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First steel cut for Cunard newbuilding in Italy

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 October 2019 11 October 2019

Cunard Line, the UK based upper emd of the market unit in Carnival Corporation & plc group and the Italian shipbuilder and Fincantieri celebrated the start of construction on the 249th ship of the line.

The yet unnamed ship will be the second largest ship to fly the Cunard flag with an estimated gross tonnage of 113,000

The first section of the ship is under construction at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia ship yard. The shipbuilding group previously delivered Queen Victoria in 2007 and Queen Elizabeth in 2010 to Cunard.

The steel cutting ceremony marks the commencement of building works that will culminate in its delivery in Monfalcone, Gorizia, Italy, in 2022.

Of the occasion, Simon Palethorpe, President, Cunard said, “After years of planning and design, we are delighted to see building works commence on our newest ship. The 249th Cunarder will be our fourth luxury liner for the 21st century. The new ship is taking inspiration from the successes of our past, integrating the Cunard spirit with exciting new concepts and ideas that will provide a uniquely luxurious travel experience for our guests.”

With construction underway, the new ship’s interior designers will work alongside Fincanteri to deliver a one of a kind on board experience.

Led by globally acclaimed designer Adam D. Tihany, the award winning design team includes Simon Rawlings (David Collins Studio), Terry McGillicuddy (Richmond International) and Sybille de Margerie (Sybille de Margerie Paris).

Each brings experience from various world-class international hotels and resorts with the aim of delivering a new standard of Cunard luxury.

Cunard’s new ship is set to enter service in 2022 with bookings commencing next year.

Braemar becomes biggest ship to transit Corinth Canal

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 October 2019 11 October 2019

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 24,344 gross ton braemar became the biggest shipo to transit the Corinth Canal, when it made a passage through the 6.4 km waterway in Greece on 9 October, the UK based company said in a statement.

The ship has a length of 195.82 metres and beam of 22.52metres. The canal is only 24 metres wide, but it has no locks and thus no maximum length limit.

The 929-guest capacity Braemar is currently sailing on a sold-out 25-night M1925 ‘Corinth Canal & Greek Islands’ cruise, which set sail from Southampton, UK on 27th September 2019.

The Corinth Canal is a waterway that separates the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese, turning it into an island. It is an important navigational route, which once allowed ships to enter the Aegean Sea. Whilst the Canal is steeped in over two millennia of history, the structure that we now know was completed and used for the first time on 28 October 1893.

Britannia to undergo refit at Damen in Brest this month

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 October 2019 09 October 2019

P&O Cruises' Britannia will undergo a refit a the Damen shipyard in Brest in France that includes refreshed interiors and new details on a broad scale, the company said in a statement.

The atrium will be given a new lease of life creating a lively social hub at the heart of the ship, day and night. This space will have new eye-catching colour schemes, fresh design direction, relaxed entertainment, live music and informal performances all under the Starburst chandelier.

Following the success of temporary art exhibitions on Britannia, P&O Cruises is introducing a permanent new art gallery next to Blue Bar. The deck 5 experience can be completed by savouring some sweet treats from master pâtissier and Food Hero Eric Lanlard at The Market Café. The popular spot has already benefitted from new furniture and décor, as well as a menu with decadent ice cream creations made in exclusive collaboration with Hampshire dairy, Jude’s.

Guests will now have even more reason to check into the Oasis Spa and Salon with the creation of two ‘express spa’ pods boasting a range of treatments. In one pod, guests will enjoy high-tech massages; in the other, a zero-gravity lounger will offer express skin treatments as well as LVL lash treatments. For longer, deeper relaxation, guests can enjoy two new experiences in the thermal and hydropool suite: an Arctic cold room, with therapeutic benefits as well as an aroma steam room.

On deck 7, Java café will now serve alcoholic drinks; guests can relax with a drink and enjoy the birds-eye view of the action below. Also on deck 7, the photo gallery will include a Dixons electronics hub featuring the latest imaging, computing and audio tech from Amazon, Apple, Beats, Bose, Canon, Fitbit, GoPro, Microsoft, and Sony, among others.

Britannia is extending the shops, to give guests more choice and an immersive experience. As well as a host of new premium brands to choose from there will be a more interactive environment, including try-before-you-buy, tasting tables and consultation areas in the beauty and make-up zones. New brands include Jo Malone, Tom Ford, Edinburgh Gin, Michael Kors accessories and exclusive fine jewellers, Clifton, P&O Cruises said..

Elomatic to merge fully owned subsidiary companies with group parent

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 October 2019 08 October 2019

Elomatic, the Finnish consultant engineering group, will merge its six fully owned subsidiary units to the group parent in a move to increase efficiency and simplify cooperation with its customers, it said in a statement.

Elomatic Marine Engineering Oy, which is the group naval architecture and marine services unit, was merged with Elomatic Consulting & Engineering Oy at the end of September. Two other subsidiaries were merged with the parent at the same time, while other three will follow at the end of October.

The mergers would not affect the business of the group and all contracts, responsibilities and liabilities of the subsidiaries will be transferred to the group parent in their entirety, Elomatic said.

Salcombe Gin to have distillery onboard Iona

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 October 2019 08 October 2019

P&O Cruises, the UK focused contemporary market unit of Carnival Corporation & plc, said it is collaborating with award-winning gin distiller, Salcombe Gin, to develop and install the first distillery at sea on board Iona, which wull enter service next summer.

“The gin’s maiden production will take place in Iona’s custom-made still and will be distilled, bottled and labelled on board, allowing Iona’s guests to be the first to enjoy this deliciously smooth and one-of-a-kind gin,” P&O Cruises said in a statement.

Following the gin’s launch on Iona, Salcombe Gin will also distil the unique recipe, yet to be named, in its striking 450 litre copper still ‘Provident’ in Salcombe, ready to share and serve exclusively across all ships in the fleet. P&O Cruises is also working with Salcombe Gin to develop limited-edition gins celebrating and taking inspiration from the ports of call.

P&O Cruises president, Paul Ludlow, said: “Salcombe Gin is the perfect partner for us as it shares our zest for adventure and discovery. It has an unrivalled passion and attention to detail, not only in the award-winning gins created, but also in the unique gin experiences offered. We are incredibly excited by the bespoke gin being created for us, the maiden production run of which will be distilled in the first ever distillery at sea.”

Angus Lugsdin, co-founder of Salcombe Distilling Co, said: “We are extremely excited to partner on this exciting project with P&O Cruises. Our two brands have an amazingly rich and shared history. At the same time that P&O expanded into leisure cruising in the mid-19th century, the famous Salcombe Fruit schooners were entering their heyday, importing cargoes of precious fruits and spices from the Mediterranean to England’s ports and the ships probably passed each other on their voyages.