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Exclusive: Residential cruise vessel differs quite a bit from ordinary cruise ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 10 June 2020 10 June 2020

To design a vessel with residences onboard differs quite a bit from work on a cruise ship, summed up Nahal Kadora, Senior Designer at Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS).

“The initial approach is similar, with some of the same facilities onboard, but the operational aspect is somewhat different,” she explained. On a cruise, people spend a limited amount of time onboard, mostly about a week or two. On a residential cruise vessel, such as the projected Narrative of Storylines that TDoS has been involved with, the time can be a lot longer.

The ship and its facilities, including the residences themselves, need to accommodate the fact that people using them are more active on some days wile on others, they want a more relaxed pace, quite as they would do at a land based home.

Perhaps the most striking difference between a cruise cabin and accommodation on a residential cruise ship is the Residential Lounge with a kitchen that forms part of the private quarters on the last-named ship type. “You can enjoy a home cooked meal together with friends,” Kadora said.

“People can also invite friends and family for a stay onboard,” she continued, adding that the residents themselves would be part of a community of people who live onboard. As modern technology allows it, many people will probably also work for part of the time they spend on a residential cruise ship, so it is not just a pure leisure pad," Kadora pointed out.

A residential cruise ship will also need to provide a range of facilities for people to keep fit – Narrative is projected to feature not just gym, spa and fitness facilities, but also a marina that can be used when the vessel is e.g. at anchor offshore. Again, as the residents are expect to have varied preferences and lifestyles, the vessel has to cater for a broad range of tastes and interests. This also goes for the entertainment onboard: a range of public rooms that can be used for this purpose will also be provided.

Concern for the environment is a matter that many people share these days and Narrative is planned to feature a 5,400sq ft kitchen garden, where e.g. vegetables are planned to be grown – pesticide free. As Kadora pointed out, interest in locally produced food is also a major trend all over the world these days and Storylines plans to be the first passenger shipping company to start producing food onboard.

You can read more about Narrative and a number of other residential cruise ship projects in the next issue of CruiseBusiness.com magazine, which has been just published.

Silversea welcomes Silver Origin to its fleet with first in-person cruise ship delivery since the lockdown

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 05 June 2020 05 June 2020

Silversea Cruises has taken delivery of its first-ever destination-specific ship, Silver Origin, from Dutch shipyard De Hoop. An intimate ceremony, held on Wednesday June 3, 2020, marked the first in-person cruise ship delivery since the pandemic prompted a global lockdown.

Select Silversea top executives – including Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman; Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO; Damien O’Connor, SVP Hotel Operations & Onboard Revenue; and Barbara Muckermann, Chief Marketing Officer – attended the ceremony in Rotterdam. Joined by representatives from De Hoop Shipyard, Silversea’s executives took a tour of the completed ship for the first time and were present for the official flag ceremony.

“It was a very proud moment for me to attend Silver Origin’s official delivery ceremony in person, and to welcome Silversea’s first-ever destination-specific ship to our fleet. I am very grateful to all involved in the build, especially the professionals at De Hoop Shipyard,” says Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio. “In September 2013, Silversea became the first cruise line to launch an ultra-luxury ship in the Galapagos Archipelago. We have invested our accrued know-how into the design of Silver Origin. Every element of the ship has been designed with the destination in mind and tailored to enhance the experience for travelers, while fostering a deep sense of respect for this magnificent ecosystem and everything that inhabits it.”

“We welcome the beautiful Silver Origin to our fleet as the first ship since the start of our collaboration with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.,” says Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s President & CEO. “The ship demonstrates how fruitful our collaboration has been, while providing an indication of the great success to come. With Silversea’s destination expertise and the invaluable support of the RCL group, we have pushed the boundaries of ultra-luxury travel in the Galapagos with Silver Origin. I want to extend my gratitude to all those involved, including my colleagues at both Silversea and RCL, but especially to the De Hoop Shipyard who overcame many challenges to complete the ship.”

“It has been extremely rewarding to work on this project, and we are proud for having been able to deliver the ship in spite of the external challenges,” says Patrick Janssens, CEO of De Hoop Shipyard. “The delivery ceremony marked a momentous moment for both parties, and delivering Silver Origin to Silversea’s Executives here in Rotterdam was a great pleasure. We wish the cruise line every success for the future and we look forward to seeing this beautiful ship in the Galapagos Islands where she belongs.”

Integrating the latest state-of-the-art technology and designed with a focus on the pillars of sustainability, destination on board, expedition experience, authentic local culture, and comfort and service, the all-suite, all-balcony, 100-guest Silver Origin will welcome travelers year-round in the unique Galapagos Archipelago. The ship will provide guests with the ultimate destination experience, inspired by Silversea’s accrued expertise and founded on a deep respect for the fragility of the natural environment, while maintaining the cruise line’s trademark quality of service.

Each of Silver Origin's spaces has been designed specifically with the Galapagos in mind by Hirsch Bedner Associates Miami. Silversea’s executives visited each to experience first-hand how they will create unique synergies between the destination and the ship.

RCCL prices $2.0 billion note offerings

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 05 June 2020 05 June 2020

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), the world’s second largest cruise shipping group, has announced that it has priced its concurrent private offerings of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 9.125% Senior Guaranteed Notes due 2023 and $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.250% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023.

“The Senior Notes will mature on June 15, 2023. The Senior Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by a newly formed, direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company that will own all the equity interests in the Company's subsidiaries that own seven of the Company's vessels,” RCCL said in a statement.

