A&K Travel Group partners with Architect Adriana Granato and Naval Architects Giacomo and Lorenzo Mortola
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 09 May 2024 09 May 2024
A&K Travel Group has announced an exclusive partnership with the Architect Adriana Granato as well as a long-term collaboration with the Naval Architects Giacomo and Lorenzo Mortola.
Based in Milan, Granato’s art direction will bring a wealth of expertise and a unique perspective to the group's architectural and interior design projects for their camps, lodges, boats, and ships.
Granato, who holds a double degree in Architecture from Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino, as well as a PhD in Design and Technologies for Cultural Heritage is one of the youngest female adjunct professors ever hosted by Politecnico di Milano. In 2018, she founded Studio Ibsen, a think tank of architects, interior designers, and researchers that tackles national and international projects, as well as academic research and social-based initiatives.
For A&K's new camps and lodges, Granato will work with local architects and interior designers to ensure the group's Italian heritage, style, and taste blend seamlessly with regional materials, patterns, and colors.
Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, spoke highly of her collaboration with Granato, saying, "Since our first meeting in 2019, Adriana has been an invaluable asset, consistently delivering exceptional results in the face of challenging projects. Her vast knowledge and unparalleled expertise in materials, shapes, and architectural history make her a true visionary in her field. Adriana's deep understanding of my vision for our two brands, coupled with her keen awareness of our Group's strategic goals, enables her to strike the perfect balance between tradition and innovation. This ensures that our offerings resonate with both Millennials and older generations alike, a testament to her remarkable ability to bridge the gap between the past and the future."
Granato expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "It is an honor for me to collaborate with such a legendary travel group, which has always been at the forefront of travelers’ mind as the custodian of the essence of travel. Being able to merge with the spirit of places and communities is what architecture is all about and A&K has championed that over the years. I have embraced the company’s vision from the very beginning of our collaboration, the ability to remain in the firm nature of what is classic while always developing new challenges with a convinced future-oriented approach, and I am delighted to collaborate with the passionate and experienced team in AKTG."
Granato will oversee all architectural and interior design projects for A&K Travel Group, coordinating and guiding the professionals involved.
Crystal's new ocean and expedition ships, as well as some of A&K's new river boats, will be designed by the renowned Studio Gem of Genova, led by Giacomo Mortola and his son Lorenzo Mortola
Based in Genova, Mortola father and son have 70 years of combined experience in ship design and have conceived the interiors of the most graceful ships navigating the oceans.
An internal team of talented naval engineers and architects headed by Roberto Fazi, SVP Marine of Crystal will cooperate with Studio Gem and Studio Ibsen.
Levis commented on the partnership, "I have worked with Mortola father and son for many years, starting from the construction and refurbishment of other ships and finally on the refurbishment of Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. The sophisticated taste of Giacomo Mortola and his meticulous attention to details coupled with the pragmatic and fresh eye of his incredibly talented son Lorenzo are the perfect match for the ambitions for our ships and future projects."
Fernando Delgado, Chief Product Officer of A&K Travel Group, concluded, "I am thrilled to have Adriana helping my team. She brings years of experience in sustainable architecture both in nature and in heritage buildings, an exquisite eye for the details and the refinement of the stile Italiano [Italian style]. She has already marked the difference in the first projects in which she is taking part. I am also very excited to get the opportunity to work again with Giacomo and Lorenzo with whom I had the honor to collaborate in some projects in the past. Their taste is so refined and so aligned with what we aim to achieve that we could not be in better hands.”
Princess Cruises returns to San Juan home port
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 09 May 2024 09 May 2024
Princess Cruises recently announced its return to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a season of Southern Caribbean cruises onboard Grand Princess, from October 2025 through March 2026. This vibrant capital city of Puerto Rico offers rich history and culture with must-see attractions for Princess guests pre- and post-cruise. These 7-night cruises, which visit more ports than any other 7-day Princess cruise to the Caribbean, are on sale May 16.
“Our return to San Juan after more than a decade not only reconnects our guests with a port rich in history and charm, but further expands the variety of departure points across North America that our guests can sail from,” said Terry Thornton, chief commercial officer for Princess Cruises. “Puerto Rico remains one of the fastest-growing destinations in the Caribbean and continues to attract new airlift from source markets across the U.S. as well as markets in Europe and South America, which makes it a great fit for Princess. Plus, there are many outstanding options to choose from for a great pre- or post-cruise stay.”
