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MCP charts bright future for smart phones on cruise ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 09 October 2012 09 October 2012

"We’re easily talking 100% gains over current mobile-phone driven revenue on cruise ships,” says Ole-Kristian Sivertsen of Maritime Communications Partner (MCP). And that’s just the beginning. Smartphones are opening up a world of opportunity – a context-aware world – for cruise lines wanting to boost revenue, influence behaviour and enrich their guests’ experience.

The smartphone is the fastest spreading technology in human history, but just how can cruise lines tap into this revolution? “The opportunities start before your guests get on board and they don’t stop when they’re unpacking their bags back home,” says Ole-Kristian Sivertsen, Senior VP, Business Development and Sales, at MCP.

Revenue is increased by providing mobile services, by increasing onboard sales and by tapping into new source markets. “As soon as you can imagine it and make it happen for them, they will expect it to always be there and you have just redefined cruising and given your company leadership.”

Every onboard activity area can benefit directly from increased focus on smartphone opportunities. “When you want to market an excursion what do you do?” asks Sivertsen. “Sending a simple promotional message is just one small part of what’s possible. Think holistically and you can open up much more value.”

The announcement of an excursion can be combined with a video experience like a virtual tour that can be combined with targeted up-sell. Each contact is connected to a revenue-generating opportunity, and guests can be reached out to with initiatives like this even before they board the cruise ship.

When arriving at destinations, many cruise lines offer promotions for selected retailers in the port. An alternative to offering these local retailers advertising space onboard could be to offer them delivery of mobile quick response (QR) codes or coupons to targeted groups onboard the ship, charging them a price per guest reached.

“Think about onboard gaming or the evening bingo in the main lounge. By making the tickets available on mobile devices, guests could buy them and play even if they are in their cabin – but in order to stimulate them to be in the lounge where they also spend money on food and beverages (F&B), it could be set up so that they get two tickets for the price of one if they are in the lounge,” said Sivertsen.

Pre-travel uses of smart promotion can include pre-ordering of F&B, pre-booking of spa services or shore excursions. Up-sell on restaurants or order that nice bottle of champagne to be on ice in the cabin upon arrival. “A post journey opportunity could be to reach out with an invitation to purchase photos and to use this as a means of viral marketing”, says Sivertsen. By allowing guests to purchase photos via their mobile devices, you could offer a discount for pictures that they share on social networks. The advantage to you is the cruise experience gets broadcast virally throughout your passengers’ networks.

“Viral marketing is huge. Take the example of Levi Strauss, who uses social media to offer location-specific deals. In one instance, direct interactions with just 400 consumers led 1,600 people to turn up at the company’s stores — a prime example of social media’s word-of-mouth effect.”

Most developed regions are already way beyond 50 per cent adoption of smartphones. In July this year, two in five accessed travel content from their devices and four out of five are using them for shopping. “It is not just young people, growth in smart phone use by older age groups is stronger than ever.” Ninety percent of text messages are read within three minutes of delivery, and most smartphone users actively access social media.

One of the biggest challenges for cruise lines is to deal with diverse customers, different languages and cultures. “If you have a technology that is time and location aware and dynamically adapts content, look and feel to the real-time context, this could be the foundation for becoming one global local cruise company – or as HSBC says: The World’s Local Bank,” says Sivertsen.

What can you achieve when you have context awareness? You can dovetail specific passenger information with targeted onboard services, sales and marketing promotions, to reach people at the right place at the right time, and thereby increasing onboard revenues significantly. One example: allowing people to have bar or restaurant menus on their device and order F&B services based on their location.

Cruise lines have an array of devices available for entertainment, information and marketing initiatives. From cabin TV and phone to smartphones, iPads, and PCs. “Imagine delivering content from a single platform seamlessly to any device at any moment,” says Sivertsen.

