Crystal Yacht Cruises sets lineup of adventures for new yacht, focuses on rugged experiences, unique perspectives and inclusive exploration
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 19 August 2015 19 August 2015
Crystal Yacht Cruises is charting new waters beginning with the maiden voyage of Crystal Esprit this winter. As Crystal’s latest venture embarks on December 23, 2015, discerning luxury travelers can dive into the destinations – and the waters between them – with dozens of thrilling Crystal Adventures ashore, some of which are offered complimentary. The yacht’s maiden voyage offers an inclusive post- and pre- cruise New Year’s Eve Extravaganza in Dubai, complete with three- or four-night accommodations at the extraordinary Dubai Taj Hotel and spectacular fireworks display.
The extravagantly appointed yacht will be outfitted for adventure, and is set to call in ports never before visited by Crystal’s acclaimed ocean vessels, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, which affords great opportunity for the line’s savvy globetrotting guests to gain new travel perspectives while enjoying the same standard of luxury service for which Crystal is lauded. This includes adventures on the beaches, mountains, waters and skies of each locale, expertly designed with yacht travelers in mind.
“Yacht travelers expect all of the fine nuances that make a Crystal vacation extraordinary, but with a more intimate, personalized feel. The Crystal Adventures offered with Crystal Esprit’s voyages will satisfy – and surpass – this expectation, with most options available only with Crystal Yacht Cruises,” says Crystal President & CEO, Edie Rodriguez.
On itineraries throughout the Indian Ocean/Seychelles, Mediterranean/Adriatic Coast, Holy Land and Middle East/Persian Gulf, Crystal Esprit will feature shore-side options to suit virtually any interest, with an emphasis on doing more. Among the options are:
Deep-sea fishing off the coast of Desroches, Seychelles, for the chance to make an exotic catch of Barracuda, Wahoo, Dogtooth and Yellowfin tuna and Giant and Bluefin Trevally;
One-tank scuba dive in St. Anne Island, Seychelles, geared toward certified divers, who can immerse themselves in the underwater world of shipwrecks, giant rock formations and spectacular sea life;
Rafting down the Krupa and Zrmanja Rivers in Zadar, Croatia, two of the most beautiful waterways in Europe, then picnicking in Muskovac;
Quad adventures on the rugged trails of Cyprus, taking adventurers to secluded spots most visitors don’t even know exist, with views of waterfalls and swimming at the Baths of Adonis; and
Trek to Delphi at Mount Parnassus in Itea, Greece, the imposing and sacred site once thought to be the center of the earth.
Every Crystal Esprit itinerary will also offer at least one complimentary excursion in every port, including hiking and rafting the Acheron River in Parga, Greece; ziplining through the dense forest in Ephelia (from Mahé, Seychelles); and exploring the medieval city of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia (from Piran). “In-transit” excursions allow guests combining itineraries to fully maximize their time in embarkation/disembarkation ports between voyages.
To celebrate the inauguration of Crystal Esprit, Crystal will be offering two inclusive land programs for guest who would like to extend their vacation and even ring in the New Year with Crystal. These programs include:
Seychelles’ Inclusive Dubai Program, a 2-night, pre-cruise experience inclusive with every Seychelles voyage, giving guests the opportunity to explore the wonders of Dubai, from haute couture shopping malls and traditional gold souks to desert safaris, world-class golf and complimentary entrance to the Wild Wadi Water Park.
New Year’s Eve Dubai Extravaganza, 3 or 4- night program offered to guests who sail on one of the first two Crystal Esprit sailings, includes an uninterrupted view of the spectacular Burj Khalifa New Year’s Eve Extravaganza, where the world’s tallest building lights up in a dazzling presentation of light and pyrotechnics. Offered 3-nights post-cruise on the yacht’s December 23, 2015 maiden voyage, and 4-nights pre-cruise on the inaugural 2016 voyage.
Complete itineraries and fares for December 2015 through the beginning of 2018 are now available on Crystal’s website. The routes are available for booking exclusively for Crystal Society members – Crystal’s repeat guest program – now through September 1, when books open to all travelers. The Inclusive Dubai Land Programs feature luxury hotel accommodations, all transfers from/to hotel and yacht at airports in both Dubai and Victoria, all taxes and porterage, and breakfast daily.
Crystal Cruises is the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line, having earned more “World’s Best” accolades than any other cruise line, hotel, or resort in history. Crystal Cruises has won “World’s Best Cruise Ship” in Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader Choice Awards for 21 years; been voted “World’s Best Large Ship Cruise Line” by Travel + Leisure readers for 20 consecutive years; and the “Best Luxury Cruise Line” by Virtuoso in 2014. In summer 2015, Crystal embarked on the most significant brand expansion in the history of luxury travel and hospitality, which will introduce three new classes of cruising – Crystal Yacht Cruises (December 2015), Crystal River Cruises (March 2017), Crystal Exclusive Class Ocean Cruises (late 2018)– and Crystal Luxury Air (fall 2017).
