The cruise industry is making a strong comeback in 2022 after a transitional 2021 in which 50% of the fleet was able to sail, implementing the most comprehensive and safe COVID-19 protocols in the world.
The prestigious International Cruise, which will hold its eleventh edition on November 17 and 18 in Madrid, will bring together the entire industry to discuss and analyze the future of the sector and the new post-pandemic scenario.
Shipping companies are seeing exceptional booking levels for 2022, particularly in the second half of the year. After two summers of travel restrictions and the challenges of living with the virus, consumers are eager not only to travel, but also to do so in style, indulging in luxuries with their savings. To this end, they will have 33 new ships, 13 of which will be mega-ships of over 100,000 gross registered tons, equipped with the latest technologies to minimize their environmental impact. In fact, six of them will already use Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as fuel, which eliminates 100% of sulfur oxide emissions and 30% of CO2 emissions.
Currently, all passengers boarding a cruise ship must have passed a coronavirus test beforehand, and in many companies, only fully vaccinated people are allowed to board.
Top executives, international cruise line representatives, port authorities, travel agents, and industry experts will be present at one of the world's most important cruise congresses. The event will feature presentations from leading cruise line executives such as Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Crociere; Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises; Ferdinand Strohmeier, CEO of Mystic Cruises; Ben Bouldin, Vice President EMEA of Royal Caribbean International; Jo Rzymowska, Vice President and Managing Director EMEA of Celebrity Cruises; and Eamonn Ferrin, Vice President of International Business of Norwegian Cruise Line, among others.
Over the two days, several roundtables and presentations will discuss the recovery of the cruise industry and tourist destinations, the challenges of re-recruiting all the workers the sector needs, and how to recover pre-pandemic sales and pricing levels. Sustainability and the environment will be key themes at this ICS, which is looking toward a new future for the industry.
