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Silversea invests in crew recruitment and training with launch of new E-Learning Platform

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 July 2021 05 July 2021

Silversea Cruises, the leading ultra-luxury cruise line, has invested in the training and development of its crew with the debut of a new digital training platform. Named the Silversea Learning Platform, the program rolled out ahead of the line's healthy return to service and is accessible to all crew online, from both on board and ashore.

With the recent addition of two new ships to its fleet, three new ships on order, and a firm commitment to ensuring and even enhancing its industry-leading service standards as it leads the resumption of ultra-luxury cruising, Silversea Cruises will continue to invest in recruiting and training the best crew at sea.

The new e-learning platform includes two courses devoted exclusively to the cruise line’s comprehensive set of science-backed health and safety procedures. Its nearly 200 modules – covering the safety and well-being of guests and crew, environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and much more – are tailored to specific job classifications.

In addition to self-paced mandatory modules, crew members have access to a variety of optional courses for further study and skills advancement. The online learning experience complements Silversea's existing program of classroom-style and hands-on training, and workshops.

"The Silversea Learning Platform is a significant step toward ensuring that new and returning crew will have convenient access to our latest training content, both from home and aboard ship, enabling them to adapt quickly and easily to the requirements of their roles," says Roberto Martinoli, Silversea's President and CEO. “Our onboard teams are committed to providing an entirely unique experience for our guests, with exemplary service that continuously exceeds their expectations. Our new training platform will ensure that Silversea’s trademark level of service is stronger than ever as our healthy return to service gains momentum. Our crew is an invaluable asset for our cruise line – the importance of which will only increase as we continue to expand our fleet in the coming years.”

The Silversea Learning Platform is available to crew across all ships in Silversea’s ultra-luxury fleet, as well as Expedition Team members and concessionaires. Prior to Silver Origin’s inaugural season in the Galapagos, the ship’s crew and Expedition Guides underwent intensive training over one week, familiarizing themselves with Silversea’s pioneering new addition. As part of their theoretical and hands-on training, 12 members of the cruise line’s Expedition Team earned full snorkel guide certification from the PSS (Professional Scuba Schools).

Borealis sails from Liverpool for maiden voyage

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 July 2021 05 July 2021

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destination focused cruise line, said it is resuming sailing with Borealis due to depart on its maiden voyage from Liverpool today.

The ship was built in 1996 as Rotterdam for Holland America Line and it was acquired together with sister ship Amsterdam, now renamed Bolette, by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to replace Black Watch and Boudicca, both of which had been built in the early 1970s

Borealis brings a number of new venues and facilities to the fleet, including a grand, two-tier theatre and main restaurant, an all-weather pool with retractable roof, a large spa and thermal suite and new venue The Auditorium offering culinary demonstrations and more, the company said in a statement.

“Guests will also have the chance to savour new flavours in Borealis’ new specialty dining restaurants. Vasco, named after the famous explorer Vasco Da Gama, who was the first European to reach India by sea, offers a fresh and modern take on Indian food. Meanwhile Colours & Tastes offers modern Asian Fusion dishes. The décor is colourful, the mood cheerful and the food offers a stimulating set of new taste experiences,” the company said.

Photo: Artist's impression of the ship in FOCL livery

Virgin Voyages takes delivery of Valiant Lady, third ship named and launched

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 July 2021 05 July 2021

Virgin Voyages, the new cruise line that is part of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, has taken delivery of its second ship, Valiant Lady, while the third ship that will be called Resilient Lady was launched and named on the same day.

The 110,000 gross ton ships, including a yet unnamed fourth unit of the class, are built by Fincantieri at its Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa. They are 278 meters long and 38 wide and they all feature over 1,400 guest cabins designed to host about 2,770 passengers.

Scarlet Lady, the first ship of the class, was delivered in 2020, but is only due to sail on its maiden voyage this summer. The ship will make a number of short cruises from the UK before heading to be based in Florida.

