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MSC Cruises launches Sir Bani Yas 'private island' experience in the Emirates

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 June 2016 01 June 2016

MSC Cruises has announced the first details of yet another exclusive island destination, the Sir Bani Yas Island beach oasis, which will further enrich the cruise line’s winter 2016/2017 cruise itineraries in the Emirates.

The 1.5 mile-long stretch of land on the natural island of Sir Bani Yas – just off the southwest coast of Abu Dhabi – has been transformed into a beach oasis destination, exclusively for MSC Cruises guests. Activities on the island will mirror the world of choices unique to an MSC Cruises’ experience. Starting in December 2016, MSC Fantasia will add this exclusive, brand new destination to its already rich winter cruise itineraries in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi region – allowing guests to spend a full day on this stunning tropical island paradise.

“Last year we announced the new Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, said Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises CEO. “Today’s announcement is further proof of our commitment to enriching our itineraries and to making available to our guests unique experiences that enable them to discover new cultures and beauties. Additionally, this new, exclusive beach oasis experience stays true to our core values to provide our guests excellence in service, the best in entertainment as well as food options that are of the highest quality and always fresh.”

MSC Cruises has been working on perfecting this destination together with the Abu Dhabi Ports Authority for more than two years. The tropical beach oasis is on a smaller island connected to the main island by an attractive wooden boardwalk that allows MSC Cruises’ guests exclusive access to an authentic beach vacation experience – with hundreds of palm trees, shaded cabanas and more than 2,000 sunbeds across 387,500 sq.ft. of fine golden beaches. Other key facilities include, amongst others:

– An exclusive, private space for MSC Yacht Club guests with an area serving elegant finger food and refreshments;

– An MSC Aurea Spa area offering a menu of relaxing massages from beachside cabana huts with stunning sea views. Spa treatments available include the Aurea Del Mare massage with seashells, bamboo massage therapy and a range of Bali massages;

– Sports facilities, including beach volleyball and tennis;

– A family and kids-dedicated area, with a parents’ pergola;

– A Bedouin tent offering arts and crafts created by local communities; and

– A lounge space with a bar and live music, for relaxing.

In true MSC Cruises style, on the island guests will be able to enjoy a selection of fresh and authentic food options, with a range of cooking stations serving small delights from the region as well as international favorites. Guests can also expect to see beachside charcoal BBQs serving light dishes and snacks, and exotic cocktails served from one of six beach bars. Ship food and drink services, such as drink packages, extend onto the island to ensure that the guest experience between the ship and the island is completely seamless.

The Sir Bani Yas Island MSC Cruises beach oasis offers something for everyone – from relaxation to action, to nature appreciation and culture. For those wishing to relax and unwind, the beautiful beach has a number of natural sunbathing spots and sun-drenched walking trails, which are open all day long. In addition, the MSC Aurea Spa will make available relaxing massages with stunning sea views.

For guests looking for something a little more action-oriented, a 4x4 expedition experience or a high-octane mountain biking session over naturally-created tracks can be booked to enjoy on the main island. There will also be a variety of sporting activities on offer exclusively for MSC Cruises guests, including beach volleyball, football, or water sports such as snorkelling, paddle boarding, sea kayaking and more.

The island is one of region’s largest wildlife reserves thanks to decades of intensive conservation work and ecological investment to restore and maintain its biodiversity. The Arabian Wildlife Park on the main island of Sir Bani Yas is today, as a result of this work, home to more than 13,000 indigenous and endangered animals, as well as millions of trees and plants. MSC Cruises has been working closely with the Abu Dhabi Port Authorities and ecologists to develop the island beach oasis for its guests fully in line with the broader Sir Bani Yas island project and to support the ongoing preservation work.

The MSC Cruises beach oasis will also offer direct access to the natural reserve, with a range of specially designed excursions that will allow guests to experience the unique beauty of the natural surroundings. These include a horse riding tour, a safari-style nature drive through the reserve as well as a Dhow tour around the island in a traditional powered boat – giving guests the opportunity to see giraffes, hyenas and cheetahs in their natural habitat.

