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Stena Line boosts capacity between Sweden and Poland with brand-new Stena Ebba

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 January 2023 16 January 2023

The all-new Stena Ebba was in the spotlight during a naming ceremony on 11 January 2023 in Karlskrona, marking the launch of Stena Line’s second E-Flexer ferry on the Karlskrona-Gdynia route.

Stena Ebba was named during the ceremony where godmother Ulrica Messing, the governor of the Blekinge region in Sweden traditionally smashed a bottle of champagne against the ship. The event follows the introduction of the sister vessel Stene Estelle in September 2022 and with the two new vessels now launched on the route, the relations between Sweden and Poland continue to grow.

“The addition of our new modern Stena Ebba ferry in the South Baltic Sea is Stena Line’s response to customer demand in a dynamic economic area that continues to grow," says Niclas Mårtensson, CEO Stena Line. He continues: “We have operated this ferry route for more than 25 years and with our new E-Flexer ferries we will enable our partners to expand their business through an enhanced access to European markets and supply chains."

Stena Ebba is one of the largest ferries in regular operations in the Baltic Sea. It is 240 metres long, offers space for 1,200 people and can accommodate up to 200 trucks. With its 3,600 lane metres, capacity has increased with no less than a 60 per cent boost versus the previous vessel on the route.

This is a completely new vessel – it recently arrived on the Gdynia-Karlskrona route directly from the shipyard. The ferry is also energy-efficient thanks to its optimised design and also more sustainable, not least by the possibility of using shore power during port calls, which reduces exhaust emissions. The interior has been designed in a Scandinavian style with panoramic windows, which for sure will appeal to passengers.

"Today, with the inauguration of the Stena Ebba on the Gdynia-Karlskrona route, as well as the earlier introduction of its sister ship Stena Estelle, we are beginning a new phase in the development of our region. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers the most modern vessels on this market. The modernisation of our fleet will enable a significant capacity increase, which is important not only for us and our customers, but also for the entire region and the countries we connect," said Marek Kiersnowski, Trade Director Baltic Sea South at Stena Line.

Over the past year, Stena Line has done significant investments to modernise the Gdynia-Karlskrona ferry connection. In June 2022, operations were transferred to the new ferry terminal in Gdynia, which allows berthing of 240 m vessels and offers the possibility of developing an intermodal solution, thanks to its proximity to railway tracks. In September, the new vessel Stena Estelle was introduced, now followed by Stena Ebba.

Located on the other side of the Baltic Sea, the Karlskrona ferry terminal is not lagging behind. During Stena Line’s 25 years of operating the ferry route to Poland, the port has expanded with a modern terminal catering for the needs of both growing demand from passenger as well as larger freight volumes.

Ambassador Cruise Line names Godmother of Ambition

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 January 2023 15 January 2023

Ambassador Cruise Line, the new UK based operator that commenced business last year, has announced that British sailor and double Olympic Gold Medallist Shirley Robertson OBE is set to add another title to her considerable list of honours: Godmother of Ambition, the second ship to sail in the brand colours of the premium-value, no-fly cruise line’s fleet.

A longstanding tradition, the role of the Godmother is to bring good luck and protection to a ship, and in her new role, Shirley will name Ambition at an official ceremony in Newcastle on 11 May 2023. She will then join the new ship’s first cruise, which departs Newcastle on 12 May, for one night before disembarking in her home town of Dundee as Ambition continues on her inaugural 14-night Hidden Gems of France and Spain sailing.

Shirley Robertson is one of the most recognisable faces from the sport of sailing. She was appointed MBE in 2000 and OBE in 2005, making history when becoming the first British woman to win Gold Medals at two consecutive Olympic Games (Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004). Named World Sailor of the Year by the International Sailing Federation in 2000, she has been a trailblazer for women in sailing for many years, having also steered massive superyachts around the race track to being the first ever female skipper in the groundbreaking ‘Extreme 40 Sailing Series’. Shirley features in Scotland’s prestigious Sports Hall of Fame and holds a role as Deputy Lieutenant for the place she now calls home: the Isle of Wight.

