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Yacht cruise operator Variety Cruises joins CLIA

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 October 2018 24 October 2018

Yacht cruise operator Variety Cruises has joined Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as it looks to develop and build relationships with travel agents across the UK, CLIA UK & Ireland said in a statement.

“One of the world’s leading yacht cruise lines, Variety Cruises operates a fleet of 11 fully-owned vessels with capacities ranging from 17 to 36 cabins. The boutique-size yachts dock in the heart of destinations, visiting unfrequented ports-of-call and often offering extended stays and overnights,” CLIA UK & ireland said.

The small ships serve handpicked cruise destinations across the globe, from Croatia, Greece & Iceland to Cape Verde, the Seychelles, Cuba and Costa Rica. The line will soon be adding Bali, the Red Sea and Barbados to its ships’ itineraries.

Chris Lorenzo, Variety Cruises UK managing director, said: “The team at Variety Cruises are thrilled to be a member of CLIA. Variety Cruises offers the ultimate yacht cruise experience for those looking for a friendly and relaxed cruise exploring unique destinations. We’re looking forward to working closely with travel agents through this partnership to increase awareness of Variety Cruises and all that we have to offer.”

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director, said: “We are delighted to have Variety Cruises join CLIA. Boutique lines like Variety Cruises have a unique offering as they can sail guests to small ports that larger ships can’t reach. When travel agents speak to customers who are looking for this type of cruise, they need to know all possible options available, which is why it’s fantastic to have Variety Cruises as a member of CLIA.”

TUI Cruises launches Italian dining venue La Spezia

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 October 2018 24 October 2018

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise line, has launched a restaurant serving Italian food on two of its ships and it will be on a third one soon, the company said in a statement.

Called La Spezia, the new venue has been opened on Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4 and it is due to be opened on Mein Schiff Herz, the former Mein Schiff 2, in the near future.

The company has teamed up with the Michelin star chef Theodor Fslser to launch the new restaurant. Flaser was awarded a Michelin star in November 2014 for his venue in the Dolomites in Italy, TUI Cruises said.

TransOcean to name Vasco da Gama in Bremerhaven

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 October 2018 24 October 2018

TransOcean Kreuzfahrten, the German unit of the UK based Cruise & Maritime Voyages group, said its latest acquisition will be named Vasco da Gama in a ceremony in Bremerhaven in early April next year.

The 1994 built ship that started life as Statendam of Holland America Line and which is currently sailing as Pacific Eden of P&O Cruises Australia, will operate a summer season on the German market before heading to Australia for a series of cruises during the summer season there.

The 1987 built Astor will remain on the German market year round after the entry into service of Vasco da Gama and will thus not be repositioned to Australia for the summer season 2019-20, the company has said.

New CTS and COSCO joint venture emerges as buyer of Oriana

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 October 2018 24 October 2018

A new joint venture set up by Chins Travel Services (CTS) and China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) have emerged as buyers of P&O Cruises’ 1995 built Oriana, which the Carnival Corporation & plc unit said earlier this year it had sold to an undisclosed buyer.

The owners have appointed V.Ships Leisure as technical and hotel operation managers of the vessel, a press officer for V.Ships told CruiseBusiness.com.

V.Ships Leisure is part of the V.Group, which has its head office in Glasgow in the UK.

Oriana is the oldest ship in the fleet of P&O Cruises and with a gross tonnage of 69,840, also the smallest. The ship will operate on bareboat charter for the British contemporary market unit of the Carnival group until August 2019.

P&O Cruises has two 184,000 gross ton LNG powered newbuildings on order from Meyer Werft in Germany

Cruise industry contributed €10.4 billion to UK economy 2017 - CLIA

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 October 2018 22 October 2018

Findings from a report conducted by the Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) on behalf of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) concluded that the cruise industry generated €10.4 billion to the UK economy in 2017, representing around 22% of the cruise industry’s ‘total output’ across Europe, CLIA said in a statement.

The report looked at tourism and employment figures during 2017. From the overall figure, €3.85 billion was spent in direct expenditures and the remaining €6.55 billion came from indirect and induced expenditure.

Direct expenditures were principally distributed across cruise line purchases (€2,481 million), passenger and crew spending (€559m), compensation of cruise line employees (€675m) and ship repairs (€135m).

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland director, said: “The figures released today bear testament to the cruise industry continuing to make significant contributions to the UK’s economy and the multi-billion valuation shows that cruise is a major player within the travel sector.

“More Brits are choosing a cruise holiday, more cruise passengers are embarking on a cruise from UK ports and the number of ports-of-call visitors continues to increase. This, along with more jobs being created through the cruise industry, translates into great economic benefits for the country.”

A total of 1,094,000 cruise passengers embarked on a cruise from UK ports. More than 80% of departures were from Southampton.

The UK also experienced growth in ports-of-call visits, with 1,415,000 passengers visiting a UK port in 2017. The most visited British port was Invergordon, Scotland, with an estimated 134,000 cruise passengers going ashore.

These port-of-call visits generated an additional €113 million in direct expenditures such as tours and souvenirs. Passengers spent an average of €80 while in port and €180 at their port-of-embarkation.

Together, passengers and crew spent an estimated €559 million at ports-of-embarkation and call, accounting for 15% of total cruise industry expenditures in the UK.

Cruise passengers spent an estimated €431m on airfares, port fees, lodging, food and beverage, excursions and other expenditure in the UK. An estimated €14.8m was spent by crew at ports-of-embarkation and call, averaging €35 per crew member.

There were 37,720 roles generated by cruise-related expenditures; 17,183 Britons worked for cruise lines, either in administrative offices or as crew onboard ships. Other jobs included direct suppliers to the cruise lines and the employees of establishments that provide goods and services to cruise passengers. This paid €1.41billion in employee compensation.

An estimated 44,690 indirect and induced jobs throughout the UK generated by the cruise industry, generating €1.75 billion in employee compensation. Relative to 2015, indirect and induced employment and compensation impacts increased by 13% and 17% respectively.

Harmer added: “The success of the global cruise industry is set to continue with 24 new ships scheduled to launch in 2019 and 107 new ships on order for delivery before 2027, worth close to $60 billion. As the cruise industry’s confidence in the UK increases, so does the number of ships built for the UK market.