Travel & Cruise 2nd Quarter 2022

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CRUISE INDUSTRY SECOND QUARTER 2022

Puerto Rico Hosts the

Cruise Industry’s Top Brass

Michael Bayley Looks to Boost Hiring from the Caribbean Coverage of Seatrade Cruise Global, FCCA Caribbean Cruise Summit & CLIA Europe’s Flagship Conference Aquila’s Tips on Maximizing Live Events Cruise & Destination Updates

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CONTENTS

Features

Meeting and Events 8

FCCA Caribbean Cruise Summit in San Juan Moves Mutual Success Full Steam Ahead Fifty cruise executives and over 250 attendees gathered in Puerto Rico for a series of meetings, workshops and networking events to continue cruise tourism’s recovery on board and on land

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Seatrade Cruise Global Keynote Addresses and State of the Global Cruise Industry CEO Panel

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SECOND QUARTER 2022 WWW.TRAVELANDCRUISE.COM

ON THE COVER

16

La Poza del Obispo beach in Arecibo, Puerto Rico

DEPARTMENTS 5, 7 CEO’s Letter

Travel & Cruise Magazine © 2022.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part, in any form, electronic or otherwise, without written permission of the FCCA is prohibited.

To subscribe or change your address, please send requests to info@f-cca.com Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) 10390 USA Today Way Miramar, FL 33025 Phone: (954) 441-8881 Fax: (954) 441-3171 Published by:

32

Dominican Republic Officially Recovers Tourism

FCCA Plus STC Global Equals Mutual Success

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St. Thomas Carnival Returned in Person for a Historic Celebration

CLIA Europe Hosts Annual Travel Trade Conference in Southampton

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Antigua to Celebrate Carnival

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Voluntourism in Grenada

Tips for in-Person Conferences and Meetings Beth Kelly Hatt, President of Aquila’s Center for Cruise Excellence, shares how to maximize opportunities at live events

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises Unveils New Highly Immersive Shore Excursion Concepts

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AIDA Cruises Also Sustainable Ashore

On Board

35

MSC Cruises’ Summer Shorex Sets Sights on Sustainability

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35

PortMiami to Be ‘Shore Power Ready’

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Port Everglades Reaches Agreement for Shore Power

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Mobile Moving Along

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JAXPORT Welcomes Return of Carnival Elation

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Australia Joins Worldwide Cruising Revival

Michael Bayley Shares Importance of Giving a Raise to Employment in FCCA Destinations The Royal Caribbean International President & CEO discusses how they are looking to hire (and promote) more locals, especially from the Caribbean – part of the importance of the revamped FCCA Employment Program

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Naming Ceremonies for Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, Celebrity Beyond & Discovery Princess

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Construction Updates for Utopia of the Seas & Icon of the Seas

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Green Light for Cruising Provides Welcome Boost for New Zealand Tourism

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Seabourn Pursuit Reaches Another Milestone

39

Ben Angell Elected Chairman of CLIA Australasia

23

Azamara Onward Officially Joins Fleet

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Two More Better-Than-New Ships for Oceania Cruises

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Carnival Welcomes Two Million Guests Since Restart

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Record Booking Days for Carnival, Cunard & Oceania Cruises

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MSC World Europa to Make World Debut, Set New Standards for Environmental Sustainability at Sea & Accelerate MSC Cruises’ Journey to Net Zero

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In Partnership with:

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Commits to Pursue Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050 Carnival Corporation & Royal Caribbean Group Partner with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

On Land

The information in this publication is provided “as is.” FCCA, CLIA and its Member Lines disclaim all representations and warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to any information, services, products and materials contained herein. FCCA, CLIA and its Member Lines will in no event be liable for any damage or losses as a result of your use of this publication.

28

Chukka Continues to Innovate

30

St. Maarten Expands Job Markets, Welcomes 350,000 Cruise Guests in First Four Months

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Puerto Rico Hits the Gas on LNG Facility

31

New Cruise Port on Grand Bahama Island Breaks Ground

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Panama Books New Homeport Operations

32

Elnet Maritime Center Launches

32

Cruise Milestones for Aruba, Dominica, Ensenada Cruiseport Village & Port of Progreso

Members & Travel Agents 40

FCCA Partners with the Cayman Islands on Strategic Development Agreement Destination officials and Carnival Corporation/ FCCA Chairman Micky Arison highlight the importance of a new agreement that will cement the cruise tourism return of the Cayman Islands and help locals prosper from the economic impact that the industry brings

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FCCA Welcomes New Member Line: Azamara

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Bahamian Maritime Agency Joins FCCA

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FCCA Platinum Member Highlights

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Secon d Q ua r ter 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise 3

A new partner on board brings more choices on shore.

Two paths coming together with a steady goal can broaden horizons for all. Through a shared vision and passion for the cruise industry, Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and ExcursionInsurance.com have joined paths.

As the new administrator of the FCCA Global Tour Operator Insurance Program, ExcursionInsurance.com provides tour operators with the coverage they need to grow their business—and enhance the destination experience.

To learn more about how this partnership can benefit you, contact our experts today.

Ken Furlow Global Development Officer M: 786.351.3408 ken@excursioninsurance.com

CEO’S LETTER

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Micky Arison FCCA Chairman Chairman Carnival Corporation

Michael Bayley President & CEO Royal Caribbean International

Thomas Mazloum President Disney Signature Experiences

Richard E. Sasso Chairman MSC Cruises (USA) INC.

Frank J. Del Rio President & CEO Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings LTD.

FCCA STAFF

Michele M. Paige Chief Executive Officer

Adam Ceserano President

Terri Cannici Vice President, Operations

Omari Breakenridge Director, Digital Strategy & Creative Services

Mario Aguirre Director, Membership Events & Programs

Justin Paige Director, Communications

The cruise industry’s return is almost complete. More than 90 percent of ships are operating, with many cruise lines having their entire fleets back in operation and many ships sailing at 100 percent occupancy.

Of course, this is welcome news for our partners throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America and Mexico – but not only are most of those destinations again welcoming cruise calls, but also an influx of economic benefits that are improving lives and livelihoods.

That is because those destinations, stakeholders and entire communities are starting to again see a larger share of those benefits as guests once more see and experience destinations outside of the bubble with most cruise lines now allowing full excursions and explorations.

We at Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) are also focused on increasing these benefits through Michele meeting with Carlos Mercado revamped programs focused on initiatives Santiago, Executive Director for including sourcing – with helping cruise the Puerto Rico Tourism Company lines purchase more products directly from destinations where they call to use on board – and boosting the employment of locals.

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, is one person supporting both initiatives – and is featured in this issue discussing why the employment program is important and how Royal Caribbean is looking to hire (and promote) more people, especially from the Caribbean.

FCCA has also continued using Communication and Collaboration as our middle name, including new strategic agreements – such as one with the Cayman Islands featured in this issue – and continuing the Americas Cruise Tourism Task Force that proved pivotal for not just navigating the turbulent waters of COVID-19, but also as a mechanism to quickly handle any issues that arise, along with simply maintaining a constant dialogue, and was unanimously decided to carry on even with COVID-19 now in the rearview.

Our live events have also always been crucial for developing business, relationships and understanding - and those are moving full steam ahead. This issue features coverage of our Seatrade Cruise Global itinerary, along with a recap of the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Summit that took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico from June 1-3 with 50 high-level executives from FCCA Member Lines and 250 attendees participating in a series of meetings, workshops and networking events.

We look forward to continuing to chart the route for mutual success, with one of the next stops at the forthcoming FCCA PAMAC Cruise on MSC Divina this September 11-15 and at the FCCA Cruise Conference in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic this October 12-14, which will also celebrate our 50th anniversary.

Respectfully yours,

Bruna Milazzotto Manager, Research & Data

Jessica Lalama Executive Assistant

Vanessa Gutierrez Membership Administrator

Michele M. Paige President FCCA Secon d Q ua r ter 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise 5

CEO’S LETTER

CLIA GLOBAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Pierfrancesco Vago CLIA Global Chairman Executive Chairman MSC Cruises

Micky Arison Chairman Carnival Corporation & plc

Michael Bayley President & CEO Royal Caribbean International

Frank J. Del Rio President & CEO Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Arnold Donald President & CEO Carnival Corporation & plc

Jason Liberty President & CEO Royal Caribbean Group

Thomas Mazloum President Disney Signature Experiences

Charles B. Robertson President & CEO American Cruise Lines

CLIA STAFF

Kelly Craighead President & CEO

Mike McGarry Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs and North American Secretariat

Caroline Johnson Senior Vice President, Membership Operations

Brian Salerno Senior Vice President, Maritime Policy

Joshua S. Good Senior Vice President, Global Finance and Operations

Welcome to this issue of Travel & Cruise.

The imminent return to 100% capacity in cruising worldwide truly represents the collective spirit and unified success of the cruise community. While we celebrate such a significant feat, we have much work ahead of us to be a truly sustainable industry.

While most cruise ships are back in service, all should be operating by August. More than 100 countries worldwide have reopened to cruising with a total of 7.5 million passengers sailing since mid-2020.

Canada welcomed its first sailing in April, and Australia ended its long-running suspension with its first sailing on May 31.

During the last two arduous years, the cruise industry has been united in its efforts to protect the health and safety of guests, crew, and the communities ships visit.

Throughout it all and still, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has served as an advocate, convener, and facilitator of and for the wider cruise industry. Representing cruise lines, suppliers, business partners, as well as travel agencies and advisors, CLIA continues to play an important role in advocating on behalf of the industry, supporting communication and coordination between and amongst stakeholders and meeting directly with policymakers and key opinion leaders around the world stressing the high bar that cruise lines have set for having the most robust health and safety protocols to be found in a commercial setting while still delivering a best-in-class experience and the economic and social importance of cruising.

In this issue, you can read about CLIA cruise line members’ commitment to sailing toward a better future, including pursuing the goal of net zero cruising – not only for our own sector by 2050 but the wider maritime industry worldwide. CLIA and our oceangoing members are investing in technologies and cleaner fuels now to realize this ambition as we further align the industry’s efforts with the collective global aim of protecting our planet.

As part of that effort, CLIA, with the support of our members, is: Joining the Global Maritime Forum Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization to seek government involvement in building the right framework and incentives to meet our emissions object.

Equipping ships to connect to shoreside electricity facilities at available ports, as soon as possible but no than 2035, to reduce emissions when in port, contribute sustainable tourism activities and help make destinations better places to live and visit.

There is no doubt that we have our work cut out for us. However, what we know now is that we are a resilient, strong, and unified community up to the challenge. Our future is bright; our determination is resolute; and our commitment is unwavering.

On behalf of everyone at CLIA, we thank you for your continued support.

Together in cruise,

Anne Madison Senior Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Communications

Kelly Craighead President and CEO Secon d Q ua r ter 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise 7

Meeting and Events

FCCA Caribbean Cruise Summit in San Juan Moves Mutual Success Full Steam Ahead

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he cruise industry again embarked in Puerto Rico, with over 250 attendees joining 50 high-level executives – including four Presidents and above – from FCCA Member Lines for the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Summit, which took place in San Juan from June 1-3.

The event resumed Puerto Rico’s efforts made before changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “to take the cruise tourism industry to new dimensions of growth and diversification that enhance it as an indisputable tool for the economic development of the destination,” according to Carlos Mercado, Executive Director, Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

“We [were] very excited to once again host the FCCA annual conference, an essential event for the cruise industry and the local economy,” he continued. “This platform gives us a great opportunity to raise awareness about the of our island’s potential as a travel destination for cruise lines. We’re sure that the top executives of the companies present [had] their eyes on what truly differentiates us from other destinations, in and outside the Caribbean.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, a commitment had been made to hold the FCCA convention in Puerto Rico for four consecutive years. It had been previously held in Puerto Rico in 2016, 2018 and 2019.

“We were excited and honored to return to Puerto Rico after a delay due to COVID-19. Puerto Rico has been an unwavering partner throughout the

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process, and this period has shown the importance of that kind of collaboration and communication,” said Michele Paige, Chief Executive Officer, Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

“That is also why the event was so significant to the attendees and cruise executives to continue the recovery and efforts to build back better - and for Puerto Rico to continue its momentum by displaying its products and culture to the prestigious audience.”

The event was designed to foster a better understanding of the inner workings of the cruise industry and to help attendees enhance business development with cruise lines through a specialized forum combining meetings, workshops and networking events for attendees to have a unique opportunity to develop relationships, promote products and learn from the cruise executives who decide where ships arrive, what is sold, what they use on board and how invest in destinations and infrastructure.

“This event allows us to have greater possibilities to show the competitive advantages of our destination to the cruise lines that operate on the island and to strengthen our position as one of the key players in the world cruise industry,” said Mercado.

Opening Ceremony The opening ceremony began with a folkloric dance coordinated by Puerto Rico.

Paige then took the spotlight to welcome

all and share her gratitude for the faith it shows in the FCCA and cruise industry, which she pointed out had also been on display throughout the pandemic – which made it possible to navigate through the rough waters because of the constant communication and collaboration.

