All articles by Ky Nikitha

Ky Nikitha

Weight of expectation

Cruise ships are known for their novel, sometimes daring cuisine options – but how healthy are they? According to former Carnival staff member turned writer Jay Herring, passengers gained a collective 6t of weight on one voyage. Abi Millar talks to Herring and Pierre-Marie Leprince, Princess’s director of guest culinary experience, about the momentum in the sector towards healthier food options.

Comedians on cruise ships getting cash

Stand-up comedy is one of the most important parts of a cruise ship’s entertainment offering, even if its inner workings are little understood by comics and passengers alike. Greg Noone talks to Royal Caribbean International’s Nick Weir, Kelli Gemmola of The Sit Down Comedy Club and comedian Bruce Smirnoff about what it takes to successfully perform on the cruise circuit.

Run a tight shop

Traditionally, cruise lines have emphasised affordability in their retail policies. But habits are changing, with operators pivoting towards more upmarket offerings. Andrea Valentino talks to Miguel Maal, an expert in cruise retail, and Adrian Pittaway, head of retail at MSC, about the benefits of turning the act of shopping into a valued experience in its own right.

Charm offensive

Appointed to the presidency of CLIA earlier this year, Kelly Craighead has won plaudits from industry insiders for her efforts to publicise the positive economic impact of the cruise sector, and realign relations with ports and destinations across Europe. Greg Noone sits down with cruising’s champion to discuss the emerging opportunities and challenges for operators, ports and the travel segment at large.

Kiwi cruises

New Zealand seems to be the perfect destination for a cruise holiday, with a long coastline of staggering beauty giving way to a dramatic mountainside background. Only recently, however, has the country come into its own as one of the sector’s most exciting destinations. Will Moffitt talks to Stuart Allison, Princess Cruises’ vice-president for the Asia-Pacific region, about the triumphs and tribulations involved in building a cruise business in the land of the long white cloud.

Evolution of cruising

Sailing to the biodiversity paradise that is the Galápagos archipelago is fraught with environmental dangers. Fortunately, Silversea is responding with a new green vessel that it hopes will allay those concerns and boost responsible tourism to the islands. Abi Millar talks to Fernando Delgado, vicepresident at Silversea, about the capabilities of the Silver Origin.

The ship’s come in

Built in Germany and named for the historic Scottish abbey, the Iona will be the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market. Jim Banks talks to P&O Cruises’ president, Paul Ludlow, about the ship’s facilities and the operator’s wider ambitions to attract younger passengers with the vessel as it goes into service in 2020.

The revolution is here

The project will be gigantic. Beginning in 2019, the entire Celebrity Cruises fleet will be renovated to reflect the design philosophy of Celebrity Edge, the brand’s latest award-winning ship. Fresh from setting the aesthetic agenda for the Edge class, Kelly Hoppen is lending her expertise to this $500 million revitalisation project, the so-called ‘Celebrity Revolution’. Isabel Ellis talks to the renowned British interior designer about applying her signature east-meets-west luxury on the grandest scale.

Troubled waters

The Baltic cruise market is booming. With increased activity, though, comes more pollution, a worry that has led several countries in the region to impose strict environmental regulations on ships. Andrea Valentino talks to Andreas Slotte, head of sustainable development at the Port of Helsinki, and Claus Bødker, director of Cruise Baltic, about how cruise companies are working to better protect the region’s delicate ecosystem.

Hybrid theory

The launch of hybrid cruise vessels, which run on a mixture of conventional fuels and battery power, have long been talked about as a turning point for the industry. Now, the talk is over and the reality is here. Jim Banks looks at the hybrid vessels coming into operation and considers their impact in the years to come.