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Queen Mary 2 rescues British sailor

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 June 2017 12 June 2017

A British sailor whose yacht was severely damaged by a storm in the Atlantic was rescued by Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 on Saturday, a media report in the UK said.

Mervyn Wheatley, 73, participated a race across the Atlantic when his yacht was hit by a storm and capsized, before righting itself again. The mast, however, was severely damaged.

The rescue effort was coordinated between authorities in the UK and Canada and involved a British military plane. Queen Mary 2 diverted to rescue the sailor, who was lifted onboard. He only had minor injuries, a report on the Telegraph website said.

World's largest cruise ship Symphony of the Seas floated out in France

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 June 2017 09 June 2017

The newest member of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis class of ships, Symphony of the Seas, is now one step closer to full completion as her April 2018 debut approaches. With the exterior now complete, Symphony of the Seas was floated out of her dry dock to begin the next phase of interior construction.

Symphony of the Seas will spend her inaugural summer season exploring the awe-inspiring destinations of the Mediterranean calling on ports in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Provence, France; Florence/Pisa, Rome and Naples, Italy. She will then arrive to Miami in early November to begin 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

Symphony of the Seas will claim the title of the world’s largest – and most adventure-filled – cruise ship, offering 28 more staterooms than her newest sister ship Harmony of the Seas and encompassing 230,000 gross registered tons.

Touting new features and amenities for guests, Symphony also will boast all the groundbreaking innovations and thrilling experiences that have garnered worldwide recognition for Harmony of the Seas. Among the award-winning and acclaimed favorites are the distinct seven-neighborhood concept, imaginative and sophisticated dining, Bionic Bar robot bartenders powered by Makr Shakr, Broadway-caliber entertainment, the iconic waterfront AquaTheater, the Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, and Ultimate Abyss – the tallest slide at sea.

AIDAperla arrives in Barcelona

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 June 2017 09 June 2017

AIDAperla - the newest member of the AIDA Cruises fleet - reached the port of Barcelona via the western Mediterranean on June 7, as part of its "Welcome Cruises". During AIDAperla’s maiden season, Europe’s cruise capital is, alongside Palma de Mallorca, one of the start and end ports for her 7-night cruises in the western Mediterranean.

The Rostock-based cruise company’s latest ship will be christened on June 30, 2017 in Palma de Mallorca by model and presenter, Lena Gercke. The spectacular christening ceremony will be streamed live on the Internet, the AIDA social media channels and on board all AIDA ships starting at 9:30 pm.

In deploying the twelfth member of its fleet from Barcelona, AIDA Cruises is further expanding its commitment to the Spanish megacity. With five AIDA ships docking here a total of 61 times in 2017, this year the company will once again be one of the city’s most important partners. Apart from AIDAperla, which will dock 31 times, Barcelona is also a travel destination for guests aboard AIDAstella, AIDAblu, AIDAsol and AIDAaura, and the starting point for over 20 different excursions or extended vacations in the Catalonian capital.

AIDA Cruises is also supporting Barcelona’s environmental efforts. Before the summer is out, the company - working with the relevant authorities and other partners - intends to supply AIDAperla with low-emission liquefied natural gas (LNG) while she is docked in the port. In comparison to the use of conventional fuel, emissions caused by power generated from liquefied natural gas are significantly reduced.

Since her twin ship AIDAprima has already been provided with LNG in all five ports of her Northern Europe cruises since May 2016. AIDAperla will be the second cruise ship worldwide that, thanks to a dual fuel engine, will be able to produce onboard power from LNG while docked - accounting for some 40 percent of her operating time. The requirement for this is the availability of LNG in the respective port. AIDA Cruises is also discussing this issue with other Mediterranean ports.

AIDA Cruises will step up its commitment still further in 2018. Thanks to the completion of the Carnival Group’s new cruise terminal, for the first time six ships from the AIDA fleet will be stopping at Barcelona on their cruises through the Mediterranean. The cruise corporation is investing a total of around 30 million euros in the facility which has an area of some 12,500 m². It was designed by the well-known Catalonian architect Battel I Roig, and is specifically geared to the operation of the next generation of ships that are entirely powered with LNG. The first ship of this generation, AIDAnova, will be commissioned in fall 2018.

AIDA Cruises is one of the fastest growing and commercially most successful tourism businesses in Germany. The company employs about 9,000 people from 40 countries on land and on board AIDA ships. AIDA Cruises operates one of the world’s most state-of-the-art fleets, currently comprising 12 cruise ships. Two more new ships will be built by 2021 at the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg (Germany). From 2021 AIDA Cruises will be the world’s first cruise company capable of powering its new generation of ships entirely with LNG (liquefied natural gas). More information at www.aida.de

Azamara Club Cruises’ sister ships share a rare meeting together in Barcelona

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 June 2017 09 June 2017

In celebration of National Best Friends Day on June 8, sister ships Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest made a rare appearance together in Barcelona, meeting for the first time since September 2013 in Venice. In honor of this unique event, a number of perfect pairing activities fit for the best of friends took place for guests onboard, as well as social contests for those tuning in from afar.

Favored by travelers looking for rich cultural immersions and new experiences, Azamara is known for its signature Destination Immersion programming, which provides unique voyages and curated shore excursions. The up-market cruise line rarely repeats an itinerary, which made this meeting of its two ships distinctive as Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey are seldom found in the same region of the world, let alone the same port.

“Our Destination Immersion promise means that our boutique hotels at sea often are oceans apart as they chart our exceptional, unique itineraries,” said Larry Pimentel, President & CEO of Azamara Club Cruises. “The reuniting of Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest after almost 4 years is a significant reminder that, while we deliver unmatched experiences on land across the globe, we always collectively come together to up the ante with new and exciting offerings for our guests.”

Best Friends Day is being celebrated onboard with a number of unique guest experiences and offers. A Chef’s Table raffle will take place, awarding at random a lucky stateroom winner on each ship a dinner for two. In the spirit of honoring pairs, the corresponding stateroom on the sister ship will also be declared a winner.

As the ships sailed together out of the Barcelona port, the momentous occasion was marked with a sail-away party on the pool decks of both the Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest. Azamara Journey’s Cruise Director Eric DeGray led a fleet wide toast as guests onboard both ships simultaneously cheered in celebration, followed by a night of dancing under the stars.

Azamara fans joining the celebration from afar can partake in the fun by visiting their photo gallery, or following @AzamaraVoyages, @AzamaraJourney, @AzamaraQuest and #SistersMeet on Twitter. Now through June 14, travelers looking to plan their next AzAmazing adventure with their best travel companion can head to AzamaraClubCruises.com/sistersmeet and vote for how they would spend a day in Barcelona, receiving a promotion code offering $300-$500 onboard credit* to apply towards their next voyage.

Azamara Journey kicked off its 7-Night Tapas and Wine voyage with the sister ship sailing celebration and will continue on a journey through Spain and Portugal, while Azamara Quest is nearing the end of an 11-Night Mediterranean sailing which will soon disembark in France.

US ban of travel to Cuba could affect 10,000 plus travel jobs

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 June 2017 08 June 2017

More than 10,000 jobs in the travel industry could be affected if the US president Donald Trump decides to reverse the decision of his predecessor and ban trvel of US citizens to Cuba, a business group said.

“US travel to Cuba was liberalized over the past few years by expanding legal travel in 12 categories, self-authorization, and allowing both airlines and cruise lines to offer passenger service to the island. Rolling back expanded travel could cost airlines and cruise lines $3.5 billion and affect 10,154 jobs in those industries,” Engage Cuba, a US based coalition of business groups and Cuba experts said in a report.