The Business and Management of Ocean Cruises

After decades of solid growth, the worldwide ocean cruise sector has become a noticeable economic factor and a significant employer. In the way it combines social, technological and natural systems to form its products, cruise tourism is an increasingly attractive area of study; particularly with regards to the managerial challenges posed by the interaction of these systems. This book brings together industry know-how, managerial experience and academic rigour to cover some of the most important and interesting managerial challenges associated with ocean cruises.

Dr Michael Vogel is Professor of Business and Tourism Management, programme leader for Cruise Industry Management at the Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Co-Director of the Institute of Maritime Tourism in Bremerhaven. He has published on cruise economics, destination strategy, higher education, critical research and epistemology. He also conducts research for the German Ministry for the Environment on the acceptance of offshore wind farms, leads a major teaching quality enhancement programme and runs an innovative street magazine with students and homeless people. In 2008 he received the German Higher Education Teaching Award. Previously, Michael worked as a strategy consultant and tourism manager. He holds a graduate degree in Business Administration, an MSc in Environmental and Resource Economics and a PhD in Theoretical Economics. He is also a doctoral student at the Institute of Education, University of London.

Dr Alexis Papathanassis is Professor of Tourism Management and Information Systems at the Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Co-Director of the Institute of Maritime Tourism in Bremerhaven. He serves as chairman of the Cruise Research Society, has published in the Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management, International Journal of Tourism Research and others, and (co-)edited two books on cruise management. Prior to joining academia, Alexis pursued a professional career with TUI, Europe's leading tourism group, as Project Manager and Process Engineer, Business Unit Manager and Business Development Manager. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Bath, gained his MSc in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems from the London School of Economics & Political Science and received his PhD in Economic Sciences from the University of Hanover.

Ben Wolber is Vice President, Fleet Purchasing for Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH), based in Miami. PCH is the parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises and the market leader in the upper-premium and luxury segments of the cruise industry. Ben's previous career in the luxury segment of the cruise industry includes the positions of Hotel Manager, F&B Manager and Provision Master on board, as well as Financial Controller shore-side. He holds a degree in Business Administration, used to be a Lecturer in Cruise Management at the Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and is a Research Associate of the Institute for Maritime Tourism in Bremerhaven.

Ted Manning is President of Tourisk Inc., an international consulting firm providing services in development strategies, destination planning and management, indicators of sustainability, accessibility and environmental management. He is former Director of Strategic Planning and Director of Sustainable Development and Environmental Management of Consulting and Audit Canada (CAC). He has served as Associate Director for the Centre for a Sustainable Future (CSF) for the Foundation for International Training and as an advisor to several UN agencies on sustainable development and environmental management. He has served as Executive Manager, Sustainable Tourism, for Tourism Canada, Associate Director of the Sustainable Development Branch of Environment Canada, Chief of Land Use Policy and Land Use Analysis in Environment Canada, Senior Planner for the Caribbean Program of the Canadian International Development Agency, and as a university lecturer in geography. He works in English, French and Spanish.

- Michael Lück is a professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism, and associate director for the coastal and marine tourism research programme at the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute, both at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. He is founding co-chair of the International Coastal & Marine Tourism Society (ICMTS). Michael has more than 10 years work experience in the tourism industry and his research interests include (marine) wildlife tourism, the cruise industry, ecotourism, interpretation and education on wildlife tours, the impacts of tourism, and aviation/transport. He has published in a number of international journals, is founding editor-in-chief of the academic journal Tourism in Marine Environments, Associate Editor of the Journal of Ecotourism and Human Dimensions of Wildlife, and editorial board member of Marine Policy and Frontiers. Michael has edited or co-edited ten volumes on ecotourism, marine and polar tourism, events and low cost airlines, as well as the Encyclopedia of Tourism and Recreation in Marine Environments (CABI), and co-authored the introductory text Tourism (CABI).