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MSC Cruises America appoints Bonnie Levengood svp marketing

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 April 2014 15 April 2014

MSC Cruises USA has appinted Bonnie Levengood to the newly created position of senior vice president of marketing, leading the company’s consumer and travel industry marketing and digital activities throughout North America.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Bonnie Levengood to the MSC Cruises family,” said Richard E. Sasso, president cof the company. “As our new senior vice president of marketing, she joins the company at an auspicious time to help grow and strengthen awareness of our brand to both consumers and our travel agent partners.”

Levengood’s appointment is a critical piece of MSC Cruises’ recently announced “Serving You” initiatives to the travel agent community at CLIA’s Cruise3Sixty in April. Ramping up the “human factor,” according to Sasso, includes strategic senior level appointments such as Levengood’s, more than doubling the MSC Cruises’ sales force by adding Business Development Managers in critical regions around the country and undertaking its most extensive roadshow to-date.

Levengood brings extensive expertise to her new position, with nearly two decades of marketing and financial experience and a proven track record creating successful multichannel campaigns. Most recently, she ran her own marketing company. Prior to that, she headed up marketing and sales for nearly eight years for 1-800-PetMeds, America’s largest pet pharmacy, leading the company’s annual revenue to more than $239 million by creating new direct marketing programs that included comprehensive email marketing campaigns, new TV commercials and direct mail and catalog programs.

KfW IPEX-Bank to finance the construction of Star Cruises newbuilding

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 April 2014 10 April 2014

KfW IPEX-Bank is financing the cruise ship, which was commissioned at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg last October by Star Cruises, the leading cruise line in Asian Pacific. The corresponding agreements were signed on Wednesday.

The purchase price for the ship is around EUR 700 million. The financing to the tune of just under EUR 600 million will be paid in US dollars and has a term of 12 years from delivery.

KfW IPEX-Bank has structured the overall financing and is providing the entire loan amount together with Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and the Singapore branch of DNB Bank ASA. The financing is backed by export credit insurance issued by the German Federal Government (covered by Euler Hermes) and encompasses the Commercial Interest Reference Rate (CIRR) for ships, which is determined by the OECD.

"With this high-volume financing, we are underlining both our expertise in structuring within the cruise ship industry and our role as one of the world's leading players in ship financing. We are also helping to support German exporters, especially North Germany as a shipbuilding location," explained Christian K. Murach, the responsible Management Board member at KfW IPEX-Bank.

The new vessel has a gross tonnage of about 150,000, more than 1,600 passenger cabins on 18 decks and a length of approximately 330 metres. Consequently, it will not only be the largest ship in Star Cruises' fleet; it will also be counted among the biggest cruise ships based out of Asia.

As a modern cruise ship tailored to the Asian market, it will feature in particular an extensive range of entertainment and shopping facilities. Around 3,100 Meyer Werft employees and some 20,000 employees of suppliers and partner companies are all collaborating on this project.

With delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2016, Star Cruises is set to increase its fleet to eight ships. The company recently commissioned the Meyer Werft shipyard to construct another (sister) ship, which is to be brought into service in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Star Cruises, together with its associate Norwegian Cruise Line, is the third largest cruise operator in the world. Star Cruises belongs to Genting Hong Kong Limited, a company listed on the main board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and traded on the Global Quote of the Singapore Exchange and Securities Trading Limited and active in the leisure, tourism and entertainment industries.

The Meyer Werft shipyard has a long history – dating back more than 200 years - and is now owned by the seventh generation of the Meyer family. It builds state-of-the-art cruise ships, among other commissions, for shipping companies from all over the globe and is the most important employer in the Papenburg region.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines extends enjoyment promise

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 April 2014 10 April 2014

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destination focused operator of four medium sized ships, has announced an extension to its innovative ‘Enjoyment Promise’ – the biggest initiative of its kind ever to take place in the UK to encourage people to try cruising!

‘Fred.’s Enjoyment Promise’ is now applicable on all Fred. Olsen cruises in 2014 and 2015, booked at least 14 weeks in advance, on sailings of seven nights’ duration or more (and less than 36 nights), the company said in a statement.

‘Fred.’s Enjoyment Promise’ was originally introduced as part of Fred. Olsen’s ‘Turn of Year’ sales campaign, which ran from November 2013 until 28th February 2014. Under the Promise, people who have never cruised with Fred. Olsen before can try a Fred. Olsen cruise, and if they find that it is not for them, within 48 hours, Fred. Olsen will fly them home and refund their cruise fare*.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “When we launched ‘Fred.’s Enjoyment Promise’ last year, we wanted to target those guests who have not cruised before, or who have not previously taken a Fred. Olsen cruise, and were unsure of whether it would be the right holiday for them.

