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Bud Darr appointed President and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 December 2024 20 December 2024

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced yesterday that its Global Executive Committee has appointed Charles “Bud” Darr as President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 3, 2025. Darr succeeds Kelly Craighead, who, earlier this year, announced her plans to leave the organization at year’s end.

Darr returns to CLIA, having previously held the post of Senior Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs from 2010 to 2017.

He joins CLIA from MSC Group where he served as Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs for more than seven years. He has also held positions within the U.S. Coast Guard, including Deputy Chief of Maritime & International Law, and he has served in the U.S. Navy, Merchant Marine, and Coast Guard.

“Bud’s proven leadership and dedication to advancing the cruise industry’s policies and environmental leadership practices make him the ideal candidate to lead us into a new era of growth and innovation,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman of the Board, CLIA. “His extensive background and understanding of the maritime industry will be invaluable assets to CLIA as we set even higher benchmarks for success, and I look forward to working with him to drive our collective mission.”

In his role as President and CEO, Darr will lead the next phase of CLIA’s global strategy at an important time for the industry as the cruise sector builds on a strong and responsible growth trajectory in support of its 2050 sustainability targets. A highly respected figure in the maritime world, Darr brings exceptional maritime experience and outstanding relationships across the global cruise industry and its related trade, equipment, ports, shipbuilders, and service providers.

“I am thrilled to be returning to CLIA, and I am grateful for the confidence that the Global Executive Committee and CLIA-member lines have placed in me,” Darr commented. “With the dynamic changes and opportunities ahead, this industry is poised to set new pathways and raise the bar for innovation and sustainability. I am eager to harness our collective expertise to propel us toward an even brighter future. Together, we will navigate the global complexities and reach significant milestones.”

Darr will draw on his extensive experience from the broader maritime community, including his involvement with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO, UK Chamber of Shipping, Liberian Shipowners Council, SEA-LNG, Society for Gas as Marine Fuel, World Shipping Council, IMO World Maritime University, Cruise Safety and Sustainability Forum, and the Seamen's Church Institute (SCI), to enhance CLIA’s standing worldwide.

Darr began his education in Submarine Nuclear Engineering and later obtained his formal undergraduate education at the US Merchant Marine Academy. During his service with the US Coast Guard, he studied law at the George Washington University Law School.

Resorts World Cruises adds third ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 December 2024 20 December 2024

Resorts World Cruises announced today the 1,940-passenger 77,741 gross ton Star Scorpio as the third cruise ship to join Resorts World Cruises. Star Scorpio will introduce a series of cruises with Singapore as the homeport. The ship currently operates as Pacific Explorer for P&O Cruises Australia. For her maiden voyage, she will depart from the Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) on 26 March 2025 with a series of voyages that will continue until 21 July 2025. Star Scorpio will sail to many popular destinations, including to Jakarta and Medan in Indonesia, Melaka and Pulau Redang in Malaysia, Bangkok and Ko Samui in Thailand and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

Passengers embarking the Star Scorpio from Singapore will have a variety of exciting itineraries to choose from in 2025. The 6 Day / 5 Night Melaka-Jakarta Cruises will have ten sailings (26 Mar - 15 Apr and 11 June - 1 July) and the 6 Day / 5 Night Bangkok-Ko Samui Cruises (20 Apr – 10 May) will offer five sailings. Besides that, passengers can also enjoy the 5 Day / 4 Night Ko Samui-Pulau Redang Cruises (15 – 23 May) with three sailings, the 4 Day / 3 Night Melaka- Medan Cruises (27 May - 8 June) with five sailings or the 6 Day / 5 Night Melaka-Ho Chi Minh Cruises (6 – 21 July) with four departures from Singapore.

In addition to the Singapore homeport deployment, the itineraries are designed so that passengers can also embark for round-trip cruises at the dual homeports in Jakarta, Bangkok (via Laem Chabang), Melaka and Ho Chi Minh City (via Phu My Port). Passengers can start embarking Star Scorpio from Jakarta (via Tanjong Priok Port) from 29 March until 13 April, as well as from 14 until 29 June 2025. During these two periods, Star Scorpio will offer a total of eight sailings from Jakarta with the 6 Day / 5 Night Singapore-Melaka Cruises coinciding with the Indonesian school holidays and the Hari Raya celebrations at the end of March.

From 22 April until 12 May 2025 and in time for Thailand’s school holidays, passengers can embark Star Scorpio from Bangkok (via Laem Chabang Port) to experience the 6 Day / 5 Night Ko Samui-Singapore Cruise with five departures.
Subsequently between 28 May and 9 June 2025, passengers have the option to embark and depart from Melaka (via the ICQS cruise terminal) to enjoy the 4 Day / 3 Night Medan (via Kuala Tanjung)-Singapore Cruise with five sailings during the Malaysian school holidays.

