Cruising business

Start date: 19th May 2011, 17:15

Venue: ACM, Monaco

Speaker: Mikael Krafft - Owner & CEO of Star Clippers

Topic description:

Our member Mikael Krafft will give a brief historical background of cruising in general followed by a detailed analysis of the amazing growth of the European cruise market in the Years 2003-2010

CV:

Mikael Krafft Born 1946 in Stockholm, Swedish citizen, resident in Monaco. Started his career as a solicitor specialised in transportation and maritime law. He practiced law in both Sweden and France. In 1976 he got the opportunity to become C.E.O and Part Owner of a smaller Swedish shipping company in severe financial difficulties. Over the next 10 years this company developed favourably and also bought up other smaller shipping companies. Apart from operating a number of dry cargo vessels the group was also involved in ship brokerage, oil business, forestry industry, and real estate business. In 1986 Mr Krafft sold his companies in Sweden and established a corporation in Brussels mainly involved with real estate development in BENELUX. At this time he also started the cruise line Star Clippers, initially with a head office in Miami, but now operating out of Monaco. This resulted in Mikael Krafft ordering two special sailing cruise ships in Belgium in 1988 which he developed and designed himself. The idea was to offer an alternative to mass cruises. Star Clippers operate cruises in the Caribbean, Western and Eastern Mediterranean as well as in South America. Baltic cruises are scheduled for 2012.. The vessels have been very successful. The company later ordered a third 5 mast full rigged sailing cruise ship the Royal Clipper. Presently they are also involved with the development of a new ship.