food andbeverage outlets on board. More detailsand specific information will be shared

closer to each ship's dry dock date.

Destination ExperiencesNorwegian has further expanded plansfor the line's privately-owned destina-tions including the development of theCaribbean's premier resort-style expe-rience at Harvest Caye, Belize. Thisspectacular resort-style port of call willfeature an expansive pool, exclusivebeach, shallow lagoon for watersports,private luxury cabanas and many moreexciting features, all in the richestecosystems in the region with a diversi-ty of flora and fauna that is core to theHarvest Caye experience.

Considerable new features are also instore for the line's private Bahamianisland, Great Stirrup Cay. The islandwas recently enhanced in 2014 and willdebut several new offerings and highquality amenities for guests by spring2017. Specific details will beannounced later this year, and guestsshould expect to find experiences onthe island that complement thosefound on board Norwegian's ships,including private spaces, luxury relax-ation areas, multiple food and beverageoutlets and interactive activities.

Azamara Journey Emergesfrom Dry DockThe First of Azamara's Revitalized ShipsCompletes Bow to Stern OverhaulRevealing Modern Décor, NewTechnologies as well as New Services andAmenities for Guests

Departing Freeport, Bahamas forMiami, Azamara Journey, the first ofAzamara's two ships undergoing majorupgrades, has been outfitted with newvenues, public spaces and technologiesto bring fresh services and amenitiesto guests.

"There is no area on the ship that has notbeen touched," says Larry Pimentel,President and CEO of Azamara ClubCruises. "Known for our land programsto provide our guests with the most per-sonalized Destination Immersion expe-riences in the industry, Azamara needed



to take our onboard product to the nextlevel. Cruise ships are like fine hotels,after wear and tear, upgrades need to bemade. We can't wait to have our newand loyal guests onboard to see what wehave done. It's gorgeous and provides allthe modern services and amenities thattoday's traveler needs and demands. Ithink we have exceeded expectations."

Azamara contracted several of theworld's leading design consultants forthe hospitality, leisure and entertain-ment industries, to help transform itsships into modern oases at sea. AsAzamara Journey comes out of drydock, all stateroom and suites have hadan overhaul creating an ambiance that iscomfortable as well as timeless and ele-gant. Authentic materials were used,with beautiful stone and porcelainthroughout and custom design. Twonew Spa Suites have been built adjacentto the Sanctum Spa featuring an elegantlook with organic and muted colors pro-viding exclusive access to unique spaamenities that will be included in theprice of these staterooms. And, theClub World Ocean and Owner's Suiteshave also been fully redesigned.

Additionally, Azamara Journey's newdining and entertainment enhancementsthroughout the entire ship are revealedincluding makeovers to The Patio,Windows Café, Discoveries Restaurantand Discoveries Bar, and the LivingRoom:

The PatioA guest favorite onboard, formerlyknown as the Pool Grill, The Patio wascompletely transformed into a sit-downal fresco dining experience. The areanow features beautiful tablecloths andcandles in the evening creating a freshambiance. New lighting, ceilings andfans added modern elements to the ren-ovated look. The décor won't be theonly refresh as The Patio also serves upa new evening menu to be enjoyedamidst some of the most stunningoceanside backdrops in locales aroundthe world. In the evening, interesteddinner guests can occasionally enjoy livemusic alongside their meal. After dinnerand a movie, travelers looking to satisfy

their sweet tooth can stop by the newSwirl & Top self-serve frozen yogurtstation to indulge in a variety of flavorsand choice of toppings.

Windows CaféDining offerings indoors are not to beleft out as Windows Café has been rein-vigorated with contemporary furnitureand place settings. Tables for two wereadded, allowing more options for cou-ples or the ability to combine tables toaccommodate larger parties, or to join agroup of friends for a meal. For thoselooking to dine while watching the sun-set, Windows' outdoor dining area andSunset Bar is right out the back door,with a rejuvenated look and the samestunning views.

Discoveries Restaurant and DiscoveriesBarDiscoveries Restaurant is continuing thetrend of reimagining. The refreshedrestaurant features a warm and invitingatmosphere with new décor, lamps, seat-ing, and sheers. A variety of differentsized tables are offered to accommodategroups of all sizes with ease.

Discoveries Bar received a modernmakeover, as well, with new bar stools,sofas, chairs and tables, sheers, paintingand wood trim. The bar provides a tran-quil and friendly atmosphere with a richblend of tailored and refined elementsfor guests.

Living RoomGuests will feel right at home in the newand improved Living Room (formerlythe Looking Glass Lounge). The relax-ing area offers guests the comfort of awell-furnished space, featuring cozychairs and sofas and a handcraftedwooden wine table. Passengers can sam-ple tastes and entertainment frommorning until night with the followingoptions:

Daytime Fare: From 10:00 a.m. to 3:30p.m. enjoy a selection of fine teas andcoffees along with delicious breakfastpastries, finger sandwiches, and sweets.

Afternoon Delight: From 4:00 p.m.until 9:00 p.m. each day guests may

choose from a variety of tasty hot andcold tapas with a mix of Spain's eclecticand sophisticated flavors. The onboardsommelier will be happy to suggest theperfect red, white, or rosé wine or cham-pagne to pair accordingly.

In the evenings the Living Room livensup into a space for dancing, karaoke orlive music from one of the ship'sonboard musicians followed by a houseDJ, playing music to keep the partygoing well into the night. On occasion,specialty performances will entertainguests while other nights the Chef maysurprise Living Room dwellers withdelectable featured desserts. Whetherstopping by for a light bite or stayingfor the entire evening, The Living Roomserves up entertainment and culinaryofferings for guests day and night.

Casino and SpiritsThe Casino received new slot machines,sleek carpets, and reupholstered seatingwith custom-designed fabrics. And, ofcourse, the Casino wouldn't be com-plete without a proper location in closeproximity for a cocktail, the trans-formed Spirits bar will available forguests just a stone's throw away.

Azamara Quest will enter dry dock inApril 2016 in Singapore.

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To attract more cruisers and surpasstheir expectations every time theysail with us, the cruise line indus-

try must continue to add fresh and inno-vative shipboard experiences. With theextraordinary growth of the industry inrecent years, we have seen tremendousleaps in technology, entertainment anddining. Our guests not only desire butexpect even more advancements and con-veniences during their vacations at sea.They also expect value and an experiencethat is free of hassles.

At Disney Cruise Line, we are continual-ly looking for ways to deliver new vaca-tion experiences to families and are com-mitted to investing in our fleet. In recent

years, not only have we added capacitywith the launch of the Disney Dream in2011 and the Disney Fantasy in 2012, butwe are continuously “reimagining” ele-ments across our entire fleet. We workclosely with our partners from across theDisney organization to leverage the sto-ries, brands and characters that are socherished by our guests, bringing them tolife aboard Disney Cruise Line.

This October, we are embarking on ourlatest round of ship enhancements aboardthe Disney Dream. During this dry dock,we will add two new interactive youthareas – one themed to Star Wars andanother to the Disney Infinity action-adventure video game.

Children will soon be transported to afar-away galaxy via Star Wars:Millennium Falcon, a Force-filled playarea inspired by the spacecraft from thelegendary saga. Upon entering thespaceship, kids will join the RebelAlliance in the epic battle of good versusevil by assisting with the navigation ofthis powerful space vehicle. Sitting in thecockpit, children can pilot the spaceshipthrough hyperspace and trigger light-speed jumps to different locationsaround the galaxy.

This new attraction will be located inDisney Dream’s Oceaneer Club, thesame space where we will also debut thehigh-tech Disney Infinity interactive

Disney Cruise LineDelivers New Vacation Experiences at Sea

By Karl L. Holz, President, Disney Cruise Line


SHIPBOARD AND LAND-BASED EXPERIENCES

attraction. In the Disney Infinity area,children can experience a whole newway of playing together with excitingvirtual experiences and immersiveactivities. Customized, on-screenadventures will bring to life charactersand stories from across The WaltDisney Company.

Another example of our commitment toDisney “synergy” is the addition of anew sweet shop for families on theDisney Dream. Vanellope’s Sweets andTreats will satisfy the sweet tooth ofcruisers of all ages, and its appearancewill resemble the whimsical candy land ofthe Sugar Rush race car game from thefilm “Wreck-It Ralph.” The shop willoffer handmade gelato and ice cream, anassortment of candy, and delectable nov-elty treats for purchase. New to Deck 11,the smell of freshly baked waffle conesand candy will linger from the specialtystore’s two entrances. The sweet shop’sdécor will feature nods to the film,including a race track and checkerboardpatterned floor, gas pump-style gumballdispensers, Vanellope’s race car and KingCandy’s throne.

Our magical makeover salon – BibbidiBobbidi Boutique – will also be added tothe ship during dry dock. Coming toDeck 5 midship, this salon will bring tolife the storybook fantasies of youngguests with pixie-dusted and pirate-themed makeovers, offering aspiringprincesses and adventurers ages three to12 the chance to transform into royaltywith the help of a fairy godmother-in-training. On pirate party night this bou-tique becomes The Pirates League whereswashbuckling pirates of all ages willhave the opportunity to unleash their“Inner Buccaneer.”

Disney Cruise Line also remainsfocused on introducing new adult vaca-tion experiences as well. Among theenhancements being made to the DisneyDream will be the addition of a newwater feature, Satellite Falls, an adult-exclusive feature on Deck 13. This cir-cular splash pool, with benches and a

gently falling rain curtain, will providecool comfort for guests. They’ll soak upthe sun in loungers and relax in theshade under a canopy.

This wave of enhancements to theDisney Dream debuts on the Oct. 26four-night voyage from Port Canaveralto the Bahamas and Disney’s privateisland, Castaway Cay. The DisneyDream will continue to sail three- andfour-night cruises from Port Canaveralto the Bahamas throughout 2015 andinto 2016.

At Disney Cruise Line, we are alwaysstriving to bring new and exciting elements to our ships, whether it’s freshstage shows, entertainment, dining or merchandise.

Top Photograph: Kids in Disney’s Oceaneer Club will

be transported to a faraway galaxy at Star Wars:

Millennium Falcon, a Force-filled play area inspired by

the spacecraft from the legendary saga. They can

express their creativity through Star Wars-themed

crafts, games and activities, watch episodes from the

new Disney XD animated series, “Star Wars Rebels,”

on a large screen or virtually join the rebellion at

gaming stations featuring the series’ action-packed

adventures. This new space on the Disney Dream

debuts on the Oct. 26 four-night voyage from Port

Canaveral to the Bahamas. (Artist Concept)

Bottom Photograph: Vanellope's Sweets and Treats will

satisfy the sweet tooth of cruisers of all ages, with hand-

made gelato and ice cream, an assortment of candy,

and delectable novelty treats for purchase. Resembling

the whimsical candy land of the Sugar Rush race car

game in “Wreck-It Ralph,” the sweet shop’s décor

features nods to the film, including a race track and

checkerboard patterned floor, gas pump-style gumball

dispensers, Vanellope’s race car and King Candy’s

throne. This new space on the Disney Dream debuts on

the Oct. 26 four-night voyage from Port Canaveral to the

Bahamas. (Artist Concept)


It was at the encouragement of theFCCA’s 19 Member Lines—and becauseof Aquila’s success in tour guide train-ing—that we became a Platinum Memberover five years ago. Shortly after joining,Aquila became the FCCA’s official train-ing partner and made a significant impactin cruising destinations throughout theCaribbean and Latin America through itspartnership with the FCCA.

However, our services and impact are notlimited to the Caribbean. Aquila alsoworks with operators and destinations inEngland, Russia, Africa and the SouthPacific. After all, being a tour guide forcruise shore excursions has the sameneeds and challenges across the globe. (Infact, Aquila planted its roots in Canada.)

Training is an investment in a destina-tion’s growth, with benefits that make areal difference to all involved. Fromincreased customer service and knowl-edge about the destination to understand-ing the industry’s and cruise passenger’swants and needs, training brings out thebest and positively impacts guest satisfac-tion ratings.

The idea of training all started with dis-cussions about how important the tourguide is to cruise lines and cruise linesseeing a need for training. The AquilaTour Guide Excellence InternationalCertification is seen as a standard to helpraise the level of service in the industry.

In the first year, Aventuras 2000 inPanama enrolled their 30 tour guides inthe online program, demonstrating thatthe level of English in the online coursewas not a problem for Spanish-speakingdestinations. Growth continued with theonline students, and then Colombiaasked Aquila train 100 tour guides inCartagena—the first of many trainingvisits in countries through the FCCApartnership—and praised the results.

"The Aquila training has made a total differ-ence in Cartagena regarding the confidenceof the tour guides…improving the servicequality, which has benefited passenger satis-faction levels," said Maria ClaudiaLacouture, president of PROCOLOMBIA.

At the same time, Aquila was receivingfeedback from tour operators and cruiselines that there also was a need for train-ing the tour operators. Aquila spent twoyears developing the ACE (Aquila CruiseExcellence) Tour Operator Designation,a one-on-one coaching and mentoringprogram launched in 2014. After success-ful completion by Discover Mexico,Tropical Tour-Guadeloupe and Aventuras2000 Panama, we are now working withmore than 20 tour operators in theCaribbean and Latin America seekingthis program.

Besides improving guest satisfaction rat-ings, the program also increases job satis-faction and helps in employee retention.Training can even give seasonal workers areason to return to the job, anotherimportant benefit.

Aquila also continues to work with des-tinations on broader training, fromworking on customized service pro-grams for greeters, ambassadors and taxidrivers to assisting destinations at bring-ing providers of tour experiences togeth-er to better understand the industry andhow innovating shore excursions canimprove destinations.

Plus, destinations are jumping onboardwith comprehensive training for boththeir tour guides and operators. Afterinvesting in tour guide training for thepast four years, Dominican Republictook a more intensive approach to pre-pare for the opening of Amber Cove inPuerto Plata by training 200 tour guidesonsite last fall. That year also includedcomprehensive approaches by Belize, ElSalvador and Puerto Rico, and cruiselines are taking note.

"The recent Aquila training in San Juanhas had amazing results,” said FedericoGonzalez-Denton, associate vice presi-dent, government relations LAC, RoyalCaribbean Cruises Ltd. “It producedimmediate positive results, which willdefinitely result in a significant improve-ment in cruise guest ratings."

On a personal note, I find it incrediblyheartwarming and humbling when Ihear cruise executives say they love tohear that Aquila is training in a destina-tion because they know it will help. Weare looking forward to continuedgrowth and hope you will join us inmaking this the year to commit to rais-ing the level of excellence throughoutthe cruise industry.

Beth Kelly Hatt is the President of Aquila’sCenter for Cruise Excellence, the FCCA’sofficial training partner. You can learnmore about their coaching and trainingprograms at www.CruiseExcellence.com



Making a Difference by Training Tour Guides and Operators

By Beth Kelly Hatt, President, Aquila’s Center for Cruise Excellence



Costa Group Trialing HumanoidRobots

The Costa Group signed an exclusiveagreement with the French companyALDEBARAN for the use of "Pepper"robots, the world’s first robot that readshuman emotions. Pepper is ideally suit-ed to help and delight cruise passengers,improving the guest experience and pro-viding help and entertainment onboardAIDA and Costa ships. Pepper firstdemonstrated seaworthiness onAIDAstella before the first batch joinedthe crew of AIDAprima and CostaDiadema in spring. By summer, Pepperwill be fleet-wide. "With an emotionalrobot onboard our cruise ships, we areonce again continuing our tradition ofinnovation,” said Michael Thamm, CEOof the Costa Group. “For us, this is animportant step towards a digital futurefor our brands."

Harmony of the Seas Amps UpFun for the Entire Family

World’s Largest Cruise Ship to FeatureDreamWorks Experience, All-NewAdventure Ocean Youth Programmingand New Family Amenities

Royal Caribbean International is takingfamily fun to new heights onboard itsnewest ship, Harmony of the Seas.Guests setting sail aboard Harmony willbe able to enjoy more family-friendlyofferings than ever before, such as RoyalCaribbean’s signature DreamWorksExperience, enhanced entertainment inthe award-winning Adventure Oceanyouth program, and a new collection offamily amenities—two thoughtful col-lections of experiences that highlightwhat travelers tend to enjoy most onvacation: eat, play, drink—in the signa-ture balcony staterooms boasting viewsof the distinct Central Park andBoardwalk neighborhoods. Combinedwith The Ultimate Abyss, the tallestslide at sea, The Perfect Storm trio ofwater slides, and Splashaway Bay inter-active aqua park for kids, Harmony ofthe Seas will bring a jolt of adventure forthe entire family aboard the world’s

largest cruise ship when she arrives inMay 2016.

DreamWorks Animation CharactersSet SailWhen Harmony of the Seas debuts, shewill bring a familiar cast of DreamWorksAnimation characters, including Poof Kung Fu Panda; Shrek, Fiona and Pussin Boots of Shrek; and from Madagascar,Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, KingJulien and the Penguins. Guests willenjoy events and activities based onDreamWorks Animation's popular fea-ture-film characters, including aDreamWorks Character breakfast in themain dining room, ‘meet and greet’experiences throughout the day, as wellas photo opportunities that can beimmediately shared with family andfriends back home thanks to VOOM,the fastest internet at sea.

Royal Caribbean's younger guests canenjoy an exhilarating line-up of activi-ties, from story time to dance parties,games and adventures rooted in the pop-ular DreamWorks Animation films at thecomplimentary, award-winningAdventure Ocean youth program.Parents and kids alike can enjoy peace ofmind knowing that they have guaranteedseats on “opening weekend” of highlyanticipated feature films such as "KungFu Panda 3,” which premieres onboardthe same day it does in theaters on land.Year-round, guests can watch the latestand long-term favorite DreamWorksAnimation films in the ship’s 3D movietheater and on a dedicated DreamWorksTV channel in their stateroom.

Enhanced Adventure OceanProgrammingRoyal Caribbean’s complimentary,award-winning Adventure Ocean youthprogram will continue to offer youngguests, ages three to eleven, an enter-taining line-up of activities and gamesrooted in fun and excitement. New to beoffered in Harmony’s Adventure OceanTheater is Away We Go!, a black lightpuppet show created by Tony® award-nominated actors and imaginative pro-ducers John Tartaglia and MichaelShawn Lewis of Gable GroveProductions.

