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Cunard marks the 175th anniversary of regular Transatlantic service

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 July 2015 05 July 2015

Queen Mary 2 sounded her ship’s whistle at 2 p.m. in Liverpool on July 4 to signify the time exactly 175 years earlier that Cunard’s first ship Britannia left the city’s Coburg Dock and inaugurated the first ever scheduled Transatlantic service.

That first crossing changed the face of ocean travel, establishing the first permanent link between the Old World and the New – a link that has remained unbroken for 175 years as Cunard’s ships have crossed and re-crossed the Atlantic every year since, in peace and war, without fail.

Britannia was Cunard’s first flagship but at just 1,154 tons and carrying just 115 passengers, she could fit inside the Britannia Restaurant of today’s 150,000 ton flagship Queen Mary 2, which accommodates 2,600 guests. But the little ship’s departure heralded the start of passenger shipping sailing from Liverpool.

History was also made in the city on July 4 when 400 Cunard passengers embarked Queen Mary 2 bound for Halifax, Boston and New York. This was the first time in nearly 50 years that passengers have set out on a Transatlantic crossing from Liverpool since Cunard’s Franconia’s last crossing from the city in 1968.

The exact day of the company’s 175th anniversary was celebrated in style by Cunard with two concerts for the flagship’s passengers and region’s dignitaries. Held at Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral, Cunard’s story was told in words and music with noted speakers from the worlds of politics, TV and beyond introducing musical interludes representing key periods in the line’s 175 year history, performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Anthony Inglis, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, The Liverpool Cathedral Choir, The band of the Welsh Guards and highly-acclaimed soloists Laura Wright, Jon Christos and Jenny Williams.

Working in partnership with the city and its 175 Transatlantic themed activities at Pier Head, which included a Food and Vintage Festival, Classic Car cavalcade and world record Catwalk bid, Cunard’s 175 year celebrations culminated in a dramatic firework display fired from a mid-river barge as Queen Mary 2 prepared to set sail.

Eyes were on the skies in Liverpool at 4:15 p.m. as the RAF Red Arrows performed a surprise flypast over Queen Mary 2 to mark Cunard's 175th anniversary, thrilling spectators who had gathered along Prince's Parade to see Cunard's flagship and the nine Red Arrows jets in dramatic combination.

The world’s leading aerobatics team provided the flypast Queen Mary 2 in her 'spiritual home' of Liverpool. This evening the flagship continued the celebrations with a Transatlantic Crossing to New York, calling en route at Halifax and Boston to re-create the original Liverpool/Halifax/Boston voyage of Cunard’s first ship, Britannia, back in 1840.

"Six weeks ago, the Three Queens Liverpool Salute was seen around the world, and the city has once again given Cunard a warm welcome,” said Richard Meadows, president, Cunard North America. “The support for Queen Mary 2 has been fantastic on the exact day that Cunard’s first ship set out on her maiden crossing from Liverpool, 175 years ago.

Queen Mary 2’s departure re-created that first voyage from Liverpool to Halifax and Boston, and on board talks by historians, ship designers and Cunard specialists will bring fresh new perspectives to the Cunard story just as our two concerts in Liverpool's Anglican cathedral today have really brought the company's history alive in such a resonant way.

July 4 has also been the first time in nearly 50 years that we’ve been able to welcome transatlantic passengers aboard in Liverpool and those 400 people have each been a part of making Cunard history.

This has been such an extraordinary year for Cunard but it has been the strength of the partnership with Liverpool, our ‘spiritual home’ which has made our 175th anniversary so special. Thank you Liverpool for celebrating with us today!”

Oceania Cruises launches new 'OLife' early booking initiative

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 July 2015 02 July 2015

Since its inception Oceania Cruises has rewarded guests who book early with the best possible fares, and today the line introduced a new innovative program called the OLife Advantage, which provides extraordinary additional incentives for guests looking to book their 2016 spring, summer or fall cruise vacations early. Launching July 6, 2015, the OLife Advantage program streamlines and unifies all of Oceania Cruises’ advanced booking incentives, giving all guests who book a veranda stateroom category or above the same collection of complimentary amenities, including free shore excursions, unlimited internet and pre-paid gratuities.

“We are excited to introduce this new simplified promotion strategy, which we created based on feedback received from our loyal guests and travel agent partners,” shared Jason Montague, president and chief operating officer for Oceania Cruises. “With the OLife Advantage we’re further incentivizing guests to book early with an incredible new value package of complimentary amenities, which include unlimited internet access so guests can stay connected with friends and family back home and free shore excursions to delve more deeply into history, culture, art and cuisine of the destinations visited.”

“Equally important,” added Montague, “this simple and all-encompassing promotion allows us to focus on our travel partners, empowering them with the confidence to encourage their clients to book early for the best possible value.”

Oceania Cruises sets the standard with creative, destination-rich itineraries featuring ample time ashore and multiple overnights, so guests can explore some of the world’s most fascinating locales at their leisure. The OLife Advantage program provides three free excursions per person on sailings up to nine days, four free excursions on journeys between 10 and 13 days, and five free excursions on itineraries 14 days or more. Guests sailing on the OLife Advantage program have a wide variety of shore excursion to choose from, including a scenic visit to Ravello in Amalfi/Positano, a walking tour of Tallinn, Estonia and sea kayaking to Eagle Island in Ketchikan, Alaska.

