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Norwegian says half of UK First Engage and Reward event agents obtained maximum bonus

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 May 2013 22 May 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the results of its Partners First Engage and Reward programme introduced during the UK inaugural of its latest ship, Norwegian Breakaway. “The programme encouraged travel partners to attend various information points and presentations throughout the day in order to earn up to 4% bonus commission for their agency,” the company said in a statement.

Norwegian has revealed that out of the approximately 2,500 travel agent partners on board Norwegian Breakaway, around 75% achieved between 1% and 4% bonus commission. 50% of the attendees achieved the maximum amount of 4% bonus commission.

Nick Wilkinson, Director Business Development, Norwegian Cruise Line said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the success of this innovative way to engage with our travel partners. The launch of Norwegian Breakaway was the perfect platform to introduce the programme and with the Partners First one year anniversary this month, it is a great way to celebrate.

“The figures speak for themselves and the feedback received from our partners has been really positive. Not only did agents have an opportunity to experience our unique Freestyle Cruising product first hand but they now have the opportunity to sell Norwegian and earn a little extra at the same time.

“At Norwegian we are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to reward our valued travel partners for selling Norwegian and we are continuing this commitment with more initiatives happening this year – watch this space. “ The bonus commission will be valid for eligible travel partners on all new Norwegian Cruise Line bookings made between 15 May and 14 June 2013 for sailings departing between 15 May and 31 December 2013.

Royal Caribbean to redeploy Explorer from Cape Liberty to Port Canaveral

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 May 2013 21 May 2013

Royal Caribbean International today announced new Caribbean cruises for Explorer of the Seas from November 2014 through early January 2015. After eight consecutive years dedicated to the New York metropolitan area with year-round sailings from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, N.J., Explorer of the Seas will redeploy to Port Canaveral, Fla., to offer a range of four- to nine-night Bahamas, and Western and Southern Caribbean vacations. Throughout the short season, Explorer of the Seas will join Freedom of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas at Port Canaveral to offer the most ships and itinerary options to The Bahamas and the Caribbean from Central Florida’s Space Coast. Guests aboard each ship will enjoy a Caribbean-holiday vacation that only Royal Caribbean can deliver, with the cruise line’s award-winning family programming, industry-leading entertainment and world-renowned friendly and engaging GOLD Anchor Service. Explorer of the Seas’ 2014 holiday season cruises from Port Canaveral are now open for sale.

Explorer of the Seas is among the Voyager class of ships, which first introduced innovative and iconic Royal Caribbean onboard amenities, such as Studio B – a real ice-skating rink, a rock-climbing wall, an in-line skating track, and the Royal Promenade, a four-deck high boulevard that runs nearly the length of the ship. The Royal Promenade is lined with boutiques, lounges and a café and comes to life with colorful parades during the day and themed dance parties at night. Guests also can delight in professional ice-skating productions in Studio B and Royal Caribbean’s award-winning Broadway-style musical revues in the Palace Theater; try their luck in the Casino Royale; and dance into the night in The Chamber nightclub.

Young guests, ages three to 11, can join in Royal Caribbean’s award-winning Adventure Ocean kids program, while teens, ages 12-17, have their own exclusive space. College-accredited counselors lead ongoing entertaining and educational sessions from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. in five age groups. Kids will enjoy the Adventure Beach splash pool and teens can hang out with their peers in the teens-only Optix lounge.

From close encounters with the rich wildlife both on land and below the sea, to enriching tours of cultural and historic landmarks, to exciting adventures into the lush terrain, Royal Caribbean’s expansive array of shore excursions help guests make the most of their Caribbean port of call and create long-lasting memories for every member of the family. No matter which Royal Caribbean shore excursion they choose, guests can rest assured that their guides and tour operators are reputable, experienced and insured.

On select itineraries, guests call at two destinations highly rated by guests, CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island paradise in The Bahamas, or Labadee, the cruise line’s private beach destination on the north coast of Haiti. Guests can choose a wide range of watersports options on beautiful sandy beaches and enjoy a sumptuous seaside barbeque. Labadee also offers a range of activities for thrill seekers, who can soar 500 ft. down the mountainside on the Dragon’s Breath Flight Line, the longest zip line over water; twist and turn down the same mountainside on the Dragon’s Tail Alpine Coast; or beat the heat on the new 300 ft. long Dragon’s Splash Waterslide.

Explorer of the Seas will sail four Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Port Canaveral through Jan. 4, 2015. On these five-night itineraries, guests call at Cozumel, Mexico, and Nassau, The Bahamas, or CocoCay and Cozumel. Vacationers also can choose two Southern Caribbean sailings on a nine-night itinerary that call at each of the ABC Islands and Labadee.

Additionally, a five-night Bahamas cruise, departing Dec. 13, 2014, will call at Nassau, Grand Bahamas Island and CocoCay. Guests on a special four-night sailing, departing Dec. 23, will call at Labadee on Christmas Day. The following eight-night Caribbean itinerary will herald in the New Year in St. Maarten, as well as call at San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and Labadee. Vacationers also can choose an extended 14-night Southern Caribbean itinerary, departing Nov. 1, 2014, which repositions Explorer of the Seas from Cape Liberty to Port Canaveral via the Southern Caribbean.