This was a silver lining in the tragedy, she told, and mentioned there have also been other opportunities in the crisis by the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico benefitting from the establishment of destinations as homeports, more capacity (even in the summer), longer stays and multi-port calls.

She continued that FCCA also used the period as an opportunity to evaluate and seek ways to improve, especially by talking to partners to see what they need, including new strategic agreements and revamped employment and purchasing programs that all focus on finding ways for more locals throughout destinations to benefit from cruise tourism, which is more important than ever as so many destinations and people work to recover their economies and livelihoods in the wake of COVID-19.

She then introduced Richard Sasso, Chairman, MSC Cruises USA, for the keynote message, who told he was honored to be there and part of the collaboration that has proven to be crucial for cruise lines, destinations and stakeholders to recover following COVID-19.

All in attendance likely know the importance of communicating and work-

ing together, he told, but said that message boomed in all the Zoom calls and meetings that led to establishing protocols and getting through every new variant and issue.

He indicated that he was proud to have been part of the Americas Cruise Tourism Task Force, which led the way for this – and proved pivotal for not just navigating the turbulent waters of COVID-19, but also as a mechanism to quickly handle any issues that arise, along with simply maintaining the constant communication, which is why the Task Force will continue even with COVID-19 in the rearview.

He continued that it seems strange to say that as infections continue to ebb and flow – but as a situation, it is in fact in the past because the protocols have proven effective in preventing any severe illnesses, along with controlling the spread onboard, safeguarding both guests and the communities they visit.

About 90% of the oceangoing fleet is now sailing, sometimes at full occupancy, he pointed out, – and a full return is expected soon, along with consumer sentiment showing that over 70% of cruisers have accepted COVID-19 as an endemic.

He reiterated that so much of this recovery is due to the collaboration

between cruise lines, destinations and stakeholders – and many in attendance have been imperative in this process, either directly or indirectly, so he thanked them all and especially praised FCCA’s 2022 Strategic Destination Development Partners: Cayman Islands Department of Tourism; USVI Department of Tourism; Sinaloa Secretary of Tourism; Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism; Puerto Rico Tourism Company; and Port St. Maarten.

Destinations and companies forming these agreements with FCCA showcase their commitment to cruise tourism – and will fulfill specific initiatives including increasing cruise calls, assisting the private sector and helping locals prosper from the economic impact that the industry brings, he pointed out.

However, everyone in attendance is showing their dedication to benefitting from the potential of cruise tourism – and is part of the recovery process as we continue the work together to build back better, he emphasized, adding that he was excited to be a part of that and talk to all further during the workshops, meetings and networking opportunities.

After all, MSC Cruises has been growing its capacity in the destinations represented, he added –and stressed MSC’s long-term view for these destinations, as evidenced by its new state-of-the-art terminal at PortMiami due to be completed

by December 2023 that will handle its largest and most environmentally high-performing cruise ships, including its newest flagship, MSC Seashore, which will begin cruising from Miami this November, and its future LNG-powered World Class ships.

Workshops Workshops took place on Thursday, June 2 and Friday, June 3 to give attendees a backstage pass to the cruise industry through the perspectives of cruise executives that shed light on current and future operations.

After the Opening Ceremony, “Top of the Lines Showcase” joined FCCA Member Line Presidents, CEOs and Chairmen to discuss some of the opportunities that arose from the COVID-19 crisis – including homeporting, longer stays, increased capacity, summer cruising, multi-port calls, enhanced focus on employment and sourcing, as well as improved communications in the Caribbean, Central and South

S econ d Q ua r ter 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise 9

Meeting and Events America, and Mexico – along with detailing how this could lead to a brighter future in the regions and for the industry.

Moderated by Paige and Adam Ceserano, President, FCCA, panelists included Carol Cabezas, President, Azamara; Tom McAlpin, President & CEO, Virgin Voyages; Harry Sommer, President & CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line; and Richard Sasso.

On Friday, high-level operational executives gathered for the “Creating a Successful Cruise Destination for Now and the Future” workshop, which focused on how to create a successful cruise destination – including creating an amazing destination experience with “wow” factor tours to excite and drive demand to the destination.

Moderated by Russell Benford, Vice President, Government Relations, Americas, Royal Caribbean Group, and FCCA Operations Chairman, panelists included: Geoff Burleton, Director, Shore Excursions at Celebrity Cruises; Gina Dunnett, Director, Land Product Development, Azamara; Emilio Freeman, Vice President, Itineraries & Destinations, SeaDream Yacht Club; and Jose Negron, Vice President, Strategic Port Development, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Meetings The event featured two days of oneon-one meetings where attendees who had pre-selected cruise executives that could help launch business had multiple 15-minute sessions to make presentations and discuss operations.

In addition, the Heads of Government Forum took place on Thursday. As the Summit’s keynote meeting, it brought together destinations’ Ministers of Tourism and above – including Governor of Puerto Rico, the Honorable Pedro Pierluisi, who spoke at the meeting – with high-level executives from FCCA Member Lines, including the four Presidents and above.

The main item on the agenda was the revamped employment initiative launched

by FCCA – which includes a new FCCA Employment Committee, comprised of Human Resources executives from FCCA Member Lines, that is ready to help guide destinations through the process of necessary elements for cruise companies to hire local citizens.

10 S e con d Q ua r te r 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise

“This event allows us to have greater possibilities to show the competitive advantages of our destination…”

Carlos Mercado, Executive Director, Puerto Rico Tourism Company

“With many destinations and people still recovering their economies and livelihoods following the effects of COVID19, our efforts to increase employment of locals throughout our partner destinations are more important than ever,” said Paige.

“While we have already worked on this for many years with numerous destinations – and seen not only initial employment, but also many rising through

the ranks on board and even reaching executive positions – our revamping of this program should benefit countless more people and families, and there could not be a better time to have this on the agenda at the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Summit.”

Networking events Networking events were also held throughout the event to create a more casual environment for the cruise executives and attendees to foster relationships and business – while also showcasing Puerto Rico’s offerings and culture.

On Wednesday night, FCCA Platinum Members joined cruise executives for a private event at District TMobile, sponsored

by Toro Verde Urban Park.

On Thursday and Friday evenings, there were networking events open for all attendees and executives, including “A Taste of Puerto Rico Reception” and the Closing Reception.

Additionally, there were coffee breaks on Thursday and Friday mornings where attendees could brew up conversations with cruise executives.

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PARADISE AWAITS. IT’S TIME FOR PUERTO RICO.

Meeting and Events

Seatrade Cruise Global Keynote Addresses and State of the Global Cruise Industry CEO Panel

O

n Tuesday, April 26, CLIA Global Chairman and Executive Chairman MSC Cruises Pierfrancesco Vago opened the Seatrade Cruise Global keynote address in Miami Florida with a warm welcome across borders and oceans and shared that “as an industry represented by people from all corners of the globe, we stand for peace and express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine.”

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“We can see the momentum building in our industry’s revival and bringing back much needed revenue for coastal communities,” continued Vago.

“Meanwhile, we haven’t taken our eyes off the long-term target to be truly sustainable – this has been a key theme of my program for CLIA.” He shared that more than 100 countries around the world have now reopened

to cruising. A total of 7.5 million passengers have sailed since mid-2020. Canada welcomed its first sailing last month and Australia finally has ended its long-running suspension. All this puts the spotlight back on the economic value of cruise.

Mr. Vago then introduced CLIA President and CEO Kelly Craighead to the stage where she shared important industry announcements:



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A commitment by CLIA ocean-going cruise lines to pursue net-zero carbon cruising globally by 2050. “This is an evolution of our previous commitment which has been to pursue carbon neutral cruising. It aligns our industry further with the global objectives of the Paris agreement – and our joint commitment to protect our planet,” said Craighead.

All CLIA member ships will be equipped to connect to shoreside electricity facilities wherever available at ports - as soon as possible, and no later than 2035 – or will be able to use alternative low-carbon technologies, as available, to reduce emissions when in port.

CLIA on behalf of member cruise lines will join the Global Maritime Forum Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization as a supporting organization. Launched prior to the 26th UN Climate Change conference in Glasgow last year, this call to action recognizes the role the maritime sector has in meeting global emission targets. It has been developed by the “Getting to Zero” coalition led by the Global Maritime Forum, and it is a call to action for governments to work with the industry in building the right framework and incentives to meet the objective of net zero emissions in the maritime sector.

“Applaud yourselves for saving the cruise industry and providing for a very prosperous future.”

Arnold Donald President & CEO, Carnival Corporation Notable Key note Quotes Included: “The fact that we were initially seen as the beginning of the problem of the pandemic, and we actually proved to everybody that we in fact were the solution to the pandemic, that to me was the most important step, when the ships sailed again in Genoa in July 2020, that was a very important moment.”

-Pierfrancesco Vago “Throughout (the pandemic) CLIA has served as a facilitator and a convener, and supported essential platforms for communication, coordination, and advocacy between and amongst stakeholders.

Whether you were a small or large operator, a port or a destination, a supplier, or a travel advisor, CLIA provided access to timely and relevant information, and leveraged the voices of our broad community with governments to promote the industry’s license to operate, making the case that the industry isn’t about a

few cruise lines, it’s about people that are dependent on this ecosystem for jobs and economies are that are dependent on a thriving industry.”

-Kelly Craighead “You should applaud yourselves because you brought the community together because, like Kelly said, without the strong advocacy of everybody – the travel agents, the ports, the thousands of uber and taxi drivers – … without those voices, we would not have been able to weather this storm. Applaud yourselves for saving the cruise industry and providing for a very prosperous future.”

-Arnold Donald “We’ve learned a lot about the different capabilities of our organizations, especially around safety and health protocols and so forth, but really showing the overall resiliency of all of our different organizations. And we will, through CLIA and FCCA and others, continue to work together to make sure that the platform for cruise and travel to be successful will continue on. And then we’ll battle it out commercially each and every day. I believe that 2023 will look and behave as it did pre-COVID.” -Jason Liberty The panel went on to discuss critical issues, like swaying public opinion, inflation, and the cost of fuel, but ended on a positive note about the industry’s resiliency and an outlook for a very bright cruise future.

State of the Global Cruise Industry CEO Panel The State of the Global Cruise Industry panel, moderated by BBC World News Presenter Lucy Hockings, was the most well-attended and highly anticipated session at Seatrade 2022. This year’s panel included: Kelly Craighead; Arnold Donald, President and CEO, Carnival Corporation; Jason Liberty, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group; and Pierfrancesco Vago.

Hockings dove right in discussing additional breaking news, announcing Josh Weinstein as the new CEO and Arnold Donald becoming vice chair, of Carnival Corporation, effective August 1.

Secon d Q ua r ter 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise 13

FCCA Plus STC Global Equals Mutual Success

T

he highly anticipated return of Seatrade Cruise Global certainly lived up to the expectations, with the cruise executives and attendees at last having the proven opportunities to renew and create business partnerships, discuss ideas and tackle issues in person – instead of behind a computer screen.

And FCCA again multiplied the chances for Platinum Members and industry stakeholders by programming a robust schedule to pencil in business and relationship development with cruise executives through networking functions and numerous prescheduled meetings.

“FCCA is crucial to maximizing time and opportunities during this busy week,” said Micky Arison, Chairman, Carnival Corporation & plc and FCCA. “Time becomes extremely limited, and FCCA makes it possible to meet with some of the industry’s most important stakeholders.”

It began the Sunday evening before Seatrade at Smith & Wollensky, where the annual welcoming party offered an intimate affair between Platinum Members and Member Line executives, including Richard Sasso, Chairman, MSC Cruises USA, and dozens of high-level executives who decide where ships call, what is used and sold on board, and how to invest in destinations and infrastructure. The event let the group spark or strengthen relationships and prepare for the week ahead while taking in the water views and fresh catches of both fish and business.

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“The welcome reception again proved successful in bringing together destination stakeholders and cruise executives to foster relationships and understanding – a feature throughout most of our functions, and one that becomes increasingly important during Seatrade Cruise Global’s prolific executives and opportunities,” said Michele Paige, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), FCCA. When Seatrade launched, FCCA and most of those same executives and stakeholders were in tow, as FCCA’s booth itself served as a hub for meetings and events.

FCCA had arranged numerous meetings between cruise executives and various Platinum Members along with other private and public sector representatives to provide the platform to discuss everything from operational matters to potential new products – as well as numerous impromptu meetings taking place in the allocated space throughout both the open booth area and private rooms.

“…FCCA makes it possible to meet with some of the industry’s most important stakeholders.”

-Micky Arison Chairman, Carnival Corporation & plc

Additionally, the booth hosted exclusive networking receptions for Platinum Members and Member Line executives to bring them closer and help close deals, including the FCCA President’s Reception that lived up to its namesake with participants including Gus Antorcha, Presdient, Holland America Line; Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International; Ruben Rodriguez, President, MSC Cruises USA; and Josh Weinstein, who will become President and CEO of Carnival Corporation effective August 1.

Headlining FCCA’s event schedule was a return to Smith & Wollensky for a private dinner reception where participants were hosted at a table headed by a key cruise executive, including Bayley, Sasso and numerous other executives.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same – despite dealing with an unprecedented and unpredicted crisis, we continue to see the resilience of the industry and our partners, along with the importance of communication and collaboration,” told Paige. “That was again on display throughout our meetings and events at Seatrade, with FCCA again using its proven formula to offer opportunities for all parties to grow together.”

