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MSC Cruises announces its first-ever World Cruise

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 November 2016 14 November 2016

MSC Cruises — the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa — announced today the opening of sales of its first-ever World Cruise.

The MSC World Cruise features the industry’s largest and most modern ship to offer this type of extended voyage. MSC Magnifica will depart from Genoa on January 5, 2019 and complete her around-the-world voyage back to Genoa 119 days later on May 3, 2019. "Crossing six continents and calling at 49 unique destinations in 32 countries, this one-of-a-kind world cruise will be an unforgettable dream come true for voyagers, while allowing them to travel in the comfort and elegance that guests have come to expect from MSC Cruises and its ships," MSC Cruises said in a statement.

“As a company, MSC Cruises is committed to providing truly special and unique experiences to its guests. For this reason, when developing the world cruise and its one-of-a-kind itinerary, we have listened to our guests feedback and know that for many the opportunity to travel the world in comfort and style is a lifelong aspiration,” said MSC Cruises’ Chief Executive Officer Gianni Onorato. “As one of the world’s truly international cruise companies, making available to our guests and travelers from around the globe a product such as a world cruise is a natural progression. Naturally, we did it in true MSC Cruises fashion, by making available the best possible ship to enjoy such a voyage – MSC Magnifica – and featuring an itinerary like no other available in the market.”

Throughout the 119 day globetrotting voyage, guests will visit some of the most historic ports, bustling cosmopolitan cities and remote, exotic island paradises around the globe. Highlights of this one-of-a-kind cruise include:

– Exotic and uncharted destinations: From the warm, archipelago of Tonga and the pristine waters of Bora Bora to the thriving culture of Cartagena and oasis of Aqaba, MSC Cruises has hand-selected 49 coveted destinations across the world — many of which are only available to cruise lovers and world travelers alike via this cruise. The MSC World Cruise will also offer guests the opportunity to explore New Zealand, Fiji and the Maldives as well as an expanded comprehensive tour of “off the beaten path” Caribbean islands, with nine ports of call in the region.

– Exclusive and unprecedented shore experiences: MSC Cruises continues its commitment to providing authentic experiences to satisfy the needs of all guests with an extensive choice of excursions. Whether riding the elephants of Pinnawela, snorkelling in the lagoons of Moorea or touring the Nga Bay National Park, guests are able to immerse themselves in local culture and experience the best that each destination has to offer. Furthermore, exclusive to MSC World Cruise, guests will be able to book 15 complimentary shore excursions of their choice to really explore the globe like never before.

– True discovery: In order to take advantage of the local culture and activities of each call, MSC World Cruise guests will have plenty of time to explore. With an above-industry average stay of 13 hours on shore per port of call, guests will be able to fully experience and discover at their own pace.

– Extended stays in coveted destinations: For popular destinations with a range of activities, MSC Cruises has arranged extended in-port stays that no other cruise line offers, including four full days in Polynesia, three full days in both Hawaii and San Francisco, and two full days in Los Angeles.

– Quality onboard experience: Spending 118 nights on board, MSC Cruises knows how important it is to make guests feel at home. To make traveling easier, MSC will offer numerous onboard discounts, including a 30% discount on laundry services. Every little detail has been considered to ensure that it is now even more convenient than ever to make this the voyage of a lifetime.

In addition to the immense variety of destinations and experiences to be had while on shore, MSC Magnifica will enable guests to travel in real comfort and style. Built in 2010, the ship boasts masterful design and relaxed refinement, with all of the features that distinguish any MSC Cruises ship, including one of the highest ratios of balcony staterooms, high quality service, fresh and authentic dining options including four restaurants and 11 bars, modern and comfortable staterooms as well as a wide range of entertainment and leisure activities. From the gourmet restaurants serving cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients and authentic inspiration from around the world to the wide variety of world class entertainment offerings including a full-scale casino, panoramic discotheque, cigar lounge, 4D cinema and much more – guests will feel the attention to detail in service and design that is a trademark for MSC Cruises.

