On this week’s episode of Karryon’s luxury podcast, Luxury Unpacked host Fiona Dalton chats to Ponant CEO Deb Corbett and Regent Seven Seas VP and GM Lisa Pile about how the luxury cruise space is leading the way in high-end travel, including sustainability.
“Luxury cruising is and will continue to be sustainable.
“We are absolutely the most sustainable sector in travel today, and it’s because we do sustainable cultural management plans in every layer of our operators, especially in fragile regions,” says Ponant CEO Deb Corbett.
“That’s about using low-impact vessels that have strict bio-security plans and that are built in collaboration with Indigenous communities.
“We’re supporting local communities and we’re building lasting partnerships and educating guests to become stewards, we’re not tourists visiting these places, we are guardians of the places we visit because you protect better what you know,” she adds.
Regent Seven Seas VP and GM Lisa Pile agrees, saying the industry gives back to local communities.
“An example is a local port in Australia, Burnie, where the lord mayor comes out to meet every cruise ship because that used to be a logging town, and that went away, and now they have this cruise industry that gives back to the local community.
“There is so much to talk about in this space, and it’s important to remember that we come under the International Maritime Organisation, and cruising is a small percentage of the overall shipping industry, so when it comes to fuel, we are led by the IMO.”
The value of an all-inclusive cruise
Corbett says small ship cruising is leading value-driven travel.
“I just spent time in Europe and it was so expensive, and when you compare it [cruising] to a land-based holiday, when you consider the exchange rate, incidentals and shore excursions, it’s at least 50 per cent more expensive looking at a land-based holiday.
“These high-value consumers know what this value is about, and it’s driving demand, especially when looking at family and a multi-generation trip.”
And one of the other values cruise offers over land-based holidays is that you don’t have to live in each other’s pockets, says Pile.
“You can say I’m going to do a cooking school today, while someone else can do an architectural tour and we’ll meet at the Piano Bar at 6pm and every person has their own interests.”
Pile says cruise also is a deep immersion, and at its core is emotional luxury.
“Guests expect magnificent hardware, and that’s a given, but the most important thing is the software and that emotional luxury.
“How does the service make you feel, and it’s the smaller things that make the most impact… and AI is assiting us to make sure we have that data so we know what people like, and it’s that attention to detail and the smaller things that go the furthest.”
Cruise as a sea safari
“Cruising has been completely redefined,” says Corbett.
“I say to people, imagine a boutique hotel on water. We’re all seeing a transition of people going on a land safari, well, this is a boutique hotel that offers you a sea safari, and you’ll see things you won’t see on land.
“I love this idea of sea exploration because you’re not just seeing the world, you’re immersing yourself in it without mass tourism. It’s exploration elevated.”
“Delivering quality is what creates loyalty,” adds Pile.
“You do have to walk the talk, and the Australian traveller has become incredibly sophisticated and they understand value and appreciate what they’re receiving.”
Listen to the full episode with Ponant CEO Deb Corbett and Regent Seven Seas Lisa Pile here:
For more information, partnership opportunities, or to be a guest on the show, contact Karryon’s Partnership Manager Carolyn Nightingale at carolyn@karryon.com.au.
