Bertram's logbook

Interview with an expert: Anja Gilardone

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[Translate to en:] Anja Gilardone

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[Translate to en:] Crystal Serenity

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[Translate to en:] Crystal Symphony

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[Translate to en:] SeaDream Yacht Club

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[Translate to en:] Silversea - Silver Cloud Expedition

Anja Gilardone is "Product Manager Cruises" at DERTOUR Deluxe and has been working for DER Touristik for seven years. In a way, she has turned her hobby into her profession - because cruises are her great passion.

What is the fascination of cruising for you?
For me, it's being on the water, combined with the feeling of being able to experience complete relaxation on a floating hotel. As an enthusiastic "cruiser", I firmly believe that everything that clings to me in everyday life is left behind on land and I can glide over the water completely free and carefree. I also believe that a week on board one of our deluxe ships can be more relaxing and inspiring than three weeks in a fixed location. Perhaps this is also due to the fact that a ship is always moving forward - in the right direction. Then there's the enormous variety: what will I see and experience today? Will I take the shuttle from the port to the city, rent a car or scooter to explore the island on my own or go on a guided excursion? In any case, it never gets boring on a ship ...

What are your favorite cruise destinations?
My favorites are Alaska, Canada, Nordland and the Greek islands.

Is there an unforgettable cruise experience?
Yes, I have fond memories of a trip to Greece on the SeaDream, for example. With this mega yacht, we were able to call at ports that are off-limits to larger ships. One evening, the Hollywood movie "Mama Mia" was shown in the open-air cinema on the pool deck - with popcorn and drinks. The next day, we actually docked at Mama Mia Island and were able to walk to the cathedral and swim in the crystal-clear sea water. That was really "movie-like"!
Alaska's glaciers, which you can see particularly well from the ship, are also unforgettable, as is sailing into New York in bright sunshine. I was also able to watch whales from my balcony on the Crystal Serenity and have breakfast on one of the Silversea ships with a view of Domenica. On Ponant, I will always remember the Blue Eye Bar. You can look straight into the sea through its porthole! There are so many little things, great people and exciting destinations that make traveling on Dertour Deluxe ships so unique and wonderful.

How do you find the right ship or shipping company as a cruise novice?
The best way is to go to a good travel agency and ask for advice. Together you can find out what you want to focus on. In our catalog, for example, we only have ships with a maximum of 1,000 guests and a guest/crew ratio of 1:1.5 or better.
I would probably start with a ship like the Crystal Symphony or the Crystal Serenity. Both have just under 1,000 guests on board, so they are the perfect environment to try out whether you like cruises. The ships offer some of the most space per passenger in the industry. Crystal's chefs - who often come from Austria, Germany or Switzerland - provide culinary experiences during the voyage. Overall, enjoyment and good food play a major role on board. In addition, everything is included on the Crystal ships, i.e. drinks, coffee, food, wine and champagne as well as tips.
I would recommend a route in the Mediterranean, e.g. from Athens to Dubrovnik or from Venice to Rome. You will get to know islands, dream beaches and great cities without having to pack your suitcase once! A voyage of discovery is only so comfortable and luxurious on board a ship. And so a cruise novice quickly becomes an experienced cruiser - because once you've been on a ship, you'll want to get a taste of the sea air again and again.

Which dream trip at sea would you like to take at some point?
I've had the pleasure of experiencing lots of really great sea voyages: Nordland, Greece, Costa Rica, Indian Summer on the east coast of the USA ... What really excites me for the future are the remotest corners of the earth that are visited on expedition voyages, such as a cruise on the Amazon or to Easter Island. And I would love to go to Alaska again and again, it was unique!

Your insider tip for seasickness?
Vodka with lemon or a ship with good stabilizers. For many people, pressure bracelets from the pharmacy also help.

What are the big trends when it comes to cruising?--
I think the trend is towards small ships. More and more of them are being built because passengers attach great importance to good service, high-quality food and compatible fellow travelers. All this can be optimally experienced and enjoyed on a small ship. Personally, I love the international ships because I meet people from all over the world and can have inspiring conversations.
Expedition travel is also very much in vogue - I see a huge market and a great offer. I was lucky enough to get to know the expedition leaders of our shipping companies Silversea and Ponant. The passion and experience they put into planning their trips is very special. Not least because they combine travel experience and knowledge in a truly wonderful and considerate way, thereby promoting a new understanding.
Sustainability is of course also becoming increasingly important. Many shipping companies are refitting their ships and newbuilds are using new propulsion systems and are environmentally friendly. For example, Ponant's latest ship, Le Commandant-Charcot, is powered by electric hybrid and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and equipped with the most advanced technologies in terms of environmental protection. The focus is on optimizing energy consumption, water treatment and waste management.
An incredible number of sustainable measures are implemented on board all shipping companies, such as the reduction of single-use plastics: Disposable plastic bottles are being replaced with recyclable glass bottles, plastic straws are being abolished and truly unavoidable plastic waste is being sorted and recycled. New cleaning systems also reduce fresh water consumption. There are also regional measures, depending on the sailing area. For example, heavy fuel oil (residual oil) may no longer be used in the Antarctic.