by David Giersdorf | May 2, 2026 | Insights
The most interesting action in cruise today isn’t on the mega‑ship side. It’s in the niche segments: luxury, expedition, yacht, and river. It’s also where the ownership picture is most misunderstood. Executives and advisors know the brands. They rarely see the capital...
by David Giersdorf | May 2, 2026 | Insights
Executive Summary High-net-worth (HNW) U.S. cruise travelers are exhibiting measurable brand-agnostic behavior: longtime loyalists, including elite-status holders, are increasingly “jumping ship” to competitors in pursuit of superior itinerary fit, ambiance, and...
by David Giersdorf | May 2, 2026 | Insights
Why are the most sophisticated niche travel brands treating $20,000 prospects with the same casual indifference as a $20 impulse buy? In the niche and luxury cruise sector, a dangerous era of “Digital Autopilot” has taken hold. Marketers are spending...
by David Giersdorf | May 2, 2026 | Insights
The Iran-centered conflict may not continue at its current intensity for much longer. That is the good news. The more important question for the cruise industry, however, is this: What happens after the acute phase ends, but the commercial aftershocks continue moving...
by David Giersdorf | May 2, 2026 | Insights
Passengers experience the cruise industry from the top decks. Leaders experience it below the waterline — where safety, systems, and survival live. From the outside, cruising looks like a hospitality business. Beautiful ships. Carefully choreographed experiences....
