Top Headlines

Lindblad to build two U.S. flagged coastal vessels

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 09 December 2015 09 December 2015

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. today announced that it has signed definitive agreements with Nichols Brothers Boat Builders ("Nichols Brothers") for the new build of two U.S. flagged coastal vessels. They will be U.S. built at their shipyard on Whidbey Island in Washington State. The first completed ship is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2017 and the second vessel is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2018. The new 100-guest ships were developed with decades of experience of captains, expedition leaders, engineers and designers.

"These new ships mark an exciting step in the long-term growth of the company, and enables us to capitalize on the substantial demand for our expeditions. With our significant resources we can continue to deliver on our promise of expedition travel at its best, and can now expand our unique offerings in the Americas where we have very strong demand," said Sven Lindblad, President and CEO of Lindblad.

"We are pleased to be working with Nichols Brothers in Washington State on this project given their long history in ship building, including having built our current U.S. flagged ships, the National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird."

"This is an important milestone in the company's history as we enter the 50th Anniversary of the birth of expedition travel begun by my father, Lars-Eric Lindblad, with the first laymen expedition to Antarctica in 1966," added Lindblad.

Some key features of the new vessels:

– 50 cabins: 22 with balconies, and eight that can be configured into four adjoining cabins for families.
– As the primary focus is the world outside, all public spaces are designed for maximum viewing with easy, quick access to decks for inevitable announcements from the bridge of a phenomenal sighting.
– An outdoor walkway around the entire sun deck, which will feature an al fresco bar and grill, in addition to the restaurant and a lounge with bar and facilities for presentations.
– A fleet of sea kayaks, paddle boards, and specially designed landing craft - all of which are geared to get guests out and into the wild, remote places being explored.
– A fully equipped fitness room and a Wellness spa.
– State-of-the-art expedition technology, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), video microscope, and a hydrophone and bow-cam designed for immediate bow deployment to hear and film, for instance, humpback whale vocalizations and see bow-riding dolphins.
– Full warm and cold water diving gear and underwater cameras for the Undersea Specialist to bring back rare imagery of the undersea world.
– State-of-the-art A/V system for the highest quality presentations, including National Geographic photography instruction.

Lindblad had previously signed a non-binding letter of intent with Nichols Brothers for these new builds and paid a $4 million non-refundable slot fee during the third quarter of this year to reserve the shipyard's capacity, which will be charged against the second vessel's cost. The definitive agreements provide for Nichols Brothers to construct the two new build vessels at a purchase price of $48.0 million and $46.8 million, respectively, payable monthly based on the value of the work performed (offset by the $4.0 million slot fee previously paid). Jensen Maritime is serving as the naval architect on the project with interior design work provided by Tillberg Design International. Building of the vessels will commence this year.

New-starter Diamond Cruise to set sail from Shanghai in March

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 08 December 2015 08 December 2015

China’s Suzhou Tai Hu International Travels Ltd. (苏州太湖国际旅行社有限责任公司) has acquired a cruise vessel from Germany for its newly established subsidiary, Diamond Cruise International Co., Ltd., which aims to set sail from Shanghai as early as March 2016.

Diamond Cruise was registered in the Bahamas in July 2015. According to its parent company it will start operation with this first vessel, which will be renamed “Brilliant of the Seas” (辉煌号) and undergo extensive refurbishment, transforming it into a cruise vessel suitable to cater for the taste of its targeted Chinese clientele.

Just as one cruise operation is shut down, another is starting. Diamond Cruise will be the first new cruise brand in China following the closure of the HNA operation. The company also intends, in the next five years, to acquire further three to four ships in an effort to “gain supremacy” in the fast-moving Chinese cruise market, it says.

Founded in 1993, today Suzhou Tai Hu International is a large travel conglomerate with extensive interests in cruise business, including cruise ship management and supplies. It has named most major international cruise brands as its partners in this regard. The group has cruise-related operation branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing.

