International Design and Entertainment Associates (IDEA) has been in the cruise business since 2000. The firm deals primarily with the development of destination resorts and ports-of-call for operators such as Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Carnival Cruise Lines.
IDEA has put together a vision plan for a 17 acre area at Port Zante, St. Kitts. The project includes a business hotel, marina, resort hotel and 27,871 m retail area.
The firm sets the overall theme and character image for the development. "We do in-depth research to try and build on the character of the city that was already there and extend the city streets into the development to make it look like it was part of the town historically," explains Hugh Darley, president and executive producer at IDEA, Inc.
On the Dutch side of St Maarten there is a project for a multi-use 10 acre site, including retail and a hotel resort. The firm has designed a saltwater lagoon, an area to accommodate private vessels, a resort hotel and casino.
In Falmouth, Jamaica, the company is working on the redevelopment of the historic port with a 30 acre development on the waterfront. "We are establishing a new pier project for the anticipated call of [Royal Caribbean International's Project] Genesis," says Mr. Darley.
Meanwhile in Castries, St Lucia, IDEA is working on a complete redevelopment and investigating the possibility of five cruiseship berths.
In Hobart Bay, Alaska, the company has been working on developing Wilderness Alaska. It involves the construction of a two-cruiseship berth port and five wilderness villages.
"We already have an agreement with one cruise line who is planning to be the end user. We have just finished the conceptual refinement stage. The target date for completion is 2011," adds Mr. Darley.
He tells LCI that as cruise operators have introduced larger ships, the industry has really elevated the guest experience. "Cruise operators are no longer looking at the technical requirements of the berth as the first priority. The first priority is the guest experience. Guest expectation is higher than it used to be."