Carnival Cruise Line resumes service from the U.S. with Carnival Vista sailing from Galveston

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 July 2021 04 July 2021

To celebrate Carnival Cruise Line’s resumption of guest cruises from the U.S., Carnival President Christine Duffy, Carnival Vista Captain Andrea Catalani and local officials led a “Back to Fun” ribbon-cutting ceremony officially welcoming guests back on board yesterday in Galveston, Texas.

“Seeing our guests board the ship for the first time in over 15 months was a welcome and emotional sight. The excitement our guests have for Carnival cruising knows no bounds and it’s great to be able to have them enjoy our unique vacation experience and of course see our amazing crew once again,” said Duffy.

Added Catalani, “Having our guests on board again is something we’ve been looking forward to for a very long time. Our crew is very excited and will provide them with the incredible Carnival vacation they’ve been so patiently waiting for.”

Carnival Vista set sail yesterday at 4 p.m. for a weeklong cruise with stops in Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Cozumel and Belize City.

In addition to Carnival Vista’s departure, Carnival Horizon begins sailing from PortMiami today, July 4, as well as Carnival Breeze from Galveston July 15 while Carnival Miracle kicks off the line’s Alaska season from Seattle July 27. Mardi Gras, the line’s newest ship, sets sail from Port Canaveral July 31. Other ships in the Carnival fleet will begin service in August.

Carnival Cruise Line was the first cruise line to recognize the incredible potential of Galveston as a homeport, launching the port’s first year-round cruises in 2000.

Today, Carnival is the number one cruise operator from Galveston and the only cruise operator with three year-round ships at the port. Carnival Vista, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream operate 150 voyages annually from Galveston, carrying an estimated 750,000 passengers a year.

Proudly sailing as America’s Cruise Line, Carnival operates from 14 U.S. homeports – the most in cruising – providing consumers with a convenient and affordable way of getting to and from their cruise. Roughly half of the U.S. population is within a day’s drive of a Carnival homeport.

Genting Hong Kong completes restructuring

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 July 2021 02 July 2021

Genting Hong Kong, parent company of Crystal Cruises, Dream Cruise and Star Cruises, said it has completed a restructuring programme after the counter parties of the company have given their final approval to the programme.

The agreement includes an €240 million subordinated secured loan facility plus a €60 million silent participation - in a form of lending which takes effect via provision of a limited-recourse equity stake to the lender in exchange for contribution of funding - which will be provided by the Wirtschaftsstabilisierungsfonds to MV Werften Holdings Limited.

This is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the company that owns shipyards in Germany and/or certain of its subsidiaries in order to fund the completion of the partially-completed Crystal Endeavor and Global Dream vessels and certain overhead costs.

New funding, amended terms and extended maturities

Provision of a new committed €313.6 million post-delivery financing facility on substantially standard market terms in respect of the Crystal Endeavor vessel by certain existing lenders to the group also forms part of the package.

In addition to new funding, the package includes amendments to existing agreements that amount to $981.05 million and which represents all material existing financial indebtedness of the company.

It also includes a material extension of maturity of the facilities until no earlier than 31 July 2026, a reduction in, and the harmonisation of, interest margins for up to 24 months plus retention of all guarantees and security under the group’s existing financing arrangements, along with the implementation of appropriate limited credit enhancement arrangements including granting of new security and assignment of rights.

Furthermore, continued provision for drawdowns under existing pre-delivery financing arrangements available to the Group in order to fund completion of construction of the partially-completed Global Dream vessel.

The agreement allows suspension of amortisation payment requirements under $1.49 billion of separate secured financing arrangements entered into by Dream Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises entities until the earlier of (a) 29 June 2023 and (b) the date falling 24 months after the Restructuring Effective Date along with consequential adjustments to each affected amortisation schedule.

Equity financing of the company for a value of not less than $30 million and entry by the company and certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of MV Werten into conditional, committed standby loan facilities provided by the State of Mecklenburg Vorpommern and the WSF in an aggregate amount of $118.0 million. This shall be secured by, inter alia, second and third ranking mortgages over the World Dream vessel.