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Seabourn names Josh Leibowitz new President

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 June 2020 25 June 2020

Seabourn announced today that Josh Leibowitz has been named president, effective immediately.

Reporting to Stein Kruse, Group CEO of Holland America Group and Carnival UK, Leibowitz’s responsibilities will include oversight of all aspects of the ultra-luxury brand’s operations, including revenue management, deployment and itinerary planning, hotel operations, and sales and marketing.

"We are excited to welcome Josh into this new role on our senior leadership team, where he will bring extensive experience and knowledge that will further strengthen Seabourn’s position in the market,” said Kruse. "I am confident that Josh will help carry Seabourn through the challenges currently facing the travel industry to build on its longstanding reputation as an ultra-luxury travel brand unlike any other, supported by a team of people whose everyday focus is on delivering the best.”

“I’m excited to join the community of loyal Seabourn guests, our passionate crew, and the travel advisors that come together to deliver extraordinary Seabourn experiences,” Leibowitz said. “Our main priority will be working together as we develop plans to resume operations and welcome our past and future guests onboard to create lasting travel memories.”

Leibowitz joined Carnival Corporation & plc in 2013 as chief strategy officer and was also named senior vice president, Cunard North America in December 2016.

Prior to joining Carnival Corporation & plc, he served as managing partner of the Miami office of the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., and as a leader in the firm’s work in advanced analytics and sales and marketing.

Saga Cruises says cruise customer loyalty has been exceptional

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 June 2020 22 June 2020

Saga plc, the UK based company that offers services that range from insurance to cruise and other travel to those over the age of 50, said the loyalty of its cruise customers has been exceptional and it should have protocols ready for it to resume cruising by the end of August.

“For Cruise, customer loyalty has been exceptional. Advance receipts at the end of May were £43 million, which is £5 million lower than at the end of March but well ahead of expectations,” the company said in a trading statement.

It has retained over 70% of advance receipts on cancelled cruise departures, and new bookings for next year have been very positive.

“The sale of the Saga Sapphire was completed on 12 June on terms broadly in line with previous expectations and the latest indication for the Spirit of Adventure is that she will be delivered by the end of October,” the company added.

Saga said it has been working with industry bodies and the Government to establish operational practices that would enable a return of operations in both tour and cruise businesses as the current restrictions are lifted. “The Group's new mid-sized ships are ideally placed to offer 'safe sailing' and all these measures will be in place by the end of August,” it pointed out.

Five ships operated by CMV detained in UK

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 June 2020 22 June 2020

Five ships commercially operated –but not owned or managed - by Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), the destination focused UK based cruise line, have been detained in two ports in the UK on crew welfare grounds.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued detentins to Astoria, Astor, Columbus and Vasco da Gama that are laid up in Tilbury near London and Marco Polo which is in Bristol. Magellan, the sixth ship of the company, is not affected.

The events started to unfold at the end of last week as Astoria was about to leave Tilbury for Portugal. Many crew members on the vessel and the other four ships complained thst they jhave not been able to return home to India, although the contracts of many of them had expired.

CMV operates its fleet on time charter from Global Cruise Lines Ltd. (GCL), which is based in Athens. As the manager of the ships, GCL is also responsible for crewing

MCA said on Friday that the detention is a preventative measure in line with UK regulations, in order that a full inspection of the ship related to the maritime labour convention can be carried out before its intended departure. It cannot leave the port until the inspection is completed.”

Five other ships were also being inspected. “Acting as the port state control authority for the UK, the MCA has taken this action following a number of serious concerns which were raised about the welfare of the crew,” it said.

Carnival appoints Weinstein group COO, Palethorpe Carnival UK president

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 June 2020 19 June 2020

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise shipping group, has appointed Josh Weinstein group Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Simon Palethorpe President of Carnival UK.

“Reporting to Carnival Corporation President and CEO Arnold Donald, Weinstein’s responsibilities will include oversight of major operational functions, including global maritime, global ports and destinations, global sourcing, global IT and global auditing,” Carnival said in a statement.

He will retain oversight of Carnival UK, the operating company for P&O Cruises and Cunard, which he managed directly for the past three years. In a second senior appointment, the company made Simon Palethorpe, currently President of Cunard, President of Carnival UK.

The structural leadership moves are part of the company's broader efforts to enhance operations and mobilize the global organization prior to its return to cruising, the company said.

Prior to joining Carnival Corporation & plc, Weinstein served as a corporate attorney. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the New York University School of Law.

Palethorpe, who joined Cunard in 2016, has overseen several high-profile launches and campaigns for the brand, including Cunard's investment in Queen Mary 2's remastering.

Before joining Cunard, Palethorpe held senior roles at Terra Firma Capital Partners, PepsiCo, Avis Europe Plc. and John Lewis. He also managed a portfolio of online businesses in the specialty food, chocolate, cosmetics and ticketing industries.

Merima CEO hands over post to son

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 June 2020 18 June 2020

For the past three years Merima, the Finnish turnkey interior solutions provider for shipbuilding, has been undergoing a gradual generation change process. On midsummer, the family firm takes the next step in the process, when Merima founder Mauri Mäkiranta leaves the post of CEO, handing the position over to his son Mikko Mäkiranta, the company said in a statement.

“My son is a determined, persistent individual with a positive attitude. I ́m extremely confident that he will do an excellent job as the new CEO,” says Mauri Mäkiranta. “Mikko has been working for the company for over a decade, most recently as Deputy CEO, charting his own course through even the most challenging tasks. In the process he has earned the respect and trust of our workers, associates and customers. Now is the perfect time for me to leave the day to day operations of the company to the younger generation.”

“My father has built an excellent company over the past three decades,” Mikko Mäkiranta responds. “Merima has come a long way under his leadership. We are here because of his vision, passion and commitment. Today, Merima has an impressive portfolio of references as one of the leading providers of marine interior solutions, and we are constantly developing the company further. It will be both an honour and a privilege to build on this foundation. Together with our personnel, we have created a strong vision and strategy we all believe in. While the current market situation is challenging, I know that our 120 outstanding employees and our excellent partner network will help us through these demanding times.”

After leaving the post of CEO, Mauri Mäkiranta will concentrate exclusively on the duties of the Chairman of the Board at Merima, meaning that his valuable experience and connections will remain at the disposal of the company.