“As destination experts, the Oceania Cruises’ fleet sails to some of the most picturesque and iconic destinations around the globe,” explained Montague. “The free excursions offered with our new OLife Advantage program will allow guests to further immerse themselves in these incredible destinations, helping to make their cruise vacation more complete and satisfying their desire to discover new places.”

Guests will be able to take advantage of the free Internet either through the ship’s Wi-Fi system or at the Oceania@Sea Internet café. Oceania Cruises recently upgraded the Wi-Fi system across its fleet to provide connectivity throughout the entire ship, including all public spaces, outdoor decks and all suites and staterooms.

The OLife Advantage program extends to all spring, summer and fall 2016 voyages in Europe, Alaska and Canada/New England. To qualify for the complimentary shore excursions, free unlimited internet and pre-paid gratuities, guests must book a veranda stateroom category or above before Sept. 30, 2015.

The summer 2016 collection also includes the highly anticipated maiden season for Sirena, the newest addition to the Oceania Cruises fleet. The expanded six-ship fleet provides Oceania Cruises even greater flexibility to create an unprecedented number of new itineraries for the upcoming season, offering a perfect fusion of classic and off-the-beaten-path ports. The summer 2016 itineraries, all available for the OLife Advantage program, will capture the imagination of even the most seasoned traveler.

TUI Cruises on track to become major European player

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 July 2015 01 July 2015

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based company that is jointly owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd (RCCL) and TUI AG, is performing well and new investment drives its ambition to make the company a major force in Europe, senior officials said.

“We regard the cruise market as a growth market for our Group. By expanding our activities in this segment we want to drive the planned revenue and earnings increases for the TUI Group and at the same time develop into one of Europe s leading cruise providers,” Sebastian Ebel, responsible for the Cruise activities on the Board of TUI Group, said in a statement.

TUI Cruises had earlier today ordered two 99,300 gross ton ships at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. These will take the number of ships purpose built for the company to six. Two first units of the company are to be transferred to Thomson Cruises in the UK

“TUI Cruises has firmly established itself in the German-speaking market, with occupancy of our fleet totaling more than 100 percent last year," said Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, in the statement.

“This year, demand has also been excellent so far with bookings currently being taken for five ships. A further expansion provides a great opportunity to strengthen our position with one of the most modern fleets in the German market.

TUI AG, which is headquartered in Hannover and whose shares are main listed in London, has said that it plans to rebrand most of its operations as TUI. It also wants to bring its Thomson Cruises, which operates five ships in the British market, closer to TUI Cruises.

Earlier this year, it announced that TUI Cruises will charter the 69,130 gross ton Splendour of the Seas that would be renamed Thomson Discovery to Thomson Cruises from next spring. TUI Cruises would manage the ship from Hamburg and it would be commercially operated by Thomson in Britain.

The move, which will be followed by Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2 once the ships ordered today will be delivered, is intended to replace Thomson’s chartered ships and upgrade its fleet.

Hurtigruten buys Portuguese ferry for coastal express

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 July 2015 01 July 2015

Hurtigruten, which operates a coastal express ferry service in Norway and expedition cruises, says it has acquired a Portuguese ferry that will be needed to fill the gap left by a ship to be employed in cruising

The 2009 built Atlantida will join the company’s fleet as Norway Explorer. The 7,025 gross ton ship will replace the Midnatsol, which dates back to 2003 and which is of 16,151 gross tons, on the coastal express service from the autumn of 2016, the company said in a statement.

The now acquired ship has 180 berths and it can accommodate a total of 320 passengers. Powered by a diesel-electric pod system, the ship is highly maneuverable, Hurtigruten said.

Affinity Gaming and Carnival Cruise Line form partnership

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 June 2015 30 June 2015

Affinity Gaming has partnered with Carnival Cruise Line to offer exciting new benefits to members of Affinity’s A-Play Player’s Club at 11 Affinity-owned casinos in four states.

The partnership will award Affinity Gaming’s highest Player’s Club tier members with a variety of benefits, including the opportunity to earn complimentary Carnival cruises, beginning July 1, 2015, based on their level of play. Mid-level tier members will be eligible to receive special discounted offers on a wide variety of Carnival cruises, which visit beautiful ports throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Hawaii and other destinations.

“We believe that our players will find this new benefit to be very rewarding and cultivate strong loyalty between the players and our properties,” said Affinity Gaming Chief Operating Officer Michael Silberling. “Our partnership with Carnival Cruise Line is a win-win for all parties involved.”

“Affinity Gaming LLC is an excellent partner for this venture as they share Carnival Cruise Line’s commitment to outstanding service and hospitality,” said Marty Goldman, Carnival’s senior vice president of global casino operations. “We look forward to bringing the one-of-a-kind Carnival vacation experience to Affinity Gaming A-Play guests and providing them with a lifetime of wonderful memories.”

The cruises can be booked through any of Carnival’s reservations channels, including its valued travel agent partners.