INTERVIEW Operating luxury ocean safaris Dietmar Wertanzl, president of CMI Leisure, explains how his company can help expedition cruise operators to Onboard Experience Onboard enhance their onboard experience

nce the preserve of hardened “As expedition ships are restricted in explorers, expedition terms of size, most don’t have the space for cruising is rapidly becoming multiple dining venues or wellness facilities, more mainstream as and the majority of destinations are quite operators have joined the isolated without easy access to airports or market, older ships have been renovated major cruise ports, which makes it difficult and new ships have been ordered. to restock the ship’s basic supplies during Dietmar Wertanzl, president of CMI voyages,” Wertanzl explains. Leisure, notes that the number of available This is where a hotel management services itineraries has also increased. “The Galápagos provider like US-based CMI Leisure can help. Islands and Antarctica are very busy, while the “Since becoming one of the first providers Russian Far East, Japan, South Pacific, New in the expedition market 20 years ago, Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Melanesia and we’ve formed great relationships with local polar destinations like Iceland, Greenland, communities and established a successful CMI Leisure provides food and beverage services in Spitsbergen remain immensely popular.” supply chain network,” he says. “This dining venues onboard vessels like Victory I According to Wertanzl, this growth has enables us to ship containers from Miami prompted operators to reimagine the quality of to larger ports on the cruise lines’ itineraries share feedback from guests and other sources the onboard experience they provide to guests. and ensure that operators can provide a throughout the season, and conclude it with a “When the expedition cruise market first consistently good service to their guests. We debriefing to identify what needs to be changed emerged in the 1980s, travellers were more can also offer competitive purchasing power, in future,” explains Wertanzl. “Our qualified concerned about seeing wildlife and visiting particularly for lines with small fleets.” officers and crew have operated itineraries otherwise inaccessible destinations, than the From its Miami base, CMI Leisure supplies worldwide, so they can easily adapt our hotel onboard experience,” he comments. “However, turnkey hotel services for everything from management services to the preferences the arrival of luxury operators like Ponant and food and beverage, administration and hotel of different passenger source markets. For Silversea Cruises has changed the passenger management, to green cruising programmes example, we’re seeing more Chinese travellers demographic and people now expect higher and branding initiatives. Currently, the in Antarctica, so we’ve adjusted our dining quality foods, better accommodation, and company manages Sea Discoverer, Albatros programmes to their tastes.” spa and wellness services – today’s expedition Travel’s Ocean Atlantic, Poseidon Expeditions’ Noting that expensive expedition cruises cruises are more akin to luxury ocean safaris.” Sea Spirit, Polar Quest’s Sea Endurance and are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most However, it can be tricky to deliver high Quark Expedition’s Ocean Diamond, Sea people, Wertanzl says: “CMI Leisure aims quality hotel, dining and entertainment Adventurer and Ocean Endeavour. It recently to understand each client’s brand and target services onboard small ships sailing in helped new Miami-based operator Victory source market so we can meet their operational remote locations. Cruise Lines develop its entire cruise concept needs and deliver the ideal crew and guest before its July 2016 debut. Services are tailored experience. Ultimately, we want our clients to individual clients. to feel as though they’re doing more than “We meet with operators at the start of outsourcing work; we want CMI Leisure to feel each season to outline our goals, then we like an integral part of their company.” C&F

”We’ve formed great relationships with local communities and established a successful supply chain network”

2 International Cruise & Ferry Review