More News

Cruise industry leaders to gather at Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 March 2017 29 March 2017

With the cruise season in full swing, the 4th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will once again place the East Mediterranean on center stage. Given the geo-political challenges faced at this juncture, it will be an especially valuable opportunity to gauge trends and developments, as well as address the future of the region’s sea tourism and its recovery potential.

Leading personalities and decision makers from the international cruise industry will meet with the region's stakeholders and government officials, including Greece’s Ministers of Shipping and Tourism, to discuss destination development strategies and drivers for future growth.

The Forum will be held at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre on 23-24 May under the theme ‘Reinventing Cruising in the East Mediterranean. The Forum will be attended among others by:
– Richard Vogel, President & CEO, Pullmantur
– Larry Pimentel, President & CEO, Azamara Cruises
– Kerry Anastassiadis, CEO, Celestyal Cruises & Chairman, CLIA Europe
– Michel Nestour, Vice President, Global Port and Destination Development - EuroMed, Carnival Corp.
– Claudius Docekal, Vice President, Deployment, Crystal Cruises
– Elisabetta De Nardo, Global Head of Port Operations & Destination Management, Silversea Cruises
– Craig Milan, Vice President Operations, Virgin Voyages
– Ukko Metsola, Vice President Government Relations, Royal Caribbean Cruises
– Ana Karina Santini, Public Relations Italy & Med Port Development Manager, Royal Caribbean - Celebrity Cruises - Azamara Club Cruises.

There is general consensus on the fact that in spite of its geopolitical challenges, the region’s appeal in cruise markets remains too strong to be ignored.

“The East Med is one of the key regions for Pullmantur Cruises’ deployment in Europe,” said Richard Vogel, President & CEO of the Madrid based cruise line. “We plan to include more and new exclusive destinations such as Volos, that will bring closer the Meteora Monasteries - included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - to our guests and Nafplio from where our passengers will visit Epidaurus, Corinth and Mycenae. There is no doubt regarding the interest that Greece generates among our guests due to its cultural wealth, landscape, its beaches and its good weather”.

Larry Pimentel, President and CEO, Azamara Cruises, added: "While we have scaled back on our Black Sea cruises as well as cruises that go to Turkey, Greece continues to be a popular destination for Azamara. Greece will continue to be on future itineraries and we routinely call at 10-12 different Greek ports each season."

Elisabetta De Nardo, Global Head of Port Operations & Destination Management, Silversea Cruises, agrees: “As more and more Greek islands open up to cruise guests, many for the first time, the incredible beauty and wonder of the region have never been more accessible. The recent cancellation of cabotage restrictions allows us to actively look at new potential itineraries and opportunities in the area. With the support of local ground operators, we are keen to ensure that Silversea ships continue to visit this desirable region.”

Samos, Chania in Crete and Nafplio are the latest Greek destinations to join Celestyal Cruises’ Aegean itinerary, according to Kerry Anastasiadis, CEO, Celestyal Cruises & President, CLIA Europe.

“We’re committed to adding new destinations to our itineraries every year. Four years ago we visited six harbors – this season we will sail to 15, and we will continue to develop new destinations to add to our itineraries. There are so many breathtaking destinations in the Aegean, and we will continue to bring our passengers to these incredible gems,” he said. "The Eastern Mediterranean is the foundation of our business and our brand. Greece is home to myriad “bucket list” destinations for travelers from the world over, and our cruises are woven with elements of each destination, on board and ashore, so our guests get to take a deep dive at every port of call, to really “live” each destination” he continued.

However, much needs to be done to increase cruise traffic to Greece and the region. Claudius Docekal, Vice President, Deployment, Crystal Cruises commented: “When I started my career in the industry, the combination of cruising the Greek Isles, Egypt and Israel was magical and one of the best sellers. A resurrection of this destination combination would be to the benefit of the entire East Med region. Sadly, all three destinations continue to have their issues. We are slowly trying to rebuild the number of sailings in this region while carefully watching demand. Unfortunately, the demand for Greece has, at least, from my view, not grown to anywhere near where it was and where it should be. The magic of Greece requires renewed marketing efforts.”

Geo-political developments and the intensifying need for new destinations and itineraries are compelling reason for cruise industry executives to attend this year’s Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum.

The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum also attracted Virgin Voyages, a start up cruise line that acknowledges the value of the East Mediterranean and although this region is not in their immediate plans, it is a part of their long term strategy. Craig Milan, Vice President Operations, Virgin Voyages commented: “As a new entrant in the cruise market without a ship in the water, the Eastern Med is not important to us now. However, as our business scales and we increase our capacity, the Eastern Med will become an important region for us to consider deploying vessels. The region has some of the most interesting and compelling historic and cultural sites anywhere in the world. However, given the current geopolitical issues in the region, the East Med will remain a challenging place to deploy ships. We are positive about the future prospects for the region and believe it will turnaround. This is particularly true, given the growth of the industry and the number of ships being constructed over the next 5 years. Nevertheless, we believe Greece has a lot to offer the Virgin Voyages brand and it fits well with our target markets' mindset and demographics. We particularly believe the Greek Isles that attract a younger, vibrant crowd would be a great fit for our brand.”