Additionally, programming by “MuffaloPotato,” the popular YouTube show,which teaches kids to draw anything inminutes using only letters and numbers,will round out Harmony’s lineup.Muffalo Potato originally debutedaboard Anthem of the Seas and will expandfleet-wide just in time for summer vaca-tions, starting with Harmony of the Seas.

New Family Amenities for CentralPark and Boardwalk StateroomsFamilies vacationing togetheron Harmony of the Seas, as well as Oasisof the Seas and Allure of the Seas, will beable to take advantage of the new collec-tion of added benefits to balcony state-rooms overlooking the Central Park andBoardwalk outdoor neighborhoods.Starting in November 2016, the signa-ture views will be complemented andenhanced with amenities that feature thebest of what each neighborhood has tooffer. Guests with views of CentralPark—a revolutionary design in whichthe center of the ship opens to the sky,and features lush, tropical grounds span-ning the length of a football field—willenjoy lunch for two at Jamie’s Italian,serving rustic Italian favorites fromworld-renowned chef Jamie Oliver,or Harmony of the Seas or Giovanni’sTable onboard Oasis and Allure of theSeas; a complimentary bottle of red wineupon arrival; and special perks in theCasino Royale. Guests with views ofBoardwalk—a neighborhood inspiredby the nostalgic boardwalks ofyesteryear—will receive lunch or dinnerfor four at Johnny Rockets, a familyfavorite featuring old-fashioned burgersand fries; a soda beverage package fortwo; and private time on the cruise line’siconic 38-foot tall rock wall.

Princess Cruises’ $450 MillionMulti-Year Product Innovation,Cruise Ship Renovation andGuest Experience EnhancementCampaign

Princess Cruises announced The ComeBack New Promise, a $450 millionmulti-year product innovation andcruise ship renovation campaign that


will continue to enhance the line’sonboard guest experience. Theseenhancements will result in more trans-formative moments, lifetime memoriesand meaningful stories for guests toshare from their cruise vacation.

“The Come Back New Promise differ-entiates our approach to cruising andoffers our guests enriching vacationexperiences by connecting them witheach other, nature and different culturesin a new way,” said Jan Swartz, PrincessCruises president. “Our promise is toprovide guests transformative momentsdesigned to inspire them to discover theworld and themselves, ultimately allow-ing us to declare that a cruise isn’t goodenough unless you ‘come back new.’”

The campaign demonstrates a commit-ment by Princess Cruises to exceedguest expectations while continuouslyimproving upon and delivering a highvalue cruise vacation experience thatinspires guests to return and introducecruising to their family and friends.

Recently, Princess introduced new ini-tiatives inspired to deliver The ComeBack New Promise which further ele-vate the line’s wellness, culinary/diningexperiences and expands the partnershipwith Discovery Communications. Theyinclude:

• Chef Curtis Stone – a partnership with award-winning chef, New York Times best-selling author and restaurateur Curtis Stone brings guests fresh, new culinary creations. All Princess ships will feature “Crafted by Curtis” menu items in the main dining room, while on select ships guests will enjoy “SHARE” a brand new specialty restaurant which will include a new Chef ’s Table experience designed by Stone.

• The Princess Luxury Bed – featuring a new specially designed bed to deliver the ultimate night of sleep at sea the Princess Luxury Bed was developed in collaboration with experts in both the science and beauty of sleep -- Dr. Michael Breus, “The Sleep Doctor,” and highly acclaimed designer,

Candice Olson, star of the hit HGTV shows “Candice Tells All” and “Divine Design” -- Princess is installing more than 44,000 new beds, to every stateroom, across the fleet through 2018.

• The Salty Dog Gastropub – another new dining option which highlights a variety of small bites inspired by pub favorites, adapted for an upscale culinary experience. Developed in collaboration with Ernesto Uchimura, a founding chef of the original Umami Burger, guests will also enjoy a variety of beer, whiskey and cocktail selections. Currently available on select ships.

• Style at Sea with TLC – What to pack, what to wear and how to look stylish are just a few of the many questions guests ask when preparing for a cruise vacation. With the help of TLC’s fashion expert Stacy London, Style at Sea with TLC will provide tips and tricks to help guests feel and look their best while aboard a cruise.

Previously, Princess unveiled these ini-tiatives which became the inspiration forThe Come Back New Promise cam-paign, providing guests new culinary,enrichment and entertainment experi-ences, including:

• Chocolate Journeys - An immersive chocolate experience designed by Master Chocolatier Norman Love, exclusive to Princess, was launched offering delectable desserts, wine and chocolate pairings and specialty chocolate cocktails. New chocolate offerings allow guests to indulge in even more custom-crafted signature desserts in new venues throughout the ship, as well as chocolate pairings with tea and more.

• Discovery at Sea - A partnership with Discovery Communications, which brings new, innovative activities and shore excursions to the Princess-guest experience through hit shows like Deadliest Catch and Shark Week.

• New Original Musical Productions –

Magic to Do, the first of four musical production shows created in collaborationwith Stephen Schwartz, award-winningcomposer and songwriter of Wicked, Godspell and Pippin, combines exhilarating magic with some of Schwartz’s most famous songs. Plus, the show features a brand new song written exclusively for Princess. Magic to Do debuted to critical acclaim and is currently running aboard Crown Princess, Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess.

• Festivals of the World - Around the world, in every season, festivals bring people together to celebrate the uniqueness of a culture and its heritage often in the most colorful ways. Princess hosts festivals onboard that originate from nearly every corner of the globe. From Mardi Gras to Rio Carnival, guests enjoy parties, enriching activities, lively musical performances, festival-related movies and specialty shopping.

• Craft Beer Series – Through partnerships with regional breweries that specialize in local flavor, Princess started the series with an award-winning West Coast IPA from Strike Brewing Company in San Jose, Calif., followed it with a special 50th Anniversary blend and have since added the Alaska Denali Red Ale, East Coast Blonde Lager and the Australian Gold Ale.

• Princess@Sea Messenger - Guests have the opportunity to be connected with their fellow cruisers using mobile messenger, an instant message feature offering an easy way to make plans, confirm a meeting location while onboard the ship. The Princess@Sea Messenger is integrated in the complimentary Princess@Sea mobile app, accessed via a smartphone or tablet browser.

More announcements about ship reno-vations, entertainment and accommoda-tions, in association with The ComeBack New Promise campaign, are on thehorizon and sure to bring PrincessCruises offerings to new heights.

Every year the FCCA CruiseConference & Trade Show gatherscruise industry stakeholders with

executives and makes these decision-makers available through a series ofmeetings, networking functions andworkshops. One of the clearest indica-tors of this high-level accessibility is anannual roundtable that brings togethercruise operator presidents, chairmen,COOs and CEOs to discuss issues thataffect the audience.

This trend continued in its 22nd annualedition, with talks focusing on the robustgrowth—in both size and number—ofcruise vessels, along with burgeoning andpotential markets like China and Cubaand the challenges and opportunities thisall presents for cruise destinations andstakeholders in the Caribbean, Mexicoand Latin America.

But maybe more importantly, some of thecruise industry’s biggest players directlyaddressed and answered attendees’ ques-tions. Michele Paige, moderator and pres-ident of the FCCA, opened the panel byasking for questions and highlighting that“this wealth of information is sittingbefore you, willing to work with you.”

The wealth of knowledge came fromMicky Arison, chairman of CarnivalCorporation & plc and the FCCA; FrankDel Rio, president and CEO ofNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.;Adam Goldstein, president and COO ofRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; andRichard Sasso, president and CEO, MSCCruises (USA) Inc.

A question from an Acapulco representa-tive opened the discussions and a tenden-cy to not just answer the particular ques-tion, but also apply it to the general audi-ence. After asked how to bring cruiselines back to Acapulco, Del Rio told that

the “best thing you can do is not be in thenews for all the wrong reasons.”

He reminded the audience that operatorsalways consider new destinations, butstressed the rising competition: “Theworld is getting smaller and smaller, andthere are more ships, so it puts a squeezeon where we can go.”

Goldstein told that ports and destina-tions “can’t be in a vacuum.” They mustoffer an entire itinerary with multipledestinations adding up to somethingcompetitive, he told. “You have to thinkabout the overall offering to draw shipsopposed to somewhere else.”

A representative from Puerto RicoTourism Company then extended thescope of how destinations can continueto be competitive in light of global andlocal competition, from China to Cuba.

Arison seconded Goldstein’s point andtold, “It’s about opening up and havingsome imagination and thinking outsidethe box to bring new and more imagina-tive features to the product.”

He contrasted guests’ expectations fromthose decades ago satisfied by simple citytours or sitting on the beach, whereasnowadays destinations and tour operatorsneed to “step away and say what willexcite the guests and what would reallymake the experience special.”

But he also reminded attendees that theyare in the perfect place to find inspirationand motivation for their imagination:“…there are a lot of destinations doing alot of new things, and this is a greatforum to exchange ideas with people whoare doing new things and creating newshore excursions.”

Goldstein responded to the question byfirst praising the Caribbean’s “inherentadvantages” because of its proximity tothe North American markets, weather,scenery and destination products.

He then broached the Asian elephant inthe room, telling the audience that theexponential growth in the Asian marketdid not come from Americans decidingovernight not to cruise the Caribbean, butrather from gaining cruisers from a wholenew segment of the world’s population.“The role that cruise vacations and theCaribbean in general plays for the NorthAmerican population is intact,” he said.

Reiterating Arison’s point of innovation,he told, “…by staying always in the fore-front of what people are looking toreceive in a vacation experience, the


Cruise Operator CEOs Tell Destinations to Renew andInnovate to Tap the Industry’s Current and Future Growth

“The cruise companies have gone to

the forefront of inspiring Caribbean

product development.” –Adam

Goldstein, President & COO, RCCL

DESTINATIONS AND PORTS: THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA

Caribbean and the Caribbean cruiseindustry will continue to command aleading role…but complacency and sit-ting tight and not investing and notdeveloping and not paying attention tomarket trends will clearly result in fewertourists in general and fewer cruise shipsin particular.”

Sasso first reinforced the importance ofsafety and cleanliness before echoing theothers’ sentiments about creating aunique experience. “What can you createin your destination that somebodywould want to take a photographof…whatever assets you have, try to putthem on display.”

The other elephant was then addressedby a question about pending Cuba plans.Arison responded by first identifyingthe current limited scale with smallerships and people-to-people experiences,but “the potential if the embargo is lift-ed is enormous.”

He told it would not likely happen anytime soon, but that the aforementionedpotential would benefit the Caribbean.“The demand for the Caribbean will bemuch stronger,” with dramatic increasesin overall Caribbean numbers and yields.

However, he warned these gains wouldnot be evenly distributed throughout alldestinations, and how much a particulardestination benefits would be based on“the strength of the destination, the facil-ities in the destinations and also its prox-imity to Cuban ports.”

Sasso reminded that the industry hasgrown eight percent annually for decadeswithout having Cuba. “So we don’t needCuba, but I think it would have a positiveimpact on the region; there will be moreships and more demand for those ships.”

Cuba infrastructure will start to developimmediately because of cruise brands’initiatives, like Fathom, along with shipsfor Canadian and European passengers,he informed and then indicated thatputs Cuba ahead of the curve when itopens, which he projected to be in twoor three years.

The talk about port infrastructure led to aquestion about the panelists’ new portprojects in the Caribbean—includingRoyal’s in Falmouth, Jamaica;Norwegian’s in Harvest Caye, Belize; andCarnival’s in Puerto Plata, DominicanRepublic—and what they mean for thecountries, citizens and passengers.

Arison honored Carnival Victory’s firstcall to Amber Cove, which happenedthat day, along with the potential forDominican Republic, with 350,000-400,000 passengers expected in the firstyear after the Puerto Plata region nothaving a ship for 40 years, and whatdevelopments like this mean for theregion: “We need some new interestingand exciting destinations to keep theCaribbean fresh.”

Of course, the investments are not onlyin the form of creating new destinations,but supporting capacity of the growingvessels and passenger numbers. “Whendestinations can’t keep up with theneeds, we’ll step in and try to do thatwherever possible.”

Commemorating the pending opening ofCarnival’s third Puerto Maya berth,which happened later during theConference, he gave an example of fur-ther investing in a destination to handlethree simultaneous ships after frequentlyhosting two vessels a day.

He then used Royal’s Falmouth as anexample of creating an option to supporta new class of ships. And as he laterpointed out, nowadays ships that size arebecoming the rule, not the exception;new vessels are “big, and they’re gettingbigger.” With up to 5,000 passengers, thispresents a new set of challenges for boththe cruise lines and destinations.

Del Rio echoed Arison’s comments andalso shared the immediate impact theirdevelopment will have, with in excess of$100 million invested, at least 500,000passengers annually and employment ofalmost 200.

Though a private project, he mentionedthat the island is only 1.5 miles from the

mainland and will offer a full array ofshore excursions there, giving “the bestof both worlds” where the guest canexperience the controlled product andexperience Belize’s culture and eco-tourism. “We continue to look for oppor-tunities like that, where we have a broad-er control of the product delivery and,quite frankly, higher margins.”

And as Arison pointed out, some ofCarnival’s most popular ports are theones they developed. “A part of that is theamount of control we have over thatproduct….we have an understanding ofwhat the guests want and are able todeliver that.”

Goldstein referenced the past mindsetof cruise operators towards destina-tions, “We felt like if they wanted ourships to be there, they should makethemselves attractive to us; if not, we gosomewhere else.”

“You can all see now that there’s been atotal change…that underpins the suc-cess of this Conference going forward,”he said. “The cruise companies havegone to the forefront of inspiringCaribbean product development…because a number of the companies haveboth the ability and determination tomake things happen.”

After confirming Arison’s point behindthe reason for developing Falmouth, tocreate an environment to deliver theneeds for an Oasis-sized ship, he said,“You see all these examples of cruise com-panies simply causing things to happenwith your cooperation—unthinkable 25or 30 years ago.”

Paige then connected the dots betweennew cruise vessels and new destina-tions by pointing out that Royal’sOvation of the Seas and Quantum of theSeas were placed in China, when in thepast cruise lines used older ships foremerging markets. She asked if thattrend would continue and what itmeans for the Caribbean.

Goldstein first mentioned China’s scale,which “is fairly exceptional by emerging



market standards of any sort,” along withthe significant population of coastalcommunities, sudden economic ability tocruise and a tremendous hunger to seethe world.

This creates the perfect combination for atarget cruiser, especially since the markethas “an ability and willingness to payrates that are commiserate with the bestmarkets that exist in the world today.”

“There’s a second factor at work,” hecontinued. “That’s the role of theInternet…Everybody knows the bestthey can access in all industries…andthere’s an instant appetite and demandfor the best.”

“So what are the implications for theCaribbean? It’s what we’ve been talk-ing about—the ability to maintainworld-class competitiveness, thethings that….destinations need to doto stay fresh, vibrant, safe, compelling,interesting.”

“If that happens…there are enoughintrinsic advantages for the Caribbean tocompete, but if none of those things hap-pen, there will be an increasing loss ofshare to the rest of the world.”

Sasso pointed out the potential advantagepresented by the growth of markets likeChina. “Eventually it does help all of us,including the Caribbean…when peoplebecome fond of cruising, they’re notalways just going to cruise inChina…They’re going to becomeCaribbean cruisers and European cruis-ers...so this multi-million source marketwill also benefit all of us down the road.”

Reinforcing this point, Arison refer-enced the omnipresence of Asians inEurope over the summer before telling,“They’re going to be traveling every-where in the world. They’re going to bethe largest middle-class in the world, and

plenty of them are going to be coming tothe Caribbean.”

Norwegian has over 40 percent of itscapacity dedicated to the Caribbean, DelRio reminded and told, “I don’t thinkthat’s going to change any time soon.”

“The other thing to keep in mind is thatthe shipyards are full of orders all the waythrough 2021, and not all those ships areheaded for China. Many of them areheading [to the Caribbean].” One ofthose ships, Norwegian Escape, justrecently went to PortMiami for year-round Caribbean sailings.

“You all should feel confident to continueto invest in your businesses, continue toinvest in the destinations here in theCaribbean basin, and that will keep ushere…we want to bring ships to theCaribbean, and we will.”

Arison seconded Del Rio and then gavesome perspective by telling that only sixof Carnival Corporation’s 100 ships are inChina. “Obviously the number is muchbigger in the Caribbean and has contin-ued to grow through this whole cycle.”

Paige then steered the discussion back tothe importance of “putting the WOWback in the product,” which has a mutualbenefit: impressing passengers, who thencan return for land-based vacations andrefer friends and family, and maximizingrevenue for cruise lines, with shore excur-sions being one of the largest sources,thereby incentivizing cruise calls. Sheasked what responsibility cruise opera-tors place on the destination to create thiswin/win scenario.

“There needs to be marquee value for usto put a port on an itinerary…and if youdo that job, you’ll help us,” said Sasso. Hethen touched on part of the cost-efficientmodel lines use to determine ports of call,including proximity and fuel consump-tion, “but the most important [fac-tor]…an experience equal to or greaterthan the one we provide [passengers],which today is extraordinary.”

“Create impressions for people…you

have to do it with quality and innovation.FCCA has been your best friend for over35 years, helping you see, hear, learn whatthat could be.”

What that could be may not always sim-ply involve throwing money at the prob-lem and expecting a solution. “It’s notalways about investing the money; it’sabout having a great idea…You have tokeep inventing and reinventing.”

Arison used Dominica as an example, asit limited premier tourism sites to onlyship-sold shore excursions during cruisecalls. He cautioned the political difficul-ty of this initiative, but told, “From acruise operator point of view, shoreexcursions are an important part of ourrevenue base, and if [destinations] canhelp us control the shore excursion traf-fic….it’s going to be more appealing forthe itinerary planners.”

Putting the WOW back in the productdoes not require new products, remind-ed Goldstein. “Making what you havemore available and branding it morestrongly are also opportunities to createmore WOWs…Thinking creativelyabout what you can bring to the cus-tomer means more than just building agiant waterslide.”

“There’s a lot of opportunity for theCaribbean region as the cruise businesscontinues to evolve…It’s about beingproactive and strategic and thinkingabout your situation and how to make themost of it. The world wants to come hereand cruise….but as a matter of degrees,your success will depend on how youapproach these challenges and how youmaster them.”