Today, Shirley Robertson is considered one of the sport’s most successful broadcasters. An accomplished presenter across multiple channels, she has previously fronted CNN’s dedicated sailing programme, Mainsail, as well as presented the BBC’s Olympic sailing coverage. She is an engaging public speaker and a regular contributor to discussions across a variety of topics within sailing. While her exploits beyond the Olympic arena are considerable, Shirley has recently taken up double-handed offshore sailing, and last year took on the marathon of the Round Britain and Ireland race, saying she ‘still feels most at home when at sea’ and has developed a new-found appreciation for the British coastline.

Shirley will be Godmother to Ambition, the second ship to join the Ambassador fleet following Ambience, which sailed for the first time in April 2022. Ambition is aptly named to emphasise the brand’s commitment to inspire and delight every guest to enjoy an authentic cruise experience effortlessly and sustainably. Like her sister ship, Ambition will be upgraded to operate at IMO Tier III from her inaugural voyage, placing her amongst the top 10%-15% of cruise ships to achieve this level of environmental operation.

Ambition will carry up to 1,200 passengers in 714 cabins, 125 of which have balconies and 113 are suites with up to 62m2 of living space. Dining options will include two main restaurants, speciality dining options, and a more casual bistro style café, plus four bars, lounges and a wine bar. Entertainment offerings include the main theatre, a card room, library and craft studio. Additional guest facilities will include the wellness centre, gym, two swimming pools and a range of retail shops, perfect for days at sea. Following her maiden voyage from Newcastle, Ambition will sail from an additional six regional UK ports in her inaugural year including London Tilbury, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol, and Falmouth.

Christian Verhounig, CEO at Ambassador Cruise Line, said: “As one of the most recognisable faces in sailing, there seemed no better fit for Ambition’s Godmother than Shirley Robertson. As a trailblazer for women in the sport, not only is she passionate about all things nautical, but Shirley’s story is an inspiration to us all. What’s more, with the launch of our second ship we are also announcing cruise departures from seven regional UK ports, including Shirley's hometown of Dundee."

Shirley Robertson OBE said: “I was drawn to Ambassador from the very first contact - I love their passion for quality service and their drive to look for sustainable options at every turn. I’m also a big fan of holidays that don’t involve the stress of airports and love the beauty and variety our very own coastline offers. Being at sea, and the excitement of arriving somewhere by sea, is very special. I’m very much looking forward to being a regular on Ambition and partnering with the dynamic team at Ambassador – I can’t wait.”

Massimo Brancaleoni joins Silversea as SVP Global Sales

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 January 2023 14 January 2023

Silversea Cruises, the leading ultra-luxury cruise line, has enriched its global sales team to propel its continued growth, welcoming cruise industry veteran Massimo Brancaleoni as SVP Global Sales. Reporting to President and CEO Barbara Muckermann, Brancaleoni will drive the cruise line’s global sales strategies across all channels, leveraging his 25 years of experience in the cruise industry to further strengthen the company’s position as the category leader. Silversea’s regional managing directors will report to Brancaleoni.

“We are delighted to welcome Massimo Brancaleoni as SVP Global Sales, as we continue to bolster our global sales team to sustain our unprecedented growth trajectory,” said Barbara Muckermann, President and CEO, Silversea Cruises. “Massimo’s wealth of experience and his international background will prove crucial as we further strengthen our position as the world’s leading ultra-luxury cruise line. This is an entirely new role for Silversea, which demonstrates our commitment to continuous growth and our deep partnership with our travel advisor community. Massimo’s strategic expertise will prove key as he drives sales globally, across all channels.”

“I am honored to join Silversea Cruises as SVP Global Sales and I look forward to strengthening the cruise line’s stellar reputation as the market leader, working with the global sales team to drive growth across all markets,” said Massimo Brancaleoni, SVP Global Sales, Silversea Cruises. “I look forward to working closely with Silversea’s travel advisor partners. We would not find ourselves in our leading position without their continuous support and I look forward to strengthening our partnership even more.”

