Silversea takes delivery of Silver Ray, the second ship in its Nova-class

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 14 May 2024 14 May 2024

Silversea has taken delivery of Silver Ray, the second ship in its innovative Nova-class. Boarding Silver Ray in Eemshaven on May 14, Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group's president and CEO, celebrated the ship’s official handover with Bert Hernandez, president of Silversea; Bernard Meyer, Chairman of the Meyer Group, and Bernd Eikens, the Meyer Group CEO; executives from the Meyer Werft shipyard and Royal Caribbean Group; and Captain Alessandro Zanello. Attendees participated in storied maritime traditions, including flag-changing and signing ceremonies, commemorative speeches, and a celebratory toast.

Silversea’s Nova-class marks a new take on luxury at sea, introducing an unparalleled openness to the world with an asymmetrical design and 4,000m2 of exterior glass. Silver Ray joins her sister ship, Silver Nova, as one of the most energy efficient ultra-luxury and expedition cruise ships ever built, marking an important milestone on Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to reduce emissions and carbon intensity. Due to embark on her maiden voyage from Lisbon on June 15, Silver Ray will spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic to the Americas in December 2024.

“We are thrilled to take delivery of Silver Ray, the newest ultra-luxury and expedition jewel in Royal Caribbean Group’s game-changing fleet,” said Liberty. “Delivering the best vacation experiences responsibly is at the heart of everything we do. We are fortunate to have the best people working together to dream and create unforgettable experiences for our guests, including the Meyer Werft shipyard team, whose partnership has enabled us to continue pushing boundaries.’’

“Silver Ray, the second ship in our cutting-edge Nova-class, alongside sister ship Silver Nova, beautifully encompasses Royal Caribbean Group’s vision for the future of innovative ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel,” said Bert Hernandez, president, Silversea. “In addition to being one of the most energy efficient ships ever built, Silver Ray's game-changing, outward-facing ship design enables greater access and connection for our guests to the incredible destinations we visit. As far as firsts go, I feel honored that my first delivery as president of Silversea is to welcome Silver Ray to our fleet alongside Jason, my Royal Caribbean Group colleagues, and the wonderful Meyer Werft team. I can’t wait for our guests to experience everything this remarkable ship has to offer.”

“The delivery of Silver Ray, two days earlier than scheduled, marks an important milestone for us,” said Bernd Eikens, CEO of the Meyer Group. “The entire Meyer Werft team has worked hard with our partners to bring this ship to life and today, we have delivered another great ship to Silversea.”

The Nova Class ships’ innovative design immerses guests into destinations from virtually all venues and suites, with far-reaching views at every turn. Their reimagined pool decks, which overlook the water on the starboard side, and all-new outdoor venues—the Dusk Bar and the Marquee—capture their unique openness to the destination. Among the most spacious cruise ships ever built, Silver Nova and Silver Ray have a space-to-guest ratio of 75 GRT-per-guest and offer one of the most personalized levels of service at sea, with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.3, including butler service for all suites. Further enriching the onboard experience is the largest selection of bars, restaurants, and lounges in ultra-luxury cruising; Otium, the cruise line’s Roman-inspired wellness program; and the innovative culinary program, Sea and Land Taste (S.A.L.T.).

Following a conveyance of approximately 40km down the River Ems from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg at the end of April, Silver Ray completed her technical and nautical sea trials in the North Sea on May 8 — under the watch of Captain Alessandro Zanello, the shipyard’s captain, and expert local pilots.

A&K Travel Group partners with Architect Adriana Granato and Naval Architects Giacomo and Lorenzo Mortola

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 09 May 2024 09 May 2024

A&K Travel Group has announced an exclusive partnership with the Architect Adriana Granato as well as a long-term collaboration with the Naval Architects Giacomo and Lorenzo Mortola.

Based in Milan, Granato’s art direction will bring a wealth of expertise and a unique perspective to the group's architectural and interior design projects for their camps, lodges, boats, and ships.

Granato, who holds a double degree in Architecture from Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino, as well as a PhD in Design and Technologies for Cultural Heritage is one of the youngest female adjunct professors ever hosted by Politecnico di Milano. In 2018, she founded Studio Ibsen, a think tank of architects, interior designers, and researchers that tackles national and international projects, as well as academic research and social-based initiatives.

For A&K's new camps and lodges, Granato will work with local architects and interior designers to ensure the group's Italian heritage, style, and taste blend seamlessly with regional materials, patterns, and colors.

Cristina Levis, CEO of A&K Travel Group, spoke highly of her collaboration with Granato, saying, "Since our first meeting in 2019, Adriana has been an invaluable asset, consistently delivering exceptional results in the face of challenging projects. Her vast knowledge and unparalleled expertise in materials, shapes, and architectural history make her a true visionary in her field. Adriana's deep understanding of my vision for our two brands, coupled with her keen awareness of our Group's strategic goals, enables her to strike the perfect balance between tradition and innovation. This ensures that our offerings resonate with both Millennials and older generations alike, a testament to her remarkable ability to bridge the gap between the past and the future."

Granato expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "It is an honor for me to collaborate with such a legendary travel group, which has always been at the forefront of travelers’ mind as the custodian of the essence of travel. Being able to merge with the spirit of places and communities is what architecture is all about and A&K has championed that over the years. I have embraced the company’s vision from the very beginning of our collaboration, the ability to remain in the firm nature of what is classic while always developing new challenges with a convinced future-oriented approach, and I am delighted to collaborate with the passionate and experienced team in AKTG."