Summing up, Sasso said, “if you thinkabout every time government, privatesector and suppliers are all on the samepage working together, you see enormoussuccesses…I have always labeled FCCAas Friendship, Cooperation,Communication, which leads toAdvancement…when all of us work forthe same goal, that’s what you see.”


“…we want to bring ships to the

Caribbean, and we will.” –Frank

Del Rio, President & CEO, NCLH

The Caribbean did it again. Withmovie-like timing, just when manystarted to worry about the

Caribbean’s future in light of growingglobal competition, it reasserted itsimportance to the industry by buoyingcruise operators’ third quarter earningreports.

Of course, other factors contributed tothis outside of the Caribbean’s beauty,culture and multitude of destinationproducts, with global economic concernsbogging down other markets. But one ofthe region’s assets—its proximity toNorth America—largely led to itsimpressive profitability, aided by a strongU.S. economy and dollar and NorthAmerican cruisers’ strong demand athigher rates.

Now obviously these macroeconomiccircumstances always change, but as allreal estate agents know, location is theone thing you cannot change. And thatwave of earnings reports again high-lighted one of the Caribbean’s inim-itable intrinsic advantages: its directaccess to the world’s leading sourcemarket of cruisers.

With all the recent focus concentratingon burgeoning markets like China, itbecomes easy to forget that NorthAmerica retains that heavyweight title.Lately the market’s growth potential isalso often overlooked, despite its enor-mousness, to the tune of about 76 per-cent of the U.S. population that still hasnot cruised (or more than 242 millionpotential new cruisers).

And the new quarterly travel agents sur-vey by Cruise Lines InternationalAssociation (CLIA) revealed that desti-nations reached by domestic NorthAmerican ports are poised for a strong2016, with 73 percent of agents reportingincreases in Alaskan cruises, 52 percentseeing growth in the Caribbean, and 42percent expecting growth in Canada andNew England—all partly due to agentsciting the cost and hassle of internationalflying becoming a barrier for long-dis-tance cruise destinations.

Plus, the Caribbean can eventually expectreciprocal growth from the new interna-tional source markets. Study after studyhas shown that first-time cruisers are like-ly to become repeat cruisers and beginsampling other cruise products, like


The Caribbean Staying Afloat Against Global Competition

By Michele M. Paige, President, Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association


luxury lines, and destinations. So theCaribbean should see more newly con-verted cruisers in Europe and Asia head-ing to the region, which should come asno surprise after increased presence bycruise lines like the Mediterranean MSCCruises and German AIDA Cruises andTUI Cruises.

Other growth catalysts for the Caribbeanhave gotten a little more air time recently.Most notably, or at least most talkedabout, is the effect of new destinations,like Cuba.

As Micky Arison, chairman of bothCarnival Corporation and the FCCA,told at our recent FCCA CruiseConference and Trade Show, he believesCuba’s opening would benefit theCaribbean overall, with strongerdemand and dramatic increases in num-bers and yields.

However, he warned these gains wouldnot be evenly distributed throughout alldestinations, and how much a particulardestination benefits would rely on itsstrength and facilities.This seems to offer an analogy on theCaribbean’s overall potential and out-look. Clearly the region has ample intan-gibles and advantages on the world stage,but these alone will not guarantee com-petitiveness against the rest of the world.

During the same event, Adam Goldstein,president and COO of Royal CaribbeanCruises Limited, told attendees thatCaribbean destinations need to “stay fresh,vibrant, safe, compelling, interesting.”

“If that happens…there are enoughintrinsic advantages for the Caribbean tocompete, but if none of those things hap-pen, there will be an increasing loss ofshare to the rest of the world.”

Yet as Goldstein reminded, cruise linesthemselves are the biggest investors inproduct development, such as Royal’sproject in Falmouth, Jamaica paving theway for Oasis-class vessels; Carnival’sproject in Puerto Plata, DominicanRepublic, which returned cruises therefor the first time in decades; Norwegian

Cruise Line Holding’s planned $100 mil-lion in Harvest Caye, Belize; and MSCCruises’ recently announced marinereserve in the Bahamas.

So how can destinations work with cruiselines to stay fresh, ahead of the competi-tive curve and even get a piece of theinvestment pie?

“[The] FCCA has been your best friendfor over 35 years, helping you see, hear,learn what that could be,” told RickSasso, president and CEO of MSCCruises (USA) Inc., at our conference. “Ihave always labeled FCCA as Friendship,Cooperation, Communication, whichleads to Advancement…when all of uswork for the same goal, that’s what you see.”

We work with destinations’ private andpublic sectors to give them direct accessto and input from some of the cruiseindustry’s key players, like the onesquoted above and high-level executivesthroughout numerous sectors, includ-ing itinerary planning, shore excur-sions, port and destination develop-ment, government relations, purchasingand more.

This access and input is at the forefrontof all of our functions. FCCA PlatinumMembership regularly joins members andcruise executives for exclusive meetingsand events to develop mutual under-standing and close working relationships.Members experience this while proposinga new business model at a one-on-onemeeting or cementing a deal over dinnerduring a cruise.

Plus, Platinum Membership comes with acustom-tailored strategy to assist destina-tions’ private and public sectors. We learnabout our members’ individual issues andgoals and then utilize our knowledge ofand contacts in the industry to formulatean action plan that optimizes their cruisetourism impact.

These plans have led to everything fromsome of those aforementioned destina-tion developments to exponential cruisepassenger increases, such as Martinique

and Mazatlan, Mexico growing fromfive-year FCCA Member Line passengerarrival lows of 23,000 and zero to morethan 270,000 and 190,000, respectively,in 2015.

We also offer other ways to target thekey executives and industry stakehold-ers. There is a clear value of capturingthe attention of our network of keyplayers and stakeholders, and we offersponsorship and advertising opportuni-ties that directly target them. From e-mail campaigns and online and printpublications—including this publica-tion, the official magazine of the globalcruise industry backed and distributedby us, CLIA and our Member Lines—tomeetings and events, there are ways tocapitalize and gain exposure from all ofour functions.

And our events promote mutual under-standing and forge relationships betweencruise line representatives and stakehold-ers. These range from close-knit, mem-bers-only events to larger, open-registra-tion events like the annual FCCA CruiseConference & Trade Show. Taking placein San Juan, Puerto Rico from September26-30, the 2016 edition will gather morethan 1,000 attendees with over 100 cruiseexecutives for one-on-one meetings, net-working events and workshops that caterto informing attendees how to increasetheir share of cruise tourism.

Of course, similar to simply relying onthe Caribbean’s inherent advantages,attending events or joining associationsalone will not be enough to increase busi-ness and competition on the global field.Destinations and companies must usethese resources and information to con-stantly and proactively refresh and renewtheir products and image.

If that happens, well, I think Goldsteinsaid it well: “There’s a lot of opportunityfor the Caribbean region as the cruisebusiness continues to evolve…The worldwants to come here and cruise….but as amatter of degrees, your success willdepend on how you approach these chal-lenges and how you master them.”



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Caribbean Tourism Reports Tourism Record for 2015The Caribbean set new arrival and spend records in 2015,according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).International tourist trips to the region grew by 7 percent to28.7 million visits, exceeding the projected growth of 4 to 5 per-cent, and a record 24.4 million passengers cruised in Caribbeanwaters. Plus, visitors spent an estimated $30 billion, 4.2 percentmore than the $28.8 billion spent in 2014.

“2015 was the second year in a row that the region has done betterthan the rest of the world and the sixth consecutive year of growthfor the Caribbean,” said Hugh Riley, secretary general of CTO.

Riley attributed the growth to improved global economic con-ditions in the marketplace; a boost in consumer confidence, par-ticularly in the United States; falling oil prices; rising seat capac-ity and persistent marketing by CTO member countries andtheir partners.

The CTO reported growth in all the major markets—the UnitedStates, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and South America—withthe intra-regional market performing better than it has ever donebefore, accounting for 6 percent of total arrivals.

The US, the Caribbean’s primary market with about 50 per-cent of arrivals, grew 6.3 percent to 14.3 million visits. TheCanadian market grew by 4.5 percent to 3.4 million; Europeaccounted for 5.2 million visits, a 4.2 percent jump over the

previous year, with 1.1 million coming from the UnitedKingdom, a 10.4 percent increase; and South America contin-ued its growth, generating 2.1 million visitors, an 18.3 percentjump over 2014.

“Needless to say, we are very pleased with the Caribbean’s per-formance of stayover arrivals in 2015,” said Riley. “In each quar-ter the region recorded at least six percent growth over the cor-responding quarter for 2014; and each month in 2015 was betterthan the same month the previous year.”

“Still, the Caribbean cannot be complacent,” he continued. “Wemust continue to grow our traditional markets, strengthenemerging ones and penetrate new sources as we target the 30million arrivals mark we set some years ago. Our efforts toimprove our product quality, enhance our marketing, grow ourrate base, increase our profitability, and constantly offer excel-lent value for money, must continue.”

MSC Cruises to Double Presence in CubaMSC Cruises will further strengthen its presence in Cuba byhomeporting a second ship in Havana in the winter 2016-17 sea-son to continue to meet rising demand for opportunities toexperience the Caribbean island’s uniquely rich culture. In amove that will quickly double the number of MSC CruisesCaribbean itineraries centered on Cuba, MSC Armonia will joinMSC Opera in Havana and sail two separate, culturally diverse,eight-day itineraries.



At the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, we are excited tohost the 2016 FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show.We are incredibly proud of having the wonderful oppor-

tunity of welcoming you once again after first hosting the eventin 2011. As the premier event of the cruise industry for theCaribbean and Latin American region, it represents an excellentopportunity to share the progress Puerto Rico has experiencedduring the past five years, our excellent new offerings, andeverything the future holds in store, not only for our island, butfor one of the most important regions for the cruise industryworldwide.

Historically, Puerto Rico’s strategic location benefited it politi-cally, economically, and even militarily. Today, Puerto Rico’spositioning is advantageous for the Caribbean cruise industry.San Juan, our capital, is the leading homeport of the Caribbeanand the second-largest port for cruise ships in the western hemi-sphere. About 25 cruise ships call San Juan their home port, andevery year new ships either originate sailings from San Juan ormake San Juan a port of call.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company, the local government andmembers of the tourism industry have worked together on sig-nificant developments to enhance our cruise industry. New leg-

islation that created incentives to promote Puerto Rico as aprime cruise ship destination has provided us with additionaltools to encourage the industry’s growth. Puerto Rico has alsoimplemented key marketing strategies to communicate theadvantages of the Island’s geographical location and all theattributes it has to offer—natural beauty, modern infrastructure,unique culture and warm hospitality.

The initiatives developed and executed have already given excel-lent results for the local industry. Cruise ship traffic experienceda 25 percent increase during fiscal year 2014-2015, led by arecord 1.5 million passengers visiting the island. Transit passen-gers experienced an increase of 32 percent, and homeport pas-sengers saw a 12 percent increase.

One of the key elements that has also helped drive the localcruise industry’s growth has been the improvements to Pier3, which was crucial for achieving our goal to welcome megacruise ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas andOasis of the Seas, which will visit during the 2016 summer sea-son. These two vessels will make 10 combined visits toPuerto Rico, bringing 60,000 additional visitors to San Juanand an estimated economic impact of $6.4 million during thefirst season.


See You in Puerto Rico at the 2016 FCCACruise Conference & Trade Show


As the leading homeport in the region, Puerto Rico’s growthis very important for the rest of the region. Each ship thatsails from San Juan positively impacts other Caribbean desti-nations through increased tourist traffic and purchases inlocal businesses.

A growing and strong hotel offering has also had a significantimpact in the evolution of our local cruise industry. New hotelsopening in the Puerto Rico Convention District area providecruise ship visitors with more and convenient options to extendtheir visit to and enjoyment of the island.

Since Puerto Rico hosted the 2011 FCCA Cruise Conference &Trade Show, it has seen a series of important hotel openings,including the Hyatt Place San Juan/Bayamón, Hyatt haciendaDel Mar: A Hyatt Residence Club, Dorado Beach: A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Best Western Plus Condado Palm Inn &Suites, Blok Hotel in Vieques, among others. The island has alsoexpanded its Bed & Breakfast offering with new lodgings open-ing in Old San Juan and Mayaguez.

The arrival of new airlines—11 in just three years—and theexpansion by airlines already serving the local market hasgreatly benefited the local cruise industry and given Puerto

Rico’s tourism a vigorous boost. As the main airport in theCaribbean, the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in SanJuan is crucial for the growth and development of the cruiseindustry, for both the local industry of Puerto Rico, as well asfor the region.

New airlines include SunCountry and Miami Air from theU.S., Volaris from Mexico, Colombia’s Avianca, AirEuropawith flights from Spain, and Norwegian Airlines with directflights from Oslo, London, Stockholm and Copenhagen. Intotal, there are presently more than 20 airlines with flights to50 destinations in the United States and nearly 750 flights tothe Caribbean departing from the Luis Munoz MarinInternational Airport.

But not only has airport seen an extraordinary increase inflight activity, it has also undergone extensive renovationsand restructuring led by a $205 million investment by oper-ator company Aerostar Airport Holdings. The transforma-tion and opening of new terminals, combined with thearrival of new airlines and the expansion of new routes, hasbeen a key factor for a four-percent increase in air trafficduring fiscal year 2014 -2015, when the Island welcomed 8.7million travelers.

Puerto Rico’s tourism industry continues to evolve, strength-ening its already established niches, as well as providing thenecessary resources to enhance emerging ones. New and reno-vated attractions have helped develop strong offerings forshopping, nature and adventure and more. Last year markedthe opening of the long-anticipated The Mall of San Juan, thefirst mall in the Island to feature world-renowned icon-storesNordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. The mall also features aseries of exclusive brand stores, such as Versace, Jimmy Chooand Kate Spade.

Nature lovers will find the thrill of a lifetime at Toro Verde’sEcological Adventure Park’s The Monster, the longest zip line inthe world, with a 2.5km cable route, equivalent to 28 footballfields. The park features more miles of zip line cables than anyother park in the world, and it has been selected by Travel &Leisure as one of the “Coolest New Attractions in the World.”Another popular nature experience from Puerto Rico is CuevaVentana, “Window Cave,” a large natural cave atop a limestonecliff in Arecibo, overlooking the magnificent Río Grande deArecibo valley.

For those who love the ocean, the new Vivo Beach Club is amust. This lively oceanfront location features an outdoor beachclub, unique restaurants and bars, shopping, music venues, and abrewery. And just a few miles away, visitors can enjoy a varietyof watersports, including kitesurfing and paddle boarding, at theCondado area.

As you can see, Puerto Rico has a universe of possibilities forcruise passengers and a world of opportunities for cruisecompanies. We look forward to sharing more great news withyou in San Juan at the 2016 FCCA Cruise Conference &Trade Show.


Costa Maya’s fascinating stretch offorested coastline gave rise to acruise port 14 years ago. Today,

Puerta Costa Maya serves as a cruise shipgangway, aided by the region’s diversetourist attractions, ranging from Mayanarchaeological sites and a rainforestreserve to pristine white-sand beachesand the world’s second-largest coral reef.

To support the wave of cruisers, the des-tination has been undergoing a majorrevamp—with investments not only toupgrade infrastructure, but also to createa unique passengerexperience by workingwith the cruise lines and the local com-munity to differentiate Costa Maya fromthe rest of the Caribbean and generate agenuine appeal and interest.

The cruise terminal itself has been com-pletely restyled with rustic décor and sig-nage that make passengers feel lile they

joined an expedition. A new state-of-the-art dolphin facility is currently underwayto join the other offerings at the port ter-minal, or "The Fisherman´s Village,"including a new (and complimentary)program of folkloric shows and entertain-ment featuring artists from Mexico andthe Caribbean.

Passengers can also get a taste of the des-tination through an authentic food andbeverage offering regional specialties andgrilled seafood and lobster hauled in bynearby fishermen, pan-Latin dishes fromCuba and Brazil, Mexican coffees and hotchocolates, sugar-dusted crispy churrosand French pastries, and the new pale aleand lager from Costa Maya’s own micro-brewery.

Located next to Costa Maya Port termi-nal is the new adventure park, Mayá –Lost Mayan Kingdom, and its vast variety

of attractions. Built in a 1930s marinetrade post, the park is packed full of original details that tell an authentic story,including old luggage, merchandisecrates, cone lamps and shipping contain-ers renovated into bathrooms.

Stepping back in time, the passengers alsoexperience Mayan culture. A nine-storypyramid features nine livels of activitieslike zip-lines and water slides, along withMayan symbolism like totems and figuresof their gods, such as “Kukulkan,” thefeathered snake god.

The pyramid’s entrance displays a 32-foothigh totem comprised of series of Mayanmasks found throughout the region, sur-rounded by crates, barrels, ropes, pulleys,and other antique decorations.

At one side of the pyramid is the entry toa 1,600-yards river, called the Jaguar


Costa Maya Continues to Innovate and Drive Cruise Tourism



River, which circulates the entire park,including the inside of the pyramid andcan be enjoyed by swimming or tubing.

At the Jaguar River tour, passengersenter into the subterranean JaguarTemple before reaching the bubblezone, where bubbles emerge to thewater’s surface and guide them to a cav-ern with a waterfall. Passengers thentravel to a campground just visited bythe jaguar guardian, and then completethe journey by encountering a Mayanstilt house village.

Mayá – Lost Mayan Kingdom also fea-tures seven towers connected with sus-pended bridges around the park. Theseare composed by two zip-lines thatform two circuits. The longest is about1,500 yards and includes an amazingwater landing.

Another unique attraction is the TreeWater Spring or La Poza del Arbol, namedafter the grand tree that rises in a naturallagoon.There is also a botanic trail wherepassengers will find various medicinalplants and fruit trees from the regionand a 10-foot deep Mayan cenote withthree stone spring pools perfect for restand relaxation.

In addition to the cruise-related changes,Costa Maya´s foundation is workingwith local families’ micro-businessestosupplement the traditional lobster fishingand become integrated in the region’stourist-related activities.

This surge of tourism and its widespreadbenefits has also led to the developmentof the nearby fishing village, Mahahual,with boutique hotels, restaurants, beachclubs and coffee shops.

