Newsletter

The calls that keep a ship safe, protect yield in a shaky market, or hold a partner relationship together are usually made when time is short, information is incomplete, and everyone is watching.  In those moments, experience helps, but I’ve seen that what separates reckless reactions from calm, grounded decisions is often how leaders manage their own state in the moment. 

Emotional Intelligence in Cruise Sales: The Hidden KPI Behind Revenue, Retention and Guest Wow How regional and onboard leaders use Emotional Intelligence (EQ) to close more, de‑escalate faster, and create guests for life. Cruise sales is one of the few commercial environments where revenue, culture, and emotion collide: shoreside, onboard, and across continents.

The industry carried 31.7 million guests in 2023 and is projected to reach 34.6 million in 2024, a +9.3 % year-over-year increase. By 2027, passenger volume is expected to approach 40 million, supported by a 10 % capacity expansion and a forecast 745 K berths by 2028.

Many decision-makers believe that if a guest doesn’t book onboard, they will naturally return within a 6–12 month window. In reality, once guests disembark, they are immediately targeted by competing brands. The hard truth I’ve learned in this business is simple. There is no such thing as guest loyalty, only guest choice. If that choice isn’t captured onboard, the odds of losing that future booking increase dramatically.

Why This Newsletter Matters | 2025 onboard sales hit record highs, yet gaps remain. Onboard Sales 2.0 combines behavior, leadership, and AI to unlock incremental revenue. This newsletter outlines key triggers, team practices, and your 5-step 2026 playbook. By focusing on guest psychology and crew culture, leaders can reclaim lost revenue and set their ships up for a profitable year.

The Cruise Industry in 2025: Growth, Transformation, and Strategic Insights by NFC - Nuno Fonseca Consulting Cruise Industry Year in Review The global cruise industry continues its post-pandemic recovery with strong growth in passenger volumes, fleet expansion, and new commercial innovations. In 2025, the industry carried  ~37.7 million passengers , up from 34.6 million in 2024. Fleet capacity expanded with  310+ ships in operation , 13 new deliveries this year, and 56 ships

AI in the Cruise Industry 2025: Edition 6 of My Newsletter is Now Live In this edition, I’m diving deeper into how AI is transforming operations, maintenance, and crew support across major cruise lines — including verified, publicly confirmed initiatives from Royal Caribbean Group , Carnival Cruise Line , and MSC Cruises . Want to know more? Visit my Homepage to find out how! Home A Sneak Peek into My New AI Project And for the first time, I’m sharing a discreet glimpse into

By Nuno Fonseca –  NFC - Nuno Fonseca Consulting   |   The only global consulting practice specialized in Onboard Cruise Sales. 🚢 Full Steam Ahead — But Short on Crew  - Cruise Industry Hiring Dynamics The cruise industry continues to surge post-pandemic, with  passenger demand  and  shipbuilding  at  record highs . Yet behind the glossy decks and grand itineraries, operators face a  major  challenge:  recruiting and retaining qualified crew , from specialized marine enginee

By Nuno Fonseca – NFC - Nuno Fonseca Consulting | The only global consulting practice specialized in Onboard Cruise Sales. 💡 The Most Valuable Currency in Loyalty at Sea: Emotion In an industry that moves millions, true loyalty doesn’t come from points or programs — it comes from people - Onboard and Ashore. Cruise guests remember the smile, the recognition, the moment they felt seen and heard. Those emotions create the most powerful form of brand equity — one that no discou

Cruise Guest Demographics 2025–2028 Cruise Industry By Nuno Fonseca –  NFC - Nuno Fonseca Consulting , the only global consulting practice specialized in Onboard Cruise Sales. Cruise Guest Demographics 2025–2028 Cruise Industry One thing is clear:  the cruise guest is evolving, diversifying, and expanding globally.  Understanding who these travelers are—and where they’re sailing—is the key to aligning onboard and shoreside sales for the next growth wave. 1️⃣ The Guest Profile

Cruise Sales 2025-2027 Global & Onboard By Nuno Fonseca –  NFC - Nuno Fonseca Consulting   , the only global consulting practice specialized in Onboard Cruise Sales. The latest  State of the Cruise Industry Report  from CLIA confirms what many of us in the industry feel:  cruise is entering its strongest growth era yet. 31.7 million passengers sailed in 2023 —already 107 % of 2019 levels. Passenger volume is forecast to reach  nearly 40 million by 2027 , a 10 % capacity incre