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Chief executives of world's four largest cruise corporations to lead flagship session at Cruise Shipping Miami 2014

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 February 2014 17 February 2014

Cruise Shipping Miami's popular State of the Industry plenary session has been retooled and renamed for the 30th anniversary edition of the cruise industry's premier annual event, set for March 10-13, 2014, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Now called the State of the Global Cruise Industry, the panel will feature the chief executives of the world's four largest cruise corporations.

In addition to a new name and format, the opening session features BBC's Katty Kay as the event's first moderator from outside the cruise industry. Kay anchors the "BBC World News America" broadcast from Washington, D.C., covering both American and global affairs. She is a frequent guest commentator on NBC's "Meet the Press" and MSNBC's "Morning Joe," where she often serves as guest co-host.

"We've redeveloped our flagship session to better reflect cruising's growing popularity with consumers worldwide as well as the cruise business' increasing value globally," said Daniel Read, director of UBM's Cruise Events Portfolio. "The heads of the world's four largest cruise corporations will certainly give us the broadest possible point of view on the current state and future of the business."

First-time panelist Arnold Donald, appointed president and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc in June 2013, is the panel's newest chief executive. Joining him on the dais are industry veterans and former panel participants Richard Fain, chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; Kevin Sheehan, CEO and president of Norwegian Cruise Line; and Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises.

"The State of the Industry is a must-attend event of Cruise Shipping Miami, with a long tradition of providing a valuable overview of the industry," said Donald. "Cruising continues to grow in popularity around the world as a great vacation experience at an extraordinary value. I am looking forward to our time together to join in dialogue with industry leaders and to share my excitement about the future of our industry."

Arnold W. Donald has been a director of Carnival Corporation since 2001 and a director of Carnival plc since 2003. He was named president and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc in June 2013. He is also Principal of AWDPLC LLC, a private investment company. Donald has held top executive positions with the Monsanto Company, Merisant Corp., Executive Leadership Council and Junior Diabetes Research Foundation.

Richard Fain has been chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. since 1988. The global cruise company owns six brands Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises, CDF Croisieres de France, and the joint venture TUI Cruises. Prior to joining Royal Caribbean he spent 13 years as treasurer, chief financial officer and joint managing director of Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Corp.

Kevin Sheehan has served as the chief executive officer and president of Norwegian Cruise Line since 2008. He helped found Spanish-language television network Telemundo, took several companies public including rental car giant Avis, aided in the launch of Sega Channel, taught at Adelphi University in New York and consulted for a variety of private equity firms, including Apollo Management, a Norwegian shareholder.

Pierfrancesco Vago, served as chief executive officer of MSC Cruises overseeing the company's operations from its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from 2004 until he was named executive chairman in September 2013. He started his career at MSC by leading the joint venture between the Italian Ferry company SNAV and Hoverspeed Seacontainer Group. In 2001 he was promoted to MSC cargo line manager for the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Vago began his career in the family business Franco Vago S.p.A., a leading Italian transport company.

Preceding the State of the Global Cruise Industry panel Cruise Lines International Association President Christine Duffy will provide a statistical overview of the cruise industry. Duffy has served as CLIA president since 2010. Prior to that she was president and CEO of Maritz Travel, one of the world's largest meeting, event and incentive travel management companies.

Cruise Shipping Miami is the global flagship of UBM's Cruise Events Portfolio, which includes the annual Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific and the biennial Seatrade Med Cruise Convention.

MSC Cruises unveils management changes

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 February 2014 17 February 2014

From 20th March 2014 Oliviero Morelli will be moving from his current role of Product Director to take up the position of Managing Director for MSC Cruises Japan. In addition, Lorenzo Diamantini will be moving from his role as Sales Director for Ireland to take up the position of Deputy Executive Director for the Anglo Saxon markets in Geneva, reporting into Giles Hawke. As Lorenzo moves to Geneva, Stephen Moffett will add Ireland into his remit as Sales Director for MSC Cruises UK and Ireland, the company said in a statement.

To maintain the strength of the UK business and position us for future growth in the UK and Ireland, Lee Strongitharm has been appointed into the newly-created role of Commercial Director for MSC Cruises UK and Ireland. Lee joins from Carnival UK and will be responsible for all areas of activity related to MSC Cruises' operations in the UK and Ireland. This follows the recent announcement that Giles Hawke is now Executive Director to the UK, Ireland and Australia. Lee takes up his new role in April.

Giles Hawke commented “Lee brings with him a very impressive track record of achieving profitable growth from the UK and Ireland marketplace in both air and cruise sectors, which will be fundamental for MSC Cruises’ future ambitions. I am delighted to welcome him to lead our very talented UK and Ireland team.

Oliviero and Lorenzo have both worked for MSC Cruises for a number of years and these promotions reflect their contribution and achievements within the UK and Irish business. They will both be missed and will be great assets to the markets in their new roles. Stephen’s broader responsibility reflects his contribution to the UK business and gives him greater scope to use his experience and expertise within the UK and Ireland.”

Sabine Ficek, Finance Director, and Alessandra Pierleoni, Marketing Director, continue in their key roles within the MSC Cruises UK and Ireland leadership structure.

MSC Cruises says took record of more than 200,000 bookings in 30 days

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 February 2014 17 February 2014

MSC Cruises, the Geneva base cruise shipping company, says in the last 30 days the number of people who booked a cruise with the company reached a record high, totalling 208,262 travellers.

“Among some of the favourites of MSC’s future on board guests are MSC Divina’s glamorous exploration of the Caribbean during the summer, MSC Lirica’s sophisticated sailing through the hidden jewels of the Mediterranean and Northern Europe sailings, offering a unique perspective on some of the world’s most stunning natural wonders or a visit to the beautiful capital cities of the Baltic,” the company said in a statement.

Britannia attracts more pre-registrations in day than Azura in week - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 February 2014 17 February 2014

P&O Cruises , the UK focused contemporary market unit in the Carnival Corp & plc group, took more pre-registrations in one day last week for new ship Britannia than in a whole week for Azura before it launched in 2010, Travel Weekly reports in a daily newsletter emailed to Cruise Business.

Marketing director Christopher Edgington said pre-registrations, targeted at past passengers only, allowed clients to put their name down for specific cruises but not cabins. The maiden voyage, a 14-night Mediterranean cruise departing March 14 2015, was in high demand, as was a 12-night round-Britain cruise in July. They open for sale on March 27.

Speaking at Britannia’s float out - the moment when the dry-dock is flooded and water hits the hull for the first time – Edgington was quoted as saying: “Our past passengers are really excited about Britannia. We have created a ship that is right for them and for people who have never cruised by enhancing our signature features and adding exciting new ones.”

Passenger dies on Marco Polo as ship hit severe weather

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 February 2014 15 February 2014

A passenger on Cruise & Maritime Voyages' 22,080 gross ton Marco Polo has been killed in the English Channel and another airlifted to shore after their vessel was hit by a freak wave on Friday.

“The 85-year-old man died after being airlifted off the ship. The second passenger taken to shore was a woman in her 70s,” the Independent newspaper reported on its website. The huge wave battered ship as it headed for its home port of Tilbury in Essex following a 42-night voyage to Brazil.