Plus, a new community center wasrecently built. Beginning operations inspring 2016, it will primarily focus onthe children of Mahahual by enablingthem not only to take part in a vast vari-ety of activities such as music, dance,handicrafts, sports and technology, butalso guide them to make their dreamscome true.


The first thought that comes to mindwhen you think about Colombia’sCaribbean is more like a story out of amagical book with colonial cobblestonestreets with more than 500 years of histo-ry, Caribbean sounds, high-spirit peoplewelcoming cruise passengers. This is alltrue, but there is also a hidden storybehind the tourism industry, a sectorgrowing by leaps and bounds, in dressingand fitting the people that work in thismagnificent industry.

Cartagena is one of the most importantcities, where cruise ships arrive more than90 percent of the yea. It has become asprawling cultural hub in Latin America,expecting to welcome 380,000 touristsduring its 2015-2016 season. When youarrive in this Caribbean paradise, you willfeel right at home surrounded by tropicalsmells of exotic fruits and the warm-hearted people whose main goal is notonly to deliver good service, but also actas your guide in a journey back in time toa city full of charm and character.

There are many other locations through-out Colombia with diverse landscapesand abundant nature trails, which contin-ue to captivate visitors from around the

world. Colombia welcomes cruise pas-sengers from major cruise lines likeCarnival, Celebrity, Holland America,Norwegian, Princess, Pullmantur andRoyal Caribbean, just to name a few.Most recently, travelers from Europehave started to set their eyes onColombia. This is why the German cruiseline AIDA started operating back in2015, and it is expected to grow its callsinto 2017. Plus, it will be joined byGerman TUI Cruises as it begins opera-tions next season.

Santa Marta, San Andres andProvidencia are the perfect example ofColombia’s natural, unspoiled settings.Santa Marta’s distinctive landscape—itshues of greens, white sandy beaches andsnow-peaked mountains—can be seenfrom the beach shore and make thisdestination a one-of-a-kind attraction.San Andres and Providencia are jungle-covered islands located in the north-western side of the country. Theirbiggest sceneries can be found underthe sea by diving into the third-largestbarrier reef. In 2000, UNESCOdeclared the entire archipelago aSeaflower Biosphere Reserve, beinghome to three of the most important

marine ecosystems: coral reefs, seagrassbeds, beaches and dunes.

If you are more of an adventurous type,the country has recently started to wel-come specialized nature vessels into theColombian Pacific. Today, destinationslike Bahía Solano, Utría and Gorgonahave been included in itineraries of cruiselines like Silversea Cruises, NationalGeographic Expeditions (LindbladExpeditions) and Swan Hellenic.

Colombia’s strategic location, situated in ahurricane-free zone, is what attracted morethan 2.2 million tourists, including 272,000cruise passengers, in 2015. Today, the coun-try welcomes close to 28 cruise lines withmore than 40 different vessels. Colombia isrising as one of the most stable economies inLatin America as a result of its political sta-bility, economic boom, infrastructure devel-opment, and beautiful destinations, whichhave been the foundation of tourism growth.

The country has managed not only toboost its economy and tourism industries,but has also strengthened other sectorslike textile and apparel, manufacturing,and agribusiness. In 2012, Colombiasigned a Free Trade Agreement with theUnited States, allowing international buy-ers to source duty-free from Colombia.Therefore, the country is quickly becom-ing a textile and apparel supplier leverag-ing its more than 100 years of experiencein high quality fabrics, attention to detailand personalized service.

Colombia’s trade growth can be seen insales to corporations like Disney andRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL),which manufacture products such as uni-forms, costumes, cloth napkins, towels,and tablecloths from Colombian compa-nies like Lafayette, Ci Blu, Fabricato,Everfit, CI Kreate and Distrihogar.Recently, RCCL acquired over 300 inspi-rational art pieces from the Colombiancompany Love to be to decorate ninefloors of its newest vessels, Quantum ofthe Seas and Anthem of the Seas.

Colombia’s evolution from cruise desti-nation into a procurement supplier con-tinues to position the country as an inter-national ally for the industry.


Linens, uniforms and costumes were among the most demanded products by cruise lines in 2015.Colombia’s high quality fabrics, innovative techniques, handcrafted designs, and competitivelead times have paved Colombia’s path to become a premier supplier for the tourism industry.

Colombia’s Evolution From Cruise Destination into a Procurement Supplier


Peru, a must-see destination for trav-el enthusiasts in North America, islegendary among world travelers

for its incomparable treasures from cul-ture, history, active/adventure opportuni-ties and natural resources to breathtakingmountain scenery. Stunning in its abun-dance of both natural and man-madeattractions, Peru´s tourism treasuresoffer opportunities for amazement, dis-covery, learning, exploration and spiritualenrichment. These opportunities are aperfect match for what´s most importantto today´s travelers: experiential travel,the quest to find something new aboutthemselves through new experiences.

Peru's civilization is the oldest in SouthAmerica. Neighboring countries havebeen created from its ancient Peruvianterritory and empire. Peru was the politi-cal and productive center of the regionwith a privileged and ideal geographicallocation. Modern Peru boastsentrepreneurs who have rediscoveredtheir capacity to create new wealth, busi-nesses and services.

Peru is located in west-central South

America, on the coast of the SouthPacific Ocean. To the north, Peru is bor-dered by Ecuador and Colombia, withChile to the south and Brazil and Boliviato the east. Possibilities for combineditineraries abound.

The country is divided into three majorregions: the Coast (12% of the territory),taking up some 1,800 miles along thewestern coastline of Peru; the Highlands(28% of the territory) dominated by theAndean Mountain Range and occupyingthe central region of Peru, and the Jungle(Amazon Rainforest - 60% of the territo-ry) which is one of the great naturalreserves on the planet.

Few destinations can fulfill the desire forexperiential travel and provide so manyopportunities for excursions as well asPeru. Some of its offerings include:

Active/Adventure Travel: Peru offersoptions such as trekking to the breath-taking ¨lost city¨ of Machu Picchu andthe Lares Trail, including visits with tradi-tional Andean communities along withspectacular panoramas of peaks, water-

falls and lakes; hiking or sailing throughthe Amazon rainforest, while experienc-ing the greatest biodiversity on the plan-et; surfing and other water sports off thenorthern beaches; touring the islands ofLake Titicaca and visiting with the people,for whom life has changed little since thedays of their ancestors. Peru is one ofonly 10 mega-diverse countries in theworld, with hundreds of endemic speciesof flora and fauna; a paradise for birdwatching and orchid spotting, or theexploration of remote and mythical natu-ral landscapes, some still pristine virginlands teeming with life.

Family Travel: With its diverse landscapesand limitless number of adventures, activ-ities and learning experiences to share,Peru is the ideal family destination.Children in particular are fascinated byPeru’s history, its ruins and the colorfulstories behind them; its opportunities toexperience new cultures, including inter-action with its indigenous people; natureand wildlife experiences. All destinationsin Peru offer the safety, infrastructure,facilities and services most important forfamilies. What children wouldn’t love to


Peru: Land of Hidden Treasures


zip-line or see ruins often only describedin fairy tales or history books?

Cultural Travel: Visitors step back in timewhen exploring Peru’s vast wealth ofarchaeological heritage, one of the richestin the world. Beyond the magical citadelof Machu Picchu, they can visit fascinat-ing remains of the Moche culture thatflourished between AD 100-750; wonderat the enormous ancient figures of theNasca etched out in the sand; visitextraordinary churches with their exten-sive murals; view the incredible mixtureof Colonial and ancient Incan architec-ture in Cusco; visit artisan workshopsand markets in the picturesque villages ofthe Sacred Valley; experience Peru’sauthentic “living cultures” (in the high-lands, around Lake Titicaca or in theAmazon rainforest), and so much more. Urban Travel: Focus on the incomparableexperiences found in Lima (distinctiveshopping opportunities, including Peru’sluxury fashion innovations showcasedeach year during Fashion Weeks aroundthe world; world renowned cuisine andnightlife; historic center; museums andart galleries; neighborhoods; and Pacificshores) and Cusco (vast treasures focus-ing on history and culture; the worldli-ness and sophistication of its restaurants,cafes and lodging). Modern and cos-mopolitan, Peru´s cities delight locals andtourists alike with a variety of entertain-ment, art, design, music, and one of therichest and most prestigious cuisines in

exploring and trekking in other parts ofthe country. With some of the bestweather on the planet, Peru’s PacificCoast areas offer a unique option fortravelers looking for rejuvenation. Inaddition to the area’s natural beauty, sun,sand, sea and water sports, visitors canenjoy spa centers with yoga and otherwellness activities. The Andes mountainareas (such as Sacred Valley) also provideexcellent opportunities for spa and relax-ation activities.

Excursions from LimaCity of Caral, 5000 year old archeologicalcomplex that represents the cradle of theoldest civilization in the Americas.Real Felipe Fortress, completed in 1774,it is one of the few examples of militaryarchitecture built by the Spanish in theirAmerican colonies.

Pachacamac, a mud city used by the Lima,Wari, Ychsma, and Incas, located in theLurin River valley.

Palomino Islands, group of twelve isletsoff the coast of Callao and home tonumerous sea lions and sea birds.

Lunahuaná, sunny valley south of Limaand the perfect spot for adventure sports,also famous for its piscos and wines.

Paso horses, visitors can ride the horsesand enjoy the lovely countryside in thenumerous area haciendas.

the world. Whilst they live at a modernpace, these cities proudly keep theirancient heritage alive. A cosmopolitanfusion combined with olden time tradi-tions.

Culinary Travel: The fact that Peru hasbeen designated the “World’s LeadingCulinary Destination” for the last fourconsecutive years says it all. Peru has anexquisite and tremendously varied gas-tronomy, from its coastal cuisine high-lighted by its seafood, particularlyceviche; to its Nouveau Andean Cuisine,which takes advantage of local producesuch as corn, potatoes, quinoa and otherhigh-protein grains; to the jungle fruits,fresh water fish and gamey meats of theAmazon region. Peruvian cuisine isanother expression of a national identitythat embraces multiple cultures co-exist-ing in one territory; a unifying element inPeru that can be seen everywhere.Peruvians have become experts at experi-menting with new flavors, harmonizingaromas and discovering new ways ofcooking. The diversity of Peru's agricul-tural production, microclimates, geogra-phy, multiple cultures and the genius ofits chefs have enriched the culinary natureof Peru to the point where it is now rec-ognized as one of the finest expressionsof the global cuisine.

Relaxation, Spa & Wellness Travel: Abeach extension to the trip is a great wayfor clients to unwind for a few days after


Guatemala Tourism Board,INGUAT, became an FCCAPlatinum Member in 1999 to

improve the quality of its services and thequantity of cruise ship visits.

Guatemala has attended many FCCAcruise events in different countries. Withthe advice and efforts of the FCCA andparticipation in its conferences, tradeshows, workshops and one-on-one

meetings with executives, INGUATnow has a closer relationship with differ-ent cruise lines and greater number ofcruise calls.

Guatemala has had the opportunity topromote itself as an attractive andinteresting destination for cruise visi-tors searching for places with exuber-ant nature, Mayan living culture, andarcheology.

Why Guatemala?• 70% of visitors return.• 98% of visitors recommend this

amazing destination. • It is the Heart of the Mayan World.• Ancient Mayan Culture is alive. • It is the Land of Eternal Spring.• It has amazing destinations that will

exceed your expectations.• It is a truly “green experience.”

TikalTikal, considered one of the largestarchaeological centers of the Pre-Columbian Maya Civilization, stands outwith its magnificent temples. Declared aWorld Heritage Site by UNESCO in1979, this Mayan city boasts a NationalPark is in the middle of the tropical jun-gle of Petén.

The Archeological Park of Tikal coversapproximately 222 square miles, andover 4,000 structures can be found atthe site, along with hundreds of exoticwildlife species. The more you learnabout the Mayan Civilization, thelonger you will you wish you could stay.

Cruise tourism transportation to Tikalis by air, and the flight takes approxi-mately 40 minutes. It is a full-day tour.

QuiriguaThis archeological site is located a stone’sthrow away from the Port of Santo Tomas

Guatemala: Heart of the Mayan World

Quirigua

Tikal

AntiguaDeep-Sea Fishing



de Castilla Port in Izabal, and it wasdeclared a World Heritage Site byUNESCO in 1981. Because of the intri-cate detail of its 22 stelae and zoomorphs,it is one of the most important Mayansites in Guatemala.

In Quiriguá you can admire “Stela C,”with its glyphs that state the date inwhich the Mayan Civilization was created(August 13, 3114 B. C.), along with“Stelae E,” the largest quarried stonefound so far in the Mayan World.Weighing in at 65 tons and stretching10.67 meters, it depicts K’ak Tiliw, knownas the Lightning Warrior.

You can take a full- or half-day tour to thearcheological site of Quirigua.

Antigua GuatemalaBuilt in 1543, Antigua is located in a high-land valley surrounded by three amazing vol-canoes, the Agua, Fuego and Acatenango.This colonial city and UNESCO WorldCultural Heritage Site is considered themost outstanding and well-preserved colo-nial city in all Latin America. Antigua isknown for its colonial architecture and his-torical monuments.

Antigua is one of Guatemala’s most pop-ular destinations. Visit colonial monu-

ments, churches and monasteries.Experience a tour of working coffee andmacadamia nut plantations. Strollthrough art galleries, antique shops andmarkets. Antigua’s art galleries, hand-made crafts, Spanish learning centers andexcellent gastronomy are some of thebest in the region.

Lake AtitlanCalled “the most beautiful lake in theworld” by many visitors, it is surroundedby three magnificent volcanoes, Atitlan,San Pedro, and Toliman, as well as twelveMayan villages, where the culture andancient Mayan traditions are still alive.

The town of Panajachel is the biggesttourist attraction on the lake’s shore,offering friendly hiking paths, horsebackriding trails, a butterfly sanctuary, kayak-ing, boat tours and more.

Rio Dulce & LivingstonDelight yourself with a combined boatand land tour where you can enjoy thetropical rain forest and exotic fauna of theriver’s canyon, which connects theCaribbean Sea with Lake Izabal,Guatemala’s largest lake.

Walk through the colorful town ofLivingston and enjoy the tropical archi-

tecture, handicrafts, music and dances.Experience a variety of Caribbean culi-nary dishes in a town where theGarifuna, Q’eqchi and Ladino culturesmerge.

At Rio Dulce you can visit Castillo de SanFelipe, a fortress built in the 16th centuryto protect goods brought and taken toGuatemala from Europe against the pil-lage of pirates roaming the CaribbeanSea.

Golf & FishingDeep-sea fishing and golf have becomemajor activities in Guatemala. Its Pacificcoastline has been awarded for the last fewyears as the best spot in the world forcatching and releasing marlin and sailfish.Guatemala holds the world record of mostsailfish caught and released in a day, andyou can challenge the record during anexciting full-day tour.

Conde Nast Johansen awarded “BestResort of Central America” to la ReunionResort and Golf Club, which is located astone’s throw from Puerto Quetzal. Thefamous designers Pete and Perry Dyebuilt this world-class golf course, whichyou can play while enjoying the day atthis amazing resort.


VOTED #1 PORT IN NORTH AMERICA

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There's no better place than Port Canaveral to grow your business.

At Port Canaveral, we prefer to let our numbers speak for themselves.

$200 million in upgrades, including a new cruise terminal and complete port-wide renovations.

62 million-plus annual visitors to Orlando/Central Florida, the "theme park capital of the world"

60 million would-be passengers living within the southeast drive market of Port Canaveral

#1 ranking by editors of Cruise Critic on "Best Port in North America"

New Orleans has long been knownas a destination city, and the Portof New Orleans is gearing up to

showcase that to cruise industry leadersthis summer during the PlatinumAssociate Member Advisory CouncilConference (PAMAC)—an annual meet-ing of Platinum Members of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)and cruise executives from FCCAMember Lines. Taking place June 22-24,2016, the PAMAC will provide an oppor-tunity for cruise line leadership and thosemembers working in the industry to meetand address pressing issues for the indus-try, as well as highlight the host city.

“We are honored to be hosting the con-ference again this year and see it as anopportunity to showcase the uniqueamenities New Orleans has to offer,” saidGary LaGrange, president and CEO ofthe Port of New Orleans. “Whether ves-

sels are homeporting here or making acall, we know New Orleans is an interna-tional destination that provides an unsur-passed cultural experience.”

The conference is structured with twodays of tours and professional network-ing for the members, followed by a day ofpanels and one-on-one meetings.

“Attending members include internation-al visitors who manage tours for cruiselines in foreign ports of call. People fromthe Caribbean and Latin America will belooking for ideas in New Orleans theycan implement in their own ports,” saidDon Allee, Port of New Orleans’ directorof cruise and tourism. “They’ll see weoffer land excursions, environmentaltours, swamp tours and other historicaltours. The foreign companies that servicethe cruise industry will gain ideas fromtheir visit here. With our food, tours,

music and culture, New Orleans is a pre-mier showcase for what passengers arelooking for in a port.”

The tours offered during the conferenceinclude walking and bus tours within thecity and short excursions to surroundingareas of interest. A popular conferenceoption in the works is a combinationswamp tour and plantation tour.

A variety of swamp tours that show theecological diversity of SoutheasternLouisiana are located just minutes fromNew Orleans. Pontoon boats and air-boats give visitors the option of gliding orpowering through the swamps whilesnapping Instas of alligators, wild hogsand over a hundred species of birds mak-ing their home in the moss-drapedcypress trees.

The plantation tour will visit a historic


DESTINATIONS AND PORTS: NORTH AMERICA

Port of New Orleans to Showcase Its Offerings and Growth to Cruise Executives and Stakeholders

antebellum mansion that tells the story ofsugarcane, war, slavery and historicpreservation along the Mississippi River.

Another in-demand tour during the con-ference is just steps from the Port of NewOrleans’ cruise terminals. The NationalWWII Museum, formerly known as theD-Day Museum, is located in the CentralBusiness District. It is a military historymuseum that shares the American experi-ence of World War II through artifactsand oral histories. Recent expansion hassecured it a top spot as an attraction inNew Orleans, ranking third-best muse-um in the country by Trip Advisor.

The two days of tours culminate in a thirdday of key meetings and panels. A gener-al session for the Platinum Members willbe held to address issues particular to thecruise industry, such as security, compli-ance, hospitality and operations. Akeynote address and panels will follow.

