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Azamara Club Cruises announces new sales structure and team appointments

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 June 2015 09 June 2015

Azamara Club Cruises, the boutique cruise line known for its destination-immersive voyages, is excited to introduce a new sales structure as the company continues on its path of strong performance – currently the best in the history of the brand. As part of the restructuring, Azamara created a decentralized field sales organization. This will better allow Azamara’s Strategic Business Development Managers to support and engage travel partners while also positioning the brand for further growth. As a part of the evolution of the sales team, Azamara is pleased to announce the promotions of Nils Lindstad to Director of Sales & Service Development and Lori Goldspiel and Jon Grutzner to the positions of Director of Field Sales. Azamara plans to add additional sales positions in key markets in the coming months, all reporting to Ellen Bettridge, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Nils Lindstad, recently promoted to Director of Sales & Service Development, has played a vital role in the growth of Azamara Club Cruises, through his emphasis on world-class customer care. In his new role, Lindstad will be responsible for sales strategy implementation, reporting and leading the call centers and business development support teams.

As Directors of Field Sales, Lori Goldspiel and Jon Grutzner are now responsible for overseeing the relationships of Azamara’s top travel partners. They will lead and support the field sales team to continue to grow the brand. By having directors who reside in the regions they manage, Azamara will better support their Strategic Business Development Managers and in turn enhance their ability to consistently engage travel partners.

“We are delighted to promote Nils, Lori and Jon, who have all excelled in their positions at Azamara Club Cruises and demonstrated a passion and intimate understanding of Destination Immersion,” said Ellen Bettridge, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Azamara Club Cruises. “With the new sales structure and our outstanding leadership team, we are poised for Azamara’s continued growth.”

AIDAcara celebrates 20th anniversary

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 June 2015 07 June 2015

With the birthday of the cruise ship AIDAcara on June 7, 2015, AIDA Cruises is heralding the 20th year of its company history. On Sunday evening, more than 20,000 guests will toast together aboard the 10 AIDA ships, opening the anniversary celebrations.

"AIDA – an inspiring smile. The original turns 20" is the slogan of the anniversary campaign, which will provide inspiration until the end of 2016 with exciting insights into the history of the modern cruise along with a variety of promotions and events.

"With the commissioning of AIDAcara, we triggered a revolution in the cruise market, and for the first time we also generated a great deal of enthusiasm for this type of vacation among young and lifestyle-oriented people. Since that day, more than 5 million guests have put their trust in us. Today AIDA is synonymous with the most desirable vacation form in Germany. We built 9 out of 10 AIDA ships in Germany and invested a total of 2.5 billion euros," says AIDA President Michael Ungerer.

On June 7, 1996, the first AIDA (today AIDAcara) was christened by Christiane Herzog in Rostock. The christening captain was Volker Zausch. Back in 1999, two additional newbuildings were commissioned at Aker MTW in Wismar. In 2002 AIDAcara got her first sister ship: AIDAvita was christened by Doris Schröder-Kopf on May 4. A year later supermodel Heidi Klum assumed sponsorship for AIDAaura on April 12, 2003.

In 2004 the first new shipbuilding contract went to the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg. In a unique series, seven newbuildings of the second AIDA ship generation were put into service between 2007 and 2013.

With AIDAprima, the first of two newbuildings of the new AIDA ship generation, AIDA will again be opening a new chapter starting in October 2015.

AIDA Cruises is the first cruise line to deploy a ship from a German port year-round. Hamburg will be the departing and destination port for AIDAprima’s seven-day round trips to the metropolises of Western Europe.

On board AIDAprima, you’re not dependent on the weather. With its versatile adventure worlds, individual offers, and even more service the ship becomes the vacation destination – 365 days a year.

AIDA is opening the anniversary campaign "AIDA – an inspiring smile. The original turns 20" with a birthday deal for traveling with AIDAcara to the Canary Islands and Cape Verde between November 2015 and March 2016. Those who book a stateroom on AIDAcara between June 7 and 30, 2015, can take family or friends in the 3rd and 4th bed in the same stateroom for free, according to the principle of “two pay, up to four travel.” The trip can be booked at prices starting at 899 euros per person. Availability is limited.

MedCruise General Assembly: Exposing the gap between ports and cruise lines

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 June 2015 06 June 2015

On the second day of the 46th MedCruise General Assembly, a gulf between the perspective of MedCruise and that of the cruise lines on several issues became apparent. Alan Lam reports from Zadar.

Despite years of continuous dialogue and hard work, there still appeared to be a gap between the practices of the ports and the expectations of cruise lines.

During the State of the Port Industry session, Carla Salvadó, President of MedCruise, presented a comprehensive and well-assembled 10-section, 70-question Fact Finding Report on behalf of the organisation. The report covered a wide range of topics relating to MedCruise member ports, including port profiles, berthing policies, user satisfaction surveys, operational issues and challenges.

