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Meyer Turku delivers Mein Schiff 6

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 May 2017 09 May 2017

Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland has delivered Mein Schiff 6, the fourth of six newbuildings of TUI Cruises in Hamburg has ordered from the same builder.

Like the previous vessels delivered to the same owner, Mein Schiff 6 measures at about 99,700 gross tons, whereas the two remaining units on order by TUI Cruises will be larger at 111,500 gross tons.

“At the shipyard we have a very interesting working mode. Every one to two years we develop a new ship type and then we further refine it in the following sister ships. With Mein Schiff 6 our goal was to improve further from previous ships with a few fine tunings based on passenger feedback and at the same time build it with fewer hours than before. At the same time we are ramping up our production volume to meet the demands of our long and stable order book,” Jan Meyer, CEO, said in a statement.

With an order book reaching until 2024, Meyer Turku shipyard is facing a gradual ramp up of production in the coming years.

“We are rebuilding the shipyard with heavy investments exceeding €100 million for a further increase in output. This also allows us to strengthen our team of shipbuilders, until end of 2018 we are recruiting 500 persons. During the following years our direct employment effect together with our suppliers will increase from 7000 to over 20 000 persons. This is a great opportunity for a whole cluster of specialized suppliers to develop their technologies and processes and to grow with us,” Meyer said.

Celebrity Constellation to undergo revitalization

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 May 2017 08 May 2017

The Celebrity Constellation is scheduled to enter dry-dock this upcoming Friday, May 12, 2017, and will emerge two weeks later on Friday, May 26, 2017. During the ship’s revitalization, it will be fitted with even more iconic venues, including brand new culinary concepts and a few guest favorites.

“We are continually pushing the boundaries of the cruise experience, so we are adding some incredible new features to Celebrity Constellation,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “In addition to introducing the ever-popular restaurant Qsine, we are launching an entirely new culinary experience, Top Deck Burger Bar. On top of that, we’re also incredibly excited about the addition of our Rooftop Terrace and the iconic Taste of Film experience.”

Lutoff-Perlo continued: “Additionally, we are unveiling some other ship enhancements to our Suites, revealing a stunning shopping bazaar and our signature portrait studio. Guests won’t want to leave!”

New dining venues

"Guests sailing onboard Celebrity Constellation can expect to embark on a gastronomic adventure that promises to have their senses humming with the addition of the ever-popular restaurant Qsine," the company said in a statement. Everything here is “uniquely unordinary,” from the inventive twists of favorite dishes to the playfully quirky ambiance and the iPad® menus. Qsine will reinvent the space currently known as Ocean Liners Restaurant, following a complete renovation and modernization of the space.

Introducing the newest dining venue in the Celebrity fleet – Top Deck Burger Bar. Located up on the Pool Deck in the space formally known as Mast Grill, guests can enjoy gourmet burgers that will have their taste buds begging for more. From the mouthwatering Celebrity Signature Burger to the BYOB (Build Your Own Burger), there is an extensive menu of toppings and condiments.

The popular Rooftop Terrace will also be making its debut onboard Celebrity Constellation. Intimate and inviting, the relaxing space features chic, cozy furniture, surprising artistic elements, and a large outdoor soundscape and movie screen. The Rooftop Terrace is also home to the iconic gastronomic adventure A Taste of Film – a unique fusion of film and food.

New technology

Celebrity is bringing updated technology to staterooms with the addition of new RFID door locks. Guests can now tap their SeaPass card against their door lock, which will automatically unlock for them.

Every Penthouse and Royal Suite will get updated with new powder room refreshes, including porcelain tiled floors, new glimmering fixtures, marble surfaces, and cozy seats. The rest of the suite areas will get refreshed furnishings like plush furniture, new artwork, luxurious carpeting, drapes, and bed linens – promising guests the most comfortable, relaxing modern luxury experience.

Additionally, guests can discover some of the top names in fashion and merchandise in the completely revitalized shopping area. The fresh space will rival even the chicest boulevards around the world. After guests have refreshed their wardrobe, they are encouraged to visit The Studio, Celebrity’s new high-end portrait studio ideal for capturing vacation photos.

These incredible new venues and updates are scheduled to premiere on May 26, 2017, when Celebrity Constellation emerges from her dry-dock. The revitalization comes just in time for what promises to be an extraordinary summer for anyone lucky enough to sail onboard the enhanced ship, which is scheduled to visit some of the most stunning, breathtaking destinations in the Mediterranean, the Arabian Coast, India, and the Far East.

Azamara Club Cruises announces additional Cuba voyages

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 May 2017 05 May 2017

Yesterday Azamara Club Cruises added four additional sailings to its lineup of Cuba voyages. Departing from Miami, the sailings feature overnights in Havana, as well as visits to two maiden ports of call – Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. As the cruise brand that pioneered immersive destination experiences, Azamara is offering more opportunities for guests to travel deeper into Cuba.

