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AIDA Cruises announces godmother for AIDAperla

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 April 2017 12 April 2017

Lena Gercke will christen AIDAperla, the twelfth member of the AIDA fleet, in Palma de Mallorca on June 30, 2017. In Germany the likable beauty is among the most famous and successful models and presenters. The skyline of the old city of Palma will form the backdrop when the night sky above AIDAperla is transformed into a sparkling sea of color during a spectacular music and lighting event.

"With her natural charm and vitality, Lena Gercke is the ideal godmother of AIDAperla. I’m delighted that she will christen our new vessel. Lena Gercke is the perfect ambassador for the modern and unconventional attitude to life we stand for with our AIDA brand," said Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises.

"I love traveling and I’m on the road a lot - professionally as well as privately. All the more I am looking forward to becoming the godmother of a beautiful ship such as AIDAperla. I think it’s great to discover many countries in a short time and to have a wonderful hotel always with you," commented the future godmother Lena Gercke.

The christening cruise from June 24 to July 1, 2017 will take guests from Palma de Mallorca to three cities in the Mediterranean: Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence (Livorno) and Barcelona. Those who cannot join the celebrations in Palma de Mallorca or on board AIDAperla should still note the date of June 30, 2017 in their calendar, though, as the christening will be transmitted live on the internet and various social media channels.

Cruise fans will have the opportunity to get to know the youngest member of the fleet on several introductory trips even before the official start of the christening cruise. From July 1, 2017, the 300 meter long and 37.6 meter wide cruise ship will travel the Western Mediterranean. As of March 2018 AIDAperla will be based in Hamburg.

The many highlights on board include the Beach Club under a weatherproof and UV-permeable foil dome and the Four Elements with water slides and climbing garden. The award-winning Body & Soul Organic Spa delights guests with its various saunas, multiple indoor and outdoor pools, a tepidarium and a fireplace room for complete relaxation. The Lanai Deck complements the varied facilities offered with its infinity pools, glass elevators, two skywalks, state-of-the-art LED technology and aerial structures for extraordinary performances, as well as an interactive floating globe for the entertainment program. In addition to the Kids and Teens Club, there is also a Mini Club on board to look after small children from the age of 6 months. Furthermore the food & beverage facilities offered on board leave nothing to be desired: 12 restaurants, 3 snack bars and 14 bars invite guests to embark on a culinary world tour.

CMV adds Portsmouth, Poole sailings to 2018 programme

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 April 2017 11 April 2017

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), the UK based destinational cruise line, said will add a further seven UK sailings on board the 550 passenger Astoria from the South coast Port of Poole and from Portsmouth International Port for a late summer and autumn 2018 programme featuring ten cruising holiday options.

CMV had intended to terminate the charter of Astoria, which ws built as Stockholm in 1948 and rebuilt with e.g. new engines and interior in 1994 after the end of this season, but it has changed its mind and will keep operating the Portuguese owned and flagged ship.

Chris Coates, Commercial Director at CMV said “our strategic focus is to continue broadening the range of regional programmes and sailings from around the British Isles and we are delighted to add the south coast ports of Poole and Portsmouth to our portfolio. Local departures, convenience and bringing cruising closer to home is proving a big hit with our customer base and we now offer the most comprehensive choice of 16 different departure port options across the British Isles.”

“Market demand from the southern counties has steadily increased in recent years and this new initiative is also responding to positive regional growth”.

CMV has scheduled three departures from the Port of Poole plus two open jaw cruise combination options with return coach transfer options back from Portsmouth to Poole.

The programme for Poole includes:

31 August 2018 for a three nights weekend cruise to Rouen in France with an exciting navigation of the River Seine and the chance to watch the Bournemouth International Air Show*,

3 September for 12 nights cruise on a Grand British Isles Discovery voyage visiting 10 ports of call from £884pp, and Saturday,

15 September for a special overnight Captain’s Gala Cruise to Portsmouth including a circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight. Fares start from £75pp.

