Tauck christens its new rivership in Basel, Switzerland

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 07 April 2014 07 April 2014

Members of the Tauck family, Tauck executives, the company’s Board of Directors, special guests and local dignitaries all gathered dockside in Basel, Switzerland, on April 4 to christen Tauck’s newest riverboat, the Inspire. Tauck Cruise Director Lynn Hardcastle offered a traditional blessing, and the ship officially entered service moments later when Tauck Cruise Director Bridget Ashton cut a ceremonial ribbon to send a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne crashing against the ship’s hull. The festive atmosphere was heightened by music provided by a local band, and by a fireboat that sounded its horn in celebration while sending torrents of water gushing skyward.

Joining Hardcastle and Ashton as honorary godmothers to the Inspire were their Tauck Cruise Director colleagues Mary Pierik and Eszter Pusztai. Following an onboard reception, the Inspire and its guests departed on a celebratory two-night cruise along the Rhine.

“Today is another important step in the evolution of Tauck River Cruising,” observed Tauck CEO Dan Mahar. “Not only are we welcoming a new vessel into the Tauck fleet, we’re also celebrating the debut of an entirely new class of Tauck riverboat.”  The Inspire is the first of two new Inspiration Class ships that will launch in 2014, joining Tauck’s four award-winning Jewel Class vessels. The Inspire’s sister-ship, the Savor, will launch in June as the second Inspiration Class ship.

“In tandem with our state-of-the-art Jewel Class ships, our new Inspiration Class ships will allow us to continue leveraging our 90 years of experience to deliver the finest, most enriching cultural explorations along Europe’s rivers,” said Mahar.  “Pairing our growing fleet of vessels with our incredible expertise promises to keep us firmly positioned as the ‘world’s best,’” added Mahar, noting that Tauck has been named both the “World’s Best River Cruise Line” and the “World’s Best River Cruise Line for Families” twice in the past three years by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.

The four Tauck Cruise Directors were selected as the Inspire’s godmothers in recognition of the outstanding service that Tauck’s onboard personnel provide to the company’s guests, Mahar explained.  “By honoring our four Tauck Cruise Directors as godmothers, we’re really celebrating the genuine, friendly and personalized service provided by all of our Tauck Cruise Directors and Tauck Directors,” said Mahar.  “They are the direct, critical link between Tauck and our guests, and they do an absolutely incredible job delivering the Tauck experience.”

Each Tauck riverboat is staffed by a Tauck Cruise Director and three Tauck Directors who care for a maximum of just 130 guests per Tauck ship.  By comparison, riverboats of equal size operated by other cruise lines routinely accommodate nearly 50% more passengers (up to 190 guests), with just a single cruise director to attend to their needs.

With fewer passengers on its ships, Tauck can devote additional space to elements that enhance service and provide a refined overall onboard experience, while also ensuring guests enjoy a relaxed, intimate, club-like atmosphere.  And as with its Jewel Class vessels, the lower passenger capacity also allows Tauck to offer a far higher percentage of suites than other river cruise lines.  “Nearly a quarter of the cabins on our Jewel Class ships are 300-square-foot suites, and we’ve increased that to a third on the new Inspiration Class ships,” said Mahar.

The Inspire (and the Savor) will feature a second onboard restaurant offering lighter and traditional American fare to complement the ship’s more formal main dining room.  Named “Arthur’s” in honor of company chairman Arthur Tauck, Jr., the café-like restaurant will be located aft on the Diamond Deck where it will feature selections prepared in its own full-service kitchen.

According to Mahar, the restaurant’s name is an appropriate tribute.  “I can’t think of a person with more warmth and caring hospitality than Arthur Tauck, and his spirit will grace this space and everyone who dines here for years to come,” said Mahar.

Mahar also noted that the Inspire’s second dining venue reflected another quality that has characterized Arthur Tauck’s career.  “With the launch of our ms Swiss Emerald in 2006, we pioneered the concept of a second dining venue on a European riverboat.  It was a real innovation, and it was immediately popular with our guests,” said Mahar.  “That emphasis on innovation – of putting our guests first, of creatively anticipating their needs and exceeding their expectations – has been the hallmark of Arthur Tauck’s 50+ year career in the travel industry.  It’s a focus he learned from his father, Arthur Tauck, Sr., and it continues to drive all that we do today,” concluded Mahar.

