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Ken Muskat joins Scenic Group as Managing Director for the USA market

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 December 2022 02 December 2022

Scenic Group has appointed Ken Muskat, a highly-regarded and experienced cruise line executive, as Managing Director – Scenic Group USA. Ken will join the USA management team on December 12 in the Hollywood, FL office and will report directly to Anna Wolfsteiner, Global Chief of Sales & Marketing.

Ken comes to Scenic Group USA with more than 25 years of cruise industry management experience with leading travel brands, most recently serving as EVP & Chief Operating Officer for MSC Cruises (USA), CEO of SkySea Cruise Line in Shanghai, China as well as serving 18 years in a variety of key leadership roles at Royal Caribbean International. His high marks for professionalism, strategy development and execution, securing new business opportunities, trade relations and team building fueled his steady and rapid rise through the executive ranks.

“With the exciting growth of Scenic Group, the US Market is a key strategic market for our company’s success,” said Anna Wolfsteiner. “Ken’s experience and expertise in developing teams, forging strong relationships with the trade distribution, and building brand awareness will ensure we drive demand from our valued travel advisors and consumers for our ocean and river brands. We are excited to welcome Ken to the Scenic Group family during this time of growth for our company and strong return of the cruise industry.”

As the USA managing director for Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises, Ken will be responsible for the oversight and development of the US Market with key focus in the areas of sales, marketing, finance, revenue management and contact center working alongside colleagues from around the globe. He will lead significant growth efforts within the luxury trade distribution in the US, Mexico, Central & South America and continue to build brand awareness and demand for Scenic Group’s growing family of luxury ocean yachts and luxury river cruise ships. With two new ocean yachts being delivered in 2023, top priorities for Ken include building demand through sales and marketing efforts by ensuring the talented sales force and trade distribution have the best tools to market and sell Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises as well as providing outstanding service in the company’s contact center for guests and travel advisors.

"I am beyond excited to begin this next chapter in my career with Scenic Group,” offered Ken. “I have wanted to expand into the luxury ocean, expedition and river cruise vacation segment and I cannot think of two better brands to do this with than Scenic Luxury Cruise & Tours and Emerald Cruises. Having now personally experienced the industry leading vacation product provided on Scenic Eclipse, I am certain there is tremendous opportunity to build brand awareness and significant demand amongst the trade distribution and consumers in the US market as well as Mexico, Central & South America. The once in a lifetime vacation experiences and meaningful memories these brands provide our guests is something consumers are looking for today and one that I am excited to work with an outstanding team to deliver."

Ken has also been involved at the industry level, serving two years as the Chairman of CLIA’s Trade Relations Committee. He was twice named Travel Agent’s Top 100 Rising Stars of the Travel Industry.

When not working, Ken contributes time to charitable causes, promoting the importance of physical and mental activities for himself and friends, traveling the world for the sake of new experiences and learning, and mentoring his team and up-and-coming hospitality industry professionals.

One dead, four injured as rogue wave hits Viking Polaris

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 December 2022 02 December 2022

One passenger has died and four others have been injured when a rouge wave hit the expedition cruise ship Viking Polaris in the waters of Antarctica, Buenos Aires Times reports.

‘The accident occurred last Tuesday at 10:40 p.m. local time (01:40 a.m. GMT on Wednesday, November 30) when the Norwegian-flagged cruise ship "Viking Polaris" was hit by a large wave, which caused several glass panels to break in the booths,” the report said.

The ship, which had entered service earlier this year, hit the wave while sailing towards Ushuaia, 3,200 km south of Buenos Aires, a Viking company source in Norway said.

"It is with great sadness that we confirm that a passenger passed away after the incident. We have notified the guest's family and shared our deepest condolences," the source was quoted as saying.

Viking Polaris is of 30,150 gross tons and thereby one of the largest expedition cruise vessels.The ship and its sister Viking Octantis were built by VARD, part of Fincantieri.

Princess Cruises to significantly grow UK, Continental Europe capacity

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 December 2022 02 December 2022

Princess Cruises will significantly grow its capacity in the UK and Continental Europe both next year and in 2024, according to Eithne Williamson, VP Europe and UK.

In 2024, the company that is part of the Carnival group, will offer 162 departures and almost four million passenger nights in a season that will run from February to November.

The number of passenger nights in 2024 would be 28% higher than in 2023, which again would be 42% higher than the corresponding figure for this year, she said in a presentation.

The 2024 season will see the introduction of Sun Princess, which at some 175,000 gross tons would be the largest ship of the line.

Helsinki Shipyards invites tenders for third ship intended for Swan Hellenic

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 November 2022 30 November 2022

Helsinki Shipyard in Finland said it has started to invite tenders for an incomplete 12,500 gross ton cruise ship originally intended to be operated by Swan Hellenic, it said in a statement.

“The Vessel is offered for sale and will be sold ‘As Is’ and ‘Where Is’ without representation, warranty, or guaranty as to quantity, quality, title, character, condition, size, or kind, or that the same is in condition or fit to be used for the purpose for which intended, and no claim for any allowance or deduction upon such grounds will be considered after the bid opening or conclusion of an auction,” the shipbuilder said in a statement.

Swan Hellenic bought the second of the planned three ships, SH Vega at an auction from the shipbuilder in the summer. The sale was due to Russian finance being linked to the original contract to build the ship that Swan Hellenic was to charter from a Russian controlled company.

The winner of the tender would be disclosed on 12 December, the shipyard said.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to offload smallest ship

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 November 2022 30 November 2022

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destination focused cruise operator, will offload the 1993 built Braemar of 24,344 gross tons, it has been reported.

The ship remains in lay up in Rosyth in Scotland, while the other three ships of the company that is part of the Bonheur group that is headquartered and listed in Oslo have returned to service a long time ago.

Bonheur said in its third quarter report that is dated 8 November that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ average occupancy for the three ships in the quarter was 73% (62%) with a net ticket income of £188 per diem in the quarter compared to £191 for the same quarter in 2021.

“The EBITDA was negatively impacted by technical issues with Balmoral’s starboard propeller resulting in the ship requiring a short dry dock to repair and the cancellation of a 11-night cruise during the peak holiday season. Furthermore, some cruises during the quarter experienced lower than expected occupancy due to last minute cancellations and transfers because of guest concerns with rising cases of Covid-19 in the UK,” the company said in a statement.

EBITDA was negative by NOK42 million in the review period, an improvement from negative by NOK138 million

In addition, operating costs rise by the increase in fuel costs in the quarter as a result of the prolonged conflict in the Ukraine together with the significant weakening of British pound against the US dollar.

“An impairment charge was made in the quarter of NOK 456 million to the asset value of the two older cruise ships. This is impacted by the challenging market situation, higher operating expenses in the cruise industry in combination with increase in discount rate,” the company said.

The charge refers to Braemar and the 1988 built Balmoral that is of 45,088 gross tons. Bolette and Borealis, the two other ships of the line, were built in the mid-1990s and were acquired from Holland America Line during the pandemic.

Braemar was built in Spain as Crown Dynasty for the now defunct Crown Cruise Line and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines acquired the ship in 2001. Much smaller than its three peers, it has been able to navigate the Corinth canal in Greece and sail up the Guadalquivir river to Seville in Spain. However, most of its cabins are significantly smaller than those on the other ships of the line.