Page 28: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Jan/Feb 2019)

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CRUISE MARkETS conference, The Agency Group cited that their businesses grew AMA Waterways, Viking River Cruises Avalon and also the in the luxury cruise sector the most of any other travel sector, at newest entrant; Crystal Cruises. Viking, with its “longships” a 18% YOY increases.” In the realm of smaller cruise ships, two mainstay on European (and Asian) rivers, has transitioned into new entrants- decidedly in the luxury domain, have attracted the luxury cruise segment with six recent newbuilds of 930 considerable attention. Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, funded passenger capacity, as well as ambitious plans to build as many by Oaktree Capital (an investor in other shipping sectors), will as 10 additional sisters at Fincantieri. Crystal’s new feet of begin operations in 2020 after the frst of three luxury yachts fve river boats are frequently sighted on European waterways.

-Ritz Carlton Azora, with 298 passenger capacity, is delivered The logistics of supplying fresh food and the desire for cus- from Barreras Yard (in Spain). Another new entrant, Virgin tom travel experience comes full circle here. FIU’s Dr. Hum-

Voyages (also with Private Equity backing from Bain Capital) phrey notes, “With offerings like Crystal’s River Cruises, that is building three ships, will also begin sailing in 2020 when its port-to-table fresh offering becomes an integrated part of the

Scarlet Lady (currently under construction in Genoa, at Fin- local experience.” cantieri) debuts. Two other vessels are set to join the trio (all Indeed, this is a fast growing segment with 26 ships due with passenger capacity of 2,700) in the following years. for delivery through 2021, ranging in passenger capacity from

Closer to home in the United States, American River Cruises 100 to 300 with the majority 180-200 lower berths. In spite of is a leader in the domestic marketplace, with itineraries up and the large number of ships, their total capacity is less than just down the Mississippi River and its tributaries, New England and one of the new mega-ships. And, the ultimate impact of this the Pacifc Northwest. This Connecticut based operator’s Amer- aspect of cruise travel has yet to be fully realized.

ican Song was delivered in late 2018, with its American Har- mony due to come into service in summer, 2019. These Modern

Riverboats, built at sister company Chesapeake Shipbuilding

Barry Parker

The Author

Parker of bdp1 Consulting Ltd provides strategic and (well known for its Vane Brothers tugboat newbuilds) feature a tactical support, including analytics and communica- patent-pending bow ramp for loading and unloading passengers. tions, to businesses across the maritime spectrum. The

The river cruising sector is a close cousin to the expedition company can be found online at www.conconnect.com sector. Prominent names in this part of the market include

Hondius, the world’s first-registered Polar Class 6 ship.

CREDIT: Oceanwide Expeditions 28 Maritime Logistics Professional January/February 2019 | |