Costa Cruises and the Ligurian Regional Administration join forces to promote tourism in Savona

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 17 June 2016 17 June 2016

Costa Cruises and the Ligurian Regional Administration have announced a brand new initiative designed to promote tourism in Savona, Italy. Beginning in late June, cruise guests arriving on Costa’s ships will be able to go on a walking tour specially designed as a journey of discovery of the town and its typical products.

"This initiative stems from our partnership with the Ligurian Regional Administration and is intended to be another major contribution towards further development of the town's vocation for tourism," said Neil Palomba, president of Costa Cruises. "Some one million of our cruisers come here every year, from countries around Europe and internationally and now they will have the chance to discover the best of Savona, with its treasures that are little known even in the rest of Liguria and which we want to help convey to the world. We were the first to believe in Savona as a cruise destination back in 1996; over the years it has become our main port of call in the Mediterranean and its reputation as tourist resort is growing all the time."

"The Regional Administration continues to be actively engaged in the promotion of Savona and environs,” said Giovanni Toti, governor of Liguria. "We believe that this area can and must become a center of Mediterranean tourism. With a partner like Costa Cruises, I am sure that we will achieve great things and finally foster that part of our heritage that is hidden or, even worse, forgotten. This administration is convinced that tourism is an industry with great investment potential. We are laying the groundwork for development of the system as a whole and we are doing so intelligently, the aim being to capitalize on our rich history and splendid array of attractions."

“I was very impressed by Costa Cruises' willingness to meet the needs of local stakeholders," said Ilaria Cavo, the Ligurian Regional Administration's Councilor for Culture and Communication. "The fact that cultural attractions like these, which are maintained only thanks to the efforts of volunteers, will now be visited by thousands of tourists on walking tours is a wonderful opportunity for their promotion. It will also be a booster for the local economy and is reward for the efforts made in this area to date. I will be announcing the news to Savona personally. Culture will be one of the main means of re-energizing the tourism industry in Liguria."

The new Savona walking tours begin from Palacrociere cruise terminal and include visits of the Baroque Cappella Sistina, the Priamar Fortress and the landmark Torre del Brandale. Like on any other Costa shore tour, cruisers will be accompanied by professional guides who speak the languages of everybody on the excursion and who will explain the history of these monuments and their wonderful art, architecture and culture.

The tours will also feature stops in some of the old-world shops in Savona's picturesque old center with tasting of typical local products, such as focaccia, farinata (a kind of chickpea pancake), chinotto and amaretti, plus a visit of ceramic workshops. Guests will then have time at leisure before returning on foot to the Palacrociere. The walking tour lasts around 3.5 hours.

Between the end of June 2016 and the end of 2017, Costa's ships will be porting in Savona about 300 times and the walking tour of discovery of the town will be available for guests on every one. In particular, the flagship Costa Diadema will be at the Palacrociere every Saturday on seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises.

Celestyal to sail Cuba's Punta Frances throughout 2016-2017 season

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 16 June 2016 16 June 2016

Celestyal Cruises has announced its newest port of call Punta Frances for the upcoming 2016-2017 Caribbean season.

"Chosen for its authentic vibe, impeccable coastlines, and crystalline waters shimmering in virtually every shade of blue, Punta Frances will replace Maria La Gorda on Celestyal Cruises’ all-inclusive 7-night Cuba itinerary. Located on the secluded Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth), Punta Francés features nearly two miles of sugary white sand beaches and crystalline Caribbean seas where travelers can discover the natural splendors of one of the country's most memorable marine sanctuaries: Punta Frances National Marine Park. The protected area is abundant with a multitude of bird species, gardens of sponges and corals, vast sea life," Celestyal said in a press release.

The revised itinerary offers travelers opportunities to enjoy both on-board and on-shore the unique immersion in Cuban natural beauty and deep-dive into an authentic Cuban experience which only Celestyal Cruises can provide.

The updated 7-night, all-inclusive Celestyal Cruises Cuba cruise itinerary to be performed starting in November 2016, through the end of 2017 offers embarkation in either Havana, Cuba or Montego Bay, Jamaica and is scheduled weekly as follows:

Monday – Havana
Tuesday – Havana – Depart at 17:00
Wednesday – Punta Frances – Arrive at 13:00; Depart at 18:00
Thursday – Cienfuegos – Arrive at 07:00; Depart at 15:00
Friday – Montego Bay – Arrive at 08:00; Depart at 20:00
Saturday – Santiago de Cuba – Arrive at 08:00; Depart at 16:00
Sunday – At Sea
Monday – Havana – Arrive at 09:30

Meyer family establishes two foundations to own shipyards in Papenburg, Warnemunde and Turku

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 15 June 2016 15 June 2016

The Meyer family has establish two foundations to own the Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg and Warnemunde, Germany, and Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, the German shipbuilding company said in a statement.

Founded in 1795, the family company’s success has relied on a long-term approach that has aimed to develop technology, advance the skill-set of employees, and reinvest profits. “The basis for this success is a stable ownership structure. To ensure this stability also for the future, the family has decided to donate its shares into family foundations,” Meyer Werft said.

“The legal form of a German family foundation is a proven framework to ensure a long term stable ownership in a single hand supporting the sustainable development of the shipyards in Turku, Papenburg and Warnemünde,” it stated..

The next generation of the Meyer family is entering the business: Dr. Jan Meyer (39) is in the family business since 2008 and the CEO of Meyer Turku Oy, since 2014. Since 1 June, 2016, Tim Meyer (34) has entered the family business as one of the managing directors at Meyer Werft in Papenburg. Furthermore Dr. Paul Meyer (33) is taking over the responsibility for the IT of all shipyards as CIO.

“Family foundations are for us the ideal framework to maintain a single and stable owner for the shipyards in Turku, Papenburg and Warnemünde – also for future generations. By this step we want to secure the core success factors of our long-term success and maintain the character of a family company,” said Bernard Meyer.

Mein Schiff 5 to feature coffee shop-reading room

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 14 June 2016 14 June 2016

Mein Schiff 5, the latest unit of TUI Cruises in Hamburg, will feature a coffee ship reading room thanks to cooperation between the premium market cruise line and Nespresso, the coffee brand.

Thalia Leselounge & Nespresso Bar will be located near the reception area on deck 3. It will serve a wide variety of coffees and passengers can also buy coffee makers that will be delivered to their home after the cruise.

The lounge, which derives its name from the Thalia chain of book stores that has around 300 otlets in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and it will feature books of a wide range of genres, TUI Cruises said in a statement.

It will also feature eReaders that passengers can borrow to read books in digital format, the company said.