The one-on-one meetings taking placethat afternoon will be scheduled inadvance and offer members a key oppor-tunity to meet with department heads ofcruise lines, providing the chance to talkabout issues concerning individual portsand businesses working in partnershipwith the cruise lines.

To wrap up the conference, a celebrationwill be held at Mardi Gras World.Highlighting the beautiful parade floatsbuilt at Mardi Gras World, the festiveevent will include New Orleans’ famouschargrilled oysters and music that reflectsthe jazz and brass band culture of the city.

The Port of New Orleans last hostedPAMAC five years ago. Since 2011, theport has experienced five straight recordyears of growth in the cruise industry. In2015, the Port of New Orleans welcomedover one million annual cruise passengermovements for the second consecutiveyear, and port officials expect anotherrobust cruise season in 2016.

“The 2015 numbers illustrate how popu-lar the Port and the City of New Orleansare with cruise passengers throughout thenation,” said LaGrange. “The fact ourcruise partners are investing in new andlarger ships here bodes well for the indus-try for years to come.”

Carnival Cruise Line is increasing itscapacity on its year-round four- and five-day itineraries by 34 percent in Aprilwhen Carnival Triumph replaces CarnivalElation in New Orleans, while the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream sails year-round seven-day itineraries to both eastern

and western Caribbean destinations.Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,340-passengerNorwegian Dawn sails seven-day westernCaribbean cruises seasonally fromNovember to May. Plus, Norwegiansigned an agreement that will keep at leastone Norwegian cruise ship sailing season-ally from New Orleans until 2018, andCarnival has a similar agreement through2019, with both agreements includingoptions to extend.

The Port of New Orleans is also host toseveral unique port calls from a varietyof cruise lines, such as Holland AmericaLine, P&O Cruises, AIDA Cruises,Azamara Club Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

Beyond the open seas, the port is fastbecoming the river cruise capital of theU.S. In response to increased demand,American Cruise Lines has homeportedthe 185-passenger America in NewOrleans. Along with the company’sQueen of the Mississippi, America willoffer various eight-day itineraries on theLower Mississippi between NewOrleans and Memphis, Tennessee. Theport is also the homeport to theAmerican Queen Steamboat Company’s436-passenger American Queen, thelargest steamboat ever built.Additionally, Viking River Cruisesintends to introduce a new service withNew Orleans serving as their homeport.

To meet increasing demand for cruisingfrom the Port of New Orleans, construc-tion has begun on a third cruise terminalat the Poland Avenue Wharf, not far fromthe historic French Quarter and thePort’s two existing cruise terminals.

The Port of New Orleans ranks as thesixth-largest cruise port in the UnitedStates, with direct industry expendituresin Louisiana totaling $406 million, sup-porting 8,120 jobs and providing $324million in personal income, according toresearch conducted by Cruise LinesInternational Association. CLIA studiesalso determined 80 percent of cruisepassengers are from out of state, and 60percent spend an average of two nightsin New Orleans either before or aftertheir cruise.


In the last seven years, BrowardCounty’s Port Everglades, one of thetop three homeports in the world, has

completely renovated six of its eightmulti-day cruise terminals with upgradesdesigned to expedite guest check-in andmaximize existing space for smooth, effi-cient operations.

Each of the remodeled terminals featuresspacious baggage halls, ample seating,bright lighting and improved traffic flows.

In addition, the South Florida cruise portinvested nearly $200,000 to upgrade Wi-Fi in each terminal so guests, as well asshore operations, have speedy Internetaccess to upload selfies as they board.

“We work closely with the cruise lines todetermine what is on the horizon so thatwe can tailor the terminal to meet theirneeds, while also building in flexibility sothat the facility can be used for a varietyof ships from different lines,” said PortEverglades Chief Executive & PortDirector Steven Cernak.

In the case of the six remodeled cruiseterminals, Port Everglades started withthe shell and foundation of the buildingsand redesigned, or in some cases expand-

ed, the interiors to handle larger cruiseships with higher passenger counts andmore luggage.

The ground transportation areas wereredesigned to separate guests arriving inpersonal vehicles from taxis, shuttles andbuses. Fast transportation movement isespecially key on busy cruise days, suchas on January 3, 2016, when PortEverglades broke its own world recordwith 53,485 guests moving through theport in a single day.

Safety and security are high priorities atPort Everglades and are reflected in theterminal upgrades. Inside each cruise ter-minal, space is allocated for 100 percentscreening of all passengers, crew and lug-gage. The typical guest flow includessecurity screening upon entering thecruise terminal, rapid check-in at multi-ple counters, and then moving the gueststo a secured, comfortable waiting areaprior to boarding.

“We take a multi-layered approach tosecurity that requires partnerships andclose communications with the cruiselines, port users, and a variety of lawenforcement agencies and security pro-fessionals,” said Port Everglades Deputy

Director Glenn Wiltshire. “While thesafety and security of every cruise passen-ger are our first priorities, there is no wayto overlook the practical and economicnecessity of processing passengers effi-ciently and facilitating pre- and post-cruise tourism.”

As part of its “green” initiative, PortEverglades received its first Leadershipin Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) certification last fall for ener-gy efficient upgrades to CruiseTerminal 4 after its expansion andcomplete renovation.

“We pride ourselves on efficiency andcustomer service,” said Port EvergladesDirector of Business Development JimPyburn. “In addition to state-of-the-artfacilities, we have a cruise services teamdedicated to working with our cruiseline customers to ensure smooth sailingeach turnaround.”

Port Everglades’ next project for this ter-minal will be to lengthen the slip adjacentto Cruise Terminal 4 by 250 feet, for atotal 1,150 feet of berth length to accom-modate larger cruise ships. The $18 mil-lion slip extension is slated to be com-pleted in spring 2017.



Complete Cruise Terminal Renovations – Port Everglades StyleCustomer service and efficient facilities are key components to Port Everglades’ continued success.

WELCOME TO SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL’S FORT LAUDERDALE DEBUT!

There are so many reasons to choose Port Everglades. Our modern, efficiently operated terminals make transit a breeze. We’re just two miles from FLL international airport, and minutes from world-famous beaches. Plus, we’re fully scalable. We can accommodate any size ship or passenger volume, moving passengers from curb to ship in just 15 minutes. Year-round berthing available. Discover how Port Everglades propels your business forward in powerful new ways. Visit porteverglades.net or call 800-421-0188.

THE POWER OF A PREMIER CRUISE PORT

In what other cruise port in the worldcan a cruise passenger experienceworld-renowned sandy beaches, col-

orful Art Deco architecture and popularattractions while sailing away for a fun-filled vacation? Only at PortMiami—Cruise Capital of the World!

At PortMiami cruise passengers’ vacationsstart the minute they arrive. Travelers aregreeted with friendly porters, gracioussafety and security personnel, and enthu-siastic cruise line staff ready to assist fromcheck-in to departure.

PortMiami’s cruise facilities are the mostmodern in the world, providing fast andeasy passenger processing and boarding.Port administration is continuously look-ing at ways to enhance the customerexperience by investing in innovativetechnology and facility improvements.Currently on the drawing board are plansto expand the cruise footprint, includingoptions for new cruise berths and termi-nals, as well as associated intermodal andparking facilities for the next generationof cruise ships.

“Our passengers are of the utmost impor-tance,” says Port Director and CEO Juan

M. Kuryla. “PortMiami offers its cruisepartners and passengers top customerservice. We want every cruise passenger tobegin their vacation experience theminute they arrive at our port.”

Last year PortMiami set another wordrecord in cruise passengers, with nearly4.9 million cruise vacationers sailingthrough the Port, and the Cruise Capitalis poised for yet another exceptionallystrong cruise season.

New for the 2015-16 season is a host ofnew cruise brands and new-build shipsthat rank among the most innovative ves-sels on the seas today. The cruise seasonkicked off with the arrival of NorwegianCruise Line’s new Norwegian Escape.

Many current cruise partners are expand-ing their Miami fleets. Aida Cruisesadded two cruise ships to its PortMiamiline-up, Aida Mar and Aida Vita; RoyalCaribbean will homeport Empress of theSeas in spring 2016; and Resorts WorldBimini continues to sail from PortMiamito Bimini.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Splendorrecently started sailing from Miami, and

the line’s largest ship to date, CarnivalVista, is scheduled to launch starting infall 2016. Additionally, CarnivalCorporation named PortMiami as thehomeport for the launch of its new socialimpact travel brand, Fathom, which willembark on seven-day voyages aboard MVAdonia starting spring 2016.

Miami will also be home for the first ofMSC Cruises’ Seaside-class ships, MSCSeaside, with year-round sailings in winter2017. Another exciting development isthe announcement from Sir RichardBranson, founder of Virgin Cruises, thatPortMiami will be the homeport for thefirst of the new cruise line’s ships startingin 2020.

With 18 cruise brands berthing 42 ships,PortMiami is clearly the departure desti-nation of choice for cruises to TheBahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico andbeyond, offering travelers vacations forevery budget, taste, and style—fromfamily fun to luxury cruising.PortMiami’s ships have onboard ameni-ties from rock climbing walls to five-starmeals. Additionally, passengers can startor end their vacations by extending theirstay in Miami.



Cruising from Port Miami Is Only Getting Better – OfferingTravelers Vacations for Every Taste, Budget and Style


DESTINATIONS AND PORTS: EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

Norwegian Cruise Line ExpandsEuropean Presence withSummer 2017 Itineraries

Europe is significant for NorwegianCruise Line’s international business,accounting for 70 percent of it, andNorwegian Cruise Line furtherproved its commitment to the marketwith ground-breaking summer 2017deployment for Europe that, for thefirst time in company history, featuresfive ships sailing in European waters inthe summer season. Highlights of thenew itineraries include cruises to theBaltic Capitals on Norwegian Getawayfrom Copenhagen and a first-evercomplete season from Hamburg onNorwegian Jade, with embarkation forthose cruises also available in the UKand Amsterdam.

Norwegian will bring NorwegianGetaway, currently the second-newestship in the fleet, back to Europe forthe first time since its delivery in 2014,giving guests the opportunity to expe-rience the ultimate in freedom andflexibility on eight- or nine-nightBaltic Capitals cruises fromCopenhagen. This spectacularitinerary will allow guests to exploreUNESCO World Heritage sites, takein the picturesque Baltic countrysideand experience the unique history, cul-tures and architecture of these famedEuropean cities. The itinerary includescalls in Tallinn, Estonia; Helsinki,Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; alongwith an overnight in St. Petersburg,Russia.

“Bringing Norwegian Getaway toEurope next summer reflects ourcommitment to the growth we havehad in the European market,” saidHarry Sommer, executive vice presi-dent of international business forNorwegian Cruise Line. “In the lastfew years it has been astronomical.”

Sommer also touched on the larger,

newer ship’s importance in sup-porting the popularity of Balticitineraries for American passen-gers. “We know the Baltic has greatappeal for US passengers, so we areputting the larger ship therebecause we expect them to make uphalf the passengers with the otherhalf coming from Europe,” he con-tinued.

Marking the first time thatNorwegian will homeport a ship inHamburg, Germany, NorwegianJade—one of the company’s fourJewel-Class vessels—will featurebrand new cruises from Hamburg in2017. Following an extensive drydock in spring 2017, she will arriveessentially a new ship featuringNorwegian’s new standard of excel-lence the Norwegian Edge™ on May14, 2017. Until October 9, 2017,guests can embark from Hamburgon a series of seven- and nine-dayWestern Europe cruises; nine- andten-day Norwegian Fjords cruises;12-day Norway & North Cape sail-ings; as well as a 14-day Norway,Iceland & UK cruise.

Norwegian will return to England forthe first time since 2010 during sum-mer 2017, as Norwegian Jade will callon Southampton during her cruisesfrom Hamburg. From May 12 – June20 and August 7 – October 16, 2017,guests can choose to embark fromSouthampton for either seven- andnine-day Western Europe cruises ornine- and ten-day Norwegian Fjordscruises. Guests can also choose toembark from Amsterdam, TheNetherlands on select dates for seven-day Western Europe cruises, providingeven more flexibility for guests look-ing to explore Europe pre- or post-cruise.

The return to England is a sign ofthings to come for both the countryand cruise line. The UK is Norwegian

Cruise Line’s largest European sourcemarket, with a 20-percent growth inbookings last year, and Norwegianplans to double that market by 2020.

Three other ships will sail Europeanwaters in 2017, including the recentlyrefurbished Norwegian Epic with herpopular seven-night WesternMediterranean itinerary, where guestscan choose to depart from Barcelona,Civitavecchia (Rome) or Marseille;Norwegian Spirit sailing alternating10- and 11-night GrandMediterranean cruises betweenBarcelona and Venice; and NorwegianStar, which after her return fromAustralia, will spend the summercruising from Venice to the GreekIsles as well as the Adriatic, Greece &Turkey.

“With these exciting new summerEuropean itineraries, we are offeringour guests a wider variety of adventur-ous itineraries that span the continent,while also bringing one of our newestand most innovative ships to Europe,”said Andy Stuart, president and COO,Norwegian Cruise Line.

AIDAaura Offers “Best ofNorthern Europe”

In response to huge demand, for thesummer 2016 season cruise companyAIDA Cruises has added further sen-sational routes to its most populardestinations in Northern Europe. Insummer AIDAaura will be setting sailfor the most beautiful destinations inthe Baltic, Norway, Iceland andGreenland. Most of these cruises willdepart from Kiel. From two-day tastertrip through to leisurely 21-day cruise,these choices will delight cruise new-comers and long-standing regularsalike.

The cruises start on April 30, 2016,


DESTINATIONS AND PORTS: EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

when AIDAaura sets out on a seven-day trip from Palma de Mallorca toHamburg. For the second time, a shipof the AIDA fleet will be setting sailunder the motto of “AIDA pur” withan exclusive board program, guaran-teeing pure relaxation over severaldays at sea. Guests can look forwardto the first highlight of the cruise rightat the outset because when AIDAauraweighs anchor in Palma, she will beaccompanied by AIDAcara andAIDAstella.

A stop in Southampton will allowguests to visit London and the southof England. On the way to Hamburg,the ship will meet up with the latestaddition to the fleet, AIDAprima, ofthe coast of Rotterdam. Cruisingalongside one another, they will enterthe port of Hamburg together on May7, 2016, ensuring a very special experi-ence. And to crown it all, Hamburgwill also be celebrating its 827thanniversary as a port.

From May 7, 2016, AIDAaura will besailing from Hamburg and Kiel alongthe most popular routes in NorthernEurope. The cruise will go to Norway,to St. Petersburg or Riga in the Baltic,and to Spitsbergen, Scotland andIceland. On June 29, 2016, AIDAaurawill leave Kiel for the most beautifuldestinations in the Arctic Circle.Stops on the 17-day cruise includeSpitsbergen, the North Cape, Icelandand the Shetland Islands. Owing topopular demand, the 14-day cruise“Norway with Lofoten Islands andNorth Cape” will additionally beoffered, starting on July 16, 2016.

The absolute highlight of theNorthern Europe season will start onJuly 30, 2016, when it will be “anchorsaweigh” for the guests of AIDAaura,as they head out on a new and fasci-nating voyage to Greenland. This willbe the very first time that it is possibleto visit the world’s biggest island with

AIDA without having to take a plane.The 21-day round trip starts in Kiel,visiting Iceland and Greenland, beforereturning to the home port. Apartfrom Reykjavik, other highlights ofthe cruise will include first-time stopsat Sisimiut and Nuuk on the westcoast of Greenland, and the spectacu-lar passage on the way to Qaqortoq,through the over 100-kilometer-longPrince Christian Sound.

The perfect idea for anybody whowants a short ship vacation, or wouldlike try a cruise for the first timewould be one of the two or four-daycruises in May, June and September,sailing from Kiel. The two-day tripsgo to Copenhagen. On the four-daycruises guests will have a chance todiscover Copenhagen and theScandinavian metropolises ofGothenburg or Oslo.

Fincantieri Forming Agreementsin Iran

Fincantieri signed a number offramework agreements with Iraniancompanies, noting that "prelimi-nary understandings are prior tothe accomplishment of several con-tracts worth some hundred millioneuros and to the potential develop-ment of joint activities."

The understandings include a cooper-ation and development agreementwith Azim Gostaresh HormozShipbuilding Industry Co (AGH), amodern shipyard strategically locatedin the Persian Gulf within the specialeconomic zone.

According to Fincantieri, "the agree-ment provides for cooperationbetween the two companies for theconstruction of new merchant vesselsand offshore units both in the field ofship repairs and conversions and in

refitting activities of already operatingunits. Notably, the cooperation willaffect the development of detailedengineering, optimization of the con-struction processes, technical consul-tancy and assistance in all productionphases and personnel training both onsite and in Italy. To this end, the twocompanies will shortly create specificworking groups engaged in activitiesto establish a synergic cooperationand to develop a solid business part-nership in the area."

Fincantieri, through its subsidiaryIsotta Fraschini Motori, has alsosigned agreements concerning themarine propulsion sector and railtransportation. Under the first ofthese agreements, Isotta FraschiniMotori and trading house Arka TejaratQeshm (ATQ) will set up a joint pro-posal for the supply to the IranianGovernmental of 600 marine enginesfor smaller vessels.

"We have once more demonstrated theability to attract the industrial interestof one of the countries with the high-est development potential in theworld,” said Giuseppe Bono,Fincantieri CEO. “The agreementwhich we have achieved thanks to thecompany's presence in all the areas ofthe shipbuilding and advanced manu-facturing industry will surely repre-sent an added value of outmost impor-tance to increase the worldwidedimension and the export share of ourgroup".

Most UK Passengers Cruisethe Mediterranean or RiverDanube

More than 80 percent of British cruisepassengers head for theMediterranean, according to CLIA's2014 figures. And when it comes toriver cruises—growing in popularity


with the arrival of larger ships offeringmore amenities—the Danube isBritain's most popular holiday desti-nation, followed by the Rhine.Growing in popularity, though, are theRussian waterways, the Mekong Riverin Cambodia and Vietnam and theGanges and Brahmaputra in India.

