What the Cruise Industry Teaches Us About Leading Any Complex Business

by David Giersdorf | Jan 26, 2026 | Insights

Most industries talk about disruption. The cruise industry has lived inside it. Few global sectors are as exposed to complexity: massive fixed assets, tight regulation, razor-thin margins for error, intense public scrutiny, and customers whose trust must be earned...

Is there really a “silver bullet” in niche cruise and travel marketing—or is it something else entirely?

by David Giersdorf | Jan 26, 2026 | Insights

In premium, luxury, river, and expedition cruise marketing, there is no single tactic that reliably solves the growth equation. Fully loaded, new-to-brand Customer Acquisition Costs commonly range from $400 to $1,000+ per new guest, depending on price point,...

The Industry’s 20% Blindspot: Are We “Skipping” the Most Valuable Traveler?

by David Giersdorf | Dec 12, 2025 | Insights

Has the travel industry become so dazzled by the digital noise of Millennials and so comfortable with the reliable wealth of Boomers that we have effectively erased the generation currently sitting in the sweet spot of both? In marketing strategy sessions across the...

While your competitors debate whether disruption is real, the leaders who act are already three moves ahead.

by David Giersdorf | Nov 21, 2025 | Insights

Disruption isn’t coming—it’s already here. It’s constant. The question isn’t whether you’ll face it, but whether you’ll transform it into competitive advantage.Hard Ships isn’t just my book—it’s the playbook I’ve...

Cruise Industry Pulse: Signals on the Path Forward

by David Giersdorf | Nov 21, 2025 | Insights

The cruise industry has moved far beyond recovery and is now operating with full momentum, renewed scale, and in entirely new strategic directions.Here are the signals defining the path ahead:1️⃣ Leadership & Structural MovesExecutive shifts and strategic...