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MSC makes five senior appointments for luxury brand

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 March 2021 17 March 2021

MSC Group’s Cruises Division has announced details of five new senior members appointed to the yet unnamed luxury brand of the group.

The team is led by CEO Michael Ungerer, who said in a statement:“The leaders of the new brand bring more than 100 years of combined knowledge and expertise in the luxury, hospitality and cruise sectors.”

“Together they will create a luxury and lifestyle travel experience as distinct as it is trailblazing, exceeding the expectations of both discerning cruisers seeking something different, those new to cruising and nextgenlux travellers curious to start, he added”

The people and roles are:

Chris Austin, Chief Sales Officer

Chris was most recently SVP Global Sales and Marketing for four years at Seabourn Cruise Line where in 2019 he received the accolade of ‘Cruise Ambassador of the Year’ from the global luxury travel agency network, Virtuoso. He previously worked for almost 20 years leading sales for the luxury brand portfolio at Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Sarah Doyle, Chief Marketing Officer

Most recently Vice President Marketing at Bacardi Limited Europe, Sarah previously spent six years at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, initially responsible for brand partnerships across the luxury brand portfolio, then as Global Brand Director for W Hotels Worldwide where she opened six global properties. Prior to her career in hospitality, Sarah for 10 years oversaw American Express’ Platinum and Centurion cardmember programmes at Momentum Worldwide.

Thatcher Brown, Commercial and Strategic Advisor

Thatcher most recently was President of Dream Cruises and Managing Director of Crystal Cruises Asia at Genting for four years. After starting his career at Fairmont Hotels and Resorts where he spent six years including the role of Executive Director Brand Marketing and Business Development, Thatcher worked at the Jumeirah Group luxury hotel chain for nearly five years, including the position of VP Brand Strategy and Marketing.

Sacha Rougier, Head of Itinerary Planning and Shore Experience

Sacha was Managing Director of Cruise Gate Hamburg for nearly six years and managed the completion of two new cruise terminals, overseeing a 73 per cent increase in passenger numbers. Previously she was Business Development Manager for five years with the Port of Marseille.

John Stoll - Destination Experience Advisor

John worked as VP Land Programmes for 17 years at Crystal Cruises and was previously Director Land Programmes at Silversea Cruises for more than five years where he created award-winning shore excursions.

The first 63,900 gross ton vessel for the luxury brand will be delivered in 2023 from the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, with subsequent deliveries in 2024, 2025 and 2026.It will feature 461 of the largest suites at sea, all with ocean front balconies or terraces, MSC said.

RCCL, Hermes amend credit agreement

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 March 2021 17 March 2021

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), the world’s second largest cruise shipping company, said it has entered into an amendment to the credit agreement for the financing of Odyssey of the Seas in order to increase the maximum loan amount available under the facility.

Odysseys of the Seas is under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany for Royal Caribbean International, the RCCL group's contemporary market unit. It is a Quantum class vessel of about 168,700 gross tons and due for delivery next month.

“This agreement, as amended, makes available to us a U.S. dollar-denominated loan guaranteed 95% by Euler Hermes Aktiengesellschaft (“Hermes”), the official export credit agency of Germany, in a maximum amount equal to the US dollar equivalent of 80% of the vessel purchase price plus 100% of the premium payable to Hermes,” the company said in a statement.

There are no other changes to the other terms or conditions in the credit agreement as a result of the Odyssey Facility Amendment. “Certain of the lenders participating in the Odyssey Facility Amendment and affiliates of those parties, provide banking, investment banking and other financial services to us from time to time for which they have received, and will in the future receive, customary fees,” RCCL said.

SH Minerva hull assembly completed ahead of schedule

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 March 2021 17 March 2021

Swan Hellenic, the Nicosia based expedition cruise line, said that the hull sections and deck modules of its first vessel, SH Minerva, had all been completed ahead of schedule.

It is the first of two 10,500 gross ton ships the cop[any has an order at Helsinki Shipyard in Finland. A third ship, of 12,500 gross tons, is also due to join the line from the same builder.

“Now that the structure is complete, the cabins are already taking shape, as also revealed online today, showing the Scandi-chic comfort, rich natural materials and spacious open perspectives out to sea of the elegant designs by Tillberg of Sweden,” the company said in a statement.

The new ship represents the next generation of polar expedition vessels, designed for worldwide cruising with a strong focus on high-latitude areas.

SH Minerva is being fitted with a 5-megawatt diesel-electric propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction, ready to receive 3-megawatt max. battery package and PC5 ice-strengthened hull and with Safe Return to Port notation.

Esko Karvonen, CEO of Helsinki Shipyard Inc. remarked: “We are very proud of the smooth progress made on SH Minerva, helped by its outstanding design. It is an inspiring journey to work on the remarkable first three vessels for the iconic Swan Hellenic and we are sure the guests who explore the world aboard them will also feel that.”

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines launch UK scenic summer cruise programme

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 March 2021 17 March 2021

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines,. The UK based destination focused cruise line, has published a ‘Welcome Back’ programme of cruises to showcase the best of the British Isles this summer, with scenic-only cruises and those with ports of call featured aboard its smaller ships, the company said in a statement..

