Over Sixty Spring 2022 Digital

36 TRAVEL ISSUE 2 | 2022 | OVERSIXTY.COM.AU PLAN Cruising trends for 2023 Post-pandemic cruising has an exciting new focus JOANNA HALL CRUISING I t’s been a rocky few years for the cruise in- dustry, but as holidaymakers return to the waters after the pandemic pause, cruise lines are working to reshape the future of cruising. “Cruise lines have been making huge invest- ments in new ships, new technology and new experiences on board, so the amount of choice now is greater than ever,” says Joel Katz, Managing Director, Cruise Lines Inter- national Association Australasia. So what’s trending for 2023 and beyond? More cruise packages and inclusions Online cruise reseller, DealsAway.com, says there’s an increased desire for more comprehensive cruise packages including flights and onboard extras. “We’ve been actively adding complimentary drinks packages, tours and gratuities to boost the value of our cruise deals,” says COO, Jon Tindley. Other high-demand add-ons include return airport transfers, and pre- and post-cruise accommodation with tours. “If you arrive in one city and dis- embark in another, there’s a good chance you haven’t been to either place before so why not explore them on either side of your cruise?” says Tindley. Due to pent-up demand, and with travel only just return- ing to pre-pandemic levels, cruise fans are advised to book in advance for overseas trips especially, to secure flights and their desired stateroom category. More cruise yachts Imagine being anchored in a quiet bay in the Mediterranean or Caribbean among super yachts, treating the ship like your own, and accessing tiny ports and har- bours way off the tourist trail. For many cruise fans, this is the appeal of yacht- style cruising which has also gained pop- ularity since the pandemic. New for 2023 is APT’s new boutique yacht, MV Lady Eleganza , carrying 34 guests around the Croatian coastline and the Adriatic Sea. There’s also Emerald Cruises’ Emerald Azzurra , which debuted in March this year, a 100-guest yacht cruising the Med- iterranean with an identical sister ship, Emerald Sakara , launching in 2023 with features including staterooms with bal- conies and an infinity pool. More luxury expedition ships The desire for small ship cruising with fewer passengers and a focus on outdoor exploration in remote places has never been stronger. “Our first expedition ship, Viking Octantis , launched to great acclaim earlier this year,” says Michelle Black, Vi- king Cruises ANZ Managing Director. “She has sailed her first Antarctica season and is now in North America’s Great Lakes which is a relatively new destination for Australian travellers.” Also debuting in the luxury adventure sector in March 2023 is Seabourn Pursuit , carrying 264 guests and cruising Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, the Arctic, and the South American West Coast. Closer to home, Tasmanian Expedition Cruises is launch- ing a new custom-designed luxury ves- sel, Odalisque III , at the end of 2022. More big ships Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas is the world’s biggest cruise ship, an 18- deck behemoth that entered service in 2022 with a capacity for 6,988 guests. For many cruise fans, bigger is still better, with several large vessels set to debut next year. Among them is Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas , due in the last quarter of 2023; a new class of ship with a capacity of around 5,600 guests, it will also be the first of three new ships for the cruise line powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas). Carnival’s Carnival Jubilee is also set for launch in October 2023, with a capacity of 5,374 guests and features including colourful Old Havana-styled staterooms and a roller coaster on its top deck. More onboard tech Cruise ships have undergone a tech revo- lution during the pandemic, allowing for an increasingly contactless onboard expe- rience via smartphones, wristbands and other wearable devices. Digital QR codes, a necessary part of pandemic life, are replac- ing restaurant and bar menus, while mo- bile apps continue to evolve to help guests book everything from meals to excursions. Pre-pandemic, MSC Cruises launched ZOE, a voice-enabled artificial intelligence found in every cabin that can speak sev- en languages and answer questions about your cruise. And Princess Cruises’ newMe- dallionClass service debuts in Australia in 2022 as part of a rollout that began in 2017 on Royal Princess , comprising a wearable dollar-sized device that can be used for functions including contactless boarding. More green ship technology Pre-pandemic, cruise lines were increas- ingly challenged about environmental is- sues including contributions to air and wa- ter pollution. “With new ships come new advances in sustainability,” says Joel Katz. “Cruise lines are putting billions of dollars into ships with new technologies designed to reduce emissions and offer greater en- vironmental protections.” Advances in- clude more LNG-powered ships, advanced wastewater treatment systems, and shore- side power connectivity. Avalon Water- ways has eliminated single-use plastics onboard, while Scenic provides guests with a quality reuse water bottle and uses refill- able toiletries. Norway-based Hurtigruten launched the MS Roald Amundsen in 2019, the first of two hybrid ships reducing emis- sions by sailing with electrical propulsion. And Royal Caribbean’s Save The Waves program now partners with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to protect wildlife on land and in the water. Clockwise from top: Emerald Azzurra docked in Portofino; Odalisque in Wineglass Bay, Tas; Wonder of the Seas ’s Central Park; Princess Cruises’ MedallionClass TRENDS IN BRIEF •The embarkation process will continue to have enforced boarding times to avoid crowds along with automated check-in and robust health screening. • Multigenerational cruising is set to boom with grandparents taking one or two generations along for shared experiences. • Solo travellers have increased options, including more single accommodation and easing of the singles supplement. • Longer itineraries are popular for fans of river cruising, especially in Europe. •The in-person muster drill will become a thing of the past, with e-muster processes adopted to avoid mass congregation. CRUISING