News

Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway selected as names for Norwegian's new ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 13 September 2011 13 September 2011

Norwegian Cruise Line has selected the winning names for its two new Freestyle Cruising ships: Norwegian Breakaway, launching in April 2013, and Norwegian Getaway, launching in April 2014. The names were selected as the culmination of its "Norwegian's Cruising for Names" contest held in conjunction with national newspaper USA Today.

Norwegian felt these names best reflected the innovation of the brand along with the freedom and flexibility of the line's signature Freestyle Cruising and invoked the feeling that these ships will provide a "break" at sea from the stress of everyday life. Breakaway is defined as "a departure or break from routine or tradition" and Getaway is defined as "a place where one escapes for relaxation, vacation, etc."

"We felt Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway epitomized both our Freestyle Cruising philosophy and our belief that these ships will offer a true respite, whisking our guests away from their everyday routines and delivering the ultimate cruise vacation," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian's chief executive officer.

The contest winners are Kimberly Powell of Lafayette, Louisiana, who first submitted Norwegian Breakaway, and Dennis Hultman of Vienna, Virginia, who first submitted Norwegian Getaway. Powell took her first cruise in August on Norwegian Spirit and loved the experience. She is a self-proclaimed "news junkie" and thought it would be fun to enter the contest when she saw it on USA Today's site. Hultman is an avid cruiser and also reads USA Today daily.

Both Powell and Hultman will receive a trip for two to Norwegian Breakaway's inaugural festivities, including the Christening Ceremony (date/location yet to be determined). The trip includes round-trip coach airfare for two, ground transportation, balcony stateroom accommodations (double occupancy), on-board meals, as well as government taxes and fees.

The contest entry period ran from July 18 to August 14, 2011, during which 230,000 entries were received.

The Breakaway class ships will each be 144,017 gross tons and will have approximately 4,000 passenger berths. These ships represent an opportunity for the Norwegian guest to "break away" from the routine of work, school, and daily stress, and find a true respite at sea. These new ships will take the best of the best from all of Norwegian's existing ships drawing on the line's experience of having launched 10 ships in the past 10 years - starting with Norwegian Star and Sun in 2001 and culminating with the launch of Norwegian Epic in 2010. To date, the company has revealed all of the ships' staterooms, which include the innovative Studios, designed and priced for solo travelers, along with The Haven by Norwegian, comprised of 42 suites at the top of the ship.

Royal Caribbean International forms a strategic relationship with Xiamen municipal government and China World Cruises

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 07 September 2011 07 September 2011

Royal Caribbean International has entered into a strategic relationship with the Xiamen municipal government and China World Cruises (CWC) in China that involves CWC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beijing-based property and theme park developer Shan-Hai-Shu, chartering Legend of the Seas for a total of four months in 2012.

During the four months, Royal Caribbean International will operate and market 21, three- to eight-night sailings from Xiamen, as well as Shanghai, Tianjin and Hong Kong, to ports of call in Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan and Korea. The inaugural, five-night charter sailing will depart from Hong Kong on March 20, 2012, while the first departure of guests from Xiamen will be on March 26.

The time charter agreement is fully supported by the Xiamen Municipal Government as part of the governments development of Xiamen as the fourth cruise home port for Royal Caribbean International in China, following Shanghai, Tianjin and Hong Kong.

"This is an incredible opportunity for Royal Caribbean International, the Xiamen municipal government and China World Cruises, and is truly unique to the fast growing cruise industry in Asia," says Dr. Zinan Liu, group managing director for China and Asia, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "We are the first cruise brand to bring together the support of the government and local private industry.

Working with the Xiamen municipal government, Xiamen-based CWC aims to invest around $5 billion in the Xiamen waterfront area and harbour district to develop a Cruise Homeport City, with a theme park, retail units, luxury hotels, condominiums, as well as a new, four-berth cruise terminal. Xiamen is located between Shanghai and Hong Kong, is less than 200 miles from Taipei, Taiwan, and is one of the most important and fastest growing ports along the Chinese coast.

"China holds amazing opportunities for the cruise industry, including port infrastructure development to attracting vacationers from around the world," says Michael Bayley, executive vice president of International for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. These are exciting times and we are delighted to be working with the Xiamen Municipal Government and China World Cruises on this strategic arrangement.

"We believe Royal Caribbean International is the right cruise brand to work with in developing the cruise industry in China," says George Buge Zhang, President of China World Cruises. "In just a few years, theyve established themselves as the market leader and proven they understand local market conditions and Chinese guests needs and preferences."

The strategic relationship with the Xiamen municipal government and China World Cruises follows the announcement in June that Royal Caribbean International will deploy the 3,114-guest, double occupancy, Voyager of the Seas to China in June 2012. Offering a wide variety of itineraries, ranging from four to eight nights, Voyager of the Seas will double the size of any cruise ship operating in China, and in the Asia-Pacific region.

Spanning 14 guest decks and with 1,556 staterooms, Voyager of the Seas will start its Asia 2012 season with a sailing from Singapore, followed by itineraries out of Shanghai (Baoshan) and Tianjin, to ports including Fukuoka and Kobe in Japan, and Busan and Jeju in Korea until October. Voyager of the Seas will begin 14-night sailings from Sydney, Australia on November 24, 2012 to ports in Australia and New Zealand, while itineraries in early 2013 will include stops in Tasmania and the South Pacific.

Kunal S. Kamlani rejoins Prestige Cruise Holdings as President and Chief Operating Officer

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 06 September 2011 06 September 2011

Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH), the parent corporation of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced the appointment of Kunal S. Kamlani as president and chief operating officer, effective immediately. The addition of Kamlani follows the recent promotion of Oceania Cruises' co-founder and long-time president, Bob Binder, to vice chairman of PCH as the company continues its international growth.

Kamlani, 38, will assume responsibility for the strategic marketing, sales, e-commerce, public relations, promotions and procurement for both brands. He rejoins PCH from Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, where he served as head of the multi-billion dollar Global Investment Solutions division with approximately 1,000 employees worldwide. Prior to that, Kamlani was the chief financial officer for PCH. His past experiences also include serving as the chief operating officer of Smith Barney and vice president of corporate development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

"I am thrilled to welcome Kunal back to PCH where we will benefit tremendously from his experience and passion for excellence," stated PCH Chairman & CEO Frank Del Rio. "Kunal is a seasoned leader, with over 15 years in the financial services and hospitality industries. I have great confidence in his ability to execute as we position the company for the future," Del Rio added.

"PCH's strategy has never been more compelling," said Kamlani. "There is a unique opportunity here to further differentiate the guest experience by leveraging both the power of these brands and the innovative thinking that is the hallmark of the PCH culture. I am delighted to be a part of this exciting growth story."

Bruce J. Himelstein, president of Oceania Cruises, and Mark Conroy, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, as well as Ben Wolber, vice president of fleet purchasing for PCH, will report to Kamlani.

Kamlani earned his MBA from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Science from Colgate University. He is married with two children and resides in South Florida.