Fred. Olsen introduces third Solar Eclipse cruise

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 05 July 2013 05 July 2013

Following huge demand for its recently-launched ‘Solar Eclipse Cruises’ aboard Boudicca (D1504) and Black Watch (W1502), which are now both fully booked, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has added a third cruise on board Braemar (M1505), departing from Dover on 11th March 2015, the company said.

The new Braemar cruise (M1505) will depart from Dover on 11th March 2015 for 13 nights and will be positioned off the coast of the Faroe Islands on 20th March 2015, when the longest duration of ‘totality’ of 2 minutes 47 seconds – the best opportunity to view the full solar eclipse – occurs. During its voyage, the cruise will also visit Ålesund (Norway), Leknes (Lofoten Islands, Norway), Tromsø (Norway) and Runavik (Faroe Islands), before returning to Dover.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “Bearing in mind the recent upsurge of public interest in astronomy, led by the likes of Professor Brian Cox, perhaps we should not have been surprised at the phenomenal level of bookings that we have received for our ‘Solar Eclipse Cruises’. Now that the cruises on board Boudicca and Black Watch have sold out, the opportunity to add a third cruise was too good to miss, and we expect this voyage to be every bit as popular.”

TUI Cruises to introduce Green & Fair shore excursions

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 04 July 2013 04 July 2013

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise shipping company, says it is introducing Grün & Fair – Green & Fair- shore excursions from the start of the 2013/14 winter season.

 Passengers who book these excursions will participate in efforts to protect and maintain cultural and natural treasures in the destination. And the company will donate €5 per each booking made in this category towards a local environmental organisation to support its work.

The company has two ships at the moment, which will cruise in the Canaries and the Caribbean, respectively, in the forthcoming winter season. A third ship is due to be delivered from the STX Finland shipyard in the spring.

 

Thomson Cruises to base Thomson Majesty in Malaga in March 2014

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 04 July 2013 04 July 2013

Thomson Cruises, which is part of the London based TUI travel plc group, says Malaga in Spain will be a new winter home port for Thomson Majesty as of March 2014; a first for Thomson Cruises.

“Along with four enticing new itineraries, a new destination, new cruise-and-stay combinations and an exciting shore excursions programme, customers booking a cruise sailing from Malaga will receive a free all inclusive upgrade,” the company said in a statement.

It will offer a series of seven and 14 night cruises from the Spanish port on the 42,746 gross ton ship that was built in 1992.

Bimini SuperFast fails U.S.Coast Guard inspection

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 04 July 2013 04 July 2013

Bimini SuperFast, a fast ropax ferry that the Malaysia based Genting group had planned to operrate between Miami and its Bimini casino in the Bahamas, has failed to meet to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements. “Originally scheduled to set sail last Friday, it is now unclear when the ship will begin carrying passengers to the Resorts World Bimini casino,” the Miami erald reports.

The 32,000 gross ton vessel that was bult in Germany in 2001 and its operators failed tests gauging performance in emergency situations, said Janet Espino-Young, chief of the inspection division at the U.S. Coast Guard. The crew couldn’t meet the requirement that passengers must be off the ship and in lifeboats within 30 minutes, she said. Emergency sources of power and the mechanism that allows lifeboats to drop from the ship malfunctioned, she said. There was an “overall lack of proficiency by the crew to respond to an emergency situation,” she said.

On Saturday, Espino-Young said, the Genting ship crew successfully lowered the lifeboats and performed an evacuation drill. However, the Coast Guard will continue working with the crew because outstanding discrepancies still remain.

Bimini SuperFast received safety inspections overseas after it was built in 2001. Panama then certified the ship to carry passengers. Before Miami, the cruise ship operated out of the Greek isles. The Genting ship had never entered U.S. waters until two weeks ago, Espino-Young said. The company was under the impression that the ship’s previous certification from Panama meant simpler safety inspections in U.S. waters.

But since it docked in Miami and will carry passengers from American ports to the Bimini casino, the SuperFast faces much stricter safety standards that are enforced by the Coast Guard, Espino-Young said. “Even if it is a two- to three-hour trip to Bimini, we need to make sure passengers are not put in high-stress, threatening situations,” she said according to Miami Herald.

Bimini SuperFast is one of 12 fast ropax ferrriers that the Athens based SuperFast ferries built at the turn of the millennium for use on a number of domestic and international services. It has a cruising speed of 30 knots and it can carry 1,500 passengers.