With 10 years of experience serving the cruise and ferry industry, MCP has become the leading maritime onboard communications partner with a portfolio of more than 140 vessels. During the years these services have been available, the cruise line industry, according to MCP, has earned more than $250 million in revenue simply by providing onboard mobile services. There are practically no bill shocks associated with onboard mobile phone use any more,” says Sivertsen.

Today some 30% of all guests actually use mobile services on board. Current trends show a decrease in the number of voice minutes per user and a slight decrease in SMS but an explosion in mobile data, keeping total revenues growing. “An increase from 1000 to 1500 passengers using their mobile for some calls, sms’s and internet access, easily represents 100% total growth in revenue just from providing the service,” says Sivertsen.

Company leadership is imperative to realizing and unleashing the full potential of mobile services. Sivertsen explains: “Here, the 80-20 rule comes into play. The importance of the technology itself is probably less than 20% - more than 80% is down to people, culture, processes and organization; and that comes under the realm of company leadership.”

“It is imperative to have a full scale, high quality mobile service on cruise ships that extends across all silos and departments of a company. The alignment of the company's overall mobile strategy must be in place to maximize revenue generation and positively influence guest behavior and experiences,” Sivertsen concludes.

Luggage Forward chooses DHL Express as its preferred carrier for international luggage delivery service

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 07 October 2012 07 October 2012

DHL Express, the world's leading international express services provider, is helping eliminate the burden of traveling with luggage for global leisure travelers. Passengers can forward their baggage, sports equipment or family items directly to their destination through Luggage Forward, a premier door-to-door luggage shipping service that has partnered with DHL Express as its preferred international carrier.

Through the partnership, Luggage Forward leverages the global shipping network of DHL Express to help travelers avoid one of the most frustrating parts of air travel and assure a faster, more relaxing alternative to long check-in lines and baggage carousel delays.

"Our international clients travel with the peace of mind knowing that their luggage is handled by an international specialist like DHL Express that has more experience than any other carrier in moving shipments across borders," said Zeke Adkins, Co-Founder of Luggage Forward. "We're pleased to have worked with DHL Express since 2006 to bring the utmost convenience and reliability to the travel experience."

Luggage Forward can send luggage directly to a traveler's hotel, golf course, vacation home or even a cruise ship in Europe, Asia, South America, Australia or virtually any of the 220 countries and territories served by DHL Express. Travelers simply book online or by phone and Luggage Forward will automatically select a shipping carrier based upon reliability and speed. On average, DHL Express handles the transportation for more than 90% of the inbound U.S. luggage shipments booked by Luggage Forward customers as well as majority of shipments to and between international points.

Luggage Forward completes all required country-specific shipping and Customs documentation on behalf of their clients. DHL Express team members - all of whom are extensively trained on Customs regulations and international shipping complexities - are then able to expedite the luggage shipments through Customs and greatly reduce any potential delays or issues.

"Our global logistics expertise combined with Luggage Forward's innovative business model affords international travelers the opportunity to enjoy their trip from the minute the plane touches down at their destination." said Ian Clough, CEO of DHL Express U.S."We're pleased to partner with Luggage Forward and help ease the burden for international travelers through our unrivaled international shipping network."

Worldwide access to daily boost(er) of inspiration

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 26 September 2012 26 September 2012

A new source of inspiration is available to architects, consultants, engineers, designers and others who practice a creative profession or who are interested. An independent internet portal, www.bolidtbooster.com, is released to be viewed publicly worldwide. Content can be shared by using personal social media platforms. From divergent perspectives, design related information, philosophies, ideas, photography, buildings, projects and more are being shared to give viewers a daily boost of inspiration.

The content on www.bolidtbooster.com is a collection of worldwide existing and newly shared internet content. The purpose of this new platform is to activate, stimulate, motivate and broaden the creative process of the human brain. The content is daily updated and renewed, to make sure visitors get a fresh boost of inspiration each day. The website also contains information about numerous modern and sometimes even just newly marketed gadgets and product developments.

