Every year we find that the cruise industry continues to push the bar. Marine operations continues to explore and introduce new technology, systems and procedures that make the ships safer and more efficient, while also saving fuel and reducing emissions. Hotel operations is introducing new concepts and services – not taking a back seat to any shoreside resort or hotel. Cruise ports are also evolving, updating and building new infrastructure, even whole new ports, such as Falmouth in Jamaica.

At Royal Caribbean International, the mantra for marine operations is to sail “safely, reliably and in compliance,” according to Captain William Wright, senior vice president of marine operations. While the overriding focus is on safety, the company continues to work to gain further energy efficiencies. With fuel prices not trending in a positive direction, Wright said, efforts to minimize energy usage are 24/7 across the fleet.

Norwegian Cruise Line is pushing Freestyle forward, according to Michael Flesch, senior vice president of hotel operations.

He highlighted the following aspects as being new and notable:

New production shows are debuting, and have been created in-house.

The cruise industry has high priority on the national tourism development agenda, according to Fernando Olivera, undersecretary of Tourism for the Federal Secretariat of Tourism for Mexico.

Speaking to Cruise Industry News, Olivera said that Mexico is committed to developing better products for passengers and better opportunities for cruise lines to generate more revenue on their Mexican port calls. The goal is to develop the industry so that it becomes more beneficial to all parties involved.

In the current economic environment, running a successful cruise line requires a finer balancing act between revenues and costs. How effective that performance is depends on how competent management is, according to Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line.

This has been a busy season for drydockings – with the Oriana and the QM2 at Blohm + Voss, the Albatros and Amadea at Lloyd Werft and other projects at Grand Bahama, Fincantieri’s Palermo yard and Cadiz. In addition, the Costa Romantica is being recreated as the neoRomantica in Genoa