Wrapping up Star Scorpio’s deployment in Southeast Asia, Resorts World Cruises will create new milestones in Vietnam as the first cruise line to homeport in Ho Chi Minh City. Passengers can embark from Ho Chi Minh City (via Phu My Port) and discover the joy of cruising with four sailings of the 6 Day / 5 Night Singapore-Melaka Cruises aboard Star Scorpio from 9 until 24 July 2025 during the Vietnamese school holidays.

With departures from Jakarta, Bangkok, Melaka and Ho Chi Minh City all sailing into Singapore, Star Scorpio will berth conveniently at the Singapore Cruise Center (SCC), which is connected to the HarborFront MRT and VivoCity mall. As such, passengers can commute and explore the city with ease using Singapore’s mass transit system and do more last-minute shopping at the mall.

“We are pleased to introduce Star Scorpio as the third cruise ship for our fleet and to kick start her maiden deployment in Singapore. Star Scorpio’s dual homeport in Singapore with different countries in Asia will offer Indonesians, Thais, Malaysians and Vietnamese round-trip cruises from their ports during their peak holiday periods without the need to fly to another country”, said Mr. Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises. “For Vietnam, Star Scorpio will be the first cruise ship to homeport in Ho Chi Minh City, allowing Vietnamese to enjoy affordable cruises to Singapore and Melaka. For Singapore passengers, the 14-hour Jakarta port time will allow passengers to go to the historic city of Bandung using the new high-speed rail, which travels at a speed of up to 250 km per hour with the rare chance to also visit a live volcano” he added.

Prior to commencing operations in 2025, Star Scorpio will undergo a US$ 50 million renovation and upgrade in Singapore and will feature many restaurants, bars, showroom and other recreational facilities. Like other Resorts World Cruises ships, Star Scorpio will have amazing entertainment, parties and activities onboard the ship.

Viking announces 10 new ocean itineraries in 2026 and 2027 with 12 additional ports-of-call

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 December 2024 18 December 2024

Viking today announced 10 new ocean itineraries in the Mediterranean, United Kingdom, Ireland and Northern Europe that are now available for booking in 2026 and 2027. The new itineraries range from eight to 22 days and feature 12 additional recurring ports that are new for Viking ocean voyages: Fowey, England; Bordeaux, France; Limerick (Foynes), Ireland; Riga, Latvia; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Londonderry, Northern Ireland; Haugesund, Norway; Palma de Mallorca and Bilbao, Spain; Fort William and Tobermory, Scotland; and Karlskrona, Sweden.

“As our award-winning fleet of small ocean ships continues to grow, we are pleased to introduce new voyages that have been thoughtfully planned for curious travelers,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “Every Viking itinerary is focused on the destination, and our state-of-the-art ships, with no children and no casinos, allow guests to explore the world in elegant Viking comfort.”

With a fleet of small sister ships, Viking offers more than 100 different itineraries across all five oceans. Viking’s new ocean voyages visit iconic cities – as well as lesser-known destinations – throughout Europe and include the following, with additional combination voyages also available:

Quark Expeditions closes 2024 with record-breaking year and welcomes new President

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 December 2024 17 December 2024

Quark Expeditions has celebrated a historic year of record-breaking sales, passenger counts, and prestigious industry accolades, including being named Best Expedition Cruise Line at Virtuoso Travel Week for the second year in a row, winning two Gold Magellan Awards, two Cruise Critic Awards, and, today, having the distinct honor of being named an Afar Travel Vanguard recipient for our Inuit Culinary Experience, Tundra to Table.

True to its innovative and pioneering spirit, Quark Expeditions charted new paths in 2024. The award-winning polar operator launched three highly successful new voyages, Essential Patagonia, Gems of West Greenland, and Canada’s Remote Arctic. Utilizing the technologically-advanced Ultramarine, the industry-leading expedition team navigated unmarked fjords in Patagonia, flew high above Ellesmere Island in the Canadian High Arctic, and soared above snow-capped mountain peaks and glaciers in Greenland. Quark Expeditions also unveiled two exclusive 2025 voyages: Northwest Passage to Newfoundland and Antarctica by Helicopter, and, this November, the company welcomed its newest addition to the fleet, the state-of-the-art Ocean Explorer. With nearly 700 days at sea in the Arctic and Antarctic, Quark Expeditions is proudly polar-only, continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world’s most remote wildernesses.

As this landmark year ends, Quark Expeditions reaches another milestone in its history with the retirement of Andrew White, who has served as President since 2014. White’s transformative tenure at Quark Expeditions, which will conclude at the end of the month, began in 2012 when he joined as VP of Sales. As President of Quark Expeditions, White has driven innovation, spearheaded growth, and upheld its proudly polar heritage. White’s Presidency steered a new era for Quark Expeditions, which included the unveiling of our Polar Promise, the most holistic sustainability policy in the polar expedition industry, the building of Ultramarine, a purpose-built polar expedition ship equipped with twin-engine helicopters, and the company’s triumphant return to Snow Hill in November 2023. Andrew White’s dedicated and unwavering leadership, both in the field and in the office, garnered immense respect from his team and the wider industry.

