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Updated: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings unveils bold strategic long term fleet expansion

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 April 2024 08 April 2024

Fincantieri statement: Fincantieri has announced the receipt of a highly significant order from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd at the ongoing Seatrade, the world's largest cruise industry fair in Miami. This order entails the construction of four new next-generation cruise ships: two for the Regent Seven Seas Cruises and two for the Oceania Cruises brands respectively. These vessels represent the pinnacle of technological advancement, comfort, and onboard entertainment while also exemplifying environmental sustainability.

The ships designated for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2029, will boast a gross tonnage of 77,000 tons and accommodate approximately 850 passengers. Meanwhile, the vessels for Oceania Cruises, set for deliveries in 2027 and 2028, will feature a gross tonnage of 86,000 tons and accommodate around 1,450 passengers. The contract for these four new units is now in effect and has already been secured through financing.

Additionally, the Group has signed a Letter of Intent with the same shipowner to explore the construction of four additional units1. These vessels, slated for delivery in 2030, 2032, 2034, and 2036, will be the largest ever built for the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) brand, with a gross tonnage of approximately 200,000 tons and the capacity to accommodate around 5,000 passengers each. This strategic order will see each brand crafting its own class of new ships, prioritising size, efficiency, and innovation within their respective fleets. Aligned with the Company's sustainability commitments, these new ship projects are expected to significantly contribute to the journey towards decarbonisation.

This second agreement, subject to financing and other terms and conditions, marks a highly significant new phase in the long-term partnership between the two groups.

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri stated: “We are particularly proud of this impressive new agreement and the partnership with a historic and prestigious client like Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, confirming a continuity of strategic relationships that we consider a great industrial value. An important milestone for our shipyards and a historic agreement for the Group, confirming the robust recovery of the market and the investments we had planned in our new industrial plan.”

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Fincantieri on this strategic new-ship order for the future of our company. This will ensure the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidify our long-term growth,” said Harry Sommer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “Our shared commitment to innovation and excellence will allow us to elevate the standards in our industry even further, enhancing our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet.”

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. today unveiled the most comprehensive new build order in its history – a total of eight state-of-the-art vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths, with new classes of ships for each of its three brands – and the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the Company’s private island destination in the Bahamas and its top-rated Caribbean port of call. This unprecedented decade- long strategy enhances its product offering, guest experiences, and operational infrastructure, supporting the Company’s sustained leadership in delivering innovative cruise vacations.

The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over a ten-year period, between 2026 and 2036. Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing1. Building on the success of its Allura Class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029. Lastly, following the award-winning Explorer Class ships, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029. Details regarding the ships’ amenities, staterooms, dining, recreational, efficiency, sustainability and other features will be announced in the coming months.

"This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth. It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round.”

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. expects a four-ship Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) order to replace a separate, effective, two-ship order for Oceania Cruises initially placed to secure availability with the shipyard. The four-ship order for NCL is still being finalized and is subject to financing. Delivery for the second Oceania Cruises ship is contractually scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028, but may be delayed to 2029. All expected delivery dates are preliminary and subject to change.

In partnership with the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, each brand will design their new ship class and focus on creating the largest, most efficient, and innovative vessels of their respective fleet. Aligning with the Company’s sustainability efforts, the new ship designs are expected to advance the journey towards decarbonization.

"Over the years, our long-standing relationship with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been rooted in a shared vision for the future of maritime travel, consistently setting new standards for innovation, luxury, sustainability, and guest satisfaction in the cruise industry,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director at Fincantieri. “We are thrilled to work on these new build orders and deliver emblematic cruise ships that will embody our shared legacy of excellence for generations to come.”

New pier development at Great Stirrup Cay

The new pier development at the Company’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, is slated to break ground in summer 2024 and be completed by late 2025 with an investment of approximately $150 million. The new pier will be constructed to simultaneously accommodate two large vessels of the Company’s current and future ship classes. The pier development will enhance the guest experience on Great Stirrup Cay, and along with Harvest Caye, the Company’s private island in Belize, continue to provide guests with world-class destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

American Cruise Lines announces American Patriot and American Pioneer to join Project Blue fleet

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 April 2024 08 April 2024

American Cruise Lines has announced that two more new small ships coming in 2025, American Patriot and American Pioneer. These 125-passenger sister ships represent the 5th and 6th ships in the company’s Project Blue series of 12 new small ships for the U.S. market. The ships will be built at the company’s affiliated shipyard, Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland.

