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Mein Schiff 4 delivered by Meyer Turku

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 May 2015 08 May 2015

On Friday 8 May 2015, Meyer Turku handed over Mein Schiff 4 to TUI Cruises. The day was remarkable since this was the first delivery from Turku Shipyard under Meyer's ownership. Two days earlier, on 6 May 2015, the Meyer family, operating the shipbuilding company Meyer Werft in Germany, became 100% owner of the Meyer Turku Oy.

Meyer Turku has showed its capabilities in building the most demanding and complex cruise ships. Now, with Mein Schiff 4, Meyer Turku has refined its building processes even further. The project entered production two years ago and in February 2014, the keel of the ship was laid in the dry dock, and, in October 2014, the ship got water under her keel for the very first time. The production of the next evolution in the Mein Schiff series, Mein Schiff 5, started in February 2015. In June, there will be a keel laying ceremony for Mein Schiff 5 and, on the same day, the production of Mein Schiff 6 will start. By the end of this year, Mein Schiff 5 will be floated out and she will be delivered to TUI Cruises in the summer of 2016.

Mein Schiff 4 is 294 metres long and 36 metres wide. The ship, with a gross tonnage of 99,500, has a total of 1,253 cabins. 90 percent of these are outside cabins, 82 percent also have their own balcony. With a wide range of different cabin categories on offer, including cabins for families and spa fans, Mein Schiff 4 caters ideally to passengers’ individual comfort and well-being. Special highlights are the sea-and-sky suites over two decks, which feature their own 29-square-metre roof terrace.

Designed for the German premium-class cruise market, Mein Schiff cruise ships are sophisticated and highly innovative. The ships have been constructed using advanced and eco-friendly technologies. Featuring cutting-edge technologies, these new ships set standards in terms of energy efficiency, with energy consumption around 30 percent lower than for other cruise ships of the same size. By using the combined exhaust after-treatment system consisting of a scrubber and a catalyzer, sulfur emissions are lowered by as much as 99 percent and nitrogen oxide emission are reduced by around 75 percent.

"Our expansion is advancing in leaps and bounds thanks to the perfect coordination between the shipyard, our construction team, and all companies involved. We are highly satisfied and delighted at this new addition to our fleet," says Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises.

"Today is a proud day since we have delivered Mein Schiff 4 to TUI Cruises and this beautiful ship is ready to sail. I want to warmly thank the ship builders of Meyer Turku, our subcontractors and the ship owner TUI Cruises for the great cooperation which enabled us together create this sophisticated cruise ship which is comparable to a complex travelling city. Now that Turku yard is 100% family company this makes me even more proud. Our passion for shipbuilding drives us to success with a long-term view. We value our history but we know that we have to constantly reinvent ourselves," says Jan Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku Oy.

Following today’s handover, the Mein Schiff 4 will be named in Kiel on June 5, before sailing on her maiden voyage to the Baltic States on June 6, 2015.

Fred. Olsen to move Balmoral to Newcastle to capitalise on its proximity to Norway

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 May 2015 07 May 2015

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the destinational UK cruise shipping company, says it has made the strategic decision to base its 1,350-guest flagship, Balmoral, in Newcastle on the north east coast of the country for the first time, from May to August 2016.

Fred. Olsen has more than 100 years of heritage in running passenger services from Newcastle and has been operating regular cruise calls from there since 2006. The company has operated ships with about 900 berths from the port so far. Since the start of operations from theport, Fred. Olsen has seen bookings departing from the Newcastle soar, with its Norwegian Fjords cruises selling out in record time.

Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We are very excited to be basing Balmoral in Newcastle from May to August in 2016, as it means that we are almost doubling our capacity and offering our loyal guests in the North East an even greater number of cruise departures than ever before, with a choice of 11 in total. Bookings for 2016 have shown that, so far, our 14-night ‘The Wonders of Spitsbergen’ and 11-night ‘Icelandic Wildlife, Falls & Hot Springs’ cruises are bestsellers.

“The Port of Tyne is also ideally placed for our ever-popular Norway, Scandinavian and Baltic itineraries, and we can save up to three days’ cruising time sailing from Newcastle to Norway than from Southern ports.” The passenger terminal in Newcastle is located oi North Shields at the mouth of River Tyne, which also has given its name to the port.

The appealing combination of choice and value offered by Fred. Olsen has already seen many first-time cruisers and repeat customers from the North East region make the decision to use their local port and sail from the Port of Tyne.

Research shows that guests from the North East rate the choice of destination as the most compelling factor when booking a cruise with Fred. Olsen. As a result, in 2016, guests can choose from a wider selection of destinations sailing directly from the Port of Tyne, including the cooler climes of Norway, Scandinavia and the Baltics, to the warmer shores of the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, Portugal, Morocco and Spain.

