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Miami's oldest bar to feature on Norwegian Escape

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 October 2014 23 October 2014

In celebration of Norwegian Escape’s one year to launch milestone, Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that Miami’s oldest and most legendary bar, Tobacco Road, will find a new home aboard the line’s newest and largest ship, the company said in a statement.

"The acclaimed establishment, which was issued Miami’s very first alcohol license, is closing its original location this week after 102 years in business. In an effort to preserve the tradition of this iconic Miami landmark, Tobacco Road and Norwegian Cruise Line partnered to bring the Tobacco Road experience on board Norwegian Escape, which will begin sailing from Miami in November 2015," Norwegian said.

“We are thrilled to be able to preserve a piece of Miami’s history and provide this famous Miami institution a home at sea on-board the incredible new Norwegian Escape,” said Kevin Sheehan, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Located within 678 Ocean Place, the new location of the celebrated tavern will incorporate elements of the original Tobacco Road, including the iconic neon sign, memorabilia and photographs that will showcase the history of Miami through the lens of events and happenings at the bar over the past century.

In addition to favourite beers and spirits, Tobacco Road Bar on board Norwegian Escape will also feature a selection of cocktails created by Tobacco Road’s resident mixologist, Leo Holtzman. The delicious drinks from Holtzman’s Cocktail Collection will include favourites like the Chili Mule, featuring ginger puree, Cointreau and vodka topped with a sliced seranno pepper; and the Gateway, a rum-based drink that incorporates yuzu juice, elderflower syrup and Prosecco.

Norwegian Escape will begin weekly seven-night cruises from her year-round homeport of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean on 14 November 2015. The ship will be the largest to home port year-round in Miami, carrying 4,200 guests to tropical Caribbean destinations including St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas.

The ship’s signature hull artwork is designed by marine wildlife artist and champion of ocean conservation, Guy Harvey, which features an underwater scene of marine wildlife.

FleetPro's Dietmar Wertanzl leaving

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 October 2014 22 October 2014

FleetPro Passenger Ship Management announces that Dietmar Wertanzl has given his resignation and will be leaving the company at the end of November, 2014.

Wertanzl has been with the company for over four years and during that period built FleetPro’s Hotel Management Division (FleetPro Leisure) into a substantial part of the company.

“Dietmar has been a strong contributor to FleetPro’s growth and our high quality performance," says Robert Straubhaar, CEO to FleetPro Ocean, Inc. “He has been with our company for over four years and during that period secured a strong growth of the Hotel Management Division FleetPro Leisure, leaving a strong foundation for a strong future of this strategically important part of our company."

Industry veteran Johan Groothuizen will temporarily take over the role as EVP Hotel Operations and assure that a seamless transition will take place for a successor.

FleetPro Ocean (formerly ISP) and FleetPro River (formerly River Advice) manage a combined fleet of ocean-going passenger ships, expedition cruise ships and river cruise ships in excess of 60 vessels, making it the largest passenger ship management company in the world. What distinguishes FleetPro is a hands-on managing approach with extremely strong technical and top notch hotel operation expertise. This allows FleetPro to service a wide array of clients in the demanding global arena of river cruise operations, ocean-going cruising and the itinerary intensive expedition cruise segments.

Mark Kammerer named Vice President, International Marketing and Sales for Holland America and Seabourn

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 October 2014 22 October 2014

Mark Kammerer has been named vice president, international marketing and sales for Holland America Line and Seabourn. In this role, he will be responsible for the companies' sales offices in the U.K., the Netherlands and Australia, as well as Holland America Line and Seabourn's growing international business.

Kammerer will report to Joe Slattery, Holland America Line's senior vice president, global marketing and sales.

"Mark brings incredible knowledge and experience to this position, and his expertise supports the continued growth in our international presence," said Slattery. "Mark has proven himself to be a creative thinker and inspiring leader, and I look forward to working with him."

In his previous positions at Holland America Line, Kammerer was responsible for marketing and North American sales, as well as worldwide cruise marketing. Prior to joining the cruise line, Kammerer worked at several leading travel industry organizations including Virtuoso and Expedia Inc.

Joe Slattery promoted to Senior Vice President, Global Marketing and Sales for Holland America Line

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 October 2014 22 October 2014

Joe Slattery has been promoted to the position of senior vice president, global marketing and sales for Holland America Line. In this newly created role, Slattery will oversee marketing and distribution in all worldwide markets, developing and executing initiatives that support Holland America Line's revenue growth objectives.

Slattery - a 21-year company veteran - will continue to report to Richard Meadows, Holland America Line's executive vice president, sales, marketing and guest programs.

"Joe has significantly expanded the reach and depth of our international sales initiatives, and the success of our offices in Rotterdam, the U.K. and Australia, and our growth in emerging markets around the world, can be attributed to his guidance," said Meadows. "We are confident that all of our global markets will benefit from his strong vision and leadership and we congratulate him on this well-deserved promotion."

Since 2008, Slattery has been Holland America Line's vice president, international sales and marketing. Since joining the company in 1993 as a marketing product manager, Slattery has accumulated a wide range of experience in multiple executive roles, including vice president, revenue planning, and vice president, revenue marketing, where he was responsible for deployment and itinerary planning, revenue management and direct marketing.

MSC Cruises UK to trial 15% excursion commission for six months

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 October 2014 22 October 2014

MSC Cruises UK has started a test to offer a flat 15% commission on shore excursions for all agents from today, the company said in a statement.

Announcing the increase to agents attending the Advantage Cruise Champions Conference in London, MSC Cruises’ executive director Giles Hawke said the deal would run as a six-month trial – and would become permanent if retailers showed support.

MSC Cruises announced earlier this month that shore excursion commission would increase to each agent’s base commission, rather than the industry standard 5%.

Hawke stressed: “Agents are our greatest asset and we want them to know that.

“Shore excursions are very often an integral part of the whole cruise experience for customers, so it makes sense for agents to book everything at once. When agents book an MSC excursion we, and they, can be assured the trip will be of a high standard.”