Viking Line's Cinderella to be based from Stockholm to Helsinki

This coming winter on the Baltic Sea promises special excitement when Viking Line brings the legendary Cinderella back to the Helsinki–Tallinn route. The favourite cruise ferry of so many travellers from Finland offers 20-hour cruises.

Cinderella will make its widely anticipated return on 14 December 2013 – just in time for the height of the Christmas party season and provids a 20-hour break from the daily routine till 28 December 2013. The transfer of Cinderella, which normally plies the Stockholm–Mariehamn route, will bring welcome extra capacity to accommodate the season on this popular cruise route. The Viking XPRS will also operates between Helsinki and Tallinn in the usual manner.

"Cinderella’s visit is surely good news for all friends of the Baltic Sea and those who appreciate good entertainment. Total day-and-night cruises are in great demand, and we've continuously received requests to return the Cinderella to service on this route," Product Manager Lauri Orpana says.

The second largest vessel in the Viking Line fleet serves up adventures at sea for 2,500 passengers per cruise. The ship is designed with a versatile range of services in mind for total cruise guests in particular, even if normal scheduled traffic between Helsinki and Tallinn also works out quite well. Indeed, the Cinderella offers excellent facilities to put aside everyday concerns and really enjoy yourself for 20 hours.

Attendee registration for Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific 2013 opens today

Delegate and visitor registration for the 2013 Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific conference and exhibition is now open. The world’s only annual cruise industry event focused on the entire Asia-Pacific region is scheduled for October 8-10, 2013 at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Online registration is available at www.cruiseshippingasia.com

This year’s conference program will explore the revenue outlook throughout the region, including the incredible growth in passenger source markets for cruises and worldwide destinations, and the staggering opportunity in the ship refurbishment and repair sector.

"The opportunity for exhibitors and attendees is unprecedented," said Daniel Read, Portfolio Director for UBM Live, the show organizer. "Attendees can expect the show to offer trailblazers early entry into the burgeoning Asia-Pacific cruise market, one expected to surpass seven million passengers by 2020."

The event begins Tuesday, Oct. 8 with the Asia Cruise Tourism Summit, a gathering of high-level cruise line executives and ministerial-level tourism board representatives.

The Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific conference kicks off on October 9 with the State of the Cruise Industry in Asia, followed by two days of concurrent sessions that will assess the pace and direction of growth in the world’s newest and fastest growing cruise sector. The conference will be led by a panel of regional and international industry experts covering essential topics and providing valuable insights into the burgeoning Asia cruise market.

Additionally, travel agents are invited to attend free comprehensive cruise training presented by CLIA Australia.  Those agents may also walk the show floor to meet various suppliers and destinations, which combined with the training, will offer them a 360 view of the industry and help them grow their respective businesses.

New to the 2013 event

New to the event in 2013 will be the presentation of the first Rama Rebbapragada Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Cruise Industry in Asia. The award will recognize a person who has played a significant role in developing the cruise industry in the region.

The award will be presented by Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Michael Bayley, who was for many years Royal Caribbean International’s Asia representative and who worked closely with Rebbapragada.

The award was established in memory of Rama Rebbapragada, who was instrumental in helping bring recognition of the potential of the Asia-Pacific cruise market to Western cruise companies.

TUI Cruises amends Mein Schiff 3 initial programme

TUI Cruises, the German premium market cruise company, says it has amended initial schedules of Mein Schiff 3, the first of its two newbuildings from STX Finland, in order to give the crew more time to familiarize themselves with the ship and the company’s product.

“The first cruise will start on 13 June instead of 1 June and it will be of nine nights instead of 11,” said Frederike Gronemeyer, Communications Manager at TUI Cruises in Hamburg.

The second cruise will; be reduced in duration to seven nights from 10, while the third cruise will be cancelled. From then in, the ship will sail according to earlier published schedules.

“The ship itself will be delivered on time, but we feel the crew will need more time to acquaint themselves with the ship so that they can deliver the quality of product that our guests expect,” she told Cruise Business.

