Learning to Provide Cruise Lines Exactly What They Want

Anyone that has been around the cruise shipping business knows that cruise lines love a destination that is organized, ready-to-go, and that provides great guest satisfaction from Day One.  But, how can destinations get there?  After all, the cruise industry is still relatively new, especially in many places around the world, and cruise lines don’t have the time to guide new ports.  In other words, how can ports learn to provide cruise lines exactly what they want?

The Access Cruise team can make all the connections and presentations to the cruise executives, but are you REALLY ready to receive the ships?  One way to find out is through Cruise Destination Fitness Test™.  Global Destinations, a partner of Access Cruise, pioneered the test.  Michael Greve, President of Global Destinations, is a cruise destination developer, former Royal Caribbean executive and a leading expert in developing cruise ports.  The Fitness Test provides clear recommendations for new and existing ports about HOW they can become a better cruise ship destination, based on their specific starting point.

What is the Fitness Test?

Global’s team of “personal trainers” not only analyze a destination’s “cruise fitness,” they give clients a playbook to help them achieve improved Health and increased Cruise Business!  The trademarked Cruise Destination Fitness Test™ serves as a baseline analysis of a new, potential or existing cruise ship destination’s viability.

In the Fitness Test, Global’s team of experts analyze a port’s strengths and shortcomings on an easy-to-understand A-to-F “grading system.” From dock length to channel depth, to buses and transportation hubs, to branding and marketing programs, and competitive brand position, the Fitness Test evaluates the major components contributing to a successful cruise ship destination – and provides clear recommendations for improvement.  The white paper document is suitable for publication and submission to government authorities, financiers, or cruise line clients.  In many cases, it is the first analytical step for what to do and how to do it, in order to become a new or more successful cruise ship destination.

The test has already been utilized at marquee destinations such as Antigua in the British West Indies, Prince Rupert in British Columbia, and was the baseline analysis for the creation of Banana Coast, the Caribbean’s newest destination, which opened in 2014 and already is off to a successful start with most major cruise lines calling this year.

For more information, listen to Michael Greve’s informative radio interview on Cruise Radio at: http://globaldd.com/featured-project/radio-interview/ or read more about the Fitness Test at http://globaldd.com/featured-project/.