TUI AG upbeat on outlook in cruise in Germany and UK

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 March 2017 29 March 2017

TUI AG, the Hanover based tourism group that is listed in London, said its cruise operations are performing well, both in Germany and in the UK.

In Germany, TUI owns 50% of premium market TUI Cruises and the expedition to luxury market operator Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten in full, while in the UK, its cruise operations consist of Thomson Cruises.

Referring to the winter 2016-17, TUI said cruise continues to deliver growth with the first winter of operations of Mein Schiff 5, and good yields and load factors across the fleets.

Revenue performance in northern Europe reflects growth in long haul, particularly from the UK, and UK cruise as well as higher demand for the Canaries, mainland Spain and Cape Verde. “This is offset partly by lower demand for Turkey and Egypt, in particular from the Nordics,” TUI said in a trading statement.

With regards of the summer 2017, TUI Cruises will launch Mein Schiff 6 in June 2017 and sales for this and our other ships continue to progress well. “UK revenue and selling price performance reflects continued growth in long haul and cruise (with the launch of TUI Discovery 2 in May), as well as the impact of currency inflation for euro based destinations,” the company said.

Overall, winter 2016/17 and summer 2017 are trading in line with the management’s expectations.

“Our balanced portfolio of markets and destinations, our focus on growth in own hotel and cruise brands and our strong balance sheet put us in a robust position, despite the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges in certain source markets and destinations,” TUI said.

“We therefore reiterate our guidance of at least 10% growth in Group underlying EBITA in 2016/171. We are continuing to deliver the transformation of the business, financed by our strong cash flows and the proceeds of disposals, which we believe will put us in an even stronger competitive position and create a less seasonal business for the long term,” the company said.

TUI will publish the first half of its financial year results on 15 May.

Saga names newbulding Spirit of Discovery, has 10,000 expressions of interest

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 March 2017 29 March 2017

Saga plc, the listed British company that sells a wide range ranfe of services to clients over the age of 50, said has decided to name its first newbuilding Spirit of Discovery.

The 55,800 gross ton vessel is on order at the Meyer Werft in Germany and due for delivery in 2019 and the company will start selling tickets for cruises on the vessel later this year.

“We remain very excited about the prospects for the new ship, with the project on track. As part of the design project, we are undertaking significant customer research. The results so far have proven hugely helpful and informative to both product and proposition design, and will ensure that the experience remains relevant for customers well into the future,” saga said in its 2016 result statement.

“The first itineraries for the new ship will be going on sale later this year. We have already had over 10,000 customers register their interest in our new ship with over 50% securing their place on the first set of itineraries with payment of a deposit. Indeed, these 10,000 registered customers would equate to filling our first 12 cruises,” the company said.

The company’s two present ships, Saga Sapphire and Saga Pearl II, had another good year, with exceptionally high customer satisfaction levels. “We have significantly improved the yield management of our ships. While load factors have reduced marginally to 82%, we have increased the per diem rates by 8% through various value enhancements to the cruise product offering, including free wine with lunch and dinner, a newly established cruise services team and other enhancements to the customer experience,” saga said, adding that the scheduled maintenance of the Saga Sapphire during the year impacting profit by about £5 million, as expected.

Norwegian Joy begins its journey to China with conveyance along the Ems River

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 March 2017 28 March 2017

Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Cruise Line’s first custom-designed ship for the Chinese cruise market, began her journey to her home port of Shanghai, China this week, as she departed the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany on Sunday, March 26 for her approximately 14-hour long conveyance along the Ems River.

Norwegian Joy’s river conveyance marks another key milestone in the ship's highly anticipated delivery. Measuring 1,094 feet long and 136 feet wide, the ship is the second in the line’s Breakaway-Plus class and the first that was purpose-built for China.

“We are thrilled Norwegian Joy has officially begun her journey to China,” said David Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings China. “As the first custom-built ship for the Chinese cruise market, she will offer a First Class at Sea experience for our guests and we cannot wait to officially welcome her to the fleet this June.”

The 168,800-gross-ton Norwegian Joy departed Meyer Werft at approximately 9:00 pm local time, making a narrow passage in reverse through the shipyard's locks, passing the structure with just 1.2 meters separating the ship from the "bumpers" installed along the locks. The ship’s navigation team, led by experienced yard captains and River Ems pilots, included several navigation officers in charge of overseeing the bow maneuvers and others overseeing the movement of the stern. Several local authorities and other partners were also involved in supporting this precise maneuver.