Granato will oversee all architectural and interior design projects for A&K Travel Group, coordinating and guiding the professionals involved.

Crystal's new ocean and expedition ships, as well as some of A&K's new river boats, will be designed by the renowned Studio Gem of Genova, led by Giacomo Mortola and his son Lorenzo Mortola

Based in Genova, Mortola father and son have 70 years of combined experience in ship design and have conceived the interiors of the most graceful ships navigating the oceans.

An internal team of talented naval engineers and architects headed by Roberto Fazi, SVP Marine of Crystal will cooperate with Studio Gem and Studio Ibsen.

Levis commented on the partnership, "I have worked with Mortola father and son for many years, starting from the construction and refurbishment of other ships and finally on the refurbishment of Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. The sophisticated taste of Giacomo Mortola and his meticulous attention to details coupled with the pragmatic and fresh eye of his incredibly talented son Lorenzo are the perfect match for the ambitions for our ships and future projects."

Fernando Delgado, Chief Product Officer of A&K Travel Group, concluded, "I am thrilled to have Adriana helping my team. She brings years of experience in sustainable architecture both in nature and in heritage buildings, an exquisite eye for the details and the refinement of the stile Italiano [Italian style]. She has already marked the difference in the first projects in which she is taking part. I am also very excited to get the opportunity to work again with Giacomo and Lorenzo with whom I had the honor to collaborate in some projects in the past. Their taste is so refined and so aligned with what we aim to achieve that we could not be in better hands.”

Princess Cruises returns to San Juan home port

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 09 May 2024 09 May 2024

Princess Cruises recently announced its return to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a season of Southern Caribbean cruises onboard Grand Princess, from October 2025 through March 2026. This vibrant capital city of Puerto Rico offers rich history and culture with must-see attractions for Princess guests pre- and post-cruise. These 7-night cruises, which visit more ports than any other 7-day Princess cruise to the Caribbean, are on sale May 16.

“Our return to San Juan after more than a decade not only reconnects our guests with a port rich in history and charm, but further expands the variety of departure points across North America that our guests can sail from,” said Terry Thornton, chief commercial officer for Princess Cruises. “Puerto Rico remains one of the fastest-growing destinations in the Caribbean and continues to attract new airlift from source markets across the U.S. as well as markets in Europe and South America, which makes it a great fit for Princess. Plus, there are many outstanding options to choose from for a great pre- or post-cruise stay.”

Originally scheduled to sail Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific voyages from Brisbane and Sydney, Grand Princess will now sail two alternating, 7-night itineraries, with departures from October 12, 2025 - March 29, 2026. These new itineraries each feature visits to five different and unique destinations, including many of the most highly rated Southern Caribbean destinations – many of which are not available on 7-night cruises departing from Florida.

“We are excited to welcome Princess Cruises back home to the Port of San Juan. This announcement underscores our commitment to cement San Juan as the leading homeport in the region, where guests can sail throughout the wonderful ports of the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Furthermore, the sailings will help drive economic development for both Puerto Rico and our regional partners”, said Carlos Mercado Santiago, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

Guests can choose to combine itineraries for a 14-day voyage.

The 2,600-guest Grand Princess offers an array of culinary delights, signature Princess amenities like The Sanctuary and Movies Under the Stars, and Broadway-style productions in the Princess Theater. Plus, guests can enjoy a truly personalized vacation with Princess MedallionClass, featuring next-level technology with MedallionNet - the best WiFi at sea - food and drinks delivered wherever they are, touchless experiences and more.

Plus, enhancing the vacation value with Princess Plus and Premier inclusive packages allow guests to save over 65% on essentials such as gratuities, Wi-Fi, beverages, and more, providing added convenience and enjoyment for their journey.

Meyer Turku Group increases its revenue, posts loss

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 06 May 2024 06 May 2024

Meyer Turku Group has published its result for 2023. The company's turnover was 1.43 billion euros, which means a growth of 10.6% compared to the previous year. Both the turnover and the number of personnel have been growing for three consecutive years. The loss for the financial year 2023 was 103.8 MEUR (i.e. -7.2% of the turnover).

The fiscal year 2023 of the shipyard company was affected by the ship deals that were closed before the pandemic, the new prototype ship project and the loss provision for the ship to be delivered in 2024. Beyond that, Meyer Turku has made remarkable contributions required for the green transition.

CEO Tim Meyer comments on the result:“The cruise industry has recovered to the pre-COVID level, even beyond it, and there is demand for our high-quality products. We constantly make large financial investments in sustainable development, which is a key competitive factor for us and a natural part of the high-quality shipbuilding that we are known for. Meanwhile, the risen general and financing costs added to the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine have heavily affected our financial results in 2023.

It has been exceptional times building the most complex cruise ship in the world. Icon of the Seas has made huge success on the market. However, each prototype ship brings significant e.g. product development costs. With the continuation of the Icon series, our cost efficiency improves, leading to more profitable ships vessel by vessel. So we remain optimistic about the future."

In November 2023, Meyer Turku delivered to Royal Caribbean International the world's most advanced ship Icon of the Seas. At the outfitting pier now is the TUI Cruises’ vessel Mein Schiff 7, Meyer Turku’s first ever methanol-ready ship.

Under construction at the shipyard are also the second ship in the Icon series, Star of the Seas, to be delivered in 2025, and Icon 3 that will be completed in 2026.

In addition to cruise ships, Meyer Turku is also capable of offering products of strategic national importance: the company will be delivering two multi-purpose offshore patrol vessels to the Finnish Border Guard in 2025 and 2026.