That same spirit of innovation is also evident in the eight “loft” cabins located on the lower (Emerald) deck of the Inspire and Savor.  On other European riverboats the lower-level cabins are small, and because they’re mostly below the ships’ waterlines, they’re limited to modest, sealed windows at eye level that admit minimal sunlight and zero fresh air.  Tauck’s 225-square-foot loft cabins, however, have a raised platform seating area located against the ships’ hull/outer wall with a correspondingly higher ceiling immediately above.  The higher ceiling in turn allows the use of a much taller window than can normally be incorporated into lower-level cabins.  The middle portion of this window can be opened electronically for fresh air, and being taller, the window allows far more natural light to fill the cabin.

The two new Inspiration Class ships will both be 443 feet long, and each will have twenty-two 300 square foot suites furnished with two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows, pull-out couch, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, and spacious bathroom with rain shower.  Along with the suites, the newbuilds will also have thirty-two 225 square foot cabins, plus an additional thirteen cabins ranging from 150 to 190 square feet.  In keeping with Tauck’s policy of welcoming solo travelers, four of the 150 square foot cabins are being set aside for guests traveling on their own.  All suites and cabins will feature in-room movies, minibar, individual heating and cooling controls, Molton Brown toiletries, and plush bedding with 100% goose down pillows, 400-thread-count linens and pillow-top mattresses.

In addition to launching its two new ships, Tauck is also launching four new river cruise itineraries this year, including its first ever on the River Seine in France.

Carnival Triumph to operate series of 10- and 11-night Caribbean cruises

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 07 April 2014 07 April 2014

For the very first time, Carnival Cruise Lines is offering 10- and 11-night cruises between Galveston and San Juan featuring visits to six different Caribbean destinations on one itinerary.

Two 11-night cruises sail from Galveston to San Juan Oct. 24, 2015, and Jan. 16, 2016, and two 10-night cruises from San Juan to Galveston depart Nov. 4, 2015, and Jan. 27, 2016.

These longer-length tropical itineraries feature an array of beautiful Caribbean ports and are a first in terms of Carnival’s Texas-based cruise program, which also includes year-round 4-and 5-night Mexico cruises and 7-night Caribbean itineraries. A number of the ports featured on the 10- and 11-night voyages are among the most pristine, unique and less visited islands in the Caribbean. Those are combined with several of the region’s most popular destinations to create highly attractive and diverse itineraries that provide the opportunity to enjoy a multitude of islands featuring gorgeous beaches, turquoise waters and endless sightseeing, shopping and water sports activities.

Also offered for the first time on a Carnival itinerary is Bonaire, which is featured on 11-night cruises. An island nestled in the Dutch Antilles, Bonaire is known for its brightly colored scenery and some of the best diving in the world. Other islands on these new itineraries rarely visited by Carnival ships include Antigua, Grenada and Martinique — all known for their stunning scenery and relaxing Caribbean ambiance.

The 11-night voyages on Carnival Triumph originate in Galveston and include stops at Grand Cayman, Aruba, Bonaire, Grenada, Martinique and St. Maarten with the voyage ending in San Juan.

The 10-night San Juan-to-Galveston itinerary calls at St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Antigua, Grand Turk, and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay.

With non-repeating ports on the two different itineraries, guests looking to take an even longer Carnival getaway can book back-to-back cruises and take a memorable three-week voyage roundtrip from Galveston that visits all of these magnificent destinations.   

“These 10- and 11-night cruises on Carnival Triumph provide vacationers even more opportunities to explore tropical destinations, relax on beautiful white-sand beaches and enjoy world-class snorkeling, scuba diving and watersports,” said Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill. “Plus, at our Carnival Conversations events travel agents have indicated that they would like to see a greater variety of itinerary choices, particularly longer cruises from the Gulf region, so these new voyages from Galveston are a great new option for agents to market to their clients,” he added.

SuperStar Virgo embarks on first Hong Kong deployment in six years

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 07 April 2014 07 April 2014

Star Cruises’ Asian flagship SuperStar Virgo returned to Hong Kong for the first time in six years today. SuperStar Virgo is the only international cruise ship with regular destination cruises to be homeported in Hong Kong from now to 26 October. Star Cruises, the leading cruise line in Asia-Pacific, deploys the newly revamped vessel to Hong Kong to capitalize on the growing demands for cruise travel in North Asia.

The 75,338 gross ton 13-deck SuperStar Virgo carries up to 2,500 passengers in its 935 cabins and 1,870 lower berths. During the six-month deployment, it will be offering weekly 4D3N cruises from Hong Kong to Kaohsiung and Taichung, 4D3N cruises to Sanya and Halong Bay and 1-night highseas cruises to South China Sea. Once a month, passengers can visit Taiwan’s three biggest cities—Taipei (Keelung), Kaohsiung and Taichung—on a 7D6N cruise.

