Silver Endeavour to receive all-new suite categories during upcoming refurbishment

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 19 March 2023 19 March 2023

Silversea Cruises has unveiled details of the upcoming refurbishment planned for Silver Endeavour, dubbed the world’s most luxurious expedition ship. Following a successful inaugural season in Antarctica, Silversea’s newest expedition ship will enter the San Giorgio del Porto shipyard in Genova, Italy, on April 3, 2023, emerging with an array of enhancements that will evolve the onboard and expedition experiences for guests. Responding to high demand for the ship’s most spacious accommodations, Silversea will craft six new upper suites on deck eight, as well as four new suites on deck five, introducing two new suite categories that will immerse travelers even deeper into the destination.

“Silver Endeavour’s refurbishment will strengthen her status as the world’s most luxurious expedition ship,” said Roberto Bruzzone, Silversea’s Senior Vice President of Marine Operations. “With our guests’ cruise experience in mind, we are broadening her range of accommodation options by introducing two new suite categories, enriching a selection of public venues, and creating space for addition crew members to maintain one of the industry’s highest crew-to-guest ratios. Building on the success of her inaugural Antarctic season, Silver Endeavour will welcome travelers in the Arctic from June 2023, offering deeper connections and greater destination reach than ever.”

10 new suites across two new categories

Replacing the former helicopter hangar amidships, Silversea will install two Master Suites and four Signature Suites, introducing two new suite categories to increase guests’ accommodation options. Starboard side on deck five, four Classic Veranda Suites will replace the Medical Centre, which will relocate to the space currently occupied by the Casino on deck four.

Master Suites – offering one of the strongest connections with the destination in ultra-luxury expedition cruising, Silver Endeavour’s two new Master Suites, located towards the ship’s aft, will provide uninterrupted, 270-degree views from their 29m2 (312ft2) verandas and large living areas, thanks to panoramic, vaulted glazing. Spacious, at 108m2 (1,163ft2), the two Master suites will feature expansive living and dining areas; perfectly proportioned bedrooms with king-sized or twin beds, and a walk-in closet; and a roomy bathroom with a walk-in shower, and separate whirlpool bath. The living room will include a convertible sofa to accommodate a third guest.

Signature Suites – Four new Signature Suites, ranging from 67m2 to 78m2 (721ft2-850ft2), will welcome guests in spacious luxury, offering an open living room and dining area; an expansive bedroom with king-sized or twin beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a walk-in closet; and an adjoining bathroom, complete with a generously sized walk-in shower, and whirlpool bath. The living room will include a convertible sofa to accommodate a third guest, as well as floor-to-ceiling glass doors offering far-reaching views. Spacious verandas of between 16m2 and 25m2 (167ft2-269ft2) will provide ideal spots from which guests can relax and admire the destination.

Classic Veranda Suites – Four Classic Veranda Suites will be installed on the ship’s starboard side on deck five, maintaining the traditional layout, features, and amenities of Silversea’s existing Veranda Suites. Each of the 33m2 (356ft2) suites will include a veranda of 5m2 (52ft2) and will welcome guests in the cruise line’s trademark level of comfort.

Moreover, the removal of the Casino on deck four will create space for four new crew cabins, which will host seven additional crew members to maintain Silversea’s unparalleled service standards and expedition experience. As well as bolstering the ship’s hotel team, the extra cabins will enlarge the ship’s expedition team to 22 – offering guests greater access to more specialists for a deeper immersion into the destination.

Upcoming enhancements will also include the installation of handcrafted Lalique crystal panels in La Dame—Silversea’s signature French restaurant, which offers guests one of the most elegant fine dining experiences at sea.

Taking guests deeper to Polar Region

Silver Endeavour’s inaugural season in Antarctica included numerous highlights that demonstrate her advanced expedition capabilities. On November 24, for example, Silver Endeavour became the season’s first cruise ship to cross the Antarctic Circle, journeying as far south as Marguerite Bay. Other highlights from her inaugural season include the first-ever naming ceremony in the spectacular Lemaire Channel; the Antarctica premiere of long-term Silversea collaborator Steve McCurry’s biopic, McCurry: The Pursuit of Color; and the meeting of three Silversea ships in the White Continent in December – Silver Endeavour, Silver Wind, and Silver Cloud.