While there are plenty of activities to enjoy at sea, guests can also opt to escape to relaxation at one of the many on board havens. This includes MSC Magnifica’s award-winning MSC Aurea Spa, with traditional Balinese massages found nowhere else at sea in addition to a number of other ultramodern beauty treatments, a sauna, Turkish bath and thalassotherapy room.

Starting November 14, 2016 for one month MSC Voyagers Club members will be able to exclusively book the entire 118 night cruise with sales opening up to the general public on December 14. Round trip embarkation/disembarkation ports of call include Civitavecchia/Rome, Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona. Guests can book staterooms on the world cruise starting from $16,999 – just $144 per person per night.

Fincantieri bids to acquire full control of Vard Holding

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

Fincantieri, the Italian shipbuilding group, said it has launched a voluntary offer to acquire the 44.37% of the shares in Vard Holding, the Norwegian shipbuilding group that it does not already own.

The offer which has been made through the Italian group’s Fincantieri Oil & Gas unit, values the Singapore listed Vard’s shares at SGD0.24 each or SGD125.6 million in total.

Vard is one of the largest global shipbuilders of offshore and specialised vessels, with about 9,000 employees and nine shipyards in Norway, Romania, Brazil and Vietnam. In the course of this year, it has established itself as a major builder of expedition cruise vessels.

“The purpose of the Offer is to delist Vard from the Singapore Stock Exchange and the Offer is conditional upon Fincantieri O&G acquiring more than 90% of the total Vard shares. Once this condition is met, the Singapore Stock Exchange may suspend trading of the Vard shares following the close of the Offer,” Fincantieri said.

“The offer period will begin on the day an Offer document is dispatched to shareholders, and will end on a date at least 28 days after the day the Offer document is dispatched, subject to further extensions,” the Italian company concluded.

Construction of three new American Cruise Lines' ships progresses in Maryland

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 November 2016 13 November 2016

American Cruise Lines, the largest U.S. cruise company, has announced that three new cruise ships now under construction for its fleet. The new ships, which are being built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD, will continue to raise the standard for cruising in the United States. American Cruise Lines has always chosen to build new ships, as it considers refurbished boats unable to meet guest expectations for comfort, spacious staterooms, and modern amenities.

American Constellation, the first one to be delivered, has a capacity of 170 passengers and is scheduled to begin cruising in May of 2017. Construction is currently 9 weeks ahead of schedule and the ship is now being outfitted with passenger details including marbled tile bathrooms and large sliding glass doors in each stateroom. Recently the signature red, white, and blue stack was lifted into place on the top deck. Uniquely designed to navigate the coastal waters of the U.S., this new ship features active wing stabilizers, the latest green propulsion technology, and many modern amenities. It will also feature the largest staterooms in the industry with private balconies and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. Much of American Constellations’ inaugural summer season will be spent on a new 10-night round-trip itinerary from Boston, MA to many popular destinations, including Bar Harbor, Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

The sister ship to American Constellation is also well underway, is scheduled to be completed in 2018, and will carry 170 passengers. Steel is now being fabricated for a third ship which will be the lead in a series of new riverboats destined for the American rivers. This new, modern riverboat will carry approximately 195 passengers. American Cruise Lines will be relaying the details and renderings of this new riverboat in the near future.

“American Cruise Lines ships are the newest and most environmentally friendly in America,” says Timothy Beebe, Vice President of American Cruise Lines. “By continually designing and building brand new ships, we are able to exceed the expectations of seasoned European river travelers right here in the U.S.”

Carnival Fantasy kicks off short cruises from Alabama

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 November 2016 11 November 2016

Carnival Fantasy arrived at its new homeport of Mobile, Ala., Wednesday to launch a schedule of year-round 4- and 5-night cruises to Mexico.

The ship’s arrival was marked with a special invitation-only event that included a competition for charity featuring Carnival President Christine Duffy, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, President of the Mobile City Council Gina Gregory, and Carnival Fantasy Captain Bruno Palomba, as well as a traditional maritime plaque exchange between cruise line and port officials. The competition, part of Carnival’s popular Hasbro, The Game Show activities, included a $20,000 donation each to the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Alabama and Feeding the Gulf Coast.

Following the event, the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy departed Mobile on a sold-out 5-night cruise to Cozumel and Progreso, kicking off a year-long schedule of 4- and 5-night cruises to these Mexican ports.

