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Carnival UK sets the sustainable agenda for cruising

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 December 2012 05 December 2012

Increased numbers of cruise passengers and brand growth went hand in hand with new environmental initiatives during 2011 according to the third annual Carnival UK Sustainability Report.

A 5% increase in passenger numbers (to 1.7m) across the UK market helped boost cruise line, passenger and crew spending in the UK economy by 10% to €2.8bn with the 64,000 jobs generated adding another €2.3bn in salaries paid.

Carnival UK was a major contributor with P&O Cruises and Cunard Line adding capacity during the year and P&O Cruises further demonstrating its commitment to the UK with the ordering of its largest-ever ship for delivery in 2015. At the same time, the drive to ensure that the sector's growth was sustainable continued throughout the company's operations.

Carnival UK CEO David Dingle said: “Cruising is a fast growing part of a shipping industry that has always looked and planned well ahead and this has never been more important than right now when it faces so many challenges. These include the escalating cost of fuel and the global, national, regional and local pressures on us to respond to environmental concerns and secure for the industry a wholly sustainable future.

“As a market leader in the UK and Europe we recognise the need to set the agenda for building an industry that is sustainable economically, socially and environmentally.”

During the year, it signed up to Vision 2040, a strategy developed by the newly-formed Sustainable Shipping Initiative which includes a commitment to pioneer or implement "aggressive" energy efficiencies in ship design, retrofitting and operations and to seek out renewable and other energy sources to achieve “significant” reductions in greenhouse gases.

One of Carnival UK's ongoing sustainable initiatives - its Green World Tours shore excursion programme linked to conservation and other charitable foundations in cruise destinations - won the prestigious Seatrade Insider Environmental Initiative of the Year award.

It also used funds generated by the removal of silver from on-board photographic waste to support marine life safaris on kayaks along Dorset's Jurassic Coast and supports the Sussex Wildlife Trust’s beach school programme teaching primary school children about the importance of the marine environment.

Carnival UK also acquired certification from Swiss Travel in Costa Rica for helping to reduce CO2 to preserve the Osa Peninsular tropical forest, one of the areas of most biological diversity in the world.

Each of the Carnival UK ships continues to be awarded the Venice Blue Flag for voluntarily agreeing to use low sulphur fuels when visiting the city. Carnival UK ships also self-generated 87% of the water used on board compared with 84% in 2010 and just 65% in 2008 while - pro rata – their CO2 emissions were down 11% on 2010 and 32% on 2008.

Voyager named in Portsmouth

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 December 2012 05 December 2012

History and wildlife presenter, Miranda Krestovnikoff, today named Voyages of Discovery’s new ship Voyager in an official ceremony in Portsmouth. After taking on the role as the ship’s new Godmother, Miranda joined the Lord Mayor, dignitaries, media and over 150 guests, in a ceremony held on board the ship. The blessing was carried out by Reverend Phillip Hiscock, Chaplain to thePort of Portsmouth.

Miranda Krestovnikoff, is a high profile British television presenter specialising in natural history, marine conservation, archaeology and wildlife. Voyages of Discovery selected Krestovnikoff to serve in the revered role of Godmother in recognition of her passion for discovery and her noticeable fit with the destination-led cruise offering that the brand is famous for.

Miranda commented on her new role:

“Being the Godmother to Voyager is a great honour, and as I take on this new role I hope to bring elements of my own personality and passions to the ship, including my love of travelling and discovery.”

Formerly the Alexander von Humboldt, the 15,300 gross ton Voyager was built in Spain in 1990 as Crown Monarch. It will offer a choice of 270 cabins, 87% of which are outside cabins and 30 of which have balconies, open seating dining in two restaurants, plus an intimate pre-bookable speciality restaurant, The Explorer Club. Following Voyager’s first two cruises sailing in the Caribbean, it will embark on a series of itineraries in Central and South America, heading to the Amazon in early 2013. From April 2013 the ship will be based in its homeport of Portsmouth. Prices for a nine-day Celtic Treasures cruise start from £1,099 per person. Price includes all relevant transfers, on board gratuities and service charges, meals and entertainment on board and a comprehensive programme of Guest Speakers.

Carnival UK to split Princess sales team from P&O and Cunard

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 December 2012 03 December 2012

Carnival UK says it will make a change to its trade sales structure next year to create a dedicate resource for Princess Cruises by separating it from a team that is also responsible for Cunard Line and P&O Cruises.

The single entity has been called Complete Cruise Solutions, which will continue to e.g. take care of agent training and booking services for all three brands.

The P&O and Cunard team will be headed by Chris Truscott, who will join Carnival UK from Pernod Ricard, the beverage group, at the new year, while the vacancy for the same position with Princess is open at the moment.

