“Gin is In” as P&O Cruises aims at younger clientele with largest ship

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 05 September 2018 05 September 2018

Iona, the first of two 184,700 gross ton LNG powered ships of P&O Cruises, will feature an on board gin distillery as the UK focused contemporary market unit of Carnival Corporation & plc positions its latest ship towards a younger clientele than its other ships.

Olly Smith, a food and wine expert that the company has been working for several years, said at a presentation in London on 4 September that gin and tonic is the most popular drink sold onboard cruise ships worldwide.

In Britain, gin sales totalled 19 million litres last year and a bar on P&O Cruises’ Britannia already stock 30 brands of gin. The continued popularity of the drink has encouraged the company to establish a distillery on board.

The ship, which will join the P&O Cruises’ fleet in May 2020, will feature a total of 95 conservatory mini suites, which will be located on the promenade deck and on deck 9 above it. These will have a sitting area that can be both indoors and outdoors as P&O Cruises’ research showed that its passengers like to spend time outdoors.

Iona is a sister ship of similar LNG powered vessels of Costa Crociere, Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises and the promenade deck conservatory mini suites occupy a location taken up by Lanai cabins on AIDAnova, the first unit of the class for the German unit of the Carnival group.

On the dining front, restaurants will range from casual to formal and for the first time, all will operate under the Freedom Dining concept, i.e. without fixed seating time throughout the cruise.

The ship will offer inside and outside dining at The Quays, a food market type venue on the starboard side of deck 7, a move that follows contemporary practice on many recent ships and contrasts starkly with the rather rigid separation of indoor and outdoor areas on the 2015 built Britannia, a derivative of Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess class.

A gastro pub will also debut on the new ship and it will feature a dry aging fridge to perfect steaks.

The company has decided to retain one formal night that covers all areas on Iona on each seven night cruise. From May next year, it will drop automatic tips charged on passengers’ accounts at a rate of £7 per night spent on board.

Iona will operate seven night cruises to Norway throughout its initial season in the summer of 2020. The company has found that while the average age of UK cruise passengers was 53 years in 2017, majority of the passengers cruising to Norway last year were under the age of 55 and in the school holiday period, their proportion rose to two in three.

Consequently, shore excursions will offer a range of activities, including kayaking, skiing, mountain biking, cycling, hiking and power boat rides in the fjords.

As the 1995 built Oriana will leave the fleet next summer, the 2000 built Aurora will assume its role as a year-round UK based ship, whereby it will join the 2008 built Ventura. Britannia will continue to spend the winters in the Caribbean with Azura, while Oceana will operate fly cruises in their Mediterranean in the summer and cruises to the Arabian Gulf and India from Dubai in the winter. Arcadia will operate an annual around the world cruise and sail the rest of the year from Southampton.

A travel agent Cruise Business Online spoke to said that the new ship is likely to receive an enthusiastic reception from the public, particularly those new to cruising.

However, P&O Cruises also has a loyal base of customers who prefer the line’s more traditional ships, such as Aurora, which have a very different ambiance onboard. “I think that people do understand that you need to move on with the times,” she said.

UK river cruise market grew by 21% to 210,400 passengers 2017

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 04 September 2018 04 September 2018

The UK river cruise market grew by a robust 21% to 210,400 passengers in 2017 on the previous year, while the number of bed nights increased slightly more, by 24%, CLIA UK & Ireland said in a statement.

European river cruises, which account for almost 90% of bookings. Cruises on the Douro, Russian waterways, Rhine and Danube were the most popular choices.

“However, it was eastern and southern Europen which saw the most growth last year, predominantly on Russian waterways and on the Douro. Looking outside Europe, three rivers accounted for the bulk of passengers in 2017 last year; the Mekong, Nile and Irrawaddy. Other non-European rivers experiencing rising passenger numbers in 2017 were the Ganges and Brahmaputra,” said Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Irelannd Director.

