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Cruise industry veteran Ken Muskat joins MSC Cruises

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 June 2013 07 June 2013

MSC Cruises (USA), Inc. has announced that industry veteran Ken Muskat has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing effective June 3rd. In this role, he will be responsible for overseeing sales, marketing, public relations and customer service for North America. He will report to Richard Sasso, MSC Cruises (USA) President and CEO.

"Ken joins MSC at a very exciting time," says Sasso. "With our largest and most luxurious ship, MSC Divina, preparing to sail year-round from PortMiami, Ken’s years of experience, excellent relationships with the travel agent community and tremendous enthusiasm for the MSC brand will certainly be assets as we prepare for important growth in North America."

"I am honored to be joining such an exciting and unique cruise brand at a time when MSC has clearly established itself as a major player in the industry and has committed to growing in this market,” said Muskat. "The brand provides an outstanding vacation experience that is definitely a best kept secret. I'm looking forward to working closely with such a talented and dedicated team, as well as our Travel Agent partners, to market and sell the benefits of our special Mediterranean style cruising.”

"We are delighted to have Ken join us," adds Sasso. "He is a consummate professional and we are looking forward to working with him."

Muskat comes to MSC with more than eighteen years’ experience with Royal Caribbean International. Recognized for exceptional sales, marketing and leadership abilities, Ken has served in a variety of senior executive roles. Prior to joining MSC, he was instrumental in successfully leading marketing, sales, consumer outreach and onboard revenue initiatives for Royal Caribbean. During this time, he hosted the cruise industry’s first weekly online radio show for both travel agents and consumers, which ran for 22 weeks reaching over 24,000 listeners a week.

Early in his career, Ken was twice named one of Travel Agent Magazine’s “Top 100 Rising Stars of the Travel Industry”. More recently, he was a recipient of University of Hartford’s Anchor Award, the most prestigious honor presented by the university’s alumni association to recognize graduates who have achieved the highest levels of professional accomplishments.

Ken currently serves on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of the Children’s Cancer Caring Center, the only free treatment center for childhood cancer in the southeastern United States, and is an annual contributor and supporter of the United Way. He is a graduate of University of Hartford, holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and Advertising.

STX Finland and Fjord Line in €30 million ropax refit deal

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 June 2013 05 June 2013

STX Finland, the Finnish unit of STX Europe that again is part of the STX Business Group of South Korea, has signed an agreement with Fjord Line, the Norwegian ferry company, regarding extensive refurbishment and alterations to the ropax ferry Bergensfjord, STX Finland said in a statement.

Areas currently occupied by cabins will be converted into public areas, the duty free shop will be expanded and the ship’s café and restaurant areas will be enhanced and expanded. Falkum Hansen Design, the Norwegian interior designers, are responsible for the new interiors.

The work will be carried out at the Rauma yard of STX Finland and final agreement is subject to the approval of the boars of the two companies. Once the work that will take four months have been completed, the ship will enter service between Sandefjord in Norway and Stromstad in Sweden.

Design firm shows concept of Color Line cruise ship project

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 June 2013 04 June 2013

Falkum Hansen Design, the Norwegian interior design company with focus on maritime intreriors, has a concept design of a cruise vessel for Color Line, the Norwegian ferry company, on its website.

A half a minute long video shows the exterior of a vessel that appears to be based on Color Magic and Color Fantasy, two 75,000 gross ton cruise ferries that operate between Oslo and Kiel. The design has about a dozen lifeboats on either side, which would indicate that a large vessel is in question.

A German media report says that the planned ship would operate year round cruises to "Noddland," a term used in Germany to refer to northern destinations in general and Norway in particular.

Tallink pays more for five year money than DFDS in Oslo

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 June 2013 04 June 2013

Tallink, the Estonian ferry company that said today it had placed NOK900 million worth of five year notes on the Oslo market, has paid a significantly higher premium for funds that DFDS, the Copenhagen based ferry company that has also issued five year paper in Oslo.

Tallink said its senior unsecured notes that will mature on 18 October 2018 carry a floating rate coupon of three month NIBOR (Norwegian Inter-Bank Offered Rate) plus 5.00%.

Earlier this year, DFDS, which is listed on Nasdaq OMX Nordic in Copenhagen, issued NOK 700 million worth of five year notes that also carry a floating rate coupon, but of three month NIBOR plus 2.90%. Trading in the notes of the Danish company started on the Oslo stock exchange today.

Tallink, whose shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Nordic in Tallinn, said it also plans to seek listing of its notes in Oslo. The company has a fleet of 19 cruise ferries. DFDS, meanwhile, only has four cruise ferries but it also operates a total of 16 ropax and day ferries and has a fleet of some 60 ships that mainly consists of freight roro ships

Oceania Cruises to hold 10th anniversary event in UK

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 June 2013 04 June 2013

More than 200 travel agents, press and former and prospective cruise guests will join top executives from Oceania Cruises on 11 June in celebration of the 10 years since the line was formed back in 2003, the company said in a statement.

The event, taking place in Southampton on board Oceania Cruises’ 1250-guest cruise ship, Marina, will include personally guided tours of the ship and a gourmet six course lunch. Each course will draw signature dishes from the menus of the speciality dining restaurants, with a main course from the private dining venue, La Reserve.

To host the event Bernard Carter, Managing Director Oceania Cruises UK and Europe , will be joined by Bob Binder, Oceania Cruises’ Vice Chairman and Co- Founder. Bob Binder will remain on board to host a special 10th Anniversary Cruise from Southampton to the Baltic.