Pullmantur Refocusing onSpain and Right-Sizing

Pullmantur is refocusing on Europe,with Monarch heading to Europe tohelp the company concentrate onSpanish and French markets. Monarchhad previously been sourcing passen-gers from Latin America for year-round itineraries in the SouthernCaribbean. Pullmantur is also focusingon right-sizing the brand, with Empressbeing returned to the Royal Caribbeanfleet and again sailing as Empress of theSeas after an extensive drydock.

Princess Cruises’ 2017European Sailings IncludeMajestic Princess Inaugural

Princess Cruises’ 2017 Europeancruise vacations include the inauguralsailings of the line’s newestship, Majestic Princess. The season fea-tures six ships sailing to 119 destina-tions from the corners of theMediterranean to the northernmosttip of Europe. Guests can choose from64 unique itineraries on 153 cruisedepartures, visiting 27 countries.Debuting in April 2017, MajesticPrincess first sets sail on maidenEuropean sailings with five- to 28-dayMediterranean voyages fromBarcelona, Athens and Rome.

“Princess is known for offering thebest cruise itineraries around theglobe, and our 2017 Europe season is

sure to inspire our guests with ournewest and largest ships in theMediterranean and NorthernEurope,” said Jan Swartz, PrincessCruises president. “We’re especiallyexcited to debut Majestic Princess inthe Mediterranean before she official-ly sails to Asia for her maiden Chinacruise season.”

Highlights of the Princess Cruises2017 Europe program include:

Majestic PrincessThe newest cruise ship to join thePrincess fleet debuts in Rome(Civitavecchia) on April 4, 2017 for afive-day Maiden Adriatic Sea roundtripvoyage visiting Kotor and Corfu. The3,560-guest Majestic Princess then sailson a series of seven-, 14-, 21- and 28-day Mediterranean voyages departingBarcelona, Athens and Rome fromApril 9-May 14, 2017.

The MediterraneanIn addition to Majestic Princess, RoyalPrincess features new 11-day GrandMediterranean and 10-day WesternMediterranean combinable for a 21-day Grand Mediterranean Collection,as well as seven, 14-, 21- and 28-daysailings throughout the Mediterranean

Scandinavia & RussiaRegal Princess returns to NorthernEurope, along with CrownPrincess and Pacific Princess for popu-lar cruise vacations to Scandinavia &Russia, offering an overnight in St.Petersburg with departures fromLondon (Southampton or Dover) orCopenhagen. A new Pacific PrincessBaltic Heritage itinerary includesovernights in Stockholm and St.Petersburg, sailing from London(Dover).

British Isles CruisesThe 2017 Europe season marks theline’s largest British Isles season everwith 12 departures on Caribbean

Princess and two on Pacific Princess,including last night stays in Edinburghoffering the opportunity to visit theworld famous Edinburgh MilitaryTattoo on select sailings. All 12-dayBritish Isles cruises include a new lateevening stay in Belfast and an optionof an overnight in Dublin on selectdepartures from London(Southampton).

New Ports of CallSummer 2017 features maiden portcalls to Haugesund (Norway), Oban(Scotland), Siracusa (Sicily, Italy),Ulvik (Norway), and St. Tropez(France).

Iceland & NorwayBoth Crown Princess and PacificPrincess will offer North Cape voy-ages to the Arctic Circle during thepeak midnight sun period around thesummer solstice. Crown Princess willalso visit the spectacular Norwegianfjords, while Pacific Princess will fea-ture a maiden call in Haugesund,Norway.

Pacific Princess will also offer 14-dayIceland & Norway itineraries visitingoff-the-beaten path ports in Icelandand the Shetland Islands. She will alsocross to the land of fire and ice on aTransatlantic passage featuringIceland.

European Land & Sea VacationsGuests can enhance their Europeantravel with five unique Land & SeaVacation options, which combine cer-tain sailings with a fully-escorted landtour. Choices include Paris and theFrench Countryside; Ireland’s Ringof Kerry; Classic Italy, visiting popu-lar sites in Venice, Florence andRome; Imperial Treasures ofBudapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin;and Swiss Splendors featuring themountain beauty of Interlaken andLucrene, as well as a scenic boat tripon Lake Como.


DESTINATIONS AND PORTS: AUSTRALASIA

Cruise Lines Testing theChinese Waters

Less than a year after launching

Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean

replaced Johnny Rockets with a noodle

restaurant and the duty-free shop with a

luxury leather boutique, preparing the

then world’s most hi-tech cruise ship to

move from New Jersey to Shanghai.

Though novel at the time—last May—

when many cruise lines were still testing

the waters in China with slightly older

and smaller ships, announcements of

ships custom-built and retrofitted for

China have become commonplace as the

cruise industry continues to capitalize

on booming demand from China, a mar-

ket with the potential for nearly seven

times as many passengers as the U.S.

The U.S. is still the world's leading

source of cruise passengers, with more

than 12 million of 2015’s 23 million

cruisers. But the Hong Kong Tourism

Board estimates that China and its pop-

ulation of 1.4 billion has the potential to

generate as many as 83 million cruise

passengers a year.

As Adam Goldstein, president and

COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.,

pointed out during the FCCA Cruise

Conference, China’s scale “is fairly

exceptional by emerging market stan-

dards of any sort,” and it offers signifi-

cant population of coastal communities,

along with the sudden economic ability

to cruise and a tremendous hunger to

see the world.

This creates the perfect combination for

a target cruiser, especially since the

Chinese market has “an ability and will-

ingness to pay rates that are commiser-

ate with the best markets that exist in

the world today.”

To maximize this combination, cruise

lines are investing heavily and showing

no signs of slowing even despite the

recent signs of China’s slowing econo-

my. Carnival Corporation will have four

brands calling by 2017, with ships like

Majestic Princess built specifically for the

market and the 2014-retrofitted

Sapphire Princess offering tea kettles and

slippers in the cabins, Tai Chi martial

arts classes and authentic Chinese food.

Plus, it has a partnership to develop a

China-based cruise line and will operate

16 offices by the year’s end.

Though Carnival Corporation’s,

through Costa Cruises, and Royal

Caribbean already had the first- and sec-

ond-most capacity share in the region,

so these developments came as less of a

surprise than MSC Cruises and

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

announcing their entry to China, with

Norwegian also building a ship tailored

to the market.

It should also be no surprise that the

Chinese cruise market grew by nearly

80% from 2012 to 2014 to nearly 700,000

passengers. Plus, the deployed capacity

share in Asia rose from 3.6 percent in

2013—about 755,000 passengers—to a

projected 9.2 percent and more than 2.2

million passengers in 2016.

This pace of growth has led to predic-

tions of China becoming the world’s

second-largest cruise market—sup-

planting the Mediterranean—by 2017,

and the Chinese government is aiding

the growth by funding ports’ overhaul

and expansion. China already has seven

international cruise ports, and three

more are under construction.

The growth is coming largely from

China’s expanding middle class, and as

Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival

Corporation & plc and the FCCA, told

at the Conference, “They’re going to be

the largest middle class in the world.

They’re going to be traveling every-

where in the world.”

Arison’s point has been affirmed by

surging air travel from China to U.S.

over the past few years. Chinese travel-

ers have already flocked to Disneyland,

San Francisco and New York, and cruis-

ing is now on track to be the next big

travel trend in China.

Cruise passengers from Asia are pri-

marily under the age of 40, and most of

the cruises they take visit nearby Asian

destinations, such as Japan, Malaysia,

South Korea, Singapore and Thailand.

However, the growth of source mar-

kets like China presents immense

potential of reciprocal growth for other

cruise markets.

“When people become fond of cruising,

they’re not always just going to cruise in

China…They’re going to become

Caribbean cruisers and European cruis-

ers...so this multi-million source market

will also benefit all of us down the

road,” said Richard Sasso, president and

CEO of MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.

Acknowledging the concerns that cruise

lines might hurt the North American

and Caribbean market by deploying

their newest and most modern ships to

China, the cruise line leaders were quick

to note that despite the rapid rise in

China, it still only represents a portion

of their business.

Arison pointed out that only six of

Carnival Corporation’s 100 ships are in

China. “Obviously the number is much

bigger in the Caribbean and has contin-

ued to grow through this whole cycle.”

Norwegian has over 40 percent of its

capacity dedicated to the Caribbean,

told Frank Del Rio, president and CEO

of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. “I

don’t think that’s going to change any

time soon.”



“The other thing to keep in mind is that

the shipyards are full of orders all the

way through 2021, and not all those

ships are headed for China,” he contin-

ued. “Many of them are heading [to the

Caribbean].”

One of those ships, Norwegian Escape,

recently went to PortMiami for year-

round Caribbean sailings.

And Royal Caribbean went full circle

when replacing Quantum of the Seas in

New Jersey with her classmate, Anthem

of the Seas, a sister ship the same size and

offering similar features.

Norwegian Cruise Line Lookingto Breakaway in China

Though Norwegian Cruise Line is

entering the China market a bit later

than others, Frank Del Rio, president

and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line

Holdings Limited (NCLH), believes it

will breakaway from the pack with the

line’s best and newest customized ship.

Being delivered in spring 2017, the

164,400-ton Breakaway Plus newbuild

will offer Mandarin, Cantonese and

Szechuan restaurants, plus entertain-

ment geared to the market. It will have

expanded shopping, gaming and family-

friendly areas with never-before-seen

features at sea.

"Our new purpose-built ship for China

will have characteristics that are authen-

tic to Norwegian Cruise Line and yet

distinctively Chinese in all of its sensi-

bility," said Del Rio. "With this new ship,

Norwegian will unquestionably offer

our Chinese guests a superior product

and introduce a new standard of innova-

tion and excellence into the market-

place, with an unrivaled level of cus-

tomization for the Chinese consumer.

It will perfectly suit what modern

Chinese travelers value from an upscale

cruise experience."

Beyond the ship itself, Del Rio high-

lighted the crew’s importance during an

earnings call, which is why Norwegian's

hotel operations team is partnering with

Chinese hospitality experts to recruit

Mandarin-speakers and craft training

programs so they can provide highly

personalized service.

Plus, to better support the company's

expansion efforts in China, Norwegian

Cruise Line Holdings has opened

offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and

Shanghai. These China-based offices

support all three brands in the compa-

ny's portfolio—Norwegian Cruise Line,

Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas

Cruises—that span the upper end of the

contemporary, premium, and luxury

cruise categories and relevant to each

segment and each stage in the Chinese

consumer life cycle.

"Our China offices house a dedicated

leadership team uniquely focused on

ensuring the success of our local travel

agent partners, which is crucial to the

success of our expansion in what will

soon be the world's second largest cruise

market," said Del Rio. "These offices

will provide sales and marketing support

to our travel partners whose customers

not only wish to sail on our new China-

based ship, but also on any of the

incredible voyages around the world

offered across our portfolio of brands."

Del Rio also highlighted the significance

of China during the earnings call, with

the company’s research finding that to

be the highest-yielding market for the

introduction of a new ship, in addition

to it being the fastest-growing market.

He told China will be the second-largest

cruise market in the next five years and

could exceed the United States within

10 years. And though the economic

growth rate has slowed, it still clocks in

at an impressive seven percent.

However, Del Rio pointed out that there

will be just 14 ships sailing from China

next year and 19 in 2017, with some

there only seasonally. Plus, he stressed

that despite the steady increase with a

three-year compound annual growth

rate of 30%, including Chinese traveling

with Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven

Seas Cruises, China still only serves as a

sliver of Norwegian’s business.

Of course, Del Rio believes that sliver is

a lucrative one, especially when intro-

ducing a new ship.

“Chinese consumers got money in their

pockets, and they want to spend it,” said

Del Rio, adding that their retail and casi-

no onboard spending is considerably

higher than the Western market.

AIDA Cruises to Become FirstGerman Cruise Brand in China andStrengthen Carnival Corporation’sChinese Presence

AIDAbella out of Shanghai all year

round starting in spring 2017, making

it the first German cruise ship with a

homeport in China and sailing year-

round. AIDA Cruises joins two other

Carnival Corporation & plc brands

with a strong presence in China, Costa

Cruises and Princes Cruises. With

AIDA joining Carnival Cruise Line in

China in 2017, four Carnival

Corporation brands will operate in

China, capitalizing on the surging

demand for cruise vacations by

Chinese travelers.

"AIDA would not be so successful

today if we had not constantly ventured

into new territory in the 20 years since

we commissioned our first new ship,"


said Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA

Cruises. "Now we are taking another

important step. With AIDAbella, we are

exporting our successful concept –

‘Made in Germany’ – to China, the

world's strongest growing market for

cruises. With our lifestyle-oriented and

innovative product, we will be providing

powerful momentum to the emerging

Chinese vacation market and captivating

completely new guest groups."

While AIDA's on-board services have

been geared to German-speaking

guests, with AIDAbella the company

will be addressing the needs of the

Chinese market.

"The essence of our product, for which

AIDA stands, will still be preserved,”

continued Eichhorn. “However, we have

taken a very close look at what connects

the Asian guest with Germany. What

premium products does he or she pre-

fer? What cultural differences, including

those relating to consumption habits, do

we need to keep in mind? Since we are

part of Carnival Corporation's Costa

Group, which includes AIDA

Cruises and Costa Cruises, our col-

leagues at Costa Asia will be supporting

us with their know-how, particularly in

the area of sales and human resources."

Carnival Corporation AppointsRoger Chen as Chairman inChina

Roger Chen—a native of China with 25

years of experience with strong exper-

tise in corporate and government affairs

and in-depth knowledge of Chinese

government’s policies and operations—

was appointed as Carnival

Corporation’s chairman in China on

January 1, 2016. Chen will be based

in Shanghai and lead all government

relations and port development, while

also supporting the company's joint

ventures in China. In this new role,

Chen will have responsibility for repre-

senting all of Carnival

Corporation's brands in China to con-

tinue growing the company's industry-

leading presence and scale in the region.

"Roger comes to us with over 25 years of

experience working for major global

companies that have significant opera-

tions in China, as well as time spent

working within the Chinese govern-

ment, all of which will be invaluable to

our growth strategy in China and Asia as

a whole," said Alan Buckelew, Carnival

Corporation’s COO, who relocated to

Shanghai in 2014 and to whom Chen will

report directly. "We look forward to

Roger's leadership and deep knowledge

of government affairs as he

oversees Carnival Corporation's strate-

gic initiatives across all our brands

in China, where we expect continued

growth and expansion as the leading

cruise operator in what has quickly

become one of the fastest growing mar-

kets in the world."

Oceania and Regent JoinNorwegian Cruise LineHoldings’ Asia Pacific Umbrella

Following the transition of Star Cruises

Australia to Norwegian Cruise Line

Holdings’ (NCLH) regional headquar-

ters in Sydney, Oceania Cruises and

Regent Seven Seas Cruises also went

under the corporate umbrella.

“With a burgeoning demand for luxury

cruising in the region we will be invest-

ing additional resources to ensure that

we remain in the market-leading posi-

tion,” said Steve Odell, NCLH SVP and

MD, Asia Pacific.

Odell, who officially opened NCLH’s

Sydney office last October, said excit-

ing times are ahead with the introduc-

tion of Oceania’s Sirena in April, to be

followed by the launch of Regent's

Seven Seas Explorer.

Made for China: MajesticPrincess

Setting sail in spring 2017 from her year-

round homeport in Shanghai, the 3,560-

passenger Majestic Princess will offer

many of the same special features as

Royal Princess and Regal Princess,

which have been so well-received. These

include a dramatic multi-story atrium

serving as the social hub of the ship; an

over-the-ocean SeaWalk, a top-deck

glass-bottomed walkway extending 28

feet beyond the edge of the ship; the

Princess Live! interactive studio; and a

special Chef ’s Table Lumiere, a private

dining experience that surrounds diners

in a curtain of light. As the first ship

built and designed specifically for the

China market, Majestic Princess will also

feature a number of new venues and

experiences created for this market.

P&O’s Pacific Pearl CruisesBoosts Record Cruise Season inAuckland

New Zealand’s burgeoning cruise indus-

try received a huge boost with the arrival

of P&O Cruises’ Pacific Pearl into

Auckland for the launch of the cruise

line’s biggest ever New Zealand season,

lasting a record five months, featuring

20 cruises and generating up to $20 mil-

lion in economic value for New Zealand.

“With the recent addition of two ships

to our fleet, we’ve been able to signifi-

cantly increase our presence in New

Zealand to 20 cruises this year, com-



pared to 10 in 2015,” said Ann Sherry,

CEO, Carnival Australia. “As a result,

this year P&O will more than double

the number of passengers we carry on

cruises from New Zealand, with a 122

percent rise over our 2015 numbers,

reflecting New Zealanders’ growing pas-

sion for cruising.”

P&O Cruises’ expanded cruise pro-

gram will create more opportunities for

New Zealand food and beverage suppli-

ers catering for cruises departing

Auckland. Every turnaround cruise

ship visit is estimated to deliver close to

$1 million to the local economy in pas-

senger accommodation, dining, trans-

port and shopping as well as crew

expenditure, supplies and port charges.

Meanwhile visits to regional cities can

contribute up to $500,000 in passenger

and crew spending.

“Auckland is experiencing a record

cruise season, which is estimated to

deliver $251.7 million to the region,”

said Brett O’Riley, chief executive,

Auckland Tourism, Events and

Economic Development. “It’s fantas-

tic to see P&O [offering] a cruise to

experience…everything Auckland has

to offer.”

Singapore Moves Toward LNGBunkering

Singapore awarded two supplier licens-

es—to Pavilion Gas and a venture

between Keppel Offshore & Marine

and BG Group—as part of a move

toward LNG bunkering. The Maritime

& Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)

said it would work with the license

holders to develop the necessary infras-

tructure to start supplying LNG

bunkers from early 2017.

“With growing international regulatory

requirements and stricter standards for

emissions, LNG is likely to be part of

the fuel mix for global shipping as it

becomes more cost-competitive and

supply chain and infrastructures are

developed,” said Andrew Tan, chief

executive of the MPA.

MPA is also working with stakeholders

to develop LNG bunkering standards

and procedures at both the national and

international levels.

“We will work closely with MPA and

our partners to develop and test safety

procedures and build relevant infras-

tructure to make LNG bunkering a real-

ity in Singapore,” said Seah Moon Ming,

CEO of Pavilion Energy.

