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MV Werften appoints Janne Luukkonen Director of Project Management

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 August 2017 03 August 2017

Janne Luukkonen took over the position of Director of Project Management at MV Werften on 1 August 2017. He is a member of the senior management, responsible for all shipbuilding projects, and reports to CEO Jarmo Laakso.

Janne Luukkonen studied at the Helsinki University of Technology and is a naval architect. He has long-time experience in building large cruise ships, and has worked as a project manager for companies such as Royal Caribbean Cruises. He was recently a member of the Meyer Werft management team in Turku, Finland.

As Director, Janne Luukkonen is responsible for the project management of MV Werften’s newbuilding programme. “Even tomorrow we will deliver the first vessel under the flag of MV Werften: Crystal Bach, the world’s most luxurious river ship. Crystal Mahler is to follow next month. Delivery of numbers three and four of the Rhine Class is scheduled for spring 2018. Production of the Global Class mega cruise ships and the Endeavor Class yachts starts early 2018. I am looking forward to these unique projects and the cooperation with my new colleagues,” he said yesterday.

Jarmo Laakso, CEO of MV Werften added: “We now have an absolute expert and industry insider on board. I look forward to working with Janne Luukkonen.”

Victory Cruise Lines to add second vessel

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 August 2017 01 August 2017

Victory Cruise Lines will welcome second vessel next year, when Victory II joins the fleet. The vessel is the sister ship and will be identical to the 202-passenger Victory I, which launched Victory Cruise Lines on the Great Lakes in July 2016. Victory II will be upgraded to the same standards of Victory I. The Victory II inaugural voyage will be from Boston, Massachusetts, May 20, 2018. Victory II will begin service with a series of 7-night Canada and New England cruises starting May 20, 2018. The itineraries between Boston/Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, will call at the most popular ports along the coast. Cruises departing from Gloucester include Provincetown on Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Newport, Rhode Island; Plymouth, Massachusetts; Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Cape Cod; Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia; with scenic cruising in the Cape Cod Canal. Sailings from Halifax will call at the same ports in reverse order.

Crystal adds new, shorter itineraries to Crystal Mahler's spring season

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 July 2017 22 July 2017

Crystal River Cruises has unveiled four new 2018 itineraries for its second Rhine Class vessel, Crystal Mahler. In April and May next year, the brand new river ship will sail three 7-night “Danube Serenade” routes between Budapest and Vienna, and one 11-night “Reflections on the Danube” sailing. The new voyages are a shorter complement to Crystal Mahler’s 16-day “Grand Europe” itineraries, which sail between Amsterdam and Budapest for most of the year, cruising the Rhine and Main Rivers.

“We’re delighted to offer these new sailings aboard Crystal Mahler, allowing travelers to explore the beautiful locales along the Danube in the sleek luxury of our new ‘Rhine Class’ vessels, with the added convenience of shorter itineraries for those with limited time away,” says Crystal CEO and president, Edie Rodriguez.

The newly added itineraries depart April 10, 17, 24 and May 1 and visit European hamlets including Krems, Spitz, Linz and Melk, Austria and Bratislava, Slovakia. Three of the voyages feature dedicated theme programming, including special guest Nancy Brinker – former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation – aboard the April 10 sailing discussing Art & Diplomacy, the annual “President’s Cruise” with Edie Rodriguez on the April 24 sailing, and an in-depth focus on Jewish Heritage excursions aboard the May 1 sailing.

The added itineraries further enhance the all-inclusive Crystal River Cruises experience, which was recently recognized as the “Best River Cruise Line” in the 2017 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. The line’s first ship, the 154-guest Crystal Mozart, currently sails itineraries along the Danube, while the “Rhine Class” new-builds will predominantly sail the Rhine and Main Rivers. Crystal Mahler will embark on her maiden voyage in September from Amsterdam, joining Crystal Bach on the mighty European waterways. Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel will join the luxurious fleet in 2018.

In each destination aboard every Crystal River Cruises itinerary, travelers can choose from a selection of complimentary Crystal Adventures ashore, or opt for further exploration with additional curated excursions.

