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Royal Caribbean International selects Chinese Godmother for Ovation of the Seas

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 April 2016 13 April 2016

Royal Caribbean International yesterday announced that internationally-acclaimed Chinese actress, Fan Bingbing, will be the Godmother for Ovation of the Seas, the world’s newest cruise ship. The announcement was made by Dr. Zinan Liu, President, Royal Caribbean International - China and North Asia Pacific, at a press conference at the Great Hall of People in Beijing. Bingbing is the first Chinese celebrity selected to be the Godmother of an international cruise line and will officially name Ovation of the Seas at the ship’s inaugural ceremony in Tianjin, China on June 24, 2016.

The second Quantum-class ship to be deployed in China, Ovation of the Seas, will sail its inaugural season from Tianjin after a one month mini season from Hong Kong before the ship repositions to its winter homeport in Australia in December 2016.

“We are delighted to welcome Fan Bingbing to the Royal Caribbean family as Ovation of the Seas’ godmother,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Bingbing is number one on the Forbes China ‘Celebrity 100’ list and has held that top position for three years making her one of the most influential Chinese stars and in the world. She has received awards from many international film festivals and is recognized as a fashion icon for her extraordinary style on the red carpet, at movie premieres and iconic fashion events. She is innovative, smart, ambitious, trendy and elegant, and that makes Bingbing the perfect person to be selected as the Godmother of our newest ship.”

“My father was a singer in the art troupe of the Political Department of the Navy in China. My childhood was filled with the melodies of the sea and I often dreamed about sailing out to sea for an adventure,” said Fan Bingbing at the press conference. “Now, thanks to this invitation from Royal Caribbean, my dreams will come true. I am really honored to be the first Godmother of Chinese nationality for such a prestigious international cruise line as Royal Caribbean International. And I like the name of Ovation of the Seas which in Chinese is interpreted as ‘praising the world and welcoming guests from everywhere’. As Godmother of Ovation of the Seas, I would like to invite more international guests to cruise from China on Ovation of the Seas.”

The role of Godmother is a lifetime title bestowed upon an individual, who figuratively presides over the ship and imparts good luck and divine protection over the vessel and all that sail aboard. Traditionally, Godmothers have celebrity status or even royal connections. Godmothers for Royal Caribbean ships have included, performer Gloria Estefan, actress Jane Seymour, comedian/actress Whoopi Goldberg and tennis champion Steffi Graf, to name a few.

Ovation and her sister ships, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas belong to the Quantum class of ships and are built with the most advanced technology. They feature unprecedented first-at-sea experiences and amenities, including the North Star, an observation capsule that gently rises more than 300 feet in the air to treat guests to breathtaking panoramic views; thrilling skydiving and surfing experiences; Two70 a daily social space which transforms into a multifunctional entertainment place in the evening; and SeaPlex, the largest indoor activity space at sea, which includes basketball, roller-skating, bumper cars, and more. Each ship offers 18 restaurants onboard with a variety of cuisines to choose from as well as the industry’s most relaxing and luxurious accommodations at sea with the unique Loft Suites and groundbreaking Virtual Balcony staterooms, interior accommodations that feature large digital screens displaying real-time views, ensuring that every room has a view.

The newest addition to Quantum class will officially launch in April 2016, when she departs Southampton, England for Tianjin, China on a 52-day “Global Odyssey” voyage. She will arrive in Singapore in June for a 3-night cruise on 9th June to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) and a 12-night one-way cruise to Tianjin on 12th June with calls at Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Hong Kong (overnight), Xiamen and Seoul (Incheon). She will return to Singapore from Hong Kong on a 7-night one-way cruise on 23rd Nov with calls at Sanya, Hue/Danang (Chan May) and Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My).

Fathom cancels first cruise on safety issues - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 April 2016 13 April 2016

Fathom, the new impact travel unit in Carnival Corporation & plc group, had to cancel its first cruise that was due to sail on Sunday from Florida to the Caribbean due to issues that arose during safety inspection by the US coast guard, Cruise Critic reports.

The new venture is using the 710 passenger Adonia, which was transferred from sister company P&O Cruises in the UK. The 30,277 gross ton ship continues to be managed by the Southampton based company and it flies the British flag. It was built in France in 2001.

"The vessel had run into some issues; the main issues were that the fire screen doors, approximately 30 of them on one of the decks, were inoperable. We're working with the cruise ship to make sure that this is taken care of before they can get underway,” a Coast Guard spokesperson was quoted by Cruise Critic as saying.

"The ship arrived in Miami directly from dry dock and re-fit offshore and underwent rigorous operational tests with the U.S. Coast Guard that took longer than expected. Unfortunately, the company has learned additional testing will be required and as a result must cancel the soft-launch sailing," according to a statement from Fathom.

Genting Hong Kong and China Merchants jointly agree to develop Tai Zi Bay to mega cruise port

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 April 2016 11 April 2016

Genting Hong Kong, parent company of Star Cruises and Crystal Cruises, says it has signed an agreement with China Merchants Shekou Holdings to jointly develop Tai Zi Bay, Shekou, Shenzhen into an international cruise homeport with the goal to accelerate the growth of the cruise industry in China.

Li Jianhong, Chairman of China Merchants Group, said the Tai Zi Bay Cruise Terminal would be the only cruise port in China capable of accommodating 220,000 gross ton cruise liners. In 2015, more than 1.2 million Chinese travelers joined cruises and this number is expected to rise to 4.5 million in five years.

“In response to the increasing demand in the market and to help develop the cruise industry in the country, Genting Hong Kong is strengthening its strategic deployment plan in Southern China and will offer a wide range of products optimised for Chinese travelers, providing them with easy access to cruises right from their doorstep,” Getting Hong Kong said.

Royal Caribbean takes delivery of Ovation of the Seas

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 April 2016 11 April 2016

Royal Caribbean International, the contemporary market unit in the Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (RCCL) group, has taken delivery of Ovation of the Seas, in a ceremony held in Bremerhaven, Germany. It is the third unit of the Quantum class of ships and the 24^th vessel in the fleet of the company. It was built at the Meyer Werft in Germany, which has two further units of the class on order. These will be delivered in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Fincantieri lays keel of Viking Sun, fourth of six ships of Viking Ocean Cruises

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

The keel laying ceremony for Viking Sun, the fourth of planned six cruise ships Viking Ocean Cruises has ordered from Fincantieri, took place today at the shipyard in Ancona, the cruise line said in a statement.

The first building block of the ship, about 11 meters long, 28.8 wide and weighing about 280 tons, is part of the central section of Viking Sun, due to delivery in 2017.

Viking Sun, as its sister ships, will be placed in the small cruise ship segment. In fact, with a gross tonnage of about 47,800 tons, it will have 465 cabins with accommodation for 930 passengers, with a total capacity of over 1,400 people, including the crew. "The ship has been designed by experienced naval architects and engineers, including an interior design team of London-based SMC Design, and Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios," the company said.