Indeed, this year’s Seatrade Cruise Global mirrored the resilient industry with attendees and executives again embarking on the opportunity to continue building back better through Seatrade’s time-tested model, and FCCA maximized the chances to target key decision makers from Member Lines to foster relationships and business.

Or, as Arison put it: “Building understanding and relationships with the industry’s decision makers paves the way for successful operations and dealings, and FCCA always finds ways to offer that platform.”

Meeting and Events

CLIA Europe Hosts Annual Travel Trade Conference in Southampton

F

rom May 20-22, CLIA Europe held the largest flagship conference – with 550 delegates, 20+ speakers, three cruise ships, two hosts, one travel trade fair, and lots of inspiration and fun – for its travel agent members to celebrate why we all #lovecruise.

The aim of the conference was to inspire, educate and influence members to help boost their knowledge and, ultimately, sales. There was a unique opportunity to explore three different cruise ships over the three days: MSC Cruises

Virtuosa, hosted by Antonio Paradiso, MSC Cruises Managing Director, UK & Ireland; P&O Cruises Iona, hosted by Paul Ludlow, President of P&O Cruises; and Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas hosted by Ben Bouldin, Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Vice President EMEA and CLIA UK & Ireland Chair.

While on board delegates heard from cruise line executives about recovery efforts as well as the latest trends in cruise. Sales in the region are strong, and the new data supports that – by 2023 cruise sales will be stron-

ger than 2019, before the pandemic. There was a focus on the importance of sustainability and how the cruise industry is continuing to make progress working towards the net zero emissions target by 2050.

Bouldin confirmed that almost all cruise ships are back in service – and that from this summer, 100 percent should be operating. The industry has been given positive recognition around the world for their response to the pandemic crisis and their work to get cruise lines operating again safely for guests.

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Tips for in-Person Conferences and Meetings

By Beth Kelly Hatt, President of Aquila’s Center for Cruise Excellence, FCCA’s Official Training Partner

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rade shows and conferences are coming back in full force, and the Aquila team has seen what has worked and what hasn’t over the last 40 years. This month at the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aquila gave a training to local participants from Puerto Rico on how to have the best meetings with role playing and exercises to practice their skills.

In this article you will find some of the best practices we shared with them.

When doing one-on-ones with cruise executives, destinations and operators often only have 10-15 minutes, and we need to be efficient with our time. To get back to successful meetings at these in-person events, here are our Top 3 Tips: 16 S e con d Q ua r te r 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise

1. Preparation and Research Do the work that needs to be done ahead for successful and productive meetings.

This information is all available on the cruise lines’ websites and shore excursion offerings.

Know the client and the cruise line they represent. Find answers to the following:

d.

What is the size of the ships? And remember some lines have large and small ships that could offer totally different products.

e.

How many hours in port? This will affect what you can offer.

f.

What products do they offer elsewhere? This is all available online by checking their itineraries and shore excursion offerings.

a.

Are they mass market, niche or expedition market?

b.

What products do they offer, and are there gaps you can fill?

g.

Are there gaps you or your destination can fill? Differentiating yourself is important.

c.

How many calls to your port? How many ships do they bring?

h.

What benefits can you offer – how can your service or product help them?

Meeting and Events

2. Asking Questions and Listening Use the opportunity to learn, to get to know people, to understand their challenges, and to look for opportunities to help. a.

Look up your contact: find a picture, connect on LinkedIn, see if you can connect on the show floor or during a reception and ask someone to introduce you.

b.

Ask first what they are looking for in your destination or what their biggest challenges might be.

c.

Do NOT ask what you can find on their website – how long in business, how often they come, what they offer etc.

d.

Instead ASK open-ended questions, for example: are there experiences you wish were offered here? Do you see interest from your guests in (name your destination and what you offer) or is there something missing in your offers?

e.

REALLY LISTEN to their answer.

f.

Don’t spend a long time on your presentation until you gauge the interest – let them engage and tell you what could work.

g.

Practice and be ready to describe your destination or your experiences in one or two sentences. Less than 30 seconds! Hit the highlights and describe brief ly, but in a compelling way.

c.

3. Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up This is where most people lose the sale or the opportunity. Your clients are not just buying a product from you, they are buying your service, which includes how you communicate with them, how you’re going to do what you say you will do in a timely manner.

h.

Use pictures in a presentation and make it short and powerful.

i.

Practice dealing with a “NO” – what objections or questions do you expect and be ready. Understand the concern and have solutions.

a.

Make sure to attend the networking events and meet people. Those are great opportunities, as this is a relationship business and this is where you can connect.

b.

j.

Define next steps during the meeting with them – and then do what you said you would do when you said you would.

Send a thank you note right away – this means that day or the next day – and tell them you will get the information, tell them when and make sure to send it.

See if you can make a connection with them on LinkedIn and stay in touch. When you actively continue the conversation, you can answer any questions that have cropped up since the last time you spoke.

In closing, be ready to answer “what’s new” – in your destination, in your tours, with your guest experiences. If you don’t know, maybe it’s time for some product development and reimagining guest experiences! You will get out of meetings and events what you put into it – attend the networking events and show that you have done your homework. We are cheering you on!

Beth Kelly Hatt is the President of Aquila’s Center for Cruise Excellence, FCCA’s official training partner. Aquila’s approach to training is one of assessing the needs of a destination or operator and developing a strategic training plan that helps raise the level of excellence throughout the destination. Contact Beth for more information at Beth@CruiseExcellence.com.

In 2022, Aquila is celebrating 40 Years as a tour operator in Port Saint John, Canada and 15 years as a trainer and coach for the cruise industry.

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On Board

Michael Bayley Shares Importance of Giving a Raise to Employment in FCCA Destinations

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ruise lines are looking to give a raise to the employment of seafarers hailing from destinations around the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico, which is why Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) has revamped its employment initiative with a new cruise executive committee to work with those destinations to not only source crew members (whose onboard lives bring a host of options for upward mobility), but also foster ways to create bridges leading to high-level positions including captains, engineers and more.

More details about the initiative and committee were announced at the FCCA Cruise Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico – and have been planned for discussions with the Americas Cruise Tourism

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Task Force, an undertaking launched by FCCA originally to develop protocols for COVID-19, but unanimously decided to continue to quickly address any topics because of the successes shown by gathering the group of destination representatives, stakeholders and cruise executives for regular meetings.

One of the Chairpersons for the Task Force, Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, has vowed to be personally involved with the initiative and Committee, and he has often expressed the immense interest for both Royal Caribbean and the industry in increasing employment of citizens from FCCA’s represented destinations.

As a recent example of this, Royal

Caribbean Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of St. Maarten on May 11 to signify the beginning of a partnership that will create an expansion of St. Maarten’s job market within the cruise industry.

Bayley (representing Royal Caribbean International’s multinational workforce of over 58,000) and Amy Alexy, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Royal Caribbean Group (with more than 80,000 employees worldwide), joined an FCCA Platinum Member webinar late last year to discuss the importance of and opportunities for boosting employment of locals throughout destinations represented by FCCA. A lightly edited transcript follows:

Michael, you joined Royal Caribbean more than 40 years ago as a purser, can you tell us more about this amazing journey?

Michael Bayley: I joined in 1981 as an assistant purser on the front desk of Nordic Prince, which was one of the only three ships of the fleet of the entire corporation back then. So I’ve seen our company grow over the decades Michael Bayley and become a very successful vacation company, and I feel honored to be part of that journey.

I’ve always been incredibly encouraged by my relationships with my fellow employees who bring such passion, dedication and honesty to everything we do and allow us to be creative, innovative, honest and transparent – and I think one of the reasons Royal Caribbean is loved by so many of our partners, employees, travel advisors and guests is we’ve always had a fundamental honesty about our vision: delivering great vacations and wonderful memories.

What’s positive about my experience is I was a kid who joined a ship sailing in the Caribbean, and as the company grew, I grew and saw so many of my fellow colleagues grow – and our company has always been very focused on helping people evolve and develop within our corporation. Our ships’ captains have all been with us for decades. We have generations of employees.

It’s an amazing company and journey, and it gives me great optimism about the future of our company, this industry and our incredible relationship with the Caribbean.

Amy, what makes your job so unique and fulfilling?

Amy Alexy: I started in 2018, and I will tell you that you can immediately feel the passion and energy that our employees and crew members have for the work that we do and the guest experience that we all desire.

Passion’s the word that continues to come to mind when you think of that experience, and at the end Amy Alexy

of the day our guests are left with memories – and our job is to leave them with the best memories possible. The energy is really contagious.

Even though this past year has been a challenge, I’m confident we’re going to emerge from this as a stronger organization and industry. Just the collaboration through the different cruise lines and the connections we’ve built despite the virtual environment and hardships have been outstanding.

The employment landscape for us is extremely positive. We have five ships on order for the Royal Caribbean International brand alone, and we’re growing.

There are a lot of dynamic employment opportunities for people to join our organization, and one of the main goals we have as a company is to bring in great talent to help us grow and talent that can flourish with us as an organization for many years to come.

How has the pandemic changed your view on how you will crew ships, and what will life be like onboard?

MB: I think this has been an extraordinarily difficult time for our crew members.

When we first voluntarily stopped sailing as an industry, all of us had tens of thousands crew members who needed to get home. Every country had introduced new rules and regulations, and it was phenomenally difficult to get our crew members home to their families, and the whole industry worked together.

Many crew members decided to stay on our ships because they didn’t want to go home and were fearful for their families.

And then our crew got home, and it was just as difficult in dealing with the pandemic in their home countries, concerned about their families and their livelihoods.

As a company, we tried to care for them and pay them as much as we could before they went home and created a fund for hardship to help with medical bills, mortgages, etc. to try to help them through this.

Nevertheless, this has been a long period of time and extremely difficult for our employees all over the world.

The world changed, and many lost family members, but what has been amazing is we have been in constant communication with our employees. Not

“…we would love to have more Caribbean crew working on Royal Caribbean ships.” long ago, we sent a survey and asked our more than 80,000 employees if they are coming back, and 98% said they were excited to come back.

During this period, we have operated our ships with minimal crew, around 100 per ship, and now we are starting to open operations – announcing 7-8 ships starting in May-July. We’re starting to now bring crew to the ships, and today we took delivery of Odyssey of the Seas and already have hundreds of crew on that ship.

Things are starting to become more optimistic, but crew today have to go through a lot of hurtles related to COVID that are not easy for them. We have entered a new phase, and the vast majority of crew understand that and the fact that we will have protocols, vaccines and guidance. But we will soon get through this, and life will return to a new normal.

The thing about our crew is they are always optimistic, they have a can-do attitude, they’re great problem solvers, wonderful communicators and will always find solutions to the issues we have to deal with.

As Amy said, we’ve got new ships coming and a lot of employment opporSecon d Q ua r ter 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise 19

On Board tunities – and the thing about growing is it gives you promotion opportunities.

Our entire system is built on promotions.

We love to promote our people because they have the passion for our company, they learned a lot about our business, they understand our customers and are experts at making them happy.

In my whole career, especially as I was shipboard, I watched so many of my colleagues be promoted up to senior management positions – so many of those people were from the Caribbean.

This is the way Royal Caribbean has always worked, and I think that is how we will continue to work.

What is a change you have seen in crew over the decades?

MB: We have always recruited around the world – and one of the aspects our guests love is the ability to interact with crew from around the world.

However, in the 70s, the majority of our crew came almost exclusively from the Caribbean, and recently that has shifted to large sourcing from the Asia/Pacific – and it would be great if we could find more balance, certainly for the Royal Caribbean brand, we would love to have more Caribbean crew working on Royal Caribbean ships.

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Why do you think this shift has happened?

MB: I think one of the reasons is related to the disproportionate number of claims we have received from our employees from Caribbean countries, possibly related to the active lawyers in Miami creating a network in Caribbean countries to solicit and talk to former crew members.

Because of all the time we may spend in the various litigations that come from that, it changes the whole dynamic – and we just do not see that from other parts of the world.

How can the destinations work with FCCA to increase employment opportunities?

MB: If you’re competing, albeit for a job or in business, you need to understand the competitive landscape. We’ve had conversations in many Caribbean countries about what is happening in different parts of the world and what’s favoring more hiring in different regions, and a contributing factor to that is legislation put into place by various countries focused on both seafarer rights and ensuring a process and dispute resolution where things are fairly handled.

For example, the Philippines – which has seafarers as one of their largest exports – has tried to figure out seafarers’ rights and put in a mechanism that protects the employee and the employer while making

things fair in terms of resolution. That’s a model that Caribbean countries should look at and understand.

With FCCA’s help, we should have discussions on seafarers’ rights and ensuring things are set up the right way so that it works for the employee and employer.

We’ve had more detailed conversations with some countries, and they seem more open to this idea.

Royal Caribbean Group has been named one of the world’s most ethical companies – and has been for a number of years. We pride ourselves on how we connect with, manage, support and provide for our employees wherever they come from, and we have a very focused culture in terms of making sure everybody can do well and thrive.

