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MSC Cruises to add two ships to Eastern Mediterranean next summer

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 December 2014 12 December 2014

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise company, said it will deploy additional two ships in the eastern Mediterranean next year, in response to soaring demand for its cruises in the region.

"Between May and November 2015 MSC Poesia (2,550 passengers*) and MSC Magnifica (2,518 passengers) will homeport in Venice, calling at Bari or Brindisi (Italy), Katakolon (Greece), Izmir and Istanbul (Turkey) and Dubrovnik (Croatia)," the company said in a statement.

Currently, MSC Preziosa (3,502 passengers) sails these routes alone, but mounting interest in the eastern Mediterranean, and Turkey in particular, has increased demand for MSC cruises sailings to that part of the world.

The extra capacity means MSC Cruises will be able to carry more than 1,500 additional guests to the region, which is densely packed with fantastic destinations steeped in history, culture and unforgettable experiences.

Turkey among the top MSC destinations in 2014

MSC Cruises can today reveal its three best-selling itineraries from the 202 currently available aboard the 12 ships of the fleet. MSC sails year-round in the Mediterranean, and operates seasonally in northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean and South America, southern Africa, as well as the Emirates and Oman.

The most popular MSC Cruises itinerary in 2014 was sailed by MSC Preziosa this summer out of Venice, calling at Bari, Katakolon, Izmir and Istanbul, before returning to Venice via Dubrovnik

In the second place was a Western Mediterranean cruise, departing Genoa for Naples, Messina, Tunis, Barcelona and Marseilles. This itinerary will be sailed by MSC Fantasia from mid-April to mid-November 2015.

A northern European itinerary came third, with both MSC Orchestra and MSC Sinfonia sailing the Baltic Sea, respectively from Warnemünde and Kiel. While MSC Orchestra called at Stockholm, Tallinn, St Petersburg and Copenhagen, MSC Sinfonia’s calls were at Copenhagen, Gdynia, Helsinki and St Petersburg.

Luca Casaura new Vice President Corporate Marketing of Costa Crociere

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 December 2014 12 December 2014

Starting from yesterday Luca Casaura has been appointed Vice President Corporate Marketing of Costa Crociere, reporting to Norbert Stiekema, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing. In this position Luca Casaura will coordinate all marketing activities concerning the development and positioning of the brand, media and communication strategy, research and product development.

He started out at Unilever Italy in late 1997, before joining the Danone Group in 2000, where he gained a long-lasting experience. Since 2013 he held the position of Activia Global VP Marketing, launching the first ever Global ICP Campaign for the Dairy Market leading brand in 72 countries. Between 2008 and 2012, Luca Casaura has been Marketing, Communication and Media Director for Danone Italy, having previously gained various international experiences, first as Marketing Director of the "Enfants et Desserts" division of Danone France and later as Marketing Director of Danone Canada.

"I am very excited to work with Luca" commented Norbert Stiekema "an outstanding marketer with proven vision, creativity and great capability to bring change, all of which are key elements in building a stronger Costa brand."

Luca Casaura, 42, married and father of a young daughter, with a strong passion for history and theatre, began his international career after graduating in Economics & Politics from the prestigious Bocconi University in Milan.

Celebrity Cruises to offer cruises from UK on new Edge class ships - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 December 2014 11 December 2014

Celebrity Cruises, the premium market unit in the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) group, will offer cruises from the UK on its new Edge class vessels, two of which are on order at STX France, Travel Weeklly reports in a daily newsletter.

“An Edge [ship] will be a world traveller. It will take affluent travellers to all the continents of the world in the most unusual and unique way," Michael Bayley, president of the company was quoted by Travel Weekly as saying. “It is a destination ship and we will definitely be offering sailings from the UK on her as she travels around the world.” Bayley has since moved to Royal Caribbean International, the RCCL group's contemporary market unit.

Bayley said bookings for Edge will open earlier than usual for a new ship with itineraries going on sale by the end of 2015. "Pricing always finds its natural place but, with things on Edge that are genuinely exceptional, we believe it could be priced quite high," he was quoted as saying.

Hurtigruten to leave Oslo bourse after takeover by investors

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 December 2014 11 December 2014

Hurtigruten, the Bergen based company that operates expedition cruises and the Norwegian Coastal Express ferry service, will leave the Oslo Stock Exchange after shareholders accepted a bid by an investment company, Hurtigruten said in a statement.

Silk Bidco AS. the investment company formed by two directors and an investment fund, controlled 97.3% of the shares in Hurtigruten after the expiry of their bid late last week. Silk Bidco offered NK7.00 per share in Hurtigruten, which valued the company at NK2.94 billion or 55.9% more than the average trading price of the shares in the company on the Oslo bourse in October.

Britannia to feature 70 British beers

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 December 2014 10 December 2014

Britannia, the new ship of P&O Cruises, will offer 70 different bottled British beers, the company said in a statement.

"Where will you find an Orchard Pig Reveller side by side with a Knight of the Garter? A Rutland Panther sitting next to a Black Sheep? Or a Speyside Oak Aged Blonde rubbing shoulders with Admiral Lord Collingwood? You’ll find all of these - plus many more interesting beers, ales and ciders - on Brodie’s Great British Beer Menu on P&O Cruises newest ship Britannia when it launches next March," P&O Cruises said.

The Great British Beer Menu features 70 different bottled beers, ales and ciders from 56 UK counties including pilsners, ales, stouts, gluten-free beer and speciality beers such as Chocolate Tom from Robinson’s Brewery in Cheshire, Ginger Hare from Bath Ales in Somerset and Orange Peel from the Wadsworth Brewery in Wiltshire.

P&O Cruises spent months scouring the UK to source this selection of beers both from smaller, local, artisan brewers such as Windsor & Eton Brewery (Berkshire), Elgoods Brewery (Cambridge), Whitewater Brewery (Belfast), Fyne Ales (Dumbarton), Felinfoel Brewery (Pembrokeshire), Okell`s (Isle of Man) and the Hilden Brewing Company (County Antrim) as well as renowned breweries including Marstons (West Midlands), Greene King (Suffolk), Belhaven (Dumfries), Fullers (London), Theakstons (North Yorkshire), Brew Dog (Aberdeen) and Hall & Woodhouse (Dorset).

P&O Cruises marketing director Christopher Edgington said: “The UK boasts more breweries per head of population than any other country in the world with the industry growing at over 10% each year. This new beer menu celebrates the growing popularity of traditionally made British beers and ciders and reflects our aim of showcasing the very best that Britain has to offer.”

The Great British Beer Menu is available in Brodie’s, a classic pub which is named after one of the founders of P&O Cruises, Brodie McGhie Wilcox. A great place to meet with friends, relax with a beer or glass of wine, Brodie’s offers a variety of entertainment including quizzes, live music and karaoke as well as poker and roulette tables in the adjoining casino.