While both parties recognised the importance of Europe and the Mediterranean to the cruise business as a whole, it soon transpired that there still remained significant differences in standpoints between MedCruise member ports and cruise lines on several key issues, chiefly among them were the fact that MedCruise’s order of priorities and challenges being a departure from those of the cruise lines. A number of port practices, such as the first-come-first-serve berthing policy adopted by several ports, were still not in line with the expectations of the cruise lines.

It also transpired that bridging this seemingly unbridgeable gap in itself was a robust challenge; more dialogues between the two parties were needed and much more must be done. MedCruise is continuing its efforts relentlessly.

A fuller report and detailed analysis will be published in the next edition of Cruise Business Review.

Deltamarin introduces ropax of the future

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

Deltamarin launched their new showcase ro-pax vessel “DeltaChallenger” during the Nor-Shipping 2015 exhibition in Oslo. Based on Deltamarin’s extensive experience on developing ship concepts and with the help of well-known partners, with expertise in their respective areas, a most energy efficient and environmentally friendly vessel has been developed. The design incorporates in unforeseen way the latest technologies available, many of which are not yet used on any other ro-pax vessel.

To reduce fuel consumption the vessel has six rotor sails by Norsepower, giving ca. 10% of the total propulsion power (1.3 MW). Impressive fuel economy and manoeuvrability is gained through the combination of dual-fuel electric machinery, four power plants (2 x 6 MW and 2 x 3 MW) and the new compact Azipod D pod propulsion system from ABB. The steering unit of the pod can be fitted in one deck so that it does not hamper the loading of cars.

The vessel will have GTT Mark III membrane LNG tanks of totally 1,200 m3. The tanks give superior layout advantages making new efficient loading and unloading configurations possible without decreasing passenger and cargo capacity.

The air conditioning and ventilation has been optimised by Carrier. The vessel utilises heat recovery and demand controlled ventilation to ensure maximum comfort while at the same time minimising the energy consumed.

Very effective loading and unloading is guaranteed by the possibility to simultaneously load and unload on two levels of the lower hold. The ship will have totally 2,720 m of trailer lanes on main and upper deck. There are 480 car lanes / 104 cars in two levels in lower hold which can be loaded with maximum number of trailers. Alternatively by means of hoistable car decks in use, the ship could be loaded with maximum of 950 cars.

The vessel can carry up to 950 passengers and 50 crew members. There are 267 cabins reserved for passengers and 32 for crew. Deadweight of the vessel is 7,900 t and main dimensions 200 m in length overall, 30.4 m breadth and 6.0 m draught. The service speed is 18.5 knots at design draught.

“Challenging the existing methods and utilising the latest technologies have always been part of Deltamarin’s philosophy. With the new DeltaChallenger we aim to show what the future’s combined passenger and cargo ship could be. By combining the top-level existing technology, you can create something unique but functional. The right product for the customer may not be the DeltaChallenger as such, but the idea is that together with the customer and our partners we can develop exactly the exceptional ship that best serves the customer’s s future needs”, explains Deltamarin’s Manager, R&D Mrs Päivi Haikkola.

World Ports Conference: AIDA's Michael Ungerer takes a stand for the expansion of port infrastructure

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 June 2015 04 June 2015

On occasion of this year's World Ports Conference in Hamburg Michael Ungerer, President of AIDA Cruises and Chairman of Cruise Association CLIA, spoke to representatives of the main port cities in the world on June 4th, 2015.

Ungerer talked about the development of the cruise industry in the German market and economic impacts of this increasingly important industry. He focused particularly on the port of Hamburg, which has become one of the leading cruise destinations in Northern Europe. He also presented the opportunities and challenges associated with the growth of the cruise industry.

"The demand for cruises continues. Between 2014 and 2017 the capacity of German cruise lines will grow by 42.9 %. By 2016 we want to reach the 2 million mark in Germany and there may also be a further million guests on top in the upcoming 3 to 4 years," said Ungerer. However, this can only be achieved, if all responsible parties start to think about the necessary requirements today. "The existing infrastructures of the Year 2015 will not be sufficient for this," Ungerer underlines.

Another key issue in the cooperation between cruise companies and ports is the continuous improvement of environmental performance.

"Sustainable management and the consistent protection of the environment are the guarantee for being able to successfully offer cruises in the future," said Ungerer.

Overall, AIDA Cruises will invest around 100 million euros in environmental and climate protection until 2016 and thus bring new technologies like a comprehensive exhaust gas treatment system, onshore power supply and LNG operation on the road. With this pilot project for the energy supply of cruise ships using LNG while being berthed in ports, which is thus far unique worldwide, AIDA Cruises and Becker Marine Systems have opened a new chapter for environmental protection in the port of Hamburg on May 30, 2015.