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Viking Line curbs cabin parties on new Viking Grace

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 January 2013 30 January 2013

Viking Line, the Finnish cruise ferry company that introduced the new 57,600 gross ton Viking Grace earlier this month, says it has taken measures to curb cabin parties on the new ship.

Mini cruise passengers that make a back and forth trip on the new ship from Turku on Friday and Saturday evenings can only buy alcohol in the shops on board on the return leg of their trip, a day crossing from Stockholm.

“The ban (to sell off license alcohol to mini cruise passengers in shops on the outward trip) is a response to the request of those passengers that want to enjoy peace in their cabins and to sleep well while on board,” the company said in a statement.

Some people, often groups of youngsters, book inexpensive inside cabins and party there. The cabin door is often left open and large numbers of other revelers can join in. This often results is the combination of noise, litter and damage to the cabin and its fittings.

A lively debate has arisen around the company’s decision. In the comment pages of the Ilta-Sanomat tabloid: “Everything that is fun has to be banned. Great, Viking Line! From now on, I shall support a competing ferry company,” one commentator said. “At the same time you could ban smoking and drinking coffee on the outward trip, also bad singing at karaoke and talking aloud,” lamented another.

However, around half of the commentators welcomed the decision, one of them noting that you could sit in a cupboard at home as well if you want to have a party like that.

“In the future, you can have fun and enjoy the eight restaurants and bars of Viking Grace, four of which offer live music,” Viking Line pointed out in the statement.

Holland America Line makes three promotions in fleet operations department

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 January 2013 28 January 2013

Mike Inman has been promoted to vice president, safety, environment and management systems at Holland America Line, replacing Bill Morani who has retired. In other fleet department moves, Michiel Versteeg is promoted to senior director, safety and environmental compliance and Ed Ramaekers is promoted to director, technical operations.

Inman will report to Dan Grausz, executive vice president, fleet operations. In this role, he is responsible for providing overall management of the company's safety, environmental and ship management systems; emergency response; and fleet training programs.

"With his background as a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard and based on the excellent work he has done since joining Holland America Line a few years ago, Mike is well suited to assume this new role," said Grausz. "His promotion will enable the department to have a continuity of leadership."

Versteeg will take on the role of senior director, safety and environmental compliance, reporting to Inman. He also serves as the Designated Person for Holland America Line and is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the fleet. Ramaekers is promoted to the position of director, technical operations, reporting to Rob Boksem, vice president, technical operations. In this role he will supervise Holland America Line's technical operations department and coordinate all technical operations for the line's 15 ships.

"Michiel has excelled at every challenge he has been given, with the result being safer ships and large improvements to our training programs," said Grausz. "And Ed has continued to show his leadership in the technical department, and this promotion is in recognition of his efforts to improve and guide the many engineers on board and within our shore side operation."

Oceania Cruises rolls out extensive menu for its Grand Dining Room

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 January 2013 28 January 2013

Today, Oceania Cruises announced the successful completion of an extensive new menu rollout featuring 85 new dishes for its Grand Dining Room on the line’s newest ship, Riviera. The remainder of the Oceania Cruises fleet will incorporate the new menus over the next three months.

“Since the founding of Oceania Cruises 10 years ago, we have held a reputation for serving cuisine that is the finest at sea and even rivals the best restaurants ashore,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, the line’s president. “Our latest innovations in the Grand Dining Room are inspired by classic European fare, with a contemporary, creative touch. They reflect our ongoing commitment to provide an exceptional dining experience that starts with a thoughtful and meticulously researched menu concept, the highest-quality ingredients and the perfect execution of traditional culinary techniques.”

Oceania Cruises devotes extraordinary resources to cuisine. While most cruise lines employ a single corporate chef, Oceania Cruises has an entire team at the helm of its culinary program, including its executive culinary director, renowned master chef Jacques Pépin.

Fleet Corporate Chef Franck Garanger, who travels the world sampling international cuisines to inspire his creation of dishes, led the team in conceiving the new menus. The Oceania Cruises culinary team has spent the past eight months designing and rigorously testing the new menu items. As the menus in the Grand Dining Room change daily, the rollout features a total of 85 new dishes, including three new lobster dishes and 10 new pastas and risottos.