P&O Cruises adds nine two to five night cruises in 2013 as demand grows

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 December 2012 03 December 2012

P&O Cruises, the UK based contemporary market brand in the Carnival Corp & plc group, says it has added nine short cruises ranging from two to five nights in 2013, visiting the Channel Islands, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Classical singing sensations Jonathan Antoine & Charlotte Jaconelli, who shot to fame in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, will appear on Azura’s four-night cruise on April 18. Their first album is now certified gold and was the highest ever entry by a classical album into the main album chart. This cruise provides an opportunity to see them before the start of their UK tour next summer, the company said in a statement.

Available on a choice of family-friendly large and mid-sized ships from April to July 2013, all short break cruises conveniently depart from and return to Southampton, available to book from today. Prices start from £199 per person for a two-night cruise on Azura in April.

April:

· Departing April 16, 2013, a two-night cruise on Azura (A309P) calling at St Peter Port starts from £199 per person for a Vantage Fare.

· Departing April 18, 2013, a four-night cruise with opera duo, Jonathan & Charlotte from Britain’s Got Talent on Azura (A309Q) stopping at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port starts from £319 per person for a Vantage Fare.

· Departing April 22, 2013, a three-night cruise with a special celebrity guest on Azura (A309R) calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port starts from £249 per person for a Vantage Fare.

· Departing April 25, 2013, a two-night cruise on Azura (A309T) calling at St Peter Port starts from £199 per person for a Vantage Fare.

May:

· Departing May 27, 2013, a four-night cruise on Ventura (N313N) calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port starts from £349 per person for a Vantage Fare.

· Departing May 31, 2013, a three-night cruise on Ventura (N313P) calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port starts from £249 per person for a Vantage Fare.

June:

· Departing June 3, 2013, a five-night cruise on Ventura (N313Q) calling at Amsterdam and St Peter Port starts from £449 per person for a Vantage Fare.

July:

· Departing July 14, 2013, a two-night cruise on Oceana (E316N) calling at St Peter Port starts from £249 per person for a Vantage Fare.

· Departing July 16, 2013, enjoy a three-night cruise on Oceana (E316P) calling at Zeebrugge and St Peter Port starts from £349 per person for a Vantage Fare.

Voyager refit completed and ship arrives in Portsmouth

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 December 2012 03 December 2012

All Leisure Group plc, the UK based boutique and destinational cruise group, has welcomed a new chapter in its history with the arrival of the extensively refurbished ship mv Voyager ahead of its naming celebrations in the maritime city of Portsmouth.

The refurbished Mv Voyager officially joins the travel company’s cruise ship fleet on Tuesday 4 December under the Voyages of Discovery brand. The ship will enjoy a four-day showcase in the city, before sailing to the West Indies, and will return in summer 2013 offering four different discovery cruises from Portsmouth.

All Leisure Group plc first purchased the ship in 2009 and invested in a multi-million pound refit of the vessel using predominantly British design and manufacturing companies. The technical upgrades and the redesign took place in the Dorset port of Portland delivering a boost to the shipping-based economy in the area.

Passengers will board the ship in Portsmouth (UK) following its official naming ceremony to enjoy a circumnavigation of South America and the Caribbean on a remarkable five-month voyage taking in destinations such as Margarita Island in Venezuela, Puerto Cortes in Honduras, Manta in Ecuador, Callao in Peru, around Cape Horn, cruising the Amazon River in Brazil, the Cuban capital of Havana and back to Portsmouth via the Azores.

Fitting the adventure theme of the ship, mv Voyager will be named and christened in Portsmouth on 4 December 2012 by natural history, marine conservation, archaeology and wildlife TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff.

Key new additions to the 540-passenger vessel includes the introduction of an ‘explorer theme’ to the entire ship reinforcing the destination-led offering that the brand is known for, the new Scott’s Lounge – a classic piano bar serving cocktails into the evening and speciality restaurant, The Explorer Club. A new ‘Lookout Lounge’ also provides panoramic views from the front of the ship and a new terrace with all-weather awning has been added to the Veranda restaurant for al fresco dining. Mv Voyager will offer a choice of 270 cabins, 87% of which are outside cabins and 30 of which have balconies.

Voyages of Discovery managing director, Alan Murray explains: “Our investment in revamping the ship comes at a time when the UK cruise market, especially for cruises departing from UK ports of call, is outperforming the broader British cruise market. Ensuring that the bulk of our spend in the refurbishment and technical upgrade was made in the UK, and in UK businesses, makes us especially proud of the ship, and the high standards of workmanship are a fitting tribute to the nation's great shipping and exploration traditions.”

Figures released by the Passenger Shipping Association in their annual report show that an additional 100,000 passengers in 2011 joined their cruise at a UK port, a 5% growth in ex-UK cruising compared to 2010.

The 14-day ‘Land of the midnight sun’ cruise starting from £1,869 per person departs from Portsmouth port on the 11 June 2013 and calls at ports including Bergen (Norway), Leknes (Norway) and Stavenger (Norway). Price includes all relevant transfers, on board gratuities and service charges, meals and entertainment on board and a comprehensive programme of Guest Speakers.