An Italian national, Massimo Brancaleoni—who most recently held the position of SVP Global Sales at Costa Cruises—brings over 25 years of experience, with proven success in leading large teams and developing profitable global sales strategies. Brancaleoni was educated at the University of Economics in Genoa and the IESE Business School in Barcelona.

Resorts World Cruises to restart cruises in Hong Kong

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 January 2023 14 January 2023

Resorts World Cruises, a luxury and dynamic lifestyle cruise line with cruise itineraries within Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand by the Genting Dream has announced cruises from Hong Kong with the Resorts World One from 10 March 2023, offering 2 and 3-night high-seas cruises, departing every Friday, Sunday and Wednesday of the week. Resorts World One was formerly the Explorer Dream, a 75,338 gross ton 13-deck cruise ship that features 928 cabins, which can accommodate over 1,856 guests.

The cruise resumption of Resorts World Cruises in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (via Port Klang) with the Genting Dream from June 2022 had propelled the demand for cruise passengers to above pre- Covid-19 levels for the second half of 2022, supporting the revival of the tourism industries in both homeport countries.

“We are pleased that Resorts World Cruises will have the first cruise ship to homeport in Hong Kong after the resumption of normal travel with the Mainland and overseas. We hope to support the growth of the Hong Kong tourism as we had done for both Singapore and Malaysia,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman of Resorts World Cruises.

Resorts World One is chartered by Resorts World Cruises and she will replace Genting Dream’s regular 2 and 3-night itineraries from 17 February until 1 March 2023, as the Genting Dream goes into dry-dock for regular maintenance.

Departing on 3 March, Resorts World One will offer a special 5-night repositioning cruise from Singapore, calling at Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, prior to arriving in Hong Kong on 8 March. Passengers can also embark from Kuala Lumpur (via Port Klang) for this re-positioning cruise on 2 March, making it a 6-night cruise calling at Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang before arriving in Hong Kong on 8 March.

“It’s been an exciting journey so far and we are looking forward to starting our next chapter in 2023 with the introduction of the Resorts World One cruise ship. The ship will increase tourist arrivals and generate economic benefits to the hotels, transport, suppliers and other service sectors in Hong Kong. Resorts World One will berth at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, contributing revenue to the government owned facility,” said Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises.

Resorts World Cruises is a brand extension of Resorts World, a global brand with a combination of over 50 years of experiences in the hospitality and entertainment industry, featuring 46 properties in 8 countries spanning 4 continents – Asia, US, Europe and Africa with specialized expertise in the global cruise sector as well.

Resorts World One will also showcase many of the hallmarks of the brand, including the signature luxury “ship within a ship” - The Palace with exclusive amenities and facilities, including its own 24-hour European style butler service. In addition, Resorts World One also provides many choices of onboard accommodations such as Balcony, Oceanview and inside staterooms, complemented by best-in-class services, cuisine, Live international performances and a myriad of exciting offerings and recreational activities. For the guests’ comfort and peace of mind, Resorts World One will also apply and enforce its enhanced and stringent safety and precautionary measures in accordance with Hong Kong and international guidelines.

In conjunction with this, Resorts World Cruises would also like to extend a goodwill offer to guests impacted by Genting Dream’s cruise cancellation in Hong Kong from January to April 2022. These will include a complimentary cruise (same cabin category, cruise itinerary and duration) with an additional onboard credit of HKD350 per cabin on the Resorts World One sailings before 20 December 2023.

P&O Cruises reports “biggest ever booking day during Wave"

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 January 2023 12 January 2023

P&O Cruises, the UK focused contemporary market unit of Carnival Corporation & plc, has reported its strongest booking day during the Wave period in its history, with four of its five biggest booking days ever falling in Wave 2023.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said in a statement: “These record-breaking days are testament to the fact that a P&O Cruises holiday provides extraordinary value for money, which is critical at the moment, and also demonstrates how much everyone values a holiday.

“There are so many priorities for our hard-earned or hard-saved money in the current climate and a cruise offers an almost all-inclusive, individual holiday. This is clearly recognised by a new generation of cruisers with the Norwegian fjords perennially popular for those trying a cruise for the first time.”

The most popular itineraries booked were the Caribbean, the Western Mediterranean and the Norwegian fjords, the company said.