More News

Carnival Cruise Line reveals six distinctive, themed zones on new Mardi Gras

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 January 2019 25 January 2019

Carnival Cruise Line today revealed the first look at design details for the highly anticipated Mardi Gras, the line's most innovative ship set to debut in 2020 and the first cruise ship in North America powered by LNG. Mardi Gras will offer an extensive array of popular Carnival guest favorites along with new exciting experiences highlighted by six themed zones. Throughout the ship's 20 decks and in each of these distinctive areas, guests will find fun, memorable ways to create their own personalized vacation with dining, libation, entertainment, recreation, and relaxation options.

The accommodations on Mardi Gras will include more than 20 different stateroom categories and multiple levels of spacious and luxurious suites. Mardi Gras will also include the most expansive open decks on any Carnival ship, and a spectacular atrium [pictured] that will serve as the hub of the ship as well as a stunning focal point where guests will be welcomed on board.

"When our guests Choose Fun and book a vacation on Mardi Gras, they are going to find many firsts and exciting experiences, all enhanced by the fun atmosphere our great Carnival crew deliver on every cruise," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "We've specifically designed Mardi Gras to invite everyone to create their own personalized fun vacation experience with options to suit every age, mood or taste."

Six distinctive zones

The six zones of Mardi Gras' design will invite guests to stroll throughout the ship to enjoy new only-on-Mardi Gras features along with signature elements that have made Carnival America's Cruise Line, all enjoyed amidst a festive, social and community-driven atmosphere with opportunities for guests to relax, recharge and reconnect with family and friends. The six areas will be themed around Grand Central, French Quarter, La Piazza, Summer Landing, Lido and The Ultimate Playground and highlights include:

– Grand Central (Decks 6-8, mid-ship): Creating a sense of wonder the moment guests step on board, the transformative Grand Central takes the traditional atrium concept to new heights, combining a day-to-night entertainment complex with spectacular three-deck-high floor-to-ceiling windows and a bar overlooking the starboard side of the ship that will be the perfect venue for socializing and people watching amid sweeping ocean vistas. Steps away are Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Teppanyaki which are being expanded from designs on existing ships to reflect their popularity with guests. There's also the first-ever dedicated Punchliner Comedy Club where guests can enjoy nightly shows, and the always popular Piano Bar 88 for sing-a-longs that bring guests together in an intimate feel-good setting.
– French Quarter (Deck 6, aft): In a nod to the New Orleans' culture that combines lively entertainment with an unparalleled food scene, French Quarter will be lined with new bars, music and eateries that perfectly capture the festive spirit of the Big Easy. And since the spirit of New Orleans is so closely tied to the jazz scene, this neighborhood is linked via a two-deck-high promenade leading to a traditional New Orleans jazz club with live entertainment and refreshing hand-crafted libations. More details on these new dining and entertainment choices and the introduction of a new Carnival celebrity partnership will be revealed this spring.
– La Piazza (Deck 8, mid-ship): At La Piazza, guests are transported to Italy where they celebrate the rich heritage of Carnival's senior officers with authentic cuisine from the casual family-style Cucina del Capitano and 24/7 Pizzeria del Capitano to a new Mediterranean-themed seafood restaurant. There's also a bar where guests can savor cappuccino by day or classic Italian cocktails at night, while roaming musicians keep everyone entertained.
– Summer Landing (Deck 8, aft): Designed as the ultimate chill spot, Summer Landing will be home to an expanded Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse with smoked-on-board barbecue favorites created by longtime Carnival partner Guy Fieri, along with the line's exclusive ParchedPig craft beers brewed right on board. For outdoor summer-inspired fun, there will be a pool and whirlpools, a new bar, the lunch counter for the Smokehouse Brewhouse along with ample lounging spaces and hang outs, making this the ideal spot to enjoy all the fun that a Carnival vacation experience delivers.
– Lido (Deck 16-17, aft): Carnival is already known for its varied casual poolside restaurants and Mardi Gras' expanded Lido will take this to a whole new level with existing Carnival favorites like Guy's Burger Joint, the New England-inspired Seafood Shack, and BlueIguana Cantina Mexican eatery, along with some new concepts to be announced at a later date that are sure to inspire foodie fans.
– The Ultimate Playground (Decks 18-20, aft): The aptly named Ultimate Playground will span Decks 18-20 and offer guests amazing sea vistas as they soak up the sun and the fun in this spacious family-friendly play area highlighted by the largest and most elaborate Carnival WaterWorks aqua park in the fleet, along with an expanded SportSquare. The Ultimate Playground is also where guests will find the much-anticipated BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, the first rollercoaster at sea announced in December 2018, where riders race along an 800-foot-long track achieving speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour.

Mardi Gras will also incorporate all of the line's most popular signature features from its nearly completed $2 billion fleet enhancement program that has brought a consistent level of experiences to the more than five million passengers who annually sail on Carnival, such as Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, and the Serenity adult-only retreat, among others – many of which will offer an exciting twist, along with a variety of new innovations exclusive to this vessel.

Additional information on Mardi Gras, along with specifics on each of the six themed areas will be revealed in ways that are sure to amp up the fun factor in the coming months.

Reservations for Mardi Gras' itineraries will be announced and open for sale on Jan. 30, 2019. Carnival Cruise Line fans who want to be the first to book on Mardi Gras can get a head start by clicking here where they can register up until Jan. 27, 2019 to get a "first to know" alert and special promotional offer when reservations open.

