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Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral to star in six part BBC documentary

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 July 2013 03 July 2013

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines says it was proud to work with the BBC this year to film a six-part documentary series aboard its flagship Balmoral, called 'The Cruise: A Life at Sea', which will be broadcast on BBC2 from Tuesday 9 July 2013, at 8.30pm.

This gentle, heart-warming observational documentary, produced by the BBC's Religion and Ethics Department, is based on The Mission to Seafarers' Anglican Chaplain, Reverend Colin Still, as he travels around the globe aboard Balmoral's 112-night 'World Cruise', giving advice, support and solace to his floating 'parish at sea'.

Viewers will be able to join the ship as she departs from Southampton on 5th January 2013 and visits 33 exotic destinations, taking in 20 countries and crossing three oceans, before returning to the UK on 27th April 2013.

With over 1,700 guests and crew on board, Reverend Still is very much in demand; during this epic 'Grand Voyage', we see him conducting services, renewing wedding vows, escorting shore tours, giving spiritual advice and guidance to guests and crew, whatever their religion, and taking part in all the fun aboard this sunshine cruise - Fred. Olsen's longest ever.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: "We were very excited to undertake our most ambitious filming project with the BBC earlier this year, which we hope will give viewers a real flavour of life on board with Fred. Olsen, and the valuable role that the Chaplain plays during a cruise.

"Our thanks go to Reverend Still for his hard work during his four months aboard Balmoral, and we hope that viewers enjoy this engaging look 'behind the scenes' at what we do and where we can take you."

Reverend Still, from Brighton, has cruised with Fred. Olsen several times, including to the Amazon and on a previous 'World Cruise'. He is a long-standing Chaplain with The Mission to Seafarers, which provides counselling and support services to seafarers around the world.

Reverend Still said: “I am delighted to have been a part of this new BBC programme and work with Fred. Olsen and The Mission to Seafarers. This job is a valuable piece of Christian ministry, listening to and supporting those who wanted to talk to me. I most enjoyed building a bond of trust with passengers and the crew on the long voyage, and I particularly enjoyed the marriage renewal ceremonies, as they are such happy occasions. In terms of the challenges I faced, the work takes a lot of creative energy, being on duty all the time. That said, this important work has given me the opportunity to see so much of the world; we passed through both the Panama and Suez canals, visited New Zealand and Australia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. The Mission to Seafarers has seafarers’ rest and support centres in all of these places, so I valued meeting new faces in the global Mission family.”

Princess promotes John Chernesky to Vice President of Onboard Revenue and Product Development

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 July 2013 02 July 2013

Princess Cruises has promoted John Chernesky to the newly created role of vice president, onboard revenue and product development. In this position he oversees the operations and development of key passenger service areas including the casino, Lotus Spa and Fitness Center, shopping program, weddings and the Princess Cruises-branded loyalty credit card.

Chernesky, who has been with the company for 21 years, most recently served as director of onboard revenue.

John has been responsible for creating and implementing a number of new programs and innovations on the Princess fleet that have significantly improved the onboard product and the passenger experience, so this promotion is richly deserved, said Tony Kaufman, Princess Cruises' senior vice president of commercial affairs.

Kaufman added that among Chernesky's recent successful projects are the development of many new products and services offered in the spas and fitness centers, the creation of the innovative Lotus Spa and Enclave complex onboard Royal Princess, a casino VIP program and the introduction of an integrated shopping host program onboard the vessels.

Chernesky joined Princess in 1992 as an administrative coordinator in the company's Hotel Services Department and has served in various roles throughout the company, primarily in fleet operations, including five years as director of passenger programs.

He holds a B.S. degree in business administration and marketing from Miami University of Ohio, and recently completed an executive leadership program at UCLA's Anderson School of Business.

A Faroe first for Cunard

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 July 2013 01 July 2013

Captain Inger Olsen, Cunard Line's first female Captain, took her ship home to her birthplace when Queen Victoria made her maiden call to the Faroe Islands in Denmark, with visits to Klaksvik on 26 June and Torshavn the next day.

Captain Olsen was born in Vestmanna in the Faroe Islands, which lends some explanation for her maritime abilities, and she joined Cunard in 1997 as First Officer on board Vistafjord. In 2001, she transferred to the Seabourn fleet, which at that time was part of Cunard. She sailed on Seabourn Sun and Seabourn Spirit before being promoted to the rank of Staff Captain on Seabourn Pride in 2003.

