Alastair Marsh to succeed Richard Sadler as CEO of Lloyd's Register

Lloyd’s Register’s Richard Sadler has taken the decision to step down as CEO at the end of 2015, after eight years in the role. The Lloyd’s Register Group Ltd Board of Directors has announced the appointment of current CFO, Alastair Marsh, as his successor.

Since Richard Sadler’s appointment as CEO in 2007, he and the executive team have implemented a group strategy that has seen Lloyd’s Register (LR) diversify its service portfolio and grow to a £1bn turnover business. This period saw the creation of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation in 2012, maximising the group’s contribution to society, and technology leadership through LR’s Global Technology Centres in Southampton and Singapore.

After eight years in the role, Richard indicated to the Board that he would like to step down and pursue new challenges. The Board started the process to search for and appoint a new CEO to write the next chapter of LR’s 255 year history.

Over the past six months, the Board of Directors have conducted an internal and external review of potential successors and have unanimously agreed that Alastair Marsh possesses the capability and leadership to take on the role as LR’s next CEO.

Alastair Marsh joined LR as Group Financial Controller in April 2007 and was appointed as Group Finance Director in April 2008. Previously he held a number of senior financial management positions, including CFO and Company Secretary of Superscape Group plc, and prior to that he held similar roles at Easynet Group plc, Laporte plc, and NCR Corporation.

Alastair is a graduate in Business Studies & Accounting from Edinburgh University and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. He worked with Price Waterhouse for five years, in both their Edinburgh and Brisbane offices, on a broad range of audit and corporate finance clients, covering a wide range of industries. Alastair also sits on the Board as Executive Director and a number of Boards of subsidiary companies.

Richard and Alastair have forged a very effective partnership over the past seven years. Alastair’s deep knowledge and understanding of LR’s business, markets and clients will ensure a smooth succession.  Richard will pass the CEO role to Alastair on the 1 October 2015 and commence a formal handover period until the end of December 2015. Simon Nice, currently Group FP&A Director, will take up the role of Interim Group Financial Director during the transition.

Richard Sadler said: “When I was appointed in 2007, I made a public commitment that I would serve as CEO for five years. After eight years in the role I believe it is now time to step down to pursue new challenges while I’m still young enough. It has been a great honour to serve as CEO of LR – it is a unique organisation with a history, purpose and values of which I am immensely proud”.

Having joined LR in 1976 from the Royal Navy, Richard worked in the marine, industrial and offshore sectors before moving overseas for 12 years. He returned to the UK in 1995 as Corporate IT Business Manager and held a number of posts before becoming Marine General Manager, London in 2000. Richard moved to the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2004 as Director Ship Asset Management, and re-joined LR in 2006 as EMEA Director. He formally took up the position of CEO on 1 July 2007.

Alastair Marsh said: “I feel very privileged to have been asked by the LR Board to take over from Richard as CEO. I am passionate about LR as an organisation and I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead LR through what promises to be exciting and challenging times ahead for the clients and industries we serve.”

LR’s Chairman, Thomas Thune Andersen, said: “I would like to thank Richard for his dedication, vision, drive and passion in leading LR over the past seven years. I have every confidence that Alastair will uphold LR’s values and build on Richard’s achievements to ensure the continued success of LR”.

Updated: Norwegian Dawn runs aground in Bermuda

Norwegian Cruise Line statement, May 20, 2015:

As of 7:00 am ET on Wednesday, May 20th, Norwegian Dawn docked alongside at Heritage Wharf in Bermuda.

Norwegian's officers, engineers and lead technical teams, along with DNVGL inspectors, representing the ship's classification society and a team of independent divers, are working on a complete assessment of the vessel.

The ship is fully operational and guests are enjoying all onboard amenities and services. In addition, guests have the opportunity go ashore to enjoy the island this morning.

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On Tuesday, May 19th at approximately 5:00 pm ET, Norwegian Dawn had a temporary malfunction of its steering system, causing the ship to sail slightly off course as the ship was departing Bermuda, resulting in the vessel making contact with the sea bed. All guests and crew are safe and there were absolutely no injuries, Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement.

"The ship's officers, engineers and an independent dive team have confirmed the structural integrity of the ship. With high-tide last evening, the ship was floated and moved to a nearby anchorage position where it will remain overnight. The ship will be thoroughly inspected in Bermuda by DNVGL, the ship's classification society, before returning to Boston. The ship is fully operational with the full complement of onboard services available to guests," the company said

 

The ship is sailing on a seven-night Boston to Bermuda cruise with 2,443 passengers and 1,059 crew. We will provide additional updates in the morning when more information becomes available.

