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Carnival to refinance portion of notes due 2023 with new loan

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 October 2021 06 October 2021

Carnival Corporation & plc , the world’s largest cruise shipping group, said its US listed and Panama domiciled Carnival Corporation unit intends to commence the marketing of a first-priority senior secured term loan facility with an original principal amount of $1.5 billion maturing in 2028.

"The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Term Loan Facility to redeem a portion of the Company’s 11.500% First Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”), including related accrued interest, fees and expenses. This disclosure does not constitute a notice of redemption with respect to the 2023 Notes,” Carnival said in a statement.

Carnival has previously refinanced expensive debt issued at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic with new loans at a lower rate of interest.

Meyer Turku targets carbon neutrality by 2030

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 October 2021 04 October 2021

Meyer Turku, the Finnish cruise ship builder in the Meyer Group, said it would target carbon neutrality by 2030.

The shipbuilder also plans to present a carbon neutral ship concept that could also be built by 2025.

Deputy Managing Director Tapani Pulli described the targets as challenging, but said in a statement that achieving these targets would also strengthen the company’s ability to compete for orders. It also encourages companies in its supply chain to follow in its wake to reduce their carbon footprint.

MSC Magnifica to operate Northern Europe winter cruises from five ports

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 October 2021 04 October 2021

MSC Magnifica will operate a series of winter cruises from five ports in northern Europe in a first for the company, it said in a statement.

Starting from 14 November 2021, MSC Magnifica will offer seven night cruises calling at Hamburg, Germany; IJmuiden/Amsterdam, Netherlands; Zeebrugge for Bruges and Brussels,Belgium; Le Havre for Paris, France; Southampton for London,UK.

“With extended stays in port of up to 12 hours, guests can really make the most of their time ashore. Embarkation will be possible in each port, ensuring that there are plenty of convenient connections close for guests,” the company said in a statement.

Seabourn names second expedition ship Seabourn Pursuit

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 October 2021 01 October 2021

Seabourn, the ultra-luxury ocean and expedition cruise line, announced earlier this week that it will name its second new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ship Seabourn Pursuit, which is reflective of the passion exhibited by expedition travelers to seek out and explore natural wonders and destinations through immersive recreational activities around the world.

Construction for Seabourn Pursuit began in fall 2020 during a ceremony in San Giorgo di Nogare, Italy, and the build process is well underway. The ship is scheduled for delivery in February 2023, with its sister ship, Seabourn Venture, slated for delivery in March 2022.

“The name Seabourn Pursuit is truly fitting for a ship envisioned and designed to take expedition travelers into those places where they can see vast landscapes, diverse wildlife and remote regions of the world that may have been on their bucket list for years,” said Josh Leibowitz, president of Seabourn. “Seabourn Pursuit will navigate the most unexplored parts of the world in the highest level of comfort, safety and environmental protection available for the luxury traveler. We are defining an entirely new category of expedition travel with Seabourn Pursuit and its sister ship, Seabourn Venture.”

After delivery, Seabourn Pursuit heads north for its first season of exploration, with an inaugural “Fire and Ice” voyage scheduled for April 4, 2023, departing roundtrip from Reykjavik, Iceland. The itinerary, which winds its way along the coast of Greenland and Iceland, will be filled with snow swept landscapes – the “Ice” – and a late night in Akureyri, a wonderland that provides access to magnificent waterfalls (Goðafoss), hot springs and the lava fields of Dimmuborgir and Leirhnjukur – the “Fire”.

The ship then continues onward by exploring the waters and landscapes of Greenland, Iceland and Norway throughout the spring and early summer, in some instances retracing the path of the Vikings to the frontier town of Tromsø while carving its way through the inside passage of the Norwegian fjords along the way. A sure highlight for August 2023 is the ship’s Northwest Passage journey through some of the most remote areas in the Northern Hemisphere from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Nome, Alaska. Itineraries for the Seabourn Pursuit inaugural season are set to open for sale in mid-December 2021.

Both Seabourn Pursuit and sister ship Seabourn Venture are designed and built for diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards and include modern hardware and technology that will extend the ships’ global deployment and capabilities. Each will carry two custom-built submarines, 24 Zodiacs, kayaks, and a 26-person expert expedition team whose role is to engage guests throughout each voyage.

UK retailer warns of higher cruise fares, other travel costs in 2022

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 September 2021 30 September 2021

The online retailer cruise.co.uk has projected the possible price increases for both domestic and international sailings. “It comes as the UK emerges from the pandemic and demand for cruise increases, meaning cruise lines will not need to discount as much as previously,” the company said in a statement.

In addition, costs across the cruise sector could be affected - including fuel for ships, onboard food and drink, company insurance and staffing - which may in turn be reflected in fares.

And guests themselves may have to pay more while on holiday because of fluctuating exchange rates and rising insurance charges. Increasing indirect costs, such as the cost of flights to overseas cruise departure points, and taxis and transfers to ports, may further dent holidaymakers’ pockets.

In order to keep costs down, cruise lines are offering various incentives to guests, while cruise.co.uk have also published their own money saving tips.

Tony Andrews from cruise.co.uk said: “With travel continuing to open up, more and more of us are really looking forward to our next cruise. Unfortunately, would-be holidaymakers should be aware that some prices on 2022 getaways, in cruise and across all of travel, are likely to be higher. There are so many variables that could push prices up, some of which feel almost inevitable, such as food and insurance hikes, and others which may be announced at short notice, such as fuel rises.

“To help make guests’ money go further, we’re pleased to see cruise lines are offering a range of incentives right now including discounted deposits, free flights and transfers, onboard drinks packages and free cabin upgrades.

“We’re really stressing the need to book early. If you know where you want to go next year, paying a deposit now will mean you can take advantage of the current fare,” Andrews said.