Week in Review: Cruise Updates, Top Trends and COVID Restrictions

With the 2023 Seatrade Cruise Global conference taking place this week in Fort Lauderdale, FL, this week, there was plenty of news coming from the world’s oceans and rivers. Some of the highlights included:

Seatrade Cruise Global panel of executives
Cruise executives spoke about many hot topics during the 2023 Seatrade Cruise Global conference. (Photo by Seatrade Cruise Global)

In addition, Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha hosted media to share some updates about the line. Among the top trends Antorcha is seeing, and that Holland America is acting upon, are the desire for longer voyages. So, yes, it’s emphasizing its Grand Voyages and new “Legendary Voyages,” but it’s also offering longer sailings in the Caribbean, allowing it to bring guests to further destinations—sch as the “ABC Islands,” the Panama Canal and Cartagena, Colombia. It’s also offering sailings from the West Coast to Japan and Hawaii.

In a panel with several top executives—including Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association; Josh Weinstein, president, CEO and chief climate officer, Carnival Corporation; Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group; Frank Del Rio, president and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings; and Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman, cruise division, MSC Groupsustainability was a popular conversation topic, as was pricing and the customer.

In the end, all of the execs agreed that sustainability is a focus and they’re doing all they can, but as Del Rio put it, “We’re not laboratories. We’re not scientists. So, we have to depend on others.” In other words, they can only do so much as the existing technology allows.

And, despite some challenges with pricing (when compared to land-based vacations), cruise tourism is forecast to reach 106 percent of 2019 levels this year. Research also revealed that 85 percent of past cruise guests plan to cruise again—6 percent higher than pre-pandemic.

Authenticity, Food and Wellness

Woman trying a sample at a food stall
Trying new foods is a top priority among many travelers. (Photo by PeopleImages/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images)

American Express Travel recently released its “2023 Global Travel Trends Report,” which found that purposeful travel continues to remain top of mind, pop culture and social media are directly influencing travel decisions, food has a huge impact on the travel experience, and prioritizing self-care is affecting 2023 travel plans. Travelers are looking for local experiences, such as dining, which they say makes a trip more authentic while also fulfilling their desire to step out of their comfort zone and try new foods. Others are looking for wellness in different ways—be it at the spa, by relaxing on the beach or in nature, or simply unplugging in order to recharge.

It also shouldn’t come as a surprise that TV, movies and social media continue to play a large role in where people are traveling; it’s happened for “Game of Thrones,” and now shows like “The White Lotus” are inspiring trips. (In fact, the Tourism Authority of Thailand shared the details on the season finale of "The Bachelor," which called Thailand its home for the 27th season.)

Additional research by StudentUniverse, a Flight Centre Travel Group company, found that Gen Z is not going to let an economic crisis impede their wanderlust. The biggest appeals for young travelers include sightseeing (70 percent) and experiencing new cultures (68 percent), followed by trying new cuisines (59 percent), exploring nature (58 percent) and meeting new people (37 percent).

What’s New in Sustainability

While some of the cruise execs were wanting to talk about some topics beyond sustainability, it does remain a crucial element to travel. This week, the U.S. Travel Association debuted JourneyToClean.com, where it shares more than 100 examples of sustainable travel practices from a diverse cross-section of more than 50 travel businesses. The website is intended to help travelers make more informed decisions while inspiring other businesses to learn about some of the best practices in the industry.

Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany (Photo by bluejayphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images)

In Europe, the German National Tourist Board has secured the Green Globe certification for the 10th time in a row. This means that Germany's National Tourist Board has achieved the highest possible standard and can now call itself a "Platinum Member." In one such commitment, on Sustainable Tourism Day in September 2022, GNTB partners received guidance for their own initiatives in discussions with renowned experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers.

What You Need to Know

Turks and Caicos will no longer mandate travelers to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 before arriving in the destination. The vaccination lift goes into effect on April 1, 2023, and is the last remaining COVID-related travel restriction for the destination.

Rental Escapes has announced the launch of a new travel advisor rewards program. The program offers advisors the opportunity to earn free villa vacations, as advisors will earn one reward point for each $1 booked, which can then be used towards their own trip.

Good to know: Voting remains open for Luxury Travel Advisor’s 2023 Awards of Excellence. A “reader’s choice awards,” these honor suppliers and top executives for their superb performances throughout the year.

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