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Havila Capella receives six month dispensation to sail

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 April 2022 26 April 2022

Havila Voyages has received a dispensation from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to operate Havila Capella for six months and the company said it would now continue to work with insurance of the ship.

“The exemption is granted in accordance with §21 of the regulations on restrictive measures regarding actions that undermine or threaten Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence, and stability. During this period, the Havila Voyages will continue its efforts to secure refinancing and change ownership of Havila Capella,” Havila Voyages said in a statement.

The ship and its sister vessels are scheduled to operate on the west coast of Norway between Bergen and Kirkenes and provide a vital link to the coastal communities along the way where the ships call.

A problem with insurance of the vessel arose as it had been financed by a Hong Kong company that is part of the Russian group sanctioned by western governments after Russian attack on Ukraine. Havila Voyages has said it is working on refinance of the ship.

“We are very happy that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given us a dispensation from the sanctions regulations. This means that the ship is now not sanctioned, since we do not operate in violation of any current regulations,” said CEO Bent Martini.

“We would like to thank our partners who have actively assisted us in this matter. The Ministry of Transport and Communications has been a great support to us, and the assistance we have received from the Norwegian Shipowners' Association has also been very useful to us. There are many who have turned around quickly and worked around the clock with this complex case related to the sanctions issue”.

The challenge Havila Voyages now faces is that some suppliers have treated Havila Capella as a sanctioned ship and announced termination of agreements entered.

“We expect that our suppliers will continue to provide us with support and service in line with our agreements now that the Norwegian authorities confirm that Havila Capella will not be sanctioned”, Martini says.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has in its reply letter emphasized that they have not taken a position on dispensation for insurance in the matter. Insurance of Havila Capella will require a special dispensation upon application from the insurance companies.

“With the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we hope for positive feedback from the insurance companies and that they apply for a dispensation. As we interpret it, it should be possible to get this dispensation”, says Martini.

“We fully understand that the insurance companies must make their own assessments, but we hope they will reinstate our insurance coverage to get Havila Capella sailing along the Norwegian coast as soon as possible”.

Virgin Voyages to name fourth ship Brilliant Lady

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 April 2022 26 April 2022

Virgin Voyages, which is the Miami based cruise operator in Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group of companies, has decided to name its fourth ship Brilliant Lady.

The ship, which will have a gross tonnage of about 108,000 and accommodation for 2,770 passengers, is due to enter service in 2023.

Like its three sister vessels, it is being built at Fincantieri in Italy.

Positive news from UK cruise market

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 April 2022 26 April 2022

Two companies have recently reported positive news from the UK cruise market, including both the deep sea and river cruise businesses

Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Harry Sommer was quoted by Travel weekly as saying: “The UK market is performing fantastically. If the bookings in the last two months were to continue, it would be our best year ever from a booking perspective, which means 2023 will be our best year ever in terms of a travel guest perspective."

“We’re on track to be up between 15% and 20% over what we did in 2019 if the current trends continue. We’re seeing decent growth in the rest of Europe too, but the UK is leading the way in terms of growth. No country got Covid right, but in the last few months the UK has been taking the leading edge on trying to get back to normal and it shows,” the report said.

Meanwhile, online travel agency cruise.co.uk has reported a three-fold increase in river cruise bookings since the start of the year compared to 2019. The most popular destination is the River Rhine, the longest river in Germany, which flows into countries including Switzerland, France and the Netherlands.

A survey of 1,200 customers revealed that prior to 2020, just over half had sailed on or considered a river cruise, but that figure had now leapt to 83%.

The ideal destination for those planning a future river cruise is the Danube, as voted for by 29% of respondents. The Rhine is set to remain popular, as it received 25% of the vote, followed by the Douro on 15%.

River cruises take place on smaller ships than ocean cruises, and have around 100-200 guests onboard. They travel along many of the major rivers in Europe and across the world, and are generally for a week or longer. River cruise lines are now back on the water, with several new ships launching this year.

Tony Andrews, deputy managing director of cruise.co.uk, said: “The advantages of sailing on a river cruise have unquestionably led to a steep increase in demand, with UK guests now much more likely to consider smaller ships for their holidays. With fewer people onboard and the opportunity to travel right into the heart of multiple eye-catching destinations, river cruises are a fantastic option.”

