Hurtigruten Expeditions completes industry-first fleetwide installation of SpaceX’s Starlink

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 14 October 2022 14 October 2022

Hurtigruten Expeditions will be the first cruise line to implement SpaceX’s innovative broadband service Starlink across all ships. In cooperation with long-time connectivity partner Speedcast, the installation will be completed in October.

“As the world leader in exploration travel, it’s only fitting that we bring the world’s most innovative technologies onboard our ships to further enhance the experience and day-to-day lives for our guests, crew, partners and the communities we visit”, said Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO Asta Lassesen.

Speedcast and Hurtigruten Expeditions began testing and integration of Starlink terminals onboard the fleet of small-size expedition cruise ships in March. Installation will be complete by end of October – making Hurtigruten Expeditions the first cruise line to introduce the high-speed, low-latency connectivity across its entire fleet.

“We’ve seen major players announcing plans for implementation of Starlink connectivity. Our partnership with Speedcast and fleetwide introduction of the new service not only puts us ahead of the rest of the cruise industry, it also puts us ahead of the technology. When Starlink introduces maritime coverage in Antarctica and the Arctic, we will be ready,” said Lassesen.

“With vessels operating in some of the most remote and spectacular areas of the world, Hurtigruten Expeditions is an ideal partner for introducing groundbreaking technology in the cruise industry. Speedcast’s expertise lies in our ability to combine all available connectivity paths and manage a complete service that offers the highest levels of uptime, availability and performance," said Joe Spytek, Chief Executive Officer at Speedcast.

The groundbreaking broadband internet solution – using a network of low-orbit satellites – will not only enhance the guest experience.

Through an industry-leading network of science partnerships, Hurtigruten Expeditions hosts scientists on every sailing on every ship. All ships feature signature Science Centers and a variety of science equipment, and all guests are offered to take part in citizen science programs. Faster and more reliable internet further enables delivery of science results from some of the most unexplored areas of the planet.

As one of few major cruise lines, Hurtigruten Expeditions offers free internet connectivity not only for guests, but also for all crew members.

“Introduction of new technology makes it easier for everyone on board to remain connected with friends, family and loved ones no matter where they are. We challenge all cruise lines that follows our example by installing Starlink to also follow our example to make internet free for all crew members," said Lassesen.

Silversea names Felicity Aston, the first woman to cross Antarctica solo, as Godmother of Silver Endeavour

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 13 October 2022 13 October 2022

Silversea Cruises has named Felicity Aston MBE as the Godmother of its new ship Silver Endeavour. A celebrated polar explorer, author, television presenter and climate scientist, Aston became the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica in 2012, as well as the first person to traverse the continent by muscle power alone. Aston has since been awarded the Polar Medal and has been appointed MBE for services to exploration. A long-respected maritime tradition, the ship’s Godmother blesses the vessel for good fortune during its official naming ceremony. Aston will officially name Silver Endeavour as part of an intimate ceremony in Antarctica – to be held in the days before the ship’s inaugural voyage, departing on November 21.

Felicity Aston: an authority on polar exploration

In a career that has spanned over 20 years, Aston has undertaken many challenging expeditions in the world’s most extreme environments – often as the leader of groundbreaking trips, including that of the first British women’s team to cross the Greenland ice sheet, as well as record-breaking teams of women on ski expeditions to both the South and North Poles. Aston’s longest and most formative tenure in Antarctica involved a 39-month stint at the Rothera Research Station from 2000, where she was monitoring climate and the ozone layer as a meteorologist for the British Antarctic Survey. Now based at the National Oceanography Centre and University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, where she is investigating airborne microplastic pollution on polar sea ice, Aston’s work has plugged data gaps, reshaping scientific understanding. In 2023, Aston will be continuing her leadership of the B.I.G. (Before It’s Gone) North Pole expedition, a long-term project to collect material for crucial Arctic Ocean sea ice research. Aston has published five books about exploration and her expeditions; co-presented two BBC documentaries; and has been featured in top publications, including National Geographic, Vanity Fair, and Marie Claire. She is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in London and The Explorers Club in New York, as well as an elected member of the Society of Women Geographers.

“We are delighted to welcome Felicity Aston to the Silversea family as Godmother of Silver Endeavour,” said Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO, Silversea Cruises. “A leading authority in the field of polar exploration, Felicity is the perfect ambassador for our cruise line. She shares the unwavering senses of curiosity and adventure that unite all Silversea guests. In becoming the first woman to cross Antarctica alone, as well as the first person to traverse the continent purely by muscle power, Felicity demonstrated exceptional commitment, resilience and passion, embodying a true spirit of discovery. Her explorations are more than a test of physical stamina; they are a test of oneself. They will be a source of great inspiration for travelers as they set forth on their journey to Polar Regions and beyond with Silversea.”

“I am honored to have been selected as the Godmother of Silver Endeavour – a beautiful ship that will introduce countless travelers to the magnificent allure of the Polar Regions,” said Aston. “With each of my expeditions, I am driven to push boundaries, to explore new frontiers and to experience the planet’s most spectacular places. Guests traveling aboard Silversea’s newest ship will exercise these same ambitions with the charting of each course, the launching of every Zodiac and the arrival in each destination. She is a vehicle for discovery in every sense of the term and I am excited to sail to the Polar Regions in such comfort.”

