TUI Cruises to offer cruises from Singapore in winter 2015-16

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 05 August 2015 05 August 2015

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise shipping company, will offer for the first time cruises from Singapore in the winter of 2015-16, the company said in a statement.

Three 7-night itineraries will be on offer, one focusing on Thailand, the other one on Vietnam and the third one on Malaysia. They are offered as fly cruises and also on cruise only basis.

TUI Cruises will base Mein Schiff 1 in Singapore's Marina Bay Cruise Centre to operate the cruises. The company currently has four ships in service and further four newbuildings on order.

AmaWaterways celebrates AmaSerena christening

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 04 August 2015 04 August 2015

AmaWaterways today celebrated the christening of its new 164-passenger vessel AmaSerena. The line’s co-founders, Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, were joined by the ship’s godmother, Michelle Fee – CEO and Co-Founder of Cruise Planners – for a series of festivities in Vilshofen, Germany at the conclusion of the ship’s Melodies of the Danube sailing. Local dignitaries, including Mayor Florian Gams and 2nd County Commissioner, Rainmund Kneidinger, helped officially welcome the vessel to the fleet.

“It is an exciting time for AmaWaterways as we welcome AmaSerena, our most innovative ship to-date, to our European fleet,” said Karst. “AmaWaterways takes great pride in selecting its godmothers and we are honored to have Michelle Fee join our family. She has been a fantastic partner of ours over the years, always supporting AmaWaterways and encouraging her network of franchise owners and travel professionals to do the same.”

It was a festive occasion complete with live music, local entertainers and authentic Bavarian cuisine. Traditions including the signing of the ship’s guestbook, a prayer by the abbot, and the ship’s official christening preceded a closing ceremony with fireworks.

AmaSerena’s addition was previously announced in August 2014 and now she joins the AmaWaterways fleet alongside sister ships AmaReina, AmaPrima, AmaCerto and AmaSonata. The ship’s spacious accommodations feature the line’s first-ever connecting staterooms, upholding AmaWaterways’ commitment to providing the most innovative designs on the market. Guests sailing aboard AmaSerena will enjoy the comfort of signature twin balconies, salon and spa services, sun decks, multiple dining venues, including The Chef’s Table restaurant, and intimate wine rooms, as well as fitness rooms and heated sun deck swimming pools with swim-up bars.

“I am proud to have this opportunity to carry on a long tradition,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. “Serving as Godmother for AmaWaterways’ AmaSerena is being a part of history and advancing the travel industry.”

AmaSerena’s christening voyage embarked July 29 from Budapest. During the seven-night journey along the Danube, the ship visited some of Europe’s most captivating destinations including Bratislava, Vienna, Linz and Passau. Future itineraries for AmaSerena include The Enchanting Rhine, Magnificent Europe and The Romantic Danube, visiting France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other extraordinary locations.

A ship’s christening is a long-standing tradition within the cruise industry originating more than 4,000 years ago. The momentous ceremony features the blessing of the ship by an appointed Godmother and often concludes with the breaking of a champagne bottle against the ship’s hull.

Princess Cruises debuts The Voice of the Ocean

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 04 August 2015 04 August 2015

 Princess Cruises brings the excitement and spectacle of TV’s wildly popular international singing competition to the high seas, live and on-stage, with The Voice of the Ocean. The show comes to life throughout the cruise with auditions, mentor rehearsal sessions, the iconic “I Want You” chairs, three charismatic team coaches and ultimately a live finale performance where guests choose the winner.
 
The Voice of the Ocean singing competition experience aboard Princess Cruises includes:

– Karaoke try out sessions at the beginning of each cruise, for vocalists who are 16 years or older. There will be two opportunities to audition during open karaoke in one of the ships lounges or showrooms. Fellow guests and cruise staff will decide who moves on to compete.

– Selected singers are assigned a mentor who will meet with them during the cruise to rehearse with the Princess Band and back-up singers to prepare for the best possible performance. The mentors will be a Princess musical entertainer or vocalist.
     
– The Voice of the Ocean Live Show, hosted by the Cruise Director on the last night of the cruise will feature up to nine contestants performing in the Princess Theater for an audience that includes three high-profile team coaches that may include one of our guest entertainers, the Hotel General Manager or even the Captain. Just like the hit TV show, the trio of coaches will listen but not see the performer as they decide to turn their “I Want You” chair to choose the singer to be on their team.  Once teams are chosen coaches will then each pick one finalist. From the three finalists, the audience votes for the winner who will be awarded a trophy and most importantly, the title The Voice of the Ocean.

“Whether guests are up on stage or in the audience deciding who gets their vote, we know The Voice of the Ocean will be a huge hit with Princess guests,” said Adrian Fischer, vice president, entertainment for Princess Cruises. “Guests will feel like they are part of the globally popular TV show performing on a high tech set almost identical to the hit show, including rotating red chairs and a live Princess band with back-up singers. We’re excited to discover and foster undiscovered talent and offer guests a whole new way to express their love of music and performing.”
 
The vocal competition will debut aboard Regal Princess in October, followed by Royal Princess and Caribbean Princess in November. Eight additional ships will offer The Voice of the Ocean rolling out between January and May of 2016.
 
This new partnership adds to the cruise line’s "come back new" brand promise, designed to elevate the guest experience by creating enriching moments and lifelong memories. For more information about The Voice of the Ocean, or to watch a pilot video shot aboard Star Princess, visit princess.com/voice.

The Independent Traveler, Inc. names new General Manager

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 04 August 2015 04 August 2015

The Independent Traveler, Inc. – publisher of three leading online travel sites, and part of the TripAdvisor Media Group – announces the appointment of Mike Ewing as general manager. Ewing will oversee the online publisher’s three brands – Cruise Critic, Family Vacation Critic and IndependentTraveler.com.

“We’re thrilled that Mike has joined the Independent Traveler team, heading up the company’s business strategies and day-to-day operations,” said David Krauter, President, SmarterTravel and The Independent Traveler, Inc. “Mike’s extensive background across a variety of business entities – from startup to publicly traded, online and offline – will help us capture the tremendous opportunities ahead for the company.”

Ewing will be responsible for the continued growth of the publisher’s three sites, including Cruise Critic – the world’s largest online cruise resource. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015, Cruise Critic stands as a leader in the cruise industry.  Additionally, Ewing will lead efforts to continue growth for Family Vacation Critic and IndependentTraveler.com.

“Coming into a well-established, highly-esteemed company is an exciting opportunity," explains Ewing. “The Independent Traveler has solidified itself as a clear leader. I’m pleased to be joining the existing team to support the company’s continued success. There is a huge opportunity to take these brands to the next level and ultimately to help travelers plan the perfect vacation.”

Prior to joining The Independent Traveler, Inc., Ewing held management roles at LogMeIn, Vistaprint, and Monster.com. Ewing’s professional career includes time in the US as well as time abroad with responsibility for large geographic regions. An avid traveler, Ewing has been around the world while managing global teams focused on consumer, media and B2B businesses. Ewing is a regular speaker and contributor on topics as wide-ranging as sales and marketing, building high-performance teams and venture funding.