The ship arrived at Ocean Terminal from Nha Trang this morning. About 1,600 guests were given a warm welcome amidst the drum show, lion dance and Police Band performances arranged by Hong Kong Tourism Board and received souvenir bags. To commemorate this landmark deployment, heads and representatives of tourism bureau and tourism boards across the region including Hong Kong Tourism Commission Commissioner for Tourism Mr. Philip Yung JP, Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Mr. Anthony Lau, Taiwan Tourism Bureau Deputy Director General Dr. Wayne Liu, and Deputy Mayor of Kaohsiung Mr. Lee Yung Te graced the celebration with held on board.

Among the many surprises found at the celebration was the presence of celebrity couple Wong Cho Lam and Leanne Li. The lovebirds shared their cruising experience and were given a complimentary SuperStar Virgo cruise of their choice. Hong Kong homegrown cartoon icon McDull, who delights in promoting Hong Kong tourism for these years, was also overwhelmed with joy for being on board a cruise ship for the first time. He welcomed and posed for photos with guests at the sail away party. SuperStar Virgo will set sail for Kaohsiung tonight on a 3D2N itinerary. Over 1,300 passengers will receive traditional Taiwanese snacks and souvenirs at the welcome ceremony tomorrow prepared by the City of Kaohsiung.

As the pioneer of the Asian cruise industry, Star Cruises became the first international cruise line to homeport a ship in Hong Kong in 1994 with the deployment of Star Pisces. Since then, Hong Kong has been one of the permanent homeports of Star Cruises.

Genting Hong Kong Chief Operating Officer Mr. Blondel So said, “SuperStar Virgo is an immensely popular cruise ship. Our extensive array of entertainment, leisure, shopping, F&B offerings and renowned Asian style hospitality have long been celebrated by travelers in the region. Many tourists from China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia, as well as Southeast Asia and India, are flying to Hong Kong to take advantage of this opportunity and have a chance to explore the city. This deployment also serves as a prelude to the two 150,000-tonne mega cruise ships we have recently commissioned to build for the Asian market. It will pave the way for their respective deliveries in 2016 and 2017.”

Hong Kong Tourism Commission Commissioner for Tourism Mr. Philip Yung JP said, "Given our geographic advantage and excellent infrastructure, we have strong potentials to become the cruise hub of Asia. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, will be completed in the coming few years. Coupled with our extensive connections with international markets, we are best place to capture the markets in Mainland China and oversea.”

Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Mr Anthony Lau said, “The Hong Kong Tourism Board is happy to see the return of SuperStar Virgo to Hong Kong after six years. With demand for cruise travel on the rise, we have been actively fostering partnerships with other ports in the region and international cruise lines to tap the potential of the Asian cruise market. In March this year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Taiwan Tourism Bureau jointly launched the Asia Cruise Fund to encourage cruise lines to increase ship deployments to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and we have already invited other Asian ports to join this co-op fund to increase the overall appeal of cruise travel in Asia. The Hong Kong Tourism Board is also dedicated to developing our target source markets, including more mature markets like the US and the UK, and short-haul markets which promise high potential, such as South China, India and Southeast Asia. We are confident that with the support of cruise lines and other ports in the region, we will be able to accelerate the development of cruise tourism in Asia and turn Hong Kong into the region’s cruise hub.”

Taiwan Tourism Bureau Deputy Director General Dr. Wayne Liu said, “Star Cruises has been devoted to developing the Asian cruise industry for years. With a deep understanding of the unique tastes and preferences of Asian travelers, Star Cruises offers products specially designed for Asians. The 28 Hong Kong/Taiwan itineraries planned for SuperStar Virgo's Hong Kong deployment will be beneficial for both Hong Kong and Taiwan in attracting foreign visitors. We hope Star Cruises will continue to take advantage of the initiative by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Hong Kong Tourism Board to enhance the exposure, raise the capacity and give a further boost to the Asian cruise industry as a whole.”

To celebrate the deployment, Star Cruises has teamed up with eight major attractions in Hong Kong including Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland and Ngong Ping 360, to provide special fares and offers to SuperStar Virgo’s passengers who have flown to Hong Kong to join the cruise. Star Cruises has also prepared a host of onboard festivals and activities to promote Hong Kong and other regional cuisines and cultures to overseas travelers.