American Patriot will begin sailing in June 2025, and American Pioneer in November 2025 and both new ships will operate a host of American’s exclusive U.S. itineraries up and down the East Coast, including all-new 15-Day Grand Florida Coast & Keys cruises, beginning in 2025. This new longer Florida itinerary follows the enormously successful 2024 launch of American’s 8-Day Florida Gulf Coast & Keys cruises, which are offered on several of the Line’s first four Project Blue ships, 100-passenger Coastal Cats: American Eagle and American Glory (2023), and American Liberty and American Legend (2024).

American Patriot and American Pioneer will feature 5 decks and 56 staterooms. They will offer a more traditional bow construction and slightly deeper draft with full stabilization, enhancing coastwise capabilities for smooth sailing. These new ships will further broaden the itinerary possibilities for the company’s growing array of U.S coastal itineraries. American Cruise Lines remains the only company in the world with a fleet of 100% U.S. flagged riverboats and small ships, enabling the Line to offer domestic cruises no one else sails across the U.S.A. – exploring both rivers and coasts.

American Patriot and American Pioneer will showcase elegant interior design and spacious 100% private balcony accommodations – including a range of large standard staterooms, suites, and singles. The ships’ 4th decks will offer all-suite accommodations ranging from 420 to 620 square feet, extraordinary for ships of this size.

Both new ships will feature an expansive Main Lounge and Restaurant on deck 1, offering guests water views from every seat. On the 5th deck, American Patriot and American Pioneer will offer sitting, dining, and fitness areas including a 360-degree Skywalk walking track, an indoor Sky Lounge, outside Sun Deck, and casual café. The new ships also offer a Bow Terrace and Horizon Lounge on deck 3, as well as indoor fitness center on deck 4.

When American Patriot and American Pioneer begin sailing in 2025, American Cruise Lines will operate 21 small ships across the country, sailing the largest collection of U.S. River and coastal itineraries ever offered before in America. All the company’s cruises operate like river cruises, remaining fully in the U.S.A throughout the entire itinerary, and exploring along protected waters in sight of land. Coastally, this category of cruise has never been available in so many regions of the country before. American continues to respond to the demand for 100% domestic itineraries by introducing new small ships with world-class amenities – unlocking amazing new opportunities for cruising closer to home year after year.

Viking files registration statement with SEC for proposed IPO

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 April 2024 08 April 2024

Viking Holdings Ltd announced on Friday that it has publicly filed a registration statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed initial public offering of its ordinary shares. The number of ordinary shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The proposed offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

Viking intends to list its ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “VIK.”

BofA Securities and J.P. Morgan are acting as lead underwriters and representatives for the proposed offering. UBS Investment Bank and Wells Fargo Securities are also acting as lead book-running managers. HSBC and Morgan Stanley are acting as bookrunners for the proposed offering, and Rothschild & Co and Stifel are acting as co-managers for the proposed offering.

The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus, when available, may be obtained from: BofA Securities, NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, telephone: 1-800-294-1322, or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204, or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

New summer charter for Ocean Victory

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 April 2024 07 April 2024

SunStoneMaritime Group A/S has announced the long-term summer charter of the Infinity vessel, Ocean Victory, with a new client.

From April 2025, the Ocean Victory will be trading in the Mediterranean Sea during northern hemisphere summer seasons for Spanish luxury cruise operator, Alma Cruceros.

Alma Cruceros is a Spanish operator planning itineraries covering Spanish destinations in the Mediterranean, as well as
Northern and Western Africa and the Canary Islands. The cruise product will be designed for Spanish speaking passengers in all areas from music, entertainment, cuisine, and crew.

The Ocean Victory will continue operating southern hemisphere summer seasons in Antarctica for Albatros Expeditions.
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The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection makes key appointments

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 April 2024 07 April 2024

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection introduces three key executives to its C-suite and senior leadership team, reaffirming the company’s commitment to continued growth and the delivery of luxury travel experiences.