Finally, there are ongoing archaeological excavations taking place on Sir Bani Yas island. So for guests who want to discover more about the history and the culture of the island, a dedicated tour to the ruins of an early Christian monastery site from 6th century AD is available for them.

MSC Fantasia, one of the company’s largest and newest cruise ships, will visit Sir Bani Yas island starting in December 2016. The ship was constructed in 2008 and is currently the youngest and largest cruise ship in the region offering 1,250 staterooms and some of the most modern facilities available to guests. These including outstanding entertainment, five restaurants serving refined international cuisine and an authentic Balinese spa. 75 percent of staterooms have balconies offering panoramic sea views. For those looking for a touch of luxury, MSC Fantasia offers the award-winning MSC Yacht Club experience – a ship within a ship concept offering 71 butler-serviced suites with a focus on privacy and exclusivity, the only such service available on a cruise ship in the region.

MSC Cruises offers an exciting range of itineraries to discover and enjoy the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sir Bani Yas region, with cruises from 7 to 14 nights. Guests can embark from Abu Dhabi or Dubai, with itineraries calling at Sir Bani Yas Island, Bahrain, Doha, Khasab, Khor Fakkan and Muscat.

Guests are able to book their cruise with an itinerary calling at Sir Bani Yas Island now, with the first cruise of the winter season departing December 3, 2016 and making the first call at the island on December 5, 2016. Sir Bani Yas Island beach oasis is available exclusively to MSC Cruises guests when the ship calls at the island.

Updated: Irish Continental orders €144 million cruise ferry from Flensburger

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 May 2016 31 May 2016

Update 1:

ICG has issued another statement, in which it says that the new ship would be employed on the short haul Dublin to Holyhead, UK service midweek and the long haul Ireland to France service during the weekends.

It is planned to replace Epsilon, a chartered in ropax ferry and not the cruise ferry Oscar Wilde, which the company owns.

The company said in addition to choice of bars, restaurants (to include both á la carte and self-service options), special provision has been made for premium Club Class passengers, with a dedicated lounge featuring private access direct from the vehicle decks.

“A choice of state of the art entertainment options and cinemas, dedicated facilities for freight drivers, as well as retail outlets and onboard facilities for pets, will ensure that all our passengers will be comfortable and engaged throughout their journey,” ICG said

It is likely that this new cruise ferry will be introduced on routes served by the chartered ship MV Epsilon, (currently year round services Dublin – Holyhead midweek, and Ireland – France on weekends).

"The cruise ferry will provide additional freight and tourism capacity on both routes and will deliver a much enhanced onboard experience for all customers," ICG said.

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Irish Continental Group plc, the Dublin based ferry company, says it has entered into an agreement, with the German company Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft & Co.KG (“FSG”), whereby FSG has agreed to build a cruise ferry for ICG at a contract price of €144 million.

“The cruise ferry will accommodate 1,885 passengers and crew, with 435 cabins and with capacity for 2,800 lane metres of freight (165 freight vehicles) plus an additional dedicated car deck with capacity for 300 passenger cars,” the company said in a statement.

Its gross tonnage is estimated to be in the region of 50,000 andits four main engines will deliver an output of 33,600kW to produce a speed of 22.5 knots. It will be delivered in 2018.

“This cruise ferry will be designed and built to the highest standards of cruise shipping, and equipped with efficiency and comfort in mind. Emissions scrubber technology (not included in the above price) and ballast water systems will meet current and known future environmental regulations and will deliver optimal fuel consumption while minimising related costs,” ICG said.

The company did not say on which route or routes the new ship would be employed on. In the view of Cruise Business Online, it is likely to replace the 1987 built Oscar Wilde, the only cruise ferry in the ICG fleet, which is used on long overnight crossings between Ireland and France.

