There is hardly an industry that has suffered more severe setbacks because of the coronavirus pandemic than the cruise sector. In 2020 alone, it recorded losses of around 77 billion US dollars, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Now the steel giants are steaming across the oceans again, and spirits are high. “We are very confident about the summer season,” says Jörg Rudolph, General Manager of Costa Cruises. The bookings received so far exceed the 2019 pre-pandemic level, he adds. An optimistic outlook shared by luxury cruises and expeditions specialist Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: “We can sense how much our guests are longing to travel,” says speaker Karen Schmidt.
Whether you look at innovative engine room or bridge technologies, interior furnishings made from eco-friendly materials, or health management, the focus today is clearly on sustainability. In a survey conducted among exhibitors and visitors of MARINE INTERIORS, 67per cent of respondents said they considered sustainability as the most important trend in the cruise industry. Claudia Müller even sees the segment in a pioneering role regarding the sustainable development of ocean shipping: “The cruise industry is investing massive amounts in innovative propulsion, accepting high risks at an economically challenging time,” says the Maritime Coordinator of the German federal government.
Selbach agrees: “To support the industry in driving this process, we have come up with a special conference programme. At the Cruise & Ferry Stage in Hall B5, participants will get an insight into the latest trends in the cruise industry and learn more about the benefits of innovative technologies.” All three sessions will be moderated by Tal Danai, CEO of ArtLink. The individual panels will explore topics such as how the cruise experience has changed in recent years, what new challenges this brings about, how yacht design has changed, or what the perfect passenger cabin should look like.