Following Silver Endeavour’s refurbishment in Genova, she will undertake two voyages in the British Isles and Iceland, before embarking upon her inaugural Arctic season from June 3, with nine voyages set to include many of the Polar Region’s most remote destinations, including Pond Inlet, Cape York, and Qaanaaq, among others.

Seatrade Cruise unveils keynote panel for inaugural F&B@Sea

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 17 March 2023 17 March 2023

Seatrade Cruise, the industry’s leading platform for collaborating, innovating and connecting, announced details of its State of the Cruise F&B Industry Keynote, set to kick off the inaugural edition of F&B@Sea, 28-29 March 2023, at Port Everglades’ Terminal 2 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Representing the four major cruise lines, executives from the food and beverage sector will headline the panel delving into industry initiatives, solutions and fostering unity in ever-changing times.

Taking place from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 28 March, the event’s opening session brings together industry leaders to discuss some of the pain points revolving around labor, regulations and changes in the supply chain due to the current climate. Moderated by Deputy Editor of Food & Wine, Melanie Hansche, the dynamic dialogue taps those at the helm of the sector’s leading F&B programs to gain insight on overcoming these challenges and continuing to excel in the years to come; whilst continually striving towards more sustainable sourcing, operations and experience.

Featured panelists include:
• Richard Morse, Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage, Carnival Cruise Line
• Cornelius Gallagher Jr., Vice President, Food & Beverage Operations, Celebrity Cruises
• Wes Cort, Vice President, Food & Beverage Operations, Norwegian Cruise Line
• Jacques Van Staden, Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage, MSC Cruises

“It’s an exciting honor to bring forth our first-ever State of the Cruise F&B Industry Keynote to our cruise community and our many shipboard and shoreside partners in the food and beverage space,” says Chiara Giorgi, Global Brand and Event Director for Seatrade Cruise. “We’re proud to welcome an incredible lineup of renowned experts to the Seatrade stage to shine a spotlight on this multibillion-dollar sector which is an essential pillar of the cruise experience.”

Among practical demos and interactive content by top chefs and mixologists, notable panels include discussions on emerging beverage trends and the rise of chef-driven dining concepts at sea.

A look at chef-driven F&B programs at sea

Bringing well-regarded, chef-driven F&B concepts to sea can provide obvious marketing benefits and drive bookings, but the inherent challenges in transitioning those brands to a shipboard environment must be navigated cautiously and skillfully. This session offers lessons from experts in the field including:
• Rob Floyd, Celebrity Mixologist & Liquid Chef, Cocktail Ambassador at Rob Floyd Entertainment, Princess Cruises
• Sami Kohen, Vice President, Food & Beverage at Princess Cruises
• Rudi Sodamin, Head of Culinary Art & MasterChef, Chairman and Founder of the Culinary Council at Princess Cruises, Holland America Line

Taste beverage trends

From low ABV to zero proof cocktails, to nutrient-rich beverages and vibrant herbs and spices, this session offers invaluable insights from leaders in the beverage industry, dissecting many of the innovative trends taking off in the coming years. Featured panelists include:
• Luis Ortega, Director, Beverage Development & Operations, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
• Zachary Sulkes, Senior Director, Beverage Operations, Carnival Cruise Line

The two-day experience catering to the cruise food and beverage community will take place 28-29 March 2023 at Port Everglades’ Terminal 2, in Fort Lauderdale, FL – in tandem with Seatrade Cruise Global (27-30 March 2023).

F&B@Sea was developed in close consultation with cruise lines, food and beverage stakeholders, and culinary leaders with support from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and industry consulting leader MarkeTeam.

