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New Chinese operator to launch cruises from Beibuwan to ASEAN

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 January 2015 02 January 2015

China’s Ministry of Transport has approved a plan to launch cruises from its lesser-known port of Beibuwan, in Guangxi Province, to ASEAN in the spring of 2015. Alan Lam reports.

The vessel deployed will be the 1990-built, 9,960gt YanJing, renamed Bei Bu Wan Zhi Xing (or Beibuwan Star), a ro-ro passenger unit owned and operated by Beibuwan Cruise Terminal. The ship has the capacity of about 400 passengers. It will call at major cruise ports throughout ASEAN.

In 2009 the Chinese government approved a programme to develop Beibuwan Bay – which covers the coastal areas of Guangxi Province, Leizhou Peninsula inGuangdong Province, western Hainan and the northern coastal areas of Vietnam –into a world-class tourism destination.

Its aim was to develop it into one of world’s top tourism destinations by 2020 under the slogan of "one core area, two tourism circles, three polar regions, and five development axes", featuring a cross-border style coastal leisure and landscape that involves destinations in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia.

This development will effectively open up a new homeport in China, pioneered by a Chinese domestic cruise operator. Because of the ambitious programme and its geography, Beibuwan will soon attract the attention of other international cruise lines.

Port of Palm Beach welcomes new cruise line

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 December 2014 25 December 2014

The Port of Palm Beach announced Tuesaday they have a new cruise line arriving at the Port. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line will be sailing out of the Port of Palm Beach as early as February, 2015. The cruise line will sail the Grand Celebration previously operated by Iberocruceros.

"This is a tremendous day for the Port of Palm Beach and Palm Beach County," said Manuel Almira Executive Director for the port. "The Grand Celebration is absolutely gorgeous and we are ecstatic to have this wonderful cruise ship sail out of our port."

The Grand Celebration has 10 public decks and 751 large cabins with more than sixty percent having an ocean view. The ship also has 14 elegant terrace suites. The pool deck has five pools and Jacuzzis. The ship also offers a stunning spa and fitness center with beauty treatments, massages, saunas and steam rooms. The ship will provide five elegant restaurants with five-star dining options. A casino including black jack, poker, roulette and dice.

A state-of-the-art 950 seat performance center will provide big named concerts onboard during sailings.

“We couldn’t be happier, an agreement with the new multiday cruise vessel will generate on average nearly $3.9 million of annual net revenue as well as bring significant local spending to Palm Beach County,” said Edward Oppel, Chairman for the Port.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line will offer two-night Bahamas cruises and cruise & resort stay vacation packages from four to eight nights. The Grand Celebration will sail every other day of the week from the Port of Palm Beach.

China Zenith fails to acquire Glory Sail International

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 December 2014 22 December 2014

After months of negotiation, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed China Zenith Chemical Group Ltd. has failed to reach a binding agreement to acquire Glory Sail International Ltd. Alan Lam reports.

China Zenith (中國天化工集團有限公司) -a leading coal-based chemical manufacturer and supplier that aims to diversify its business into cruise operations - entered into a framework agreement with Glory Sail International Ltd (GSI) and Chen Feng on 13 May 2014 with a view of acquiring GSI.

The company has just announced that the parties to the framework have not been able to reach a formal agreement for this intended acquisition within the framework period, which lapsed on 19 December 2014; therefore the proposed deal has fallen through.

In pursuant of the framework agreement, China Zenith originally intended to buy from GSI not less than 50% of the issued share capital of Eastime Shipping Ltd. and to acquire from Chen Feng no less than 50% shareholdings in Shanghai Eastime Ship Management Ltd.

Eastime is a subsidiary of GSI that manages and operates the 1972-built, 17,042gt cruise ship Ocean Dream, which is owned by Profit Summit Deluxe Cruise.

Nadine Palatz appointed Hamburg Cruise Centre managing director

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 December 2014 22 December 2014

Gerd Drossel is handing over his position as Managing Director of the Hamburg Cruise Center (HCC) association and Nadine Palatz will be succeeding him, HCC said in a statement.

"Gerd Drossel has managed the administrative office of the Hamburg Cruise Center e.V. since January 2009. Prior to this a member of the board of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG and having spent 40 years working for this company, he swapped freight shipping for passenger cruises," HCC said.

"Being in that business for six years now and despite the clumsy settling-in period, I don’t want to miss the cruise industry anymore ” told Drossel the approximately 70 attendees at the Annual General Meeting of the Hamburg Cruise Center, held on 17 December. Speaking on behalf of the members Dr Stefan Behn, Chairman of the HCC, thanked Drossel for his untiring efforts, which have been essential to the positive development of Hamburg’s cruise industry.

The Annual General Meeting unanimously elected Nadine Palatz, who has worked in the association’s administrative office since January 2007, as Drossel’s successor. She will taking up the position of Managing Director of the Board of Directors with immediate effect.

During her eight years of employment with the HCC association Palatz has made a name for herself in the national cruise industry scene. In addition to this, she has been the managing director of the Atlantic Alliance since 2008, a joint marketing project of 18 western Atlantic ports. Thanks to this post as well as her involvement with Cruise Europe (from 2008 to 2010), a north European port federation with over 100 members, Palatz also has a good international reputation.

Palatz takes an optimistic view of the future and assured members that she has “lost none of the motivation and passion for the cruise industry in Hamburg with regard to the coming ninth year with the HCC association”. She is looking forward both to the new challenges as well as even closer cooperation with the city’s marketing bodies and the new terminal operator, Cruise Gate Hamburg. “Our objective in the future will be to further bundle the strengths and competences Hamburg has in the cruise segment since networks are the foundation for success,” continued Palatz.

MSC Fantasia adds Valetta to offer seven ports on seven night itinerary

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 December 2014 22 December 2014

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, says it will add Valetta in Malta to one of its western Mediterranean sailings in summer 2015, to offer seven ports of call on a single seven-night cruise.

In one week, MSC travellers will visit seven spectacular Mediterranean destinations, waking daily to an unspoiled view of a new port. Departing from Genoa, the seven-night itinerary aboard MSC Fantasia will be the perfect way to discover cities that have shaped the history of the Mediterranean Basin.

MSC Fantasia’s spring and summer 2015 itinerary includes Genoa, Naples and Messina, in Italy, before crossing towards Valetta, in Malta. From there, the ship will head to La Goulette, in Tunisia, then Barcelona and Marseille.

During MSC Cruises’ current turn-of-year promotional campaign, which runs until March 5, 2015, this seven-night itinerary is available from just £599 per person, including return British Airways flights from London (based on May 3, 2015 departure).

Other Western Med options in the same season include sister ship MSC Preziosa sailings from Genoa to Civitavecchia and Palermo, in Italy, followed by La Goulette, before heading to the Balearic island of Majorca, then Valencia, in Spain. The ship then calls at Marseilles, France, before heading home to Genoa.

In addition, MSC Armonia will visit Italy, Spain and France throughout the summer, calling at Genoa, Salerno and Olbia, in Italy, Majorca and Ibiza, in Spain, and Marseilles, France.