“We will leverage our years of experi-

ence and expertise in providing LNG

solutions including gas carrier servicing

to support MPA in its goal to develop

Singapore into a key LNG bunkering

hub in Asia,” said YY Chow, CEO of

Keppel Offshore & Marine.

P&O Cruises to Build NewCruise Ship for Australia

P&O Cruises Australia kicked off the

New Year with a major announcement

that it will make history by becoming

the first cruise line to build a new ship

specifically for the Australian market.

Weighing in at 135,500 tons, the ship

will be the biggest cruise ship ever to be

based fulltime in Australia, carrying

more than 4,200 guests—double the

capacity of the biggest vessel currently

homeporting in Australia.

To be launched in 2019, the new ship

will be built specifically for modern

Australia and offer itineraries from three

to 10 days.

Based year-round in Australia, it will

capture forecast further growth in the

local cruise market and reaffirm P&O’s

84-year national maritime heritage.

Carnival Australia Executive Chairman

Ann Sherry and P&O Cruises Australia

President Sture Myrmell hailed the first

‘newbuild’ cruise ship for the Australian

market as the best possible good news

for one of the world’s top performing

cruise markets.

"The much anticipated first newbuild

cruise ship is a huge vote of confidence

in the Australian cruise market with

much of the 20 percent year-on-year

passenger growth over the past decade

driven by P&O Cruises’ dynamic indus-

try leadership," said Sherry.

Myrmell pointed out that the new ship

added to P&O Cruises’ pattern of

growth, with the recent addition of

Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden to its three-

ship fleet to be followed in 2017 with

the addition of Pacific Explorer.

"P&O Cruises is the modern face of

Australian cruising, and with such a

proud heritage of leadership, it is a nat-

ural step to announce that the line will

take delivery of its first newbuild ship,"

continued Myrmell.

The new ship is just one of many

P&O firsts in its development as

Australia’s most trusted cruise line as

confirmed over three consecutive

years in the Reader’s Digest annual

trusted brands survey.

Columbus sailed the ocean blue,but not all by himself. He need-ed vendors, suppliers and crew.

The 21st-century cruise industry needspartners, too, and finds them at theFlorida-Caribbean Cruise Association(FCCA).

“Establishing relationships amongMember Lines and partner destinations’public and private sectors was, after all,the goal behind the 1994 founding ofthe FCCA Conference,” says MichelePaige, president of the association.

In the dynamic cruise industry, thegame’s rules constantly change, andyou’re not the only one longing for achance to get on the playing field.Plenty providers vie for the competi-tion to get on the roster of a winningteam, and the cruise industry is thefastest growing leisure travel sector,consistently posting over 100 percentoccupancy and year-over-yeargrowth.

Its significance can also be seen in itsdirect economic impact on the FCCA’spartner cruise destinations. According toa study performed by Business Research& Economic Advisors (BREA), the 35participating destinations saw cruisetourism economic contributions of $3.16billion, as well as 75,050 jobs paying$976.5 million in wages.

Who would pass up playing time on ateam with that record?

Join the TeamTo get in the game, you have to knowthe players. But how? If you were havinga problem with your electric bill, youprobably wouldn’t call the president of

the power company; you would likelytalk to an automated machine and spendtime on hold before finally reaching acustomer service representative.

But what if you and the electric compa-ny president had a mutual friend whointroduced the two of you at a dinner,cocktail reception or even on aCaribbean cruise?

The FCCA is your friend. The associa-tion serves as a liaison betweenproviders and destination partners likeyou and the cruise industry’s moversand shakers who decide where ships go,what to sell onboard and how to investin infrastructure.

“The most important reason to jointhe FCCA is the immediate and directcontact a company will have with thedecision makers in the cruise indus-try,” informs Micky Arison, chairmanof Carnival Corporation & plc andthe FCCA.

And those Member Line decisionmakers carry a lot of weight andinfluence throughout the industryand world. Though the FCCA focus-es on the Caribbean and LatinAmerica, its 19 Member Lines circlethe globe: AIDA Cruises, AzamaraClub Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line,Celebrity Cruises, Costa CruiseLines, Croiseres de France, CunardLine, Disney Cruise Line, HollandAmerica Line, MSC Cruises (USA)Inc., Norwegian Cruise Line,Oceania Cruises, P&O Cruises,Princess Cruises, PullmanturCruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises,Royal Caribbean International,Seabourn, TUI Cruises.

Game OnYou’ll find the names in the FCCAMembership Directory, Highlight Issueand this quarterly magazine. And you’llsee the faces at Platinum Memberevents, meetings and the annual FCCAConference & Trade Show.

But you won’t have to worry how tocatch their attention. The FCCA offersmany ways to get on the minds of thesedecision makers and the FCCA’s numer-ous destination and service partners.

One is through a number of marketingoptions, all offering unique, tailoredapproaches to spotlight you in FCCAevents and publications. Event spon-sorships prominently display your logo,brand, message and partnership withthe cruise industry where these crucialstakeholders gather.

Traditional print advertising is avail-able in FCCA publications that aredistributed to, read by and participat-ed in by over 500 FCCA Member Lineexecutives. And more than 19,000travel agents and 7,500 industry part-ners representing all sectors of thecruise industry—such as retailers,attractions, port agents, suppliers,hoteliers, tour operators, shipbuilders,purchasing, food and beverage opera-tions, entertainment personnel,finance and administration depart-ments, marketing and PR representa-tives and international press andmedia correspondents— receiveFCCA publications.

Other marketing opportunities includedirect mailing to over 18,000 contacts,mailing inserts, advertising on the FCCAwebsite and in FCCA staff ’s e-mail


MEMBERS AND TRAVEL AGENTS

How to Work with the Cruise Industry: The ABCs of the FCCA

signature, along with participating in aweekly newsletter to deliver your brand,news or PR message to over 10,000 travel professionals.

Plus, chances, prospects and advantagesabound in the FCCA’s membershipprogram. FCCA membership, likemembership in most organizations,provides you with some basic benefits,such as discounts and savings on adver-tising and event registration fees; col-lateral support; and access to cruiseexecutive meetings and the most up-to-date industry research and trends.

One of these membership discounts isfor the FCCA Cruise Conference andTrade show, which will gather about 100cruise executives and 1,000 industrystakeholders in San Juan, Puerto Ricofrom September 26-30 for a five-dayagenda of one-on-one meetings, work-shops, social functions and networkingopportunities.

“More can be accomplished in the fourdays at the FCCA Conference thanduring the other 361 days of the year,”tells Adam Goldstein, president &COO of Royal Caribbean CruisesLimited. “Everybody who’s anybodyin the cruise industry attends thisevent. Decision makers are quite opento hearing about new products, ser-vices, destinations, shore excursionsand ideas.”

However, the real prize is throughPlatinum Membership, which givesyou a direct line to these decision mak-ers. Besides granting special privilegesand complimentary registrations atFCCA events like the Conference andGala, numerous private PlatinumMember events build relationshipsbetween Platinum Members and cruise

executives, such as the PlatinumAssociate Member Advisory Council(PAMAC) Cruise Summit, inauguralcruises and exclusive events duringSeatrade Cruise Global.

Another, the PAMAC Conference,brings Platinum Members and cruiseexecutives together in a partner destina-tion for more of what all FCCA eventsseek—a healthy mix of business andpleasure. PAMAC members have seenthis balance while closing deals atonboard parties or getting an insidelook at industry projects and enjoyingan unforgettable shore excursion.

“I can’t tell you how many productivepeople I’ve had a chance to get to knowwhile attending the PAMACConference,” tells Giora Israel, seniorvice president of port & destinationdevelopment for Carnival Corporation.“These are the people who have ideasand projects I want to know about—and need to know about.”

Scoring PointsA good coach knows that team mem-bers who work together to reach acommon goal develop unbreakablebonds. FCCA members—destinationministries, port agents, tour operators,product and service providers andmore—come to appreciate eachother’s talents as they form teams totackle a wide range of projects that notonly boost the regional cruise industry,but also give back to the destinationsthat welcome FCCA Member Linecruise ships.

Imagine how it feels to know you andyour colleagues provided smiles, giftsand holiday festivities for needy chil-dren throughout the Caribbean andLatin America. This heartwarming

experience is delivered every yearthrough the FCCA Foundation’sHoliday Gift Project.

“Working with the FCCA Foundation,the association’s charitable arm, hasbeen one of the most enriching experi-ences of my life,” shares FedericoGonzalez-Denton, associate vice presi-dent of government relations in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean for RoyalCaribbean Cruises Limited. “The addedbenefit is that I meet great peoplethrough the Foundation, and we end updoing great things together in thecruise industry.”

Final ScoreThe FCCA can put you in the middleof the action, but it is much more thana door to the cruise industry. Membersmake business contacts, but also formsignificant relationships. Consider theFCCA your keystone for success—acoach that links players and motivatesthem to operate as a team.

“Never has it been more important forcruise and travel partners to cometogether and share ideas,” as Paige tells.“That’s what the FCCA is all about.”

Go for the win. If you want to bring thelines to your destination; get yourproduct onboard the ships; target theaudience doing the above at FCCAevents; advertise in numerous publica-tions with the same audience, alongwith an extensive database; or collabo-rate to find a specific opportunity foryou, the FCCA is your source. Becomean FCCA Associate or PlatinumMember, and advertise where your mes-sage will be seen by discerning eyes thatcan make a difference. The teamwants—and needs—what you have tooffer.


Perhaps no one is better attuned to trends in the travel andleisure industry than travel agents. Travel agents are work-ing with consumers and travel providers every day, which

gives them a uniquely valuable perspective on the near-termtravel outlook. So it speaks volumes that travel agents are bullishabout their cruise business in 2016. In a CLIA survey conduct-ed at the end of 2015, American travel agents said they expect tosee notable growth in the number of cruises people take in 2016,as well as increases in passenger spending.

“This survey affirms that the cruise industry is poised forgrowth among families, who are the future of cruising, andamong travelers who are interested in convenience and thereturn on experience that cruising offers,” said Cindy D’Aoust,CLIA’s acting CEO.

Sales and Spending OutlooksTravel agents overwhelmingly agree that the outlook for cruisetravel in 2016 is strong, with 83 percent expecting increases insales volume. More than two out of five travel agents expectsales volume to increase by ten percent or better, and one-fifthexpect volume increases of six to 10 percent. Only four percentexpect a decrease in cruise bookings in 2016.

“Families, couples and individuals who may not have consideredcruising before are now taking note that it is not all about shuf-fleboard and old people,” said travel agent Sabrina Kraft. “Theyare discovering the full extent of the activities offered bothonboard and in the ports. They are discovering the great value ofthe cruise vacation. Individuals who are now being introducedto cruising are finding that it fulfills so many of their wants andneeds without breaking the bank.”

This wave of new cruisers is also significant. As D’Aoust noted,“Travel agents have consistently told us that, when consumerstake cruises for the first time, they quickly become apostles forcruising in general.”

Similarly, travel agents are anticipating that consumers willincrease their spending on cruises this year, with 73 percentbelieving that cruise consumers will spend more in 2016. Nearlya third expect increases in the one to five percent range, andabout a quarter predicted spending increases of more than tenpercent. Overall, only three percent of agents estimated thatconsumer spending on cruises would be down this year.

Vacation TrendsConsistent with travel agents’ expectations that sales volumeand spending on cruises will increase in 2016 is their perceptionthat, among all vacation segments, cruises are experiencing thegreatest increase in booking and that house rentals and resortswithout packages are showing the greatest decreases.

When looking at the full landscape of vacation options, travelagents report that the two segments with the greatest increasein booking are ocean cruises (36%) and river cruises (28%).Only all-inclusive resorts (23%) rival cruises in theirincreased booking.

If cruises are gaining in popularity, it might be because this is amore attractive option for families. “More families are cruisingand taking younger children,” said Karen Shelton, a respondingtravel agent. “Families are looking for family-friendly cabinaccommodations, activities that please all ages, as well as sepa-rate youth programming so the adults can have some free time.”

If cruises are shaping up to be the winning vacation segmentsin 2016, then the biggest potential losers are house rentals(with 20% of travel agents expecting declines), resorts with-out packages (with 18% expecting declines) and land-basedescorted tours(also with18% expecting declines). Only sixpercent of travel agents believe that ocean or river cruises willdecrease in bookings.



Travel Agent Cruise Industry Outlook

Cruise Trends Although travel agents perceive that the overall outlook for cruis-es is strong, they do not expect to see growth across the board.With travelers growing increasingly price-conscious, the segmentsthat are expected to see growth are mass market cruises (62% oftravel agents anticipate some growth) and premium cruises (54%).

Travel agent Aiko Yao Lim says that the trend that is mostaffecting his business is the consumers’ desire for “deals and get-ting the lowest price possible with the best value.….We’ve alsobeen seeing more customers wanting to embark on cruises intheir own city and not want to take air to go on their cruise.”

Similarly, there is uneven growth among the types of cruises thattravel agents are booking. They report that river cruises andcruises on large ships are generating the biggest growth (with 71percent and 66 percent respectively reporting growth in thosesegments). While few declines are anticipated in any segment,according to travel agents, growth is lowest among expeditionvehicles and boutique or yacht cruises.

Travel agents are reporting that the cost and hassle of interna-tional flying is becoming a barrier to many long-distance cruisedestinations. Consequently, domestic and local cruises are expe-riencing the most significant growth so far this year. Eventhough Alaskan cruises are one of the smallest segments of theindustry, accounting for only four percent of total deployment,more travel agents (73%) are seeing increases in Alaskan cruisesthan any other region. The largest region for cruising, with athird of all cruises—the Caribbean—is poised for even moregrowth in 2016, with 52 percent of travel agents seeing growththere. Another local region with strong growth in 2016 is

Canada and New England, with 42 percent of travel agentsexpecting growth.

Another trend that travel agents are reporting is that customersare booking their cruises further in advance. Forty-seven per-cent say that customers are increasingly booking nine to twelvemonths ahead, and 42 percent say more cruises are being bookedsix to nine months in advance. Not surprisingly, last-minutedeciders seem to be on the wane. A third of travel agents reporta decreasing number of cruises being booked in less than threemonths.

Agency TrendsLike any modern industry the travel agency business continuesto change. When asked an open-ended question about whattrends are having the most impact on their businesses, the mostfrequently volunteered trend was an increase in groups and fam-ilies (including multigenerational families) who are cruisingtogether. This is having a positive impact on cruising as moreand younger families discover cruise travel.

New ships, especially larger ships that offer all-inclusive pricing,seem to be having a positive impact on the demand for cruising.Travel agents have also noticed an increased interest in river cruising.

Summary As we begin 2016, the cruise industry is headed for growth, andtravel agents are reinforcing this trend. Travel agents are antici-pating increases in both the number of people who are cruisingand the amount of money they spend on cruises. Looking long-term, the future of cruising is secure. As moremultigenerational families embark on cruises, the cruise habitwill become ingrained in younger consumers. This is importantbecause retention rates are extremely high among travelers afterthey experience their first cruise.


201713–16 MarchFO R T L AU D ER DA L E

F L O R I D A

Register Your Interest Now: www.seatradecruiseglobal.com/register

Join

us!

#STCGlobal • For more information call us at +1 212-600-3260.

13–16 March 2017Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center

Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

Building upon the success of theCruise Lines InternationalAssociation (CLIA) North

American Travel Agency and IndividualTravel Agent member program in 2015,CLIA is offering a host of new benefitsfor its 2016 Agency and IndividualAgent Membership (IAM) programs toensure CLIA is providing membersmeaningful, practical and valuableresources to succeed.

CLIA surpassed its North Americangoals and enrolled more than 9,000 trav-el agencies and 18,000 individual travelagent members in 2015, reinforcingCLIA's leadership as the largest travelagent member program globally. To max-imize membership value, CLIA con-ducted a member survey and incorporat-ed the results into the updated 2016member benefits.

New and Improved EMBARC ID

Based on member feedback, CLIAlaunched the new EMBARC (EnrolledMember Benefit and Recognition Card)ID, formally known as the CLIA Card,the official credential of the cruise indus-try and exclusively for CLIA IndividualAgent members. The new EMBARC IDhas been refreshed and rebranded to guar-antee that CLIA members will be recog-nized throughout the industry.

With more than 200 benefits associatedwith the EMBARC ID, CLIA memberswill have the most relevant and up-to-date offers the cruise industry has tooffer. More importantly, new benefits willbe added throughout the year.

CLIA members receive priority confir-mation on FAM trips, seminars at sea andship inspections on CLIA Cruise LineMember ships with the EMBARC ID.Members also obtain commission privi-leges and personal travel benefits with avariety of travel suppliers, including air

consolidators, rental car companies,hotels, resorts, attractions and CLIAGlobal Cruise Line Members. A descrip-tion of more detailed benefits can befound on cruising.org.

Different Memberships to Meet theNeeds of All Travel Professionals

CLIA offers two types of membershipsfor professional travel consultants to pro-vide the credibility and education neededto thrive in the cruise industry.

CLIA Agency Membership can rapidlyraise an agency's profile and reputationwithin the industry and offers agenciesthe opportunity to enroll as Silver, Goldor a Diamond level agency.

CLIA Individual Agent Members (IAM)enjoy a wide array of benefits andresources to assist with navigating theoverall cruise industry, attracting moreclients, earning professional certificationsand increasing overall income.

Benefits range from exclusive news andcontent in the monthly Travel AgentCruise News newsletter to tools featuredin the members-only myCLIA section of

cruising.org. Other benefits includeCLIA Cruise TV, the CLIA Agent Finderand priority access to professional devel-opment opportunities not offered any-where else in the industry.

With a wide-range of resources, CLIAmembers are given the tools andresources needed to achieve their busi-ness goals. To continue offering the bestaccess to industry data, CLIA also devel-oped a new State of the Cruise Industryonline course to help members reach thehighest level of industry knowledge.

Additionally, CLIA members receive a$100 discount on registration at theupcoming Cruise360 conference thisJune in Vancouver, British Columbia, thelargest and official conference of thecruise industry.

"CLIA Agency and Individual AgentMembership provides increased credibil-ity and is a must for travel professionalsin the cruise industry," said CharlesSylvia, VP, Membership and TradeRelations. "Leveraging CLIA member-ship is key to setting yourself apart fromthe competition."