Crystal’s Rhine Class river ships are the river cruising industry’s first and only all-balcony, all-suite vessels in Europe, with every category of accommodation perched above the waterline and offering private butler service for each suite. All four river ships will offer Crystal’s acclaimed butler service in every room category, plush king-sized beds, Panoramic Balcony-Windows, walk-in closets and dual vanity in the bathrooms in most categories, ETRO robes and slippers, wall-mounted flat-screen HD TVs, and Nespresso machines. Additional enticing features include Crystal’s farm-to-table, Michelin-inspired cuisine in multiple, open-seating eateries: the elegant Waterside Restaurant, namesake Bistro cafés and the exclusive Vintage Room; and the Palm Court.

Norwegian Cruise Line to be featured on upcoming episode of CNBC's "The Profit"

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 July 2017 22 July 2017

Norwegian Cruise Line will set sail for primetime this summer, as the popular cruise brand will be featured in a one-hour episode of CNBC’s hit reality series “The Profit”. The show follows serial entrepreneur and investor Marcus Lemonis, who puts his own money on the line to help save and grow struggling small businesses across the country. Filmed on board Miami-based Norwegian Escape, the episode will highlight small business Zoe’s Chocolates, as they present their product to Norwegian executives in the hopes of securing a deal.

In each one-hour episode of “The Profit,” Lemonis makes an offer that’s impossible to refuse; his cash for a piece of the business and a percentage of the profits. Once inside these companies, Lemonis does almost everything he can to save the business and make himself a profit; even if it means firing the president, promoting the secretary or doing the work himself. Norwegian Cruise Line is featured on the show as one of today’s top cruise brands, highlighting the line’s unique brand proposition of freedom and flexibility and premium offerings, which are a strong match for the high quality chocolates offered by Zoe’s. Viewers will get an inside look at what cruise executives look for in partners and why aligning with like-minded brands builds strong business relationships that bring value to guests.

The episode featuring Norwegian Cruise Line will be airing on Tuesday, July 25th at 10PM ET/PT on CNBC.

Norwegian Escape, currently sailing the Eastern and Western Caribbean from her homeport in Miami, features 27 dining options, 21 bars and lounges, and entertainment options to thrill cruisers of all ages with the largest Ropes Course at sea, the largest Aqua Park at sea, and dedicated adults-only and kids-only spaces. Norwegian Escape’s dining experiences include outposts of several popular land-based outlets, including the floating Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant and 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, a music venue and outdoor bar on The Waterfront featuring live nightly performances where guests can enjoy the sounds of the tropics. Norwegian Escape features Miami’s oldest and most legendary bar, Tobacco Road.

China names fifth cruise tourism development pilot zone

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 July 2017 21 July 2017

Alan Lam reports

The southern port city of Fuzhou, in the province of Fujian, has just been named as the fifth Chinese Cruise Tourism Development Pilot Zone (中国邮轮旅游发展实验区)。

Following Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen, and Qingdao, the government of China has designated Fuzhou, a city of 4.5 million inhabitants (7.2 million including its surrounding areas) with a long maritime tradition, as its fifth Cruise Tourism Development Pilot Zone in its effort to wholeheartedly support domestic cruise industry.

The city – located only a 30-minute-flight from Taipei, Taiwan – is relatively lesser known to the cruise industry. This latest move by the Central Government forms part of its recent “One Belt, One Road” initiative. Fuzhou is also regarded as a hub of China’s Maritime Silk Road network.

A 5.5-square-kilometre area located outside of the city near the port of Son Xia in Changle (长乐松下港), about 18 kilometres from Fuzhou International Airport, has been dedicated to this project. Son Xia is also the gateway to Bin Hai New Town（滨海新城 ).

In its effort to promote domestic cruise industry, this initiative is another sign of China’s effort to focus not only on domestic source market, but also on domestic and neighbouring destinations by opening up more ports within the region.

Cruise Business Review believes that this kind of moves could materially hamper efforts to attract mass Chinese cruise tourists to Europe and Mediterranean. While the cruise industry is increasingly global, China’s development strategy can be perceived as becoming more and more China-centric.