The 11-cruise programme includes departures from Dover and Liverpool, with scenic sailings taking in the best of the British Isles, including the Shetland and Orkney islands and the Isles of Scilly.

New ship Borealis will be the first of the fleet to set sail, with a three-night scenic ‘Maiden Voyage’ from Liverpool on 5^th July, with Bolette to depart on a three-night ‘Maiden Voyage’ from Dover on 16^th August.

Peter Deer, Managing Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We are so excited to be unveiling these new summer cruises today. So often overlooked, our British Isles are home to some of the most wonderful wildlife, and so much spectacular scenery that is best enjoyed from the water."

“With this selection of shorter sailings, guests can dip their toes back into cruising and enjoy all that they love about being on board with us, before we all begin to venture further afield again. This is an incredibly important milestone for our business, and we can’t wait to welcome our guests on board our new-look fleet this summer.”

Highlights of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ summer sailings include:

Borealis’ four-night S213 ‘Scenic British Isles & Summer Wildlife’ no port cruise, departing from Liverpool on 8^th July 2021. Prices start from £549 per person. Enjoy up to £75 per person to spend on board.

Itinerary: Liverpool, England – Cruising by Neist Point Lighthouse – Cruising by Kilt Rock & Mealt Waterfall – Cruising Loch Broom – Cruising by The Small Isles – Cruising Loch Hourn – Cruising by Dutchman’s Cap – (Bac Mòr) & Fingals Cave – Cruising Sound of Mull – Cruising by Duart Castle – Liverpool, England

Borealis’ five-night S215 ‘Scenic Orkney & Faroe Islands’ no port cruise, departing from Liverpool on 17^th July 2021. Prices start from £699 per person. Enjoy up to £100 per person to spend on board.

Itinerary: Liverpool, England – Cruising by The Needle, Orkney, Scotland – Cruising by Old Man of Hoy, Hoy, Orkneys – Cruising by Marwick Head, Orkneys – Cruising by Fair Isle – Cruising by Sumburgh Head, Shetlands – Cruising by Cape Enniberg – Cruising Kalsoyarfjørður – Cruising Leirvíksfjørður & Djúpini – Cruising by Vestmanna cliffs, Streymoy – Cruising by Gásadalur – Cruising by Mykines – Cruising Gáshólmur, Tindhólmur & Drangarnir – Cruising by Hestur & Koltur – Liverpool, England

Bolette’s five-night T217 ‘Touring Scenic Orkneys & Shetlands’ cruise, departing from Dover on 24^th August 2021. Prices start from £799 per person. Enjoy up to £100 per person to spend on board.

Itinerary: Dover, England – Lerwick, Shetland Islands – Kirkwall, Orkney Islands – Dover, England

Viking to restart limited operations with domestic UK cruises

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 March 2021 16 March 2021

Viking announced today that it will restart limited operations in May 2021 with three special sailings along the coast of England. Available exclusively for UK residents, the new 7-night ocean itinerary – England’s Scenic Shores – will sail roundtrip from Portsmouth, with departures on May 22, May 29 and June 5, 2021. Guests on the England’s Scenic Shores itinerary will be among the first to sail on board Viking’s newest ocean ship, Viking Venus, which will be delivered in April. Pre-registration for England’s Scenic Shores is currently open only to Viking’s loyal past guests; more details about the voyages will be released – and reservations will be available to all UK residents – in due course.

Viking was the first cruise line to suspend operations at the beginning of the pandemic, and today’s update about the official restart was triggered because the UK Government recently signalled that it will allow the resumption of domestic cruises beginning in May 2021. All other previously scheduled Viking sailings through May 31, 2021 remain cancelled.

“We welcome the UK Government’s support for the return of safe domestic cruises as an important component in the travel industry’s recovery. In recognition of this support, and to celebrate the fact we have a British godmother – the esteemed broadcaster and journalist Anne Diamond – we have chosen to name our new ship, Viking Venus, in the UK on May 17,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “We are in a position to restart operations quickly and to start sailing again in May because we have kept our ships crewed during warm lay-up throughout the past 12 months. We have been implementing our additional protocols, including daily quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR tests for our crew, for almost six months now. With our new protocol enhancements in place, we believe there will be no safer way to travel the world than on a Viking voyage and we look forward to welcoming UK guests back on board very soon.”

Those who sail these new voyages will also experience Viking’s industry-leading health and safety program. Grounded in scientific research, the Viking Health & Safety Program was developed in partnership with an international team of medical advisors, including Raquel C. Bono, M.D., Viking’s Chief Health Officer. Dr. Bono is a board-certified trauma surgeon and retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy Medical Corps—and most recently led Washington State’s medical and healthcare systems response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a full-scale laboratory installed on every Viking ocean ship, all guests and crew will receive daily quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR tests. New air purification technology has also been installed on all Viking ships, which have always featured independent air handling units for all guest staterooms. And additional health checks, sanitization and physical distancing measures will provide further protection for Viking guests and crew at all points of the journey.