MSC Divina to sail again year-round from Miami
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 23 April 2015 23 April 2015
MSC Cruises, the world’s fourth largest cruise line and largest privately-owned cruise company, announced that when MSC Divina – one of the cruise line’s most ultra-modern and elegant ships – returns from her season in the Mediterranean, she will once again sail year-round from Miami to the Caribbean starting November 2015.
"North America is a key market for MSC Cruises as the company works to double its capacity by 2022," said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises. "Since the arrival of MSC Divina in Miami in November 2013, we’ve seen significant growth in the market and strong demand by consumers and travel agents for MSC Divina to sail from North America year-round. We’re thrilled to be able to meet this demand, providing more opportunity for North American guests to enjoy the unique ‘Mediterranean Style Cruise’ experience that only MSC Cruises can offer."
MSC Divina’s already published November 2015 through April 2016 itineraries will remain unchanged. New itineraries from April 2016 through March 2017 will rotate between Eastern and Western Caribbean routes and include stops in St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Mexico, and the Bahamas.
A testament to the company’s long-term commitment to North America, MSC Cruises’ also recently announced that MSC Seaside, set to debut in November 2017, will sail year-round from Miami to the Caribbean.
"MSC Cruises has received extremely positive ratings from travel agents and guests, who rave about the beauty of our Mediterranean-inspired décor, quality of international cuisine, and world-class, standing-ovation quality entertainment," said Rick Sasso, President of MSC Cruises USA. "Keeping MSC Divina in North America year-round will help us expose even more travel agents and consumers to the MSC Cruises’ brand as well as build excitement for the arrival of MSC Seaside in 2017."
"PortMiami welcomed MSC Cruises for the first time in November 2013 with MSC Divina," said PortMiami Director and CEO Juan M. Kuryla. "MSC Divina is among the most modern and elegant ships in the industry today. We are extremely proud to welcome her back home for year-round sailings starting November 2015 and are excited for MSC Seaside to join her at PortMiami a few years later."
In addition, MSC Cruises’ Miami-based operations will benefit from a newly renovated and expanded dedicated berth and terminal at PortMiami.
Booking information and special launch promotion
April 2016 through March 2017 sailings on MSC Divina will open for booking on Friday, May 1. As a special launch promotion, MSC Cruises will offer consumers a value-added offer that includes shipboard credit, a beverage package and a WiFi package, depending on the category of stateroom booked.
The line will also offer 18 percent flat commission for group bookings, along with complimentary stateroom upgrades and shipboard credit for guests in the group.
Summer 2016 in the Mediterranean
Due to the success of MSC Divina in the Mediterranean in summer 2015 and to meet strong demand for the unique MSC Cruises’ product in the region, MSC has created a highly appealing Mediterranean itinerary on the same class, 3,274 passenger, MSC Fantasia. She will sail Mediterranean cruises with seven ports in seven days from Genoa. This itinerary includes a visit to one of the French Riviera’s most iconic destination – Cannes – followed by a call to Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, two iconic destinations in the Med. From Barcelona, MSC Fantasia will set sail towards one of France’s most beautiful islands and a new destination on this itinerary: Corsica and the city of Ajaccio. The next call will offer MSC Cruises’ guests the chance to visit Pompeii and see Mount Vesuvius for themselves, with a call in Naples, followed by a unique opportunity to see Cinque Terre or Florence and Tuscany through a call in La Spezia, before returning to Genoa.
In addition, to make it even easier to plan a vacation in the Mediterranean, MSC Cruises will once again offer its popular all inclusive fly & cruise packages to Barcelona for summer 2016.
MSC Cruises, which has grown by 800 percent in capacity since 2004, carried 1.67 million guests and achieved strong financial results in 2014, with a turnover of $1.5 billion. In addition, the company is forecasting an additional 10 percent growth in 2015.
Costa Cruises' first CostaClub cruise of 2015 departs Savona April 24 on Costa neoRomantica
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 23 April 2015 23 April 2015
Costa neoRomantica is scheduled to depart Savona, Italy, tomorrow April 24, on an incredible 12-day CostaClub cruise, dedicated to the Italian line's most loyal guests. CostaClub members aboard the 56,000-ton Costa neoCollection ship will discover the treasures of Italy and Greece in Costa's popular "slow-cruising" style while savoring "Italy's Finest" food, music and entertainment.
The 1,500 guests onboard will be treated to surprises and exclusive events, including a live concert by Ricchi e Poveri, a popular Italian group known for songs "Se m’innamoro," "Sará perché ti amo" and "Che Sará."
Guests also will enjoy special activities including singing, dancing, elegant cocktail parties, evening soirees and a Great Italian Buffet Festival highlighting Italy's culinary traditions.
Costa neoRomantica is slated to call at Naples and Trapani, Italy; Kalamata, Navplion, Volos and Athens, Greece; and Marseille, France.
Costa Cruises will offer a second CostaClub cruise departing from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Aug. 23, 2015, aboard the 102,600-ton Costa Fortuna. The nine-day voyage will take guests to some of the most charming destinations in northern Europe with calls at Stavanger, Åndalsnes, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Olden, Flåm and Bergen, Norway. Following the itinerary's "Bel Canto" theme, Cecilia Gasdia, an Italian soprano who has performed in some of the world's most famous theaters, will be the guest of honor. Renowned orchestra leaders and conductors, including Franco Zeffirelli, Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti and Zubin Mehta also will perform onboard.
