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Hurtigruten restructures UK commission payments

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 April 2016 04 April 2016

Hurtigruten. the Norwegian company that operates the coastal express service and expedition cruises, has announced a restructuring of commission payments in the UK, which it said could result in agents earning up to 20% commission, amid a raft of changes designed to re-engage the trade in selling the adventure cruise line, Travel Weekly reports.

“While the standard commission rate will drop from 15% to 13%, UK head of sales Anthony Daniels stressed this was ‘absolutely not a cut’, with new quarterly bonus payments of up to 4% and an annual bonus of 3%. Payments will be made at the time of booking rather than departure, meaning agents who meet specified targets could find themselves better off, “ the report said.

The company recently left CLIA UK & Ireland in order to profile itself as an expedition company rather than a mainstream cruise ship operator.

Speaking during an international fam trip hosting nearly 40 UK agents onboard the refurbished Kong Harald, he was quoted assaying: “The earning potential is now up to 20% because [agents] have got more departure years they can sell into, and the more they support us and the more business they drive, the more they are going to earn with us.

“It’s absolutely not about a cut; it’s the chance to earn more. The more you do with us, the more you will earn. We will pay per quarter so the actual cash flow is enhanced; now you can get four payments a year, and they will be based on booked revenue regardless of departure date, so the portfolio to sell has tripled.”

The company has a sleet of 14 ships, two of which are tailored for expedition cruising, mostly in Arctic and Antarctic waters.

Ponant unveils 2017-18 polar cruise collection

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 April 2016 04 April 2016

Ponant, the French expedition cruise company, says it has published a polar collection of 2017-18 cruises that take in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

“Designed as an unusual brochure, the diary concept puts the emphasis on stunning images and personal testimonies to the emotions experienced in the polar regions: a whale emerging to starboard of a zodiac, a penguin colony plunging into glacial-blue Antarctic waters or a meeting with the Inuit people… to name a few,” the company said in a statement.

Aboard Le Soléal, three cruises will follow in the wake of the legendary Viking dragon ships, the Drakkars. From Iceland to St Lawrence, they offer an opportunity of a lifetime to visit archaeological remains, meet the local people and attend fascinating talks to understand more about the Viking civilisation and their adventures. These cruises, which can be taken back-to-back, will bear passengers away into pristine ice-bound territories and the New World.

The Saga of Erik the Red. From the icy inhospitable east coast to the green welcoming west coast, on the route taken by Greenland’s first Colonizer.

Reykjavik - Kangerlussuaq (13 days / 12 nights) - Departs 9 August 2017 (includes Kangerlussuaq / Paris flight in economy class on a European airline).

Ultima Thule – The Horizontal Everest. Meet the Inuit people, the polar regions’ richest and most diverse range of wildlife, and drifting ice.

Kangerlussuaq - Kangerlussuaq (17 days / 16 nights) - Departs 21 August 2017. (includes Paris / Kangerlussuaq and Kangerlussuaq / Paris flights in economy class on a European airline).

Vinland - The Discovery of America Experience the thrill of discovering the shores of America, as it was by the Vikings 500 years before Christopher Columbus Kangerlussuaq – Quebec (15 days / 14 nights) - Departs 6 September 2017. (includes Paris / Kangerlussuaq flight in economy class on a European airline).

In the Antarctic, Le Soléal will offer a first for the company: crossing the Antarctic Polar Circle (latitude 66°33’39’’).

Passengers will call into the Falkland Islands and South Georgia before reaching the Antarctica glaciers. Accompanied by naturalist-guides and experienced expedition leaders, they will go on outings to see colonies of king penguins and explore the Antarctic Peninsula’s most beautiful site, Neko Bay.

Sailing through the sea ice, Ushuaia - Ushuaia (17 days / 16 nights), departs 23 January 2018 (includes Buenos Aires / Ushuaia and Ushuaia / Buenos Aires flights).

Holland America Line takes delivery of largest ship, Koningsdam

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 March 2016 31 March 2016

Koningsdam, the largest ship of Holland America Line, which is part of the Carnival Corporation & plc group,, was delivered today at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera.

