WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.379 Welcome to Cruise News, your daily update on 00:00:02.379 --> 00:00:04.719 everything happening at sea. Visit cruisenews 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:07.559 .io to see today's stories and sign up for email 00:00:07.559 --> 00:00:11.599 alerts. We are diving into quite a snapshot of 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:13.400 the cruise industry today. It really covers the 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:15.240 map. Absolutely. What we're looking at is an 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:18.079 industry that's, well, simultaneously placing 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:21.140 these huge billion dollar bets on massive new 00:00:21.140 --> 00:00:25.079 infrastructure. At the same time, investing in 00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:27.859 museum quality fine art to attract, you know, 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:30.500 a really high end clientele. It's quite the contrast. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:33.340 Yeah. So our deep dive today unpacks these global 00:00:33.340 --> 00:00:36.700 investments. It showcases this, frankly, unexpected 00:00:36.700 --> 00:00:39.539 cultural revolution happening on board. And maybe 00:00:39.539 --> 00:00:42.259 most importantly for you listening, it reveals 00:00:42.259 --> 00:00:44.719 the critical timing you need to lock in the deepest 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:48.579 discounts for 2026. OK, let's let's unpack this. 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:50.060 Let's do it. I want to start where the journey 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:53.340 begins. The ports. The sheer scale of global 00:00:53.340 --> 00:00:55.299 investment in cruise infrastructure right now 00:00:55.299 --> 00:00:58.280 is just astonishing. You've got major regions 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:01.000 competing to be the next big gateway. Yeah. Let's 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:03.939 head to Europe first, specifically the Canary 00:01:03.939 --> 00:01:05.900 Islands, where they've just unveiled a huge new 00:01:05.900 --> 00:01:08.439 terminal. Right. Los Talmas. What's fascinating 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:11.060 here, I think, is the combination of just sheer 00:01:11.060 --> 00:01:15.090 scale. and a really strong commitment to sustainable 00:01:15.090 --> 00:01:17.269 operation. We're talking about the new Las Palmas 00:01:17.269 --> 00:01:20.090 Cruise Port Terminal at Santa Catalina Pier in 00:01:20.090 --> 00:01:22.489 Gran Canaria. It actually had its operational 00:01:22.489 --> 00:01:26.230 debut back on October 2nd, 2025. The Celebrity 00:01:26.230 --> 00:01:28.450 Apex was the first ship in. And when we say new 00:01:28.450 --> 00:01:30.769 terminal, I mean, the report suggests this is 00:01:30.769 --> 00:01:32.790 really setting a new standard for the region, 00:01:32.849 --> 00:01:35.030 isn't it? Oh, absolutely. Emphatically. This 00:01:35.030 --> 00:01:37.109 facility is now the largest terminal in Europe. 00:01:37.469 --> 00:01:40.150 It spans 14 ,000 square meters over two floors. 00:01:40.329 --> 00:01:43.370 Wow, 14 ,000 square meters. That's hard to picture. 00:01:43.590 --> 00:01:45.829 Well, think about maybe two large European soccer 00:01:45.829 --> 00:01:48.109 pitches. That's roughly the size, all dedicated 00:01:48.109 --> 00:01:50.329 just to cruise efficiency. Okay. And it's equipped 00:01:50.329 --> 00:01:52.689 to handle up to four vessels at the same time 00:01:52.689 --> 00:01:55.549 with three boarding bridges. This specific project, 00:01:55.750 --> 00:01:59.409 it's actually part of a much broader 40 million 00:01:59.409 --> 00:02:02.849 hour investment across Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, 00:02:02.989 --> 00:02:06.370 and Lanzarote. 40 million euros. Okay. But they 00:02:06.370 --> 00:02:08.210 aren't just building big, are they? They're talking 00:02:08.210 --> 00:02:11.949 a lot about green design, sustainability. Is 00:02:11.949 --> 00:02:15.509 this a genuine commitment or is it more just 00:02:15.509 --> 00:02:18.849 marketing talk to justify such a massive project? 00:02:19.189 --> 00:02:20.949 Well, based on the operational details we're 00:02:20.949 --> 00:02:23.569 seeing, it really does seem genuine. Sustainability 00:02:23.569 --> 00:02:26.770 was clearly a major focus. They're talking specifically 00:02:26.770 --> 00:02:30.889 about. using eco -friendly materials, energy 00:02:30.889 --> 00:02:33.810 -efficient systems, definitely solar power utilization, 00:02:34.090 --> 00:02:36.770 and significantly improved waste management. 