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Thomson Cruises to operate TUI Discovery from Newcastle and Southampton 2018

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 March 2017 07 March 2017

Thomson Cruises, which is part of the TUI group, said it would operate the 69,130 gross ton TUI Discovery from the UK in the summer of 2018. The ship will said to the Baltic and Norway from Newcastle and to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Islands from Southampton. The company has not, as yet, provided any details about the itineraries of the present Mein Schiff 1, which will be transferred fromTUI Cruises in Germany next year. The ship's new name has not been disclosed either.

Norwegian Joy floated out at Papenburg

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 March 2017 07 March 2017

Norwegian Joy, soon to be Norwegian Cruise Line’s first cruise ship custom designed for China, was floated out of Meyer Werft'’s covered building dock II on Saturday, 4 March in Papenburg, Germany, where the 168,800-ton ship has been under construction since September 2015.

Beginning early Saturday morning, the 3,850 passenger vessel, with her distinctive hull artwork designed by Chinese artist Tan Ping, departed building dock II. Norwegian Joy is the second ship in the line’s Breakaway Plus Class. Arriving in Summer 2017 with home ports in Shanghai and Beijing (Tianjin), Norwegian Joy will be Norwegian Cruise Line's first purpose-built ship for the Chinese market and designed to deliver on the promise that guests will enjoy 'First Class at Sea’ experiences.

Norwegian Joy’s float out represents a major milestone in the vessel’s construction. With the ship being well on her way to completion, she will now move into the final phase of construction with delivery taking place on 27 April.

Fred. Olsen says newbuilding contract not imminent

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 March 2017 07 March 2017

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lies, the UK based destination focused operator of four ships, said while it looks at ways to develop its business, talk about a newbuilding contract in the near future is premature

“We are always considering our options to develop the business, but talk of a new-build in the near future is premature. We keep an open mind, but would only do it when we felt that the time was right for the business,” said Rachael Jackson, Public Relations Manager at the Ipswich based company.

A media report a couple of weeks earlier suggested that the company, which is part of the Oslo based listed Bonheur ASA group, would be looking at newbuildings.

“We are currently concentrating our efforts on refining the customer experience to ensure that our guests' enjoyment is maximized,” Jackson concluded.

Blohm + Voss to cut third of its workforce – report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 March 2017 01 March 2017

Blohm + Voss, the Hamburg based shipbuilder and ship repairer, plans to cut 300 positions, about one third of its workforce, the Norddeutsche Rundfunk (NDR) broadcasting company reports on its website.

The company, whose floating docks are part of the cityscape of Hamburg on the River Elbe, was recently sold by British investors to the privately owned Luerssen shipbuilding group. Blohm + Voss has become a major cruise ship refurbishment yard in recent years. It also builds surface combatants to the German navy.

The new owner needs to restructure the business of Blohm + Voss, which also has built several mega yachts, due to pressure from an overcapacity that is plaguing the shipbuilding industry world wide.

“Blohm + Voss is in a critical condition. In order to turn the shipyard viable and profitable in the long term, all measures of adjustment (of its operations to market conditions) will be necessary in the coming months,” NDR cited a statement it had received from Luerssen.

“Naturally I am shocked. It concerns a third of us,” said a shipyard worker interviewed by NDR in a report posted online.

TUI Cruises to split senior marketing job between two persons

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 March 2017 01 March 2017

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market segment cruise line, has decided to split its senior marketing role and appoint two persons to the posts.

Mike Schwanke, who headed the marketing activities of the company up to the new year, will take up a new position outside TUI Cruises from 1 May. On that date, Udo Lutz will assume responsibilities of Director Sales, responsible for all the channel through which the company distributes its products.

Andrea Kruse will take up the responsibility for reservations, front and back office activities, guest feedback plus training and quality, also from 1 may, TUI Cruises said in a statement.