Celebrity Eclipse launched the first permanent 'World Class Bar'

Celebrity Cruises and Diageo Global Travel Americas have partnered to launch the world's first permanent "World Class Bar". The striking bar space onboard Celebrity Eclipse provides interactive and luxurious drinks experiences created by World Class-certified mixologists.

Celebrity is renowned for its highly skilled and engaging bartenders, and partnering with the world’s leading premium drinks company provides Celebrity's expert mixologists with exclusive menus that feature cutting-edge cocktails – delivering the ultimate high-end drinks experience for vacationers. World Class Bar debuted on Celebrity Eclipse and will soon be followed by bars onboard Celebrity’s four remaining Solstice Class ships.

"Our award-winning culinary program gives guests the opportunity to indulge in new tastes and experiences during their vacation, and the World Class Bar will do this by offering the very best of mixology, custom-created craft cocktails and expert bartenders," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. "World Class is at the forefront of contemporary cocktail culture, which is a perfect fit for Celebrity as we continue to bring modern luxury to affluent vacationers."

Doug Bagley, Managing Director, Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: "We are delighted to partner with Celebrity Cruises to launch this first, groundbreaking World Class Bar onboard a cruise ship.Celebrity is world-renowned for providing luxurious guest experiences, and this bar will provide exceptional drinking experiences for its guests. It brings to life our World Class ambition to inspire the world to drink better through innovations such as unique ritual serves, and it represents a bold approach to growing the fine-drinking category."

Since 2009, more than 15,000 bartenders have been inspired by and educated in the craft of mixology by World Class, and each year the globally renowned Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year competition showcases some of the best talent in the industry.

Disney Cruise Line returning to New York, Miami and Galveston in 2016

In the fall of 2016, Disney Cruise Line will return to New York for a limited time with sailings to the Bahamas that include a visit to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. New seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami and a return to Galveston, Texas round out the season.

Bookings for the new itineraries open to the public on May 20, 2015.

Return to New York

On Oct. 7, 2016, the Disney Magic will sail from New York on an eight-night Bahamian cruise that includes stops at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay; Nassau, Bahamas; and Port Canaveral, Florida, which is located just one hour from the Walt Disney World Resort.

On Oct. 15, 22 and 29, 2016, the Disney Magic will sail from New York on seven-night cruises that stop at Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral.

Adding to the magic on each of these Bahamian cruises will be the opportunity to visit the Walt Disney World Resort when the ship stops at nearby Port Canaveral. Each guest on these sailings will receive a one-day Walt Disney World Park Hopper ticket and round-trip transportation for the short trip between the ship and the resort.

On Oct. 2, 2016, the Disney Magic will sail from New York on a five-night cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. In these charming Canadian ports, guests can soak in splendid natural vistas, explore historic sites, visit quaint cafes and shops, and browse Canada’s oldest farmer’s market.

New seven-night cruises from Miami

For the first time, Disney Cruise Line guests will be able to enjoy a season of seven-night voyages from Miami to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. On Nov. 20 and Dec. 4, 2016, the Disney Magic will sail from Miami to the Western Caribbean including Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Castaway Cay.

On Nov. 27 and Dec. 11, the Disney Magic will sail to the Eastern Caribbean including Tortola, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay. On Dec. 23, the Disney Magic will sail to Tortola, San Juan and Castaway Cay.

Additional Miami sailings include a four-night Bahamas cruise departing on Nov. 16, a five-night Bahamas cruise departing on Dec. 18, and a six-night Western Caribbean cruise departing on Dec. 30, 2016. Each sailing will include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Return to Galveston

In late 2016, Disney Cruise Line returns to Texas with a line up of seven-night itineraries, including Bahamian sailings that stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. On Nov. 18, Nov. 25, Dec. 9, Dec. 23 and Dec. 30, 2016, the Disney Wonder will sail on a seven-night Bahamian itinerary from Galveston to Key West, Castaway Cay and Nassau.

On Dec. 2, the Disney Wonder will sail on a seven-night Caribbean itinerary from Galveston to Falmouth, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. On Dec. 16, the Disney Wonder will sail from Galveston on a seven-night cruise to Cozumel, Costa Maya and Grand Cayman. Two four-night sailings to Cozumel on Nov. 10 and Nov. 14, round up the sailings from Galveston.

Most of the late 2016 cruises include either Halloween or winter-holiday events that bring special entertainment, activities and décor to the Disney Cruise Line ships.

Viking Star christened in homeport Bergen

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Marking a significant milestone in the arrival of the travel industry's first entirely new cruise line with a brand-new tonnage in a decade, Viking Ocean Cruises (www.vikingoceancruises.com) christened its first ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star on May 17. The ceremony – which took place in Bergen, Norway – occurred in conjunction with a citywide celebration for Norwegian Constitution Day and featured parades, parties and a public concert in the harbor that was attended by approximately 20,000 local residents and visitors.