SuperStar Virgo has just undergone a lavish makeover with upgraded cabins, retail, hotel, dining, and recreational facilities. To give cruisers the leisurely shopping experience they truly deserve, the total retail floor area of SuperStar Virgo has tripled to 562 square meters. The expansion and addition of duty-free operator China Duty Free, jewelry and watch specialist Canopus, luxury leather goods retailer Milan Station and souvenir shop Ports O’ Call will offer passengers even more choices of perfume, cosmetics, fashion accessories, luxury and lifestyle products from around the world.

World-class entertainment is at the heart of the Star Cruises holiday. For the Hong Kong deployment, new production show “Stone of Atlantis” will be staged. It is a tale set in the lost ancient city of Atlantis. Hidden deep in the city, the legendary Stone of Atlantis is imbued with incredible power. Dive into the myth as we conjure the power of the stone with a world-class ensemble of performers including sensational American violinist Bryson Andres, Shaolin Kung Fu masters, Pantera Duo from Russia and acrobatic group Trilogy from Ukraine. Their breathtaking acts will leave the audience exhilarated and astounded. Besides in-house production shows, lucky guests will have the chance to attend the concert of Cantopop legend Francis Yip on SuperStar Virgo on 12 April for her rendition of unforgettable timeless classics.

Drawing upon Hong Kong’s reputation as a gourmet destination, SuperStar Virgo will host a series of celebrity chef themed cruises. The first to show off his culinary wonders to passengers is Michelin-starred chef Kenny Chan, winner of Hong Kong TV cooking contest “Apprentice Chef”. Chef Chan will design a range of Cantonese, Chinese and Western dishes to be served on SuperStar Virgo in May, further perfecting the dining experience of guests.

SuperStar Virgo is complete with 11 F&B outlets, a world-class theatre showing acclaimed production shows every day, lounges, karaoke, swimming pools with a mega waterslide, Jacuzzis, a video arcade, a fitness centre, a beauty salon, a business centre and many more leisure, entertainment, wellness and MICE amenities.

American Empress christened by Godmother Claudette Waggoner

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 07 April 2014 07 April 2014

On April 5, American Queen Steamboat Company's American Empress was christened in downtown Portland, Ore. The 223-guest riverboat, the largest west of the Mississippi River, officially joined the company's fleet with the Memphis-based American Queen. Claudette Waggoner, wife of chairman and CEO John Waggoner, was the godmother of the American Empress and broke a bottle of local sparkling wine on the boats hull culminating the ceremonial festivities. Former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, longtime leader for the U.S. maritime industry and champion of U.S. river cruising expansion, served as the ceremony's keynote speaker.

"This is a celebration of public-private partnership and the American dream being lived today right here in Portland," shared former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

During the ceremony 13th Coast Guard District Commander Rear Admiral Richard T. Gromlich presented the official certificate of inspection and remarks were made by Ted Sykes, American Queen Steamboat Company president and COO; Terry MacRae, Hornblower Cruises and Events chairman and CEO; and Acting Maritime Administrator Paul Chip Jaenichen. Sam Robinson of the Chinook Nation blessed the 223-guest American Empress and the ceremony concluded with a wine presentation by Willamette Valley Vineyards to celebrate the lines partnership with over 40 local wineries.

"The overnight cruise business has been a dream of John's and he is the most passionate man I know," shared American Empress Godmother Claudette Waggoner. "It is an honor to serve as the American Empress godmother and share his dream of this majestic vessel with all of you as she sails the Pacfic Northwest."

The U.S.-flagged American Empress was built in 2003 and operated by Majestic America Line from 2003 to 2008, sailing Alaska's Inside Passage and the Pacific Northwest. The American Queen Steamboat Company purchased the riverboat from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) and has had a team onboard preparing for her launch on the Columbia and Snake Rivers since May 2013. Formerly the Empress of the North, the American Empress delivers opulence on a grand scale, following in the pedigree of the lines namesake riverboat American Queen.

Her maiden voyage will be a nine-day journey immersing guests in the splendor of the Columbia and Snake Rivers, departing from Vancouver U.S.A. Featured stops include some of the region's most celebrated ports including Astoria, Ore.; Stevenson, Wash.; The Dalles, Ore.; Sacajawea State Park, Wash. and finally Clarkston, Wash. Complimentary shore excursions will be available in every port and include the cultural and historical landmarks that signify the living legacy of the regions first settlers.  Travelers with specific interests are encouraged to enjoy the variety of Premium Experience Excursions such as the Walla Walla Wine Trail or a journey to the volcanic crater of Mount St. Helens. Daily lectures will also be provided by the Riverlorian, an onboard history and culture expert.