Ports, itinerary planners talk geopolitics in Burgas – Seatrade Cruise News

‘Media colours the mind of the customer,’ said Shippossible founder Yavor Velchev, a consultant in marine insurance, legal & claims with 15 years’ experience, as he explained that a ‘stamp is being put on the Black Sea.’ He told Seatrade Cruise News, ‘Media is so powerful. It’s about lobbying and being knowledgeable and technical [with] bulletins and circulars that open the mind of the customer.’ 

The comment came during the 63rd MedCruise General Assembly taking place October 10-13 in Burgas, Bulgaria in a panel called, ‘Navigating Choppy Waters: How Geopolitical Risks Can Impact Cruise Regions and Cruise Ports.’  

Educating the consumer

Frederique Patry, Silversea Cruises’ senior manager for itinerary design, used the Baltic region as an example: ‘It’s safe; it’s a commercial issue. The destination should educate the consumer… If [customers] don’t buy, we don’t sell.’ 

During the panel discussion, Patry described some of the geopolitical tensions pertinent to cruise lines: ‘Even if they’re not on your TVs, there are conflicts everywhere,’ she said, describing sensitivities between the Falklands and Argentina, and China and Taiwan, and the restriction on US citizens to sail to Cuba. ‘We’re not supposed to go to Kenya anymore, now,’ she added. 

‘The situation of the world is changing every day so you have to be flexible …’ 

Call for bold marketing efforts 

Doru-Adrian Mihai, a former naval officer and head of the port operations department at the Port of Constantza, recommended regions take time to create and improve infrastructure (inc. roads, transport system and facilities) while they are off the radar of cruise lines and suggested collaborative marketing between local businesses to attract operators, while devising special packages and guided tours. He said it is essential to continue promoting the destination, with moderator Aziz Güngör, Global Ports Holding’s East Med ports regional director, acknowledging staying off lines’ radars may not be helpful. 

Mihai and Cristina Tanase of the safety and security department at Constanta Maritime Ports Administration told Seatrade Cruise News that in June 2024, Constantza will receive its first ocean-going cruise ship in more than five years, with the arrival of Royal Caribbean International’s Serenade of the Seas. 

Tanase gave examples of steps ports can take to ensure the safey of passengers, which included more personnel, enhanced screening, surveillance and crisis management planning.

Collaboration, communication, connections

Emilio Freeman, VP itineraries and destinations at SeaDream Yacht Club, described the moment SeaDream II became the first cruise vessel to visit several Black Sea ports in 2021 after the pandemic shutdown. He said collaboration, communication and connections were important to navigating geopolitical risk, combined with ‘consistency of the media and of advertising’ to provide accurate information.