Coming soon, Cruise interporting.

Categories

I adds significant complexity to the cruise operations but from a customer perspective add flexibility and even potential cost savings as different ports airports combinations with the clients departure airport might have better prices.  Another advantage for passengers is the ability to do pre or post cruise stays in different ports rather than just the current major departure ports.

Norwegian and Royal Caribbean are going to test the waters in interporting on certain ships, and MSC cruises (Italy based) is going to expand on their offerings.

So for instance Royal Caribbean plans for the Brilliance of the Seas to sail from San Juan on a 7 night itinerary, which varies from week to week but every Wednesday would arrive and depart from Guadeloupe during the 7 nights.

Passengers could board in either San Juan or Guadeloupe and sail for 7 nights.  This would appeal to South American passengers who might prefer Guadaloupe's convenience to them, while US and Canadian customers would more likely prefer San Juan.  In either case passengers must book a 7 night cruise but with options for "their" departure and return port.

NCL's EPIC starts their European season this year with a 7 day Western Med itinerary with the ability to board in either Barcelona, Rome, or Marseille.  So if someone wanted to spend several days pre or post their cruise they would now have Rome and Marseille to choose from rather than last year's option of Barcelona only with the EPIC.

If this works out both on the passenger side and cruise line operations, one could easily see its expansion and even the possibility of cruise bite size segments although that would be more years out.