Furthermore, content that is personally appealing and encourages to meditate on it or that creates new plans and ideas can be shared via personal social media platforms. This results in a beautiful ‘snow ball effect’ of creative (interactive) stimulation and of possible cooperation.

ABB launches new software to cut fuel consumption of ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 20 September 2012 20 September 2012

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group announced that it has introduced several new software applications for the marine market that will help all types of ocean vessels dramatically reduce their fuel consumption. These Advisory Systems include the latest versions of ABB’s energy management system for marine applications (EMMA) and Amarcon’s Octopus solution.

With the recent acquisition of Amarcon, and the official launch of Advisory Systems during Shipbuilding, Machinery & Marine Technology International Trade (SMM) in Hamburg, Germany, earlier this month, ABB is now able to provide a vertically integrated power and automation set of solutions that will help ship-owners increase productivity and safety of vessel operation while minimizing fuel consumption and environmental impacts.

For the first time in history, the daily operational costs of a vessel have surpassed its daily building costs. Fuel consumption is becoming the highest operational expenditure for each and every vessel of the global fleet, and one of the biggest environmental concerns. Fuel accounts for between 30-40 percent of the cost of running a cruise ship and between 50-60 percent for most merchant vessels.

Reducing fuel consumption by just 1 percent can mean an annual saving of $50,000 for a mid-sized bulk carrier and $300,000 a year for a large container ship. In a world where fuel savings have become a requirement for ship operators, a vessel with an integrated power, automation and advisory system that can help slash its fuel consumption by up to 20% represents a substantial competitive advantage.

ABB’s new ship advisory and automation systems suite incorporate a full range of vessel information and control technology that allows ship operators to monitor and calculate the optimum utilization of power on-board. The recent acquisition of Amarcon in the second quarter this year complements this portfolio and strengthens ABB’s long-term growth strategy.

“By aggregating Amarcon systems into ABB’s solutions, we are now able to provide the widest portfolio of optimization tools available on the market,” says Heikki Soljama, Head of business unit Marine and Cranes. “With these solutions, we are better equipped to help ship operators reduce fuel consumption efficiently and provide added-value technology to all ship owners.

Earlier this year, ABB won an order to provide an energy management system for one of the world’s most environmentally-friendly cruise ferries, which is due to be delivered to Viking Line in 2013 . ABB also won an order from Rickmers Group in Germany to supply advisory systems for dynamic trim optimization and fleet management solutions for five multi-purpose vessels. These systems will help the ship management teams to operate the vessels with the highest fuel and energy efficiency possible.

Over the years, ABB’s engineers have developed intelligent solutions that aim at increasing energy efficiency and productivity of all types of vessels. In 2011, ABB launched the ground-breaking Onboard DC Grid, which distributes power through a single DC circuit instead of multiple connections, providing significant power savings.Earlier this year, ABB won its first order for this new system. It will allow a new offshore platform support vessel, under construction in Norway, to operate at the highest energy efficiency level to minimize emissions.

“This delivery is a landmark in our strategy, and we look forward to seeing the vessel operating with maximum efficiency next year, when it will be delivered to the end-user”, says Heikki Soljama.

Also in 2011, ABB announced several improvements to its highly efficient Azipod® propulsion system. The new design combines improvements in the layout of the fin on the propeller increase efficiency up to 2.5% by reducing the losses from the propulsion system. Another design change for further fuel consumption savings optimizes the toe (steering) angle of the Azipod units dynamically, in addition to the angle optimization already undertaken at the vessel design stage, to provide an estimated extra 1.5% reduction in fuel consumption.

ABB’s global Vessel Information and Control organization develops automation solutions specifically for marine applications, based on ABB’s field-proven process automation technologies. The company’s expanded portfolio of solutions for Marine Automation and Control systems consists of a broad range of marine advisory and fleet management reporting solutions, integrated automation, vessel management and control systems, and marine instrumentation and sensors, all of which help to optimize vessel operations and performance, improve energy efficiency, onboard equipment reliability and availability, and operational safety.

