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Cuba Cruise goes for sale in Europe

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

Cuba Cruise, the Canadian company that will introduce cruises that circumnavigate the largest island in the Caribbean next winter, says its product has gone for sale in Europe.

The company has chartered the 25,611 gross ton Louis Crystal that was built in 1992 for the series of 15 seven night cruises that will run from 6 December 2013 to 31 march 2014.

“Now Europeans can access the newly-launched Cuba Cruise breaking new ground with its circumnavigation of Cuba. Finally Cuba's fascinating but otherwise hard to reach ports are accessible to all,” Cuba Cruise said.

Each cruise includes the opportunity to visit world famous beaches, six UNESCO world heritage sites and four National Parks & Preserves, as well as in-depth exploration of Cuba’s dynamic culture. The experience offers the best qualities of cruising and all-inclusive getaways combined with a Cuba that few people see,” the Calgary, Alberta based company said in a statement.

Cuba Cruise will make its European debut during ITB, the world's largest travel show, from 6 – 10 March, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. Prices start at €437 double occupancy for a seven-night cruise

Meager UK cruise market growth fell well short of forecast

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

The British cruise market added a mere 1,000 passengers last year, which was well short of what the industry had anticipated, Travel Weekly reports in its daily email newsletter.

“The number of British cruise ship passengers fell short of industry forecasts by 19,000 last year although river cruises increased their popularity,” the report said.

Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) said on Moinday that the number of British passengers who took an ocean cruise reached 1.701 million last year. However, the number of that opted a river cruise soared by 14% to 130,000, PSA stated.

Hurtigruten’s Kong Harald ran aground, no injuries

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

Kong Harald, one of the coastal express vessels of Hurtigruten, the Norwegian passenger shipping company that also offers expedition type cruises, has run aground in the Lofoten islands on the west coast of the country, media reports say, adding that nobody was injured in the incident.

The ship, its passengers and crew are not in a danger and no rescue action has been started. Instead, officials are waiting for the tide to start to rise, which they hope will help to refloat the 11,204 gross ton vessel that was built in Germany in 1993.

CLIA backs global effort to facilitate shore leave for crew members

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 March 2013 05 March 2013

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced its support of efforts being led by the International Shipping Federation (ISF) to facilitate shore leave for seafarers. These efforts are being made through a request that port States make provisions for crewmembers to be able to apply for visas upon arrival in port or very shortly before arrival if the port State requires a visa for shore leave.

CLIA supports ISF's proposal made in a submission to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Facilitation Committee, which meets in April to consider its current review of the IMO Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL). The FAL Convention includes a blanket prohibition on port states requiring seafarers to obtain visas in order to enjoy shore leave.

"Crewmembers are the lifeblood of our industry," said Christine Duffy, President and CEO of CLIA. "We strongly support the efforts underway at the IMO to enable them to take advantage of their well-earned shore leave in the hundreds of ports across the globe that our member line ships visit."

Global cruise association appoints director for CLIA UK & Ireland

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 March 2013 04 March 2013

CLIA, the new global cruise association, has today announced that Andy Harmer will take responsibility for its activities in Britain and Ireland. Andy, presently head of the Association of Cruise Experts, will take up the position as director of CLIA UK and Ireland on 1 May 2013.

In December it was announced that the Association of Cruise Experts (ACE) and the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) were among 10 regional cruise associations which were coming together to serve as the global voice for the cruise industry. CLIA has been created to provide increased benefits and a unified approach for cruise lines, travel agents and business partners - all of whom contribute to an industry that creates nearly $1000 billion in economic impact and more than 753,000 jobs worldwide.

From 1 May, The UK Chamber of Shipping will represent PSA ferry line members, with many ferry companies already belonging to the organisation. Their interests will be represented on the Chamber's ferry and cruise panel.

Andy Harmer said: "I am delighted to be taking on the role of director for CLIA UK and Ireland at such an exciting time. Our goal is to grow the cruise market in the UK and Ireland by working with our travel agent partners and highlighting, through our consumer media campaigns, the many and varied great reasons for taking a cruise holiday. We will continue to provide effective training, support, national and international events for agents with the new association offering more robust partnership programmes and networking on a broader scale."

He continued: "Technical and regulatory issues will now be looked after by our colleagues in CLIA Europe who will oversee the activities of the national associations. We look forward to working with them on developing events and communications to create a greater interest in cruise holidays."

After 19 years as PSA director, Bill Gibbons will be retiring on 1 May. Bill said: "I have seen huge changes since I joined in 1994 as cruise has expanded from what some considered a preserve of the wealthy to a mainstream affordable holiday. Over the same time the ferry sector has seen considerable consolidation but has transformed the quality of the service with investment in new ships and services. The passenger shipping industry should be proud of what it has achieved." He continued: "The formation of a global cruise association makes total sense for what is now a worldwide industry. We have a strong, dedicated team who will be moving forward with CLIA and I should like to thank all our member lines and associate members for their huge support and commitment over the years."

PSA chairman and P&O Ferries passenger services director, Simon Johnson said: "The PSA was formed more than 55 years ago and since that time has had a high-profile role with the cruise and ferry industries. The association has been instrumental in ensuring issues have been addressed with Government and regulators while tirelessly campaigning to raise the public's awareness of the great advantages of travel by sea. I am proud to have served as the last chair of the PSA and having overseen the restructuring of the organisation, am confident the interests of our cruise, ferry and associate members will take the highest priority. I would like to thank and pay tribute to Bill Gibbons for all he has achieved with the PSA, along with all our members best wishes for the future."

Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager UK and Ireland for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, will take on the position of chair for CLIA UK and Ireland.