Viking Line cruise ferry Mariella back in service after refit
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 23 April 2015 23 April 2015
Viking Line’s cruise ferry Mariella is returning to service today after two weeks of dry docking and refit. “The vessel, which turns 30 this year, underwent a thorough renovation. This included modernisation of cabins, restaurants and the nightclub to meet the needs of today’s consumers,” the Finnish company said in a statement
During Mariella’s dry docking in Landskrona, Sweden, more than a hundred cabins received a facelift. “Passengers can now book a completely new Comfort Class cabin. The 72 Comfort Class cabins offer pleasant décor, a double bed and a wireless network. In addition, all of the vessel’s luxury cabins have been modernized,” Viking Line said.
More than one million people per year sail the Helsinki (Finland)–Stockholm (Sweden) route on Mariella and its running mate, the 1994 built Gabriella.
“The cheapest cabin is no longer necessarily enough. Instead, people want a bit of luxury during their voyage. Traditional services such as playroom ball pools and buffet meals remain popular, but in addition people would like new kinds of experiences,” says Kaj Takolander, Viking Line’s Head of Sales and Marketing in Finland and the Baltics.
The wishes of many Mariella passengers are now being realised with the opening of a new restaurant called Plate – Social Dining. “The restaurant will focus on socialising in industrially inspired surroundings. Another new restaurant is Ocean Grill, where chefs will prepare grilled dishes in an open kitchen before the eyes of customers,” Viking Line continued.
The conference facilities on board Mariella have been expanded as part of the renovation. In addition to the existing auditorium seating 300, meeting capacity has been expanded with a conference room for 40 people. This room offers a sea view and is decorated with furniture created by Swedish designer Alexander Lervik.
Club Mar, the vessel’s nightclub, has been modernised in many ways − from décor to sound engineering − and now seats 430 guests. As for play areas, we now offer the youngest family members the PS4 Lounge and the KIDS playroom.
During 2015, Viking Line has invested extensively in on-board comfort. Besides modernizing the Mariella, the company has also renovated the Viking XPRS, which sails on the Helsinki–Tallinn (Estonia) route, including an expansion of the services on that vessel. In addition, several of Gabriella's family cabins (B2L) have been renovated.
Norwegian Sky goes all-inclusive
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 23 April 2015 23 April 2015
Norwegian Cruise Line announced yesterday that beginning January 2016 all guests sailing from Miami aboard Norwegian Sky will enjoy an even more all-inclusive cruise experience with dining, entertainment and now free unlimited beer, wine and premium spirits included. Whether they choose white or red, shaken or stirred, on the rocks or straight up, Norwegian Sky guests will revel in the freedom and flexibility of the most inclusive contemporary cruise vacation at sea.
"We're taking Freestyle Cruising to the next level to provide our guests with an experience unmatched by any other contemporary cruise line," said Andy Stuart, president and chief operating officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. "Norwegian Sky guests will have the freedom to enjoy a cruise vacation the way they desire-whether it's lounging by the pool with a margarita, having a laugh at a comedy show, catching up on their favorite book on their balcony, or indulging in fine dining- all included in their cruise fare."
Guests will enjoy for free a variety of unlimited premium spirits, innovative cocktails curated by the award-winning mixologists from Miami's Bar Lab, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer up to $11 aboard Norwegian Sky in 2016 and beyond*. Guests 3 to 20 years of age will enjoy unlimited sodas and juice throughout their cruise.
Norwegian Sky sails port-packed three- and four-day roundtrip cruises from Miami to the Bahamas year-round. The new all-inclusive experience will also provide guests with the freedom to enjoy unlimited premium beverages while soaking up the sun on Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas.
In addition to the wide variety of inclusive offerings onboard, Norwegian Sky guests also have the option to indulge in a variety of extra onboard experiences such as specialty restaurants and pampering Mandara Spa treatments. While in port, Norwegian Sky guests can also opt to choose from a wide array of shore excursions offering leisure, adventure and cultural experiences including swimming with dolphins, historical island tours, beach time and more.
Norwegian Sky offers a broad selection of staterooms options including spacious suites and penthouses that accommodate up to five guests, balcony staterooms, oceanview staterooms and moderately priced inside staterooms designed with families in mind to accommodate up to four guests. The ship features 13 dining options, 12 bars and lounges, two pools, five hot tubs, an onboard spa, casino and children's programming.
TUI Cruises to offer two golf cruises in 2016
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 23 April 2015 23 April 2015
TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium cruise line, said it will offer two golf themed cruises next year.
The first one of them will take place on Mein Schiff 4, which has just sailed on its first sea trials ahead of delivery from Meyer Turku Shipyard next month, and will take passengers around the British Isles from 23 August to 03 September. Golfers will have the chance to play at courses in Scotland, Ireland and England, including ones in the Scottish highlands and one in Falmouth on England's south coast.
The second cruise with the same theme will sail on Mein Schiff 2 from 10 to 20 November. The cruise will depart in Palma de Mallorca and take in calls at Gibraltar, Cadiz, Agadir, Lanzarot e and La Gomera to Gran Canaria. Club Golf du Soleil in Agadir and Tecna Golf in Lanzarote are among the venues on offer for players of the game on this cruise.
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