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Royal Caribbean to spend a record $61 million for Adventure of the Seas refit

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 June 2016 10 June 2016

Royal Caribbean International will debut a robust array of all-new thrills and enhancements onboard Adventure of the Seas this November, including new dual racer waterslides, Cyclone and Typhoon, the popular FlowRider surf simulator, and a children’s aquapark, Splashaway Bay. In addition, guests will enjoy a new lineup of culinary and entertainment venues with Izumi Japanese Cuisine, the brand’s signature steakhouse, Chops Grille and Boleros Latin Lounge. The ship also will receive more than 100 new staterooms, a refresh of all existing staterooms and a brand new Suites Lounge for the luxury traveler.

The reinvented Adventure is Royal Caribbean’s fifth ship to undergo revitalization, and at $61 million this will be the brand’s largest investment yet. The massive project will introduce some of the trademark innovations the cruise line is known for, bringing the best of Royal Caribbean onboard.

“We are thrilled to debut an array of new enhancements to one of our guest’s most beloved ships,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “The name Adventure says it all; this ship is packed with action, featuring a mix of signature features and innovations, including thrilling new waterslides and VOOM, the fastest internet at sea.”

Adventure of the Seas offers vacationers a chance to explore the Caribbean even deeper with itineraries, sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico to the most sought-after spots in the Southern Caribbean, including Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; St. Johns, Antigua; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

Other features offered on the Voyager-class ship include the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, three pools including the adults-only Solarium, a rock climbing wall, basketball court, Windjammer Café, Johnny Rockets and the three-story Main Dining Room. Adventure also delivers exhilarating entertainment options, with complimentary Broadway-style entertainment in the main theater, ice-skating shows in Studio B, and the lively Royal Promenade with its parties, parades, dance and shopping outlets.

Thomson Cruises could position ship year round in UK from 2018

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

Thomson Cruises, which is part of the TUI AG group, could base a ship in the UK year round from 2018 following the acquisition of Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas, Cruise Critic reports on its website.

Thomson Cruises' managing director Helen Caron said the extra capacity afforded by a sixth ship -- which will be renamed TUI Discovery 2 -- joining the fleet in 2017 will allow her "more flexibility" when deciding deployment.

"With Legend joining the fleet, it does give me more flexibility in terms of deployment and potentially we could look at basing a ship in the UK in 2018."

The company has stayed that the 1983 built Thomson Spirit of about 34,000 gross tons and the 1992 built Thomson Majesty that is measured at about 41,000 gross tons would leave the fleet at the end of 2017.

After this, Thomson Cruises will take delivery of two larger and newer second hand vessels: Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 will join the fleet in 2018 and 2019 respectively from the fleet of TUI Cruises in Germany, the report said. The two former TUI Cruises vessels are of about 76,000 gross tons and TUI Discovery 2 and TUI Discovery, which started life as Splendour of the Seas, are of about 69,000 gross tons. All four ships were built in the mid-1990s.

Thomson Cruises also operates the 1986 built Thomson Dream of 56,000 gross rons and the 34,000 gross ton Thomson Celebration, which is of the same vintage as Thomson Spirit that will be phased out next year.

TUI Discovery and TUI Discovery 2 have an adults only Solarium that has a sliding glass roof, which would be useful if either of the two ships would operate from a British port year-round.

P&O Cruises to celebrate World Gin Day

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

More than 10,000 gin lovers will be celebrating World Gin Day this weekend (Saturday 11 June) on board P&O Cruises with its Great British Gin Menu, the company said in a statement.

Passengers will also be sampling and sipping four new local gins which have been added to the popular menu. “Available across seven ships, The Great British Gin Menu serves up 20 of the country’s finest gins from small, artisan brands such as Tarquin’s Dry Gin (Cornwall), Ely Dark Chocolate Gin (Cambridgeshire) and The Botanist Islay Dry Gin (Argyll), as well as tried and tested triumphs such as Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray and Hendrick’s,” the company said.