From Port Canaveral, vacationers also have Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas from which to choose. Freedom of the Seas, with its iconic FlowRider surf simulator, will continue to alternate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries and Enchantment of the Seas will offer three- and four-night Bahamas getaways.

Serenissima refloated after Scottish incident

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 May 2013 21 May 2013

The small expedition cruise ship Serenissima has been refloated after it had become lodged on sand and gravel in Oban Bay in Scotland at around 6.30pm on Monday, media reports say.

“None of the 61 passengers or 51 crew members were injured during the incident,” the Scottish television reports on its website. The vessel is on charter to Nopble Caledonia, the London based niche cruise company.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said there were no reports of injuries, and no reports of pollution or of water entering the ship. Strong winds hampered initial attempts by the crew and the Oban RNLI lifeboat team to rescue the vessel, but it was eventually re-floated at about 1.10am. The Serenissima is now anchored in Oban Bay and will undergo a dive inspection later on Tuesday.

British TV nature presenter Tony Soper to offer Vistas on Boudicca in October

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 May 2013 21 May 2013

The beautiful Canary Islands, with their sub-tropical climate, are home to a colourful array of plants and animals, and many of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ guests enjoy visiting these delightful islands. In Autumn 2013, a cruise focusing on the natural wonders of the Canaries – Boudicca’s 12-night D1323 ‘Madeira & the Canaries’ cruise, ex Belfast on 3rd October 2013 – will be hosted by TV naturalist, Tony Soper, through Fred. Olsen’s award-winning onboard enrichment programme, Vistas, the company said in a statement.

The cruise will offer a splendid opportunity to enjoy the seabirds of the North Atlantic. Gannets and Puffins will be in company with the ship, as they come together and migrate south to the Iberian Peninsula and the coast of West Africa. Tony Soper will be on board to enhance guests’ knowledge of the natural wonders that they experience, based on his own rich and varied career as a naturalist and bird watcher.

An acclaimed broadcaster, Tony's many credits include BBC Two’s 'Nature' and film series 'Discovering Birds' and 'Beside the Sea'. Tony co-founded the BBC's famous Natural History Unit, was its first wildlife cameraman and became its first-ever film producer.

Tony is a renowned bird watcher, and pioneer of expedition cruising, with over forty years’ experience of running small vessels on birding cruises, as well as lecturing on everything from seaside tripper-boats to the largest and grandest cruise ships. An enthusiastic diver and small-boat sailor, he is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Fred. Olsen’s nature-lovers’ Canaries cruise aboard Boudicca departs from Belfast – a new departure port for the cruise line – and calls first at the Portuguese port of Leixoes, for tours to Oporto, then at Funchal, the capital of Madeira. This lovely island is sometimes called ‘a floating garden in the Atlantic’, and is a paradise for plant enthusiasts. Next are the Canary Islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote, both enjoying dramatic and varied landscapes and some amazing wildlife. Boudicca makes her final call at the bustling Portuguese capital, Lisbon, before returning to Belfast.

Holland America Line makes three director appointments in fleet operations department

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 May 2013 18 May 2013

Holland America Line has appointed three directors in the Fleet Operations Department. Peter Brust is the new director, fleet security; Holly Love has been named director, medical services; and Eric Chamberlin joined the company as director, system management and program development.

Peter Brust will report to Cees Deelstra, vice president, nautical operations. As fleet security director, he is responsible for the security operations aboard Holland America Line's fleet of 15 ships and Seabourn's fleet of six ships, as well as all turnaround ports and the headquarters office in Seattle. Additionally, Brust ensures that both companies are in compliance with all security directives from governments and other regulatory agencies regarding terminal, ship, crew and passenger security practices and procedures.

Most recently Brust was vice president at Guardsmark security services. Prior to that, he was Deputy Superintendent at the Chicago Police Department and retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation after 22 years. He served in the U.S. Army and holds a Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Sciences from Illinois State University.

Holly Love also reports to Cees Deelstra, vice president, nautical operations. In the role of director, medical services, she is responsible for hiring, training and supervising all Holland America Line and Seabourn onboard medical personnel to ensure that guests and crew are always provided high quality medical care, working with governmental agencies on medical-related issues and ensuring that both shipboard and shoreside staff are able to promptly and professionally respond to all medical situations.

Love has extensive experience in various positions in direct patient medical care and management in the medical air transportation business. Most recently she held a director position at an air ambulance company in Portland, Ore. She also sailed for six years as a medical officer on Holland America Line ships. Love holds a bachelor's degree in the Science of Nursing and is a registered nurse.

Eric Chamberlin reports to Mike Inman, vice president of safety and environment management systems. He is responsible for coordinating Holland America Line and Seabourn's safety and environmental management systems, policy development and emergency response planning and coordination.

Chamberlin joins the company after nearly 29 years in the U.S. Coast Guard where he worked through the ranks as a seagoing deck officer. When not serving on ships, Chamberlin was an assistant professor of electrical engineering at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, coordinated law enforcement and international operations in the eastern Caribbean, acted as the Coast Guard liaison to the U.S. State Department and worked in ship and system acquisition and logistics, strategy development and coordination of regional operations in the Pacific Northwest. Chamberlin has a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a master's degree in both electrical engineering and national resources strategy.