For more information on F&B@Sea or to register, visit seatradecruisefnb.com

Rauma Marine Constructions cuts losses by half – a new strategic program set to improve profitability in 2023

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 17 March 2023 17 March 2023

In 2022, the consolidated turnover of Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) was EUR 143.5 million. This signifies a slight decrease from the previous year (EUR 154.2 million). The loss for the financial year was EUR -29,907,608.18 (2021: -58,404,096.49), and the equity ratio at the end of the financial year was +40.5%.

“The past few years have been difficult for RMC, and it is clear that this cannot continue. External challenges have been of course difficult for several operators. What we can do at our end is to focus on developing our operations to be as good as possible. For this, we have launched a strategic programme to achieve long-term profitability,” says Stig Gustavson, Chairman of RMC’s Board of Directors.

As a result of Russia invading Ukraine in February 2022, European steel markets faced drastic changes in terms of material availability and pricing, among other things. This unexpected situation halted block construction for RMC for a few months, and it was not until the summer that the company was able to resume utilising full capacity.

Production of multi-role corvettes will start in late-2023

Despite the challenging year, RMC’s projects have been progressing. In December, the company handed its third newbuilding vessel, MyStar, to Tallink. The advanced ship has been operating the route between Tallinn and Helsinki since December, gathering praise from the client and passengers.

In February and December, RMC began the production of two sister vessels set to operate the route between Tasmania and mainland Australia. The keel laying of the first ship was celebrated in October.

In January 2023, production work began in the shipyard’s new multipurpose hall. The building’s office space was completed in March. The hall will house the construction of four multi-role corvettes for the Finnish Navy as part of the Squadron 2020 project. The corvettes will be constructed indoors for security purposes.

The production of the multi-role corvettes will begin at the end of 2023. Steelwork for the block prototype of the vessels is already completed, and this will provide knowledge for the construction of new blocks. After the vessels have been completed, the multipurpose hall can house the construction of government vessels.

In addition to the hall, RMC has made significant investments also in steel production for the Squadron 2020 project. The investments were completed in the spring of 2022. The company is also planning to invest in a new wharf area in relation to the project.

Order book worth over EUR 1 billion

RMC has an order book worth EUR 1.2 billion extending all the way to 2028. Orders comprise six vessels in total: four multi-role corvettes for the Finnish Navy and sister vessels for TT-Line Company.

In order to carry out these orders successfully, the company must adjust its course of action and operation structure. Therefore, the company has implemented a strategic programme to achieve long-term profitability and increase capacity. The programme aims to clarify the current networked operating model and and make it more functional.

“Year 2023 is a turning point, and we have all that it takes to become profitable in our operation. The strategic programme is well underway and we have already seen development as a result of it,” Gustavson says.

The Board of Directors of RMC has appointed Mika Nieminen as the company’s new CEO and President, starting 16 March 2023. CEO Mika Heiskanen will move forward in his career and join the Royal Caribbean Group.

Seabourn sells Seabourn Odyssey to MOL Group for delivery in September 2024

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 16 March 2023 16 March 2023

Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury cruising and expedition travel announced the sale of Seabourn Odyssey to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL). Following the sale, Seabourn will continue to operate all published voyages through August 22, 2024, under a charter arrangement. Seabourn Odyssey will be delivered to MOL after the charter agreement.

“We are proud that Seabourn Odyssey carried our guests across the world for the last 14 years and are happy to see her join a great company, MOL,” said Seabourn President Natalya Leahy. “As we prepare to say farewell to Odyssey in September 2024, I am excited to further optimize our fleet as we grow our expedition business. With the addition of Seabourn Pursuit this summer, Seabourn will have one of the most modern fleets in the ultra-luxury segment with an average age of just seven years.”

Seabourn’s fleet expansion into the ultra-luxury expedition market allows for a more diverse offering of deployment opportunities, which will lead to new and exciting itineraries across all seven continents with a higher guest capacity compared to 2019 even after Seabourn Odyssey’s departure.

“With this elite, modern fleet, Seabourn continues as the leader in ultra-luxury travel, providing highly curated and immersive experiences and unique ‘Seabourn Moments’ for our guests,” Leahy said.

Photo credit, both photos: Teijo Niemela