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Jordi Caballé Valls appointed MedCruise Secretary General

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 February 2018 14 February 2018

MedCruise has appointed Jordi Caballé Valls as new Secretary General.

Jordi Caballé, a well-recognised consultant in port management and development, will provide his solid expertise in tax regulations and auditing to the association. Jordi has been involved in many seaport-industry-projects, developing knowledge and advising both private companies and public bodies such as ESPO, World Bank, and port authorities worldwide. He is also investigating port policies, port choice, and port concessions as PhD Project in Economics & Business.

“It is an honour for me to be part of the world’s biggest cruise port association. I will work very hard together with the President and the Board of Directors to achieve the goals of the association, which are our members’ goals," said Jordi Caballé after being appointed as Secretary General.

Appreciating the productive work done for the Association in the past years, MedCruise would like to take this opportunity to thank Thanos Pallis (MedCruise SG, during the period 2013-2017) and Aimilia Papachristou (acting SG, during the period Jan-Feb 2018) for their contribution to the works of the Association.

DFDS orders two large ropax ferries at GSI in China

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 February 2018 12 February 2018

DFDS A/S, the Copenhagen based listed ferry company, has ordered two 4,500 lane metre and 600 passenger capacity ropax vessels that will be built at the Guangzhou Shipyard International Co, Ltd (GSI) in China at its Nansha facility.

Deliveries are scheduled in the first and third quarters of 2021 and both ships are planned to be deployed on one of the Baltic routes of the company, connecting Lithuania with either Sweden or Germany.

"This investment reflects our commitment to and belief in a continued strong development in the Baltic region," says Niels Smedegaard, CEO. "The new ships will enable us to improve service levels for all our customers and improve the efficiency of the route network. The investment totals at about DKK 1.8 billion.

NaviGate to bring maritime professionals in Turku in May

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 February 2018 12 February 2018

NaviGate, an international fair for professionals, organised at the Turku Fair and Congress Center (Finland) from 16 to 17 May 2018. The event will bring together around 200 companies showcasing their expertise.

"The event is an important meeting place that offers participants the opportunity to network and create new contacts and reinforce existing ones. The programme will feature themes that are currently the industry’s hottest topics. In the fair halls and conference rooms, NaviGate will introduce visitors to, among other things, cruise ship building, Arctic know-how, maritime logistics and new and renewable sources of energy<' the organisers said a statement .

Jan Meyer, CEO Meyer Turku Oy, Director Juhani Pitkänen from RCCL and Jörg Polzer, JPSC Strategy Consulting & Advisory Services, among others, will speak about cruise ship building and the renewal of the maritime industry at the fair.

Risto Paldanius, Director, Business Development, Energy Solutions from Wärtsilä, will be one of the speakers addressing new and renewable energy sources during the event.

Other interesting topics during the fair will include the test area for autonomous ships in Eurajoki, maritime industry digitalisation from an international perspective and remote monitoring.

A seminar on Arctic know-how will be organised in connection with NaviGate. The Arctic Economic Council (AEC) and the Chamber of Commerce’s Transport Day will also be featured at the event. The topics addressed during the Transport Day will include digitalisation and automation, i.e. autonomous ships and vehicles and the opportunities offered by digitalisation to the maritime industry and logistics companies. The maritime and automotive industries are strongly growing sectors in South-West Finland and ones that will be shaped by digitalisation. The Logistics Company of the Year award will be handed out during an event organised by the Chamber of Commerce.

Seven Seas Mariner dry-docking to complete Regent's $125 million refurbishment program

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 February 2018 08 February 2018

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has confirmed details for the upcoming bow-to-stern refurbishment of Seven Seas Mariner, the world’s first all-suite, all-balcony cruise ship. After a 20-day drydock in April 2018 at Chantier Naval de Marseille, Seven Seas Mariner will re-emerge with dramatic new culinary experiences, elegant new suite designs, and completely renewed modern guest spaces. After her drydock refurbishment, Seven Seas Mariner will immediately reposition to the Pacific Northwest to take travelers on a fully immersive, luxury Alaska experience.

“We are delighted to relaunch the refurbished Seven Seas Mariner for what will be an unforgettable 2018 Alaska season,” said Jason Montague, president and chief executive officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “Seven Seas Mariner will have been elevated to the highest standards of elegance, and guests will enjoy the highly personalized service delivered by every member of Seven Seas Mariner’s exceptional staff and crew. Once Seven Seas Mariner completes her refurbishment, Regent’s fleet will definitively be the most luxurious at sea.”

To celebrate Seven Seas Mariner’s refurbishment milestone, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering a three-category upgrade aboard the ship’s 10- and 11-night, 2018 Alaska itineraries for any new bookings made before March 31, 2018. Guests booking a Deluxe Veranda Suite will be upgraded to a Concierge Suite, and receive Concierge-level amenities, such as a free one-night, pre-cruise hotel package. Travel agents also receive a $250 gift card for every new booking on eligible voyages, departing May 6, June 20 and 30, August 22, September 2 and 12, 2018, or a $100 gift card for any new seven-night 2018 Alaska voyage booking.