The convertible notes, which will mature on June 15, 2023, unless earlier converted, redeemed pursuant to a tax redemption or repurchased, have the initial conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of the notes to 13.8672 shares of common stock of the Company, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $72.11 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.

“The initial conversion price represents a conversion premium of approximately 25.00% to the last reported sale price of $57.69 per share of the Company's common stock on The New York Stock Exchange on June 4, 2020,”RCCL said.

RCCL commences private offering of senior and convertible notes

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 04 June 2020 04 June 2020

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), the world’s second largest cruise shipping group, said it has commenced a private offering of senior guaranteed notes and convertible notes.

The senior guaranteed notes to be issued by the company will mature in 2023 and the offering is for an aggregate principal amount of up to $1.0 billion.

Concurrently, RCCL has commenced a private offering of senior convertible notes to be issued by the company due 2023 for an aggregate principal amount of up to $1.0 billion.

“The closing of each offering is not contingent upon the closing of the other offering.The Senior Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by a newly formed, direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company that will own all the equity interests in the Company's subsidiaries that own seven of the Company's vessels. The Convertible Notes will not be guaranteed by any of the Company's subsidiaries,” RCCL said in a statement.

“The Convertible Notes will be convertible at the holder's option in certain circumstances. Upon conversion, the Company may satisfy its conversion obligation by paying or delivering, at its election, as applicable, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock.The Company expects to use the combined net proceeds from the offerings of the Notes for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of indebtedness,” RCCL concluded.

DNV GL launches new certification in infection prevention for the maritime industry

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 02 June 2020 02 June 2020

DNV GL, the world’s leading classification society, has launched a new certification in infection prevention for the maritime industry. The release of this custom certification aims to help the maritime industry resume operations better prepared for COVID-19 or other emerging pathogens. Genting Cruise Lines is the first customer working towards the CIP-M certification for their vessel Explorer Dream under the Dream Cruises brand.

As the COVID-19 crisis begins to recede, the world is looking to return to business. For the cruise industry, passenger safety has always been the priority and the current pandemic has sharpened this focus. To help vessel owners and operators resume safer operations, DNV GL has developed the CIP-M certification, which enables them to demonstrate they have procedures and systems in place for the proper prevention, control, and mitigation of infection, to protect their customers and crews.

“The COVID-19 crisis has been unprecedented in its impact on the maritime industry, and on the cruise lines in particular,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime. “But I hope that with innovative ideas like CIP-M we can help the industry get moving again in a way that gives passengers and crew confidence that exacting measures are in place to enhance the cruise industry’s already rigorous health and safety standards.”

CIP-M builds on DNV GL Healthcare’s work in infection risk management, which has been ongoing since 2008. With more than 4,000 audits performed in US hospitals, this work, which is inherent to the company’s accreditation program, helps organizations improve their management of infection risk. Experts from DNV GL’s Cruise Center in Miami customized the healthcare CIP for use in a maritime setting in cooperation with DNV GL – Business Assurance. The CIP-M also integrates maritime specific standards, such as the US CDC Vessel Sanitation Program, as well as incorporating national and industry guidelines. The certification surveys and audits are performed by DNV GL surveyor teams comprised of DNV GL – Healthcare infection prevention and control experts together with experienced maritime auditors.

“The ability to demonstrate trusted infection risk prevention and mitigation is a must to win back trust from consumers,” said Luca Crisciotti, CEO of DNV GL – Business Assurance. “Building organizational vigilance against infection risk today requires a level previously common to hospitals only. CIP-M is unique in that it builds on proven hospital standards but is specifically tailored to the context of passenger vessels, while incorporating national requirements to enable a robust immediate and long-term response.”

“At Genting Cruise Lines, the safety and well-being of our guests and crew are of paramount importance to us,” said Kent Zhu, President of Genting Cruise Lines. “From the onset of the pandemic, Genting Cruise Lines has been at the forefront in enhancing its preventive and safety measures with the COVID-19 pandemic in mind. We were the first in the industry to launch and introduce our enhanced measures, which we will adopt as the new safety norm for our fleet and we hope for the industry too. We are proud to continue to pioneer such an important collaboration with DNV GL, which is a first for the cruise and maritime industry. With consumers’ heightened expectations on safety and well-being, the customised CIP-M certification from a highly reputable healthcare expert like DNV GL will indeed further boost consumers’ confidence in cruising as we recommence operations in the very near future,” added Kent Zhu.

As part of the CIP-M certification, DNV GL assesses vessel operations, including enhanced sanitation procedures, food preparation and handling, physical distancing requirements, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by crew members, maintenance of public health essential systems, emergency response plans, pre-boarding screening, embarkation and debarkation processes, and itinerary or port planning protocols. Annual surveys onboard and company audits ashore are conducted to verify continued compliance and improvement.

The CIP-M assessment of Genting Cruise Lines has already kicked off with a pre-assessment of the company’s management system, to be followed by a certification survey of the Explorer Dream. The company is targeting successful completion of the certification programme by the end of June.

“We look forward to continuing our long-standing relationship with Genting Cruise Lines as the first cruise line now working towards our new infection prevention certification,” said Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, Regional Manager South East Asia, Pacific & India, DNV GL – Maritime. “Genting Cruise Lines has been very proactive in mitigating the COVID-19 crisis. The experience gained by operating two vessels in Singapore as temporary accommodation for workers, who have recovered from the Coronavirus, could prove useful in their preparations to resume normal operations,” she added.

Photo caption: NV GL surveyor onboard a vessel: The CIP-M surveys and audits are performed by surveyor teams comprised of DNV GL – Healthcare infection prevention and control experts together with experienced maritime auditors