One off gain lifted Viking Line in 2014, reported to plan ship order
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 20 February 2015 20 February 2015
A one off financial gain helped Viking Line, the Finnish cruise ferry operator, to increase its net profit in the final quarter and full year 2014, the company said in a statement. A newbuilding order is on the cards to enter service within the next five year, said Jan Hanses, its managing director, in a media report.
Group net profit rose €27.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 from €6.7 million a year earlier, helped by a €28.1 million non-recurring financial gain. Revenues fell slightly, to €126.3 million from €129.7 million.
For the full year 2014, the group's net profit rose to €29.7 million from €27.1 million, again lifted by the financial gain. Revenues decreased to €527.4 million from €549.4 million, the company said in the statement.
"The number of passengers on Viking Line’s vessels last year increased by 76,496 to 6,610,146 (6,533,650). This was an all-time record. The Helsinki (Finland) – Tallinn (Estonia) route accounted for the largest increase, thanks to the expanded service offered last summer," Viking Line said.
Cargo volume continued to increase during 2014. The number of cargo units carried rose by 8.0% to 129,255, compared to 119,704 the previous year.
"The decrease in consolidated sales is primarily explained by the prevailing pressure on prices in today’s tough competitive situation, combined with falling volume early in 2014 and an economic downturn in Finland that affects the pattern of consumption. Overall, this has had a negative impact on net sales revenue per passenger," Viking line said.
During 2015 Gabriella and Mariella will again provide expanded summer service to Tallinn according to a concept similar to the preceding year. "These vessels will thus – in addition to serving their regular Helsinki–Stockholm routes – also temporarily serve the Helsinki–Tallinn route. Competition in Viking Line’s service area implies continued pressure on both prices and volume," the company said.
"The economic downturn in Finland is another uncertainty factor, but recent bunker price developments are currently having a favourable effect on earnings. The overall assessment of the Board of Directors is that in 2015, operating income will improve compared to operating income in 2014, but future bunker price developments represent a significant uncertainty factor," the company said. EBIT in 2014 amounted to €32.3 million," Viking Line commented.
Jan Hanses, the company's managing director, told the Turun Sanomat daily that the company is planning to place an order for a newbuilding that should enter service within five years or no, which would mean placing the order in 2016 or 2017. "It is, of course, possible that it could happen sooner than that," he was quoted by the paper as saying.
Oceania Cruises announces new innovative classes for Culinary Center
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 19 February 2015 19 February 2015
Oceania Cruises will expand its innovative culinary curriculum with 20 new classes for the Culinary Center, including a special two-day culinary immersion program, a session focused on the life and legacy of Chef Jacques Pépin and additions to the Gourmet Explorer Series that showcases cooking styles from a variety of international destinations. Oceania Cruises is widely recognized for its groundbreaking culinary enrichment offerings, including the introduction of the first-ever Culinary Center at sea equipped with individual induction cook top work stations.
The new programs were developed by longtime Director of Culinary Enrichment, Chef Kathryn Kelly, and will debut on Marina and Riviera starting in April 2015.
“In our Culinary Center, guests cook under the instruction of faculty members who are CIA graduates and have apprenticed under a who’s who of renowned chefs,” shares Kelly. “We continue to add new topics to keep things fresh for past guests and this year we’re proud to honor our consummate teacher, Jacques Pepin, with a special class.”
Culinary Center Immersion Program
In response to guest requests, the Oceania Cruises Culinary Center will offer a special Culinary School Immersion Program on select itineraries. The curriculum is designed to improve the skills of a home chef by focusing on the essential techniques for creating basic sauces, grilling, preparing vegetables and other culinary skills. The in-depth instruction is spread over a morning and afternoon session and extends for two days, or four sessions in total.
The highlight of the culinary immersion program is a friendly competition where teams of four guests are paired together to prepare a dish that is judged by the faculty and executives from the shipboard culinary team. All participants receive a special certificate at the end of the program, while the winning team can claim culinary bragging rights for the remainder of the cruise.
Celebrate Jacques Pépin
In collaboration with Chef Pépin, Oceania Cruises is creating an exclusive class that includes recipes from Jacques’ cookbooks and family favorites. The new class “La Technique: A Celebration of Jacques Pépin’s 80th Birthday” covers techniques written in his early book “La Technique,” which remains an indispensable source of culinary knowledge for modern chefs, as well as “Essential Pépin,” a collection of over 700 technique-based favorite recipes that stretches over his six decades in the kitchen. Guests will learn five basic techniques around eggs, proteins, vegetables, sauces and desserts. At the conclusion of each class, guests pose for a photo that will be incorporated into a special birthday card for Chef Pépin. Throughout the spring, summer and fall, these photos along with tales from guests who experienced the class will also be posted on the Oceania Cruises blog.
New Regional Classes
With an abundance of guests seeking new educational epicurean experiences, the Culinary Center is introducing 20 new classes as part of its Gourmet Explorer Series. These classes will showcase regional cuisine from Morocco, Peru, the Pacific Northwest and more. The curriculum of the Culinary Center continues to appeal to a wide range of tastes and culinary skill levels by incorporating techniques inspired by the cultures and regions the ship visits with classes such as Planet Veggie, Viva Tapas, At Home in Sicily, Rock Your Wok, What Mermaids Know, Global Gourmet and the Pizza Master Class.
