Costa and Meyer Turku celebrates float out of Costa Toscana

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 17 January 2021 17 January 2021

Costa Cruises, the Italian company of Carnival Corporation & plc, celebrated the float-out ceremony of the new flagship Costa Toscana at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland on Friday, January 15, 2021.

Costa Toscana, as her sister ship Costa Smeralda, is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the marine industry’s most advanced fuel technology currently available for reducing emissions, both at sea and during port calls. Costa Group, which includes Costa Cruises, Germany-based AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia, was the first in the cruise industry worldwide to introduce this technology, having ordered five new LNG-powered ships, two of which, Costa Smeralda and AIDAnova, have already entered service. They are part of an expansion plan that includes seven new ships to be delivered to Costa Group by 2023, for a total investment of more than six billion euros.

During the float-out ceremony, Costa Toscana officially touched the sea for the first time, with the flooding of the basin where she has been built in recent months. She will enter service in December 2021, once the interior fittings have been completed.

Mario Zanetti, chief commercial officer of Costa Cruises and president of Costa Group Asia, commented: "Despite the current challenging scenario, Costa Group is confirming its investment in fleet expansion. We are confident in the recovery of our industry, and we are excited about the arrival of new ships like Costa Toscana, which embodies the elements we want to focus on for the future. First of all, it is an excellent and innovative ship, attractive for new customers, which is going to be fundamental, especially when people will be able to freely travel again and will have a great desire for holidays. Looking beyond the pandemic, the second element we are focusing on is to complete the transformation of our fleet and operations into a sustainable model. In addition to LNG technology, we are developing other innovative solutions, such as shore power and batteries, as we continue to work towards achieving zero emissions over time”.

“The float-out is always a very special occasion for us shipbuilders, as the ship is finally set to her natural environment. As this is also the start of the final stage of shipbuilding, all the exciting colors, venues and features will start taking their final form. In the coming months she will be finalized at the pier and then tested and commissioned in the autumn for delivery”, CEO of Meyer Turku, Tim Meyer, said.

Fincantieri floats out Silver Dawn in Ancona

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 15 January 2021 15 January 2021

Silversea Cruises’ new ship Silver Dawn touched water for the first time on January 14 during its float-out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The fitting out phase will now begin — during which Fincantieri’s skilled craftspeople will bring the ship’s elegant interiors to life. Silver Dawn will become the 10th ship in the leading ultra-luxury cruise line’s fleet. With the delivery of both Silver Origin and Silver Moon in 2020, and with the delivery of Silver Dawn scheduled for November 2021, Silversea Cruises – and the global cruise industry in general – continues to demonstrate great resilience.

“We proudly celebrate this major milestone in the build of our beautiful new Silver Dawn” says Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises. “Our long-term collaboration with Fincantieri continues to push boundaries in the ultra-luxury cruise industry, while the ongoing support and expertise of the Royal Caribbean Group has been invaluable to the ship’s build. While Silver Dawn takes influence from our beloved ships Silver Muse and Silver Moon, our guests will benefit from many pioneering enhancements aboard the tenth ship in our fleet. We look forward to revealing these in the coming months”.

Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager Merchant Ships Division of Fincantieri, stated: “Based on the very successful design of Silver Muse, Silver Dawn is the fourth ship we will have built for Silversea. For a shipbuilder there can be no better acknowledgement than the one of a demanding and prestigious owner who welcomes innovation with enthusiasm. We are therefore extremely proud to celebrate the launch of this ship. She consolidates the technological and management leadership of our Group which takes on even greater value in the very challenging situation we are experiencing”.

The third ship in the Muse-class series, and part of a long-term plan to grow and enhance the cruise line’s already luxurious fleet, Silver Dawn will be a sistership to Silversea’s Silver Muse, built in the Fincantieri shipyard of Sestri Ponente (Genoa) in April 2017, and Silver Moon, which was delivered in Ancona in October 2020.

Accommodating just 596 guests in 298 ocean-view suites – 96% of which will have a private veranda – and with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.45, Silver Dawn will maintain the small-ship intimacy and spacious accommodation which are the hallmarks of the Silversea experience. She will offer guests many exciting enhancements when compared to Silver Muse and Silver Moon, which will be unveiled in due course. Providing superlative comfort and an enhanced onboard experience, she will unlock authentic travel experiences for Silversea’s discerning guests in the world’s most spectacular destinations.

Tillberg Design of Sweden changes organisation, to widen service portfolio

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 15 January 2021 15 January 2021

Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS), the interior design specialist, has changed its organisation as it prepares to widen the portfolio of its services.

As a result, current CEO of TDoS, Stefan Nilsson will assume the role as group CEO, focusing on mergers and  acquisitions, building partnerships and exploring new business opportunities.

“I am looking forward to strengthening and expanding our current offer. The Tillberg Design of Sweden group will soon be able to provide several additional advanced services, including highly qualified consulting and world leading tech solutions, all with our clients’ success and prosperity in mind,” Nilsson said in a statement.

TDoS’ current deputy CEO, Madelene Hall, takes over as CEO for the group’s operating companies around the world, managing the daily operations. In addition to Hoganas in southern Sweden, TDoS has offices in Miami. Singapore and in Wroclaw, Poland

"We believe that what will define the top companies of 2021 and beyond, is the ability to cultivate resiliency, creativity, customer obsession and adaptability,” she said in the statement.

“By adding an experienced group CEO, the TDoS group now have an even better structure for managing new opportunities, and for serving our clients”, said Fredrik Johansson, TDoS board spokesperson and partner.

Photo: A TDoS design for Hurtigruten

Marella Cruises and AIDA Cruises extend standstill

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 14 January 2021 14 January 2021

Marella Cruises in the UK and AIDA Cruises in Germany have decided to extend the standstill of their operations due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Marella Cruises, the UK focused cruise line in the TUI AG group in Germany, has pushed back operations for all European sailings until 31 March amid ongoing uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The line also confirmed that long-haul sailings – including voyages from Barbados and Jamaica – would not restart until April 30.

AIDA Cruises, which is part of the Carnival Corporation & plc group, said the extension of the lockdown in Germany until at least 31 January and a further tightening of the measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the restriction of the radius of movement in areas with high incidence rates or the further limitation of private contacts, have led to further restrictions of public life and international travel.

As a result, AIDA Cruises unfortunately must cancel all seven-day cruises with AIDAperla and AIDAmar around the Canary Islands through the end of February.

The company hopes to continue the Canary Islands season as of 6 March, after the infection situation in Germany has eased significantly.

For all other countries in the winter destinations of AIDA Cruises, the call of cruise ships is not permitted until further notice. Therefore, AIDA unfortunately must also cancel all cruises with AIDAprima in the Orient planned for winter 2021, including the transit voyage from Dubai to Palma (Mallorca).