Originally scheduled to sail Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific voyages from Brisbane and Sydney, Grand Princess will now sail two alternating, 7-night itineraries, with departures from October 12, 2025 - March 29, 2026. These new itineraries each feature visits to five different and unique destinations, including many of the most highly rated Southern Caribbean destinations – many of which are not available on 7-night cruises departing from Florida.
“We are excited to welcome Princess Cruises back home to the Port of San Juan. This announcement underscores our commitment to cement San Juan as the leading homeport in the region, where guests can sail throughout the wonderful ports of the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Furthermore, the sailings will help drive economic development for both Puerto Rico and our regional partners”, said Carlos Mercado Santiago, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
Guests can choose to combine itineraries for a 14-day voyage.
The 2,600-guest Grand Princess offers an array of culinary delights, signature Princess amenities like The Sanctuary and Movies Under the Stars, and Broadway-style productions in the Princess Theater. Plus, guests can enjoy a truly personalized vacation with Princess MedallionClass, featuring next-level technology with MedallionNet - the best WiFi at sea - food and drinks delivered wherever they are, touchless experiences and more.
Plus, enhancing the vacation value with Princess Plus and Premier inclusive packages allow guests to save over 65% on essentials such as gratuities, Wi-Fi, beverages, and more, providing added convenience and enjoyment for their journey.
Meyer Turku Group increases its revenue, posts loss
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 06 May 2024 06 May 2024
Meyer Turku Group has published its result for 2023. The company's turnover was 1.43 billion euros, which means a growth of 10.6% compared to the previous year. Both the turnover and the number of personnel have been growing for three consecutive years. The loss for the financial year 2023 was 103.8 MEUR (i.e. -7.2% of the turnover).
The fiscal year 2023 of the shipyard company was affected by the ship deals that were closed before the pandemic, the new prototype ship project and the loss provision for the ship to be delivered in 2024. Beyond that, Meyer Turku has made remarkable contributions required for the green transition.
CEO Tim Meyer comments on the result:“The cruise industry has recovered to the pre-COVID level, even beyond it, and there is demand for our high-quality products. We constantly make large financial investments in sustainable development, which is a key competitive factor for us and a natural part of the high-quality shipbuilding that we are known for. Meanwhile, the risen general and financing costs added to the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine have heavily affected our financial results in 2023.
It has been exceptional times building the most complex cruise ship in the world. Icon of the Seas has made huge success on the market. However, each prototype ship brings significant e.g. product development costs. With the continuation of the Icon series, our cost efficiency improves, leading to more profitable ships vessel by vessel. So we remain optimistic about the future."
In November 2023, Meyer Turku delivered to Royal Caribbean International the world's most advanced ship Icon of the Seas. At the outfitting pier now is the TUI Cruises’ vessel Mein Schiff 7, Meyer Turku’s first ever methanol-ready ship.
Under construction at the shipyard are also the second ship in the Icon series, Star of the Seas, to be delivered in 2025, and Icon 3 that will be completed in 2026.
In addition to cruise ships, Meyer Turku is also capable of offering products of strategic national importance: the company will be delivering two multi-purpose offshore patrol vessels to the Finnish Border Guard in 2025 and 2026.
Villa Vie Odyssey secures financing, enters dry dock in Belfast
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 01 May 2024 01 May 2024
Villa Vie Residences, an innovator in modern-day residential cruising, announced having secured a Term Loan Facility from funds advised by NRP Maritime Asset Management AS, a Norwegian maritime fund manager, on April 26, 2024. Subsequently, on April 28, the Company’s vessel, Odyssey, entered dry-dock and is now scheduled to exit on May 21. Due to operational enhancements aimed at elevating the overall experience and safety of its residents, the departure of Villa Vie Odyssey, originally scheduled for May 15 from Southampton, UK, has been rescheduled to May 30 out of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The Villa Vie Odyssey, currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment, is set to embark on a transformative journey across seven continents, offering residents an unparalleled lifestyle of luxury and exploration. The ship, formerly known as Braemar by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, is undergoing a renovation to elevate the onboard experience to new heights, catering to the sophisticated needs of modern travelers.