From our ongoing surveys of our employees, we consistently score in terms of employee engagement on the very high end compared with other companies or industries.

The other thing is that there is an actual maritime labor convention that provides a good framework for the rights of crew and obligations of employers, but interestingly a lot of countries have not ratified that agreement.

There’s work that needs to be done in this space by Caribbean nations, and I think FCCA could help facilitate that.

Maybe when we have our next Conference, we could place this on the agenda for a discussion with the industry and communities to at least start exploring this.

We would also encourage our destination partners to individually explore this idea of enacting seafarer legislation which would contain things like arbitration in their country that can resolve any disputes that may come up and think about things such as compensation and damages – all of these issues that can be better resolved than this system that is an international legislation landscape, with legal representatives that make more out of the disputes than the employee does.

Please understand that I joined as a crew member and worked as a crew member for 11 years. I am 100 percent familiar with how it works on a ship, and I can assure you that it is an incredibly positive environment, a very caring environment, and everyone only wants a winwin outcome for our employees and their

families. We care about our employees, and we need to figure out how to get a mechanism in place that cares for people and protects people.

If the legislation is in place, what type of trainings or programs can you implement to support the crew?

AA: We know that there are a few enablers that would allow us to unlock the potential of the hiring goal we have. We have said internally 10 in 10, with an aim to hire 10,000 crew members and promote 10,000 crew members every year.

Every year we go back to the sheer opportunity that exists within our organization, and the enablers in addition to having some type of a harmonized seafarer legislation would also include building up the hiring partner network.

We know this is an unlock because we do it in other countries, partnering with very reputable hiring partners to facilitate this process. We know it would be little to know money to join and that this would allow crew members to get access to quality healthcare.

“Our entire system is built on promotions.”

Another enabler is partnering with training schools. We have a number of partnerships around the world with local governments and different schools that provide extensive training. A lot of times you’ll find us on campus several times a year. We’ve actually provided curricula to schools to help crew members prepare for life onboard. We’ve gone in and trained ourselves with shoreside staff members.

We also have done workshops at local schools with resume writing and interview skills.

The goal is not just getting crew members on board our ships and to our private destinations, but also providing life skills that they can take with them far beyond their time with Royal Caribbean.

A success story we do have is our partnership with Saint Lucia, which first had roadblocks including students’ limited access to the internet; inability to pay for medical testing or travel to ships; and not

having an approved medical facility to conduct our testing – so we worked closely with the local government and Monroe College to overcome the barriers, and as a result over two quarters increased the number of Saint Lucians on board our ships by 50 percent.

We know there can be ways we can work together to achieve this common goal.

and advance to these managerial positions, which is what we’re looking to do more of in the future.

We also have international partnerships with maritime universities, including scholarships that hire them into the cadet program when they graduate, and there are always opportunities for training and advancement.

Can you explain the potential career path for crew and how to get in more senior roles?

AA: As Michael mentioned, we have three generations of family members that have been with us, and we have people who retire from Royal Caribbean and start their own successful business in their home country with the skills that they gained with us.

When we’re looking for people to join us, what we see a lot is entry level positions such as cleaners, galley, assistant waiters – roles where people can join us and have the ability to learn the skills onboard our ships and advance with us. A number of years ago, we developed a comprehensive training program to teach our crew members about jobs they might be interested in before actually getting in the position.

There are also opportunities for skilled professionals, specifically in managerial roles like hotel operations and marine, and interestingly enough nine percent of our shipboard managerial roles are held by crew members from the Caribbean – so we know when we hire Caribbean crew members, they stay with us longer

Why are you looking to increase Caribbean hiring?

MB: When our guests book a cruise for the Caribbean, they want to experience the culture and connect with people who are from the Caribbean, which enhances their enjoyment and creates memories.

After all, we are Royal Caribbean, and our whole vibe is Caribbean. We have a calypso band on every one of our ships, even in China. It’s kind of our DNA, and being Royal Caribbean, having more Caribbean crew would be fantastic.

What’s the game plan moving forward?

MB: I think we should talk more together.

Countries, destinations that are interested in developing a stronger connection for employment should think about it individually as groups. I’d suggest two things: 1. Reach out to Russel Benford, Vice President Government Relations, Americas of Royal Caribbean Group, and start talking how to move forward, and 2.

If people are interested, let FCCA know so we can come together to talk it through and see what we can develop for the future as a community.

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On Board

Simone Biles Names Godmother of Celebrity Beyond Simone Biles, 19-time World Champion and seven-time Olympic Medalist, will add another very special title to her decorated career – godmother for Celebrity Beyond.

In her role as Godmother, Biles will name Celebrity Beyond at the official ceremony in Fort Lauderdale on November 4.

“I have a lot of great memories of cruising with my parents while growing up, so I am beyond excited to serve as godmother of Celebrity Beyond,” said Biles. “I am honored to join such a distinguished group of game-changing women and appreciate the important message this designation holds in recognizing our accomplishments, and hopefully inspiring the next generation of women.”

Celebrity Beyond showcases the design talents of multi-award-winning British designer Kelly Hoppen CBE; celebrated American designer Nate Berkus; and lauded Paris-based design firm Jouin Manku; the innovation of British architect Tom Wright; and the culinary gifts of Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud. The ship also features experiences and products from goop CEO and founder Gwyneth Paltrow, the brand’s new Well-Being Advisor.

The exquisite ship offers a journey at the intersection of elegance and approachability filled with what’s important to today’s discerning traveler: forward-thinking design, culinary excellence, unparalleled well-being and incomparable service.

Celebrity Beyond began her inaugural season on April 27 with a 10-night sailing from Southampton, England, to Barcelona, Spain, and will now spend the summer sailing nine-to-10-night itineraries in the Mediterranean. In November, Celebrity Beyond will make her way to Fort Lauderdale for the official naming ceremony and a winter season of five-tonine-night Caribbean sailings.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE HOLDS NAMING CEREMONY FOR ROTTERDAM Holland America Line’s flagship Rotterdam received the royal treatment in a ceremony rich with Dutch heritage May 30 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands served as godmother and officially named the ship in front of invited dignitaries and guests.

The third vessel in the Pinnacle Class series and the seventh ship to bear the name for Holland America Line, Rotterdam carries 2,668 guests and features highly successful amenities and innovations introduced with her sister ships. Rotterdam showcases Holland America Line hallmarks that drive one of the highest guest repeat rates in the

Discovery Princess Officially Named by TV Star Godparents In an imaginative ceremony at the Port of Los Angeles on April 29, television stars and show hosts united as godparents and officially named Discovery Princess. The godparents included fashion designer Randy Fenoli, chef Alex Guarnaschelli, special effects designer and fabricator Adam Savage, and real

22 S e con d Q ua r te r 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise

industry: exquisite cuisine guided by seven of the world’s leading chefs; gracious, award-winning service; and superbly appointed staterooms and suites.

On Oct. 15, 1872, Rotterdam I — the first Holland America Line ship — embarked on its maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York. Exactly 150 years later on Oct. 15, 2022, Rotterdam VII will depart Rotterdam once again as Holland America Line recreates this historic 150th Anniversary crossing with calls at Plymouth, England; New York and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ship will then spend the season in the Caribbean sailing tropical itineraries roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.

estate broker and flipper extraordinaire Page Turner.

The “Discover Our World” themed ceremony blended maritime tradition with contemporary elements, celebrating the cruise line’s exclusive, seven-year Discovery at SEA™ program – bringing the spirit of curiosity and exploration to every cruise through branded experiences like Shark Week at Sea, exclusive shore excursions and onboard activities such as the Camp Discovery youth centers and Stargazing at SEA. Discovery Princess expands the cruise line’s fleet of MedallionClass ships to 15, offering elegantly appointed accommodations, world-class entertainment, gourmet dining and cocktails, extensive alfresco dining areas and expansive views from the cruise line’s largest balconies at sea in the Sky Suites.

The 3,660-guest Discovery Princess was built at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and is the sixth and final Royal-Class newbuild sharing all of the spectacular style and luxury of her sister ships – Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Majestic Princess, Regal Princess and Royal Princess.

As part of the leading cruise line on the west coast, Discovery Princess debuted in Los Angeles on March 27, sailing a series of Mexican Riviera and California Coast voyages from March 27 – April 24.

After the naming ceremony in Los Angeles on April 29, the ship headed up the Pacific coast to begin a season of seven-day Alaska cruises from Seattle, making her the newest ship sailing in the Alaska region.

Construction Begins on Utopia of the Seas & Lays Keel for Icon of the Seas A new adventure began on April 8 with construction beginning on the sixth ship in Royal Caribbean International’s revolutionary Oasis Class in Saint-Nazaire, France. The cruise line revealed the name of the upcoming ship, Utopia of the Seas, at the steel-cutting ceremony that took place in the Chantiers de l‘Atlantique shipyard.

Come spring 2024, the first Oasis Class ship powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) will be a bold evolution of the class of ships that changed the industry more than a decade ago.

Royal Caribbean’s game-changing Oasis Class redefined cruising with the introduction of Oasis of the Seas in 2009.

Today, these ships are known as the ultimate vacations for families and travelers of all ages. With the recent debut of Wonder of the Seas, the renowned class continues to push what is possible with innovations across every aspect of the cruise experience – from unparalleled thrills to original entertainment, and now a transition to cleaner energy.

By introducing the first LNGpowered Oasis Class ship, the cruise line will take yet another step toward a clean-energy future after its first LNG ship, Icon of the Seas, debuts in fall 2023 – and reached a pivotal milestone on April 5. A keel-laying ceremony took place at Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku to officially mark the start of the revolutionary ship’s physical construction, with Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku senior executives and teams in attendance.

Icon will set sail next year with the latest innovations and signature features Royal Caribbean’s teams have imagined and reimagined in bold, new ways, including a shift toward cleaner energy. The first of three Royal Caribbean ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) – the cleanest fossil fuel available to cruise ships today. Combining LNG with a lineup of the cruise line’s proven applications, such as shore power connection and waste heat recovery systems that repurpose excess energy to help power the ship’s operations, Icon will be the next important step in Royal Caribbean’s journey toward a clean-energy future.

The use of the cleanest fossil fuel available to cruise ships today and additional environmentally friendly applications on board Utopia will boost energy efficiencies and further reduce emissions overall.

Seabourn Pursuit Reaches Another Milestone Seabourn celebrated an important milestone in the construction process for Seabourn Pursuit on April 20, with the movement of the ship’s hull to the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa, Italy, for final outfitting. Seabourn Pursuit is the line’s second ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ship scheduled to enter service in 2023.

Seabourn Pursuit is being designed and built for diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards and will include a

plethora of modern hardware and technology that will extend the ships global deployment and capabilities. Seabourn Pursuit will provide the same luxury small-ship experience with the addition of world-class equipment that allows the line to offer its widest range of expedition activities led by an expert 26-person team of scientists, scholars, naturalists, and more. The ship will offer complimentary Seabourn Expedition offerings such as Zodiac cruises, hikes, nature walks, scuba diving, and snorkeling, as well as additional curated complimentary excursions.

In addition, the ship will offer optional shore excursions and optional Seabourn Expeditions with kayaking and two custom-built submersibles at select destinations. These experiences will provide closeup views of wildlife and natural scenery, as well as unforgettable intimacy with the underwater wonders of the ocean.

Azamara Onward Officially Joins Fleet Azamara officially added Azamara Onward to its now four-ship fleet today following a festive naming ceremony in Monte Carlo on May 3. The christening ceremony was led by the President of Azamara, Carol Cabezas, and Azamara Onward Godmother, Beth Santos, founder and CEO of global community and lifestyle brand Wanderful.

“We are thrilled to introduce Azamara Onward and share this special moment with our loyal guests,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara.

“This is an exciting new chapter for our company, and we are so thankful for our hardworking team both onboard and offshore, for making this possible.

Together, we look forward to bringing Azamara Onward and our love of travel further than ever before, to connect even more guests with the many people and cultures of the world.”

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On Board resumed service, from 13 U.S. homeports.

In addition, during this time, guests have taken more than 1.3 million shore excursions in Carnival’s destination ports.

of course, the amazing work of our Carnival team — have all contributed to the strong demand we are seeing, and this record-breaking booking week,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

“We are so pleased to have sailed two million guests since our restart, providing much-needed vacations featuring our signature fun to an array of destinations in the Caribbean, The Bahamas, the Mexican Riviera, Alaska and Europe,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “All the while, providing an economic boost to those destinations and providing our crew members with opportunities to support their families.”

Carnival restarted its 14th homeport of New York City in June with Carnival Magic and has announced plans that Carnival Splendor will restart in Australia following its Alaska season with a threeday cruise departing Sydney on October 2.

And in November, Carnival’s newest ship, Carnival Celebration, featuring a roller coaster and powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), will debut in Miami.

Additionally, Carnival’s period of March 28-April 3 was its busiest booking week in the company’s history, showing a double-digit increase from the previous record 7-day booking total. With 22 of its 23 ships back in guest operations across all its year-round U.S. homeports, Carnival has led the industry in terms of restart and customer demand. Its final ship, Carnival Splendor, returned to service from Seattle on May 2, and then Carnival will welcome its newest ship, Carnival Celebration, to PortMiami in November. By year-end 2022, Carnival will have more capacity sailing (as measured by ALBDs) than it was sailing in 2019. And then in 2023, Carnival will put into service another new Excel-class ship, Carnival Jubilee, from Galveston.

“The excitement of the industry’s restart, our successful return of our entire fleet, the guest reaction to Mardi Gras, our loyal guest response to our 50th birthday this year, the support of our travel advisor partners — and

Cunard Reports Busiest Booking Day in a Decade

Holland America Line Celebrates Anniversary & Prepares for Rotterdam Holland America Line commemorated its 149th anniversary on April 18. To mark the occasion, the day was celebrated on board with grand desserts, special champagne toasts and festivities for guests and team members. It will continue the celebrations through early June with the restart of Noordam (April 24), Oosterdam (May 8), Zaandam (May 12) and Westerdam (June 12) — bringing the entire fleet of 11 ships back in service — as well as the official naming ceremony for Rotterdam, which will be held May 30 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Two More Better-Than-New Ships for Oceania Cruises Oceania Cruises announced details of its most ambitious OceaniaNEXT experience elevation initiative to date with the stemto-stern re-inspiration of the 1,210-guest ships Riviera and Marina. With the advent of their re-inspiration, Oceania Cruises will, for the first time, field a fleet entirely composed of brand-new or better-than-new ships in every destination across the globe.

Carnival Welcomes Two Million Guests Since Restart Sees Its Highest Booking Week Ever As the first major U.S. cruise line with its full fleet back in guest service since the industry’s restart last summer, Carnival Cruise Line reached the milestone of welcoming two million guests. The milestone was commemorated on May 19 in Port Canaveral, Fla. aboard Carnival Freedom.

The company’s industry pace-setting restart began on July 3, 2021 when Carnival Vista set sail from Galveston, and since then 22 additional ships have 24 S e co n d Q ua r te r 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise

Cunard reported that the first day of bookings for Queen Anne proves the busiest booking day in a decade. The maiden voyage, a seven-night sailing from Southampton departing January 4, 2024, sold out and demand for Princess & Queens Grill Suites proved especially strong across each of the 10 published new voyages. The three busiest booking periods for Cunard in the last decade have now happened since March 2021, with the launch of the UK sailings as the brand returned to service, the launch of the summer 2023 program and now the launch of Queen Anne’s maiden program.

One of the Best Booking Days in Oceania Cruises’ History Oceania Cruises reported the opening day for its 2024 Collection of voyages on May 4 ranks among the best single-day booking periods in the company’s history.

“The 2024 Collection launch illustrates tremendous and continued strong demand for cruising in addition to highlighting the increased trend in planning travel farther out, both for past guests and new-to-brand guests,” stated Howard Sherman, President & CEO of Oceania Cruises.

All of the bookings for 2023 and 2024 are new cash bookings with absolutely no dilution from Future Cruise Credits issued during the pandemic.

Oceania Cruises continues to see strong demand from new-to-brand guests who

are attracted to the line’s unique destination-rich itineraries with one-third of all bookings coming from first-time guests.

In addition, one-third of the total transactions included reservations for at least two voyages, and extended travel continues to

prove popular with Grand Voyages performing well. The single most in-demand voyage was the 35-day circumnavigation of Australia departing December 21, 2023, where more than 60% of capacity was filled in one day.

MSC WORLD EUROPA TO MAKE WORLD DEBUT, SET NEW STANDARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AT SEA AND ACCELERATE MSC CRUISES’ JOURNEY TO NET ZERO This year MSC Cruises is introducing the highly anticipated MSC World Europa to its fleet - the first in the trailblazing ‘World Class’ ships. The new ship will introduce a completely new cruising platform that boasts future-proof marine and onboard hospitality technologies as well as ground-breaking and ultramodern design.

One of the highlights of the ship will be an enhanced MSC Yacht Club. The innovative “ship within a ship” concept is an all-inclusive cruise experience that set a new standard of premium cruising when it was introduced in 2008 by offering guests privacy and exclusivity as well as being able to enjoy all the facilities a larger ship can offer.

With the design of each and every new ship, MSC Cruises seeks to enrich and enhance the experience therefore the MSC Yacht Club on MSC World Europa will offer unparalleled levels of comfort, with more public space, expanded outdoor areas, new stylish suites and a futuristic design.

This eagerly anticipated new flagship is the first from the trail-blazing World Class prototype, spanning 22 decks, 47 meters wide, with 2,626 cabins and boasting more than 40,000mof public space. This ultramodern urban metropolis at sea is the future of cruising and will offer a veritable world of different experiences pushing the boundaries of what is possible at sea.

MSC World Europa is also set to become the greenest and most efficient vessel in MSC Cruises’ fleet when she is delivered in October 2022. Her environmental credentials include solid oxide fuel cells, a selective catalytic reduction system and enhanced shore-to-ship power capability. She will also be the

largest LNG powered cruise ship in the world when she launches later this year.

MSC World Europa will be the world’s first contemporary cruise vessel to feature brand new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) developed by MSC Cruises, Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Bloom Energy. The ship will include a 150-kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that will generate auxiliary power to deliver efficiency gains and significant CO2 emissions reductions compared to traditional internal combustion engines. It will be a testbed to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology for contemporary cruise ships and offers a potential to enable hybrid propulsion solutions in the future.

“We are committed to a net-zero future, which is why we are investing heavily in the development of low-carbon fuels and solutions that will accelerate the decarbonization of the maritime sector,” said Linden Coppell, Director of Sustainability for MSC Cruises. “MSC World Europa will be our most efficient ship yet and help us prove and refine environmental technologies for the future of our fleet. With this project, we are also advancing partnerships with technology suppliers, energy companies, academia, and regulatory bodies.

We must all deepen our collaboration to unlock a zero-emissions future.”

Royal Caribbean Group Enters Partnership with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Releases Sustainability Report Royal Caribbean Group and Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping formalized their collaboration on May 23 by signing a Partnership Agreement. With the agreement, Royal Caribbean Group becomes a Corporate Strategic Partner to the Center, committing to a longterm strategic collaboration and contribution to the development of zero carbon technologies and solutions for the maritime industry.

“Collective action is imperative as we deploy our Destination Net Zero strategy to decarbonize our business and catalyze innovation for our industry,” said Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO. “By joining the Center Royal Caribbean Group aligns itself with a network of like-minded companies with an unrelenting drive to find solutions for a sustainable future.”

Additionally, Royal Caribbean Group released its 14th annual sustainability report, providing a comprehensive update on the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework and activities across its three wholly owned brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises.

New for 2021, Royal Caribbean Group revamped its ESG framework to better reflect the company’s contributions to a more sustainable cruise industry. The ESG framework focuses on five distinct ways to deliver great vacation experiences responsibly: Champion communities and the environment; provide unforgettable cruise experiences; foster human rights and be an employer of choice; advance net zero innovation; and govern responsibly.

To view Royal Caribbean Group’s 2021 sustainability report and learn more about the company’s efforts, visit: www.royalcaribbeangroup.com/sustainability.

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On Board

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Commits to Pursue Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd announced its commitment to pursue net zero emissions by 2050 across its operations and value chain. The Company has also committed to develop short- and near-term greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction targets to support its path to net zero. In addition, the Company has published its first Task Force on Climaterelated Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”) Report which provides critical transparency to its stakeholders.

“The pursuit of net zero will be one of the most defining voyages that our Company will take. The scope of our net zero ambition spans our entire value chain as we aim to bring key partners, including our vast network of global suppliers, along with us on this transformational journey,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “While we recognize that the pathway will be complex, requiring significant collaboration, innovation and technological advancement, we are committed to doing our part to contribute to the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

The Company’s new climate commitments broaden and strengthen its existing climate action strategy which is centered around three key focus areas: 1) reducing carbon intensity, 2) investing in technology and exploring alternative fuels and 3) implementing a voluntary carbon offset program. The Company will continue to monitor and invest in opportunities to reduce emissions including and beyond its fleet, working closely with its partners to identify best practices and accelerate decarbonization efforts. Last year, the Company committed to purchase 3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO₂e) offsets as a measurable action to address decarbonization gaps in the short-term while the Company explores long-term solutions. A key driver to achieve the 26 S e con d Q ua r te r 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise

Company’s net zero ambition is the development of alternative fuels along with the associated critical infrastructure at destinations globally to support the usage of these fuels. As such, the Company is committed to partnering, researching and driving discussions to

identify an appropriate alternative fuel source that can also be sufficiently scaled.

For example, the Company is currently actively engaging with partners including engine manufacturers and classification societies in planning for a safe and effective methanol engine retrofit.

CARNIVAL CORPORATION JOINS MÆRSK MC-KINNEY MØLLER CENTER FOR ZERO CARBON SHIPPING Carnival Corporation & plc has joined the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, a nonprofit, independent research and development center committed to accelerating the transition toward a net-zero future for the global maritime industry. Carnival Corporation, with nine global cruise line brands, is the first cruise company to join the center’s global community.

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping aims to advance the maritime industry’s transition to a low carbon future through collaboration across the entire value chain, with the long-term ambition of reaching zero carbon shipping by 2050. Together with its partners, the center is facilitating the development and implementation of sustainable solutions, new technologies and viable transition pathways while driving needed policies and regulations to enable the transition.

This shared vision closely aligns with Carnival Corporation’s own

decarbonization goals and aspiration to achieve net carbon-neutral ship operations by 2050. To achieve this, the company is partnering with key organizations to help identify and scale new technologies not yet ready for the cruise industry.

Through the partnership, Carnival Corporation will have the opportunity to collaborate with industry players and like-minded organizations across the energy and shipping sectors, and have access to learnings, knowledge, and research and development activities for identifying viable decarbonization pathways. Partners of the center comprise over 40 companies, including global stakeholders from a variety of shipping-related industries such as fuel suppliers, marine classification societies, shipping companies, engineering and manufacturing companies, energy companies and more.

More information on the company’s sustainability efforts is available at www.CarnivalSustainability.com.

Installation of an Advanced Air Quality System (AAQS), which result in significantly cleaner air emissions and were a technology pioneered by Carnival Corporation on board its ships, with over 90% of its non-LNG ships equipped with these systems

NOW IS THE TIME TO START PL ANNING YOUR NEXT VACATION CRUISE PORT TAMPA BAY Choose from some of the world’s most popular cruise lines and a host of itineraries throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. While in Tampa guests’ have an amazing variety of options to enhance their cruise experience. Destinations near the cruise terminals include Ybor City, Busch Gardens, The Florida Aquarium, Sparkman Wharf, Downtown Tampa / Riverwalk, and the world’s top-rated beaches, to name a few.

• Western, Eastern & Southern Caribbean itineraries • More than 4,000 safe and secure parking spaces steps from the cruise terminals

• North America’s second-best airport and fifth in the world in customer satisfaction1 Airports Council International

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On Land

Chukka Continues to Innovate

W

“

e had been playing around with the idea for many years, and during the Covid shutdown, it provided us the opportunity to reassess our business model and come up with this new unique bold concept that NO ONE in the shore excursions sector w­a s doing,” said John Byles, Deputy Chairman of Chukka Caribbean Adventures. “At Sandy Bay (near Montego Bay) we launched the first Chukka Ocean Outpost™ concept with ‘Ocean Outpost™ at Sandy Bay.’ The goal has always been guest experience, and feedback is showing exactly that…guests are LOVING this new concept.”

Chukka was born in 1983 with the launch of Horseback Ride ‘N’ Swim at Chukka Cove near Ocho Rios and since inception has been pushing the boundaries of eco-adventure tourism in the Caribbean. There have been many hiccups along the way, but some 40 years later, Chukka is proud of the best-in-class tour product that they provide to cruise and hotel guests in their five countries (Jamaica, Belize, Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, and Barbados) and 20 unique sites throughout these countries.

Never one to rest on their laurels, Chukka prides itself on expansion and innovation. In 2020, Chukka won the RFP to design, develop, and operate Harrison’s Cave in Barbados and in 2021 was named as marketing representative to the Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience in Jamaica. Chukka continues to scour the Caribbean for the next opportunity, meeting with government entities and private individuals to look for more “diamonds in the rough.”

In 2021, Chukka found their next opportunity in their own backyard at Island Village at the Ocho Rios Cruise Terminal in Jamaica. Chukka met with the owners of Island Village and proposed a new Outpost™ concept, whereby Chukka would become a strategic partner and signed a long-term lease for all the arrival area at Island Village. Since the signing of the lease, Chukka has been working diligently to develop a 28 S e co n d Q ua r te r 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise

new attractions and retail profile at the Village.

Construction began in early 2022, and Chukka built out a large retail area whereby guests can congregate before their tours and purchase needed items like sunscreen, water, and grab-n-go food items. Upon return from their tours, guests will have the opportunity to pur-

chase photos in that same location and embark on their next “attraction” right at the port.

