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Pride of America returns to service after extensive dry docking

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 March 2016 29 March 2016

Norwegian Cruise Line’s US-flagged Pride of America returned to her homeport of Honolulu this Saturday, March 26, as a nearly new ship following a three and half week dry dock where she received ship-wide enhancements, including newly designed public spaces, brand new venues and refreshed décor in all staterooms. Pride of America’s extensive renovation is a part of The Norwegian Edge™ program, a $400 million investment that sets a new standard of excellence for the Norwegian brand encompassing the entire guest experience.

“When guests step aboard the all new Pride of America they will be amazed by the breadth of this renovation,” said Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief operating officer. “This is much more than just a fresh coat of paint and new drapes. Pride of America is now essentially a new ship, and the only one to offer this incredibly unique way to experience the Hawaiian Islands with 100 hours of time in port.”

Many of Pride of America’s public spaces, along with several of the ships’ restaurants as well as bars and lounges, were refreshed from top to bottom to receive a modern updated look with new contemporary décor and furniture as well as new lighting and flooring. Every stateroom aboard Pride of America was touched by this renovation, receiving new bedding, new furniture, new flat screen televisions and updated flooring.

Pride of America guests will now be able to enjoy not only refreshed spaces but also new modern venues including the Soho Art Gallery, an expansive venue that features original works of art available for purchase; the new Perspectives Photo Studio, an area for couples, families and friends to have professional photo memories of their vacation; and Dolce Gelato, Norwegian’s signature gelateria. Those looking to tie-the-knot while in any of the ship’s enchanting ports-of-call can do so in the ship’s wedding chapel, now in a new location on deck six with new flooring, furniture and wall fixtures.

The ship’s pool deck underwent a complete refurbishment to create an upscale feel onboard with a refinished pool, new loungers and Jacuzzis.

Guests looking to enjoy some quiet time can now do so in the completely transformed Conservatory; complete with new furniture, flooring and modern décor; and the library and card rooms, which were outfitted with new flooring, furniture and six computer stations for Internet access, for those who prefer to leave their personal devices at home. Relaxation will take center stage at The Mandara Spa, which is being expanded and revitalized to feature more treatment rooms so guests can enjoy massages, facials and more. The spa will feature New Mexican décor including soft, neutral colors and natural elements like stone and wood to provide a tranquil atmosphere.

Dining enhancements for Pride of America include extensive renovations to all of the existing complimentary dining venues, most notably the ship’s Skyline Main Dining Room, which received a refreshed look with new décor including a new entrance, new carpet design, new furniture upholstery, new window drapes and new columns throughout the restaurant. La Cucina, Norwegian’s signature Italian restaurant, aboard Pride of America has been transformed into an elegant and intimate venue where guests can enjoy fine Italian fare. The ship’s specialty restaurants East Meets West, Cagney’s Steakhouse and Jefferson’s Bistro also received enhancements to upgrade the venues to a modern look with new flooring, reupholstered furniture, new artwork, lighting fixtures, new window treatments and more.

Beyond hardware upgrades, guests sailing aboard Pride of America can now enjoy new menus in all dining outlets offering more freedom and flexibility to guests with additional choices and à la carte priced items in complimentary dining rooms and specialty restaurants. Building on the success of the enhanced menus aboard Norwegian’s newest ship Norwegian Escape, Pride of America’s new menus now feature increased variety and have been carefully developed by Norwegian’s culinary team with a focus on balancing popular traditional dishes like prime rib, chateaubriand, rack of lamb and escargot with current dining trends and heightened guest expectations.

Pride of America is the only ship that sails year-round from Honolulu on seven-day intra-Hawaii cruises. This one-of-a-kind itinerary offers nearly 100 hours of port time and visits Hawaii’s main islands, including an overnight in Kahului, Maui; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kaua`i; stops in Hilo, Hawaii and Kona, Hawaii; as well as an afternoon cruise by the spectacular Nãpali Coast.

CMV to transfer newcomer Columbus from UK to Bahamas registry

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 March 2016 29 March 2016

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), the UK based cruise line that has acquired P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Pearl that it will introduce as Columbus next year, will transfer the ship from the British to the Bahamas registry.

The information is on the company’s website, where CMV also states that the Bahamas are a Commonwealth member country.

The ship is currently registered in London, as is the rest of the P&O Cruises Australia fleet. However, CMV largely employs Eastern European crew members on its vessels and under the UK Equalities Act, seafarers and officers from other EU member states that have the right to settle down to live in Britain would have to be paid the same wages and salaries as British seafarers and officers.

These rules do not apply to Bermuda, Gibraltar, Cayman Islands and Isle of Man, although vessels registered in these territories and Crown dependencies fly the Red Ensign, the British merchant navy flag, as do ships registered in the UK ship register.

Viking Line recycled far more waste in 2015

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 March 2016 27 March 2016

Viking Line recycled far more waste last year than in 2014. The recycling of oils, plastic and aluminium from the Company’s vessels, for instance, saved the environment from millions of kilometres of car travel, recalculated in carbon dioxide emissions. Aside from recycling, Viking Line’s environmental work focuses on various forms of environmentally sustainable technology and offering passengers more organic options.

Last year, Viking Line sent a total of 1,565 tonnes of solid waste, such as glass, plastic, paper and metals, from its vessels for recycling. That is an increase of more than 15 per cent compared to 2014 (1,321 tonnes). The amount of biowaste collected, which is used to produce biogas on land, also increased by more than 10 per cent to 1,042 tonnes. The Company furthermore collected 2,155 tonnes of used oils for recycling, equivalent to more than 20 million kilometres of car driving, calculated in carbon dioxide emissions.