Well known artists to perform on series of P&O Cruises’ autumn voyages

P&O Cruises, the British contemporary market unit in the Carnival Corp & plc group, says it is launching its biggest ever line-up of star studded cruises this autumn with famous faces from the stage and screen. Michael Ball, David Essex, The West End Men featuring Lee Mead and Here And Now – with live performances from six 80’s legends including Paul Young, Toyah and many more, will be joining selected cruises on a choice of ships and itineraries. The celebrity cruises go on sale today and include:

·        The West End Men, featuring Lee Mead, perform on a 12-night Canary Islands cruise on Ventura (N325) departing September 29, 2013. Departing from and returning to Southampton, ports of call include Madeira, La Palma, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Lisbon. Getaway Fares* from £849 per person.

 ·        Here And Now - The Very Best Of The 80s with Paul Young, Toyah, Heaven 17, Howard Jones, Carol Decker from T’Pau and Clare Grogan from Altered Images perform on a 12-night Western Mediterranean cruise on Oceana (E325) departing October 22, 2013. Departing from and returning to Southampton, ports of call include El Ferrol, Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona, Gibraltar and Lisbon. Getaway Fares* from £749 per person.

 ·        David Essex performs on a 14 and 15-night Caribbean Transatlantic cruise on Azura (A326N/A326A) departing November 1, 2013. Departing from Southampton and finishing in Barbados, ports of call include the Azores, Antigua, St Maarten, St Kitts and St Lucia. Getaway Fares* from £999 per person.

 ·        Michael Ball performs on a 10-night Baltic cruise on Aurora (R322) departing December 9, 2013. Departing from and returning to Southampton, ports of call include Bruges, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Gothenburg (overnight) and Oslo. Getaway Fares* from £599 per person.

 P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to announce our largest ever choice of star studded cruises. Combine these celebrity names with our other famous faces performing at sea; Katherine Jenkins, the Strictly Come Dancing team and our very own celebrity chefs, and I think we have something for everyone, whether you’re a child of the 70s, 80s or 90s.”

 The West End Men is a musical theatre concert which celebrates the greatest musical numbers from the biggest shows. Featuring Lee Mead, and other critically acclaimed leading men from the West End stage, a selection of signature numbers will be performed from some of their most famous roles together along with a collection of some of the best known show tunes in the world.

Here And Now - The Very Best Of The 80s is the most successful high profile 80s live show. It brings together some of the most iconic and influential names from the world of 80s pop. Joining the Oceana cruise will be Paul Young, Heaven 17, Howard Jones, the original punk princess Toyah, Carol Decker of T’Pau fame and Clare Grogan from Altered Images.

David Essex is one of Britain’s most accomplished singers, actors and composers. His amazing career encompasses 19 Top 40 UK singles, including two Number Ones, 16 Top 40 albums and the iconic films That’ll Be The Day, Stardust and Silver Dream Racer. It was while filming That’ll Be The Day, co-starring Ringo Starr, that he wrote Grammy award-winning Rock On, which reached number one worldwide and he has since gone on to produce numerous chart hits and platinum selling albums.

Michael Ball, Britain’s leading musical star, has performed in lead roles in the West End and Broadway over the last 25 years. As a multi-platinum recording artist, top selling live concert performer and radio and television broadcaster, he has won critical and public acclaim and is set to wow audiences on Aurora.

Norwegian Jade and SNAV Toscana to be used as accommodation vessels at Sochi Olympics

FSUE Rosmorport,the Rusian state owned port operator, has signed an agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line and Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) regarding time charter of ships use as an accommodation vessel during the Winter Olympics in Sochi next year, Rosmorport said in a statement.

The 93,558 gross ton Norwegian Jade that was built in 2006 and 30,317 gross ton SNAV Toscana, which started life in 1980 as Visby, will be used as floating hotels while organizing the placement of audience and temporary staff at the time of the Winter Games.

“Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd and Grandi Navi Veloci companies are the winners of the open request,” Rosmorport said, adding that both vessels would be moored at a cruise terminal currently under construction.