Carnival expects to resume cruising from UK soon

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 06 October 2020 06 October 2020

Carnival Corporation & plc is optimistic that it will be able to resume cruising from the UK in the near future, said Arnold Donald, President and CEO of the Anglo-American company.

Speaking at the Seatrade Cruise Virtual event, Donald said that the company has been in dialogue with authorities and other partners in the country regarding the resumption of cruising. “The present advice is that people should not cruise until some time next year, unless this changes,” he said.

On 2 October, the UK Chamber of Shipping, the trade association for the UK shipping industry, said it had worked closely with the cruise industry for over six months developing framework documents for cruise ship operators to implement new measures with enhanced public health protection, the organisation said in a statement.

Maritime Minister Robert Courts welcomed the launch of the new guidance saying: “Our cruise industry has been hit hard by COVID-19 and the government has worked alongside the sector to prepare for a safe and successful restart. This industry framework puts passengers and workers at its heart and is an important step forward to allow cruises to prepare to set sail when safe to do so.”

UK cruise industry develops framework documents to resume operations

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 02 October 2020 02 October 2020

The UK Chamber of Shipping, the trade association for the UK shipping industry, has worked closely with the cruise industry for over six months developing framework documents for cruise ship operators to implement new measures with enhanced public health protection, the organisation said in a statement.

Maritime Minister Robert Courts welcomed the launch of the new guidance saying: “Our cruise industry has been hit hard by COVID-19 and the government has worked alongside the sector to prepare for a safe and successful restart. This industry framework puts passengers and workers at its heart and is an important step forward to allow cruises to prepare to set sail when safe to do so.”

The framework, which has been shared with the UK government, and was produced in collaboration with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), is the culmination of months of collaborative work between cruise operators, industry partners, and health experts.

It will help inform the restart of the cruise industry when the time is right and public health conditions allow. There is currently no restart date for the industry but the UK Chamber of Shipping, CLIA and operators will continue to work with the government on future plans.

The health and wellbeing of passengers and crew has always been the top priority for the cruise industry, which already implements some of the most stringent safety and hygiene standards. The cruise sector in the UK is worth £10 billion to the UK economy and supports more than 88,000 jobs and the new documents have been shared with stakeholders across the industry and was agreed by the major operators.

Launching the framework, UK Chamber of Shipping Chief Executive Bob Sanguinetti said:“The cruise sector is a vital part of the UK economy. This new UK Chamber of Shipping Framework gives the government, passengers, crew and operators the confidence that the very latest science and medical advice has been included in the industry's planning process.”

“A huge amount of time and effort has gone into this work and the new documents, which are fully supported by the sector, is a testament to the commitment of all concerned to protect the health and well-being of cruisers, seafarers and the public. We are not talking about restarting the sector tomorrow, but it is a vital first step in the process to get cruises sailing again when conditions allow and government guidance changes.”

The framework documents for cruise operators and crew advises on what measures should be considered and implemented on board for the safety of crew and passengers. It also details how cruise lines should communicate with passengers from the time of booking, traveling from their home, to a port, embarkation and throughout the voyage. Similar information is laid out in detail for the safety of seafarers. The passenger guidance provides passengers advice on necessary considerations to be aware of before booking, and information of what to expect, including measures they will need to adhere to throughout the cruise.

Marella Cruises axes oldest and smallest ship

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 02 October 2020 02 October 2020

Marella Cruises, the UK focused cruise line in the TUI AG group, has decided to retire the 1986 built Marella Dream, the oldest ship in its fleet.

With a gross tonnage of 54,763, it is also the smallest ship of the company, which it has served for a decade.

Marella Dream was built as Homeric for the now defunct Switzerland based Home Lines by the Meyer Werft in Germany and it was the first cruise liner that the yard had constructed.

