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TUI Cruises unveils new features on Mein Schiff 5

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 October 2015 26 October 2015

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise operator, will introduce a number of new features on its third newbuilding that will differentiate the vessel from the two previous units of the 99,500 gross ton class of ships.

Mein Schiff 5, which will enter service next summer, will feature a Cafe Bar and library in the reception area on deck 3. The new ship will feature a 25 metre outdoor pool as well as did the earlier units of the class, but the indoor pool aft of this will be replaced by a Lagoon and outdoor pool area on the new ship.

On the catering side, a pizza and pasta restaurant called Osteria will be located on deck 5, this venue will feature table service. Döner kebabs and Belgian pommes frites will be available in the Bosporus snack bar, which will be located on the pool deck.

The Tag & bistro will feature a new design with Scandinavian feel and the Richards Feines Essen restaurant will be replaced by Schmankerl, a new venue with focus on Austrian dishes. A the stern of the ship, the Cafe Lounge will give way to Hanami, an Asian themed restaurant that will feature a Japanese cherry tree as central part of the decor, the company said in a statement.

Pacific Explorer new name of Dawn Princess, ship to assume new identity in refit

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 October 2015 26 October 2015

P&O Cruises Australia, the Australia and New Zealand focused contemporary market brand in the Carnival Corp & plc group, will introduce the current Dawn Princess as Pacific Explorer in 2017, the company said on its feed on Facebook.

The 77,441 gross ton ship that was built for sister company Princess Cruises in 1996, will be the largest unit in the P&O Cruises Australia fleet, that will comprise of six ships when the latest addition joins the Sydney based company.

Images the company has published in social media indicate that Pacific Explorer will assume an identity similar to the two former Holland America Line vessels that are undergoing conversion to become Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden. The colour schemes of the interiors of Pacific Explorer appear to follow a stronger palette than what had been used in the first three ships of the company, which are also second hand transfers.

MSC Cruises teams up with celebrity chef Jereme Leung in China

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 October 2015 26 October 2015

Chinese celebrity chef Jereme Leung has been signed up to oversee dining options and menus for MSC Cruises’ new cruise operation in China, the company said in a statement.

"Hong Kong-born Leung is renowned as one of the world’s finest Asian cooks, and is famed for his pioneering style which unites modern Chinese cuisine with traditional provincial food," MSC Cruises said.

His new role, announced at a press conference in Beijing, is one of a number of initiatives planned for the upcoming joint venture between MSC Cruises and China’s leading tour operation CAISSA Touristic Group. As announced in September, the deal will see MSC Lirica based in Shanghai from May 2016 to serve the Chinese home market.

Also announced was the introduction of new ‘Cruise Ambassadors’ – staff dedicated to ensuring that Chinese guests unfamiliar with cruise make the most of the facilities onboard They will chaperone their guests at all key moments, acting as social host, fixer, guide and information point as required.

Pullmantur to lose another ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 October 2015 23 October 2015

Alan Lam reporting

Pullmantur Cruises, the Iberia and Latin America focused brand subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), will be losing another ship, following the group’s decision to shift its focus from Latin America back to Spain.

The company earlier issued a press release in Spain, confirming that the Empress would be transferred back to Royal Caribbean International early next year. It also confirmed that the Monarch would be deployed in Europe in 2016 to serve the Spanish and French markets. The ship is currently deployed on a year-round itinerary in Southern Caribbean.
 Having earlier reversed its decision regarding Majesty of the Seas, in the fast changing cruise market RCCL is pilfering another vessel from its Spanish subsidiary on account of the weakness in the Latin America market.

Pullmantur’s recent capacity development trend has run contrary to its ambitious internationalization and expansion programmes, which appears to be facing an uncertain prospect.

(Corrected) Tallink's fast ferry Star to have Burger King restaurant

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 October 2015 23 October 2015

The floating Burger King restaurant will be opened on Tallink Shuttle ferry Star on Tallinn-Helsinki route during the first quarter of 2016. The contract for launching the popular fast food restaurant on Star was signed yesterday by AS Tallink Grupp and Restel Oy representatives in Helsinki.

According to the Management Board Member of AS Tallink Grupp, Lembit Kitter, the decision to franchise the Burger King restaurant concept on board of the Shuttle ferry was motivated by the similar features of both services. "Both, Tallink Shuttle and Burger King offer the customers fast, but reliable and high quality service in their own business niche. The passengers on our fast ferries only have two hours on board, so the fast take away following a worldwide known concept, should be among popular choices," said Kitter.

The CEO of Restel Oy, Mikael Backman stated, that the company is extremely happy about this cooperation with Tallink Grupp. "These two strong brands complement each other’s product selection very well. We believe that there’s great demand for our flame grilled and tailor-made burgers on the fast route between Helsinki and Tallinn," said Backman.

The Burger King restaurant on board of Star will be built during the planned docking time in the beginning of the next year and is expected to be launched within the first quarter of 2016. The restaurant is built on 9th deck, replacing the Quick&Easy restaurant, currently serving pizza and hamburgers. The Burger King restaurant will have close to 300 seats, but the take away option makes it possible to enjoy the food across all passenger areas. The employees of the restaurant will be trained and prepared according to the international concept of the restaurant chain.