After passing through the sea lock in Papenburg, Norwegian Joy continued along the river, stern first. Due to the strong propulsion in the aft section of the vessel, traveling stern first helps with maneuverability, which is a key component when navigating the vessel through such narrow passages.

Before reaching her final destination in Eemshaven, Netherlands on Monday evening, March 27, Norwegian Joy passed through additional narrow passages including a railway Bridge in Weener; Jann-Berghaus Bridge in Leer and Ems-Barrier in Gandersum. Upon arrival in the Dutch port of Eemshaven, Norwegian Joy will take on additional provisions and further crew members, before heading toward the North Sea for sea trials later this month.

Following her delivery on April 27, Norwegian Joy sets sail for China, where she will be showcased through a grand inaugural port tour featuring one-day events at the ports of Qingdao, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, as well as VIP partner cruises from Norwegian Joy’s home-ports of Shanghai and Tianjin. This unique showcase tour will give travel agents and valued partners across the region the special opportunity to experience all that Norwegian Joy has to offer leading up to the ship’s christening ceremony on June 27, led by her Godfather, ‘King of Chinese Pop’, Wang Leehom. The spectacular inaugural celebration in Shanghai will include an exclusive concert and overnight cruise for honored guests.

Viking Cruises launches new Resident Historian program

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 March 2017 24 March 2017

Viking Cruises has announced the rollout of its new onboard Viking Resident Historian program. Launching on Viking Star, Viking Sea and Viking Sky this month, a carefully selected faculty of historians will provide an enhanced level of enrichment for guests onboard all of Viking’s ocean cruise ships. A new video on the Resident Historian program can be found on the Viking website.

The Viking Resident Historians will provide guests with a high-level historical and cultural education that is specific to their journey, offering a framework for understanding the major chapters in world history. They will also conduct seminar-style roundtables – smaller, more intimate forums for discussion with guests, where the Viking Resident Historian will examine in-depth subjects related to their own area of specialization and/or particular areas of interest of the guests.

“Our guests are explorers – they are curious travelers who want to learn,” said Karine Hagen, Senior Vice President of Viking Cruises, who leads Viking’s enrichment efforts. “Having a fundamental understanding of iconic historical events in the destinations our guests visit helps bring a deeper understanding of the present – and perhaps also a better perspective on the future.”

The Viking Resident Historians have been engaged to provide a history course as a refresher, which is then supplemented by onboard Guest Lecturers who contribute their particular expertise (art, architecture, music, etc.) of the region. The responsibilities of Viking Resident Historians extend well beyond just lectures during each cruise itinerary and include:

– Presenting itinerary iconic lectures (examples in Europe and Scandinavia include: The Roman Empire; The Ottoman Empire; The Hanseatic League; Imperial Russia)
– Conducting roundtable discussions (examples include: The Elgin Marbles; Women Explorers; Venetian Naval Power)
– Hosting history-themed dinner discussions onboard
– Holding daily “office hours” for one-on-one time with guests
– Being available for guest questions and interactions outside lectures and office hours throughout the itinerary

The Viking Resident Historian lectures are exclusively produced by Viking, under the tutelage of Dr. Charles Doherty, Chief Viking Resident Historian. The lectures are standardized as a core curriculum to guarantee consistency throughout the fleet, regardless of which Viking Resident Historian is lecturing. As with other onboard lectures, the Viking Resident Historian series will be presented in The Theater – and each will also be filmed and made available for guests on the in-room entertainment system. Additionally, the series is currently being professionally filmed in-studio, and in early 2018 will be available in its entirety on-demand through the in-room entertainment system on all Viking river and ocean ships. Charles Doherty, PhD, has lectured in more than 60 countries for The National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian and the American Museum of Natural History. Dr. Doherty received his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and attended the Courtauld Institute in London as a Fulbright Scholar.

The first three Viking Resident Historians that will be featured onboard Viking’s three ocean cruise ships this spring are:

– Dr. Mark Callaghan holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of London, an M.A. in Art History from Oxford University and a B.A. in Art History from the University of Manchester. Dr. Callaghan is a specialist in 20th century European art and culture and will serve as the Viking Resident Historian on Viking Sky on sailings of Empires of the Mediterranean this spring.
– Lt. Colonel Tony Coutts-Britton is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and served with the British Army in Europe and Asia – and later with NATO in the Partnership for Peace program. Lt. Col. Coutts-Britton lectures on the social and political aspects of European military history and will serve as the Viking Resident Historian on Viking Sea on sailings of Empires of the Mediterranean this spring.
– Dr. Fenella Bazin holds a Ph.D. from the University of Liverpool, is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and is a Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool’s Center for Manx Studies. Dr. Bazin is a specialist in the Age of the Vikings and modern Norway and will serve as the Viking Resident Historian on Viking Star on sailings of Empires of the Mediterranean this spring.