Viking Line recycled far more waste in 2015

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 27 March 2016 27 March 2016

Viking Line recycled far more waste last year than in 2014. The recycling of oils, plastic and aluminium from the Company’s vessels, for instance, saved the environment from millions of kilometres of car travel, recalculated in carbon dioxide emissions. Aside from recycling, Viking Line’s environmental work focuses on various forms of environmentally sustainable technology and offering passengers more organic options.

Last year, Viking Line sent a total of 1,565 tonnes of solid waste, such as glass, plastic, paper and metals, from its vessels for recycling. That is an increase of more than 15 per cent compared to 2014 (1,321 tonnes). The amount of biowaste collected, which is used to produce biogas on land, also increased by more than 10 per cent to 1,042 tonnes. The Company furthermore collected 2,155 tonnes of used oils for recycling, equivalent to more than 20 million kilometres of car driving, calculated in carbon dioxide emissions.

“We operate in the sensitive Baltic Sea archipelagos, so environmental issues have top priority. Greening is an integral part of the Company’s day-to-day operations, and our environmental work today extends beyond what the regulations in force require. A big thank you to our shipboard staff, who make sure that environmental measures are implemented in practice,” says Susanna Airola, Viking Line’s Environmental Coordinator.

Less energy is needed to recycle old materials than to process new ones, so recycling always plays a major role in Viking Line’s environmental work. One example is the Ocean Marine energy recycling system, which was installed on the M/S Viking Grace last year. This technology converts waste heat from the vessel’s engines into electricity through a unique vacuum process. The patented technology, developed by the Swedish firm Climeon, produces some 700,000 kWh of emission-free electricity each year.

Viking Line’s objective is to reduce emissions from its vessels on a continuous basis. Emissions have decreased, and one reason for this is the Company’s investments in environmentally sustainable technology and its choice of fuel. This includes humid air motor (HAM) technology on the Mariella and catalytic converters on the Cinderella, while various fuel optimisation systems have been implemented on the vessels. The unique HAM technology reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by lowering the combustion temperature of vessel engines.

Six million cups of coffee

Passengers can also see greening in concrete terms, with the expanding range of organic options available. One example is the restaurants on board serving their own water in glass bottles. Last year, Viking Line vessels also served more than 6.2 million cups of coffee brewed from organic beans.

Other examples of environmental measures carried out by the Company are the installation of water-saving mouthpieces on taps and showers and the switch to more environmentally friendly detergent.

Princess Cruises debuts Places to Sea, a new interactive mobile experience

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 24 March 2016 24 March 2016

Princess Cruises, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc group, says it has debuted a new interactive mobile experience, “Places to Sea,” a swipe-to-like technology tool that takes users on a visual journey through exotic destinations, adventurous activities and culinary experiences to match them with a travel personality and cruise destination recommendations. It’s the first of its kind in the cruise industry.

“Developed by the cruise line’s advertising agency, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, “Places to Sea” was designed for all Android and iOS smartphone mobile devices. It’s easy for users to swipe (right to like or left to pass) through a series of travel-related images that include everything from culinary delights to bucket-list destinations and adventurous excursions,” the company said in a statement.

After the user has swiped through the images, the interface identifies travel preferences and then assigns one of five different travel personalities. So whether the user is an “adventurer,” “culturist,” “naturalist,” or a “foodie,” Princess Cruises will match a cruise destination and various cruise itineraries.

Royal Caribbean unveils Ovation of the Seas’ entertainment offerings

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 24 March 2016 24 March 2016

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled entertainment offerings on board its third quantum class vessel, the Ovation of the Seas, which will enter service in April “A product of the largest entertainment production operation at sea, its entertainment will continue the innovative brand’s standard of combining talent, technology and special effects with a spectacular selection of stage shows, productions and events that will exhilarate vacationers’ senses and leave them spellbound,” the company said in a statement. 

