The Cruise Liverpool team recently attended Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami for the first time since the pandemic.
To find out more about what Seatrade Cruise events involve and why they are so important to attend, we sat down with the team to find out more about the Cruise industry and what else is coming up for Cruise Liverpool.
Can you tell us a bit about Seatrade Cruise Global?
Seatrade Cruise Global is the key cruise industry event in the calendar year. The entire cruise industry supply chain is in attendance, from ship builders, to ship fit out, from cruise lines to cruise ports as well as every kind of food and drink to fresh flowers!
What is the goal for Cruise Liverpool in attending Seatrade Cruise Global?
As exhibitors on the Cruise Britain stand, our primary purpose is to promote Liverpool and secure future cruise line visits with each of the Cruise Line executives in attendance.
We tend to schedule calls 2 -3 years in advance so Seatrade is very much a sales mission, however, we also spend valuable time at Seatrade having detailed operational meetings relating to the ships calling that same season.
It’s also a great opportunity to keep up to date with industry innovations, changes and trends as well as catch up with other UK cruise ports so we can benchmark against them, discuss solutions to mutual challenges as well as touch base with our many service providers.
What kind of changes have you seen in Seatrade over the pandemic?
Seatrade had a hiatus for two years due to the pandemic. Whilst we discovered a new digital way of keeping in touch, this is very much a people industry. The cruise industry is fast paced, dynamic, demanding and is wholly dependent on people working together. It’s a global industry which feels very much like a village. There’s a place for digital connections to be maintained but it cannot replace the interpersonal connections that are developed face to face.
What sustainability factors are an important part of the Seatrade?
Modern day cruise ships are powerhouses of innovation, brimming with cutting-edge technologies. The entire shipping industry benefits from the early adoption of new technologies that did not exist five to ten years ago. Examples include use of LNG, exhaust gas cleaning systems, advanced wastewater purification systems, air lubrication systems and special paint coatings to reduce fuel consumption, energy-efficient engines, the use of shore-side power, and much more.
Cruise lines made a global fleet-wide commitment in December 2018 to reduce the rate of carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2008 levels. Across the globe, the cruise industry is working diligently towards this aggressive target by a combination of technology, innovation and more practical solutions such as slower sailing times between ports, minimising congestion in ports and reducing length of time in port.
What other Seatrade events are Cruise Liverpool attending this year?
There is a bi-annual Seatrade Mediterranean event taking place in September in Malaga, whilst next year, Seatrade Europe will take place in its usual location of Hamburg.
Other events we attend are Mersey Maritime, Cruise Britain and Cruise Europe membership meetings.
This industry is very much about making and maintaining connections and these various industry events are an ideal place for this to happen, spending 2 or 3 intense days, meeting everyone who’s anyone in this sector!
What are some of the highlights coming to Cruise Liverpool this year?
There’s lots coming up at Cruise Liverpool in the next couple of months.
- We’ve been shortlisted as a finalist for Best Innovation or Demand Management Initiative at the ASPE Awards this September.
- We’ve teamed up with LJMU and Bluepoint Marine on a sustainability project.
- We’ve teamed up with Western Approaches to greet passengers off the ship with vintage cars, music and appearances from Winston Churchill which have gone down a treat for our guests.
- We’ve got the Tourist Information Team back on site allowing guests to book tickets for attractions and have a look around the shop for gifts on the way back to their cabin.
- We’re collaborating with local attractions, restaurants and bars in developing offers for Crew taking shore leave in Liverpool.
- We’ve got the exciting return of Disney Magic on 14 September 2022.
- We’ll also be celebrating our 15th Anniversary in September so keep an eye on our social channels for our birthday plans!
Find out more about Cruise Liverpool on our Introduction to Cruise Liverpool blog here.