Top Headlines

Carnival Maritime fully operational: Highest safety standards with new marine operations unit of the Costa Group

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 28 October 2015 28 October 2015

The Costa Group implements digital support, surveillance and planning of all technical and nautical aspects of the 25 vessels of Costa Crociere, Costa Asia and AIDA in real time. On the occasion of the new marine service unit becoming fully operational in Hamburg, Carnival Maritime today invited journalists and stakeholders to have a glimpse behind the scenes and granted insights into operations and risk & safety management. "By founding Carnival Maritime, we invested in the most elaborated technologies to create a Marine Operations Unit that supports our captains the best possible way," explained Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group.

With fully integrated, large fleet teams, Carnival Maritime improves the communication between ship and shore significantly. Among other things, the marine service unit is responsible for ship building, maintenance and refurbishment. Additionally, it takes care of trainings, route planning, technical procurement, medical services, support of the nautical and technical staff on board and auditing of the vessels with regard to safety, danger prevention and staff. The new corporate division is located in Hamburg and employs 150 specialists.

Digital control centre on duty 24/7

The centrepiece of Carnival Maritime is the fleet operation centre, FOC. All data come together here displayed on numerous monitors. In the event of safety concerns, the nautical officers on duty support the ships in risk and crisis management and in optimizing the route planning. The FOC operates 24 hours daily. 14 officers with professional experience run the safety centre in shift operation. If required, further departments of Carnival Maritime are consulted like security, route planning or medical. "It is our goal to pursue a ‚zero-incident‘-policy. Benchmark is the aviation industry," says Jens Lassen, Executive Vice President of Carnival Maritime.

Not only safety - the environment benefits, too

By digital control, potentials for optimisation regarding fuel and energy consumption as well as water and waste management can be leveraged. A significant amount of fuel can be saved when using the motor in optimal condition is only one of many examples. Technical surveillance and analysis combined with best practice experiences offer numerous approaches to develop innovative environmental and efficiency projects – for instance for the fresh water supply system, the wastewater treatment and waste management.

Hamburg offers many advantages

Carnival Maritime chose Hamburg as business location and important European harbour. "The city plays a key role within the maritime sector and therefore offers a well-developed infrastructure and a large talent pool of highly skilled professionals," explains Jens Lassen. "For us, an international crew with an excellent technical expertise and a corporate culture where the individual takes responsibility and an innovative approach to his or hers duties, are important elements of a safety culture which we want to achieve group wide within the company," Lassen continues. Also an important factor: the close proximity to partners in the marine industry and universities.

Carnival Cruise Line names two ships to Chinese market

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 28 October 2015 28 October 2015

Carnival Cruise Line, the largest brand under Carnival Corporation & plc, has announced an initial commitment of two ships to the China market beginning with Carnival Miracle in spring 2017 followed by Carnival Splendor in spring 2018. Both ships will be based in China year round.

Carnival Miracle and Carnival Splendor will offer the memorable, high quality vacation experience Carnival is known for featuring exceptional service and hospitality in a fun and friendly atmosphere. "Carnival is the world's most popular cruise line and our style of cruising appeals to guests of all ages and particularly families," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "We attract more than 4.5 million guests a year and, as the family cruise leader, we also carry more than 700,000 children each year. Multi-generational families also choose to vacation with Carnival more than any other cruise brand. We look forward to bringing our one-of-a-kind, exceptionally popular cruise experience to the Chinese market."

Duffy also noted that Carnival's highly differentiated cruise experience offers a very interactive and participatory style of vacation that brings together the guests and well-trained and motivated onboard team members. "The team brings this experience to life for our guests on every cruise with a high level of respect, service and hospitality. We know this will resonate very well with our Chinese guests and allow us to exceed their expectations," Duffy stated.

Carnival is the worldwide leader in providing cruises of three to five days and this extensive experience in shorter duration cruises will be invaluable in providing Chinese guests with a truly memorable vacation experience. Specific details on the company's China itineraries will be announced at a later time.

Carnival Miracle is a notably spacious ship given its size and more limited guest capacity (2,124 guests) and has a guest to crew ratio of nearly two to one. This allows the ship to uniquely offer outstanding guest service in a very spacious and comfortable environment. The ship offers a variety of popular features including more than 60 percent of accommodations featuring a private balcony.

There are also four swimming pools with a magrodome over the main pool area which provides excellent views and an expansive outdoor area to enjoy a wide variety of activities and entertainment in all weather conditions. Carnival Miracle's two promenade decks offer multiple types of locations for gathering with friends and family, playing games or enjoying a host of other exciting activities and entertainment options.

Extensive enhancements were added earlier this year with the addition of the RedFrog Pub which features a uniquely Caribbean atmosphere with music and entertainment options from this popular tropical region. The Alchemy Bar was added, as well, and skilled bartenders create custom drinks with unique fresh ingredients based on guests' individual tastes and preferences.