Cruise Lines International Association’s 2016 Travel Agencyand Individual Agent Member Programs and Benefits



British Virgin Islands’ TortolaPier Park Opens

Tuesday, February 16 marked a signifi-cant milestone for the British VirginIslands, with the officially opening ofthe new cruise and shopping facility,Tortola Pier Park. The local communitycame out in droves to celebrate thisgreat occasion, adding to the 7,000 pluscruise passengers in port that day. TheBVI’s cruise and shopping facility cannow berth some of the biggest ships inthe world, while providing an unforget-table shopping, dining and entertain-ment experience for facility visitors.

Caye Caulker Gets New Beach

Belize’s island, Caye Caulker, is a popu-lar destination, especially for cruise pas-sengers, due to its proximity to the portof entrance. Visitors will now enjoy1,883 linear feet that was reclaimed. Theproject was well received by the com-munity at large and has been very popu-lar with visitors. The reclamation workswill be complimented by the establish-ment of an improved craft center forlocal artisans in Caye Caulker.

St. Kitts Sails into 2015/2016Cruise SeasonSt. Kitts received a dozen inaugural portcalls to start the 2015/2016 cruise season.

Berthing at Port Zante for the first timewere Carnival Dream, NorwegianGetaway, Anthem of the Seas, Voyager ofthe Seas, Magellan, Oosterdam, Eurodam,Crystal Symphony, Brittania, CostaFavolosa, Costa Magica and MSCOrchestra. Also new for the season, St.Kitts has installed free Wi-Fi at PelicanMall in Port Zante to ensure easy Internetaccess for today’s connected travelers.For more: www.stkittstourism.kn.

Grenada Sailing Week

As the winds in Grenada picked up atthe end of January, sailors from near andfar steered their keelboats into an excit-ing week of competition. The GrenadaSailing Week attracted 200 participantsfrom 20 countries sailing 35 boats thatwere segmented into 5 classes.

The 12 racecourses were set at the Southof the mainland of Grenada, where theCaribbean Sea hugs the Atlantic Ocean.

Port Oasis Improvements atCartagena de Indias Cruise ShipTerminal

The best kept secret of Cartagena deIndias Cruise Ship Terminal is its oasis,an area full of nature and home to a widevariety of birds and animals. The zoohas been upgraded with a new attrac-

tion: the waterfalls, a project developedto improve the passenger experience atport. This area, part of the habitat offlamingoes and black swans, has becomeeven more picturesque for visitors.

Tropical Shipping

Tropical Shipping’s maiden voyage fromthe Port of Palm Beach arrived intoFreeport in 1963. Today, Tropical offersits Freeport customers five sailingsevery week. Tropical’s fast and frequentsailings give the cruise industry the abil-ity to have cargo on island when theyneed it so that the schedule anddemands of the dry docks are reliablymet. Tropical takes the time to under-stand customers’ businesses and offerconvenient and reliable logistics solu-tions to meet every shipping need.

Tourism Corporation BonaireAppoints New Director of Tourism

The Tourism Corporation Bonaireannounced the appointment of theirnew Director of Tourism, Mr. MauriceAdriaens on February 1, 2016. Mr.Adriaens is responsible for overseeingall marketing, public relations andadvertising programs for TCB’sHeadquarters, and satellite offices. “Iam looking forward to working with allof the TCB offices, trade partners and


Bonaire’s private sector to maintain andfurther expand the island’s reputation asa global destination for world-classscuba diving, eco-adventure, leisure andcruise tourism,” said Adriaens.

Costa Rica Tourism Board andthe Cruise Ship Association

The Costa Rica Tourism Board workstogether with the association of cruiseships to provide better services. TheCruise Ship Association represents themajority of the country’s shore excur-sion operators, as well as cruise shipagents dedicated. Their main focus is towork directly with government entities,local municipalities and internationalassociations to make sure that CostaRica is continually striving in betteringits services and provides a quality desti-nation for passengers and ships alike.

PPI Group Highlights

PPI Group — the industry leader in cus-tom publishing, video production, andport shopping programs — was selectedas the official media host of SeatradeCruise Global 2016, where its BroadcastOperations Division was on-hand tocapture the show through interviewsand event footage. In addition, PortholeCruise Magazine celebrates its 20thanniversary with the March/April issue

revealing a new logo and masthead.Porthole’s emerging video division,PortholeTV, also debuted “PortholeCruise Views,” a new platform to show-case entertaining cruise content.PPIGroup.com

Tampa Port AuthorityChannelside Master Plan

Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc.(B&A) has designed a $1.7 billion, 15-year master plan for Port Tampa BayFlorida to develop 45 acres in a water-front area called the Channel District.The master plan maximizes the potentialof 45 acres of port-owned land alongChannelside Drive and Ybor Channel,contributing to the area’s ongoing revi-talization. Unique features of theplanned development include anenlarged cruise ship terminal, a marina,park space, stores, and hotels along withtwo 75-story residential towers.

Starboard Reveals New RetailSpaces on Upcoming Cruise Ships

April marks the launch of two game-changing cruise ships, HollandAmerica's ms Koningsdam and RoyalCaribbean's Ovation of the Seas—bothof which will feature incredible retailofferings from Starboard CruiseServices. The Starboard-operated shops

will aim to enhance the cruising experi-ence with products curated to supportthe breadth of destinations each shipvisits—from apparel and leathergoods—for ms Koningsdam’s Europeanitineraries to fine jewelry and luxurytimepieces for Ovation, which willhomeport in China and Australia.

Museo del Mar: The MaritimeMuseum of San Juan

Old San Juan, one of the most importantports in American maritime history, nowhas the Museo del Mar. The unique mar-itime museum in Puerto Rico provides afirst-hand experience of navigationthroughout time. The museum is locatedat 360 San Francisco St. in Old San Juan,just a short walk from Plaza Colón andthe cruise ship pier. It is open Wednesdayto Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Port of Sonora ContinuesConstruction of Puerto Peñasco

Port of Sonora will continue construc-tion of the Puerto Peñasco Homeportunder the leadership of recentlyappointed Minister of Tourism ofSonora, Jesus Antonio BerumenPreciado. The Homeport is located innorthwestern Sonora, in the northernpart of the Sea of Cortez, which wasnamed the Aquarium of the World byJacques Cousteau. At a short distancefrom Puerto Peñasco is the PinacateReserve, a UNESCO World Heritagesite since 2013.

CH2M’s Role in Dredging theBermuda North Shipping Channel

CH2M provided design engineering andconstruction oversight services for thedredging of the Bermuda NorthShipping Channel, the first channeldredging project in Bermuda in over 50years. The dredging included wideningand deepening the North Channel toprovide access to Royal Naval Dockyard



for Royal Caribbean International’sAnthem of the Seas. The project was asuccessful collaboration between RoyalCaribbean Cruises Ltd., theGovernment of Bermuda, CH2M,Bermuda Environmental Consultingand Jan De Nul.

Azamara Club Cruises' “AzAmazingEvenings” Hosted by Chukka

Chukka celebrated the New Year withthe launch of Azamara Club Cruises'“AzAmazing Evenings” at Good HopeEstate. More than 500 guests enjoyed aperformance by the legendary Jamaicanreggae band Third World, an authenticJamaican menu and a tour of the historicGood Hope Estate. The event, devel-oped exclusively for the cruise line,demonstrated how Chukka works col-laboratively to meet the individual needsof cruise partners with diverse activitiesand adventures. To learn more:www.chukka.com.

Amerimed Hospital to DevelopsFirst Catheterization Lab in Cozumel

Amerimed Hospital recently announcedthe upcoming arrival of the first formalcatheterization lab in Cozumel. Thissubstantial investment reaffirms itscommitment to offer outstanding careto Cozumel’s inhabitants and its visi-

tors, as it allows services previouslyunavailable in the island, such as neu-rovascular, interventional radiology, andadvanced cardiac procedures.Furthermore, the addition confirmsAmerimed’s leadership in expandinghealthcare horizons in selected touristdestinations in Mexico and reaffirmsAmerimed Hospital as the best optionfor medical care in Cozumel.

Baja California Sur Ready forThis Year's Cruise Ships

The government of Baja California Surhas negotiated with the main shippingcompanies in the world the increase ofarrivals to the ports of Cabo San Lucas,La Paz and Loreto, which together willreceive 221 cruises, six percent morethan last year, with 523,000 passengers,12 percent more than 2015. TheGovernment and service providers areready to welcome tourists to have apleasant visit.

Urban Exploration in Lima, theCity of the Kings

For years, Lima, Peru’s capital city, hasbeen a sort of stepping stone on theitineraries of passengers going to Cuscoand Machu Picchu. Travelers nowunderstand that any visit to Peru wouldbe incomplete without exploration of

this historic, modern, entertaining,friendly and gourmet city. The city is amust for those interested in colonialmonuments, archaeology, handicrafts,bird watching, museums, beach relax-ation and authentic fare.

Costamed Group: The MedicalService Leader of the RivieraMaya and the Caribbean

Always at the cutting edge, Costamed is aMedical Service Leader in the Riviera Mayaand the Caribbean. This is due to the recentopening in Tulum, as well as the expansionand remodeling of the Playa delCarmen Hospital and the Mahahual Clinic.Our Cozumel hospital is the only one certi-fied by the General Health Council, and iscurrently in the process of CanadianCertification. With our continuous achieve-ments and growth, we have reached medicalexcellence for the community and tourismsectors.

Park West Gallery

Few experiences can match the excite-ment of bidding on and collecting art,and Park West Gallery is the best sourcefor discovering the finest the art worldhas to offer through its art auctions atsea. Park West works directly withartists such as Romero Britto, and thePark West Foundation is proud to work


alongside artists such as Yaacov Agamand Autumn de Forest to sponsor muse-um exhibits in 2016 that promote arteducation and awareness.Visit www.parkwestgallery.com for thelatest news.

Rodman Marketing GuruLaunches New Website

The new website of Rodman MarketingGuru went live in January. The FCCAcommunity now has access to a websitewhere you can find over 700,000 prod-ucts! The launch of the new website—offering quick and easy access to essen-tial information on marketing, printing& branding community—is part of theorganization’s ongoing efforts toenhance the quality and availability ofinformation to its member’s and profes-sionals worldwide. For more:www.Rodman.Guru

Disney Institute Assists theBritish Virgin Islands withImproving Guest Service

In the second half of 2015, the BVITourist Board partnered with theDisney Institute to create and maintaina distinctive culture of service for thetourism sector. Working with public andprivate stakeholders, a ServiceFramework for the BVI was developed,

which focuses on creating unique BVIguest experiences that are distinct fromother destinations.

Martinique Is Full of Surprisesfor 2016

The Fondation Clément, which hashosted 160 artists, has re-opened itsdoors with three new spaces dedicated toCaribbean contemporary art, and the 94-room Le Simon Hotel is poised to bringa new level of modern style and sophisti-cation to downtown Fort-de-Francearea. Nestled on the waterfront directlyin front of Pointe Simon CruiseTerminal, it will offer convenient accesson foot to all of the capital city’s bestshopping and prime historic sites, mak-ing it ideal for pre- and post-cruise stays.

Time to Cruise to USVI throughThe West Indian Company, Ltd.

This is the ideal time to visit or book acruise to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Plansare underway for the centennial celebra-tion of our transfer from Denmark tothe United States. Historicallyrenowned as a trading port, our well-maintained shopping district representsthe ideal fusion of both cultures, andsuccessfully combines testaments toDanish architecture with luxury andbrand-name retail stores.

CCS Tours IncreasesConnectivity and Security

CCS Tours now has WIFI on most of itsvehicles. This offers additional securityand tacking as we continue to improveour services and maintain an incident andaccident free operation for over 30 years.Additionally, all over drivers and staff areconnected to a special two-way networkfor direct connect to ship staff for com-munication. We are constantly improv-ing to serve our valued clients and toassure that they are in good hands.

Puerto Rico Opens New HyattHotel Close to Homeport Piers

Puerto Rico recently inaugurated theHyatt Place San Juan/City Center hotel,adding 149 rooms to the ConventionCenter District. Combined with the othertwo district hotels, the area now boastsover 650 rooms. The hotel’s facilitiesinclude meeting and event space and a largefamily-friendly pool, and it is located lessthan five minutes from the PanAmericanPier in Isla Grande and about 10 minutesfrom Pier 4 in Old San Juan.

Ambassatours Constructing theFirst ‘Big Building’ in Canadawith CarbonCure Walls

Ambassatours is trading its bus depothome for a new, greener building beingput up to house its head office and entirefleet of vehicles. The 32,000-square-footbuilding under construction in downtownHalifax is being built with walls byCarbonCure, which captures carbon diox-ide and stores it until they introduce itinto the concrete when it's poured. Theconcrete hardens, and the carbon is lockedin permanently, making the walls strongerand greener.


FACES IN THE INDUSTRY

Kevin George Buchanan – Bar Manager, Azamara Club Cruises

My name is Kevin George Buchanan, and I am the Bar Manager onboard Azamara Club Cruises’recently revitalized Amazara Journey. I am originally from Ocho Rios, Jamaica. After working inlocal hotels as a bartender, I joined the cruise industry in order to travel, learn more about cocktails,spirits and beverages, and build a solid future. I joined Azamara because it has a great reputation inthe cruise industry, and it offers opportunity for every individual who joins the company.

My favorite part of working on a ship is learning about different cultures, different lifestyles, and liter-ally visiting different places around the world, which makes me more open-minded. Traveling educatesyou about life in general; it makes you a better citizen of the world. As a matter of fact, I think if wecould actually make it mandatory for everyone to work at least one year on a cruise ship, we might beable prove that we can all work and live together in peace towards a common goal and be successful.

Norway is my favorite cruise destination. It is so green and refreshing. Every time I visit Norway, it reminds me of a TV seriesI watched as a child growing up, with a brightly-painted house standing on its own in an open field and rivers running downmountainsides. It sometimes seems unreal and fascinating how naturally beautiful Norway is.

Amanda Velasquez – Assistant Chief Housekeeper, Celebrity Cruises

My name is Amanda Velasquez, and I was born in Caracas, Venezuela. I currently work withCelebrity Cruises as an Assistant Chief Housekeeper onboard Celebrity Equinox. In this role, Isupervise, assist and support the Housekeeping personnel to ensure our guest’s modern luxuryvacation experience is unforgettable.

I joined Celebrity based on the recommendation of a former employee who told me the best yearsof his life were spent at sea while sailing with Celebrity. I wanted an opportunity to change thedirection of my life, and when I envisioned my future, I saw myself living around the world andmaking new friends and enjoying new experiences. So I signed on with Celebrity.

Working on cruise ships has given me the opportunity to see places around the world that previ-ously seemed out of reach to me—from Europe to Antarctica. My favorite destinations so far are

Kotor in Montenegro because I love the beautiful sight of the mountains, Alaska for its breathtaking natural beauty, and St.Maarten in the Caribbean.

Dennis Pilgrim – Head Waiter, Royal Caribbean International

My name is Dennis Pilgrim, and I am Head Waiter onboard Royal Caribbean International’sFreedom of the Seas. My current duties entail supervising, training, coaching and mentoring staffmembers within our dining facilities. I began my career with Royal Caribbean in 1982 and havenow spent more than 30 years serving our guests on several ships.

I am originally from the island country of Grenada, and my favorite cruise destinationsare throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. When asked why I love working on acruise ship, my response is easy—the destinations, the joy, the exposure to new cultures,and the experiences.

Jamaica

Venezuela

Grenada


FACES IN THE INDUSTRY

Flavia Fernandez – Guest Services Manager, Royal Caribbean International

My name is Flavia Fernandez, and I am from Uruguay. I have been with Royal Caribbean for adozen years, and I am currently a Guest Services Manager. I'm responsible for guest check-in anddeparture on the ship, plus I work with our Front Desk, Print Shop, Concierge Lounges, Crown& Anchor Program, and other areas to make sure our guests are satisfied with our service.

Before joining the cruise industry, I was studying International Relations at the University of Uruguay,using my skills in Spanish and Italian, while working at local hotels. Previously, I also worked in arestaurant and was a children’s dance teacher. I joined the crew of Empress of the Seas and thought Iwould be in the bar there for just one contract, but I liked it so much that after 12 years, I'm still here!

I love that I learn something new every day, especially in my current job, where I constantlyaddress different situations. My job is very fast-paced with a lot of challenges that make me grow on a daily basis and help medevelop my career faster than a job on land. In fact, I have encouraged many of my friends at home to experience life onboard.You get the opportunity to work with people of different cultures and different backgrounds. On land there is nothing similarto that experience!

Uruguay

Fernanda Soto – Seasonal Youth Counselor, Norwegian Cruise Line

Hola! My name is Fernanda Soto. I am from Queretaro, a small but beautiful place in Mexico, thecountry with the best food in the world! I am currently a seasonal youth counselor for NorwegianCruise Line, where I am also known as “fluffy.” Before working on ships, I was a teacher’s assis-tant at Montessori School.

I decided to join the cruise industry because I love to meet people from different cultures, see theworld, and have fun, all while working. I really enjoy working with children because they are funand open-minded, and they really look up to you. Our program at Splash Academy makes you feellike you are not working because we have so much fun while being a Hollywood star, superhero,spy, and so much more.

My favorite destination is Alaska because of its amazing beauty, nature, and its breathtaking Northern Lights. If you think youwould enjoy waking up in Miami one day and a beautiful island the next, then I would truly recommend you become acrewmember.

Joaquin Colomba – Seasonal Youth Counselor, Norwegian Cruise Line

Hola! My name is Joaquin Colomba. I come from Punta Alta, Argentina. At the moment I amworking as a seasonal youth counselor for Norwegian Cruise Line. Before coming to ships I livedand studied in San Martin de los Andes, Patagonia, Argentina to become a tour guide.

I joined the cruise industry two years ago to learn about different cultures, languages, and to trav-el the world. It was the best opportunity for me to exercise what I know and acquire new knowl-edge in the service industry. That is how I learned and improved my five languages—Spanish,Italian, English, Portuguese, and French.

I love coming to work every day knowing that I am going to have an awesome day while havingfun and role playing with the children. My favorite destination is Europe because of its beauty.

Europe has amazing architecture, history, and culture. I would absolutely recommend working on cruise ships because you aresurrounded by friendly, fun, and easygoing people while traveling around the world.

Mexico

Argentina

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travel & cruise - 1st qtr 2016

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