Following some years with other companies within the Carnival group, Captain Olsen returned to Cunard in August 2010 as Deputy Captain of Queen Victoria and was then appointed Captain in December that year.

On 26 June 2013, landfall at Klaksvik was made at 17:30 hours with Queen Victoria remaining there until 04:00 hours. Throughout the ship's visit there, all the shops remained open during the evening and a barbeque was held in the town square with live music and dancing.

Queen Victoria then sailed the short distance to Torshavn, where she arrived at 09:30 and remained there for eight hours. Events on board while there included the traditional Plaque Exchange ceremony, before guests enjoyed lunch in the ship's new Verandah Restaurant.

"The undoubted highlight of my career so far was taking command of Queen Victoria in December 2010, thus becoming the first female Captain in the 170-year history of Cunard. That was a thrill I thought would never be overtaken, said Captain Olsen. But I have to say, taking Queen Victoria – my ship' – home was on a par with first taking command. Not many people have the chance to take a 90,000-ton liner, and a Cunard liner at that, home! It was a proud moment for me and an event I was pleased to share with nearly 3,000 passengers and crew, and thousands more fellow countrymen."

Captain Olsen added, "Queen Victoria's passengers have been intrigued to see and hear about the Faroes and I'm so pleased that it was possible to include calls at two of the islands so that our passengers can get more of a sense of what living in such a remote and rugged part of the world is really like."

Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line, said: "Homecomings are always very special affairs and we are delighted Inger was able to take her ship to the Faroe Islands, her birthplace. Both she and Queen Victoria received a magnificent welcome – one that I am sure will live long in her memory."

The Faroe Islands are an island group and archipelago under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark, situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Norway and Iceland. The total area is approximately 540 sq. miles with a 2010 population of almost 50,000 people.

Queen Victoria's passengers were able to enjoy a range of tours that included the countryside of Eysturoy, Klaksvik past and present, Scenic Faroes and Pancakes, and the island of Vagar.

Queen Victoria will return to the Faroe Islands on 2 July 2014 as part of her 14-night Geysers and Glaciers cruise, which departs on 22 June and calls at Flam, Alesund, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Reykjavik and Kirkwall.

AIDA introduces electric bicycles

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 July 2013 01 July 2013

AIDA Cruises, the German contemporary market brand in the Carnival Corp & plc group, has introduced electric bicycles it calls pedelecs for use in ports of call by its passenger.

“Our AIDA pedelecs not only look stylish, they also have real power. Particularly on tours involving a climb you can now sit in the saddle quite relaxed,” said Martin Dubois, biking manager on board AIDAluna, in a statement.

Pedelecs have been introduced on all AIDA ships and tours that involve using them are offered in every port of call.

Construction starts in Nagasaki of first AIDA ship

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 July 2013 01 July 2013

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) began construction at its Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works on 30 June of the first of two 124,500 gross ton new generation cruise ships for AIDA Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation & plc group, MHI said in a statement.

"Among the features already selected for installation is the "Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System" (MALS), MHI's proprietary technology that reduces fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through use of a layer of air bubbles blown from the vessel's bottom. MALS is expected to reduce fuel consumption by approximately 7%," the shipyard said.

Other advanced technologies are also slated to be added to the ships' installations, with details to be announced later.

The ship now under construction is the first of two vessels ordered by Carnival group member Costa Crociere Group; parent company of AIDA. Each has passenger capacity of around 3,300 with gross tonnage of 124,500 - making them the largest ever constructed for AIDA Cruises. The second ship is scheduled for delivery in March 2016. The two new AIDA ships marks the order to follow the 116,000 gross ton ships for Carnival's Princess Cruises brand – Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess – delivered in 2004 at MHI Nagasaki Shipyard.

In constructing the two new generation cruise ships for AIDA, MHI will bring together its full complement of shipbuilding technologies accumulated to date. Leveraging this latest order, the company will continue its aggressive marketing initiatives to attract orders for large-size ships equipped with leading-edge technologies to reduce fuel consumption and ease environmental impact.

Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the world, with a portfolio of 10 cruise brands. In total the group now operates 102 ships, and 7 new vessels are scheduled to join the fleet by 2016.