Carnival Miracle offers multiple dedicated facilities for children, including an expansive water park. The highly trained staff ensure that the younger cruisers are well cared for and entertained with fun activities throughout the cruise. For the adults, Serenity is a private and comfortable outdoor area restricted to guests age 18 and older. The ship also features an outstanding steakhouse, offering exceptional cuts of dry aged beef and top quality seafood, along with spectacular views. Several areas of the ship, including the casino, shopping and dining offerings will be enhanced prior to the start of China service to cater to Asian tastes.

Carnival Splendor, which enters the China market in 2018, is a larger vessel which carries just over 3,000 passengers and boasts a wide variety of features including an array of outstanding dining, entertainment and other guest-pleasing options. That ship also has four swimming pools, one of which can be covered by a glass magrodome, seven whirlpools, a Serenity area and a variety of dedicated facilities for children in different age groups.

Carnival will be establishing operations in China in partnership with sister company Costa Asia, which has operated in the Chinese market for the past nine years. "Given the combined experience of Costa Asia, along with other sister companies either already in the market, such as Princess Cruises, or entering the market, such as AIDA, the collective scale of Carnival Corporation's Asia operations is unparalleled and enables us to tap into an immense network of resources and expertise as we launch our China program," said Duffy.

Reservations for voyages on Carnival Miracle are expected to open in 2016.

Pullmantur to abandon Latin America focus and revert to Spain

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 23 October 2015 23 October 2015

Pullmantur the Latin America and Spain focused brand in the Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCCL) group, will refocus on Spain again instead of Latin America due to challenges in the last named market, RCCL said in a statement.

“In past quarters, management has acknowledged the weakness in the economies of Latin America, and the impact of this weakness on Pullmantur. Unfortunately, the economic outlook in Latin America has deteriorated further in recent months and, as a result, the brand is re-focusing on its core market of Spain.

Pullmantur has a fleet of five ships that all built in the late 1980s to early 1990s. The company was originaly Spanish owned and it focused mainly on the Spanish market, until the outbreak of the financial crisis in that country earlier this decade encouraged the management look at the Latin American markets as the key. RCCl today unveiled a $399.3 million impairment charge against the Pullmantur brand and its ships.

RCCL raises 2015 EPS forecast to $4.80 per share

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 23 October 2015 23 October 2015

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCCL), the world’s second largest cruise shipping company, says it has raised its 2015 earnings per share (EPS) forecast to $4.80 per share from an earlier forecast of $4.65 to $4.70.

"As we have reiterated throughout the year, we remain ahead on both pricing and volume versus same time last year," said Jason T. Liberty, chief financial officer. "While Latin America is stressing yields in the fourth quarter, strong year-over-year pricing in the Caribbean, and the addition of capacity in China, will solidify this fourth quarter as the best in our company's history."

Taking into account current fuel pricing, interest rates, currency exchange rates and the factors detailed above, the company expects 2015 Adjusted EPS to be approximately $4.80 per share.

The company is experiencing good early booking trends for 2016. Booked load factors and APDs are higher than same time last year and the booking window has extended.

Management is excited by the 2016 introduction of Harmony of the Seas starting in Europe next summer and adding Ovation of the Seas to its Chinese platform to take advantage of the strong reception this class of ships has received there.

While still early in the booking cycle, the view for 2016 is encouraging, and the company expects another year of solid yield and earnings growth.

"As we turn the corner into 2016 we have our sights firmly set on our 2017 Double-Double targets," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer. "Next year represents a positive step on that journey."

RCCL reports fall in third quarter, nine month profit on Pullmantur charge

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 23 October 2015 23 October 2015

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd (RCCL), the world’s second largest cruise shipping group, has reported a fall in third quarter and nine months net result on a heavy impairment charge of its Pullmantur brand.

Group net profit fell to $228.8 million in third quarter to $490.2 million, while revenues rose to $2.52 billion from $2.38 billion. The company booked impairment charges of $399.3 million related to Pullmantur, its Spain and Latin America focused brand and its assets.

In the first nine months of the year, the profit fell to $458.9 million from $654.4 million, while revenues rose to $6.39 billion from $6.26 billion.

“Net Yields on a Constant-Currency basis increased 5.1% during the quarter, approximately 130 basis points better than the mid-point of previous guidance. Close-in Caribbean and European demand and strong performance in Asia more than off-set further weakness in Latin America,” the company said in a statement.

“Onboard Revenue Yield increased 10% mainly driven by strong retail and beverage sales and demand for VOOM, the fastest internet at sea,” RCCL said. Year-over-year, the company has made a number of structural changes which are driving a stronger fourth quarter. The growth of the Asia-Pacific region, including Quantum of the Seas sailing in China, boosts earnings in the typically lighter shoulder season.

The addition of new capacity, with Anthem of the Seas joining the fleet, efforts to drive incremental Onboard Revenue, and a continued focus on cost efficiencies also contribute to a stronger end of the year.