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Seabourn names Gerald Mosslinger Vice President Hotel Operations

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 November 2016 16 November 2016

Seattle-based, ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn has named Gerald Mosslinger as the new vice president of hotel operations.

In the role, Mosslinger will be responsible for the line's overall marine hotel operations, including culinary, guest services and administration, and entertainment. He previously spent more than seven years at Seabourn, both ashore in Miami, Fla., and aboard the line's ships.

"We are pleased to welcome Gerald back to the Seabourn team as we continue our leadership role in the luxury travel segment in 2017 and beyond," said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. "I'm looking forward to his influence and expertise, which will continue to drive our award-winning guest experience along with innovative new ideas that deliver a rich travel experience."

Mosslinger most recently served as vice president, food and beverage, for Holland America Line. His professional career includes a stint with Joachim Splichal's Patina Restaurant Group based in Los Angeles, where he served as regional vice president.

MSC Magnifica to operate eight months from Southampton in 2018, company aims position among top three in UK

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 November 2016 15 November 2016

MSC Cruises, the world’s fourth largest cruise shipping company, said it would return to the UK by operating MSC Magnifica from Southampton from April to November 2018, Travel Weekly reports.

The company wants to establish itself among the three major cruise operators on the UK market. “We have created itineraries that make the most of the British Isles and the best of what are customers can experience out of their own country. I am really excited, this is game on for us. I want us to become one of the top three cruise lines in the UK,” MSC Cruises’ UK Managing director Antonio Paradiso was quoted as saying.

“We are coming back to the UK with our ship (MSC)Magnifica for a whole season, it is a big comeback for us and we are very excited. It marks a new dedication from MSC to the UK market and how we want to be one of the most popular cruise lines in the country.”

There will be five new itineraries out of Southampton including a 14-day sailing calling at Le Havre, La Coruna, Leixoes, Lisbon, Malaga then Amsterdam and Hamburg. A North Sea sailing will travel to Stavanger, Bergen, Olden and Alesund in Norway plus a round-UK sailing calling at Southampton, Newcastle, South Queensferry in Edinburgh and Invergordon. Following the UK sailings, the Magnifica will then host the company’s first ever world cruise from January 2019, the report said.

Crystal Esprit expedition yacht to sail in the Caribbean from November 2017

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 November 2016 15 November 2016

Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, part of the Los Angeles based Crystal Cruises unit of Genting Hong Kong, said it is redeploying its ultra-luxury yacht, Crystal Esprit, to the islands of the West Indies beginning in November 2017 and for all of 2018.

Beyond putting the luxury yachting experience within greater geographical reach for the majority of Crystal’s guests, the shift will also focus on conveniently timed itineraries, the company said in a statement.

Sailing round-trip on Sundays from Marigot Bay, St Martin, two distinct seven-night routes will alternate for easily combinable extended holidays. The ports of call are decidedly in line with access unique to a boutique yachting experience, with visits to the idyllic harbours of destinations long favoured by travellers.

As Crystal Esprit’s newly unveiled itineraries focus heavily on the glamorous but laid back yachting lifestyle, the tropical locations will also allow travellers to take full advantage of the active pursuits and abundant water sports amenities in the yacht’s high-tech private marina, including the first submarine in the cruise industry. Crystal Esprit’s new West Indies itineraries include:

British Virgin Islands & Saint-Barthélemy Yachting Escape: Marigot Bay, St. Martin; Gustavia, St. Barthélemy; Anegada, Scrub Island (overnight), Jost Van Dyke, Great Harbor (overnight), Salt Island, Tortola/Road Town, Peter Island (overnight), The Indians, Virgin Gorda, Gorda Sound (overnight), British Virgin Islands West Indies Yachting Explorer: Marigot Bay, St. Martin (overnight); Sandy Ground, Anguilla; Saba, Netherlands Antilles; Falmouth Harbor, Antigua & Barbuda; Nevis; Gustavia, St. Barthélemy (overnight); Orient Bay, St. Martin

“The decision to reposition Crystal Esprit to the West Indies is one that was made with our guests’ expressed wishes in mind, as more luxury travellers seek curated adventure with the seamless ease and convenience that Crystal’s attention to detail provides,” says Crystal’s CEO and president, Edie Rodriguez. “While long coveted by celebrities and other selective travellers, the West Indies remain largely exclusive, hidden gems that will almost certainly top Crystal guests’ bucket lists.”

MV Werften confirms revised five year production schedule

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 November 2016 15 November 2016

MV Werften, the German shipbuilding unit in the Genting Hong Kong group, has confirmed a revised five year production schedule that mirrors an earlier decision to postpone the Exclusive class of Crystal Cruises, another unit of Genting Hong Kong.

The ships to be built in the next five years are:

– Four “Rhine Class” river cruisers for Crystal River Cruises for delivery in 2017 and 2018

– Three “Endeavor Class” 20,000 gross tons exploration yachts for Crystal Yacht Cruises to be delivered in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and

– Two “Global Class” 201,000 gross tons mega cruise ships for Star Cruises to be delivered in 2020 and 2021.

Crystal Cruises said on 1 November: "In the first quarter of 2022, Crystal will introduce the first Crystal Exclusive Class™ ocean ship that will set a new standard of luxury travel with signature features and guest amenities, and boast luxurious Crystal Residences, allowing travelers to literally call a Crystal ship home.”

On the crystalthenextchapter.com website the launch of the first of planned three 117,000 gross ton Exclusive class ship is given as the autumn of 2019.

TUI Cruises offers €4,000-plus wedding present to win on first LGBT cruise

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 November 2016 14 November 2016

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise shipping company, is offering a wedding package worth more than €4,000 for a couple to win on the first Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual, Bisexual (LGBT) cruise of the line.

In order to win, the prospective couples should register their details on rainbow-cruise.com, submit their photos, describe how they met and suggest why they should be the winners of the package.

The Rainbow Cruise of Mein Schiff 2 will depart Palma de Mallorca on 29 April for seven nights. It all be the first cruise on the German speaking market that targets the LGBT segment.