Princess announces fourth ship to debut Medallion Class

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 20 February 2017 20 February 2017

Princess Cruises announced last week that Island Princess will be the fourth cruise ship to feature the Ocean Medallion, debuting May 16, 2018 for the Alaska season. The wearable device powered by a first-of-its-kind interactive technology platform within the One Cruise Experience Access Network (O·C·E·A·N), enables a new level of personalization and delivers an enhanced guest experience not previously available in the global vacation industry.

Unveiled by Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald during his opening keynote last month at CES 2017, Princess Cruises is the first Carnival Corporation brand to debut this groundbreaking innovation. The Ocean Medallion is the only accessory needed to elevate the guest experience on cruises by offering unparalleled customer service.

Island Princess joins three other cruise ships scheduled to debut Medallion Class Ocean Vacations – Regal Princess on November 13, 2017, followed by Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess in early 2018, and Island Princess starting on May 16, 2018. The Medallion Class Alaska cruise will set sail on the top-rated Voyage of the Glaciers seven-day itinerary between Vancouver and Anchorage (Whittier), with a trip to the state’s best glacial waters including Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“As the leading cruise line in Alaska, it’s fitting that our fourth ship to feature Medallion Class Ocean Vacations is Island Princess,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “Sailing on our most popular Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary, our guests will enjoy the best Alaska has to offer and enjoy an elevated cruise vacation experience – connecting each other and the extraordinary people and culture of the ‘Great Land’ in a more memorable way.”

Medallion Class makes cruising more personal, immersive, simple and seamless than previously considered possible. At the heart of this personalized experience is the Ocean Medallion, which enables endless vacation possibilities. The Ocean Medallion has no discernible technology – no on-off switch, no charging, no menu to navigate – and can be worn as a pendant, on a wristband, in a clip or simply placed in a pocket to reveal enhanced services and personalized experiences without guests having to push a button or take any action. The pre-cruise engagement will allow guests to provide preferences that detail their wants, needs and desires so that their onboard experience can be personalized.

Pairing with the Ocean Medallion is the Ocean Compass – a digital concierge accessible by all guests using interactive displays throughout the ship, on stateroom TVs, via guests’ own smart devices, or through a crew member. For example, guests can find their way to venues around the ship; make reservations at the Lotus Spa, specialty dining restaurants and shore excursions; arrange celebrations; view photographs; learn about the destinations they will visit and activities at each port of call and more. The Ocean Compass will invite guests to experiences based on their individual needs, wants and desires.

Stena Line’s four new vessels planned for Belfast routes

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 18 February 2017 18 February 2017

Last year Stena announced a newbuild contract of four RoPax vessels with a planned delivery schedule during 2019 and 2020. The contract also contains an option for another four vessels to be ordered. The four vessels are being built at the AVIC Shipyard in China and the plan is to locate the vessels on the Irish Sea, specifically on Stena Line’s routes to and from its expanding Belfast hub.

“The routes to and from Belfast are strategically very important to Stena Line and during the last number of years we have made significant investments in ports and vessels to improve and develop our capacity offering a frequent high quality service for our customers to and from Belfast. Looking ahead, we intend to continue our ambitious development plan for our business in the region and the new vessels are a part of this strategic plan. During the last few years we have seen a steady growth in freight and passenger volumes and we believe this will continue. Last year was a record year for us when we for the first time carried over 500,000 freight units through Belfast Port. These new vessels will be the largest ferries ever to operate between Belfast and Great Britain," said Stena Line’s CEO Niclas Mårtensson.

Joe O’Neil, Commercial Director, Belfast Harbour commented: “We are delighted that Stena Line is planning for Belfast as the location for its next generation of RoPax vessels in what is a significant investment in and enhancement of Northern Ireland’s premier freight and tourism gateway. Belfast Harbour has worked in close partnership with Stena Line over the last two decades to help it expand its Belfast routes into a flourishing hub and this very welcome investment news comes on the back of a record year for Stena Line’s freight business in Belfast Harbour. We look forward to welcoming the new vessels and the associated benefits they will bring to Belfast Harbour and the economy of Northern Ireland.”

