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TUI Cruises seen unlikely to take up newbuilding option

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 October 2012 26 October 2012

TUI Cruises, the German cruise shipping company that has a 97,000 gross ton newbuilding on order at STX Finland’s Turku yard, is unlikely to take up an option for a second similar ship, a Finnish newspaper report says.

The contract for the first ship included an option for ship number two that has to be cancelled by TUI Cruises if it does not to proceed with a second vessel, the Turun Sanomat daily reports on its website.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) that controls 50% of the shares in TUI Cruises, yesterday said it plans to place an order for a third 226,000 gross ton Oasis of the Seas class vessel before the year end. STX Finland has built the two existing ships of the class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. RCCL did not mention any thing about the potential builder of the third vessel in its third quarter interim result presentation yesterday.

Pullmantur reaches 100,000 fans on Facebook in year

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 October 2012 24 October 2012

Pullmantur, the Spain-focused cruise line in the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) group, has announced that it has now more than 100,000 Facebook fans after just one year of its presence on the social network site, and receiving over 800,000 hits per month. Alan Lam reports.

The line stated that it had established social network sites as the preferred platform for multidirectional interaction with its customers.

“We at Pullmantur are aware of the potentials and the importance of this new channel of communication in today’s world,” said Katja Hintermeier, Pullmantur’s Manager for Corporate Communication & Social Media. “Without doubt, it is an effective means for listening to our customers and interact with them before, during, and after the cruise. We are now closer to our customers than ever before.”

Beside the Facebook profile, Pullmantur is also active on Twitter, with more than 5,400 followers; it has its own video channel on YouTube and manages a corporate blog.

Moreover, the line reinforces its commitment to the digital environment by sponsoring various meetings and conferences of the online world. It will present the “Best Travel Blog” award at the eighth edition of the “Blogs Awards 2012”.

Being still relatively new to this sphere of communication, these are still early days of social media experience for the cruise line.

Alan Lam

Oceania Cruises to operate 14 night Alaska cruise June 2013

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 October 2012 23 October 2012

Oceania Cruises has announced changes to its 2013 Alaska sailings on Regatta including the addition of a new 14-day Pacific Exploration voyage roundtrip from Seattle on June 4, 2013. The new itinerary features calls into Kodiak, Hoonah and Seward as well as cruising Alaska ’s Inside and Outside Passages and the awe-inspiring Hubbard Glacier.

The new Pacific Exploration voyage combines two originally scheduled seven-day sailings on June 4 and June 11, 2013. The company also amended its June 28 and July 5, 2013 Coastal Alaska sailings to now begin and end in Seattle . The changes were made based on feedback from the line’s guests and travel partners.

“Our guests and travel partners were asking for a longer itinerary and an enhanced experience to enjoy all the wonders that Alaska has to offer,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, the line’s president. “With two-for-one savings on our Unlimited Passport Collection package, these voyages offer great value for travellers who wish to explore Alaska on a smaller ship, going ashore with a select few rather than waiting in line with thousands,” the company said in a statement.

RCCL forecast to report $1.45 per share earnings for third quarter

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 October 2012 23 October 2012

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL), the second largest cruise shipping group in the world, is expected to report earnings per share (EPS) of $1.45 for the third quarter of the year. The Miami based company will publish its interims on Thursday, 25 October. In the second quarter, the company's EPS came in negative by $0.02, while in the third quarter of last year the figure amounted to $1.82 on the profit side.

PPI Group relocates to new offices and unveils fresh brand

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 October 2012 18 October 2012

PPI Group has moved its operations to brand new offices in a tree-lined enclave of east Fort Lauderdale. In line with the company’s “moving forward/standing out” motto of 2012, PPI Group has also created a fresh look, embodying the spirit of innovation and crisp, modern visuals, as it publishes the FCCA 40th Anniversary Book and hosts its 2012 Fall Port Lecturer Conference.

Now located at 6261 NW 6th Way, Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, PPI Group presents its new state-of-the-art facilities and logo in conjunction with two key events: its publication of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s 40th Anniversary Book and PPI Group’s own 2012 Port Lecturer Fall Conference, held during the first week of October at the hip and sleek B Ocean Hotel on Fort Lauderdale beach.

For the FCCA’s 40th anniversary, PPI Group has created a bespoke 128-page publication celebrating the cruise industry’s development and the journey of the organization that has been vital to the industry’s success. Through the best of travel photography and writing, readers will learn about the FCCA’s accomplishments when the book premieres at this week’s FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show in Curacao, October 1-5, 2012.

During this same week, PPI Group hosts and operates its own 2012 Port Lecturer Fall Conference, a week-long event featuring presentations from luxury brands, information on new product lines, training of onboard shopping presenters, and a reinvigoration of sales and marketing strategies.

“Now in our 25th year, we’re even better suited to meet the individual and varied needs of the clients we value so dearly,” says PPI Group president and CEO Bill Panoff.