News

Destination focus to core of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 17 April 2013 17 April 2013

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the British operator of four medium sized cruise ships, has worked for more than a year to find out what both those that cruise and those that currently do not really expect from a cruise holiday. The answer, in both cases, has been the same: immersion in destinations.

“Destination is the key driver, not the brand or the ship,” said Nathan Philpott, Director of Marketing and Sales at the Ipswich based company. “People also want to spend more time in port and they want to return home brining with them enrichment and stories, not just sun tan,” he said in a presentation in London on Monday.

The mission of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is, therefore, “to enable people to discover the world; to provide inspirational experiences for a lifetime,” he added. Consequently, the company has axed its previous motto “It’s All About the People” in favour of a wider approach: “Bringing the World Closer To You.”

Philpott explained that the human element remains a very important part of the company’s offering in the future as well: with smaller ships that can carry between 840 and 1,350 passengers, the passengers will have more interaction between each other and the service staff can offer a more personalized service than what would be possible on bigger vessels. The ships can also get closer to their destinations - up river to Sevilla rather than coaching passengers from Cadiz; central St Petersburg, through the Kiel Canal and up to Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition, the company will add two departure ports in 2014, Bristol Avonmouth and London Tilbury, whereby it will offer cruises from 10 ports in the UK next year. “Ninety present of the UK population will be within 90 minute drive from one of these ports,” he pointed out, adding that this was very much a part of the credo of the company to bring the world closer to its passengers.

Moving on to destinations themselves, Philpott said that winter cruises to Norway in search of the Northern Lights have become so popular that the company added one such cruise to the 2013 schedule in addition to the two it had planned to operate. In 2014, there will be three such cruises from Southampton and one from Liverpool. A Christmas cruise to Norway will also be a new offering next year.

Due to solar activity, the Northern Lights are at their most active and once that phase will end, it will take a decade before they will peak again.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will also take its passengers to the Riviera at the time of the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix, so that those interested in film stars and fast cars will have an opportunity to see both.

A cruise to the Canaries in August should coincide with an expected shower of meteors in the night sky in that region, while a Baltic cruise will take in the Kiel Regatta. In Tallinn, passengers can attend a music festival that will bring 18,000 singers and dancers at an open air stage plus enjoy the Copenhagen Jazz Festival.

In order to attract new passengers to cruising, the company will launch Multi-City Cruise breaks next year. One will include overnight stays at Copenhagen, Oslo and Amsterdam, while another one will offer the same extended stay in Amsterdam, Antwerpen and Oslo.

The Adriatic Coast is becoming a hugely popular destination and the company will operate a 28 night cruise to that region in may, while a voyage of similar duration will start in Liverpool and take in the Black Sea. Those looking for longer voyages will be offered a 73 night voyage around South America ands a 119 night Grand Voyage to the Far East.

Quantum of the Seas to feature North Star to see ship from above, sky diving, inside cabins to have virtual balconies

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 16 April 2013 16 April 2013

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled some details about its Quantum of the Seas:

The ship will feature North Star, a glass pod at the end of a telescopic pole from where you can see the ship and the ocean from above.

Rip Cord will offer sky diving will be available in a glass tube with compressed air.

It will have Two70, a venue that transfers during the day, it will have a three storey video wall. In the evenings, it becomes a venue with live entertainment.

Sea Flex, will be an indoor multi deck high sports venue with basket ball, table tennis etc.

The ship will also feature electric cars that you can drive and crash in line with circuses ashore.

The company “was looking for a measurably more exciting, interacting and measurably more entertaining,” said Richard Fain, chairman and ceo of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL), the second largest cruise shipping group in the world, hence the name Quantum of the Seas.

London Eye, the world’s largest Ferris wheel, inspired North Star, while sky diving is also a “voyeuristic experience,” Fain said. Staterooms on board Quantum of the Seas will be 9% larger than those on the Oasis class and they have more storage space. There will be single staterooms, including ones with a balcony.

A number of staterooms can be interconnected to a suite of rooms for multi-generational groups. Inside cabins will feature an 80-inch virtual balconies that show the view outside. Fain said this should help the company to obtain a premium in ticket price.

A key element in the design is Wow! that is compounded by how the whole comes together and not just its individual elements.

The goal of the new ship is to give passengers a different feel of what cruising is about, said Adam Goldstein, president of Royal Caribbean International, the contemporary market unit of RCCL that will operate Quantum of the Seas.

The device used in sky diving is used by parachute jumpers to train night time conditions.

The indoor sports area will allow people to play soccer, volley ball and basket ball. In the evening, it will feature the bumper cars and later still, it will become a dance venue.

270 is the living room or the heart of the ship, place to read a book and take it easy. In the evening, it will become a "stunning dancing scene" with a large video screen and other electronics, Goldstein said.

Quantum of the Seas will have a main show theatre, but Two70 is an addition to the offering of entertainment, Fain added.

Quantum of the Seas is the first of two 158,000 gross ton newbuildings for Royal Caribbean International from Meyer Werft in Germany and it is due to enter service in the autumn of 2014. Anthem of the Seas, the second ship of the class, will follow in 2015.

Quantum of the Seas will sail from the New York area.

Deltamarin to manage Titanic II project development

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 16 April 2013 16 April 2013

Blue Star Line Pty Ltd Chairman Professor Clive Palmer has announced the shipping company has signed a contract with Deltamarin for the project development phase for the Titanic II project.

Blue Star Line has undertaken the task of building Titanic II, a replica of the original RMS Titanic, which is scheduled to sail from Southampton to New York on her maiden passenger voyage in 2016.

Titanic II, a full scale version of the original ship, is being designed by the Finland-based Deltamarin and will be built by leading Chinese shipbuilders CSC Jinling Shipyard, which since 1996 has built vessels for customers from more than 20 countries Professor Palmer said the new contract with Deltamarin was signed this month and covers a detailed schedule of events including the commencement of construction and the keel laying.

"The scope of work for the contract includes the establishment of project steering committees and a management team," he said.

"Deltamarin will be responsible for coordinating the various parties involved in the project including the shipyard, architects, interior designers and operations managers."

Professor Palmer said Deltamarin will undertake a full review of the Titanic II project to ensure the vessel will be compliant with all current safety and construction regulations. While every bit as luxurious as the original, Titanic II will have every modern amenity along with 21st century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems.