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Genting Cruise Lines makes inaugural sailing of World Dream from Shenzhen homeport

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 September 2018 19 September 2018

Genting Cruise Lines celebrated the inaugural sailing of World Dream, Dream Cruises’ German-built, premium megaship, from the Shekou Cruise Homeport in Shenzhen on Tuesday, 18 September, embarking on a journey to scenic destinations in Vietnam. This new deployment will provide guests from the Pearl River Delta region with a convenient and hassle-free travel option right at their doorstep.

Over the next two months, World Dream will set sail on multiple cruises from Shenzhen, including 2-night weekend escapes with departures on September 21 and November 23, offering guests a staycation at sea, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, as well as a 5-night cruise departing on November 18 to Danang and Halong Bay to explore the many splendours of Vietnam.

“With the introduction of Shenzhen as a homeport, Dream Cruises has strategically extended its deployment to three major cities within the Greater Pearl River Delta Bay Area,” said Thatcher Brown, President of Dream Cruises. “Going forward, we will continue to explore more opportunities for inter-city collaborations involving drive, rail and fly-cruise to propel the development of the South China cruise market to the next level. On behalf of our officers, crew and colleagues, we are pleased to celebrate the inaugural call of World Dream to Shenzhen. As Asia’s Global Cruise Line, we are committed to delivering inspirational vacations at sea, offering value, quality and unique destination experiences to our partners and guests from Shenzhen.”

Genting Cruise Lines, through Star Cruises, was the first-ever international cruise line to homeport in Shenzhen upon the opening of the Shekou Cruise Homeport with SuperStar Virgo’s deployment from November 2016 to March 2017 covering 27 voyages during this period. A modern international cruise centre located in Southern China that integrates access to “sea, air, land and railway”, Shekou Cruise Homeport also first welcomed Dream Cruises in June this year when Genting Dream made her inaugural visit during the widely acclaimed Cruise Carnival of Shenzhen.

“The homeport deployment of World Dream in Shekou brings forth access to a comprehensive array of on-board experiences for the general public, through which the concept of cruise travel will gain wider recognition and awareness, resulting in a win-win situation for the people of Shenzhen and Dream Cruises,” said Wu Wei, Shekou Cruise Home Port General Manager. “Over the past two years, we have witnessed tremendous growth of cruise tourism in Shenzhen, which has become one of the leading port cities in the country with close to 490,000 outbound travelers to date. Starting with Shekou Cruise Homeport, we will create an innovative business model with all-in-one “ship, port, city, tourism, shopping, leisure” including shipping, port, commercial property, supporting infrastructure, international logistics transhipment, maritime works repairs, tourism, specialty duty free, and financial services etc. in one ecosystem. This will be the replicable 4.0 cruise homeport template with the ultimate aim of reaching international free ports.”

Celebrity Reflection wins French Riviera Cruise Club green award

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 September 2018 19 September 2018

During a ceremony held on Wednesday the 12 September, celebrating the joint stopover of two ships from the Celebrity Cruises company in Villefranche, the cruise ship Celebrity Reflection was awarded the Green Award 2017 by the French Riviera Cruise Club (FRCC), the organisation said in a statement.

This award was created in 2010 at the initiative of the FRCC and its partners to reward any cruise ship calling in at Alpes-Maritimes ports (Cannes, Antibes, Nice and Villefranche) for its sound approach to sustainable development.

The selection of the winner of the Green Award 2017 is based on “environmental audits” conducted by port management teams of CCI Nice Côte d’Azur (relying on quayside monitoring) of all ships calling in at least four times per year in one of the four ports.

The selected analysis criteria include noise, exhaust fumes, smells associated with the ship’s stopover, but also the transport of cruise passengers by tender and by bus, with the emphasis being placed on non-motorised mobility (bicycles, electric bicycles).

Taking into account quality of life and environmental aspects has always been at the heart of our approach as port managers hosting cruise stopovers.

Our approach is guided by an environmental and global approach to cruise operations, from the ship to the transport of passengers, including the stopover at the port.

This environmental commitment has also driven the FRCC to develop green products for cruise passengers calling in at the ports of our department: “Green Tours” are on offer at each one of the harbours, allowing passengers to discover the region in an environmentally-friendly manner. Depending on the port of call, thematic excursions are suggested through apps, an internet site, and flyers available at the ferry terminal. This work is conducted in partnership with the Tourism Offices of the cruise’s different ports of call and the Regional Tourism Committee.

Since 2008, the port of Nice-Villefranche Santé is ISO 14001-certified for its environmental management system. This certification relates to all of its operations (including cruises) in the following areas:

Monitoring of water quality in the port (six campaigns conducted throughout the year).

Development and testing of an innovating “environmental monitoring” tool to monitor weather conditions, environmental noise levels and air quality, in partnership with the city of Nice Côte d’Azur (MNCA) and ATMOSUD.

Organising waste removal for all ships calling in at the port. Cruises/Ferries/Cargo ships/Yachts/Leisure boats.