00:02:37.110 --> 00:02:39.610 So yeah, this looks like it sets a serious precedent 00:02:39.610 --> 00:02:42.849 for responsible development in these high -traffic 00:02:42.849 --> 00:02:44.770 ports around the world. Right, and that momentum, 00:02:44.889 --> 00:02:46.830 it's clearly not just stuck in Europe. If we 00:02:46.830 --> 00:02:49.349 look across the Atlantic, global ports holding... 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:51.539 They're the world's dominant port operator, right? 00:02:51.539 --> 00:02:53.120 That's what's up. They're making an equally massive 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.240 commitment in the Caribbean, specifically Puerto 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:57.879 Rico. Yes, the San Juan cruise port modernization. 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:01.479 This is an incredible $110 million investment 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:04.520 from Global Ports Holding. They're aiming for 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:08.439 completion by the 2026 -2027 cruise season. But 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:10.620 the critical takeaway here isn't just the dollar 00:03:10.620 --> 00:03:13.639 amount itself, huge as it is. It's the scope. 00:03:13.939 --> 00:03:16.819 They are reconstructing the Pan American Piers' 00:03:16.919 --> 00:03:20.780 entire 1 ,500 -foot seawall. Wow. And structurally 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:23.939 improving Piers III and IV specifically to support 00:03:23.939 --> 00:03:27.620 those massive Icon -class ships from Royal Caribbean. 00:03:27.949 --> 00:03:30.150 Right. Supporting icon class. That's key, isn't 00:03:30.150 --> 00:03:31.810 it? Because that immediately attracts the biggest, 00:03:31.990 --> 00:03:34.870 newest vessels in the world. Exactly. And that 00:03:34.870 --> 00:03:37.169 signal San Juan is consciously shifting its whole 00:03:37.169 --> 00:03:39.150 model. It's moving from being just a simple port 00:03:39.150 --> 00:03:42.270 of call where ships just visit for the day to 00:03:42.270 --> 00:03:45.110 becoming a high volume home port. Ah, the home 00:03:45.110 --> 00:03:47.770 port distinction. That's crucial. It is because 00:03:47.770 --> 00:03:49.969 home ports generate exponentially more economic 00:03:49.969 --> 00:03:52.969 activity. And maybe more importantly for the 00:03:52.969 --> 00:03:55.169 traveler, they offer much greater itinerary diversity 00:03:55.169 --> 00:03:57.729 than just transit stops. Makes sense. They're 00:03:57.729 --> 00:03:59.990 projecting passenger numbers to hit 1 .8 million 00:03:59.990 --> 00:04:04.009 annually by 2028. And get this, if arrivals actually 00:04:04.009 --> 00:04:06.770 exceed 1 .9 million, the concession agreement 00:04:06.770 --> 00:04:08.830 might even trigger the construction of two additional 00:04:08.830 --> 00:04:12.110 piers. That is, that's a fascinating strategic 00:04:12.110 --> 00:04:14.389 bet on growth. Okay, let's pivot globally again 00:04:14.389 --> 00:04:16.970 for a minute. If you connect Europe and the Caribbean, 00:04:17.029 --> 00:04:19.029 there's one strategic point that maybe gets overlooked 00:04:19.029 --> 00:04:21.230 sometimes, but it seemed major investment too. 00:04:21.889 --> 00:04:25.000 Casablanca cruise port in Morocco. Yeah, this 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.160 raises a really important question about future 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:30.860 strategic positioning and maybe the extension 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:33.920 of cruise routes down into West Africa. Casablanca 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:37.060 is set to begin operations in 2026. It's under 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:39.939 a new 15 -year concession agreement, and Global 00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:43.319 Ports Holding holds 51 % of that. Agents Nacional 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:46.579 de Por, that's A -N -P, they invested about 72 00:04:46.579 --> 00:04:49.439 million in this new facility. 72 million euros. 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.279 Okay, so what makes Casablanca so strategically 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:54.480 important for global cruise traffic? Why there? 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:57.480 Well, technically it features a 650 -meter K 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:00.660 capable of handling ships up to 350 meters long. 