More News

New Colombia-Panama ferry service to open 24 October

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 October 2014 01 October 2014

A Panamanian shipping line, Ferry Xpress, is about to start a ferry service between Colón in Panamá and Cartagena in Colombia. It will be the second attempt to link these two countries by ferry. Though the first endeavour failed, the operator is confident about the success on this occasion, citing that this time round the company will be directly managed by the port itself.Alan Lam reports.

Moreover, this will be the only significant transport connection, both cargo and passenger, between the two neighbouring countries, besides the air link, as the Pan American Highway does not connect Colombia with Panamá on account of the untamable Darién Gap. For this reason alone this maritime enterprise is deemed to be commercially viable.

Up till now, overland travellers between South and Central America have had to - at the mercy of unscrupulous operators - rely on the precarious motorboat services from Capurganá in Colombia to Puerto Obaldia in Panamá, from there they have had to find a flight to the capital, as there is no road. Not too long ago, this correspondent endured that journey; the experience can be summed up as both unsafe and uncomfortable.

Commencing 24 October this year, the new ropax service will initially depart from Colón, the homeport, on Mondays and Wednesdays and return from Cartagena on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The journey time will be about 18 hours.

What is truly interesting is that, in addition to the ferry service, the ship - the 1986-built SNAV Adriatico that is currently being prepared for the service – will also undertake a weekly mini-cruise, setting sail every Friday night from Colón to Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro, a popular resort island in Central America. The demand for this cruise is largely untapped. Colombia-Panama ferry service to open 24 October

Pacific Princess sale not currently planned

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 September 2014 30 September 2014

Princess Cruises, part of the Carnival Corp & plc group, has no plans to sell Pacific Princess, although its sister ship Ocean Princess has been put up for sale.

“While the announcement was made that Ocean Princess is for sale, there is nothing to report at this time. There are no current plans for Pacific Princess to leave our fleet,” Julie Benson, Vice President, Public Relations at Princess, told Cruise Business Online.

A report on Cruise Critic said last week: “For many months the rumours have around that the three smaller ships in the fleet (one over at P & O) were going to be sold. Today Carnival Corporation confirmed that Ocean Princess is listed for sale, and that she would be available at almost any time for the buyer.”

“ It would appear that Pacific is the next, as much major refit work has been deferred on her too. It would appear than once the new Panama Canal locks are opened, the vessel deployments will see Coral and Island take over the globe roaming voyages and the larger vessels take on the Canal trips,” the report said.

A spokesperson for P&O Cruises, another Carnival Corp & plc group unit that operates Adonia that is a sister ship of Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess, said that vessel is an :”integral part” of the P&O Cruises’ fleet.

Adonia, Pacific Princess and Ocean Princess were originally built in France at the turn of the millennium as part of an eight ship fleet of Renaissance Cruises, which is no longer in business. Oceania Cruises employs three of these ships and Azamara, which is part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, has two.

Adonia “integral part of P&O Cruises’ fleet”

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 September 2014 30 September 2014

The 30,277 gross on Adonia is “an integral part of P&O Cruises’ fleet,” a spokesperson for the company told Cruise Business Online after reports that parent company Carnival Corp & plc might sell it and its two sister ships in the Princess Cruises fleet.

“Adonia is an integral part of the P&O Cruises fleet as she offers a small, intimate ship experience, exclusively for adults and travels to many of the smaller, lesser known ports on fascinating itineraries. Adonia is very popular with our regular passengers who choose her precisely for her size and country house atmosphere,” said Michele Andjel, head of public relations at P&O Cruises in Southampton.

“For many months the rumours have around that the three smaller ships in the fleet (one over at P & O) were going to be sold. Today Carnival Corporation confirmed that Ocean Princess is listed for sale, and that she would be available at almost any time for the buyer,” a report on Cruise Critic said last week.

Azamara appoints Ellen Bettridge as Vice President of Sales & Marketing, The Americas

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 September 2014 29 September 2014

Azamara Club Cruises, the cruise line known for its premier destination-immersive voyages for discerning travelers, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ellen Bettridge as Vice President of Sales & Marketing, the Americas. A seasoned professional and travel industry expert, Bettridge has more than 24 years of experience in the travel management, cruise and hospitality industries, holding positions in both sales and marketing capacities.

“Azamara Club Cruises is delighted to welcome Ellen Bettridge to our team as the brand continues to redefine the cruise and destination experience,” said Larry Pimentel, President and CEO, Azamara Club Cruises. “The current team has done an outstanding job in placing Azamara in a successful position and now with Ellen onboard, her notable experience in the diverse luxury travel market, impressive leadership skills and prominent industry relationships, will help us to achieve our growth strategy.”

In her new role, Bettridge will oversee the overall sales and marketing initiatives for Azamara Club Cruise in in South, Central and North America. Her responsibilities include the development of strategic relationships with trade and marketing partners as well as the creation and implementation of long-term strategies to further grow Azamara’s markets in the Americas.

“I am thrilled to join the dynamic Azamara team and look forward to being a part of the company’s exciting future,” states Ellen Bettridge, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, the Americas, at Azamara Club Cruises. “Throughout my career I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to cultivate relationships with key trade partners and I’m confident they will prove to be a great asset for the brand.”

Previously, from April 2012 – January 2014, Bettridge served as President, Americas at Silversea Cruise Ltd., where she developed sales strategies and executed marketing campaigns in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Prior to joining Silversea, Bettridge spent more than 20 years employed with American Express. There she began her career as a travel agent in 1990 and during her successful tenure worked from the grass roots level to a key management position as Vice President of the Retail Travel Business, where she oversaw the management of travel and financial services of 28 owned locations in the U.S. and managed 300 employees and 150 franchisee partners.

Two Northern European ferries hit by minor fire

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 September 2014 29 September 2014

Two short haul ferries that trade in Northern European waters suffered an engine room fire this morning.

In the more serious of the incidents, some 450 passengers and crew were helped by the French emergency services to disembark the 30,365 gross ton Pride of Canterbury to disembark in Calais after the 1992 built vessel had suffered a fire in the engine room, a report on BBC said. There were no injuries and the ship’s own fire fighting system put the blaze out in 20 minutes.

The ship belongs to P&O Feries, which is part of the DP World group in Dubai and has no connection to P&O Cruises, which is part of the Anglo American Carnival Corp & plc group.

In Finland, a small fire broke out in the engine room of the 1981 built Wasa Express as the 17,043 gross ton ship was entering the port of Vaasa. The fire was put out by the crew, but the local fire brigade came to inspect the vessel after it had docked, said Wasa Line that owns and operates the vessel, in a statement.