The UK source market generated about 2.0 million passengers in 2019, before the onslaught of the pandemic.

Will Crystal Symphony emerge in Helsinki this summer?

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 April 2022 23 April 2022

The Baltic summer cruise season, in a state of flux as never before prior to the pandemic and of course as a result of the Ukraine conflict, has resulted in more than 100 cancellations of calls to the Port of Helsinki, among others. And yet, according to the Port of Helsinki's website, there's one astonishing addition to the 2022 season: Crystal Symphony, part of the now-in-bankruptcy Crystal Cruises fleet, is slated to make a call there on July 27.

Crystal Symphony, the website tells us, will be visiting on behalf of Holland America Line. We've reached out to Holland America for comment.

At the moment, the 1995-built, 51,044 gross ton Crystal Symphony is alongside at Freeport, in the Bahamas (its sibling, Crystal Serenity, is at anchorage nearby).

MSC Cruises' next U.S, flagship to be christened in New York City

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 April 2022 22 April 2022

New York City will serve as the backdrop for an inaugural event when MSC Cruises’ newest U.S. flagship – MSC Seascape – comes into service later this year. Yesterday, the cruise line announced plans to hold the ship’s Naming Ceremony at New York’s centrally-located Manhattan Cruise Terminal on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. The star-studded event will bring MSC Cruises’ distinctive European style and glamour to the Big Apple and be attended by local dignitaries, important partners, top travel advisors, media from around the world, celebrities and international artists. And of course, no Naming Ceremony would be complete without Academy Award-Winning star Sophia Loren carrying out her iconic role as godmother to her 18th MSC Cruises ship.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, Cruise Division of MSC Group, commented: “We are particularly pleased to celebrate this momentous milestone in New York City, which holds a special place in our Group’s history, having been served by ships from the MSC Group’s cargo division since 1985. Today, as MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company leads the container shipping sector globally as well as across North America, MSC Cruises has grown to become a major player in the U.S. cruise industry. Having developed a meaningful operation out of South Florida, we are now preparing a major strategic expansion across the East Coast that will see us launch year-round cruises out of New York in 2023. We could not think of a better way of celebrating such a significant milestone than holding MSC Seascape’s – our latest flagship – naming ceremony in this wonderful city that has been an important hub for MSC Group for over three decades.”

MSC Seascape will be the cruise line’s first ship to be named in New York, reflecting MSC Cruises’ commitment to the North American cruise market and its upcoming expansion to New York and the Northeast with year-round cruises available from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal beginning in April of 2023. MSC Cruises is the world’s fastest growing cruise line and the third largest cruise brand in the world. With a truly global footprint, the line is continuing to expand and grow with two new ships coming into service in 2022 – MSC World Europa and MSC Seascape – and MSC Euribia hot on their heels in summer 2023.

Rubén Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said: “We are very excited to showcase to New Yorkers our European heritage and the unique international character we bring to cruising, matching the city’s multi-cultural flair. Bringing MSC Seascape to New York City for her Naming Ceremony is a fantastic opportunity for us to host a very special gala event onboard for our valued travel advisors and partners, introducing them to our newest ship. Come next year, New York City will be our third US home port, alongside Miami and Orlando/Port Canaveral. This is the latest example of the significant investment we’re making in the U.S. and the Caribbean, which includes building the largest cruise terminal in North America at PortMiami and offering Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve as both a stunning tropical destination and a reflection of our commitment to the environment.”

While in New York, specially invited guests from around the world will enjoy a Naming Ceremony that includes live entertainment and performances, along with a gala dinner and an opportunity to discover MSC Seascape’s onboard venues and experiences.

MSC Seascape will sail to Miami immediately following the ceremony for an inaugural season in the Caribbean, with a long list of fantastic features that make her particularly well-suited for the region’s warm, sunny weather. The ship will be the second Seaside EVO class ship to enter MSC Cruises’ fleet and the fourth vessel in the line’s highly innovative Seaside class, which has been redefining guests’ expectations for Caribbean cruising since MSC Seaside first launched in Miami in 2017.