Chukka is adding a seven-minute “Discover Jamaica” viewing theater, a rum and coffee tasting room, a challenge course, splash pad, and the ability to experience traditional bamboo rafting right on the port complex (which has been used for centuries to transport bananas and other agricultural items from the interior of the country to the coastline along the rivers). All these addons at the Island Village Outpost™ are providing guests with a unique experience and the ability to immerse themselves in Jamaican culture and history in addition to the shorex tours.

“As a Jamaican, and a tour operator, I am so proud of what we have accomplished at Island Village Outpost™,” said Marc Melville, CEO of Chukka.

“Guests can spend all day at Dunn’s River, Chukka Cove, White River or one of Chukka’s Catamarans and then come back and learn more about Jamaica through our film or spend time checking out the bamboo rafting. Our new concept allows mummy or daddy or the grandparents to shop for some items or grab a drink and watch their kids play on the adventure course or the splashpad.

Chukka is all about families. We want to make sure that there is something for EVERY generation. This is the core belief to our Outpost™ concept and like Ocean Outpost™ at Sandy Bay and Good Hope Eco-Outpost™ before that. We are seeing the amazing results.”

Construction at the Island Village Outpost™ is almost complete, with many of the attractions already opened; everything will be completed by June 1, 2022.

Chukka looks forward to welcoming all members and guests of the cruise industry to visit Island Village Outpost™ so that you can experience firsthand this unique concept that we are so proud to share with the world. We are always looking for the next Outpost™, so feel free to share with us any ideas you may have...IT’S TIME TO PLAY!!!

On Land

Photo of Government and Royal Caribbean Group officials

St. Maarten Expands Job Markets, Welcomes 350K Cruise Guests in First Four Months On May 11, the Government of St. Maarten and Royal Caribbean Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility, signifying the beginning of a partnership that will create an expansion of St. Maarten’s job market within the cruising industry. This has been a joint initiative of the Honorable Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson together with the Honorable Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Omar Ottley, whereby job seekers will now gain access to lucrative careers on board the cruise lines of Royal Caribbean Group, from line entry to executive level positions.

This initiative began in 2021, while preparations were ongoing for the launch of St. Maarten’s homeporting venture.

During this period, Minister Richardson seized an opportunity to explore the possibilities of St. Maarten providing employment for persons to work on board cruise lines. Minister Richardson and Minister Ottley both expressed their enthusiasm and showed their support for this project.

From here, formal discussions between the Government of St. Maarten and Royal Caribbean began, as well as a legal review to explore the possibilities of having this project become a reality for the people of St. Maarten to work on board Royal Caribbean Group vessels. Moving forward, the Government of St. Maarten will facilitate the first cruise industry job fair, which will be hosted by the National Employment Service Center (NESC) within the Ministry of VSA and Royal Caribbean Group’s Human Resources department.

Additionally, Port St. Maarten catered to 350,507 cruise guests via 282 cruise ship 30 S e co n d Q ua r te r 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise

calls in the first four months of the year.

Port St. Maarten Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alexander Gumbs said the cruise industry continues to deal with the challenges brought on by COVID-19 and now more recently high energy costs attributed to a combination of global economic factors, supply chain issues and the war between Russia and Ukraine.

“We remain confident for the coming months as we approach the slow season,” he said. “As we enter this period, multiple cruise ships are being scrapped or sold thereby limiting the tonnage in the Caribbean Basin. Our performance has been positive. Occupancy onboard cruise ships have been slowly increasing as more

people decide to take a cruise in the coming months. In comparison with figures for the first quarter of this year, cruise ship occupancy levels were hovering around 45 percent, but we have been experiencing an average of above 75 percent, and currently some vessels are already nearing 100 percent occupancy. We continue to remain focused and planning in a strategic manner along with the cruise industry and other stakeholders as we overcome the challenges that we all have been confronted with for the past two+ years.”

For more information about the destination, visit www.vacationstmaarten.com, www.facebook.com/portstmaarten or www.portstmaarten.com.

PUERTO RICO HITS THE GAS ON LNG FACILITY Crowley has inaugurated an LNG loading facility in Puerto Rico. The new facility will allow operators to load LNG onto 10,000-gallon ISO containers for road transport to customer facilities around the island – and will be able to deliver more than 94 million gallons of LNG annually.

The inauguration of the LNG facility was attended by Crowley Chairman and CEO Tom Crowley featured remarks from Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi, and Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner in Washington DC, Jenniffer González-Colon “We continue to expand our capacity and investment in Puerto Rico with

the opening of this special facility, which enhances Crowley’s LNG capabilities across diverse industries,” said Crowley.

“Our LNG solutions allow industrial and commercial clients to plan, monitor and produce their own energy while protecting their business from potential threats such as power outages or natural disasters.”

“As Puerto Rico moves forward on its quest to transform its dated and fragile electric generation system into a firstclass energy network, the use of alternative and transitional fuels like LNG will be critically important in helping build resiliency and reliability into the system,” said Governor Pedro Pierluisi.

New Cruise Port on Grand Bahama Island Breaks Ground Bahamian Government officials and Carnival Cruise Line executives gathered on Thursday, May 12, 2022 for the groundbreaking ceremony for Carnival’s new $200 million cruise port in Freeport, Grand Bahama which officials anticipate will breathe new tourism life into the economy of the Bahamian nation’s second city.

“With the start of this Carnival project, Grand Bahama is now on the better side of reaching its true economic potential,” said the Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, while speaking at the ceremony. “This investment will provide much needed jobs but will also signal new hope for the island’s recovery.”

The Hon. I. Chester Cooper, Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation viewed the new project as a development that would soon be the norm on Grand Bahama Island. “We believe the excitement of what is happening on Grand Bahama will be contagious,” he said. “The cruise port is an integral part of our plan to restore Grand Bahama to economic viability,” said Minister Cooper. “Carnival will play a critical role in stimulating our economy and shining a light on Grand Bahama as a rejuvenated and premier destination in our country and the region.”

The new Carnival Grand Bahama cruise port destination, expected to open in late 2024, is being developed on the south side of the island and will continue to serve as a gateway to Grand Bahama while also offering guests a uniquely Bahamian experience with many exciting features and amenities, along with business opportunities for the residents of Grand Bahama.

“As we celebrate our 50-year partnership with The Bahamas, today’s groundbreaking on our incredible new Grand Bahama destination represents an

opportunity to collaborate with the government and people of Grand Bahama – to contribute to the local economy through job and business opportunities, meaningfully engage with local communities, and further expand our experience offerings for our guests who will have a breathtaking new port of call to enjoy,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy.

“Our sincere thanks to the government of The Bahamas and The Grand Bahama Port Authority for their continued support as we begin construction. Our guests already love The Bahamas, and we are certain this new project will give them even more reason to want to visit.”

The Grand Bahama Port Authority Acting Chairman Sarah St. George commented: “The new Carnival cruise port destination will have a monumental impact on our island’s economy, including a panoply of new business opportunities, a huge surge in tourist visitors, as well as increased activities for established businesses. It is transformational in the true sense of the word. We are immensely grateful to Carnival for choosing Freeport and Grand Bahama for this flagship project. Today, we mark this incredible achievement made possible by the efforts of Carnival with The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Port Group Limited, the Grand Bahama Development Company and Freeport Harbour Company, and the Government of The Bahamas. A project of this magnitude is only possible through genuine collaboration. Grand Bahamians have withstood life-changing challenges, particularly in recent years. Despite these, Carnival never wavered in their commitment to building their next cruise port in Freeport. We are very proud to have played our part to the best of our ability towards making this a reality.”

The cruise port development includes a pier able to accommodate up to two Excel-class ships simultaneously welcoming guests to a stunning white-sand beach The Bahamas are known for. Guests will be able to explore and enjoy Grand Bahama by way of sea, via a dedicated shore excursion dock, or by land, via the dedicated ground transportation hub. The cruise port itself will also feature an area designated as a nature reserve and an interior pool feature, along with many Bahamian-

operated retail, food and beverage options for guests to enjoy.

“The Carnival groundbreaking is very significant to the residents of Grand Bahama. This development signals opportunities for creatives, vendors, and small and medium sized businesses, and represents our commitment to collaboration with local and international partners for the betterment of our island,” said The Honorable Ginger M. Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama.

The cruise pier will allow Grand Bahama to welcome guests from Carnival’s larger ships, such as the 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras, which debuted in 2021 as the line’s largest and most innovative ship and North America’s first cruise ship powered

by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and Carnival Celebration, sister ship to Mardi Gras, which will begin sailing from Miami later this year.

Panama Books New Homeport Operations Boutique cruise company Atlas Ocean Voyages is booking Panama as a new homeport, with plans to run at least four new homeport operations in Panama for the 2022-2023 season. The company will operate itineraries of up to 12 nights – and will be among the first to utilize the new Panama Cruise Terminal at Fuerte Amador.

“Panama’s indigenous heritage, natural biodiversity, variety of landscapes and colonial history present a coveted destination for our guests, who seek a luxury adventure in some of the world’s most breathtaking destinations,” said Alberto Aliberti, President of Atlas Ocean Voyages. “We are looking forward to…be among the first to utilize the new Panama Cruise Terminal at Fuerte Amador and access inland experiences via Panama’s new tourism landing sites.”

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On Land

Full Speed Ahead for Port of Progreso, Yucatán, México Elnet Maritime Center Launches Elnet Maritime recently celebrated the grand opening of the newly constructed Elnet Maritime Center (EMC), a 12,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art, multi-functional maritime facility on the island of Grand Bahama, in The Bahamas. The EMC will support the operations of Elnet Maritime as the company continues to move in the right direction offering full ship agency services and logistics including cruise services, lightering, bunkering, off-port limits, dry docking, husbandry, trucking, warehousing and customs brokerage.

Dominica Reports a Successful 2021/2022 Cruise Season Dominica defied the odds of the COVID19 pandemic as the destination boasts a successful 2021/2022 cruise season.

Dominica received over 200 cruise calls and welcomed 144,781 passengers – with 79,344 basking in the destination’s cruise offerings. Dominica’s participation at Seatrade Cruise Global 2022 heightened the destination’s optimism for increased cruise calls for the 2022/2023 cruise season, especially as improvements to the islands tourism product for visitors’ satisfaction are being pursued.

Aruba Welcomes a New Era for Its Cruise Industry On May 4, Allure of the Seas made its inaugural call to Aruba and will now visit the island every other week. To make this possible, the Aruba Ports Authority NV has made important investments, which includes dredging, installation of new Yokohama fenders and construction of several 150-ton bollards. This marks the beginning of new era for Aruba’s cruise industry, as the destination can now welcome the mega cruise ships at the port in Oranjestad.

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More Calls to Hutchison Ports ECV Ensenada Cruiseport Village is having a great recovery after the pandemic, with an increase of 30 percent on cruise ship calls compared to 2019, the last year with operations before the pandemic. We are expecting a promising future a head. Visit us at www.hutchisonportsecv.com.

Working together for the recovery step by step, the Port of Progreso, has seen optimistic forecasts for a promising for Yucatan. Cruise lines can trust the program that Port of Progreso offers, and that is our goal – they know what´s worth it!

Dominican Republic Officially Recovers Tourism The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) declared the Dominican Republic as the first country in the world to achieve the recovery of tourism, after the impact of the COVID pandemic in the sector, which makes that Caribbean nation a benchmark in the industry.

The UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pollolickashvili, presented the award to the Dominican President, Luis Abinader, and the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, during a ceremony held in the historic Colonial City of Santo Domingo.

Additionally, while the weather is getting warmer, the Dominican Republic is staying hot with its record-breaking tourism year in 2022. In May, another arrivals record was broken – with 561,323 tourist arrivals for the month, the most of any in the destination’s history for May (11 percent more than May 2018, 6 percent more than May 2019 and 44 percent higher than last year).

For the year, the Dominican Republic has welcomed nearly 3 million visitors so

far, and officials say forward bookings are up 13.5 percent for the summer compared to the same period in 2019. The number shows no signs of cooling for the upcoming winter tourist season, with reservations almost 58 percent higher than at the end of 2019. In total, the Dominican Republic is expecting 7 million visitors this year – the most ever.

The May record followed another tourism milestone in April – with 626,010 tourist arrivals for the month, the most ever and a 7 percent increase compared to April 2019 and 13 percent more than April 2018.

“The recovery of tourism is a reality,” said Dominican Republic Tourism Minister David Collado. “We did again.

The growth we achieved in April is unprecedented. It is the best April in the history of Dominican tourism.”

Division of Festivals Director. “We wanted to be bold and integrate some of the more traditional cultural elements like live bands and calypso for our older generations, but also cater to the younger generation with some newer, modern, local artists. The community’s response and support were incredible to witness, and it was clear there was a longing for Carnival to return in person.”

Locals and visitors alike joined together in celebration for the highly anticipated program that included the sounds of Caribbean music such as calypso, soca, and reggae bands, daily fetes and shows for the music lovers. For five consecutive village nights, local and world renown artists hit the stage such as Kes the Band, Beres Hammond, Spectrum, Rock City, and Adam O, to name a few.

