The next big cruise destination is Alaska. Food on cruises is completely underrated. And speaking of underrated, you may want to put Kotor, Montenegro on your to-do list, as the central Mediterranean city is apparently not getting its fair share of buzz either.
Those were merely a few of the insights shared today by the cruise industry’s biggest names during a game show-like panel discussion that took place at Northstar’s annual CruiseWorld convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The powerhouse panel, dubbed “Sales & Marketing Masterminds of the Cruise Industry,” included: Katina Athanasiou, senior vice president of sales & services for Celebrity Cruises; Rob Coleman, senior vice president for Holland America Line & Seabourn; Erin Douglas, senior vice president of trade sales for MSC; Katie Kania, senior director of agency sales from Norwegian Cruise Line; Carmen Roig, senior vice president of sales and trade marketing Princess Cruises, and Janet Wygert, senior vice president, sales and trade marketing for Carnival Cruise Line.
CruiseWorld 2025 brought together cruise industry leaders for a panel discussion covering ‘hot takes’ on the latest industry developments.. (Photo Credit: Photo by Mia Taylor)
To kick-off the panel discussion, the group of cruise industry leaders were peppered with a series of questions that required their “hot take” opinions.
The first of these questions went to Roig, who was asked to name the biggest misconception about Princess Cruises.
Roig’s response? “That we are the old love boat versus today’s Princess”– meaning if you haven’t already done so, it’s time to update your opinion with regard to Princess, its ships and its offerings.
Next up, Coleman, of Holland America Line & Seabourn, was asked to name the next big cruise destination.
Coleman suggested the destination to watch is Alaska, a locale few experts would likely consider new, particularly for cruises. But Coleman had good reason for his response.
“We are investing $70 million in our Denali property. And we will be taking more guests to Alaska in 2027 then ever before,” he said.
Cruise ship food was the next topic on the hot take question list and Athanasiou, from Celebrity Cruises, was tapped for her thoughts on the subject.
“My unfiltered opinion about food at sea? It’s completely underrated,” said Athanasiou. “Because of the optionality. Because of the variety. Because of the ability to eat when you want, how you want, with whomever you want. It is underrated.”
The hot take Q&A session also touched on the up-and-coming Gen Z demographic of travelers (individuals who are between 13 to 28 years old). The expert panel was asked how the cruise industry views this particular generation, particularly with regard to its potential as a future customer base.
Wygert, of Carnival Cruise Line, said Gen Z is already busy cruising and is having a significant impact when doing so.
“They grew up on cruising and they love it,” explained Wygert. “[Cruising] gives them so many options. And you know what the other great thing about Gen Z is? They grew up on social media. So, not only are they great cruise guests, but they are great ambassadors for all of our brands because they post and they tell everyone what a great vacation it is.”
CruiseWorld 2025 brought together cruise industry leaders for a panel discussion covering ‘hot takes’ on the latest industry developments.. (Photo Credit: Photo by Mia Taylor)
Before wrapping up the hot takes, the panelists fielded a question on the minds of many travelers these days: Sustainability.
It’s a complex topic for the industry, as cruising is a carbon-intensive way to travel. A recent BBC report underscored that fact, pointing out that “even the most efficient cruise ships emit more CO2 per passenger kilometre than a passenger jet,” according to analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), a US-based non-profit.
Moreover, the industry’s impact on the natural world is only set to grow as cruising booms. By the end of the year, 360 cruise ships are projected to have carried a total of 30 million passengers, a figure that is a 9.2 percent increase since 2019, BBC reported.
The industry meanwhile, has been focused on integrating a variety of initiatives and changes meant to address its impact. That effort has included transitioning to more energy efficient appliances and engines, for instance, implementing recycling efforts and trying to reduce single-use plastics onboard ships.
Erin Douglas, of MSC, told the CruiseWorld convention today that sustainability at sea is reality, not spin.
“It’s totally a reality,” said Douglas. “For all of us in this room who are dependent on the sea for our livelihood, it’s absolutely a reality. And it’s something we should all be involved in. And we should be proud of all of our efforts.” “It’s something that is on the top of our list for all of us on this stage,” Douglas added. “It’s super important to all of us.”
The panel featuring Douglas and the other cruise industry leaders is of many taking place at the three-day CruiseWorld event in Fort Lauderdale. The annual gathering brings industry members together for workshops, networking, and exhibitions.
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