New creations include dishes such as Pancetta-Wrapped Jumbo Shrimp with Kalamata Olive Sauce and Vegetable Julienne, Roast Segovian Suckling Pig with Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes, and Diver Scallops over Orange-Braised Endive with Vanilla Vinaigrette Salad. The new dishes also feature unique, high-end ingredients such as Castilla–La Mancha saffron, Lessatini olive oil from Nice and Ibérico de Bellota pork. There is also a selection of new Canyon Ranch® dishes, including Dover Sole Meunière in Lemon Butter Sauce with Sweet Leek Puff Pastry and Steamed Potatoes, as well as Pulpo a la Gallega: Octopus on Warm Potato Salad with Sweet Spanish Paprika de la Vera.

The rollout includes an array of new wines by the bottle as well as an extended list of wines by the glass.

Oceania Cruises’ flagship restaurant, the Grand Dining Room, is a tribute to the five-star restaurants in Europe's grandest hotels, which inspired its dignified and elegant ambiance. Tuxedo-clad wait staff graciously serve course after course featuring classic European fare or delectable alternatives such as healthy, savory Canyon Ranch selections or Jacques Pépin’s signature dishes. The Grand Dining Room features open-seating and accommodates parties from two to 10.

Green Cruising Showcase to debut at Cruise Shipping Miami 2013

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 January 2013 28 January 2013

The Green Cruising Showcase -- a special section of the trade show -- is set to debut at the 2013 Cruise Shipping Miami Exhibition, slated for Tuesday, March 12 through Thursday, March 14. The Showcase brings together exhibitors supplying environmental solutions to cruise lines into a single pavilion and provides a platform for those exhibitors to present their products and services directly to representatives of major cruise lines attending the event.

With the increasing emphasis on environmental best practices and stricter regulations on everything from cleaning products to coatings to recycling and wastewater treatment, cruise companies are sourcing products and services that comply with regulations and improve efficiencies. The Green Cruising Showcase enables providers of the latest products and technologies in the environmental arena to speak directly to cruise line buyers.

"Based on the feedback we received from the cruise lines about the increasing importance of the environmental perspective of the cruise business, we felt it was imperative to provide a way to enhance interaction between suppliers and buyers," said Daniel Read, director of the Cruise Shipping Portfolio for UBM Live, the show organizers. "The result is the Green Cruising Showcase, which highlights the latest in environmental solutions and gives exhibitors a platform to network with and tell their stories to their market and key stakeholders."

Not only will suppliers of "green" products and services be collected into a dedicated sector pavilion for the first time, exhibitors will give 25-minute product talks in an innovative presentation theater located on the trade show floor.

Information on exhibiting in the Green Cruising Showcase is available by calling 609-759-4742 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Attendee and exhibitor registration and hotel-request forms are available online at http://registration3.experientevent.com/ShowCRU131/Default.aspx>>

For information about exhibiting or attending, visit http://www.cruiseshippingevents.com/miami/exhibitors>>.

Celebrity Cruises to add Zumba to fitness portfolio

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 January 2013 28 January 2013

Celebrity Cruises says it has expanded its portfolio of fitness options by partnering with global lifestyle brand Zumba® Fitness to offer Celebrity Cruises guests a variety of its popular classes.

”In addition to the original classes, Celebrity Cruises will offer guests a range of complimentary speciality classes that vary by ship, including Zumba Gold®, for active, older adults; Aqua Zumba®, the ultimate “pool party” workout, and Zumbatomic®, Zumba routines for kids. Each cruise will feature a licensed Zumba instructor who will lead the various classes,” the company said in a statement.

Celebrity Cruises will also add a Zumba fitness party to the brand’s theme party lineup to each sailing. Led by a licensed Zumba instructor, the party will be held in the ship’s nightclub, where guests can learn the basic steps of Zumba, ultimately creating the most high-energy parties on the cruise. In the true essence of Zumba, the parties will be all about moving, enjoying the music and having fun.

Known as “exercise in disguise,” Zumba classes blend upbeat world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography to provide effective, total-body workouts. Participants can burn up to 1,000 calories in a one-hour class. Founded in 2001, the company is now the largest branded fitness program in the world, with more than 14 million fans in over 140,000 locations across more than 150 countries.