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.019 It's pretty big ships. And it's designed to handle 00:05:03.019 --> 00:05:06.540 over 450 ,000 passengers a year. But critically, 00:05:06.779 --> 00:05:09.720 its location. As you said, it's ideal. It's a 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:12.379 perfect link for transatlantic itineraries connecting 00:05:12.379 --> 00:05:15.899 Europe, the Caribbean and crucially West Africa. 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:18.579 It basically functions as this vital logistical 00:05:18.579 --> 00:05:21.180 gateway, effectively linking these multimillion 00:05:21.180 --> 00:05:23.259 dollar investments we just talked about on both 00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:26.339 sides of the Atlantic. OK, so these massive billion 00:05:26.339 --> 00:05:29.180 dollar ports are being built to handle the biggest, 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:33.240 most luxurious ships ever. But what happens once 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:35.939 you actually get inside these floating resorts? 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:38.860 Right. Our next big trend shows the cruise lines 00:05:38.860 --> 00:05:41.620 are investing in cultural sophistication, I guess 00:05:41.620 --> 00:05:43.639 you'd call it, at a scale we've just never seen 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:46.279 before. We're talking about the unexpected arrival 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:50.259 of, like... Museum -quality fine art at sea. 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:52.459 Yeah, it's a really remarkable trend, and it 00:05:52.459 --> 00:05:54.899 seems driven by this rising demand from passengers 00:05:54.899 --> 00:05:57.120 for more cultural enrichment. It's accelerating 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:59.279 through these highly specialized partnerships. 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:01.379 Okay. We can look at Park West Gallery first. 00:06:01.579 --> 00:06:03.899 They're the massive industry leader here, already 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:06.480 operating on over 110 cruise ships globally. 00:06:06.970 --> 00:06:10.589 Wow, 110 ships. So Park West seems to cover the 00:06:10.589 --> 00:06:13.750 sort of high volume, broad appeal side of the 00:06:13.750 --> 00:06:16.050 market. Give us an example of how they're making 00:06:16.050 --> 00:06:18.970 art accessible, you know, to maybe the average 00:06:18.970 --> 00:06:21.930 cruiser. Okay, take Margaritaville at Sea Cruise 00:06:21.930 --> 00:06:23.910 Line, for instance. A very different vibe, right? 00:06:24.009 --> 00:06:26.629 Right. Park West has brought really robust programming 00:06:26.629 --> 00:06:28.930 there. They do live art options, curated exhibitions, 00:06:29.290 --> 00:06:32.410 seminars, even artist meet and greets. It's on 00:06:32.410 --> 00:06:34.509 both the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and the 00:06:34.509 --> 00:06:37.389 newer Margaritaville at Sea Island. Their model 00:06:37.389 --> 00:06:40.389 is really high volume education and sales. It 00:06:40.389 --> 00:06:43.250 caters to everyone from, say, the novice art 00:06:43.250 --> 00:06:45.910 enthusiast to the more seasoned collector. And 00:06:45.910 --> 00:06:48.209 they're scaling that model up dramatically on 00:06:48.209 --> 00:06:50.689 some of the new premium ships, too, I saw. Absolutely. 00:06:50.769 --> 00:06:53.069 With Princess Cruises, Parkwest just launched 00:06:53.069 --> 00:06:56.689 a stunning... 3 ,800 square foot gallery on board 00:06:56.689 --> 00:06:58.990 the new Star Princess. That was during its maiden 00:06:58.990 --> 00:07:03.110 voyage on October 4th, 2025. 3 ,800 square feet. 00:07:03.170 --> 00:07:05.449 That is a huge space for an art gallery on a 00:07:05.449 --> 00:07:07.730 ship. It really is. And it houses a collection 00:07:07.730 --> 00:07:10.050 that includes works by really renowned figures 00:07:10.050 --> 00:07:12.850 like Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, and contemporary 00:07:12.850 --> 00:07:16.470 stars like Peter Max right there on board. Okay, 00:07:16.509 --> 00:07:18.990 I imagine you practically have to sign an NDA 00:07:18.990 --> 00:07:21.470 just to look at the Picasso or the Hockney they 00:07:21.470 --> 00:07:25.360 might have. Does the data give any hint of how 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:28.259 common it is for travelers to actually buy this 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:30.779 kind of museum quality art? Or is it mostly just 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:33.759 for, you know, browsing and the spectacle of 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:36.360 it all? It's definitely both. But let's be clear. 