Rachel Moosa assumes the role of Chief People Officer for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, drawing upon her extensive global Human Resources expertise to oversee the execution of the company's comprehensive people strategy. With over twenty-five years of Human Resources experience, encompassing business unit operational and leadership roles, Rachel's most notable achievement was serving as the Senior Vice President of Talent & Culture for Accor in the Middle East and Africa. In this role, she orchestrated the Talent Acquisition, Development, and Engagement strategy for over 200 hotels and 35,000 colleagues.

Throughout her career, Rachel has consistently driven employee engagement and business performance through practical strategies that fuel transformational change. As an HR Generalist, she has successfully led the M&A process for several integrations and possesses a significant background in HR strategy, learning & development, talent acquisition, and organizational change. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Hospitality Management from the University of Central Lancashire and a Masters of Science in International Human Resource Management and Development from the University of Manchester. She is also a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and holds SHRM's Senior Certified Professional Certificate.

Rachel's broad experience in Human Resources, particularly within the hospitality sector, positions her as an invaluable asset for the company's growth. Her focus on creating an exceptional workplace experience, from onboarding to offboarding, will ensure the seamless attraction, development, and retention of top talent.

In a strategic move to bolster its marketing endeavors, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection welcomes Gaby Aiguesvives as the company’s first Chief Marketing Officer. Gaby brings a wealth of marketing and strategic experience from her previous role at Saks/Hudson’s Bay Company, where she led marketing strategy, analytics, personalization, loyalty, and insights functions. Prior to this role, she spearheaded growth and performance marketing for all of Hudson Bay Company’s (HBC) brands, including Saks, OFF 5TH, Lord & Taylor, and The Bay. Gaby initially joined HBC as Director of Corporate Strategy in October 2014 and subsequently held various leadership roles.

Prior to joining HBC, Gaby served as a management consultant at The Cambridge Group, focusing on developing growth strategies for retail and consumer companies. Gaby's career has been marked by her leadership in customer loyalty, analytics, insights, personalization, and marketing analytics. She holds a B.S. in Finance & Economics from Penn State University and an MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

In her new role as CMO, Gaby will oversee best-in-class marketing initiatives designed to elevate brand awareness and drive consideration among qualified target audiences, strategically positioning The Ritz- Carlton Yacht Collection as an unparalleled ultra-luxury travel experience. Gaby will spearhead efforts to deepen customer knowledge throughout all phases of the customer lifecycle to inspire, engage, and retain them effectively. With a background rooted in corporate strategy and customer insights, and a track record of success in scaling performance marketing for luxury brands, Gaby is well-positioned to lead the company’s marketing strategy and fuel growth.

To continuously elevate the luxury yachting experience through innovative technology solutions, Lakshmanan Duraisamy (Lak) takes on the role of Senior Vice President of Information Technology. Lak brings over 20 years of technology leadership experience, having played pivotal roles in driving digital transformations for Amazon, Carnival Corporation, Walt Disney World, and Open Text Corporation, among others. His contributions have consistently led to digital transformations, advanced information architecture and systems, streamlined technology operations, and enriched overall guest experiences through innovative technology solutions. With a Master of Science in Computer Science from Florida Atlantic University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Engineering from PSG College of Technology, Lak has a proven track record in technology leadership.

In his new capacity, Lak will spearhead the IT strategy, applying his wealth of experience to further optimize the company’s technological efficiency, with a focus on enhancing guest experiences and operational efficiency to continue defining the future of luxury cruising. He brings a wealth of knowledge, a history of successful leadership, and a commitment to excellence, positioning the brand for continued success in the evolving landscape of luxury travel.
“We extend a warm welcome to Rachel, Gaby, and Lak, who bring impressive backgrounds and proven track records to our leadership team,” expressed Jim Murren, Executive Chairman and CEO of The Ritz- Carlton Yacht Collection. “Together, we are dedicated to understanding our guests, fostering an environment where our dedicated Ladies and Gentlemen thrive, and leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional experiences for our guests and world-class team.”

Ernesto Fara, President and CFO of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, added, “The addition of Rachel, Gaby, and Lak marks an exciting chapter for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Their unique talents and expertise align seamlessly with our vision, propelling us further as a global leader in ultra-luxury travel.”