The rapid growth rate of the river cruise business outpaced the low single digit expansion of the ocean cruise market, which reached 1.95 million passengers last year.

Xiamen Shipbuilding cuts the steel for Viking Line newbuild

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 03 September 2018 03 September 2018

Today, on 3 September, the production of Viking Line’s new passenger cruise ship started at the Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd. (XSI) shipyard in China. The first steel plates were cut in the traditional Steel Cutting ceremony. The new vessel will be one of the most environmental cruise ferries in the world. The project has involved extensive engineering and development work with the intention to create a unique new-generation passenger ship. The collaborative project has engaged several suppliers in Finland and Europe. The vessel will be launched for operation in early 2021 on the Turku–Åland–Stockholm route.

The new vessel is designed with a focus on providing open and unobstructed views of the unique archipelago. Large panoramic windows will enable passengers to experience the archipelago in a completely new way.

“We want to provide our guests with unprecedented views of the archipelago. Our company’s roots are in the archipelago, and we wish this fact to be reflected in our activities. On the new ship, the views are unobstructed, and one can experience the overall presence of the sea. To protect our unique marine environment, we utilise innovative technologies. Tomorrow’s passenger experiences will incorporate an emphasis on environmental factors and comfort," explains Jan Hanses, President and CEO of Viking Line.

An architectural company based in Sweden, Koncept Stockholm is responsible for the interior design of the new vessel. Koncept Stockholm stood out from among several renowned architectural companies with plans that combine Scandinavian lightness and playfulness in an attractive way. With the help of these architects, Viking Line strives to enhance onboard travel experiences for the satisfaction of cruise passengers, families with children and conference guests alike, while also meeting the demands of freight transport. The project has also taken into consideration international passengers, who may be experiencing the archipelago for the first time in their lives.

The new 63,000 gross ton and 922-cabin vessel is larger than Viking Grace, the pioneer in environmental aspects and the first LNG-powered large passenger ship in the world, but it is calculated to consume up to 10 per cent less fuel. Optimised energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly solutions have been focal points for the project, and the new vessel will be among the most energy efficient ships in the world.

P&O Cruises to offer repeating itineraries in summer 2020

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 03 September 2018 03 September 2018

P&O Cruises, the UK focused contemporary market unit in the Carnival Corporation & plc group, has released its summer 2020 programme featuring 160 cruises including Iona’s maiden season in the Norwegian fjords.

“Summer deployment now includes repeating itineraries, giving guests the flexibility to travel to the destination at a time which suits them best,” the company said in a statement.

“Iona’s maiden season in the Norwegian fjords is a highlight of the company’s 2020 brochure, just released, which also includes new itineraries in the Mediterranean, Norway and Iceland, North America and Canada and the British Isles, as well as a selection of short breaks,” P&O Cruises said..

Key features include:

• The launch of Iona’s itineraries in the Norwegian fjords from May to September 2020.
• An exciting 30-night itinerary to Canada and North America on Arcadia in September 2020, which includes an overnight call in Boston as well as three full days in New York.
• Arcadia’s Northern Lights cruise in early October 2020.
• Aurora’s sole Iceland cruise in summer 2020, including an overnight call in Reykjavik, as well as calls to Isafjördur and Akureyri.
• Discounted flat rates for supplementary adults, children and infants on all P&O Cruises summer 2020 holidays.

Pre-registration opens on Monday September 3, 2018 for all cruises. Iona will open for sale exclusively for Top Tier Peninsular Club members from September 10, 2018 before going on general sale from September 12, 2018 The remaining Summer 2020 programme will go on sale to Top Tier Peninsular Club members from September 17, 2018 and on general sale from September 19, 2018.

P&O Cruises senior vice president, Paul Ludlow, said in the statement: “This is the year for those who have never before considered a cruise to see the broadest range of stunning ports of call and exclusive dining experiences. The brochure also features Iona’s inaugural season in the Norwegian fjords, a destination that should only be experienced by sea to appreciate fully the spectacular landscape and activities.