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CMV names latest acquisitions

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 January 2020 29 January 2020

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) the UK based destination focused cruise line, has chosen the names for the two ships it has acquired from P&O Cruises Australia.

The present day Pacific Dawn, which will be operated on the UK market from the spring of 2021, will be called Amy Johnson to honour an aviator.

“Amy Johnson (1903-1941) was a pioneering English pilot who was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia. In 1931, aged just 27, Johnson set off from Croydon, Surrey to Darwin, Northern Territory,” the company said in a statement.

She went on to set many records including; the first woman to fly from London to Moscow in one day, setting record flying times from Britain to Japan and Cape Town and was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Aero Club. During WWII, Johnson joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), CMV continued.

Pacific Aria , which will sail under the TransOcean Kreuzfahrten brand on the German market, will be renamed, Ida Pfeiffer.

“Ida Pfeiffer (1797-1858) was an Austrian explorer, travel writer, and ethnographer. Aged 45, Pfeiffer set off on her own to the Holy Land with the aim of completing a pilgrimage. Future trips were funded through her writings. She set off on ‘A Lady’s Voyage Round the World’ in 1846 travelling to South America, China, the South Sea Islands, India, Persia, Russia, Turkey, Greece and Italy. The first journey, and its book, was such a success Pfeiffer undertook ‘A Lady’s Second Journey Round the World’ in 1851 returning in 1855,” CMV said.

Edge class ship could be based in UK – report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 January 2020 29 January 2020

Celebrity Cruises, the premium market unit in the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) group, could base a ship of its new Edge class in Southampton in the UK in the future, the line’s CEO was reported as saying

“We will see about an Edge [ship] in Southampton. It is a combination of how strong the UK market is – would we get the per diems that we need for the ship and how that itinerary is performing with other guests from around the world. We source from everywhere,” Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, CEO of Celebrity Cruises, was quote by Travel Weekly as saying..

“Could we have a longer season? Sure. Could we have a full season? Maybe. It really depends on how we build the brand, the business, the average per diems, the luxury travel market between now and when we consider [deployment] again,” the report cited her.

Celebrity Apex, the second unit of the new class of ships, will be named in Southampton in March. The company operates Celebrity Sihouette, a Solstice class ship, from the UK port from spring to late autumn.

MSC Cruises launches range of environmentally certified tours

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 January 2020 28 January 2020

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, said it has unveiled a series of carefully selected shore excursions specifically designed to help protect and preserve Earth’s natural beauty but also set specific objectives for local tour operator partners to become internationally certified under the Global Sustainable Tourism Council certification program.

“These unique excursions are an integral part of MSC Cruises’ mission to offer guests an environmentally conscious holiday. The new Protectours program offers MSC Cruises’ guests a chance to discover destinations like never before, while making a positive contribution to the planet through activities aimed to help protect and preserve through a growing list of 25+ tours,’ the company said in a statement.

“Protectours gives guests the chance to enjoy original insights into the natural world while at the same time preserving its beauty and helping to ensure a greener future, from the ultimate forest hike with rescued dogs in Jamaica in the Caribbean to meeting urban honey bees in Corfu or helping to keep Croatia’s beautiful bays and beaches clean during a snorkeling experience,” the company said.

MSC Cruises’ also stated that it became the first global cruise line to become carbon neutral across marine operations at the start of the year. “This commitment to the environment naturally extends to onshore activities too with Protectours. These tours serve two purposes: firstly, they offer an opportunity for MSC Cruises to empower their tour partners to diversify their offering to include more sustainable activities and secondly influencing them to operate their business in a sustainable manner and become engaged in a Global Sustainable Tourism Council certification program by the end of 2020,” the company said.

DIV Group agrees to buy Kleven Verft from Hurtigruten

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 January 2020 22 January 2020

The Croatia based DIV Group has signed an agreement to buy the Norwegian shipbuilder Kleven Verft from Hurtigruten, the Norwegian coastal express and expedition cruise company, Kleven Verft said in a statement.

Hurtigruten had to acquire the shipbuilder in order to secure the completion of Fritdjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen, two advanced expedition cruise ships of about 21,000 gross tons each.

DIV Group is one of the largest industrial groups in Croatia and it owns e.g. the Brodosplit shipyard.

Astoria to leave CMV fleet after this season

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 January 2020 22 January 2020

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), the UK based destination focused cruise line, said it would not renew the charter for the 16,844 gross ton Astoria after this season.

“With two new larger ships joining the CMV fleet in 2021, we have taken the difficult decision not to renew the charter contract for Astoria. Sadly, Astoria will be leaving the CMV fleet and 2020 will be her Farewell Season,”the company said in a statement.

The ship joined the CMV fleet in 2015 and in the following year it commenced a summer charter to French tour operator Rivages du Monde with CMV operating spring and autumn sailings from the UK, which has continued for five years.

Chris Coates, Group Commercial Director said in the statenment: “Although we will be sad to say farewell to Astoria, especially as she has built up a strong and loyal following, we are excited at the prospect of Pacific Dawn (to be renamed) joining the fleet in 2021 and another traditional-style ship for the British cruise market.”

Astoria was built as Stockholm for the now defunct Swedish America Line in 1948 and eight years later collided with the Italian liner Andrea Doria that sank. A total of 52 persons died in the accident.

Renamed Italia Prima in 1994, the ship was totally rebuilt and received e.g. new engines. The new interiors were designed by Studio de Jorio, the Italian architects who have since gained reputation for extensive work for MSC Cruises.