00:07:36.740 --> 00:07:39.180 It's fundamentally about generating a significant 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:41.259 new revenue stream. Right. Of course. Which is 00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:43.500 why you see the luxury lines taking a different. 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:46.420 Maybe a much more curated approach. Look at Explorer 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:48.399 Journeys, for instance. They partnered with Clarendon 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:50.319 Fine Art. Okay, so what's the differentiating 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:52.879 factor for a luxury line like Explorer? How do 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.740 they approach it? Well, the focus there is absolutely 00:07:55.740 --> 00:08:00.459 on exclusivity. 20th century masterpieces primarily. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.399 They have dedicated galleries on Deck 5 of both 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:05.939 Explorer I and Explorer II. Their collection 00:08:05.939 --> 00:08:08.459 highlights, worked by major figures, think Picasso 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:11.959 again, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, alongside 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:14.759 some really hot contemporary talents like Mr. 00:08:14.819 --> 00:08:17.259 Brainwash. They're essentially selling a whole 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:20.000 cultural experience, not just, you know, a picture 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:22.100 to hang on the wall. So they're positioning these 00:08:22.100 --> 00:08:24.819 galleries as a core part of their offering, not 00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:28.160 just some add -on amenity. Precisely. They even 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.740 offer something called the Art Luminary and Enrichment 00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:33.639 Program. It features highly curated seminars, 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:37.059 expert insights. It's designed to naturally attract 00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:39.500 that affluent traveler who's looking for more 00:08:39.500 --> 00:08:42.860 than just sun and surf. I see. And this segmentation 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:45.159 of cultural offerings, it really shows the industry 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:47.240 recognizes that today's sophisticated traveler 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:50.860 wants cultural engagement. And well, they're 00:08:50.860 --> 00:08:53.080 unlocking potentially significant new revenue 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:55.809 streams. Through those high value art purchases. 00:08:56.070 --> 00:08:58.029 That cultural sophistication, it's certainly 00:08:58.029 --> 00:09:00.909 attracting new demographics, it seems. But OK, 00:09:00.970 --> 00:09:02.730 for the vast majority of people listening, the 00:09:02.730 --> 00:09:04.610 next big question is probably much more practical. 00:09:04.830 --> 00:09:07.629 How do I actually book my 2026 trip and make 00:09:07.629 --> 00:09:10.429 sure I get the best possible deal in this kind 00:09:10.429 --> 00:09:12.769 of polarizing market we're describing? Right. 00:09:12.850 --> 00:09:14.830 This is where strategic booking really comes 00:09:14.830 --> 00:09:17.889 into play. And timing is absolutely key. Travel 00:09:17.889 --> 00:09:20.129 experts strongly recommend booking one to two 00:09:20.129 --> 00:09:23.539 years in advance. One to two years. Wow. Yeah, 00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:25.600 and the key takeaway isn't just about securing 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:27.200 your preferred cabin, though that's important. 00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:30.759 It's about locking in price protection. Many 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:33.259 cruise lines now offer these price drop guarantees, 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:36.570 which allow you to actually benefit. If the fare 00:09:36.570 --> 00:09:39.610 goes down later. Okay. That makes booking early 00:09:39.610 --> 00:09:42.049 less risky then. Yeah. And when should we actually 00:09:42.049 --> 00:09:44.950 pull the trigger if we're planning that far ahead? 00:09:45.070 --> 00:09:47.990 Are there specific calendar windows we absolutely 00:09:47.990 --> 00:09:50.350 must hit for the best value? You really need 00:09:50.350 --> 00:09:52.909 to maximize two crucial periods. Okay. First 00:09:52.909 --> 00:09:55.730 is wave season. That runs generally from January 00:09:55.730 --> 00:09:58.190 through March. Wave season. That's crucial for 00:09:58.190 --> 00:10:01.129 securing added perks. Things like onboard credits, 00:10:01.309 --> 00:10:03.750 maybe discounted dining or beverage packages. 