Birka Cruises' Managing Director to leave company

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 17 August 2012 17 August 2012

 

Lars Naslund, Managing Director of Birka Cruises, has decided to leave the Stockholm bazsed company, a report on the website of travelnews.se says.

Birka Cruises operates the 34,758 gross ton Birka Paradise on the short cruise market from the Swedish capital. The company is part of the Eckero group, a Finnish company headquartered on the autonomous Aland Islands.

Naslund oversaw the flagging of Birka Paradise from Finland to Sweden and the transfer of all commercial activities of Birka Cruises from the Eckero group head office in Mariehamn to Stockholm. Chairman Bjorn Blomqvist will assume the duties of Managing Director after Naslund's departure, which will take place on 15 Sep.

 

P&O Cruises to sponsor Downton Abbey

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 17 August 2012 17 August 2012

 

P&O Cruises says it will be the new sponsor of the third series of the UK's most popular drama, Downton Abbey. 

"Idents (short films) featuring P&O Cruises will be shown at the beginning of each episode and either side of commercial breaks. They will be filmed on a P&O Cruises holiday and will show different aspects of the holiday that newcomers particularly enjoy".  

"Viewers will be encouraged to look on the P&O Cruises website for further insight into the range of holidays available and to have the opportunity to win a cruise. The fully integrated sponsorship package will include broadcast, online and mobile elements as well as social media," the company said in a statement. 

P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: “We are delighted to sponsor such a celebrated programme as Downton Abbey.  We know that many of our passengers and potential passengers watch Downton Abbey and we are excited to bring P&O Cruises to life for this vast audience.”   

The most recent series of Downton Abbey averaged 11.8 million viewers and a 38% share of the audience, peaking with 12.4 million viewers and a 41% share of the audience on 6^th November 2011. Downton Abbey’s Christmas special was also rated as the most-watched Christmas Day show, achieving a consolidated audience of 11.6 million viewers.

ITV Account Sales Manager, Mike Barrett said: "Downton Abbey was the most watched drama of 2011 and has achieved a fantastic 16 nominations for the upcoming Emmy awards. It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce that P&O Cruises will be the new sponsor of this drama phenomenon, and we look forward to working with them to deliver an engaging multi-platform partnership for the coming series."

P&O Cruises, which is part of Carnival Corp & plc group, has a fleet of seven ships and an eight unit, a 141,000 gross ton newbuilding due to enter service in 2015, is on order at Fincantieri in Italy.

 

Royal Princess, Celebrity Reflection floated out

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 16 August 2012 16 August 2012

 

Two major cruise liner newbuildings have been floated out in the past few days.

Royal Princess, the first in a series of two similar ships for Princess Cruises, has entered he water for the first time at Fincantier's shipyard in Monfalcone in Italy. A further unit of the 141,000 gross ton desgn is on order for P&O Cruises, which is a sister company of Princess Cruises and part of the Carnival group.

Meyer Werft in Germany has floated out the 122,000 gross ton Celebrity Reflection, which the final unit of the Solstice class of five ships that was started in 2008. Celebrity s part of the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd group.

 

Norwegian introduces new features at Great Stirrup Cay

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 16 August 2012 16 August 2012

 

Norwegian Cruise Line says that a new Stingray Encounter and Fate of the Fancy Snorkel Adventure are now available on Great Stirrup Cay, the line's 250-acre private island in the Bahamas. In addition, coming soon is a brand new Lighthouse Beach Bar presented by Patron. The launch of these three brand new experiences marks more exciting additions to the island as part of the ongoing $30 million enhancement project.

Located inside Bertram's Cove, on the right hand side of the main beach, the Stingray Encounter invites guests to interact with 18 specially-trained stingrays in an enclosed area. This exciting and unique excursion introduces guests to these smooth and graceful creatures. Each of the stingrays has a name and its own unique personality, and guests will enjoy feeding, watching and holding them, for the perfect photo opportunity. Also included in the Stingray Encounter experience is use of a mask, snorkel and snorkel vest so that guests can peer below the surface to examine the rays up close. The hour-long excursion includes 45-minutes of interaction with the rays and is $29 per adult and $19 per child, the company said in a statement.

Norwegian is also launching a new snorkel trail experience called, "Fate of the Fancy Snorkel Adventure," for guests to enjoy during their time on Norwegian's private island. Snorkeling is one of the most popular activities on the island and Norwegian has now enhanced that experience with the snorkel trail.

Located near the Stingray Encounter in Bertram's Cove, the Fate of the Fancy Snorkel Adventure is the first private island snorkel trail to depict an actual legend as it portrays the tale of a shipwreck. As the legend goes, "The Fancy," sailing from Nassau, Bahamas in 1696, encountered a mythical creature named Lusca that was half-shark, half-octopus. It is believed that Lusca was responsible for the ship disappearing near the Berry Islands, the location of Great Stirrup Cay.  Guests can explore discover and look for clues underwater that lead to the treasure that the Fancy was carrying, highlighted by 17 different underwater scenes that depict the shipwreck and Lusca's legend, including cannons, a sunken piano, treasure chests, swords and more.

Developed in conjunction with IDEA Inc., an Orlando-based company with experience in developing theme park experiences, the Fate of the Fancy Snorkel Adventure features some authentic artifacts that are more than 300 years old. In addition, all of the artifacts are eco-friendly and will stimulate additional marine life in the area. To experience the snorkel trail, guests can rent snorkel equipment at a rate of $29 per adult or $15 per child for the entire day.  Guests wishing to experience both the Fate of the Fancy Snorkel Adventure and the Stingray Encounter during their time on the island can purchase a combination package that includes both tours at a discounted price of $49 per adult, a $9 savings, and $29 per child, a $5 savings.

Norwegian has also partnered with the popular spirits brand, Patron, to introduce a new island bar experience to Great Stirrup Cay called, Lighthouse Beach Bar presented by Patron. This is the first private island bar that Patron has sponsored.  It will feature Patron products, as well as a full range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The bar will be completely redesigned and will be outfitted with beach-inspired décor, Patron branded materials, including bar stools, umbrellas and menu boards, as well as two large flat-screen TVs that will showcase a variety of entertainment from music videos to sporting events. The new bar is set to open in September 2012.

Norwegian was the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its guests. Great Stirrup Cay offers magnificent white sand beaches, majestic palms and calm, pristine waters where an abundance of colorful marine life inhabits the surrounding coral reefs. Additional activities on the island include a Waverunner® tour; a large Hippo Waterslide; eco boat tour; kayaking; parasailing; shopping at the straw market; and more.

Norwegian Sky makes year-round stops at Great Stirrup Cay on her three and four-day cruises from Miami.  Norwegian Gem visits Great Stirrup Cay during her seven-day Bahamas & Florida itinerary from New York.  Beginning in October, Norwegian Jewel will also stop at Great Stirrup Cay on her seven-day Bahamas & Florida cruises from New York. Norwegian Pearl will also visit Great Stirrup Cay this winter on her seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary from Miami.  Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian's newest ship launching next spring, will visit Great Stirrup Cay on seven-day cruises from New York to the Bahamas & Florida beginning in mid-October 2013.