Alan Lam reporting from Hong Kong

First Chinese built cruise ship seen to enter service 2020

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 03 December 2015 03 December 2015

A Chinese company is planning to build the first cruise ship in the country, tapping booming demand, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. said on Wednesday.

It said that it would build the ship with technical support from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, with construction starting in 2017 and hopefully completing in 2020, the Xinhua news agency reports.

“Parent firm China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) along with the China Investment Corporation (CIC) will set up a joint venture with £2.6 billion with America's Carnival Cruise Lines to purchase the vessel,” the report said.

However, Carnival Corporation & plc said during the recent state visit of the Chinese president to London that Carnival plc, the British holding company in the Carnival Corporation & plc group, would form a joint venture with CSSC and CIC to set up a Chinese domestic cruise brand.

However, Carnival group has a separate agreement with Fincantieri and CSSC to develop cruise ship building in China.

“As China gets into building cruise liners, it will focus on making luxury ships weighing more than 100,000 tonnes,” Chen Jun, vice manager of Shanghai Waigaoqiao, was quoted by Xinhua as saying. However, the size of cruise liners is usually measured in gross tons that is a measurement of volume, not weight.

The design of the new ship will incorporate traditional Chinese elements, with the total cost running to $1 billion Chen said.

By the time the liner is delivered in 2020, it is expected that 4.5 million Chinese will be taking cruise vacations and that the number will grow nearly four-fold over the following decade.

China will then become one of the world's largest markets for cruise travel and need five new cruise ships a year to meet demand.

The world currently needs 13 new cruise ships each year. Seven of them will replace older ships while the other six are for meeting increased demand for cruise travel, according to Chen.

"The world needs more shipbuilders as existing ones cannot take orders for cruise liners beyond those slated for delivery in 2022," he added.

Christian Schönrock appointed as new Vice President Newbuilding Costa Group

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 03 December 2015 03 December 2015

Effective December 1, 2015, Christian Schönrock is taking up the position of Vice President Newbuilding Costa Group. In this newly created role he takes over the responsible for all newbuilding projects of the brands of the Costa Group: Costa, Costa Asia and AIDA Cruises and reports directly to Michael Thamm, CEO Costa Group.

“The New Building department has a key strategic role for the Costa Group. With our next ship generation we are setting a new trend for the whole industry, environmentally innovative and offering amazing features on board to ensure competitive advantage and sustainable growth”, said Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group. “Since last year Christian Schönrock and his team are developing the new common platform the Costa Group newbuilds - the first ever cruise ships powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).”

Christian Schönrock has been with AIDA Cruises since 1995. Starting with the first newbuild AIDAcara, he has been involved in all newbuilding projects for AIDA Cruises. As Director Newbuildings he successfully launched the seven ships of the AIDA Sphinx class, built at the Meyer Werft Papenburg, Germany. From 2009 onwards he and his team developed the next AIDA ships generation, which are under construction at MHI Nagasaki, Japan. AIDAprima, the first of the two sister ships currently under construction in Japan will start on April 30, 2016, from Hamburg its first seven-day round-trip voyages visiting the metropolises of Western Europe.

Viking Ocean Cruises expands to North American waters next year

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 02 December 2015 02 December 2015

Viking Ocean Cruises yesterday announced that the line will expand its destination-focused cruising to North America and the Caribbean with five new itineraries launching in September 2016. As a nod to the most famous Viking explorer, Leif Eriksson, who set foot on North American soil 500 years before Columbus, Viking Star will also cross the North Atlantic – with a new itinerary that sails from Bergen to Montreal, with stops in the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland. From Montreal, the award-winning ship will cruise the St. Lawrence River and down the coast of New England to New York, during the peak period of fall foliage in October. Viking Star will then make her way down the Eastern seaboard to San Juan, Puerto Rico, which will serve as her homeport for winter Caribbean itineraries. The ship will return to Europe in February 2017, with a transatlantic sailing from San Juan to Barcelona.

