Buyer found for MV Werften’s Wismar yard

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 13 June 2022 13 June 2022

Thyssenkrupp Marine System is to take over the MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, but as the new owner of the facility will focus on naval work, cruise ship building will end. 

“With a view to the future, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems could produce submarines in Wismar during the course of 2024. The main impetus for this is an order for more submarines from the German government and the resulting investments in the upgrading of the shipyard,” the company said in a statement.

MV Werften was part of the Genting Hong Kong group that collapsed in the winter. It also had facilities in Stralsund and Rostock-Warnemunde plus Bremerhaven, where it owned the Lloyd Werft ship repair yard. This has been sold earlier for another buyer.

Carnival plc shares hit 52 week low in early London trade

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 13 June 2022 13 June 2022

Shares in Carnival plc, the UK domiciled and listed holding company in the Carnival Corporation & plc group, hit a 52 week low in early London trade on both industry specific and general economic woes.

The shares traded 2.8% down at 798.60 pence some 50 m minutes after opening of the market. Their previous closing low had been 842p. Shares are traded in pence, not  pounds and pence, on the London market, where the FTSE100 index of leading shares was down about 1.1% at the same time.

Concern has been mounting about possible downward pressure on ticket prices at the same time as the cruise industry is grappling with rising cost of fuel and food plus supply chain and crewing problems.

Inflation in the US hit a multi year high of 8.6% in May according to figures released on Friday. Cruise industry observers fear that rising cost of living would negatively affect the demand for cruises.

CDC rescinds order requiring negative pre-departure Covid-19 test prior to flight to the U.S.

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 12 June 2022 12 June 2022

On Friday CDC announced that the order requiring persons to show a negative Covid-19 test result or documentation of recovery from Covid-19 before boarding a flight to the United States, will be rescinded, effective on June 12, 2022 at 12:01AM ET.

This means that starting at 12:01AM ET on June 12, 2022, air passengers will not need to get tested and show the Covid-19 test result or documentation of recovery from Covid-19 prior to boarding a flight to the U.S.

The Covid-19 pandemic has now shifted to a new phase, due to the widespread uptake of highly effective Covid-19 vaccines, the availability of effective therapeutics, and the accrual of high rates of vaccine- and infection-induced immunity at the population level in the United States. Each of these measures has contributed to lower risk of severe disease and death across the United States. As a result, this requirement which was needed at an earlier stage in the pandemic may be withdrawn. CDC continues to recommend that those travelers boarding a flight to the U.S. get tested for current infection with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) and not travel if they are sick.

CDC continues to evaluate the latest science and state of the pandemic and will reassess the need for a testing requirement if the situation changes. CDC will communicate any updates publicly if and/or when they change.

Windstar Cruises’ reimagined Star Pride makes debut in Greece

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 12 June 2022 12 June 2022

U.S. headquartered small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises announces the debut of its all-suite Star Plus Class Star Pride yacht today, sailing from Athens on a sold-out, 8-night voyage to Barcelona, stopping at ports including Gythion, Corfu, Argostoli, Messina (Taormina), Trapani, and Cagliari. Star Pride is the third and final of Windstar’s Star Plus Class yachts to emerge from Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard following a complex lengthening and transformation project.

Now, all six of the line’s all-suite and sailing yachts are back in the water cruising while requiring vaccines of all passengers and crew amongst a host of health and safety precautions including testing and high-tech air filtration.

The line’s three all-suite Star Plus Class yachts (Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride) underwent major transformations, with an investment of more than $250 million. Star Breeze was the first to launch in June of 2021, with Star Legend as the second in September of 2021, showcasing new suites and expanded outdoor and indoor public spaces. The yachts are also more environmentally friendly with new efficient engines, generators, and advanced wastewater treatment systems.

All three yachts increased in maximum capacity from 212 guests to 312 and provide more of what Windstar’s customers want, like additional dining experiences (one is an outdoor barbecue concept with grilling guru Steven Raichlen and the other a Spanish small plates restaurant from Anthony Sasso, one of the youngest chefs to be recognized by the Michelin Guide), a true spa and fitness center, an elegant infinity pool, and more outdoor deck areas.

“To have completed this project amidst a global pandemic is nothing short of amazing,” said Windstar President Christopher Prelog. “We’re grateful to our ownership and to our partners for sticking with it, and to our customers for their excitement and support of these new products. We are seeing our highest guest satisfaction surveys on the new Star Class yachts, with the highest Net Promoter Scores in our brand’s history. Our guests and travel advisors really love the product we created on Star Class.”

The three all-suite yachts, together with Windstar’s three classic sailing yachts, remain small enough to continue to visit the special small ports and waterways of the world.