News

Cunard's three Queens to meet in Liverpool: Queen Mary 2 to offer voyage to Halifax in 2015

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 12 November 2013 12 November 2013

Cunard Line's three ships - Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria - will meet in Liverpool on 25 April 2015 and on 4 July , Queen Mary 2 will sail from the port to Halifax to commemorate the first voyage of RMS Britannia, which departed Liverpool on that date in 1840, the company said on Facebook.

Cunard Line, which was originally known as The British & North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, had its head office in Liverpool until the late 1960s. Liverpool was the UK terminus of its Trans-Atlantic express service until 1919, when it was moved to Southampton. However, Cunard Line continued to offer voyages from the port until 1968.

The city council is preparing to convert the Cunard Building on the Pier Head, which was built for the company in 1914-17, to a cruise terminal to replace the current, temporary structure. It is expected to open in 2015.

Regent Seven Seas stages strong rise in interim earnings on 10% yield increase

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 11 November 2013 11 November 2013

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the luxury market unit of the Miami based Prestige Cruise Holdings group, has staged a strong rise in both third quarter and January-September net profit on firmer yields.

The company reported third quarter net profit of $32.8 million, compared to $20.9 million in the same period last year, while revenues increased to $165.9 million from $159.0 million. In the first nine months of the year, Regent's net profit rose to $34.3 million from $17.5 million in the same period in 2012 on revenues of $433.0 million, an increase from $411.9 million.

Net Yield for the third quarter of 2013 increased 10.6% $638.08 from $577.00 in the same period in 2012. Net cruise costs, excluding fuel, only rose by 0.2% to $287.15

Frank Del Rio, chairman and CEO said in a statement:“We are pleased to have reached record revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and net income for the third quarter. Along with our financial results, we were also proud to take home Virtuoso's "Best Luxury Cruise Line" honour for the third consecutive year. Both our financial results and market accolades are a reflection of the focus we place on providing our guests with an exceptional experience."

Cruise ships bigger than 96,000 gross tons banned from Venice lagoon from November 2014

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 06 November 2013 06 November 2013

Government officials in Rome on Tuesday ordered a halt to large cruise ships passing through the Venice lagoon, effective from November 2014, and a limit on smaller cruise vessels effective in January, the ANSA news agency reports.

Ferries will also be limited from passing in front of St Mark's Square. As of January, the number of cruise ships with gross tonnage in excess of 40,000 must be reduced to 20% of their current volume in Venetian waters. The outright ban on cruise ships in November 2014 only applies to those over 96,000 gross tons.

“According to the order, cruise traffic will eventually be rerouted through the Contorta Sant'Angelo Canal, so that any accident would not touch the best-known and most vulnerable parts of the city. Environmentalists warn that the lagoon surrounding Venice, itself a UNESCO heritage site, is at great risk due to its fragile ecosystem,” the report said.

The move will mean that Post-Panamax cruise ships can no longer offer a few of St Mark's Square from their decks ass the ships sail in and out of the port.