Food lovers flocked to the annual Food Fair, traditionally held at Emancipation Garden, but this year took place at Crown Bay where locals were met by visitors docked on tour ships. Local high school students of Shamang Straun’s architectural class at Charlotte Amalie High School took on the task of designing

the fairgrounds layout to allow a freer flowing and organized tasting experience of local and cultural dishes. Additional local Caribbean delicacies could be found at the village grounds daily.

The experience of Carnival is not complete without the parades where locals and visitors of all ages band together in colorful costumes while marching and dancing through the streets alongside live bands, steel drums and the alluring mocko jumbies, the stilted dancer’s representative of the spirit guides in the islands. This year, Ms. Carmen Sibilly was honored and recrowned as Carnival Queen of 1952.

“The positive impact Carnival has on tourism in our territory is evident. It’s a treasured and beloved event for all, and our airlift and hotel capacity over the past week proves this, says Commissioner of Tourism, Joseph Boschulte. “In between events, visitors can enjoy our beautiful pristine beaches, delicious cuisine, marine life, sister islands of St. Croix and St. John and so much more. We look forward to continuing this longstanding tradition and welcoming visitors to enjoy our culture for many centuries to come.”

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St. Thomas Carnival Returned in Person for a Historic Celebration The 70th annual celebration of St. Thomas Carnival was an eclectic celebration of culture and tradition. This year’s theme “A New Cultural Roogadoo for Carnival 2022” included daily free events for children, adults, and families of all ages produced by the Department of Tourism’s Division of Festivals. Following two years of virtual events, Carnival returned in person to St. Thomas for an abbreviated five days of food, music, and culture. A juxtaposition of long-standing traditions such as calypso music, J’ouvert, Parade, with a refreshed modern lineup of artists and events. For more Following two years of virtual events, Carnival returned in person to St. Thomas for an abbreviated five days of food, music, and culture. A juxtaposition of long-standing traditions such as calypso music, J’ouvert, Parade, with a refreshed modern lineup of artists and events.

“St. Thomas Carnival was a labor of love and a step in the right direction to returning to pre pandemic levels”, said Ian Turnbull,

ANTIGUA TO CELEBRATE CARNIVAL Following a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Antigua’s Carnival, the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival, returns with a vigor this year from July 27 – August 2, under the theme ‘Reigniting the Spirit.’ A spectacular display of art,

culture and heritage, visitors are drawn year after year to the celebrations, an intense, seven-day experience filled with music, dance, revelry, cuisine, warmth and hospitality. Come and ‘Experience The Greatest’ www.visitantiguabarbuda.com

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On Land

The Cayman Islands and FCCA Pen Agreement The 2022 agreement will utilize FCCA’s cruise executive committees, including new and renewed sub-committees focused on employment and purchasing, for a series of meetings/site visits focused on the destination’s objectives.

“We are pleased to have like-minded partners such as the FCCA that not only wish to return to the Cayman Islands but will work strategically with us to enhance the cruise experience like never before,” said Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister for Tourism and Transport.

ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND CHECKING IN RENOVATIONS Atlantis Paradise Island is a lush, oceanside resort connects guests to the culture of The Bahamas while remaining dedicated to sustainability and conservation. By this summer, renovations of all guestrooms in The Royal East Tower will be complete, followed

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Unveils New Highly Immersive Shore Excursion Concepts

Voluntourism in Grenada – the Experience of a Lifetime Venture beyond the sand and into the community for a truly memorable experience with Grenada Tourism Authority’s Voluntourism program. Helping travelers foster meaningful connections in the spaces they visit, Grenada’s voluntourism opportunities include coral reef restoration, turtle research, lionfish hunts and beach cleanups, and community learn-to-swim classes.

Visitors can help at organic farms and an animal shelter and donate resources for educational, health and cultural programs.

Visit www.puregrenada.com/voluntourism to learn more.

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises has launched two new shore excursion concepts to further enhance the immersive destination experiences for what the luxury cruise line is known for. The Behind the Design and EcoConnect tours invite discerning travelers to explore destinations and landmarks from unique and original perspectives.

Behind the Design tours offer incredible insights about some of the world’s most captivating and brilliant architectural feats.

There is a total of 10 Behind the Design tours for the initial launch, which is exclusive to European destinations in summer 2022, with further global destinations expected to be announced later in the year.

All offer special, little-known stories and information from knowledgeable guides about the inspiration, reasoning and genius that brought these marvels to life.

With over 150 Eco-Connect tours to choose from around the globe, guests can engage with local groups and businesses to learn about how they are working to

by the unveiling of The Royal West Tower’s upgraded rooms and suites. The world-famous Bridge Suite connecting the towers will also undergo renovation in 2023 with designs incorporating opulent textures and details reflecting the legend of Atlantis.

conserve and sustain their surrounding environment. The tours, many of which provide an educational element, offer guests the opportunity to take part in a variety of experiences. Eco-Connect tours span the globe including a wide variety of destinations such as Africa, Alaska, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Northern Europe and South America.

“We understand that while our guests love the all-inclusive and superior service standards found on board our luxury fleet, their primary reason for travel is to discover and explore,” said Jason Montague, President and Chief Executive Officer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “That’s why our incredible destinations team has worked tirelessly over the last two years, creating unique and immersive ways to explore hundreds of destinations with completely fresh perspectives and unique experiences.”

AIDA Cruises Also Sustainable Ashore For many years, AIDA Cruises has been investing in a future-proof and sustainable cruise market as part of its Green Cruising

Strategy. As part of its comprehensive commitment, the company is continuously advancing climate and resource protection with many small and large initiatives not only on board its fleet, but also on land.

Using reusable packaging instead of disposable packaging or avoiding packaging altogether - this has been the practice for many years, not only on board all AIDA ships. For relaxing and healthy breaks, the company naturally provides its employees with fruit without packaging. Coffee specialties are available freshly ground from modern coffee machines. Table water can be drawn from water stations in the tea kitchens.

For more sustainable mobility, including during leisure time, AIDA Cruises offers its employees discounted job tickets in cooperation with regional transport companies. The mobility offer is supplemented by company bicycles, which can also be rented privately free of charge.

bicycling, canoeing and kayaking excursions ashore with many tours set to make a direct contribution to the environment by helping the protection of habitats and species.

MSC Cruises worked extensively in 2021 to provide tour operators with responsible and sustainable tourism training and ‘Protectours’ will be available at the start of summer 2022 at 20 ports which is set to grow to up to 90 destinations by the season’s end.

Marialuisa Iaccarino, Head of Shore Excursions, MSC Cruises said, “Travel and tourism has a very significant role to play in global decarbonization, and we need to demonstrate leadership by ensuring that we meet the expectation of travelers who are more aware and engaged in sustainability matters and the protection and enhancement of the natural environment.”

MSC Cruises has also waived its ‘safe bubble’ shore excursions it pioneered for the cruise industry in 2020 due to the pandemic, and guests can make their own sightseeing arrangements subject to the regulations stipulated by local authorities.

MSC Cruises’ Summer Shorex Sets Sights on Sustainability MSC Cruises’ summer 2022 program of shore excursions will have its strongest ever focus on minimizing the environmental impact of land-based tours and supporting nature-positive activities.

More electric and hybrid shuttle buses will be used for guests to shuttle from ports to places of interest, with MSC Cruises aiming to increase the utilization of green ground transportation in the future.

Low carbon footprint excursions will include 150 bicycle tours available in 21 countries - which are growing in popularity among the line’s guests - and more sustainable shore excursions called ‘Protectours’ that MSC Cruises first introduced in 2020 will be available.

Up to 70 percent of Protectours will have a low environmental impact thanks to an increase in the number of walking, hiking,

Port Everglades Reaches Agreement for Shore Power Port Everglades has reached a $495,000 agreement with Florida Power & Light (FPL) to explore providing electrical shore power to each of the Port’s eight cruise ship berths.

The agreement gives FPL the go ahead to begin design services required to construct a new electrical sub-station and power distribution facilities. During Seatrade Cruise Global representatives from Port Everglades, FPL, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Group and Royal Caribbean Group voiced their support for the project.

Mobile Moving Along Mobile, Ala. serves as a desirable, easily assessable drive market port situated along the northern Gulf coast. Sailing again, Carnival Ecstasy offers four- and fiveday itineraries to the western Caribbean.

During the restart celebration for Ecstasy, Carnival also announced its future plans for Mobile. The line will introduce a new seasonal six- and eight-day cruise program from Mobile beginning October 2023 with Carnival Spirit. Spirit’s itineraries will stop in Bimini, Half Moon Cay and Mahogany Bay, among other ports. These sailings have already opened for sale.

PortMiami to Be ‘Shore Power Ready’ PortMiami, in partnership with Florida Power and Light Company, Carnival Corporation, MSC Cruises USA, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, Royal Caribbean Group, and Virgin Voyages, will be “Shore Power Ready” by Winter 2023. Shore power will allow cruise ships to shut down their engines while docked at the Port and switch to electric power until it is time to set sail, reducing emissions and mitigating MiamiDade’s current and future environmental concerns. This project will not only continue to solidly PortMiami’s position as the Cruise Capital of the World but a leader in sustainability and resiliency. To learn more, visit www.portmiami.biz.

JAXPORT Welcomes Return of Carnival Elation Carnival Elation once again serves as the Jacksonville Port Authority’s (JAXPORT’s) homeported ship – with the 2,190-passenger vessel offering sailings to The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.

JAXPORT also welcomed Seven Seas Navigator for a one-time port-of-call visit in April. The 482-passenger vessel is operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Since resuming cruise operations in the spring, nearly 20,000 passengers have set sail from Jacksonville.

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On Land

Australia Joins Worldwide Cruising Revival

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ustralia has begun rebuilding its multi-billion-dollar cruise industry, with international ships bringing back economic opportunities for thousands of local businesses around the country.

Now that a two-year federal cruise suspension has ended, cruise lines have begun a carefully managed resumption of operations in a sector that had supported more than 18,000 Australian jobs before the pandemic.

The first international cruise ship to return, P&O Australia’s Pacific Explorer, sailed into Sydney Harbour in April in preparation for its return to service on May 31. It was followed the next week by Ponant’s Le Lapérouse, which began operations between Darwin and Broome at the end of April, joining local operators in time for the important Kimberley season in Australia’s remote north-west.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said extensive new health protocols agreed with Australian state and territory governments had allowed a phased revival of one of the world’s most passionate cruise markets.

“More than a million Australians took an ocean cruise every year before the pandemic, and we now have an opportunity to return to sailing and revive an industry that was worth more than $5 billion annually to the Australian economy,” said Katz.

“The end of the cruise suspension is huge landmark and will be celebrated by many thousands of Australians whose livelihoods depend on cruising.”

Cruise tourism supports employment across thousands of Australian businesses, including travel agents, tour operators, retailers, hotels, restaurants, food and produce providers, entertainers, transport providers, port services and other suppliers. It is estimated the suspension of cruising has cost the Australian economy more than $10 billion since early 2020.

Cruise health protocols agreed with Australian health authorities to allow a

P&O Australia’s Pacific Explorer sailing into Sydney Harbour in April in preparation for its return to service

return to sailings span the entirety of the cruise experience and including vaccination and testing requirements for passengers and crew before boarding.

“While no setting is immune from Covid-19, the cruise industry’s new protocols provide among the highest possible levels of prevention, detection, and mitigation,” said Katz. “With these measures in place, Australia now has an opportunity to begin a responsible recovery in an industry that has long been a vital part of our tourism economy.”

Australia’s revival of cruising follows a long and hard-fought campaign by the local cruise community, spearheaded by CLIA and cruise lines, which aimed to show political leaders the economic importance of cruising.

It included a Ready, Set, Sail initiative through which CLIA rallied travel agents, industry suppliers and other cruise supporters to message their local Members of Parliament.

“More than 30,000 emails were sent to state and federal politicians around

the country, which lead to a groundswell of support for the return of cruising,” said Katz.

CLIA also mounted a Meet Your MP campaign that urged supporters to seek face-to-face meetings with local Members of Parliament and provided resources to help argue the case for a responsible return of cruise ships.

“Travel agents and other supporters then began holding rallies outside politicians’ offices and took a high profile in television interviews and other media coverage,” continued Katz. “The level of support and unity we’ve had among supporters has been phenomenal.”

With initial sailings underway from Sydney and Brisbane, as well as in the Kimberley region, Australia’s cruise revival will build further in August and September with the arrival of other ships.

Further additions will continue in October ahead of the southern summer peak season from December to April.

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On Land

Green Light for Cruising Provides Welcome Boost for New Zealand Tourism

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he New Zealand Government has announced that cruise ships will soon be able to return to the South Pacific country, providing a welcome boost for local tourism operators while also bringing clarity for the many thousands of Kiwis who love to holiday at sea.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia recently welcomed confirmation that New Zealand’s maritime border will reopen after July 31 ahead of the upcoming cruise season beginning in October.

“Today’s announcement is a huge breakthrough for the many New Zealanders who depend on cruise tourism, including travel agents, tour operators, food and produce providers, port workers and

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many other industry suppliers,” said CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz.

“The suspension of international cruising over the past two years has had a huge impact on the New Zealand travel industry, and we now have an opportunity to work on a revival.”