Tech-focused Entertainment in Two70

The leading cruise line for adventure-seekers will deliver an endless landscape of one-of-a-kind entertainment in Two70, a multi-level great room that seamlessly fuses entertainment and technology. The venue affords audiences vast possibilities, with immersive experiences taking place all around the room. With the integration of Vistarama – expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that can be set into any scene, real or imagined, by combining 18 projectors to create an ambient surface over 100 feet wide and over 20 feet tall. In addition, a troupe of six, agile Roboscreens combined with highly trained live performers, music and special effects, gives guests front-row seats to stunningly visual shows that can only be seen while sailing onboard Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships.

• Spectra’s Cabaret – This completely original production, created by Royal Caribbean International and Moment Factory exclusively for Two70, will take the stage on Ovation. This wildly popular show, already a fan-favorite on Anthem of the Seas, features the Maestro and his Agents of Rhythm as they invite the audience to an electric, multi-dimensional cabaret that transports them to invisible realms. Each night, the portal opens for a limited period of time and immerses guests’ imaginations into a multimedia show brimming with kaleidoscopic sounds, effervescent colors and dazzling movement. “Spectra’s Cabaret” blends live performance and experiential cinema with music from contemporary pop culture. It creates a world seen through the lens of music and technology, all while exploring the deepest recesses of the heart. 

Headlining the Main Theater

Seating 1,300 guests, the magnificent Royal Theater is home to Ovation of the Seas’ two new production shows:

• The Dream – This thrilling production chronicles the story of a man who is visited by his departed soulmate in a very special dream. His long-lost love has come to help him rediscover his passion for life and gives him the will to pursue his wildest dreams and to find love again. In his slumber, he will confront his deepest and most secret fears and journey on a rite of passage towards his eventual awakening. The unique combination of wonderful storytelling, soulful performances and spectacular production values will surprise and delight audiences time and time again. This is the biggest adventure of this man’s life, and Royal Caribbean audiences are invited to join him on a wild and audacious journey of discovery.
• Love. Legs. – The same highly-acclaimed creative team behind the wildly popular “Sequins & Feathers” on Quantum of the Seas has brought its signature combination of talented artists, high-energy performances and remarkable beauty, to deliver another unforgettable theatrical experience. “Live. Love. Legs” brings a collection of incredible aerial acrobatics, next-gen choreography and superb vocal performances that come straight from the Broadway stage. Infusing all the hallmarks of the Sequins & Feathers experience, featuring lavish costumes, jaw-dropping video effects, special musical arrangements, and a dedicated group of international artists, this all-new production onboard Ovation of the Seas will reward audiences with a full sensory overload.

 

 

 

Viking Sky launched at Ancona, Hagen sees South America, Asia and expedition cruises as new destinations

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 24 March 2016 24 March 2016

Alan Lam reports

On 23 March, at the float-out ceremony of its latest newbuilding, Viking Sky, Viking Ocean Cruises confirmed that it had three more ships due from Fincantieri at Ancona, slated for delivery in late 2017, 2018 and 2020.

According to the company’s chairman and founder, Torstein Hagen, speaking on board Viking Star, Viking Ocean Cruises could grow its fleet to 10 vessels within the next five years. “We have options for up to six ocean ships,” he said, without mincing his words.

“Then our idea is to hopefully build two ships a year every year thereafter. I think we have proved that we know exactly what the customers want. We placed orders when nobody else had the balls to do it. We are in a very strong financial position.”

All the ships, dabbed as the “Venice class”, will have the capacity to carry 930 passengers each.

Hagen indicated that Viking Ocean would look to South America and Asia, particularly Singapore and Hong Kong, as possible destinations for the new ships, without ruling out the possibility of a world cruise and expedition cruises to Antarctica; but he ruled out any plan to expand into new source markets beyond the U.S.A., U.K., and Australia, and remained confident that demand from these sources would be sufficient to meet the extended capacity.

“Ocean cruise lines do not manage to operate small ships economically,” said Hagen. “We have the benefit that we are a river cruise line, so we are cost-conscious and space-conscious. Our competitors won’t only be Oceania and Azamara, they will be other big cruise lines like Holland America Line. We have designed a ship that can offer this product at a very competitive price.”