“At 99,800 gross tons, almost 300 meters long, with accommodation for up to 2,650 passengers on board in more than 1,300 cabins, 70% of which with private balcony overlooking the sea, the new unit will not only be a new “Pinnacle” class ship, but also the 15th unit realised by Fincantieri for Holland America Line, complementing its fleet, six years after the debut of Nieuw Amsterdam, delivered in Marghera, also, in 2010,” The Italian shipbuilder said in a statement.

“Koningsdam is characterized by a modern and contemporary style which blends perfectly with the traditional elegance which distinguishes all the ships in the fleet. The design was created by two of the world’s major and prestigious architecture studios, Tihany Design and Yran & Storbraaten, with “the architecture of music” being an inspirational element for the design of many public areas,” Fincantieri said.

It is the first ship in the Holland America Line fleet to exceed the original maximum dimensions of the Panama Canal of 294 metres in length and 32.2 metres in beam. The canal is being significantly enlarged to allow larger vessels to use it.

Koningsdam is the largest ever vessel to enter service with Holland America Line, which was founded in 1873. Carnival Cruise Lines acquired the brand, business and assets of the Dutch company in 1988 in what was the first acquisition of what is Carnival Corporation & plc today. The original Holland America Line remains listed in Amsterdam as HAL Invest and it has stakes in various companies, including the maritime services group Royal Boskalis Westminster.

Costa sails to Tierra del Fuego

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 March 2016 31 March 2016

Alan Lam reporting

In its tireless quest for new destinations, Costa Cruceros announces that, during the 2016/17 season, its ship Costa Mediterranea will offer a special cruise to Tierra Del Fuego on the southern tip of South America.

The 2,680-pax ship is normally dedicated to the markets of Argentina and Uruguay. During its busy sailing schedule to Brazil, the new 15-night itinerary will depart on 13 January 2017 from Buenos Aires, offering a unique opportunity to see the “end of the world”, which will include visiting glaciers, fjords, and much more, according to the company.

The ship will call at Puerto Madryn, Punta Arenas, traversing the Cockburn Channel, Magdalena Channel, Agostini Fjord, and Beagle Channel, then onto Ushuaia, Le Maire Strait, and Montevideo before returning to Buenos Aires.

Tierra Del Fuego is a spectacular destination in terms of natural wonders and sceneries. With this move Costa appears to be dipping its toes into the expedition segment of the cruise business, which is rapidly gaining popularity

Expanding CMV adds ports in Wales and Ireland to turnaround bases in 2017

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 March 2016 31 March 2016

Cruise & Maritime Voyages, the British destinational cruise shipping company that will introduce its fifth deep sea vessel next year, will add ports in Wales and Ireland among its turnaround bases next year.

The 63,786 gross ton Columbus, which is currently trading in Australia as Pacific Pearl. Will enter service with CMV in June next year and operate cruises from London Tilbury.

This allows the company to operate the 46,052 gross ton Magellan from Newcastle and Dundee, as it will do this year as well, but also from Liverpool on the west coast of England plus Newport in Wales and Dublin in the Irish Republic.

The 22,080 gross ton Marco Polo will operate two cruises from the Welsh caporal, Cardiff, highlighting the company’s widening range of turnaround ports that now will include ones in Wales and the Irish Republic for the first time in 2017.

The 20,636 gross ton Astor will operate in Germany for CMV’s subsidiary company Transocean Cruises in the summer of 2017 and in Australia for CMV’s own account in the boreal winter season. The 15,614 gross ton Astoria will mainly trade on the French market, but it will also offer eight cruises from London Tilbury in 2017.

Some of the cruises of the company to board in two ports of embarkation, such as Newcastle on the east coast of England and Dundee is Scotland. Similarly, it is possible to sail either from Newport in Wales or Dublin in Ireland or Liverpool and Dublin.

CMV has also increased its footprint in Bristol Avonmouth in the south east of England, Hull on the east coast and in the Scottish ports of Rosyth and Leith near Edinburgh and Greenock near Glasgow.