New gins to join The Great British Gin Menu for 2016 include:

Two Birds London Dry Gin (Leicestershire) with hints of juniper, citrus and Orrisroot. For something different to the usual G&T, P&O Cruises mixes with apple juice and elderflower cordial to create a refreshing cocktail ‘Countryside Spirit’
Caorunn Gin (Speyside) with hints of Rowan Berry, heather, dandelion and Coul Blush apple. P&O Cruises ‘Bees Knees’ sweet and sour cocktail mixes Caorunn Gin with honey, fresh lemon juice and fresh orange juice
Poetic License Northern Dry Gin (Sunderland) with hints of juniper, eucalyptus and Persian lime is delicious mixed with fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup to create a ‘Northern Sour’, a northern version of the classic cocktail
City of London Gin (London) with hints of liquorice, lemons and pink grapefruit packs a punch in a ‘City of London 008’ cocktail served with apple juice, fresh lemon juice, elderflower cordial and basil

Complementing these gins is a selection of tonic waters including Fever-Tree and Fentiman’s, as well as a full range of creative and customised cocktails. P&O Cruises senior vice president Paul Ludlow said: “Gin is Britain’s best loved spirit and what better way to enjoy a quintessentially British drink than on one of our ships, soaking up the incredible views from the Crow's Nest.”

AIDA Cruises turns 20 and launches Selection cruise portfolio

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

AIDA Cruises, the Germany focused contemporary market unit in the Carnival Corporation & plc group, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary and it has launched a Selection portfolio of destination focused cruises.

On 7 June 1996, the first ship in the AIDA fleet was christened by former first lady Christiane Herzog in Rostock and put into service. From the very beginning, AIDA has stood for innovation and product diversity like no other company in the industry. This will continue in its 20th year. Under the name "AIDA Selection," AIDA is presenting new, exceptional vacation experiences on cruises with AIDAcara, AIDAvita, and AIDAaura,” the company said in a statement.

These are the smallest units in its company’s fleet. “AIDA Selection cruises take unusual routes to new regions or exclusive ports. Extended stays at port give guests the opportunity to get to know the region at their leisure. On board, they enjoy a very personal atmosphere and the individual charm of the small AIDA ship class,” AIDA said.

These cruises are topped off by an on-board program that reflects the typical culture of the region and culinary offerings with regional specialties and cooking courses based on the destination. The first AIDA Selection cruises will be taking place on AIDAcara starting on 11 February 2017, under the title "Winter in the High North." The voyages begin in Hamburg and take guests to the land of the Northern Lights and breathtaking winter landscapes in the fjords.

Starting in the summer of 2017, AIDA will be offering all cruises with AIDAcara, AIDAvita, and AIDAaura as AIDA Selection cruises. During the premiere season of AIDA Selection cruises, there will be some extras: AIDAcara will make a spectacular voyage to Iceland and Greenland.

The ship will stop in Ilulissat and Nuuk on the west coast of Greenland, and in Qaqortoq on the southern coast. Passing through Prince Christian Sound, it will then visit the capital Reykjavik in Iceland, along with Akureyri and Seydisfjördur.

Another highlight in the AIDA Selection program are AIDAvita voyages to Norway, all the way up to the North Cape, and to the Lofoten in the summer of 2017. And AIDA guests will have a say in decisions on future routes and ports for AIDA Selection. Detailed information and further AIDA Selection cruises will be presented soon in the AIDA Selection brochure and in the AIDA catalog starting in the autumn of 2016.

Henna reported sold for scrap

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 June 2016 07 June 2016

Henna, the 1986 built cruise ship that started life as Jubilee of Carnival Cruise Lines, has reportedly been sold for scrap. HNA Cruises laid the vessel up in November after ceasing its one ship operation and offered the vessel for sale, with an asking price of $35 million. The ship was of about 47,000 gross tons.

Only one cruise liner of closely the same vintage and size has been sold for scrap so far. This was the Atlantic Star, which was built in 1984 as Fairsky of the now defunct Sitmar Cruises. Unlike other cruise liners built at that time, Fairsky was powered by steam turbines which made it expensive to operate due to high fuel consumption.