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Former Marella Spirit reported sold for scrap

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 November 2018 06 November 2018

Former Marella Spirit that had until recently been operated by TUI AG’s British cruise line Marella Cruises on charter, has reportedly been sold for demolition in India.

A report on the sergiocruises.blogspot.com website said that the sale was concluded on 29 October and the ship had been renamed Mare S for a voyage from Athens to Alang. The ship had been owned by the Cyprus based Louis Group since 2003.

The 33,930 gross ton ship had been built as Nieuw Amsterdam for Holland America Line at Chantiers de l’ Atlantique in France in 1983.

It was the first major passenger ship built for the company since the Rotterdam of 1959. Its design was based on the 8,566 gross ton Prinsendam of 1973 that had been lost in a fire in 1980. A second ship of the same class called Noordam followed in 1984 (not to be confused with present ship of the same name).

In 2001-02 the ship operated as Patriot for American Classic voyages and after the collapse of this company, it was chartered by Thomson Cruises in the UK as Thomson Spirit. The company changed name to Marella Cruises in 2017.

The two Holland America ships were notable also for the fact that they marked the yard’s return into the construction of major passenger tonnage – the previous large passenger vessel built at the yard had been the Trans-Atlantic liner France in 1962.

Virgin Voyages to call in Cuba during the inaugural season

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 November 2018 05 November 2018

Virgin Voyages has announced that the company’s first ship, Scarlet Lady, will feature Cuba as one of her voyage destinations during its inaugural season in 2020.

Virgin Voyages’ decision to sail to Cuba was influenced by customer and travel partner research it conducted in North America and the United Kingdom. Both groups consistently rank the Caribbean island as one of the most desired and interesting destinations to visit on a voyage.

“Virgin Atlantic has been visiting Cuba for 13 years, and I cannot wait to see our iconic Scarlet Lady gleaming in the Havana Harbor,” said Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson. “Havana is the perfect place for our sailors to go and experience a city that exudes an irresistible energy and passion.”

“We are thrilled to share the news about our partnership with Cuba and can’t wait to take our sailors to Havana, which is without doubt, one of the Caribbean’s most authentic and enriching destinations,” said Virgin Voyages President and CEO Tom McAlpin. “This fantastic place offers the chance for our sailors to create their own unique stories as they uncover cultural treasures, meet the locals and just soak up the atmosphere.”

The Adult By Design (18+) brand will offer the newest and most beautifully designed ship sailing to Havana ensuring that their sailors get there in style. All sailings to Cuba from Miami feature an overnight stay, meaning sailors have time to really explore and experience the capital city’s vibrant nightlife and cultural heritage.

While in port, sailors can visit Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; dance the night away at a salsa club, visit Cuba's warm and friendly residents through people-to-people exchanges, or simply wander the streets alongside pastel-washed colonial architecture. OFAC-compliant shore experiences are in development and details will be made available later in 2019.

The Virgin Voyages destination announcement was made at the Havana International Fair, FIHAV, with remarks from Virgin Voyages executives, government representatives and local tourism leadership.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Group and are pleased to announce this new partnership with Virgin Voyages,” said Manuel Marrero Cruz, Minister of Tourism for Cuba. “The Cuban people look forward to welcoming Virgin Voyages’ first ship, its crew and passengers to our shores in 2020”.

Specific sailing dates relating to Virgin Voyages’ visits to Cuba will be released when the company opens up bookings for sale next year.

Cruise ship building hub in Baoshan established

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 November 2018 05 November 2018

A cruise ship building hub has been established in Baoshan in China as part of an earlier announced tri-partite agreement to develop in the industry in China, Fincantieri said in a statement

“As part of the agreements between Fincantieri, CSSC and Carnival Corporation & plc announced in February 2017 and related to the construction of two cruise ships, the first ever built in China for the local market, the hub will act as a fundamental industrial basin to supply this production. In fact, today, 70% of the total value of a modern cruise ship is realised through the supply chain,” Fincantieri said.

The district will provide financing, tax commercial and administrative benefits, land for necessary development and other resources, in the light of a possible establishment of foreign companies, introduced by the partners.

Fincantieri has given a broad support to the district in defining the preferential policies to attract suppliers and will promote the park in its network and in the industry as a whole, as a foundation for the companies which want to access to the opportunities of this project. In this way, the Group will become a lever for the establishment in China of its supply chain or of other SMBs, which would greatly benefit from this operation.

This project is part of the initiatives undertaken by Fincantieri in China aimed at developing the local cruise market, which in the coming days could reach new goals.

These activities will allow Fincantieri to monitor as first mover the development of the strategic high potential market, to broaden its borders and to lay the foundations for further developing its business and accessing even the most complex markets, considering the favorable moment that the cruise sector is experiencing, the Italian shipbuilder stated.

Tallink’s net profit slips in third quarter, nine months

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 November 2018 02 November 2018

Tallink Grupp AS, the Estonian listed cruise ferry company, has reported slightly lower net profit both the third quarter and January-September of this year, compared to the same periods in 2017.

Third quarter net profit fell to €46.1 million from €47.8 million, while revenues remained fairly stable, at €283.6 million compared to €282.7 million. The third quarter includes the main holiday season in northern Europe and is therefore the best quarter for ferry companies in the region.

In the first nine months of the year, net profit fell to €41.8 million from €45.2 million. Revenues fell to €723.2 million from €734.1 million.

Tallink said that in the third quarter, the group’s revenue and operating result were impacted by the following operational factors:

The number of passengers travelling on the Group’s ships increased in all geographical segments.
The number of cargo units transported on the Group’s ships increased in all geographical segments.
Higher fuel cost due to increase in bunker prices.
Charter revenue decrease compared to the same period last year as fewer ships are chartered out.

The company, whose shares are listed in Tallinn, also said it plans to proceed with its earlier stated intention to seek secondary listing for them in Helsinki. However, it pointed out that no new shares would be issued in connection with the planned secondary listing.

Oliver Design wins Scottish conversion contract

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 October 2018 30 October 2018

Oliver Design, the Spanish interior design company, said it had won an order regarding conversion of a Turkish ferry to a luxury cruise ship for use in Scotland.

“The firm has signed a contract with the UK's Magna Carta Steamship Company, for which it completed a similar project in 2000, converting a Greek ferry into the luxury Lord of the Glens,” Oliver Design said in a statement.

The vessel now in question is to be renamed Lord of the Highlands and alterations to it include extending the vessel's length and width, building an additional deck and completely reforming the interiors to house 50 passengers and a crew of 17.

The work will be carried out in the port of Vigo in Spain, where the vessel arrived on 22 October, while delivery is scheduled for September 2019

“Following Oliver Design's work on the two ships, Magna Carta can now offer clients unique cruises lasting several days between the North Sea and the Hebrides, via the historic Caledonian Canal, built in the early nineteenth century,” the design firm said.