Norwegian Escape floats out from building dock
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 18 August 2015 18 August 2015
Norwegian Escape, soon to be the largest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, was floated out of MEYER WERFT’s covered building dock II on Saturday, August 15 in Papenburg, Germany, where the 164,600-ton ship has been under construction since September 2014. Beginning at approximately 9:15 AM local time, the 4,200 passenger vessel, with her signature hull artwork designed by famed marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey, departed building dock II. Norwegian Escape is the first ship in the line’s Breakaway Plus Class, measuring 1,098 feet in length and 136 feet wide.
Norwegian Escape’s float out represents a major milestone in the vessel’s construction, with the ship being well on her way to completion she will now move into the final phase of construction with delivery taking place on October 22, 2015.
“MEYER WERFT has done an excellent job with the construction of Norwegian Escape,” Norwegian Cruise Line’s President and Chief Operating Officer Andy Stuart said. “The ship’s float out brings us one step closer to bringing the next evolution of Freestyle Cruising to the world and we couldn’t be more excited.”
Following the ship’s float out, the next milestones will be mounting the ship’s signature Norwegian Cruise Line funnel and taking thrills to new heights by adding a third story to Norwegian Escape’s ropes course – due to be the largest at sea. Norwegian Escape's conveyance down the river Ems towards the North Sea is scheduled for September 16 (weather permitting).
Following inaugural events in Europe and Miami, Norwegian Escape will sail seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises departing every Saturday from Miami beginning on November 14, 2015.
From the ship’s eye-catching hull artwork to thrilling waterslides and ropes course, Norwegian Escape, as the first ship in the Breakaway Plus Class, represents a true evolution for the Norwegian brand, incorporating guest favourites and providing further freedom and flexibility for guests.
Costa Cruises' Costa Diadema to begin roundtrip departures from Rome this winter
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 18 August 2015 18 August 2015
Beginning in December, travelers can get a double dose of the "Eternal City" with roundtrip itineraries departing from Civitavecchia, Italy, the port for Rome, aboard Costa Cruises' newest ship, Costa Diadema. The Italian-flagged cruise line crafted the seven-night cruises to give guests the opportunity to explore the western Mediterranean while cruising roundtrip from one of the world's most popular destinations.
Having Rome as the embarkation and disembarkation port gives travelers more time to visit the city's many famous attractions such as the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, Pantheon and more.
"This roundtrip-Rome itinerary is an exciting addition to our options because many North American gateways offer direct flights to the city, making it easier for guests to access Costa's award-winning Mediterranean cruises," said Scott Knutson, vice president, sales and marketing, for Costa Cruises North America. "The strong American and Canadian dollars and the low price of international airfare make this dream vacation not only convenient, but also affordable."
Beginning on Dec. 3, 2015, Costa Diadema's weekly roundtrip Rome voyages will call at La Spezia and Savona, Italy; Marseille, France; and Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Fares start at $499 per person, double occupancy.
Launched less than a year ago, the 132,500-ton, 3,693-passenger "Queen of the Mediterranean," Costa Diadema offers guests a true Italian getaway. The ship -- the world's largest Italian-flagged vessel -- features a 1,640-foot promenade on Deck 5 that provides guests with a new way to experience the Med: split-level public rooms overlooking the sea are interconnected to create the atmosphere of a lively seaside resort.
Guests will savor some of Italy's best flavors with new regional menus created by Costa's Michelin-star chef Fabio Cuccheli. In addition, they will find some of the country's best wines at the Vinoteca Gran Duca di Toscana -- a bar that boasts a menu of 80 labels from more than 50 Italian wineries selected in collaboration with the Italian Sommeliers Association.
More new shipboard dining venues include Tavola Teppanyaki, a Japanese, hibachi-style restaurant; Birreria Dresden Green, a München-style beer garden; and Gelateria Amarillo featuring a variety of homemade gelato flavors and crepes.
Guests also will enjoy Costa's entertainment offerings that feature Italy's best traditions. Themed parties on the lido deck such as La Notte in Maschera and La Notte Bianca celebrate two Italian traditions: the masked Venetian carnival and a white night festival. In Costa Diadema's onboard theater, guests will find Italian-style shows like "Sapori d'Italia" -- or "Flavors of Italy" -- that highlight Italian music, art, opera, cinema and style.
Cruise-only fares are per person, double occupancy, and do not include government taxes and fees. Departures from alternate embarkation ports are available on select itineraries.
Royal Caribbean International to bring largest number of fly-cruise passengers to Singapore over three years
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 16 August 2015 16 August 2015
Royal Caribbean International has signed a first-ever multi-million dollar marketing collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Changi Airport Group (CAG) to promote cruising out of Singapore and, in turn, attract the cruise line's largest number of overseas fly-cruise guests here.