Morgan Furniture supplied British seaside inspired furniture to Saga Sapphire

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 20 September 2012 20 September 2012

Morgan Furniture, the market-leading British designer and maker of contemporary contract furniture, has provided a wide range of soft seating for the Saga Sapphire cruise ship. Nine inspired collections from Morgan, including some specially- adapted designs, appear on board this latest addition to the Saga fleet providing comfort and ocean-going style for up to 706 passengers.

Designed to appeal to more modern tastes, the Saga Sapphire has a fun, quirky feel which was inspired by the British seaside. Young-at-heart travellers can enjoy gourmet fish and chips, traditional sweets and ice cream at the pool-side Beach Club; the top deck 12 features St Andrews crazy golf and Cooper’s bar, named in honour of Tommy Cooper, is complete with red Fez-like lampshades and scatter cushions bearing corny jokes. All bar areas, including Cooper’s, Britannia Lounge and the Aviator’s Bar are decked out in furniture by Morgan.

The relaxed Siena tub chair features a flowing, curved profile and simple turned wooden legs, while the Seville wing armchair provides a modern twist to a traditional winged-chair. With the same name as the Long Island seaside resort famous for its historical Summer colonies, Hampton sofas and armchairs set a mood which feels breezy and familiar, but at the same time prestigious and in tune with the modern world. Elegant and with a compact footprint, the timeless styling of Hampton makes it a perfect choice for cruise lines.Dining is a fundamental part of the cruise experience and, with passengers frequenting the same restaurants on numerous occasions, the seating must be memorable for all the right reasons.

Atlantic is one of the most popular dining chairs from Morgan with its sculptured, curved back which makes the chair both comfortable and elegant. The version chosen for the Saga Sapphire also features fully upholstered arms edged with polished wood to match the legs. Upholstered in creamy leather, this original design ensures the height of luxury in the Pole to Pole restaurant which is styled to the theme of different countries from around the world.

Inspired by cruise liners and colonial hotels, the Boston collection looks right at home in The Grill and Verandah. A dining venue where passengers can grab a lighter meal and watch their food being prepared in a state-of-the-art show kitchen, this area demanded a more informal seating style and a seamless transition from inside to outside for those choosing to dine alfresco. Boston and Boston Terrace provide exactly that with their finely crafted wooden frame available in a choice of timbers including Iroko sustainable African hardwood for outdoor models. The design features an attractive finger joint on the arm, which also adds strength, and a woven leather back for the indoor chairs.

Always a hive of activity, The Drawing Room looks out over the ship’s bow and is surrounded by impressive observation windows. The wide variety of seating here mirrors the activities which include reading from the well-stocked library, using computers or iPads, taking part in one of the many classes and lectures, or enjoying a snack from the larder or drink from the bar.With its square, low form, Verona chairs, sofas, daybeds and corner units from Morgan add contemporary style to the space. A specially adapted version was created for Saga with a higher and firmer sit. Seville winged-chairs and Siena tub chairs feature throughout the space upholstered in tactile and vibrant blue and orange fabrics.

Morgan worked closely throughout this project with RPW Design and Joanna Knight Interiors, who acted on behalf of Saga for the product procurement and project management. This is the third Saga cruise ship for Morgan having already successfully supplied furniture for the Saga Ruby and the Saga Pearl II. The cruise sector is a highly successful market for Morgan thanks to their ability to apply the Marine Quality Mark to produce attractive and practical furniture pieces of unsurpassed quality which fully conform to Marine Contract standards. The company also possesses exemplary eco-credentials, a fact independently endorsed by the ISO14001 environmental standard. All products are manufactured in a low energy consuming factory, using sustainable FSC timber, top quality CMHR foams and non rusting fittings.