Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 10:19 by ce-press
This after-lunch session focused on a number of topics including the importance of more airlift, especially out of the US, when it comes to deployment. Kenneth Andersen, head of sales EMEA & Asia at Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)which is aiming to be net zero by 2050, spoke of a new cooperation with Delta Airlines, and said: “We are keen to cooperate with cruiselines re adding airlift.”
Debbie Holbrook, director deployment & itinerary planning Princess Cruises, mentioned the importance of direct scheduled flights from California to Copenhagen, which are key for the brand. But for Holland America Line, Robert de Bruin, director deployment & itinerary planning does not “see much of a business case for a turnaround port in the Baltic without airlift from North America”. Perhaps that is about to change.
Some very welcome news came in the feedback on eastern Baltic cruises without St Petersburg. Nicolai Skogland, executive director port operations & government relations, Viking Cruises, said: “Ratings are getting better than when doing St Petersburg,” acknowledging the huge amount of work that’s been done by both ports and cruiselines to make this happen. Holbrook said ratings at Princess are higher and de Bruin said: “It’s taken time to educate guests to love beyond St Petersburg.”
Meanwhile James Langley, operations director at Saga Cruises, cited more calls for ports in and out of the UK as a positive as the company increases its days cruising in the Baltic to 70 this year from 43 in 2023. Adding: “Sixty to 70 percent of our guests are repeaters so we are hungry for new ports but we don’t mind if you tell us if it is too busy.”
Skogland highlighted the importance of the port and destination working together so that “not too many ships are accepted”.
Winter cruising is now on the agenda in some shape or form for three of the brands with Holland America Line yet to try it. The need for flexibility was voiced by all when it comes to these cruises or as Holbrook put it: “We just need to have a plan B”.
Finally a word about the Caribbean and how it may, or may not effect, deployment in the region. Holbrook commented: “Ships stayed closer to home post-Covid but that is changing. We are maintaining our ships in the Baltic region. The decision is intended not to compete with the Caribbean, as each deployment is evaluated and assessed on its own merits”.