“After seeing a very exciting surge in ‘new to cruise’ – or ‘new to Fred.’ – customers since the beginning of 2014, we have found that our unique ‘Enjoyment Promise’ is an important reason why so many new people are choosing to take their holidays with us…and so far, we have not had to fly anyone home!”

As an added incentive to book, Fred. Olsen is also offering guests the chance to save on multiple cruise bookings; if they book before 7th May 2014, they can benefit from 20% off two cruises, and if they buy three or more cruises, they can save 30%.

Fred. Olsen offers 32 night no fly Caribbean cruise from Greenock, Scotland

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 April 2014 10 April 2014

For the first time ever, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering Scottish guests the chance to take a convenient, no-fly cruise to the Caribbean from ‘right on their doorstep’.

The 32-night ‘Caribbean from Scotland’ cruise, W1521, on board 804-guest Black Watch, will depart from Greenock (Glasgow) on 10th November 2015, and will take in 12 sun-drenched islands, including Barbados, the West Indies, St. Maarten and Antigua, to name but a few.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “This very special Caribbean ‘island-hopping adventure’ offers our valued guests in Scotland the chance to travel further afield on a sunshine, ex-UK holiday, without having the hassle of flying. Not only is Fred. Olsen embarking on its first-ever sailing from Scotland to the Caribbean, but we are also the first cruise line ever to do so.

“This ‘Caribbean from Scotland’ cruise has been met with huge popularity amongst our Scottish guests, and is fast becoming one of our best-sellers, so we would recommend booking quickly to secure your place!”

As an added incentive to book, Fred. Olsen is offering guests the chance to save on multiple cruise bookings; if they book before 7th May 2014, they can benefit from 20% off two cruises, and if they buy three or more cruises, they can save 30%.*

First port of call is to Leixoes in Portugal, for trips to Oporto – which has been voted as the ‘Best European Destination 2014’ by European Consumers Choice – before stopping at Santa Cruz, Tenerife. Here, guests can indulge in some shopping at one of the local markets, or take a trip to bustling Playa de Las Americas or Puerto de la Cruz.

Black Watch will then sail to its first visit in the Caribbean – Bridgetown in Barbados, where guests can relax on the sandy bays, sit under a palm tree canopy or visit the historical Chamberlain Bridge and Cheapside Street Markets.

Next port of call is St. George's in Grenada, known as the ‘Spice Island’, which boasts 45 pristine beaches.

Black Watch will then call at Bequia, the second largest island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A serene and tranquil port, Admiralty Bay hosts an abundance of grand yachts and lavish sailboats for guests to admire.

Castries on St. Lucia is the next port of call; a classic Caribbean resort with white sands, crystal clear waters and a tropical rainforest backdrop. Guests can ‘walk on the wild side’ and take the aerial tram through the treetops of the rainforest, or relax in the sunshine whilst enjoying a fruity cocktail!

Black Watch then cruises onwards to St. Kitts, calling at the island’s capital, Basseterre. Offering a varied collection of shops, bars and restaurants, as well as an array of Georgian architecture, beautifully restored from bygone eras, there is plenty for guests to see.

Gustavia in St. Barthelemy is next. Here, guests can take a trip up to Fort Gustave, where the amazing panoramic views are mesmerising.

Black Watch will then arrive in Philipsburg in St. Maarten. Staying here for an overnight stay, guests will have the opportunity to soak up all that this stunning island has to offer. Guests can ‘bob to the rhythm’ at an evening of steel drums and dancing, or relax on deck looking out to the calm, blue sea.

Next stop is Road Town in Tortola, in the beautiful British Virgin Islands, before a day in St. John’s (Antigua). Discover English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard, or take a catamaran around the island.

Black Watch will then stay overnight on Ponta Delgada, in the alluring Azores, before returning to Greenock (Glasgow).

Prices for this exotic Caribbean cruise start from just £2,799 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin, ‘Inside’ cabin, and include accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, and port dues.

Fred. Olsen was delighted to be voted ‘Best Affordable Cruise Line’ and runner-up ‘Best Cruise Line’ in the ‘Cruise International Awards 2013’, and ‘Best Value for Money’ in the Cruise Critic ‘Editors’ Picks UK Awards 2013’.

MSC Cruises held crisis management drill involving passengers, crew and shore staff off Oman

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 April 2014 10 April 2014

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, said it held a crisis management drill involving about 2,500 persons on board the 58,600 gross ton MSC Lirica off Oman.

“On Monday 31 March at 15:00 CET, MSC Cruises organised a crisis management drill on board MSC Lirica as she was cruising off the coast of Oman. The drill saw the involvement of close to 2,500 people between the crew members, the employees ashore and the passengers on board the ship,” the company said in a statement.