Depending on the itinerary, classes range from 45 minutes to three hours.
MSC Cruises creates Chief Communications Officer post
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 17 February 2015 17 February 2015
MSC Cruises, the world’s fourth largest cruise line and market leader in the Mediterranean, has further strengthened its Geneva-based global management team with the appointment of Luca Biondolillo to the newly created role of Chief Communications Officer, the company said in a statement.Biondolillo, 48, will join the business on March 2 2015 and report to chief executive Gianni Onorato. Onorato said: “Luca joins us at a crucial time in our corporate development as we pursue a €5 billion fleet enlargement plan to double our current capacity by 2022.
“2014 was another standout year for MSC Cruises, and it is within this context that I’m pleased to welcome Luca to the Company’s senior executive structure. His profile fits MSC extremely well, since he has worked extensively with both private and publicly-traded, family-controlled multinational corporations. His communication leadership will be key to ensuring that we continue to build upon a reputation earned through 300 years of seafaring.”
Having served most recently as Head of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs for Benetton Group, the parent company of United Colours of Benetton and other leading global fashion brands, Biondolillo has nearly 20 years’ experience in high-level corporate, financial and sustainability communications in multicultural global settings. He is also Vice-President of the Board of the Brussels-based European Association of Communication Directors (EACD).
Carnival Freedom's arrival in Galveston marked with $100,000 donation to Operation Homefront and shipboard concert by Martina McBride
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 16 February 2015 16 February 2015
Carnival Cruise Line, Texas’ number-one cruise operator, marked the arrival of Carnival Freedom at its new year-round homeport of Galveston on Saturday, Feb. 14, with a celebration honoring U.S. military personnel and their families.
In partnership with Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that supports military families, service members and their families were treated to an overnight event featuring a variety of daytime activities, including an exclusive outdoor Carnival LIVE performance by country music superstar Martina McBride, along with dinner and a full evening of entertainment, all compliments of Carnival.
Prior to McBride’s concert, Carnival presented a check in the amount of $100,000 to Operation Homefront.
“We’re excited to kick off Carnival Freedom’s year-round deployment from Galveston with a donation to an organization that touches so many lives and a special event for the brave men and women who serve our country,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Martina McBride put on a fantastic show and we were thrilled to honor these deserving military families and provide them with an incredible day and night to remember.”
Carnival Freedom kicked off year-round departures from Galveston yesterday with a special six-day voyage to Mexico and will launch four- to seven-day cruises calling at ports throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida beginning Feb. 21. Carnival Freedom joins Carnival Triumph and Carnival Magic in Galveston. Together these three ships will carry more than 600,000 passengers annually from Texas — more than any other cruise line.
McBride, a 14-time GRAMMY® nominee, performed on Carnival Freedom’s upper deck in the first Carnival LIVE show staged outdoors. It was her second time participating in the Carnival LIVE concert series that offers guests the best live music at sea from popular acts spanning a variety of musical genres.
“Performing for these military families was an incredible honor. And everyone really enjoyed the outdoor setting on the ship’s deck,” said McBride. “I hope that everyone who was there had a special Valentine’s Day experience; I’m so glad I was asked to be part of it.”
“We’re thrilled Carnival Cruise Line honored these service members and their families by providing a truly memorable day and evening of onboard fun and exciting activities,” said Tim Farrell, chief operating officer for Operation Homefront. “In that spirit, we're also grateful for Carnival Cruise Line’s generous gift of $100,000, which will help military families here in Texas and throughout the country.”
Carnival Freedom recently underwent a $70 million makeover that added an array of Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancements, and attendees at Saturday’s event had full access to the ship’s many on-board innovations, including new family entertainment programming such as Seuss at Sea and Camp Ocean featuring 200 marine-themed activities.
The renovation also included complimentary eateries such as BlueIguana Cantina, and Guy’s Burger Joint, developed in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri, along with exciting new bar concepts BlueIguana Tequila Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar and the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub. Four new high-tech Playlist Productions shows were added, as well.
Italian unions, politicians concerned over future of Costa in Genoa
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
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- Published: 14 February 2015 14 February 2015
Italian trade union leaders and politicans have raised concerns over the future of Costa Crociere, the Genoa based part of Carnival Corp & plc, after it had decided to relocate its marine operations to Hamburg.
"What worries us is that they are transferring the heart of the company to another country, and that will lead to a progressive emptying out of headquarters," Mauro Scognamillo, leader of the Fit-Cisl union, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency..
After a meeting, Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Crociere, reassured the Italian government that "Italy remains a market with a huge potential." Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi said Costa would present to the government an industrial plan that confirms Genoa as a strategic asset, AP reported .
On 29 January, Costa Crociere unveiled establishment of a central Marine Operations Center in Hamburg, Germany. Under the name Carnival Maritime, Costa Group is creating, with the support of Lufthansa Technik, a highly modern, digitalised unit for the operation of its fleet, currently numbering 25 ships. Carnival Maritime will be led by Jens Lassen, current Senior Vice President Marine Operations AIDA Cruises, who will also report directly to the CEO of Costa Group.
"The Hamburg location offers us excellent access to technology and expertise in the maritime sector. We are certain that the close cooperation with Lufthansa Technik will enable us to transfer airline know-how to improve continuously the quality of our fleet’s operations,” Thamm said in a statement.
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