The refurbished Seven Seas Mariner will sail the Last Frontier on 15 unforgettable 7-, 10- and 11-night itineraries, which alternate departures from Vancouver and Seward. With an average of 44 free and unlimited shore excursions included as part of the cruise fare, a most-inclusive, luxury Alaska experience aboard Seven Seas Mariner delivers the best value for an adventure in the Great Land.

Renewed modern spaces

Seven Seas Mariner’s pool deck will receive the most comprehensive redesign, with a new open layout and teak flooring throughout. The centerpiece is a new mosaic-tiled pool, featuring a broad ledge for lounging in shallow water. Guests can enjoy expanded lunch selections, including steaks, chops, salmon, chicken and sausage, offered a la minute from new infrared barbeque grills and new buffet bars at the Pool Grill.

The ship’s atrium, corridors and guest spaces will all receive new carpeting, art, furniture and décor. Guests will take comfort in the latest luxury styles in the reception area, Coffee Connection, Card Room, boutiques, and the Casino, all completely revamped from the steel up. A handsome, remodeled Library will exude comfort with dark-wood bookshelves contrasted against cream furnishings, crowned by a glistening copper-adorned chandelier. A vibrant cobalt-and-silver color scheme will complete the country club ambiance in the Connoisseur Club cigar lounge. Additionally, the flooring on the Deck 6 Promenade will be replaced with new teak.

Offering an expansive menu of invigorating and restorative rituals for Seven Seas Mariner guests, the shipboard Canyon Ranch SpaClub will receive a soothing new design, featuring pebble-stone tiles and light-wood accents in the treatment rooms. The adjoining fitness and aerobics center also will see new state-of-the-art machines and equipment to help guests maintain healthier, active regimens while at sea.

New accommodations

Seven Seas Mariner guests will be ensconced in new elegantly appointed suites, featuring décor such as the Regent Elite Slumber bed with plush, padded leather headboard, and enjoy incomparable views of the mesmerizing sea and passing landscape from their private balcony or sitting area, furnished with a stylish sofa, accent table and new artwork. All suites feature walk-in closets and oversized, marble-accented bathrooms with L’Occitane amenities.

New dining experiences

New gourmet culinary experiences also will delight Seven Seas Mariner guests. The flagship restaurant Compass Rose will deliver a new sophisticated ambiance, with added dramatic flair created by grand crystal chandeliers, recessed ceiling lights, sleek, leather chairs ringing intimate tables, and plush cobalt blue drapes accenting the restaurant’s oversized windows. Compass Rose guests will savor the recently introduced menu, which provides seemingly endless, customizable combinations, making it the largest specialty restaurant at sea.

Regent’s new Chartreuse specialty restaurant also will be installed during the ship’s refurbishment and debut a delectable modern French menu. Already a guest favorite and first introduced aboard Seven Seas Explorer, Chartreuse’s menu of innovative French fare will be complemented with new furnishings, china, flooring and décor elements that together evoke memories of a fine Parisian restaurant. Additionally, longtime favorite Prime 7 classic steakhouse will be reimagined with a new ultra-stylish design, featuring a vibrant blue and tan color scheme.

Celebrity Silhouette to add three ex UK sailings on strong demand

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 February 2018 06 February 2018

Celebrity Cruises, the premium market unit in Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd (RCCL) group, has added three sailings to its Silhouette ship’s schedule in 2019 out of Southampton, Travel Weekly reports.

The 2,886-passenger capacity vessel arrives in April to replace Celebrity Eclipse, which has been based in the UK for eight years. Following “phenomenal” demand, Celebrity has decided to increase the number ex-UK itineraries.

The 12-night Iceland and Fjords itinerary calling at the Channel Islands, Cork, Dublin, and Icelandic stop-offs Akureyri and Reykjavik, departs May 7, 2019. Prices start from £1,979.

The 14-night Scandinavia and Russia cruise departs on June 30 calling at Bruges; Copenhagen; Stockholm, Visby, both in Sweden; Tallinn, Estonia; St Petersburg; and Berlin before returning to Southampton. Prices start from £2,379.

The 14-night Western Mediterranean cruise departs Southampton on July 28 during the school summer holidays. Prices lead in from £2,479, with the ship calling at Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Rome, Livorno, both Italy; Provence, France; Barcelona; and Gibraltar, before returning to Southampton.

Claire Stirrup, Celebrity’s sales director UK and Ireland, called the decision to add to Silhouette’s ex-UK sailings “a very simple one”. She was quoted as saying: “Since announcing the news that Celebrity Silhouette will call Southampton home, the response has been phenomenal with such a buzz among agents. Their support for the Celebrity Cruises brand and enthusiasm for our products made the decision to grow the number of ex-UK itineraries a very simple one.”