“We have always had a vision to reinvent ocean cruising – to bring destinations back to the forefront of the itinerary and to build ships that are designed to help our guests better explore their destinations,” said Torstein Hagen, founder and chairman of Viking Cruises. “We launched our ocean cruises in Europe earlier this year, and just as the Viking explorers before us, we are now looking across the Atlantic for new discoveries. Our new itineraries in North America and the Caribbean will offer travelers experiences that broaden their horizons both on and off the ship.”

New North America & Caribbean itineraries

Created in part to honor early Viking trade routes beyond Scandinavia, Viking’s new North American itineraries will allow guests to sail the North Atlantic and visit original Norse settlement sites that date back more than 1,000 years. Viking’s Caribbean itineraries will provide an alternative to the cruises typically offered in the region – with more time in port and experiences that go beyond the iconic and expected. Highlights from the new program include:

In the Wake of the Vikings (15 days; Bergen to Montreal) – Trace the route of Viking Leif Eriksson, setting off from his homeland, Norway, sailing from the old mercantile city of Bergen to the rustic Shetland Islands of Scotland the Faroe Islands, once home to the Viking Parliament. Witness the magnificent natural beauty of Iceland and Greenland; then, as Eriksson before you, land at Newfoundland, where L’Anse aux Meadows reveals evidence of Norse settlements. Sail on to Quebec, with explorations of Saguenay and Quebec City, before arriving in Montreal. Introductory 2-for-1 pricing starts at $6,499 per person. Sailing Date: September 18, 2016.

Eastern Seaboard Explorer (13 days; Montreal to New York) – Witness the shores of Canada and New England come alive with fall’s vibrant hues during this once-annual sailing. From cosmopolitan Montreal, cruise the St. Lawrence River to French-flavored Quebec City. Learn about Canada’s colonial past in Saguenay and about its Scottish and Acadian heritage on Prince Edward Island and in Halifax. An overnight in Boston gives you ample time to visit its historic treasures. Then, enjoy a rare crossing of the Cape Cod Canal en route to New York City, where you’ll experience the highlights of Manhattan. Introductory 2-for-1 pricing starts at $4,999 per person. Sailing Date: October 2, 2016.

Eastern Seaboard to the West Indies (15 days; New York to San Juan) – Trace the Atlantic seaboard of the United States into the Caribbean, calling on an array of vibrant capitals and lush islands. An overnight in exhilarating New York City lets you take in its dazzling sights. Then explore Newport’s grand mansions and Baltimore’s historic riches. Immerse yourself in colonial Jamestown from our port in Norfolk, and enjoy an overnight stay amid the coastal beauty of Port Everglades. Then explore the lush and lively Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos, Antigua and St. Thomas. Introductory 2-for-1 pricing starts at $4,999 per person. Sailing Date: October 14, 2016.

West Indies Explorer (11 days; San Juan to San Juan) – After time to explore the colonial treasures of San Juan, Puerto Rico, immerse yourself in the British, French and Dutch cultures of the Lesser Antilles. Take in the steep green hills of Tortola and Antigua. Explore settlement towns on St. Lucia and Barbados. Witness the rainforest beauty of Guadeloupe and the rich past of St. Kitts. And marvel at the French and Dutch sides of St. Martin and the splendid vistas of St. Thomas. Introductory 2-for-1 pricing starts at $2,999 per person. Sailing Dates: October 28, November 7, December 17 and December 27, 2016; January 6, January 16, January 26, February 5 and February 15, 2017.

West Indies to Iberia (18 days; San Juan to Barcelona) – Embark in colonial San Juan, and call upon the Dutch side of St. Maarten. Then, enjoy a leisurely six-day trans-Atlantic crossing, savoring the offerings onboard Viking Star. You’ll make landfall on the garden-draped Portuguese island of Madeira and visit the French-inflected Moroccan city of Casablanca before exploring Spain in Cádiz, Valencia and finally, Barcelona. Introductory 2-for-1 pricing starts at $3,299. Sailing Date: February 25, 2017.