00:10:04.029 --> 00:10:06.210 Those are the freebies. that can add major value 00:10:06.210 --> 00:10:08.850 to your cruise. Second, for the absolute lowest 00:10:08.850 --> 00:10:11.450 base fares and usually fewer crowds, you want 00:10:11.450 --> 00:10:13.590 to target the shoulder seasons. Specifically, 00:10:13.690 --> 00:10:16.429 think mid -January to March, but before spring 00:10:16.429 --> 00:10:19.320 break hits. And then again, mid -September to 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.320 late November, making sure you avoid the major 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:23.259 holidays like Thanksgiving. Okay, that's really 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:25.320 useful timing advice. And we're seeing some pretty 00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:27.360 amazing flash sales happening right now that 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:29.419 perfectly illustrate how cruise lines are trying 00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:32.399 to pull demand forward sometimes years out. What 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:34.259 stands out in terms of immediate value right 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:36.440 now? Well, Royal Caribbean is running a flash 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:39.899 sale literally right now. October 14th through 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:43.200 the 28th, 2025. They have prices starting as 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:48.419 low as $289 per person for select 2026 cruises. 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:52.899 $289 on ships like Icon? Yes, on ships like Icon 00:10:52.899 --> 00:10:55.740 of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas. Now, the 00:10:55.740 --> 00:10:58.679 implication here is critical. If they're willing 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:00.919 to lock in revenue now with these aggressive 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:04.279 prices for 2026. Yeah. It strongly signals they 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.600 expect much higher pricing power starting in, 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:10.639 say, 2027. So if you plan to cruise then, booking 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:13.340 now, even for 2026, might be essential to get 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:15.299 ahead of those expected increases. That makes 00:11:15.299 --> 00:11:17.700 sense. Lock it in while it's low. And Margaritaville 00:11:17.700 --> 00:11:19.460 at sea is also jumping ahead of the holiday rush 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:21.279 to capture that really accessible end of the 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:23.720 market, too, right? They sure are. They launched 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:26.679 an early Black Friday sale offering 60 % off 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:29.269 cruise fares. You can find two -night Bahamas 00:11:29.269 --> 00:11:33.809 itineraries starting at just $199. $199 for two 00:11:33.809 --> 00:11:36.610 nights. Wow. Yeah. Plus, they're debuting the 00:11:36.610 --> 00:11:38.629 refurbished Beachcomber after its big renovation, 00:11:38.950 --> 00:11:41.529 sailing out of Port Miami. So that adds another 00:11:41.529 --> 00:11:43.649 really accessible option for those quick weekend 00:11:43.649 --> 00:11:45.769 escapes, confirming that the budget end of the 00:11:45.769 --> 00:11:48.230 market is still intensely competitive. Wait a 00:11:48.230 --> 00:11:50.409 second. So the cruise market is now like essentially 00:11:50.409 --> 00:11:52.730 divided into these two complete extremes. We 00:11:52.730 --> 00:11:56.289 have two night trips for $199 per person. And 00:11:56.289 --> 00:11:58.809 then we have this super high end exploratory 00:11:58.809 --> 00:12:01.870 high cost market. How do travelers even navigate 00:12:01.870 --> 00:12:04.549 that kind of, well, pricing schizophrenia? That 00:12:04.549 --> 00:12:06.830 polarization is the new reality, I think. On 00:12:06.830 --> 00:12:08.769 the high value, high cost expedition frontier, 00:12:08.870 --> 00:12:10.970 look at Quark Expeditions. They've just opened 00:12:10.970 --> 00:12:13.950 early bookings for their Arctic 2027 and Antarctic 00:12:13.950 --> 00:12:17.590 2027 -28 seasons. Years out. Years out. Voyages 00:12:17.590 --> 00:12:19.769 like the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. 00:12:20.309 --> 00:12:22.929 20 -day wildlife adventure are now available. 