In addition to the public fanfare, Viking Star's arrival in Bergen is noteworthy because it marks the first time in 10 years that a Norwegian-flagged passenger cruise ship has chosen Norway's second-largest city as its homeport. Furthermore, the mayor of Bergen, Trude Drevland, served as ceremonial godmother and offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for Viking Star – a naval tradition that dates back thousands of years.

"We believe the arrival of Viking Star signals a new era in destination-focused cruising, and I could not be more proud that she will call my favorite city in the world 'home,'" said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. "This is a ship that was built for exploration and designed with our Scandinavian heritage in mind, and our guests will experience it from the moment they step onboard."

Viking Star's christening was the culmination of a maiden voyage that began April 11 when the ship set sail from Istanbul. Over the last five weeks, she made stops in what will be regular ports across the Mediterranean and Western Europe, including Athens, Santorini, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Venice, Barcelona, Seville (Cadiz), Gibraltar, Lisbon, Paris (Rouen) and London. Yesterday in Bergen, Viking Star was positioned in the harbor to serve as the backdrop for a first-of-its kind floating concert. As thousands of attendees gathered along the waterfront last night, they were treated to performances by world-renowned artists and musicians – all of whom have a personal connection to Bergen – including Norwegian soprano Sissel, actor Bjarte Hjelmeland, singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche, acclaimed violinist Charlie Siem and comedy duo Ylvis. Following the concert, christening ceremony, and a fireworks show, Viking Star set sail on a special journey to Oslo and from there will continue on to Copenhagen, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Helsinki and Stockholm.

Destination cruising with Viking Star

Classified by Cruise Critic as a "small ship," Viking Star has a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons and accommodates 930 passengers in 465 staterooms – each with its own veranda. Engineered at a scale that allows direct access into most ports, guests have an easy and efficient embarkation and disembarkation, allowing them more time to spend enjoying each destination. With early reviews already in, Carolyn Spencer Brown of Cruise Critic has called Viking Star a "game changer," and Gene Sloan of USA Today proclaimed "you're going to love Viking Star."

Light-filled with modern Scandinavian décor, Viking Star was designed by experienced nautical architects and engineers, including the same interior design team responsible for the award-winning fleet of Viking Longships. Throughout the ship, details were incorporated to pay homage to Nordic heritage and to help guests immerse themselves in local surroundings. A glass-backed infinity pool off the stern offers unobstructed views; indoor-outdoor spaces offer more options for al fresco dining than any other vessel in its class; huge windows and skylights blur the lines between inside and out; and a wrap-around promenade deck nods to a bygone era of classic ocean liners.

Onboard Viking Star, clean lines, woven textiles and light wood evoke the Viking spirit of discovery and connection to the natural world. A carefully curated collection of Norwegian artwork adorns the walls of the restaurants and public spaces. In the two-deck Explorers' Lounge at the bow of the ship, the décor was inspired by ancient Viking trade routes and navigation methods – imagery of star constellations and astronomical maps are complemented by antique globes, astrolabes and sofas with cozy pelts. In the Spa, the holistic wellness philosophy of Scandinavia is in mind – from the Nordic ritual of the hydrotherapy pool and the first Snow Room at sea, to materials inspired by Scandinavian nature: Swedish limestone and black slate; juniper and teak wood details; recycled and etched opaque glass; and cast iron. In the Wintergarden, blonde wood "trees" stretch their branches up to the glass ceiling, forming a lattice canopy over a serene space where guests can enjoy afternoon tea service. And in the Viking Living Room, a geometric garden was inspired by the wild lichen of Norway's Finse Mountain Plateau.

Viking Ocean Cruises guests enjoy curated itineraries that are designed to best showcase the destinations that they visit, with a complimentary excursion in each port and an onboard cultural enrichment program that includes academic lecturers, local speakers and interactive demonstrations. Viking Star is one of three ocean cruise ships on order; two additional ships, Viking Sea and Viking Sky, are currently under construction.

Booking details

From now through May 31, 2015, Viking is offering U.S. residents 2015 Special Savings and 2016 Early Booking Discounts with 2-for-1 pricing on cruise departures and savings of up to $750 per person on international air. Viking Inclusive Pricing provides unparalleled value—with every cruise fare including a veranda stateroom, shore excursions in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes. Passengers also enjoy many complimentary amenities as part of their fare, including: beer and wine with lunch and dinner service; wi-fi; self-service laundry and 24-hour room service—a value of more than $2,400 per couple for an average cruise.