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Fincantieri launches Viking Star in Marghera

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 June 2014 24 June 2014

Yesterday Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera and Viking Cruises celebrated the launching of the Viking Star, the first of three cruise ships that Fincantieri is currently building for the company. The ship will now move into the fitting-out stage, leading to its scheduled delivery in the spring of 2015.

Fincantieri has already started work on the Viking Sea and the Viking Sky, the second and third ships in the series, which will be respectively delivered at the Marghera shipyard in the spring of 2016 and at the Ancona shipyard during the summer of the same year.

Attending the ceremony for the shipowner was Torstein Hagen, founder and chairman of Viking Cruises, while Fincantieri was represented, among others, by Antonio Quintano, the yard manager.

Viking Star, like its two sister ships, will be positioned 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. The ship has been designed by SMC Design of London, while Rottet Studio in Los Angeles has been engaged to design its interior, where every attention will be paid to style and elegance.

The construction of this series of ships is evidence of the solid business relationship between Viking and Fincantieri.

Fincantieri has built 65 cruise ships since 1990, of which 42 since 2002.

TUI Cruises joins business group to promote LNG as maritime fuel

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 June 2014 24 June 2014

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market shipping company, says it has joined a business group with an aim to promote liquefied natural gas (LNG) as nmaritime fuel.

Maritime LNG Plattform, which is the name of the group that was established earlier this week in Hamburg, wants to bring ship owners, ports and industrial groups together to promote LNG.

The group hopes e.g. that a further 50 ships that regularly trade to German ports will be powered by LNG and that at least five German ports will offer LNG bunkering also in five years’ time.

River cruise ship Britannia evacuated after leak

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 June 2014 24 June 2014

A total of 154 passengers and 40 crew members were evacuated from the river cruise liner Britannia on the night to 22 June after the vessel had developed a leak, the Dutch municipality of Zutphen said on its website.

The passengers, who were Austrian and Dutch nationals, were taken to a discotheque and the vessel was moored at the Ijssselkade quay. Britannia belongs to Nicko Tours, a German river cruise specialist. The cause of the incident was not immediately known.

The ship was on its way from Deventher in the Netherlands to Cologne in Germany.

Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific 2014 Conference to feature comprehensive sessions

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 June 2014 23 June 2014

UBM, organizers of Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific, slated for November 20-21, 2014, presents the 2014 conference program for the event’s fourth edition.

This year’s conference will analyze the market potential and challenges associated with the emerging Asia cruise market as well as explore the infrastructure and itinerary development opportunities. The conference will be led by a panel of regional and international industry experts who will be named at a later date.

The conference kicks off on Thursday, November 20 with The State of the Cruise Industry in Asia, followed by concurrent sessions: “The Operating Environment in Asia” and “Focus on China.”

It continues into Friday, November 21 with concurrent morning sessions: “How Asia Will Grow as a Source Market” and “Cruise Infrastructure Across Asia,” followed by “The Itinerary Development Across the Region” and “Shipbuilding and Refurbishment in Asian Yards,” running concurrently in the afternoon.

Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific is organized by UBM in partnership with Seatrade Communications and is exclusively supported by Cruise Lines International Association and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association. Official Event Partner: Hong Kong Tourism Board.

AIDA expands barrier-free travel options

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 June 2014 19 June 2014

Barrier-free accessibility is a high priority with AIDA Cruises. In May 2014, a certified guide dog accompanied a couple on an AIDA Cruise for the first time. Nine-year-old Alfa helped her blind owner, Frank Kähms, make his way around the ship. This was a first for him and also for his wife Annelore and their Labrador Retriever Alfa. "Except for a ferry ride, we had never experienced traveling on a ship. Thanks to the competent advice provided by the AIDA barrier-free team in advance and their helpful support throughout the trip, we always felt right at home with AIDA," said Annelore Kähms.

The fact that Frank Kähms' faithful companion Alfa was also able to be by his side every day on board was a great help for the couple. Pets are not normally allowed on AIDA ships. However, in order to ensure that guests with limited vision can navigate without any barriers even when they are vacationing at sea, the cruise line has allowed guests to bring certified guide dogs on board.

AIDA Cruises has been offering guests with physical or health-related restrictions a comprehensive overview of barrier-free travel matters on its website since 2013. In addition to information for guests with limited mobility, vision, or hearing, there is a special area of AIDA's website that has a frequently asked questions section about barrier-free accessibility. The website also provides information for guests with allergies as well as onboard medical treatment information.

In advance of the booking, specially trained AIDA staff members are more than happy to provide travel consultation over the phone or via email with guests who have any disability concerns.

Nearly all public areas on AIDA ships, such as bars, restaurants, elevators, outdoor decks, public restrooms, and staterooms have barrier-free accessibility and are equipped with signage in raised lettering and braille. A barrier-free meeting that is held on the first day of travel helps guests navigate the ship without any issues. AIDA's shore excursion options also include excursions that are particularly suited for guests with limited mobility.