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AmaWaterways announces Godmother for AmaLea

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 August 2017 09 August 2017

AmaWaterways has announced that highly-respected travel industry leader Filomena Andre will serve as Godmother of its newest European ship, AmaLea. Andre will “bless” the 154-guest ship alongside AmaWaterways’ executive team during a christening ceremony in Vilshofen, Germany in May 2018.

“We choose the Godmothers for our ships very carefully. It is essential to us that they share our passion for growing the river cruise industry and our commitment to providing the most memorable vacations for our guests,” said AmaWaterways’ Executive Vice President and Co-Owner Kristin Karst. “Filomena is such a well-respected travel industry leader and we are thrilled to welcome her as Godmother of the stunning AmaLea. We can’t wait to celebrate onboard with her next year!”

Andre has served as a travel industry leader for more than three decades, beginning her career as a travel agent and quickly moving into management positions. In 2010, she joined the Automobile Club of Southern California as vice president for AAA Travel Products & Services, preceded by a long career as an executive at Signature Travel Network. Today, Andre oversees travel product management, strategy and performance for the Auto Club organization, the largest AAA affiliate in the country. Recognized as a strong advocate for retail travel, Andre is also a member of several industry advisory boards.

“It is such an unexpected honor to be selected as Godmother of AmaLea,” said Andre. “Rudi, Kristin, Gary and the entire AmaWaterways family have the innovative mindset and passion needed to push the river cruising industry forward. That, together with their exemplary customer service, is what I’ve admired most about their teams in the office and onboard their ships.”

Sister ship to Karst’s namesake, AmaKristina, AmaLea boasts the most advanced design of any river cruise vessel currently in operation. The ship will feature the line’s exclusive Twin Balconies in most staterooms – offering panoramic views from both a French and outside balcony. The ship also features four suites, interconnecting staterooms and triple occupancy staterooms designed for multi-generation families. Guests will enjoy gourmet dining onboard AmaLea, with free-flowing wines at multiple venues – including The Chef’s Table; a heated sun deck swimming pool with a swim-up bar; fitness center and spa; complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship; in-room Internet and Entertainment On Demand; and a fleet of bicycles carried onboard for guests to enjoy complimentary, taking their own path or participating in guided tours.

In addition, guests sailing aboard AmaLea will enjoy expanded biking and hiking options next cruise season – giving adventure enthusiasts the opportunity to explore in more ports than ever before. Also debuting in 2018, AmaWaterways’ complimentary ‘Sip and Sail’ cocktail hour will serve premium beer, wine and spirits in the ships’ cocktail lounge each evening before dinner.

AmaLea will start her inaugural season with a series of six Tulip Time cruises from Amsterdam before hosting seven-night cruises on the Danube River between Vilshofen and Budapest with optional three-night pre- or post-cruise land programs offered in Munich and Prague. Topping off the 2018 sailing season will be four iconic Christmas Market Cruises on the Danube.

Genting Hong Kong warns of up to $220 million first half loss on host of issues

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 August 2017 07 August 2017

Genting Hong Kong, the parent company of Crystal Cruises, Dream Cruise, Star Cruises and MV Werften, warns of a first half net loss of between $200 million to $220 million as a number of its businesses are encountering headwinds.

The company said it expects an operating loss in Crystal Cruises, the Los Angeles based luxury brand that has expanded nto river cruises and aviation, due to a more competitive environment resulting from a 13.7% increase in new luxury cruise ship capacity in the industry, higher marketing costs and startup costs of new Crystal river ships and AirCruises operations.

Genting Hong Kong also sees full half year startup losses in 2017 versus two months in 2016 in MV Werften, its German new building shipyards as they gear up for steel cutting for the Global Class and Endeavor Class ships in March 2018.

Furthermore, additional depreciation and amortisation of new Genting Dream and shipyards; and additional interest of new Genting Dream ship. “Despite the decline in its consolidated net results, the performance of the underlying core Asian cruise business has improved in the second quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2017, and the Group remains positive on the underlying core Asian cruise business for the second half of the year,” the company said in a statement.

It pointed out that based on the preliminary assessment of the latest unaudited financial information, excluding the share of results of Travellers, the Group is expected to record a consolidated net loss in the range of US$200 million to US$220 million for the six months ended 30 June 2017, as compared with a consolidated net loss of US$73.7 million, excluding the share of results of Travellers, for the six months ended 30 June 2016.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines reports slight drop in second quarter profit

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 August 2017 07 August 2017

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destination focused operator of four ships, has reported a slight fall in net profit in the second quarter of the year.

The profit fell to NOK55 million from NOK67 million in the same period a year earlier, show figures released by Bonheur ASA, the line’s parent company that is listed in Oslo.

Revenues increased to NOK574 million from NOK550 million and EBITDA to NOK139 million from NOK102 million.

“The number of passenger days totaled 274,598 for the quarter (284,578- revised from 286,447 as reported for 2Q16), a decline of 3.5%. Net ticket income per diem (GBP) was 22.5% higher, compared to the corresponding quarter last year,” Bonheur said in a statement.

In the first six months of the year. Fred. Olsen Cruise Line broke even compared to having a NOK63 million profit in the same period in 2016. Revenues rose to NOK1.50 billion from NOK1.47 billion and EBITDA increased to NOK158 million from NOK132 million.

Weakening of the British pound against the krone had a negative effect of NOK57 million to the bottom line, Bonheur said.

One Ocean Expeditions to add third ship next year

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 August 2017 07 August 2017

One Ocean Expeditions, the Canadian operator of two ships chartered from Russian principals, will introduce a third ship next year, when the present Hanseatic of Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten will enter service with the company.

An image on the website of the company shows that the vessel One Ocean plans to introduce next year as RCGS Resolute is the present day Hanseatic. The company has teamed up with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), hence the prefix in the new name of the vessel.

Built in Finland in 1993, the 146 passenger ship that has Lloyds Register ice class 1AS will join the 1998 built Akademik Sergey Vavilov and Akademik Ioffe that is a year younger. These two ships were also built in Finland.

American Cruise Lines to launch new American Revolution itinerary from Baltimore

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 August 2017 04 August 2017

American Cruise Lines, the largest U.S. cruise line, announced it will be adding a new itinerary to its 2018 cruise schedule. The 11-night American Revolution Cruise visits the most historically significant ports along the Chesapeake Bay.

The itinerary features several new ports: Washington D.C., Chestertown, MD, and Mt. Vernon, VA. In the nation’s capital, guests can enjoy a guided tour of the National Mall or private tours of any of the Smithsonian Museums. In Chestertown, guests can visit the Schooner Sultana, a replica of the Royal Naval Frigate Sultana that served in the British Navy from 1768 to 1772. At Mt. Vernon the line’s experts guide visitors through George Washington’s Estate.

Guests will also travel to the last battlefield of the Revolutionary War in Yorktown and the first English settlement in Jamestown. “The Chesapeake Bay has an incredibly rich history and we are excited to offer an itinerary that showcases these great cities that shaped our nation,” says Timothy Beebe, Vice President of American Cruise Lines.

In addition to the onshore enrichment, American’s onboard expert will be Dr. Harold Cones, a distinguished Professor of Biology, Emeritus at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA, where he worked for 40 years. Overall, he is a broadly trained naturalist, consultant, and nature writer that arranges and conducts outdoor travel experiences while developing, arranging and leading tours as a study leader for the Mariners' Museum in Newport News.

The new cruise will sail round-trip from Baltimore. Cruises will begin in the spring of 2018 aboard the brand new American Constitution. Available dates are April 28, May 8, October 29, and November 8, 2018 and reservations are now being accepted.