“We operate in the sensitive Baltic Sea archipelagos, so environmental issues have top priority. Greening is an integral part of the Company’s day-to-day operations, and our environmental work today extends beyond what the regulations in force require. A big thank you to our shipboard staff, who make sure that environmental measures are implemented in practice,” says Susanna Airola, Viking Line’s Environmental Coordinator.

Less energy is needed to recycle old materials than to process new ones, so recycling always plays a major role in Viking Line’s environmental work. One example is the Ocean Marine energy recycling system, which was installed on the M/S Viking Grace last year. This technology converts waste heat from the vessel’s engines into electricity through a unique vacuum process. The patented technology, developed by the Swedish firm Climeon, produces some 700,000 kWh of emission-free electricity each year.

Viking Line’s objective is to reduce emissions from its vessels on a continuous basis. Emissions have decreased, and one reason for this is the Company’s investments in environmentally sustainable technology and its choice of fuel. This includes humid air motor (HAM) technology on the Mariella and catalytic converters on the Cinderella, while various fuel optimisation systems have been implemented on the vessels. The unique HAM technology reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by lowering the combustion temperature of vessel engines.

Six million cups of coffee

Passengers can also see greening in concrete terms, with the expanding range of organic options available. One example is the restaurants on board serving their own water in glass bottles. Last year, Viking Line vessels also served more than 6.2 million cups of coffee brewed from organic beans.

Other examples of environmental measures carried out by the Company are the installation of water-saving mouthpieces on taps and showers and the switch to more environmentally friendly detergent.

Princess Cruises debuts Places to Sea, a new interactive mobile experience

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 March 2016 24 March 2016

Princess Cruises, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc group, says it has debuted a new interactive mobile experience, “Places to Sea,” a swipe-to-like technology tool that takes users on a visual journey through exotic destinations, adventurous activities and culinary experiences to match them with a travel personality and cruise destination recommendations. It’s the first of its kind in the cruise industry.

“Developed by the cruise line’s advertising agency, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, “Places to Sea” was designed for all Android and iOS smartphone mobile devices. It’s easy for users to swipe (right to like or left to pass) through a series of travel-related images that include everything from culinary delights to bucket-list destinations and adventurous excursions,” the company said in a statement.

After the user has swiped through the images, the interface identifies travel preferences and then assigns one of five different travel personalities. So whether the user is an “adventurer,” “culturist,” “naturalist,” or a “foodie,” Princess Cruises will match a cruise destination and various cruise itineraries.

Royal Caribbean unveils Ovation of the Seas’ entertainment offerings

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 March 2016 24 March 2016

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled entertainment offerings on board its third quantum class vessel, the Ovation of the Seas, which will enter service in April “A product of the largest entertainment production operation at sea, its entertainment will continue the innovative brand’s standard of combining talent, technology and special effects with a spectacular selection of stage shows, productions and events that will exhilarate vacationers’ senses and leave them spellbound,” the company said in a statement.

Tech-focused Entertainment in Two70

The leading cruise line for adventure-seekers will deliver an endless landscape of one-of-a-kind entertainment in Two70, a multi-level great room that seamlessly fuses entertainment and technology. The venue affords audiences vast possibilities, with immersive experiences taking place all around the room. With the integration of Vistarama – expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that can be set into any scene, real or imagined, by combining 18 projectors to create an ambient surface over 100 feet wide and over 20 feet tall. In addition, a troupe of six, agile Roboscreens combined with highly trained live performers, music and special effects, gives guests front-row seats to stunningly visual shows that can only be seen while sailing onboard Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships.

Spectra’s Cabaret – This completely original production, created by Royal Caribbean International and Moment Factory exclusively for Two70, will take the stage on Ovation. This wildly popular show, already a fan-favorite on Anthem of the Seas, features the Maestro and his Agents of Rhythm as they invite the audience to an electric, multi-dimensional cabaret that transports them to invisible realms. Each night, the portal opens for a limited period of time and immerses guests’ imaginations into a multimedia show brimming with kaleidoscopic sounds, effervescent colors and dazzling movement. “Spectra’s Cabaret” blends live performance and experiential cinema with music from contemporary pop culture. It creates a world seen through the lens of music and technology, all while exploring the deepest recesses of the heart.

Headlining the Main Theater

Seating 1,300 guests, the magnificent Royal Theater is home to Ovation of the Seas’ two new production shows:

The Dream – This thrilling production chronicles the story of a man who is visited by his departed soulmate in a very special dream. His long-lost love has come to help him rediscover his passion for life and gives him the will to pursue his wildest dreams and to find love again. In his slumber, he will confront his deepest and most secret fears and journey on a rite of passage towards his eventual awakening. The unique combination of wonderful storytelling, soulful performances and spectacular production values will surprise and delight audiences time and time again. This is the biggest adventure of this man’s life, and Royal Caribbean audiences are invited to join him on a wild and audacious journey of discovery.
Love. Legs. – The same highly-acclaimed creative team behind the wildly popular “Sequins & Feathers” on Quantum of the Seas has brought its signature combination of talented artists, high-energy performances and remarkable beauty, to deliver another unforgettable theatrical experience. “Live. Love. Legs” brings a collection of incredible aerial acrobatics, next-gen choreography and superb vocal performances that come straight from the Broadway stage. Infusing all the hallmarks of the Sequins & Feathers experience, featuring lavish costumes, jaw-dropping video effects, special musical arrangements, and a dedicated group of international artists, this all-new production onboard Ovation of the Seas will reward audiences with a full sensory overload.