From Portsmouth, Astoria will operate four cruises.

16 September for 9 nights to the Norwegian fjords from £634pp,

25 September for 13 nights to the Baltic cities & St Petersburg from £869pp, 8 October for a 9 night European rivers & canals cruise from £599pp,

17 October for 14 nights Astoria goes in search of the Northern Lights in northern Norway from £929pp.

CMV also has introduced a new Pullman Express Coach Service to Poole and Portsmouth offering 30 different regional pick ups across Dorset, Hampshire & Sussex from Lyme Regis in the west right along the coast to Hastings in the east. Also included is a service from London Victoria. Prices start from just £20pp.

On site port parking conveniently adjacent to the cruise terminals is also at both ports from £11 per night.

CMV’s new 3,500 passenger capacity south coast programme goes on sale on Wednesday 12 April 2017 with ‘Buy one get one Free” Early Booking Fares valid until Friday 30 June 2017, the company said in a statement.

Costa neoRomantica to become fifth ship of company in Asia

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 April 2017 10 April 2017

Costa Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation & plc, said that 57,130 gross ton and 1,800-passenger Costa neoRomantica will be based in Asia as the fifth vessel of the Italian company.

“The deployment of Costa neoRomantica comes as part of Costa Asia’s continuing investment strategy in the region and represents the company’s commitment to its valued markets in Asia,” Costa Cruises said in a statement.

The company has consistently increased its capacity across the region in recent years, with Costa Victoria’s deployment in Asia in 2012, followed by Costa Atlantica (2013), Costa Serena (2015), Costa Fortuna (2016) and Costa neoRomantica (2017), demonstrating great confidence in the market by adding ships each year since 2015.

“The deployment of the fifth Costa ship in Asia, will reinforce our leading position in Asia and allow us to continue significantly grow the Asian cruise market in the next decade, and further boost Asia market to become one of the most prominent markets in the world.” said Costa Group Asia President Buhdy Bok. The ship will undergo a HKD900 million refit and its cruises will include new destinations, including Sokcho and Busan in Korea, Vladivostok in Russia and Hakodate, Aomori, Sakata, Niigata, Kanazawa, Maizuru and Sakaiminato in Japan.

Viking Line signs firm contract with Xiamen for cruise ferry

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 April 2017 07 April 2017

Viking Lune, the listed Finnish cruise ferry group, said it has signed a firm contract with Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co in China to build a 63,000 gross ton LNG powered cruise ferry.

The contract is subject to the approval of the boards of the both companies and conclusion of financial arrangements. The companies signed a letter of intebt regarding the vessel in the autumn of 2016.

The €194 million vessel is due for delivery in 2020 and the contract includes an option for a second unit.

Norwegian's premium all inclusive is product change, not promotion

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 April 2017 04 April 2017

The premium all inclusive concept that Norwegian Cruise Line will introduce in the UK and Scandinavia for all bookings made after 6 April is a product change rather than a promotion, said Christian Boell, Managing Director Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The new concept will cover all bookings in the said markets and unlike e.g. drinks package promotions that many cruise line offer, there will be no charge added to the basic cruise fare for customers to enjoy it. However, the introduction of the concept is likely to increase the fares of Norwegian, but their actual amount will depend on commercial considerations that change at high frequency.

Speaking in London on 3 April, he said that the time to introduce the concept in the UK and Scandinavia had come after it had been in place in the German speaking market for about 16 months and also in France. In both cases, the reception of the concept that widens the range of offerings included in the fare had been positive.

Boell said that as Norwegian now has the right hardware, it was the right time to introduce the premium all inclusive concept in further markets. “Norwegian is not a British brand, but an international one,” Boell said, adding that this means the management felt it should be positioned in premium contemporary market segment – a new definition in the cruise industry.

However, Ocenia Cruises that is also part of the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings group, has described itself as an upper premium market brand ever since it started business some 15 years ago.