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Cruise yacht master’s beach clean up initiative becomes regular feature of week

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 September 2019 19 September 2019

Master of Panorama II, a sail powered cruise yacht of Variety Cruises, has decided to anchor the vessel for a few hours each week and to go ashore and clean up a beach, with crew members and passengers joining him in an initiative that has become a regular feature of each cruise.

“Currently cruising the waters of the Flores and Bali Seas in Indonesia, Captain Antononiu Leontios decided to dedicate a few hours every week to dropping anchor in a bay, venturing ashore with some crew members and filling as many bin bags as possible with rubbish which he then stowed on board and disposed of properly at his next port of call,” the company said in a statement.

“It seemed the right thing to do,” Captain Leontios said, “the sea and the natural beauty of beaches and islands is the livelihood for myself and my crew. We need to respect and protect them and whilst our passengers are off sight-seeing we thought we’d do our bit.’ But it didn’t stop with just the crew.”

“When the Panorama II’s passengers discovered what the crew were doing they too wanted to get involved,” explained Captain Leontios. “News soon got around and next time we planned a stop we were joined by eight guests. It’s now become a feature of our week – so much so we’re going to print beach clean-up t-shirts to give to anybody who joins us.”

According to Variety Cruises UK's MD, Chris Lorenzo, environmental responsibility is part of the cruise line’s ethos: “We have already started eliminating single-use plastic from our fleet,’ he explained. ‘As for the beach clean-up program, our vessels are uniquely placed to do something practical – we only have small ships of 50-70 passengers so we can get close up to beaches and moor anywhere. Overall our philosophy is ‘small is beautiful’ and that’s not just about the size of our ships but about doing the small things that can add up to a big difference.”

Costa to add third ship in South America for the 2020/2021 winter

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 September 2019 19 September 2019

Costa Cruises announces the arrival of Costa Luminosa in South America in the winter of 2020/2021. From November 2020 to April 2021 the company flying the flag of Italy will be about to count on three ships operating in the region: Costa Luminosa will support Costa Fascinosa and Costa Pacifica, whose positioning in South America had already been announced.

“The arrival of Costa Luminosa for the 2020/2021 season reflects Costa Cruises' desire to strategically invest in the South American market, a market with a great potential for growth. For this reason we want to gradually increase our presence in the region,” stated Dario Rustico, General Manager for Central and South America at Costa Cruises.

Costa Luminosa, Costa Pacifica and Costa Fascinosa will offer various itineraries to discover Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, which will be on sale from November 2019.

In particular, Costa Fascinosa, which will leave for South America from Savona in mid-November 2020, will have its principal home port at Santos. The cruises will sail toward the North of Brazil, visiting destinations such as Buzios, Salvador, Ilheus, and Ilha Grande.

After the transatlantic crossing departing from Genoa on November 13, 2020, the Costa Pacifica cruises will mainly concentrate on Argentina, Uruguay, and the southern part of Brazil. Calls are scheduled at Buenos Aires (Argentina); Ilhabela, Buzios, Rio de Janeiro, and Ilha Grande (Brazil); Montevideo (Uruguay).

Costa Luminosa will also leave from Santos, with 7-night cruises directed to Itajai (Brazil), Buenos Aires, and Montevideo. The positioning cruise in South America from Venice to Santos will sail on November 8, 2020.

American Queen Steamboat Company announces partnerships to secure and protect the Mississippi River

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 September 2019 17 September 2019

Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative (MRCTI) Mayors along with officials from the U.S. Geological Survey, executives from American Queen Steamboat Company, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Maritime Administration launched the first private-carry nutrient sensor for the Mississippi River today to help secure and protect the Mississippi River’s freshwater economy.

In 2018, Mayors signed a historic agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Department of Transportation to deploy nutrient sensors on private vessels transecting the Mississippi River between New Orleans and St. Paul moving closer than ever before to a real-time nutrient monitoring net for the nation’s most important waterway.

“We as mayors along the Mississippi River, see nutrient loading as the greatest threat to our water security. But, in order to manage this threat, we must be able to measure it. We have to be able tell if the hundreds of millions of tax dollars going into conservation work along the River or Corps ecosystem restoration work is having an impact and if not where by how much,” asserted Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, Iowa and Co-Chair of MRCTI.

“It’s hard to overestimate how critical fresh water is to the Memphis economy,” said Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. “Each year the river draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to our city contributing millions to our local economy. Because of this, we created the Fresh Water Institute to ensure that our drinking water is safe and that our aquifer is viable for years to come.”

West Memphis Mayor, Marco McClendon calibrated what the launch means implicating both sides of the River: “The tourism industry within the Mississippi River region of Arkansas provides over 22,000 jobs and is a $2.4 billion industry. But, no one wants to hunt, fish, paddle, or cruise in or near water full of algae due to nutrient surge. So, we need to know what is in our water where to keep it clean and that’s what the sensors we’re deploying will do.”

As the next step in its commitment to the river and communities in which it serves, AQSC will be the first private carrier of the USGS sensors which will allow for data collection as the company’s flagship vessel, the American Queen, travels up and down the River on its various itineraries. An informational kiosk has also been installed on the riverboat so that guests on board can learn more about the project and how the data will contribute to a better understanding of water quality on the Mississippi River.

“As the long-standing leader in Mississippi River cruising, we are dedicated to the sustainable health of not just the river, but the communities that rely on it,” said John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company. “Along with our partners, we are thrilled to introduce the USGS Mobile Super Gage on our flagship vessel and look forward to keeping the waters in which we travel clean for many future generations to come.”

The U.S. Geological Survey will own, operate, and maintain the nutrient sensors being deployed on private vessels in this partnership. “The USGS is dedicated to providing sound science that informs policy-making at all levels of government – from local communities to national priorities. Today’s launch exemplifies our commitment to working with partners from both the public and private sectors to accomplish projects that impact American communities in a meaningful way,” emphasized Dr. Jim Reilly, Director of the USGS.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been a committed partner with the Mayors, AQSC, and federal agencies since planning for this partnership began. “The Corps' missions along the Mississippi River include flood risk management, environmental stewardship, and ecosystem restoration. The healthier the Mississippi River system is ecologically, the more resilient and the better protected communities and economies are. This work compliments and supports Corps efforts from the headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico,” stated COL Zachary Miller, Commander of the Memphis District.

“The Mississippi River provides billions of gallons of fresh water to industry each day and drinking water to 20 million people in 50 cities. It is essential we know what is in our water,” confirmed Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA and MRCTI Co-Chair.

YSA to design SeaDream Innovation

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 September 2019 17 September 2019

Proven experience in smaller ultra-luxury cruise ships and a lasting relationship with the pioneer of superyacht vacationing are behind the selection of YSA Design as the design partner for the truly special SeaDream Yacht Club vessel SeaDream Innovation.

Innovation will offer yachting lifestyle standards to guests occupying 100 ocean-view suites, developed around a one-to-one crew/guest ratio, five-star dining, generous outdoor spaces and inspiring itineraries. Formal announcement of the construction contract to shipyard group Damen allows YSA Design to disclose its pivotal role.

SeaDream Owner, Chairman and CEO, Atle Brynestad, describes the project to build the 155m length, 15,600 gt ‘Global Yachting’ vessel as “a dream of mine for many years,” which “has been a true labour of love to meticulously design every aspect of this yacht, from the interiors and facilities to the itineraries”.

“The owner is very much involved in the development of all areas,” says Einar Jungård, Senior Interior Architect and Partner, YSA Design. “The special challenge of designing this small but complex expedition vessel lies in creating an environment that has distinct areas which nonetheless connect seamlessly and flow into each other.”

YSA Design joined initial discussion of design ideas with the owner, before being engaged to deliver the GA (general arrangement), concept and detail designs, and follow up work, adds Jungård. The Oslo-based design company will design all public spaces and accommodation except crew areas.

“Our scope of work covers conceiving, developing and delivering the spaces to embody the soul of the SeaDream Yacht Club, so that guests can relax in elegant, intimate, ‘green’ and secure surroundings. These values will be substantiated using environmentally-friendly materials and classic, timeless Nordic interior style, where neutral tones evoke calm and place the guest experience to the fore – whether through on board activities, public spaces, artworks or the vessel’s relaxed but exclusive dining areas.”

When she enters service in September 2021, SeaDream Innovation will introduce the concept of ‘Global Yachting’ to the SeaDream Yacht Club experience, with plans to sail to all seven continents in the first year and visit over 200 ports in 49 countries. Guests will visit remote destinations, including Svalbard, the Northwest Passage, Antarctica, the fjords of Norway, Japan, New Zealand, the Fiji Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

As a design group, YSA Design and its forerunner company Yran & Storbraaten Architects have been closely associated with SeaDream Yacht Club since the luxury ship owner’s foundation in 2001, taking responsibility for designing the classic yachts SeaDream I and SeaDream II. Furthermore, Brynestad previously engaged Y&S as his design partner during his time as sole owner and founder of Seabourn Cruise Line, with the company working on Seabourn Pride, delivered in 1988.

Adam D. Tihany confirmed as Keynote Speaker at Cruise Ship Interiors Expo Europe

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 September 2019 17 September 2019

The first six high profile speakers have been confirmed for the inaugural Cruise Ship Interiors Expo Europe conference, which debuts at Fira Barcelona between 4-5th December, 2019.

Leaders from across the sector are being lined up to give inspirational and thought-provoking presentations at the CSIE event, raising the key opportunities and challenges facing interior designers, architects, outfitters, shipyards and interior suppliers working in both newbuilding and refurbishment.

Toby Walters, CEO of event organiser Elite Exhibitions, says: “This will be a world-class conference that nobody in the industry will want to miss. Revealing the first six speakers offers a taste of what is still to come.”

Confirmed names on what promises to be a hugely impressive line-up include Adam D. Tihany, Principle and Founder of Tihany Design, who has worked on some of the most striking concepts for both large and small cruise brands, including Costa, Cunard, Holland America and Seabourn. He will be joined by another inspirational designer, Greg Walton, CEO and Founding Partner of Studio DADO, who has over 30 years of experience working in the cruise industry and Anne Mari Gullikstad, CEO of YSA Design, whose projects have included some of the industry’s most spectacular cruise ships for P&O, Disney and Regent Seven Seas.

Also on the platform will be Mike Oliver, Co-owner and chairman of interior refurbishment specialists Trimline which has been a leading cruise industry contractor for almost five decades. Another highly experienced UK-based professional, Andy Yuill, Managing Director of leading ferry and cruise ship design consultancy, SMC Design, will be sharing some of the secrets of his success at the Conference, as will Peter Joehnk, Managing Partner of JOI Designs, one of the largest interior design practices in Europe.

Walters adds, “Each and every conference session is being curated to ensure that the event is comprehensive and highly topical for the ocean, river and expedition cruise markets. More speakers set to be announced over the next few weeks, so watch this space!”

Cruise Ship Interiors Expo Europe aims to build on the tremendous success of the inaugural Cruise Ship Interiors Expo America conference, which took place in Miami Beach in June this year. This was the world’s first conference and exhibition that focused exclusively on interior design, architecture and outfitting in the cruise sector and was attended by over 3,500 industry professionals. Cruise Ship Interiors Expo America returns to the Miami Beach Convention Centre on June 16-17 for its 2020 event.