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Royal Caribbean launches search for Harmony of the Seas’ godmother

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 September 2016 08 September 2016

Royal Caribbean International says it has launched search for godmother for its latest ship, Harmony of the Seas.

“Harmony of the Seas will make her U.S. debut this November when she arrives into her new homeport of Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., introducing a new era of vacationing that will thrill guests of all ages. To celebrate, the South Florida-based cruise line is partnering with South Florida ABC affiliate Local 10 to look in their own backyard for a woman who is inspiring the next generation to dream big, think differently and challenge the status quo, and has launched a contest to honor this hometown hero by naming her godmother of Harmony of the Seas,” the company said in a statement.

South Florida residents are encouraged to visit www.local10.com/godmother and nominate a mentor, educator or teacher whose passion for education and a better tomorrow inspires students to make a positive impact on the world.

The winner will not only be honored as godmother of Harmony of the Seas during the ship’s official naming ceremony on November 10, 2016, but a $25,000 grant will also be awarded to her school or non-profit organisation to fund education initiatives that will further her mission to inspire South Florida’s youth, the company said.

Pullmantur year-round deployment in Panamá

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 September 2016 05 September 2016

Alan Lam reporting

Soon after its decisions to made the Colombian port of Cartagena de Indias its principle regional homeport and to increase its Caribbean capacity by 40%, Pullmantur Cruises, the contemporary Spanish brand of RCCL, has confirmed that, it will also operate year-round from the Panamanian port of Colón.

This move will further consolidate the lines presence in the region. It will, as it is claimed, increase the number of passengers embarking from this port by 30%.

The announcement was made in a press briefing, held yesterday morning (4 September) in Panamá City, by Alejandro Páez, Pullmantur’s Latin American director, in the company of Gustavo Him, the director of Panamá’s Tourism Authority.

This is the latest of a successive strategic moves made by the cruise line.

Corresponding to this decision, Gustavo Him, for his part, also announced that there would be a $600 million investment by the national government into renovating the city of Colón, making it more attractive to tourism in general.

On Pullmantur ships the port attracts cruise tourists mainly from México, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Colombia, and Venezuela. The investment will also focus on improving overnight accommodations, leisure facilities, and shopping.

The total economic impact for Colón from the 56 operations by the two Pullmantur ships, Zenith and Monarch, is estimated at about $18 million for 2017.

Deltamarin to participate in Mols-Linien ro-pax vessel design

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 September 2016 05 September 2016

Deltamarin Ltd, Finnish part of AVIC International Maritime Holdings Limited in Singapore, said is to provide Rauma Marine Constructions Oy shipyard in Finland with design services for a ro-pax vessel to be built for the Danish Mols-Linien A/S.

Deltamarin’s scope of work includes basic and detail design of the hull outfitting, machinery and cargo areas, it said in a statement.

The 158-metre ro-pax vessel will be designed and optimised to carry passengers and cargo between the Danish islands of Bornholm and Sjaelland. The cargo capacity will be 1,500 lane metres. Construction will start in spring 2017 and the vessel will enter service in autumn 2018. Deltamarin has previously developed technical outline material for Mols-Linien for the purpose of yard tendering.

“This ship contract is very important for Rauma Marine Constructions. We are proud to have a major role in this project, and to assist the shipyard in building up the new future of shipbuilding in Rauma. Mols-Linien’s order is a proof of the strong passenger vessel know-how in Finland,” says Janne Uotila, Director, Engineering Management at Deltamarin.

The total contract value of Deltamarin’s design work is about €3 million. The work will be carried out at Deltamarin’s offices in Finland and Poland over an estimated period of 12 months.

MSC Cruises names second Meraviglia class unit MSC Bellissima

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 September 2016 05 September 2016

MSC Cruises, the world’s fourth largest cruise shipping group, has unveiled the name of its second STX France-built Meraviglia-generation cruise ship. “She will be called MSC Bellissima and will come into service in the Spring 2019,” the company said in a statement.

“MSC Bellissima is a name that embodies the beauty and the magnificence of this entire next generation of MSC Cruises ultramodern mega-ships, so rich with new features and amenities for guests of all ages and interests,” said Gianni Onorato, chief executive officer of MSC Cruises, in the statement.

“We are so pleased to be able to make this announcement on the very day that her sister ship MSC Meraviglia is touched for the first time by water, a moment that symbolizes the real ‘birth’ of a ship.”

Carnival Imagination to undergo major refit

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 September 2016 02 September 2016

Carnival Imagination will undergo an extensive multi-million-dollar renovation that will add a variety of new food and beverage concepts.

The ship, which is part of the eight strong Fantasy class of Carnival Cruise Line, was built in Finland in 1995.

The new spaces will be added during a three-week dry dock taking place Sept. 4-25, 2016. Following the makeover, Carnival Imagination will resume its year-round schedule of three- and four-day Baja cruises from Long Beach, Calif. The new additions will include:

Guy’s Burger Joint, a free-of-charge poolside venue developed in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri serving hand-crafted burgers and fresh-cut fries enjoyed amidst a décor that celebrates the chef’s California roots and love of car culture
BlueIguana Cantina, a complimentary poolside Mexican eatery where guests can enjoy authentic, freshly made burritos and tacos on homemade tortillas, as well as an elaborate toppings and salsa bar
RedFrog Rum Bar, a poolside watering hole offering the quintessential Caribbean vacation vibe with refreshing Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival’s own private label draught brew, ThirstyFrog Red
Alchemy Bar, a “cocktail pharmacy”-themed lounge where mixologists “prescribe” concoctions from different elixirs and ingredients with creative monikers like Forty is the New Twenty and The Restorative Basil Drop
BlueIguana Tequila Bar, a fun and festive outdoor bar offering a laid-back Mexican-themed atmosphere and tequila-based frozen drinks and beers, perfect for chillin’ by the pool
Cherry On Top, the “sweetest spot on board” which celebrates the joys of simple indulgences with bins of bulk candy, fun fanciful gifts and novelties, custom apparel and more

These new venues complement the ship’s array of on-board features that live up to the line’s motto of “Fun for All, All for Fun,” including a WaterWorks aqua park with a 300-foot-long Twister slide, the Serenity adults-only retreat with oversized umbrellas and comfortable chaise lounges and the exclusive Seuss at Sea program in partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises.

“Carnival Imagination provides a convenient, value-packed West Coast cruise option and with these new enhancements we’re making this fantastic ship even better,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “With three year-round cruise ships sailing from Long Beach, Carnival is the number one cruise line in Southern California and the investment we’re making to enhance the Carnival Imagination further bolsters our leadership position in this important market,” she added.

Carnival Imagination operates year-round three- and four-day Baja cruises from Long Beach. On this route, three-day cruises depart Thursdays and visit Ensenada while four-day voyages depart Sundays and call at Ensenada and Catalina Island.