With a huge TV marketing push and new land products in the Middle East and Caribbean, MSC Cruises is finding success by doubling down on its distinctly European brand identity.
Now that major cruise lines have updated their onboard product with all new bells and whistles, they're looking to revamp their land offerings to attract consumers who are the most hesitant to cruise.
Cruise lines are all trying to differentiate themselves as the number of global passengers increases. Branding campaigns and ad blitzes are one way to get that word out, but operators also have to focus on delivering a top-notch experience.
Cruise lines entering China face a dilemma: tailoring the onboard experience to the Chinese may remove some of the Western touches that Chinese travelers actually want from their vacation. MSC Cruises is searching for a middle-ground.
Cruise lines are building deep partnerships to tailor onboard experiences to the expectations of the Chinese cruiser. But North America and Europe still remain the key global source markets for cruise passengers.