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Fred. Olsen Cruise Line's 2016-17 programme launch triggered record sales

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 March 2015 12 March 2015

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destinational cruise operator, said it is is celebrating breaking its record for the highest-selling day ever, taking £2.1 million in revenue on Friday 6 March 2015, following the launch of its new 2016-17 cruise programme, which went on sale on the previous day.

"Saturday 7th March 2015 was also the highest-selling Saturday that Fred. Olsen has ever experienced, taking revenue of £1.6 million on that day alone; Fred. Olsen also recorded the highest amount of revenue that it ever taken on a Sunday, on the 8th, with £800,000 in sales being generated," the company said in a statement.

Fred. Olsen’s ‘Top Sellers’ for 2016 are as follows:

1. ‘German Waterways’
2. ‘Exploring the Fjords of Greenland’ (adults only)
3. ‘The Croatian & Italian Coast with Venice’
4. ‘Old England to New England’ (adults only)
5. ‘Maiden Call Mystery Cruise’ (adults only)
6. ‘The Wonders of Spitsbergen’
7. ‘Rivers of France & Spain’
8. ‘Islands of the Adriatic with Venice (adults-only)
9. ‘Barcelona, Monaco & the Island of Elba’
10. ‘Sun, Sea & Monaco Grand Prix’ (adults only)

The ‘Top Sellers’ for 2017 are as follows:

1. ‘Central America & Mardi Gras’ (adults only)
2. ‘The Best of the Caribbean’ fly-cruise
3. ‘Canaries & Madeira Winter Warmth’
4. ‘The Caribbean with Panama & Venezuela’
5. ‘Amazon River Adventure’ fly-cruise

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “It is fair to say that we were expecting a very encouraging start to the launch of our exciting new 2016/17 cruise programme, but these levels of customer demand are quite unprecedented."

“What these excellent booking volumes show is that – as I said at our PR Launch event in London last week – Fred. Olsen is all about ‘destination, destination, destination’, and this is what cruise customers are most interested in. It is not about the ship; it is not about the amenities on board; it is about where guests can go and what they can experience.”

Anthem of the Seas not to return to UK in 2016

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 March 2015 12 March 2015

Anthem of the Seas, second of the three 168,000 gross ton Quantum class ships of Royal Caribbean International, will not return to Southampton next year as its place will be retaken by Independence of the Seas of some 154,000 gross tons after a break of one year.

The information was posted today on royalcaribbeanblog.com

The same source says that the 137,000 gross ton Navigator of the Seas will be the line's second ship in the British port next year.

New ship Sirena propels Oceania Cruises to record bookings day

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

The highly anticipated inaugural season for Sirena, Oceania Cruises’ new 684-passenger ship scheduled to enter service April 27, 2016, fueled a single-day bookings record when released last Wednesday. The first voyages for Sirena, coupled with the release of Oceania Cruises’ summer and fall 2016 itinerary collection featuring 90 new itineraries, 50 of which are extended journeys, and 20 intriguing ports not previously visited by the line led to the single-day bookings record.

“With the addition of Sirena to the Oceania Cruises fleet we can expand the realm of possibilities and stretch our imagination when it comes to itinerary planning, providing our guests even more options,” said Jason Montague president and chief operating officer for Oceania Cruises. “A mix of longer cruises and a diverse collection of itineraries that feature exotic, sought-after global destinations for the 2016 summer and fall season have clearly resonated with our guests.”

In April 2016, Sirena will join the line’s trio of award-winning sister ships Insignia, Regatta and Nautica and offer an entirely new lineup of 10- to 14-day Mediterranean voyages, artfully blended with a mix of classic and new destinations. Before entering service, Sirena will undergo an extensive bow-to-stern refurbishment that will give the ship the same stunning elegant style Oceania Cruises guests love about the existing fleet. Guests sailing on Sirena will be able to enjoy renowned specialty dining restaurants Toscana and Polo Grill, along with more recent additions to the fleet such as Baristas and the cook-to-order grill Terrace Café.

The 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 iconic and off-the-beaten-path destinations. These new itineraries explore all corners of the world and capture the imagination of the most seasoned traveler. Oceania Cruises also introduced seven new Grand Voyages, ranging from a 90-night round-trip journey from Miami to a 40-night Vancouver to Montreal sailing.

Strong pound lifts Mediterranean cruise demand in UK to all time high - MSC's Hawke

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 March 2015 09 March 2015

A strong British pound has increased the demand for cruises in the Mediterranean to all time high levels, said Giles Hawke, executive director of MSC Cruises in the UK & Ireland.

“The strength of the pound means demand for cruise holidays in the Med has never been higher – and with that comes a lot of new-to-cruise customers," he said in a statement.

The pound currently trades at 1.39 to the euro, levels that were last seen in 2007.

Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 to introduce new bars and restaurants

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 March 2015 09 March 2015

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise operator, says its Mein Schiff 4 that will be introduced this summer and the next unit in the class will both introduce new bars and restaurants.

Mein Schiff 4 will also introduce Waterkant Bar & Lounge, which will serve teas during the day in a quiet atmosphere, while in the evening it will transform to a pre-dinner or pre-theatre drinks venue. Mein Schiff 5 will feature additional cabins that comprise two further Himmel & Meer suites plus new restaurant and bar concepts. A cafe will be introduced in the reception area together with an Italian restaurant. A Bistro on the pool deck will be yet another new feature on this ship.

The company, which is a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), the world's second largest cruise shipping group, and the travel company TUI AG, currently has three ships in service. A further three are on order at Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland. The company also holds two options for further newbuildings.