"We are excited about our latest accomplishments and our upcoming launch of Villa Vie Odyssey and the enhancements we are making to ensure an exceptional experience for all our residents," said Mikael Petterson, Chief Executive Officer of Villa Vie Residences. "The delay in departure is a necessary operational adjustment aimed at upholding the highest standards of service and safety."
During this period of transition, Villa Vie Residences is fully prepared to assist residents in every aspect of their journey. A dedicated hotline has been established for residents to address any concerns or inquiries related to the rescheduled departure. Additionally, Villa Vie will cover all change fees incurred by residents due to the new departure date.
Residents who wish to experience the Villa Vie Odyssey before departure are invited to participate in ship tours and explore the amenities offered onboard. Tours will be available at the Belfast port, providing residents with a firsthand look at the enhancements being made to the ship.
"Our team is committed to providing personalized assistance and ensuring that our residents have a seamless and enjoyable experience with Villa Vie Residences," said Kathy Villalba, Chief Operating Officer of Villa Vie Residences. "Excitement over our upcoming cruise is growing – with over 80% of our available cabins sold – and continues to increase everyday as we near our departure.”
Carnival Firenze named in Long Beach
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 01 May 2024 01 May 2024
Carnival Cruise Line solidified its position as the leading cruise line in California on Wednesday as it christened its newest ship, Carnival Firenze, at its new home, the Long Beach Cruise Terminal.
Hollywood actor Jonathan Bennett served as the ship's godfather, and he and Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy celebrated all things Italian with the help of a Broadway star, a Puccini aria, and even a Catholic priest making a running jump onto the stage to deliver a blessing.
The 5,000-guest Carnival Fun Italian Style ship is sailing year-round from the Port of Long Beach, building on the popularity of Carnival cruises by adding significant capacity and joining two Carnival ships currently sailing year-round -- the 5,100-passenger Carnival Panorama and the nearly 4,000-passenger Carnival Radiance. Launching just ahead of the busy summer travel season, and amid continued growth of cruise vacations’ popularity, Carnival Firenze is part of a significant expansion that added five ships to the Carnival fleet in the past 18 months. By next year, Carnival will embark more than 750,000 guests from Long Beach on more than 200 sailings, an increase of 100,000 more guests compared to 2019.
“We carry more guests than any other cruise line from California, and now this ship is giving us the opportunity to offer more fun to more people sailing from Long Beach,” said Duffy. “The recipe combining this ship’s beautiful Italian theming with the familiarity of our friendly team’s hospitality is, in a word, perfecto!”
Bennett was made an honorary Italian during the fun-filled evening, which included a performance of Puccini’s "Nessun Dorma" by Carnival's Playlist Productions cast, an Italian blessing by Father Charbel Grbavac of the Mary Star of the Sea Catholic church in nearby San Pedro, and was capped off by a show-stopping performance by Leslie Kritzer, Bennett's co-star from the recent Broadway revival of "Spamalot."
Like sister Carnival Venezia, the ship features new concepts and experiences that put an Italian Style twist on Carnival staples for guests to enjoy. Carnival Firenze, however, is the first ship in the fleet to usher in new technology and harnesses artificial intelligence that creates guides for optimal, energy-saving routes on each sailing. The ship’s captain and officers will be the first to utilize this significant update to Carnival’s voyage efficiency system, ahead of a fleetwide rollout the cruise line expects to begin later this year. The ship is also the latest Carnival vessel to utilize shore power and joins Carnival Panorama and Carnival Radiance in connecting to the electric grid while docked in Long Beach instead of running its engines.
The 2020-built Carnival Firenze just finished a 49-day dry dock in Cadiz, Spain that integrated Carnival Fun Italian Style features into the ship’s beautiful design. Notable additions to the ship include the specialty restaurant Il Viaggio – Italian for “The Voyage;” it’s aptly named as its menu promises a journey across Italy through the country’s rich and diverse cuisine. Special programming, like Festa Italiana, a top-deck “street party,” enhances the Italian theming. The ship will sail a variety of itinerary lengths, with three- to seven-day Baja Mexico and Mexican Riviera cruises open for sale now through the spring of 2026.
The ship is setting sail on a seven-day cruise to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas on Thursday afternoon.
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