A year before required by law, Ponant has converted to 100% LS MGO

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 January 2019 24 January 2019

Ponant, the world leader in luxury expeditions, has eliminated the use of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and replaced it with LS MGO, Low Sulphur Marine Gas Oil across its entire fleet – nearly one year before required by law.

LS MGO is a hydrocarbon fuel obtained from the refining of crude oil and containing fewer pollutants, notably Sulphur and fine particulate matter. In 2020, the law will require the use of fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5%.

Ponant has not only implemented this law requiring the use of less polluting fuels a year before it the regulation is enforced, but also exceeded the requirements by using a fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1%.

This ambitious approach has been applied to the entire fleet on all routes and destinations since January 1, 2019 underlining Ponant’s commitment to the environment for the past 30 years.

Dublin Port Company hosts Cruise Europe Brexit Summit

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 January 2019 23 January 2019

Dublin Port Company hosted a Cruise Europe Brexit summit in The Gibson Hotel in Dublin this morning. Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney, An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, opened proceedings by updating members on the uncertainty that continues to prevail over Brexit. He went on to state that this is not just a British issue but will have an effect on many other EU states.

This uncertainty is proving to be challenging for governments and business alike. He acknowledged the economic benefit of the tourism and maritime sectors and reiterated the government commitment to supporting these industries and the development of cruise tourism going forward.

Panellists agreed that the uncertainty that remains is bad for business. All organisations are spending time and resources on contingency planning rather than developing growth strategies. While current cruise bookings remain buoyant and there are no immediate plans to change itineraries, the main concern is the stability of sterling and the potential economic impact thereof.

The movement of passengers and stores remains under review. However, cruise companies do not anticipate that there will be a significant impact at this time. Cruise operators did request that ports relay any information in relation to local customs and immigration decisions that may be useful in the planning process.

Panellists included executives from Carnival UK, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Cruise & Maritime Voyages as well as representatives from Irish state agencies, port authorities, shipping agents and shore excursion providers.

Princess Cruises to activate three additional Princess MedallionClass ships in 2019

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 January 2019 22 January 2019

Princess Cruises announced today the expansion of its Princess MedallionClass experience to three additional ships – Royal Princess, Crown Princess and Sky Princess – building on the enhanced and personalized cruise vacations guests are currently enjoying on its Caribbean Princess ship sailing the Caribbean, and with Regal Princess starting February 17, 2019. The OceanMedallion, included complimentary, is a wearable device that elevates the guest experience by delivering an enhanced level of personalization and innovative services resulting in high guest satisfaction scores.

With the Princess MedallionClass experience coming to Crown Princess in July and Sky Princess in October, all guests sailing with the brand in the Caribbean will be able to enjoy an enhanced vacation through simplified, personalized and engaging experiences by the end of 2019. The addition of Royal Princess will also be the first time a Princess MedallionClass ship will be sailing in Alaska.

“Guests are finding their vacations enhanced with Princess MedallionClass on Caribbean Princess as a new and memorable experience, and we’re ready to offer these experiences and personalized services to even more of our guests, including everyone who sails with us in the Caribbean in the fall and winter,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “Starting in April, we will continue the expansion to a total of five Princess MedallionClass ships expected this year, as we continue on our path to fleet-wide activation. And we look forward to bringing the experience to new groups for the first time, such as those sailing to visit exciting destinations in Alaska and Mexico.”

Considered a breakthrough in the vacation industry and recently honored with a CES® 2019 Innovation Award, the OceanMedallion features leading-edge technology that delivers personalized service through enhanced guest-crew interactions, eliminates friction points and enables interactive entertainment.

Meyer Turku delivers Mein Schiff 2 to TUI Cruises in Kiel

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 January 2019 22 January 2019

TUI Cruises has taken delivery of Mein Schiff 2, a fresh take on a long series of ships from Meyer Turku shipyard. With New Mein Schiff 2 Meyer Turku and TUI Cruises have continued taking into account the feedback from the passengers of TUI Cruises' previous ships and further improved and refreshed the design of the ship.

“For us it has been a thrill working with TUI Cruises on the design and construction of this ship. The passengers will surely notice and hopefully like the differences to the previous ships. We have redesigned many of the areas of the ship, e.g. the Schau Bar [pictured below] and the restaurant area in front of the aft diamond structure," CEO Jan Meyer says.

This time the ship sailed to Kiel for the delivery ceremonies, due to ice conditions in the Turku archipelago. Especially the final silicone painting of the underwater part of the hull is not designed to withstand icy water.

“The commissioning of our new Mein Schiff 2 marks the successful end of our first expansion phase. Our sixth newbuild by Meyer Turku not only impresses with its design, its inner values are equally convincing: With the use of modern technologies we are setting standards for environmental protection," says TUI Cruises CEO Wybcke Meier.

For shipbuilders, every ship is an evolution both in the technology behind the walls and panels and in the interior design.

“The essence of our business is to listen to the feedback from the passengers and then use our own expertise in design and engineering to make the next ship even better, safer and more passenger-friendly”, CEO Jan Meyer tells.

Redesigning shipbuilding

While learning from previous ships and redesigning every ship is at the core of shipbuilding, Meyer Turku is also reinventing shipbuilding processes. With an extensive ramp- up program including investments of over 200 million euros, continuous recruitments and trainings for employees, Meyer Turku will double its production in the coming five years.

“With new machine and IT technology, our shipbuilding experience and many new ideas we are transforming the whole shipbuilding process to ensure that the ramp-up is executed in a smart and controlled way in good collaboration with our network. And we do need the very best talent to come along us for this journey”, CEO Jan Meyer continues.

Meyer Turku has currently several dozens of open positions at rekry.meyerturku.fi.