“With its Southern charm, excellent terminal facilities and easy-to-reach location, Mobile is a terrific new addition to Carnival’s homeport lineup and we’re delighted to offer these convenient and affordable cruises to Mexico’s most popular ports of call,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “From Mayor Sandy Stimpson and everyone at the City of Mobile to the Alabama Cruise Terminal team and the entire Mobile community, we are greatly appreciative for their partnership and the very warm welcome,” she added.

“We are pleased and excited to welcome Carnival Cruise Lines back to the City of Mobile,” said Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “This is a moment we’ve been working toward since the day we took office. It represents a win for our city, a win for Carnival and most of all a win for the thousands of people who can once again enjoy a great cruise out of one of America’s greatest cities.”

Carnival Vista's U.S. arrival celebrated with shipboard concert for military families

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 November 2016 07 November 2016

To celebrate the U.S. arrival of its newest, largest and most innovative ship, Carnival Cruise Line held an overnight gala event on November 4 in New York featuring a concert for Operation Homefront military families by the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year and seven-time GRAMMY award-winning country music super star Carrie Underwood.

The event also included the ship’s official naming ceremony with Miss USA Deshauna Barber – the first woman serving in the U.S. military to hold the title – presiding over the ceremonies as godmother and releasing the ceremonial bottle of champagne that smashed over the hull of the 133,500 gross ton ship. In addition to the concert, the festivities included overnight accommodations, meals, activities and entertainment for hundreds of military families.

The festivities represented the culmination of Honor.Family.Fun., Carnival’s year-long celebration to support Operation Homefront and help the organization fulfill its mission of building strong, stable, and secure military families.

”Carnival Cruise Line carries more active and retired military personnel and I couldn’t think of a better way to introduce this spectacular vessel than by honoring and celebrating the sacrifices of our Armed Forces personnel,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Deshauna is the ideal candidate to serve as Carnival Vista’s godmother, embodying the spirit of commitment and sacrifice of those who protect our freedoms each and every day.”

Underwood performed an hour-long set for hundreds of military personnel and their families, many of whom were given the chance of a lifetime to meet the artist during various meet and greet opportunities during stops along her Storyteller Tour, and were invited to attend the festivities aboard Carnival Vista.

“It was truly an honor to perform aboard Carnival Vista today and celebrate the incredible sacrifices of the brave men and women of the Armed Forces,” said Underwood. “Throughout my partnership with Carnival Cruise Line we have recognized the efforts of our dedicated military personnel while raising funds for Operation Homefront. It is something I am very proud to be a part of.”

The daughter of a retired Army master sergeant who was a member of the Special Forces, Barber joined the Army Reserve as a quartermaster officer in 2011. After earning her bachelors in business management from Virginia State University, Barber went on to complete her masters in computer information systems from the University of Maryland University College. She currently serves as logistics commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit in Rockville, Md.

“I’m honored to serve as godmother of the brand new Carnival Vista and join a long line of strong, successful women who have fulfilled this time-honored role,” said Barber. “In addition to serving as godmother, today was extra special as I had the opportunity to meet several Operation Homefront families and hear their stories. It is a day I’ll never forget.”

"We're thrilled Carnival Cruise Line has honored those that do so much for the freedoms we enjoy daily – our service members and their families – with a truly memorable day onboard their newest ship,” said Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray Jr., president and CEO of Operation Homefront. "Like-minded partners, like Carnival and Carrie Underwood, clearly demonstrate, through their actions, their steadfast commitment to our men and women in uniform."

As the line’s newest ship, Carnival Vista introduced a number of groundbreaking innovations including the first brewery on a North American-based cruise ship, the first IMAX Theatre at sea, the most elaborate water park in the fleet highlighted by the 455-foot-long Kaleid-o-slide, a groundbreaking bike-ride-in-the-sky aerial attraction called SkyRide, and the new Family Harbor with specially designed staterooms for families, a family concierge and more.

Carnival Vista will operate a pair of 11-night sailings from New York before launching year-round 6- and 8-night Caribbean service from Miami beginning Nov. 27.