The Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company

Summary: The cruise line industry has been experiencing a period of massive expansion over the last decade thus heightening the competitive profile for the industry in terms of market share and competitive rivalry. Now cruise industry is one of the most competitive across all.

Top strengths that Carnival Corporation & plc has to their advantage would be their strong brand and major control of the market share. Containing a strong brand portfolio with a total of 10 well-known brands operating about 102 ships. Such brands include Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn in North America; AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK) under the Europe, Austrailia & Asia segments. Along with Holland America Princess Alaska Tour and the Canadian Yukon (Olarte, 2017). The company is also the largest cruise company in the world in terms of cruise passengers with a market share of about 47% followed by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd with a market share of 23% (Cederholm, 2015).

* High Capital Requirements: The capital required to start up a cruise line is one of the key factors contributing to this industry’s high barriers to entry. With the average cost of building a cruise ship rising, the amount of capital needed to start up a cruise line is estimated at one billion dollars. Therefore discouraging any new entrants into the industry.

Customers in Asia are now looking for luxurious cruises as a vacation option. Disposable income of the Chinese consumer has grown annually by 10% a year. The total number of passengers sourced from China had increased steadily in the past few years so the Costa Classica was launched specifically for this market back in 2010. Carnival is also planning to introduce a new cruise liner “Carnival Vista” which will be the largest vessel in the carnival Cruise Lines Fleet by 2016.

Copa Cruises - Welcome Aboard! Copa Cruises is a 40-year old company that offers dining and sightseeing cruises. What started with only one ship at Maryland’s Eastern Shore, is now a big business operating at multiple locations with 40 vessels. Copa operates scheduled tours at least twice daily during the peak travel/tourism seasons at each of its locations. The total number of scheduled tours varies based on the number of vessels available at each location. Copa also offers its ships exclusively for groups. In fact, a significant portion of Copa’s revenues come from group bookings. Typically, group customers book for corporate events, weddings, or private celebrations (e.g. family reunion). Copa customizes the table arrangement, the deck,

The Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc., was founded by Ted Arison in 1972. (Corporate Information) Ted ran the company until 1990 when he handed over the business to his son, Micky Arison. Micky became the CEO, and then became the Chairman. Carnival is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, carrying more passengers than any other cruise ship. The Carnival Corporation mission statement is; “Our mission is to take the world on vacation and deliver exceptional experiences through many of the world's best-known cruise brands that cater to a variety of different geographic regions and lifestyles, all at an outstanding value unrivaled on land or at sea.” (Carnival Corporation History)

The economic climate has a strong impact on the cruise line industry. However, the cruise line industry is growing and more people are traveling today then ever before. As welfare of people has considerably grown despite all possible crises in world economy, anyhow many economic factors are influence to cruise line industry, such as clientele's economic positions, growth in markets, currencies rates when working international and inflation plays a role. Operators of a cruise will be affected under management and operational levels. If fuel price begins to increase, then it will influence operational costs of the company. If interest rates increase then, then it will influence the income of the company. Economic factor plays a major role for the company to be afloat of cruise industry.

Carnival has to great awards under their belt. First cruise ship to have over one million passengers in one year and also carry five million passengers total. They currently carry over twenty cruise ships that they operate, and that number will continue to grow as long as they are

Carnival is a leader in the cruise industry and it’s highly likely that the consumers would select this company; as it is also a branded company recognizable on the market it allow the process of word of mouth that lessen the power of the consumers from their self.

Carnival has 75 ships in its fleet and is continuing to brand the company as the “fun ships”

There are nine main cruise line, these include Ambassador International, Carnival Corporation, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Lines, Louis Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Silversea Cruises and Star Cruises (Cruising). The major cruises out of these are Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corporation. These cruises line are known for using their popularity to their advantage by raising their prices at any given time. But on the other hand, all the ships are comparable. All passage can anticipate the equivalent experience on board. In addition Rivalry is at a peek because getting rid of a cruise industry cost more than to just keep into development.

Carnival Cruise Lines is the flagship brand in a portfolio operated by its parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc. Carnival Corporation has headquarters in Miami, Florida and London, England. Carnival Cruise Lines ships carry more than 60,000 passengers a week. The cruise line operates 1,400 voyages per year with a fleet of 22 ships, and serves approximately four million passengers per year. Carnival Cruise Lines has 3,800 shore side employees and 33,500 shipside employees. The cruise line conducts voyages ranging from three-to-sixteen days in length to some of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, including The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Cruising has become popular in the UK and throughout the world for holidays. Breaking travel news states that, ‘Cruise holidays are on the rise and the cruise industry seems

Forty five years and forty ships later, based out of Miami Florida, Royal Caribbean is the second largest cruise line in the world, behind frontrunner Carnival. RCCL operates its ships under the brand names Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises, and Croisières

Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest cruise company in North America and carries more than 60,000 passengers a week. The Carnival experience is the standard against what past cruisers judge their later cruise experiences. Carnival has captured the "fun" psychographic and has a strong reputation for an enjoyable, relaxed cruise. Furthermore, Carnival has a strong market expansion strategy for selling the mass-market cruise category and first-time cruisers. They have a clear vision and knowledge about the industry and a commitment to their brand essence, which is fun. Also, as an extension to their branding of the "fun" ships they are the low-price leaders. Because of their strong brand image they are able to achieve double-digit growth in