Built to PC6 polar class specifications, Silver Endeavour is designed for polar exploration. She carries state-of-the-art amenities, with an industry-leading Zodiac-to-guest ratio; kayaks; and cutting-edge navigation and exploration technology, including a remote gimbal camera system, which can capture high-quality images from 5km, among other amenities. She maintains Silversea’s trademark level of comfort, with a crew-to-guest ratio of approximately 1:1 and the cruise line’s hallmarks of luxury, including butler service for every suite and some of the most spacious accommodations in expedition cruising.

Azamara strengthens UK, several other teams 

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 11 October 2022 11 October 2022

Azamara, the destination immersion focused upmarket cruise line, has a series of enhancements to its UK-based sales team, to bolster market growth and generate greater confidence amongst trade partners in the region.

These changes are a direct result of Azamara’s plans to increase in-market presence and sales function around the world. With global growth a top priority, Azamara has doubled the number of shoreside employees in key markets including the US, the Nordics, Germany, and Australia, the company said in a statement.

Carol Cabezas, the President of Azamara states, “We recognise the integral role that ‘on the ground’ sales teams have on market performance and the value of their relationships with local trade partners. By introducing new team structures with targeted focuses, such as that in the UK, and with a surge of new hires around the world, we are offering more support to trade partners globally and driving forward our international growth”.

David Duff to lead UK team as MD

In the UK sales team, David Duff, formerly Azamara’s International Commercial Director, will take on the role of Managing Director, UK. In this new position, David will focus his efforts on developing the UK market, driving growth, and providing visible market leadership. He will manage the UK team across all departments and work closely with the global teams based in Miami, which provide operational, day-to-day support to all international markets.

“This is a really exciting moment for Azamara in the UK” said David Duff, Managing Director, UK at Azamara. “The UK proves to be a leading market for us year-on-year, and now with a reinforced sales team, we can expand our reach even further, visit more travel partners and distribute products across more channels”. “We just had our best year on record in the UK, and with demand for cruising still strong, we are confident that these changes will set the foundations for further success in 2023 and beyond”.

Additional appointments include Lee Surman who will step into a new role as Head of Partnerships and Trading, taking over the commercial support to all markets, building new strategic partnerships and handling the day-to-day commercial needs of the international team.

In a new position as Head of Trade Sales, UK, Stuart Pearce will oversee the UK sales strategy, responsible for driving sales and responding to the challenging needs of the market, enabling us to reach more of the smaller independent agencies and consortia members by also adding new resources to his team with a Business Development Manager role for the UK. Nikki Singleton will take on a greater focus on the top strategic accounts nationally. Lori Scannella returns to deliver UK and Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) support in her role as Sales Support Manager.

Focus on Nordic and German speaking countries as well

For EMEA, Christina Hannon’s role has expanded to Strategic Accounts Manager for the Nordic and DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) countries where Azamara is establishing relationships for the first time. Christina has worked with partners in the Nordics for years and will continue to develop the market, while also focusing on the important regions of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Bruno Jansen will utilise his European experience in a new role as Sales Manager for the EMEA IR network, strengthening relationships with an important group of partners that operate on behalf of Azamara in each country. Christina and Bruno will be supported by a new team member, Daniela Riley. With over twenty years of experience working with the trade and helping build sales in EMEA, Daniela will join the team as Sales Support Executive for EMEA and will be based in Switzerland.

Finally, Richard Stanbridge will assume a new role as Trade and Guests Services Manager, International based in London, to support our trade partners.

Photo: The four ships of Azamara meet in Koper, Slovenia, September 2022.

MSC Cruises plans largest ever U.S. presence with five ships for winter 2023-2024 season

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 11 October 2022 11 October 2022

MSC Cruises has taken the next step in its ongoing U.S. expansion by revealing plans for a record five ships to sail from American homeports in the region by the end of 2023. The world’s third largest and fastest-growing cruise brand will broaden its range of itineraries in the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Bermuda, the Northeast and Canada beginning with the Winter 2023-2024 season.

The new MSC Seascape will lead the way with Eastern and Western Caribbean 7-night cruises following its inaugural voyage from PortMiami later this year. She will be joined in Miami by MSC Divina, which will offer everything from 3-night cruises to The Bahamas to 11-night journeys through Central and South America. MSC Magnifica will join the U.S. fleet and sail short cruises to The Bahamas and Key West.

MSC Seashore will sail from Port Canaveral with a mix of short cruises to The Bahamas and 7-night Western Caribbean sailings. This will be the first time one of MSC Cruises’ groundbreaking Seaside EVO ships sails from Port Canaveral, and it will provide the first chance for fans of shorter cruises to enjoy MSC Seashore’s impressive range of amenities.

From New York, MSC Meraviglia will sail to Bermuda, Florida and The Bahamas after completing her inaugural summer season in the Northeast with a series of voyages to both Florida and the Bahamas, and to Canada and New England. Like every ship in the cruise line’s U.S. fleet, her trips to The Bahamas will include stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve—the company’s breathtaking island destination focused on sustainability.

Rubén A. Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said: “Bringing more ships to the U.S. allows us to offer a wide variety of itineraries, adding new destinations and providing more opportunities for travelers to discover our unique international flavor. It’s especially exciting to know how many of those guests will experience Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and see firsthand how we’ve embraced the island’s natural beauty, and how committed we are to sustainability. Caring for the ocean and showing our guests the true extent of its wonders drives everything we do at MSC Cruises.”