The tripartite collaboration – which runs between 2015 and 2018 – is estimated to pull in over 170,000 overseas visitors to Singapore to sail on Royal Caribbean’s cruises over that period, resulting in a projected growth of over 50 per cent.
This will be done via a series of marketing campaigns, research studies and channel development activities, such as partnerships with the media and trade, in markets not only within Asia such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, but also beyond the region in Australia, Europe and North America.
Royal Caribbean also plans to increase its number of sailings from Singapore during this period to over 40 a year. Currently, the cruise line’s 3,807-guest Mariner of the Seas makes around 30 voyages annually. Her next Singapore season which will be the largest ever starting from this October, will feature more long cruises of seven to 15 nights, aimed at attracting more overseas fly-cruise guests.
Sean Treacy, Managing Director, Singapore and Southeast Asia of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said: “Having deployed ships here regularly for the last seven years, Royal Caribbean now looks forward to its next phase of significant growth in Singapore. Our three-year deployment plan is our strongest commitment ever to this market and we see great potential in Singapore as a source market and regional cruise hub. We highly appreciate this collaboration which will be a tremendous support for our business goals in Singapore and Southeast Asia, as well as the strong efforts of the Singapore Government for being so proactive in driving the cruise business in the country.”
Projected to generate over $100 million in tourism receipts, the collaboration with Royal Caribbean contributes substantially to Singapore’s cruise industry, with an estimated compounded annual growth of 5 to 8 per cent in throughput over the next three to four years. With the cruise industry already generating more than $500 million in direct spending in 2013, this development promises a further injection of significant economic impact into Singapore.
What is equally important is the growing interest in cruising in Southeast Asia. With more than 25,000 islands, Southeast Asia is an ideal cruising destination for travellers seeking to discover multiple cultures and new experiences in a warm, tropical year-round climate. The region appeals particularly strongly to Asian travellers due to its close proximity to home, with eight in 10 who have never cruised before expressing interest to embark on a cruise vacation within Southeast Asia.
Said Ms Neeta Lachmandas, Assistant Chief Executive (Business Development Group), Singapore Tourism Board: “The tripartite collaboration is a significant development not just for Singapore but also for Southeast Asia. We hope Royal Caribbean’s commitment will inspire new cruise itineraries around the region to offer more reasons for travellers to take to cruising, and also motivate our neighbouring ports and destinations to invest and realise fully the tremendous potential of the Asian cruise industry.”
Providing a link between Royal Caribbean International, Singapore and its regional neighbours is Changi Airport’s strong connectivity to 320 cities worldwide, along with some 6,700 weekly flights, giving Singapore a strategic advantage to effectively tap fly-cruise traffic from across the globe and serve as a cruise hub for Asia.
CAG’s Senior Vice President for Market Development, Mr Lim Ching Kiat, said: “This collaboration represents the synergistic efforts by CAG, Royal Caribbean and STB to effectively tap fly-cruise traffic from across the globe and serve as a cruise hub for Asia. Changi Airport will continue to leverage on its network and work with airlines and travel agents to promote fly-cruise packages through Singapore.”
Jeju celebrates 3rd Asia Cruise Forum
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
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- Published: 15 August 2015 15 August 2015
Alan Lam reporting
Global and regional captains of the cruise industry will gather in Jeju from the 26th to the 28th of August for the 3rd Asia Cruise Forum.
The event, co-hosted by Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, will build on the success of the previous two editions.
About 1,000 delegates are expected to attend this year’s gathering; among them are cruise line executives, such as those from Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean, Costa Crociere, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, SkySea Cruise, Taishan Cruise, and MSC Cruises. Organisations such as China Cruise & Yacht Industry Association, Asia Cruise Terminal Association, Korea Tourism Organization and Japan Waterfront Vitalization and Environment Research Foundation will also be present. Port representatives at the event will include those from Hakata, Busan, Yokohama, Keelung, Shanghai, Qingdao, Incheon, Tianjin, Singapore, and many others.
Notable, high profile speakers at this forum will include Alan Buckelew, Chairman of Carnival Asia/COO of Carnival Corporation & plc, Zinan Liu, Chairman of CLIA North Asia, Buhdy Bok, President of Pacific Asia & China, Costa Crociere S.p.A, Bruce Krumrine, Vice President of Princess Cruises, and a number of other speakers from cruise ports in the Asia Pacific region, as well as academics, shipbuilding experts and cruise business consultants.
According to the organisers, the main purpose of the forum will be, as before, to “generate more communications and interactions for prolonged prosperity of Asia Cruise Tourism”. In practice it will mean networking and building cooperative relationships among industry peers in the context of the fastest growing market.
While the common prosperity will again be the main theme, the forum will focus on strengthening cooperative network within the industry, enhancing the value of the region as the most promising market, and balancing cruise industry development with that of destinations.
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