Swan Hellenic appoints Hans Heger VP of Hotel Operations

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 28 October 2020 28 October 2020

Swan Hellenic, the resurgent expedition cruise line, said it has appointed Hans Heger as Vice President of Hotel Operations.

As a luxury cruise hospitality expert, he brings historic insight and track record as innovator to cultural expedition cruise pioneers, the company said.

“Hans’ operational experience reads like a roster of cruise leaders and innovators - from Abercrombie & Kent, Club Med, Harmony, Pearl, Phoenix Reisen and Seven Seas to Scenic, Silversea and Royal Viking Line - unquestionably making him a safe pair of hands. But he’s also much more,” the company said in a statement.

Heger also worked for Swan Hellenic in the 1990s, when it introduced its first purpose built ship, the 12,500 gross ton Minerva that entered service in 1996 and which is no longer used as a cruise vessel.

“We are over the moon to welcome Hans on board. He brings outstanding high-end hospitality expertise and creative flair to our vision for an entirely unique guest experience,” explained Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito.

Heger commented: “I am delighted to join the dynamic team bringing the Swan Hellenic vision of five-star cultural expedition cruising to life across a truly exciting new fleet. It’s a pleasure to return to this iconic pioneer with such a tremendous opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind lifestyle on board.”

Swan Hellenic was acquired by investors from the Canada based Gap Adventures group earlier this year. It has three expedition vessels on order at the Helsinki Shipyard in Finland.It had no operations during the time Gap Adventurs owned the company.

Princess Cruises extends Australia standstill till end of May 2021

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 28 October 2020 28 October 2020

Due to the uncertainty about when international travel restrictions might be lifted, Princess Cruises is extending its pause in operations for cruises departing from Australia and New Zealand through 31 May 2021, the company said in a statement.

Guests will receive a refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 25% of the cruise fare paid. To receive the above FCCs, no action is required by the guest or their travel advisor. 

Alternatively, guests can forfeit the bonus FCC offer and request a refund for all money paid on their booking by using this online form. Guests have until 30 November 2020, to elect a refund, or they will automatically receive the default offer listed above.  

Princess Cruises will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full, in recognition of the critical role they play in the cruise line's business and success, the company said. 

Costa Toscana and Costa Favolosa to South America in 2021-22

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 28 October 2020 28 October 2020

Costa Crociere, part of the Carnival Corporation & plc group, has presented its programs for the 2021-22 season in South America that will include the new Costa Toscana and Costa. Favolosa, the company said in a statement.

Costa Toscana will make its debut in Brazil, and Costa Favolosa will extend its season to almost five months.

The inaugural cruise of Costa Toscana, which is currently under construction in Finland, will include New Year's Eve, as it will depart from Santos on 26 December 2021 for a seven-night holiday to Salvador and Ilhéus, returning to Santos on 2 January 2022 for what will be an unprecedented moment in the history of the Brazilian cruise industry.

From 2 January to 10 April 2022, Costa Toscana will offer another 15 cruises with the same itinerary, with embarkation in Santos and Salvador. The 15 cruises also include Carnival and Easter departures. The latter will be the last tour of the ship before the Brazil-Italy crossing, departing from Santos on 17 April 2022.

Starting 20 November 2021, Costa Favolosa will be cruising in South America for 144 days, almost five months, the longest season in the history of the company in the region. The ship will offer five cruises, from three to six nights, calling at Búzios, Salvador, Ilhabela and Balneário Camboriú, with embarkation from Santos.

From 13 December 2021 to April 2022, Costa Favolosa will depart from Rio de Janeiro for her traditional "Prata" itinerary. A total of 15 eight-night cruises will be available, with embarkation – for the first time – in Itajaí, in addition to Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Costa holidays in the Prata region also include Christmas, New Year's Eve and Carnival.

This itinerary will allow guests to visit popular destinations, such as the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Ilhabela, Itajaí, Montevideo (Uruguay) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). Costa Favolosa's New Year's itinerary will maintain her traditional New Year's Eve stop at Copacabana beach and its fireworks display.

The 2021-22 season will also be marked by the Italy-Brazil and Brazil-Italy crossings on board Costa Favolosa. These cruises allow tourists to visit different places in the world at once. Departing from Savona on 2 November 2021 for an 18-night tour, Costa Favolosa will visit the charming destinations of Marseille, Barcelona, Malaga, Casablanca and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in addition to the Brazilian cities of Recife, Salvador, Ilhéus and Rio de Janeiro.

The return cruise to Europe will start on 16 April 2022 from Rio de Janeiro for a 15-night voyage calling at Salvador, Maceió, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Malaga and Barcelona before reaching Savona on 1 May 2022.

The International Cruise Summit 2020 celebrates its tenth edition focusing on the reconstruction of cruise tourism

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 21 October 2020 21 October 2020

Madrid will once again host the International Cruise Summit, organised by Cruises News Media Group, which in its tenth edition, will bring together senior international professionals of the cruise industry to discuss this very significant tourism sector. This prestigious event will take place on December 1st and 2nd, following all the necessary health and safety protocols, at the Hotel Meliá Castilla in Madrid, and will also include the possibility of participating virtually, due to the travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In this way, the tenth edition of the International Cruise Summit will become the most important event in terms of scope and audience in the history of summits held to date. In addition, the schedules have been adapted with the aim of reaching the greatest number of professionals worldwide.

After a mandatory pause in the global cruise industry operations, cruise lines are starting to resume their activity, with advanced health and safety protocols and itineraries. A solid industry, committed to the environment and sustainability, with even more efficient ships and a willingness to rise to the challenges that this new situation brings.

Senior international cruise line executives, port authorities, tourist destinations, as well as travel agents and the entire auxiliary industry, will participate virtually or in person in this hybrid event, one of the most important cruise congresses worldwide. The event will count on the participation of many prominent international professionals in the cruise industry as speakers such as Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, Tom McAlpin, President and CEO of Virgin Voyages, Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group, Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC cruises, Chris Theophilides, CEO of Celestyal Cruises and Peter Deer, CEO of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, among others. We will also hear from Professor Gordon Dougan from Cambridge University, one of the world’s most influential people in the vaccine world, on the search for a vaccine.

During the two days, several round tables and presentations will discuss the return of operations, new strategies of the cruise companies, excursions and destinations, new investments, modification of fleets and the way to restore consumer confidence.

Several cruise lines have now resumed their operations with itineraries in Greece, Malta, Italy and Northern Europe and in the coming days Spain will join the list with cruises in the Canary Islands.