TUI Cruises introduces E-Scooters and Stand Up Paddling Boards on two ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 May 2016 31 May 2016

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise shipping company, says it has decided to widen its range of shore excursions by introducing ones on E-Scooters and Stand Up Paddling Boards to its portfolio on two ships. The new products will be rolled out on the Mein Schiff 3 this summer and on the new Mein Schiff 5 in the forthcoming winter. Both vessels will carry 12 Stand Up Paddling Boards, the company said in a statement.

“Kidults” breathe new life to family holidays in UK - CLIA

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 May 2016 30 May 2016

Travel companies in the UK need to cater for a wider demographic that encompasses young adults dubbed as ‘kidults’, according to new research by Cruise Lines’ International Association UK & Ireland (CLIA) has shown.

“Even when young people choose to holiday independently, 95% returned to the family holiday, a social condition the cruise trade association describes as the boomerang effect,” the Travel Weekly reported about the report.

“The family holiday is in a state of flux, no longer is there an age at which parents lose the kids and we are seeing a new demographic; the kidults,” CLIA Europe VP operations Andy Harmer was quoted as saying. “As a result more attention needs to be placed on experiences for customers in their late teens and early twenties, something the cruise industry is already prepared for," he added.

As many as 74% or parents allow their children to determine where they go on holiday. Despite this, children do not want to take any financial responsibility and 88% of parents pay for their child/children of any age to go on holiday with them, Travel Weekly stated.

In the opinion of Cruise Business Online, the widening popularity of a family holiday is in itself positive for the cruise industry, but if up to three quarters of the respondents of the survey say they allow their offspring to choose the destination, it does not mean that a cruise is necessarily high on the list.

Cultural commentator and BBC broadcaster Benjamin Ramm said in the Travel Weekly report: “Society is seeing a seismic shift in attitudes to travel and wider family life, as this CLIA research reveals.

“Previous generations were desperate to break free from the family structure, whereas today the rising cost of living and an increased sense of individual culture all lead to a dependency on the family unit – which of course extends into the holiday arena, a formative opportunity to spend quality time together,” she said in the Travel Weekly report emailed to Cruise Business Online.

“This trend is working both ways: while it is convenient for the 'kidult' to benefit from financial support, a growing number of parents are holidaying with their children and grandchildren in later life.”

The poll was taken by 1,000 UK adults who will or have taken a holiday in 2016 with their children aged 16 to 21 years old.

The main reason for parents choosing to holiday with their children is to spend quality time together with 78% of those surveyed agreeing with this statement.

Almost three quarters (70%) of parents say that a holiday is the only opportunity they have to spend quality time with their children. Historically, the family holiday may have been considered stressful, where family members would clash and arguments would materialise.

But the research implies that these stereotypes have lessened and now children of all ages seek refuge to relax on the family holiday.

This also links to the reason parents prioritise relaxing on a family holiday, which represents nearly 68% of the poll, inferring that a family holiday in 2016 is far more harmonious.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s revenue, operating performance weaken but cash holdings strengthen

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 May 2016 30 May 2016

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line the UK based destinational cruise ship operator, has reported a fall in revenues and operating results for the first quarter, but the cash holdings of the company increased markedly.

Revenues fell to NO497 million in the first quarter of this year from NOK511 million year on, while operating result (EBITDA) contracted by NOK million to NOK30 million. EBIT became negative by NOK30 million compared to negative by NOK7 million in the first three months of last year, while pre tax loss narrowed slightly, to NOK4 million from NOK6 million.

The company has no interest bearing debt and its non-interest bearing debt narrowed by a faction, to NOK820 million from NOK822 million.

On a positive note, cash and cash equivalent holdings increased to NOK84 million at the end of March from NOK57 million year on, said Bonheur, the listed holding company of the Fred. Olsen family that owns the cruise line.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line operates four ships and two of them usually operate long haul cruises that take several months in the beginning of each year. One is based in the Caribbean to offer fly cruises from the UK and one is employed on lengthy UK based cruises in the first quarter of each year.