Fathom cancels first cruise on safety issues - report
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
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- Published: 13 April 2016 13 April 2016
Fathom, the new impact travel unit in Carnival Corporation & plc group, had to cancel its first cruise that was due to sail on Sunday from Florida to the Caribbean due to issues that arose during safety inspection by the US coast guard, Cruise Critic reports.
The new venture is using the 710 passenger Adonia, which was transferred from sister company P&O Cruises in the UK. The 30,277 gross ton ship continues to be managed by the Southampton based company and it flies the British flag. It was built in France in 2001.
"The vessel had run into some issues; the main issues were that the fire screen doors, approximately 30 of them on one of the decks, were inoperable. We're working with the cruise ship to make sure that this is taken care of before they can get underway,” a Coast Guard spokesperson was quoted by Cruise Critic as saying.
"The ship arrived in Miami directly from dry dock and re-fit offshore and underwent rigorous operational tests with the U.S. Coast Guard that took longer than expected. Unfortunately, the company has learned additional testing will be required and as a result must cancel the soft-launch sailing," according to a statement from Fathom.
Genting Hong Kong and China Merchants jointly agree to develop Tai Zi Bay to mega cruise port
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- Published: 11 April 2016 11 April 2016
Genting Hong Kong, parent company of Star Cruises and Crystal Cruises, says it has signed an agreement with China Merchants Shekou Holdings to jointly develop Tai Zi Bay, Shekou, Shenzhen into an international cruise homeport with the goal to accelerate the growth of the cruise industry in China.
Li Jianhong, Chairman of China Merchants Group, said the Tai Zi Bay Cruise Terminal would be the only cruise port in China capable of accommodating 220,000 gross ton cruise liners. In 2015, more than 1.2 million Chinese travelers joined cruises and this number is expected to rise to 4.5 million in five years.
“In response to the increasing demand in the market and to help develop the cruise industry in the country, Genting Hong Kong is strengthening its strategic deployment plan in Southern China and will offer a wide range of products optimised for Chinese travelers, providing them with easy access to cruises right from their doorstep,” Getting Hong Kong said.
Royal Caribbean takes delivery of Ovation of the Seas
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- Published: 11 April 2016 11 April 2016
Royal Caribbean International, the contemporary market unit in the Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCCL) group, has taken delivery of Ovation of the Seas, in a ceremony held in Bremerhaven, Germany. It is the third unit of the Quantum class of ships and the 24th vessel in the fleet of the company. It was built at the Meyer Werft in Germany, which has two further units of the class on order. These will be delivered in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Fincantieri lays keel of Viking Sun, fourth of six ships of Viking Ocean Cruises
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- Published: 08 April 2016 08 April 2016
The keel laying ceremony for Viking Sun, the fourth of planned six cruise ships Viking Ocean Cruises has ordered from Fincantieri, took place today at the shipyard in Ancona, the cruise line said in a statement.
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 Sun, due to delivery in 2017.
Viking Sun, 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 465 cabins with accommodation for 930 passengers, with a total capacity of over 1,400 people, including the crew. "The ship has been designed by experienced naval architects and engineers, including an interior design team of London-based SMC Design, and Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios," the company said.
Crystal Cruises to turn Miami landmark building to portfolio display location
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- Published: 08 April 2016 08 April 2016
Crystal Cruises, the luxury cruise shipping company in the Genting Hong Kong group, said it plans to make the historic Shrine Building in downtown Miami its central display location for portfolio.
“The 1930’s Art Deco landmark located on Biscayne Boulevard will become the first land-based member of the Crystal portfolio, as the line plans to exponentially expand its collection of luxury travel offerings over the next three years with the launch of Crystal Yacht Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Luxury Air, Crystal AirCruises, Crystal Exclusive Class ocean vessels and Crystal Residences,” the company said in a statement.
The move is part of the company’s strategy introduced last year to transform it from a cruise line to a lifestyle company.
“The reimagined building will serve as the headquarters for travelers to preview Crystal Residences at sea and will also provide an immersive and interactive experience for guests who want a glimpse into the all-inclusive Crystal Experience,” the company said. Overseeing the building project is architect Richard Heisenbottle of South Florida’s R.J. Heisenbottle Architects, P.A., who has a curated vision for bringing the historic building into a new era, much like the Crystal brand.
Designed to mirror many of the nuances travelers experience aboard Crystal vessels, the building will feature showrooms for the residences planned for the “Exclusive Class” ships. The company plans to build three of these 100,000 gross ton ships with 1,000 passenger capacity at Lloyd Werft in Germany, which is now also owned by Genting.
Also on the ground floor will be a specialty restaurant, which will offer the same celebrated standard of cuisine service for which Crystal has been known for. “After taking an elevator up one floor, guests will emerge into an all-encompassing 180-degree cinematic experience of all things Crystal. Grand-scale murals and living walls will be featured, highlighting the global experiences and destinations offered with Crystal,” the company said.
“The two large balconies that currently adorn the building will be outfitted to reflect a ship’s private veranda, capitalizing on the building’s close proximity to Biscayne Bay. Individual private conference rooms will line the perimeter of the second floor, offering a quiet space for guests to learn more about Crystal Residences.”
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