More News

Princess Cruises unveils hip Night Sky Lounge aboard Regal Princess

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 September 2014 02 September 2014

A new, cool nighttime experience will debut on Regal Princess in November, enabling guests to enjoy a chic and contemporary outdoor nightclub under the stars. The new nightclub, Night Sky Lounge, will debut in November when the ship begins her inaugural Caribbean season.

The top-deck Retreat Pool will transform into the new Night Sky Lounge one night during each cruise, inviting guests to enjoy an upbeat and modern, South Miami-style nightclub vibe, including atmospheric pool and furniture lighting, glowing drinks and a DJ spinning tunes on a state-of-the-art audio system. Cruise guests will sip sophisticated cocktails, even in the two Jacuzzis, enjoy a flair bartending demonstration, dance the night away, and can even reserve a cabana with hosted bottle service.

“The Retreat Pool aboard Regal Princess is such an inviting space, and so transforming it into a cool lounge that offers an entirely new evening experience will be sure to delight our guests,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “We think the lounge’s great location, beautiful lighting, specialty cocktails and music will be a winning entertainment experience.”

Guests will pay a nominal charge to enter the Night Sky Lounge.

Regal Princess begins her Caribbean cruise season on November 6 with a short preview sailing, followed by a schedule of seven-day cruises to ports in the Eastern Caribbean including St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Princess Cays in the Bahamas.

P&O Cruises Australia to introduce restrictions on beverages brought on board

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 September 2014 02 September 2014

P&O Cruises Australia, the Australia and New Zealand focused contemporary market unit in Carnival Corp & plc group, says it will introduce restrictions to beverages that passengers can bring on board its three ship fleet, which will grow to five next year.

“To maintain the safety and security of all of our guests in line with the Responsible Service of Alcohol guidelines, we have introduced some new safety measures. These apply to cruises departing on or after 1 November 2014:

* Plastic or glass bottled soft drinks (including water) and slab packs of canned soft drinks are not permitted to be brought onboard.

* Each guest may bring onboard a maximum of 12 cans of soft drink loosely packed.

*Alcohol is not permitted to be brought onboard,” the company said on Facebook.

“The safely of all of our guests and crew is crucial to us and was our main consideration in introducing the new measures. We want to ensure that everyone has the best time possible onboard, and this includes everyone keeping secure and well.” The company said.

Cruise industry injected AUD34 million in Vanuatu economy in 2013

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 September 2014 02 September 2014

Cruise tourism injected $34 million - Australian dollars - into the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu and brought an estimated further $18 million dollars in indirect economic benefits last year, according to a new study.

The study, jointly funded by cruise company Carnival Australia, the Australian Government, and World Bank Group member IFC, also found that the cruise industry is estimated to provide more than 3,000 employment opportunities in Vanuatu.

Vanuatu Prime Minister, the Hon Joe Natuman, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, the Hon Julie Bishop, World Bank Group Vice President Rachel Kyte, and Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry AO, announced the results of the study at a press conference held in Apia today to coincide with the Small Island Developing States conference.

In Vanuatu, the findings were announced simultaneously in Port Vila by the Hon Ham Lini, Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

Prime Minister Natuman said, “There are twice as many visitors arriving in Vanuatu by ship rather than by air, but until now we have had no real data validating the importance of cruise tourism on the country’s economic growth and job creation.” “Based on this report’s recommendations, we can further grow the industry and provide more business and employment opportunities for our people,” Natuman said.

MSC Cruises has today begun the roll-out of itstravel agent booking platform, MSC Book

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 September 2014 02 September 2014

MSC Cruises has today begun the roll-out of itstravel agent booking platform, MSC Book in the UK, France and Germnany, the company said in a statement.

Developed and built in-house over the last 18 months, the new system is being soft launched over the coming month. Five cruise specialist retailers – Barrhead Travel, Cruise.co.uk, Cruise 1^st, Iglu and Cruise Nation – will be the first to gain access, with more agencies going live each week during September.

The new system has been designed to make it easier for agents to book MSC Cruises’ itineraries and associated products – and is another example of the company’s drive to work more closely with its agent partners, following the launch of its ‘Serving You’ initiative in July.

A cleaner graphics-led interface leads users through a simpler booking path, allowing them to book flights, choose cabin type, onboard Experience level (Bella, Fantastica, Aurea and MSC Yacht Club) and dining options, as well as secure extras such as excursions and spa treatments.

MSC Book additionally acts as a complete resource centre for the trade, containing comprehensive information about MSC Cruises’ ships, itineraries, ports of call, excursions and latest promotions. Agents can compare potential cruise options for customers and use it to email quotes and booking confirmations. The system also allows users to view potential commission earned on each package.

MSC Cruises Executive Director UK and Ireland Giles Hawke, said: “We promised the new booking system when we launched our ‘Serving You’ programme and we have delivered it as planned.

“Agents very often say that booking cruises is a time-consuming and complicated process, so we have invested in making it as easy as possible. MSC Book should be a real boon to agents familiar to MSC Cruises as well as a great tool for attracting new retailers.”

Versions of MSC Book will be introduced simultaneously in France, Italy and Germany and will eventually replace MSC Cruises’ existing trade booking portal MSC Online, which will be switched off in the UK in November.

FleetPro to manage Haimark's Saint Laurent

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 September 2014 01 September 2014

FleetPro has announced the technical and hotel operational management of the Saint Laurent starting services on May 3rd, 2015.

Haimark Line, with offices in Denver, Chicago and Berlin will launch the highly popular Great Lakes and St Lawrence Seaway Cruises with the intimate 210 guest Saint Laurent. Saint Laurent, formerly known as Sea Voyager was purposely build for Great Lakes Cruises and expedition-focused exotic Central and South American sailings.

The Saint Laurent will be completely updated and refurbished before entering into service. Including the addition of expedition cruise features such as a new fleet of zodiacs and refurbished outdoor areas idea for enjoying vistas.

Tom Markwell, Managing Partner of Haimark Line states that: “operating a ship that was especially constructed for the Great Lakes, Saint Lawrence Seaway and coastal New England along with a more ‘esoteric’ Central and South America cruise program will give our guests the experience of ports and destinations that can only be enjoyed by small cruise ship. These itineraries are for discerning travelers who care about the distinctive aspects of unique ports we visit.”

Hans Rood EVP for FleetPro adds further that; “our strong experience in running this high-quality cruise services and the introduction of a newly refurbished boutique-style ship will make the Saint Laurent a most desirable travel opportunity.

FleetPro Ocean (formerly ISP) and FleetPro River (formerly River Advice) manages 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.