“Zero Discharge” approach with dumping points throughout the waste water network in commercial harbours or with approved waste water pumping service providers.

Soft mobility services provided to port users, with the availability of electric bicycles (with solar charging).

Awareness raising and information: operations throughout the year with, for instance, the Port Education programme for school children or Green Flag for pleasure boaters, etc.

The CCI Nice Côte d’Azur, operator of the port of Nice and the ferry terminal of Villefranche Santé, is highly aware of the economic benefits that these stopovers generate for small local business owners in the ports of call of these cruises.

“Sensation Stopovers” are also regularly organised with various professionals and partners to guide individual passengers towards partner business owners.

Saga Cruises to go all inclusive in 2020

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 September 2018 19 September 2018

Saga Cruises, the British upscale niche cruise line in the Saga plc group, said it would go all inclusive in 2020.

Nigel Blanks, COO, said in a statement: “The decision to go all-inclusive in 2020 had been made to distance ourselves further from the competition and mass cruise market.”

“I firmly believe this will not only sit very well alongside our ‘Boutique Cruising’ proposition but will reaffirm our position as Britain’s niche luxury cruise operator,” he pointed out.

The company’s first newbuilding, Spurit of Discovery is due to enter service next year and the second one in 2020.

Saga to name Spirit of Discovery in Port of Dover

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 September 2018 19 September 2018

Saga has today announced that the official naming ceremony of Saga Cruises’ first new-build ship Spirit of Discovery will be held at the Port of Dover on July 5, 2019 – the first ship to be named at Dover following the completion of stages 1& 2 of the £250m redevelopment of Dover Western Docks.

“As the place that Saga’s first cruise ship set sail from more than 20 years ago, Dover was ‘the natural choice”, revealed chief operating officer Nigel Blanks, in London, on 18th September at an exclusive event with Jools Holland – the face of The Club by Jools’ on board Spirit of Discovery, the only small ship currently being built for a British Market.

“With Saga’s Group headquarters based in Kent, we felt it only right that we name our first brand new, purpose-built cruise ship in Kent and what better way to do that than with the iconic White Cliffs of Dover as a backdrop. Spirit of Discovery will be the first cruise ship to be named in the port for more than a decade and the first following the regeneration of the Western Docks. We are already planning a few surprises, and will no doubt add a few more before next year, so save the date, as we christen the first of our new-build fleet” Blanks added.

Spirit of Discovery’s maiden voyage will sail from Dover on July 10, 2019. The 999-guest luxury boutique ship will circumnavigate the British Isles.

“We are really excited about her first cruise as it’s a great way to show-off our first new boutique cruise-ship to the British market as we call in to iconic ports such as Newcastle, Edinburgh, Belfast and Liverpool,” said Blanks.

The inaugural cruise has already sold out and most other 2019 itineraries are well ahead of expectations with the 109 single cabins proving extremely popular. Spirit of Discovery’s destinations throughout summer 2019 include Spain, Scandinavia and the Baltic, as well as a four-night mini-cruise to Holland, Germany and Belgium.

In addition, Saga recently announced the company’s strategic decision to move to all-inclusive cruising as standard from 2020. Nigel Blanks said “the decision to go all-inclusive in 2020 had been made to distance ourselves further from the competition and mass cruise market”. He said: “I firmly believe this will not only sit very well alongside our ‘Boutique Cruising’ proposition but will reaffirm our position as Britain’s niche luxury cruise operator’.

Port of Dover Head of Cruise, Sonia Limbrick said: “It is a great honour, and we are thrilled that Dover Cruise has been chosen as the venue for the momentous naming ceremony of Saga’s new ship Spirit of Discovery.

“Having first sailed from Dover back in 1997 with the Saga Rose, their magnificent cruise ships have been a welcome feature of the historic Western Docks for over 20 years. With our exciting £250m redevelopment well underway, ‘Dover Western Docks Revival’ will offer a uniquely enhanced experience to the ship when she calls in 2019 and we are greatly looking forward to greeting her in Dover.”

Viking Jupiter naming ceremony to conclude Nor-Shipping 2019

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 September 2018 17 September 2018

Nor-Shipping and Viking Cruises are promising visitors to Oslo a night to remember on 6 June 2019, with a naming ceremony party for Viking Jupiter, the event irganisation said in a statement.

The 47,800 gt Fincantieri built vessel, the latest addition to Viking’s growing fleet, will be celebrated with a public concert in front of Oslo’s imposing town hall, overlooking the city’s bustling harbour. The concert, which will be complimentary for all, will feature a range of as yet unnamed international and Norwegian stars.

Nor-Shipping 2019 will run from 4 to 7 June across a series of venues in Lillestrøm and Oslo.

“The naming ceremony will act as the highlight of the traditional Thursday evening Closing Party, where visitors from across the maritime and ocean industry worlds gather to mix, network and wind down after a busy week of exhibiting, conferences and business meetings,” Nor-Shipping said.