In 2016-17, Fred. Olsen's Balmoral will be setting sail from Newcastle for the first time ever, with a record 11 departures, representing a 45% increase in capacity from the Port of Tyne.

Balmoral’s cruise season from Newcastle will commence on 21st May 2016, with a five-night ‘Norwegian Festival & Fjords’ cruise. Other departures include a ten-night ‘UK Castles’ sailing, which offers guests the chance to visit Balmoral and Braemar Castles - both of which lend their names to Fred. Olsen ships - and an 11-night ‘Spain, Portugal & Guernsey’ getaway.

Andrew Moffat, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Tyne, said: “The Port of Tyne’s cruise operations continue to grow and it is great news that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines are expanding their itineraries and basing their flagship at the Port from next year. Fred. Olsen is one of many leading cruise lines operating from the Port of Tyne and, in 2015, the Port has 27 cruise calls planned during the year. 2016 promises to be a record year for cruise calls.”

Fred. Olsen's 880-guest Boudicca is today [7th May 2015] heralding the first of its calls into the Port of Tyne for 2015, on an 11-night ‘Floral Britannia’ itinerary. This floral-themed sailing, which departed from Dover on 28th April 2015, will take in some of the best and most spectacular gardens and attractions in the UK, including the world-famous Alnwick Castle in Northumberland - where 'Harry Potter' was filmed - and its intriguing 'Poison Garden'.

Windstar debuts second all-suite power yacht

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

Yesterday at a christening ceremony in Nice, France, Windstar Cruises debuted Star Breeze, the second of the fleet’s three new all suite power yachts. The christening ceremony and pier-side champagne celebration mark the luxury yacht’s introduction to the Windstar fleet, and the start of its inaugural voyage through France, Monaco, and Italy.

Wendy Perrin, TripAdvisor’s first-ever Travel Advocate and the founder of WendyPerrin.com, was honored as Godmother of the yacht, breaking a traditional bottle of champagne over the bow in front of a crowd of 250 guests, media, trade partners, and parent company Xanterra Parks & Resorts.

MSC Cruises offers UK agents option to hold cabins for customers for three days without deposit

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 May 2015 06 May 2015

MSC Cruises, the world's fourth largest cruise shipping company, says it is giving travel agents in the UK more flexibility in selling its product by introducing ‘options’ across all itineraries.

From 18 May, trade partners will be able to secure cabins and flights on option for customers without the need to take a deposit and without commitment. Quotes will remain open for up to three days, depending on availability and departure date, the company said in a statement.

MSC Cruises executive director UK and Ireland Giles Hawke said: “Opening up options is a new way of selling for us in the UK and Ireland – and one we believe will prove a real benefit for agents and their customers.

“By offering this facility, agents can strengthen their role as a trusted advisor and underline the value they bring to the sales process. Clients can secure the ship and cabin they want at a guaranteed price then go away to discuss it with family before making their final commitment.

“Having the booking on option means clients won’t see their preferred cabin sold or any price increases while they are making up their mind, which avoids any negative feedback for agents and gives them an extra weapon to secure bookings.

“It should also cut down on cancellations and allows agents to ensure customers have all information to hand when they do confirm their booking. We will be the only mainstream cruise line offering this service to agents in the UK. MSC Cruises already offers options in a number of overseas markets and we have seen what a strong selling tool it can be.”

Agents will be able to create options via MSC Cruises’ trade booking portals – MSCBook in the UK and MSC Online in Ireland – or via the contact centre. Customers will receive an email explaining how long the quote is valid for.

On sailings up to 30 days from departure the option is valid until the end of the day it is taken; for sailings up to 60 days out the option is valid for one additional day; for sailings more than 60 days out it is valid for two additional days. After this time the option will automatically expire and be deleted from the booking system.

The move is the latest in a series of trade-focused initiatives introduced to make life easier and more profitable for agents. In recent months MSC Cruises has rolled out revamped agent training, launched the upgraded MSCBook selling portal in the UK and rolled out a new call centre telephone system to reduce waiting times.

Seven hour spectacle planned for Mein Schiff 4 naming ceremony

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 May 2015 06 May 2015

A seven hour series of events that is open to the public has been planned for the naming ceremony of Mein Schiff 4, the second 99,300 gross ton newbuilding of TUI Cruises in Germany for 5 June in Kiel.

The public will have access to the Ostseekai berth from where they can follow the proceedings that will include a host of performances, including ones by Adel Tawil, Skyline Feat, Doro, Kristina Bach and Panikexperten.

The event will start at 1700 ship will be named at around 2100. The party will then run to the midnight, TUI Cruises said in a statement.