“Interest in traveling to Cuba from both new and loyal guests is undeniable,” said Larry Pimentel, President & CEO of Azamara Club Cruises. “Destination Immersion is the heartbeat of our brand, so naturally we wanted to deliver authentic experiences in Cuba – from new ports to unique land discovery offerings – that truly bring the country’s rich history, culture and people to life.”

Azamara has created a variety of unique people-to-people shore excursions in Cuba. Travelers can enjoy the destination from sunup to sundown – exploring historic sites by day, followed by mojitos and sultry Cuban music in the evening. Multiple overnights also allow guests the opportunity to experience the destination at night when the cobblestone streets are filled with music from salsa clubs, the scent of hand rolled Cuban cigars, and delicious local cuisine.

Shore Excursion offerings feature a variety of experiences including a visit to the open air cabaret, Tropicana, a Nelson Dominguez art gallery tour, Havana by classic car along the Malecón waterfront and Hemingway’s Havana, with more experiences coming soon. All tour programs offered by Azamara are designed to meet U.S. requirements for travel to Cuba.

Two new Cuban ports of call

Beginning January 2018, Azamara guests will have the opportunity to explore new destinations within Cuba including two new ports of call:

– Cienfuegos: Known as La Perla del Sur (Pearl of the South), Cienfuegos sits on the south-central coast of Cuba. Cienfuegos translates to "100 fires” and the town adds a bright light to this fascinating country.

– Santiago de Cuba: Perched on the Caribbean Sea southeast of the capital of Havana is Santiago de Cuba. The soul of Cuba’s second largest city is bustling, diverse and bursting at the seams with fascinating history and cultural life.

Six opportunities to experience Cuba

Azamara’s full list of Cuba itineraries for 2017 and 2018 is below. Demand is high, so travelers are encouraged to book early.

– Havana Discovery Voyage: Departing on November 20, 2017 (10-Night Miami to Miami)

– Havana Getaway Voyage: Departing November 27, 2017 (4-Night Miami to Miami)

– Panama Canal & Costa Rica Voyage: Departing January 4, 2018 (11-Night Miami to Costa Rica)

– Cuba Intensive Voyage: Departing March 9, 2018 (10-Night Miami to Havana); Features two overnights in Havana

– Cuba & Grand Cayman Voyage: Departing March 19, 2018 (7-Night Miami to Miami)

– Cuba Intensive Voyage: Departing March 28, 2018 (10-Night Miami to Miami); Features two overnights in Havana

Royal Caribbean to increase sailings and capacity in Southeast Asia from this year-end

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 May 2017 04 May 2017

Royal Caribbean International announced that Mariner of the Seas will be starting her upcoming Southeast Asian season a month earlier, adding 10 roundtrip sailings from Singapore in September 2017. The cruise brand’s presence in the region will get an additional boost with Voyager of the Seas’ first winter/spring season from Singapore in October 2018, bringing more capacity to the region as she swops places with sister ship Mariner of the Seas.

The 3,807-guest Mariner of the Seas will be returning to Singapore on September 10th this year for her 2017/18 season, instead of October as originally scheduled. The sales for her new September cruises open for sale today. They include the nine-night one-way cruise from Shanghai to Singapore on September 1st with calls at Xiamen and Ho Chi Minh City plus an overnight in Hong Kong which coincides with the Singapore one-week school holidays; and a mix of three- to five-night Southeast Asian itineraries. The ship will then be deployed to Miami, Florida in April 2018, after having homeported year-round in Asia out of Singapore and China since 2013.

Meanwhile, the 4,269-guest Voyager of the Seas is expected to bring several thousands more tourists to Southeast Asia’s ports for her 2018/19 winter/spring season. Itineraries will be revealed later this month when the season opens for sale. More guests will be able to enjoy the Royal Caribbean cruise experience onboard this ship that comes with more staterooms and revitalised features such as the FlowRider surf simulator, virtual balcony interior staterooms and added specialty restaurants.

Meanwhile since yesterday, Voyager of the Seas is back in Southeast Asia for a new season based in Singapore till June, featuring 13 sailings of three to five nights to Phuket, Penang and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) and an eight-night one-way cruise to Hong Kong, with stopovers at Bangkok (Laem Chabang) for an overnight, Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Nha Trang.

Both Voyager Class ships come with the iconic Royal Promenade that is lined with duty-free shops and cafes, an ice skating rink, a full-sized sports court, DreamWorks Entertainment and a variety of complimentary and specialty restaurants.

Thomson Cruises adds Northern Lights to 2018 offering

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 May 2017 03 May 2017

Thomson Cruises in the UK, which is part of the TUI AG group, will operate a 14 night Northern Lights cruise to Norway from Southampton on 4 October next year, the first such cruise offered by the company.

It will use the TUI Discovery as its UK based ship next year. Company officials have said that they would like to operate a ship from a port in the UK year-round. TUI Discovery will be the first Thomson Cruises’ vessel to use Southampton, the principal cruise port in the UK, for a series of cruises.

The current programme of TUI Cruises runs into October 2018 and it does not show whether the TUI Discovery will stay in Southampton after the Northern Lights cruise early that month.