Originally, the vessel measured 204 metres in length and 42,092 gross tons and it was lengthened to the present 240.3 metres in 1988 after Home Lines had been acquired by Holland America Line, for whom the ship sailed as Westerdam. It later become Costa Europa before joining the fleet of what is Marella Cruises now in 2010.

This is the second ship Marella Cruises has disposed of since the start of the Covid-19 crisis. The 1984 built Marella Celebration of 33,930 gross tons that was operated on charter left the fleet earlier this year. Both ships that Marella Cruises has decided to axe only had few balcony cabins, which are a standard feature even in more modern contemporary market ships today.

Holland America Line’s Rotterdam reaches next building milestone with coin ceremony at Fincantieri shipyard

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 02 October 2020 02 October 2020

In anticipation of Rotterdam’s float-out next week, Holland America Line celebrated the ship’s coin ceremony today, Thursday, Oct. 1, at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. Following Italian shipbuilding tradition, Mai Elmar, executive director of Cruise Port Rotterdam in the Netherlands, served as the ship’s madrina and participated in the festivities.

During the socially responsible ceremony, Dutch coins minted in 1872 to honor Holland America Line’s first Rotterdam were welded to the outside deck of the ship to bring good fortune, followed by a blessing by the shipyard chaplain. In attendance were Antonio Quintano, director of the Fincantieri Marghera Shipyard; Cyril Tatar, Holland America Group’s vice president of newbuilding services; and Nico Bleichrodt, vice president, international sales, for Holland America Line.

“We are pleased to honor the coin ceremony tradition and celebrate this milestone that signals less than a year until Rotterdam’s delivery,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “With a name like Rotterdam, there is no other person more ideal than Mai Elmar to serve as the ship’s madrina. Mai’s name is synonymous with the cruise industry in the port city of Rotterdam and she has been a tremendous champion of our brand for decades. We’re thrilled to have her take on this special role.”

On Oct 7 Rotterdam’s drydock will be filled with water and the ship will be floated out to begin the next stage of construction at an outfitting pier. Rotterdam is scheduled to be delivered July 30, 2021.

About Madrina Mai Elmar

For many years, Elmar has dedicated much of her time to the city and port of Rotterdam. Since 2000, she has grown Cruise Port Rotterdam from zero to 102 cruise ships that have visited yearly. She was the first chief marketing officer of Rotterdam city and now serves as executive director of Cruise Port Rotterdam. Elmar was instrumental in designing the brand policy and strategy of the city. From 2011 to 2013, she was director of the ss Rotterdam, the famed hotel ship and former flagship of Holland America Line.

In 2005 Elmar was named Mrs. “Harbor Man of the Year” and received the Wolfert van Borselen medal from the mayor for her efforts for the city of Rotterdam. In 2016 she was made a Knight of the Order of Oranje Nassau, which is awarded for longstanding meritorious service to society, the State or the Royal House.

About Rotterdam VII

The third in the Pinnacle Class series, Rotterdam will carry 2,668 guests, measure 99,800 gross tons and feature highly successful amenities and innovations introduced with her sister ships, including the 270-degree surround screen World Stage, Rudi’s Sel de Mer and Grand Dutch Café. Delivering the best of everything, Rotterdam celebrates live music with an exclusive collection of world-class performances each night — from Lincoln Center Stage and B.B. King’s Blues Club to Rolling Stone Rock Room and Billboard Onboard.

Throughout the ship, Rotterdam will showcase Holland America Line hallmarks that drive one of the highest guest repeat rates in the industry: exquisite cuisine guided by eight of the world’s leading chefs; gracious, award-winning service; and superbly appointed staterooms and suites, including family and single accommodations.

Rotterdam is the seventh ship to bear the name for Holland America Line and the 17th ship constructed for the brand by Italian shipyard Fincantieri, which most recently built Nieuw Statendam.

Following Rotterdam’s Premiere Voyage departing Aug. 1, 2021, the ship will spend its inaugural summer season in northern Europe. Naming details have not been finalized and will be announced at a later date.