“The polar regions are places of unparalleled inspiration,” said Andrew White. “Every journey over the last decade has deepened my appreciation for these regions and the incredible wildlife and people that call them home. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, building on our legacy of meaningful exploration, and connecting so many to the transformative experience of the polar regions. As I pass the baton to Sam Seward, I am confident he will carry forward our core values of going beyond, going responsibly, and going together. I say for one last time, ‘Onward!’”

Seward has taken on his role as President on December 5th, and with him brings a bold vision for the future of Quark Expeditions. For the last seven years, Seward has led Travelopia Group’s Adventure Brands, including Exodus Adventure Travels and Sawadee Reisen, both of which promote and sell Quark in Europe. Throughout his career, he has passionately championed travel as a transformative force that fosters appreciation of the natural world, while emphasizing the pivotal role travel companies play in its conservation and regeneration. Seward brings a wealth of sustainability experience, having acted as Chief Sustainability Officer at Travelopia and led B Corporation (B Corp) certification for Exodus Adventure Travels earlier this year.

“Andrew’s leadership sets a high bar, and I’m deeply honored to carry his legacy forward,” said Sam Seward. “The Quark team are simply obsessed with ensuring guests experience the best the polar regions have to offer. More time off the ship experiencing the terrain, more contact with our pioneering award-winning field team, and excellent itineraries aboard our fantastic fleet. Together with our exceptional team, I am excited to build on this strong foundation, driving new initiatives and inspiring impact as we continue to explore, protect, and celebrate the wonders of the polar regions.”

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection christens its superyacht Ilma

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 December 2024 14 December 2024

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection celebrated the christening of its latest luxury superyacht, Ilma, on December 11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Honoring maritime traditions, the ceremony featured a ceremonial blessing and the iconic breaking of a Champagne bottle, symbolizing good fortune and safe travels for all guests and employees on board.

Jim Murren, Executive Chairman and CEO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, and Ernesto Fara, President and CFO, joined Ilma’s Captain Magnus Bengtsson and General Manager Sasha Tyas, along Father Sandford Sears – affectionately known as “Father Sandy” – from Seafarers' House at Port Everglades. Together, they celebrated an esteemed group of female leaders from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, both shipboard and shoreside, who collectively fulfilled the role of Ilma’s godmothers. Each team member represents a unique story of leadership and inspiration, uniting to embody the spirit of discovery and elegance that defines Ilma.

The celebration was held abord Ilma at Port Everglades, which was attended by employees from the company’s Fort Lauderdale office, local officials, and distinguished guests. Attendees enjoyed light bites, signature cocktails inspired by the yacht’s culinary offerings, and a live performance. The godmothers then took the stage to officially christen Ilma with the traditional Champagne bottle break, offering their heartfelt wishes for the yacht’s journeys ahead.

“The christening of Ilma marks a significant moment in our journey, as we officially welcome this extraordinary yacht into our fleet. Ilma represents growth and the exciting future of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection,” said Murren. “We are incredibly grateful to all those who have worked tirelessly to bring this beautiful yacht to life – from our dedicated team members to our global partners. This ceremony offers a glimpse of the exceptional design, innovative dining, legendary service, and unforgettable experiences that await those who step aboard Ilma.”

Joining Evrima, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s inaugural yacht, Ilma made its debut in the Mediterranean in September 2024, sailing from Monte Carlo to Rome. Named after the Maltese word for “water,” Ilma measures 790 feet (241 meters) and accommodates up to 448 guests across its 224 spacious suites, each featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces with sweeping sea views. With one of the highest space-to-guest and guest-to-employee ratios at sea, Ilma sets new standards for the ultra-luxury yachting experience with exceptional dining, innovative design, outstanding amenities, and personalized service.

Ilma offers seamless transitions between interior and exterior spaces, connecting guests to the sea and breathtaking destinations. Guests can enjoy five world-class dining venues, a refreshed in-suite dining program, seven bars, and a signature wine vault. Highlights include dining concepts by Michelin-starred restaurant chefs Fabio Trabocchi and Michael Mina, an extensive Marina and Marina Terrace bringing guests to the water’s edge, a dynamic open-air pool and entertainment deck, and The Ritz-Carlton Spa®, featuring treatments from ESPA, 111SKIN, and Pisterzi.

For the 2024-2025 winter season, Ilma joins Evrima in the Caribbean, offering scenic voyages to the region’s most captivating islands. In summer 2025, Ilma will explore Northern Europe, marking the company’s first itineraries in the North and Baltic Seas, calling on dynamic cities like Copenhagen, Reykjavík, and Bordeaux. Guests will also enjoy voyages to beloved yachting havens, including the Greek Isles, the Balearic Islands, the French Riviera, and the Italian Riviera.