00:12:23.429 --> 00:12:26.370 And they do offer early booking discounts, sometimes 00:12:26.370 --> 00:12:29.450 up to $2 ,000 in savings. But these trips are 00:12:29.450 --> 00:12:32.370 booked years in advance, precisely because of 00:12:32.370 --> 00:12:35.029 the logistical complexity and the very limited 00:12:35.029 --> 00:12:37.909 capacity. Right. And there's also a fascinating 00:12:37.909 --> 00:12:40.190 domestic option right here in the U .S. that 00:12:40.190 --> 00:12:43.590 really highlights that niche, high -value pricing 00:12:43.590 --> 00:12:45.409 structure you're talking about. That would be 00:12:45.409 --> 00:12:47.539 American Cruise Lines. Yeah, they're expanding 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:49.679 their all -domestic focus. They have a new nine 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:52.299 -day Great Lakes cruise starting in May 2026. 00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:55.259 It departs from cities like Buffalo or Syracuse. 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:57.779 Okay, Great Lakes cruising. But we absolutely 00:12:57.779 --> 00:12:59.980 should note the price point here. These unique 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:02.379 river and lake journeys, they start around $8 00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:05.679 ,000 per person. $8 ,000. And they can easily 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:09.080 exceed $14 ,000 for the premium packages. It 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:11.379 just reflects the very niche, high -value nature 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:14.129 of that small ship domestic market. Okay, so 00:13:14.129 --> 00:13:16.730 we've covered massive global infrastructure spending, 00:13:17.070 --> 00:13:20.330 museum quality art partnerships, fairs starting 00:13:20.330 --> 00:13:25.590 under $300, all juxtaposed against $14 ,000 expeditions. 00:13:25.769 --> 00:13:27.970 What does this all mean for the listener? What's 00:13:27.970 --> 00:13:30.269 the big picture here? I think the overarching 00:13:30.269 --> 00:13:33.309 takeaway for you, the traveler, is really clarity 00:13:33.309 --> 00:13:36.110 on this market segmentation. The cruise industry 00:13:36.110 --> 00:13:38.750 is simultaneously focused on, let's call it, 00:13:38.769 --> 00:13:41.750 radical accessibility through these massive deals 00:13:41.750 --> 00:13:44.049 and the mainstream lines. Right. And at the very 00:13:44.049 --> 00:13:47.669 same time, intense exclusivity. That's evidenced 00:13:47.669 --> 00:13:49.909 by those multi -million dollar port upgrades 00:13:49.909 --> 00:13:52.269 we talked about and these onboard luxury art 00:13:52.269 --> 00:13:54.490 experiences. They are deliberately widening the 00:13:54.490 --> 00:13:57.019 offering at both ends of the spectrum. So appealing 00:13:57.019 --> 00:13:59.179 to a much wider range of travelers than ever 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:01.299 before. Exactly. It's creating a world where 00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:03.460 theoretically you could buy a Picasso while sailing 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:06.059 into a billion dollar port and you book the whole 00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:08.080 thing with a flash sale two years out. It's quite 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:10.279 something. The sheer scale of the industry's 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:13.279 ambition has really never been clearer, has it? 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:15.919 Indeed. And I think the real provocative question 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:18.320 for the future is, will the industry successfully 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:21.000 manage to market these two radically different 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:24.799 cruise experiences? you know, the $199 budget 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:28.019 break versus the $14 ,000 expedition, maybe even 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:29.879 to the same traveler at different points in their 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:32.360 life. That convergence point or divergence will 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:34.919 be absolutely fascinating to watch. A lot to 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:37.000 think about there. Thanks for listening to Cruise 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:39.639 News. Visit cruisenews .io to catch up on the 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:42.019 latest updates and sign up for free email alerts.