The new vessels are being constructed in line with Stena Line’s strategic focus on sustainability.

“The new RoPax vessels will be among the most fuel efficient in the world with approximately 25% lower CO2 emissions per cargo unit than current RoPax tonnage. Our aim is to lead the development of sustainability within the shipping industry and set a new industry standard when it comes to operational performance, emissions and cost competiveness. The vessels will run on traditional fuel, but are designed to the class notation “gas ready” and are also prepared for scrubbers as well as catalytic converters, giving us flexibility for the future," says Niclas Mårtensson.

Keel laying for Viking Spirit

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 18 February 2017 18 February 2017

The keel laying ceremony for Viking Spirit, the fifth of six cruise ships Viking Ocean Cruises has ordered from Fincantieri, took place on February 16 at the shipyard in Ancona.

The first building block of the ship, about 11 meters long, 28.8 wide and weighing about 280 tons, is part of the central section of Viking Spirit, due to delivery in 2018.

Viking Spirit, as its sister ships, will be placed in the small cruise ship segment. In fact, with a gross tonnage of about 47,800 tons, it will have 473 cabins with accommodation for 946 passengers, with a total capacity of over 1,400 people, including the crew.

The Viking Ocean Cruises units are all built according to the latest navigation regulations and equipped with the most modern safety systems, including the “Safe return to port”. Furthermore, they feature the most advanced technologies for energy saving and for meeting the strictest environmental regulations with energy-efficient engines and an exhaust gas cleaning system.
The first of the series, Viking Star, has been built at the shipyard in Marghera and delivered in March 2015.

Viking Sea and Viking Sky, took the sea from the shipyard in Ancona respectively in March 2016 and January 2017. Viking Sun, launched in December 2016 in the same shipyard, will enter into service in autumn 2017, while Viking Spirit, whose dry dock works started on February 16, and the sixth and last unit of the series, will instead be delivered respectively in 2018 and 2019.

Fincantieri has built 76 cruise ships from 1990 to today, while other 31 are currently being designed or built in the Group’s yards.

Palma de Mallorca to host AIDAperla christening

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 16 February 2017 16 February 2017

AIDAperla, the twelfth member of the AIDA fleet, will be christened on Friday, June 30, 2017, in Palma de Mallorca (Spain). The Christening Cruise will last from June 24 until July 1, 2017, leading from Palma de Mallorca to three Mediterranean metropolises: Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence (Livorno) and Barcelona. Tickets are available now. This unique voyage is available for booking from today (February 15, 2017) on, 10.00 am.

Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, comments on the christening of the newest member of the fleet: "Those who know AIDA also know about our unique christening ceremonies. The skyline of Palma's old town will be the breathtaking backdrop for a spectacular show of music and light, transforming the night skies above AIDAperla into a glistening flood of color on the evening of her christening."

Those unable to join the event in Palma de Mallorca or on board AIDAperla are nevertheless encouraged to save the date of June 30, 2017: the christening ceremony will be streamed live on the internet and various social media channels. The company will soon announce more details about the christening.

From July 1, 2017, the cruise ship – which is 300 meters long and 37.6 meters wide – will be sailing the western Mediterranean. The capital of the Germans' favorite island, Palma de Mallorca, and Barcelona are the ports of departure and arrival for the seven-day cruises to e.g. Rome (Civitavecchia), Corsica and Florence (Livorno).

AIDAperla will be visiting Germany for the first time in March 2018. The Hanseatic City of Hamburg will be the home port of multiple 7-night round trips to the most beautiful metropolises in Western Europe, such as London (Southampton), Paris (Le Havre), Brussels (Zeebrugge) and Rotterdam.