Mr. Katz said millions of people had already sailed in more than 90 other countries where cruising had resumed, with stringent new health measures in place.

“The cruise industry has done an enormous amount of work with medical

experts internationally which has resulted in health protocols that are among the most extensive to be found anywhere in world tourism,” continued Katz. “These protocols span the entirety of the cruise experience and provide some of the highest possible levels of prevention, detection, and mitigation against Covid19 – including vaccination and testing requirements for all passengers and crew before boarding.

“The cruise industry has worked closely with the New Zealand Government to develop plans for a responsible return of international cruise ships, and we look forward to reviving the economic opportunities that come with cruise tourism in communities around New Zealand.”

Ben Angell Elected Chairman of CLIA Australasia

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ruise Lines International been highly successful in various Association (CLIA) executive roles not only within Australasia has cruising but across the wider announced the election of tourism and leisure sectors,” Ben Angell as its new regionsaid Katz. “He will provide al Chairman following the important stewardship for association’s annual general our industry as we work meeting in Sydney in May. to strengthen our recovery, Angell is Vice President rebuild confidence in cruising & Managing Director of and confront other challenges New CLIA Australasia Norwegian Cruise Line APAC ahead of us.”

Chairman Ben Angell and takes over from outgoing Angell said he was honored Chairman Gavin Smith, the Vice President to step into the role of CLIA Chairman & Managing Director Australia for Royal for Australasia at a critical time for the Caribbean Cruises Ltd, who concludes his cruise industry: “Cruising injects signifitwo-year term. cant investment into our local economies CLIA Australasia Managing Director while supporting communities and jobs, Joel Katz said Mr. Angell was an accomand I look forward to working closely with plished industry leader who would offer CLIA and our partners in the industry as invaluable experience at a time when the we drive towards a future that’s brighter cruise sector was working to establish a than ever.” new course for its future.

Mr. Katz thanked Mr. Smith for “Ben Angell has been a key leader his dedication to CLIA over recent in our industry for many years and has years and paid tribute to his work as

Chairman through unprecedented times: “Gavin Smith is an authoritative and long-standing leader in our industry, and his Chairmanship has spanned the most difficult period of our history. He has been an invaluable part of our industry’s response to the pandemic and has helped steer our sector through a difficult environment into revival. We are grateful for his leadership, and he will continue to be an important contributor to CLIA into the future.”

As CLIA Australasia Chairman, Angell leads an Executive Committee that also comprises Stuart Allison (Senior Vice President - Asia Pacific, UK & Europe, Princess Cruises), Sarina Bratton (Chairman Asia Pacific, Ponant), Lynne Clarke (Chairman, MSC Cruises Australia), Marguerite Fitzgerald (President, Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises), Andrew Millmore (Executive Chairman, Travel the World Group, representing Windstar and Virgin Voyages), Steve Odell (Senior Vice President & Managing Director Asia Pacific, Regent Seven Seas Cruises & Oceania Cruises) and Gavin Smith (Vice President & Managing Director Australia, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd).

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Members & Travel Agents

FCCA Partners with the Cayman Islands on Strategic Development Agreement

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CCA has formed a tailored strategic agreement with the Cayman Islands to continue moving its cruise tourism recovery full steam ahead. After taking a more than two-year hiatus of cruise tourism due to their COVID-19 protocols, the Cayman Islands recently started welcoming cruise calls after a site visit by FCCA and cruise executives, as well as a series of meetings with government and health officials.

“Safely and successfully welcoming cruise passengers back to the Cayman Islands has been one of our top priorities, as it is of significant importance to our local tourism industry and community,” said Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister for Tourism and Transport. “We are grateful to have like-minded partners such as the FCCA that not only wish to return to the Cayman Islands but will work strategically with us to enhance the cruise experience like never before.”

Now the Cayman Islands is looking to fully embark on its opportunities for cruise tourism, which generated $224.54 million in total cruise tourism expenditures, in addition to $92.24 million in total employee wage income, during the 2017/2018 cruise year, according to the Business Research & Economic Advisors report “Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies.”

“This new agreement shows the momentum that both FCCA and destinations are gaining with cruise tourism’s continued recovery,” said Micky Arison, Chairman of FCCA and Carnival Corporation & plc. “The Cayman Islands has been a long-standing partner of the industry, and I am honored that this agreement signifies the return of a premier cruise destination, along with the rebound of so many lives and livelihoods.”

As part of the agreement, FCCA will not only collaborate with the Cayman Islands government on enhancing their product and increasing cruise calls, but also will facilitate new experiences to offer cruise companies and will work with the local private sector to maximize any opportunities.

“For decades, cruise tourism has been intrinsic to the Cayman Islands identi40 S e co n d Q ua r te r 202 2 | Travel & Cr uise

ty. As a luxury lifestyle destination, our delicious food, award-winning beaches, five-star amenities, and friendly wildlife are meant to be shared among friends and global travelers,” said Cayman Islands Director of Tourism, Mrs. Rosa Harris.

“Through this partnership with FCCA, we are eager to further elevate our tourism product and welcome a new generation of adventure-seekers aboard cruise ships.”

Additionally, the agreement will utilize FCCA’s cruise executive committees, including new and renewed sub-commit-

“We are grateful to have like-minded partners such as the FCCA that…will work strategically with us to enhance the cruise experience like never before.”

-Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister for Tourism and Transport

tees focused on employment and purchasing, for a series of meetings and site visits focused on the Cayman Islands’ objectives.

The Cayman Islands will also have open access to the FCCA Executive Committee, comprised of presidents and above of FCCA Member Lines, along with their efforts to bring about the agreement’s objectives and the destination’s goals.

“We are proud of our recent joint work with the Cayman Islands that facilitated the return of cruise tourism and excited that this agreement will expedite the recovery of so many livelihoods that have been put on hold,” said Michele Paige, Chief Executive Officer, FCCA. “Through this agreement, FCCA will fulfill the Cayman Islands’ individualized initiatives, which focus on assisting the private sector, improving employment, fostering cruise lines’ purchase of local goods and more that will help Caymanians prosper from the economic impact that the industry brings.”

Some of the other features of the strategic partnership include a focus on converting cruise guests to stay-over visitors, promoting summer cruising, engaging travel agents, creating consumer demand and developing a destination service needs assessment that will detail strengths, opportunities, and needs.

FCCA Welcomes New Member Line: Azamara

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zamara is again an FCCA Member Line, and FCCA is excited for the opportunities this represents for stakeholders throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico.

After all, Azamara is the leader in “Destination Immersion,” with the largest selection of pre- and post- voyage land programs in the cruise industry.

The destination-focused brand offers a total of 1,700+ land program offerings, which complement the brand’s immersive voyages and further enhances its commitment to bringing guests closer to the heart of a destination.

Azamara’s commitment to creating immersive experiences for travelers to connect with local cultures allows guests to travel deeper with longer stays, more overnights, and night touring. As part of in-depth immersion into a specific destination, an extensive palette of world events and themed voyages are offered.

With Azamara’s “Country Intensive Voyages,” guests get to travel deeper and experience more of a given country, as most of the destinations are concentrated

in one country such as Japan, Italy, Spain, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Greece, Croatia and more – with there being clear potential for multi-port stays throughout FCCA partner destinations.

Azamara’s four mid-sized ships – Azamara Pursuit, Azamara Quest, Azamara Journey and the recently added Azamara Onward – sail to all seven continents of the world. Through the brand’s Destination Immersion programming, curated itineraries bring the ships to exotic and marquee ports.

On board, guests can experience a boutique hotel at sea with inclusive amenities such as gratuities, beverages and AzAmazing Evenings – an exclusive, bespoke event designed specifically for Azamara guests to immerse themselves in their destination and more.

FCCA will work with stakeholders and destinations to create these kinds of AzAmazing experiences throughout the regions FCCA represents, along with endeavoring to advance the longer stays, multi-port calls and more that fit the wants and needs of FCCA partners.

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Members & Travel Agents

Bahamian Maritime Agency Joins FCCA

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lnet Maritime Ltd. recently joined as an FCCA Platinum Member. Ellie Hepburn, President and CEO of Elnet Maritime, and Adam Ceserano, President of FCCA, connected at Seatrade Cruise Global, held in Miami, Florida in April.

The Elnet team fully participated in Seatrade Cruise Global, taking part in industry sessions, panels and demonstrations, including the keynote “The State of the Global Cruise Industry” address. They also had many networking opportunities meeting government officials and industry liaisons.

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The team is eager to apply the connections they made through networking and the knowledge gained through seminars at Seatrade Cruise Global to enhance the cruise industry in The Bahamas. One of these connections included meeting FCCA executives and subsequently signing up for Platinum Membership.

“Elnet is enthusiastic about our Platinum Membership with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, and we are eager to take advantage of all of the opportunities that this partnership will lead to,” said Ellie Hepburn, President and CEO of Elnet Maritime.

Hepburn founded Elnet nearly 14 years ago. On August 27, 2008, Elnet received its first agency appointment for the chartered tanker M/T Dhonoussa that was birthing at the Bahamas Oil Refining Company terminal. Today, Elnet is the leading maritime agency in The Bahamas.

Elnet Maritime offers full ship agency services and logistics, including cruise services, lightering, offshore bunkering, off-port limits, dry docking, husbandry, trucking, warehousing, freight forwarding, customs brokerage, event logistics and special projects.

Elnet Maritime provides services throughout the islands of The Bahamas with their headquarters located at the Elnet Maritime Center in Freeport, Grand Bahama. The Elnet Maritime Center is a

12,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art, multi-functional business facility within proximity to Freeport Harbour.

ElNet employs 25 Bahamians and leads Maritime 101, a free introductory program for Bahamian high school students interested in pursuing careers related to the maritime industry.

A powerhouse in the local and international maritime market, the agency has brokered many international contracts through the years, including a recent partnership with the global entity Shell. Elnet has strong relationships with government officials and industry partners and is consistently expanding their services.

Welcome to the Shores of Sweet Sweet Trinidad Sweet Sweet Trinidad” welcomes you to our shores. Experience the natural beauty, pulsating excitement and adventure that is Trinidad. Discover the vibrantly colorful festivals of Trinidad, be wowed by the sweet melodious sounds of the steelpan, satisfy your taste buds with tantalizing culinary delights, and embrace the joie de vivre of our people. Located at the southernmost end of the Caribbean archipelago, there is always something exciting to do in Trinidad…365 days of the year.

BVI Love There’s something special in each step taken on our pristine beaches and each mile sailed in crystal-clear seas. It’s something we call BVI Love – an easygoing way of life that exists in everything and everyone on these islands. Come feel the love and discover the perfect place to turn down the noise – and turn up what really matters.

Aviomar Opens New Location Since the restart of the Industry, the biggest challenge has been to re interpret the consumer’s preferences and understand their behavior, in order to design new products that will meet cruise guests expectations. In this spirit Aviomar has invested in a new location where all immersive experiences will take place, all Mexican crafts, experiences, spirits and flavors now have a home in Cozumel, we are proud to present Barriecito!

Costamed Can Support Crew Testing

The Gateway to the Mediterranean Cruise Market - Seatrade Cruise Med The premier B2B cruise event for the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas returns this September for the first time in four years! Meet with 3,000+ attendees from 70+ countries representing top European cruise lines like Costa, TUI, Viking, MSC, and more. With 80% of attendees involved in purchasing and 42% director-level or higher, it’s not one to be missed!

More than just a requirement, PreEmployment Medical Examination (PEME) and Re-Employment Medical Examination (REME) prevent eventual threats to the life of crew members and the safety of everyone on board.

The importance of these tests relies on the proper medical evaluation of health status for issuing a Fit for Duty Certificate. At Costamed Medical Group in Cozumel, you can trust our medical equipment, and physicians to carry out these essential requirements. Contact us at crewmember.specialist@costamed.com.mx.

Rodman Think Branding!

Reaches a Milestone Colombia’s Commitment to Sustainability Colombia has unparalleled biodiversity and a strong commitment to sustainability that can be experienced in any of its Six Charming Regions. The country celebrates being the #1 nation with the largest number of bird species after winning the Global Big Day in May and for the fifth time in the past years. Tourists look for meaningful experiences, and Colombia, the Most Welcoming Place on Earth, gives them a true connection with nature and warm people.

Bacardi Ready to Partner with Cruise Lines Bacardi is excited to partner with cruise lines to welcome guests back! With new experiences coming soon and a pipeline of brand innovation, we’re ready to serve up exceptional drinking experiences. Our latest launch is Grey Goose Essences, a range of summer fruit and botanical infused vodkas perfect for deckside cocktails.

Rodman Think Branding! has reach a milestone, by being an FCCA Platinum Member, he has now collaborated with the marketing and branding projects for the trade shows and conferences for: Aruba Tourist Authority, Aruba Port Authority, Amber Cove, Great Stirrup Cay, Harvest Caye, Dominican Republic Tourism Authority, Dominican Port Authority, Seatrade Cruise Global, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Mayan Princess, Touquoise Bay, and many more!

Most Recently, for Seatrade Global, the company produced 6,500 tote bags for Sponsor Saudi Arabia.

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