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Viking's 2021-2022 World Cruise to call in 56 ports in 27 countries

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 July 2020 23 July 2020

Viking has announced its new 2021-2022 Viking World Cruise, which will span 136 days, 27 countries and 56 ports, with overnight stays in 11 iconic cities. Setting sail on December 24, 2021, from Fort Lauderdale, the itinerary will include three new ports of call for Viking, including Phillip Island and Eden, Australia, as well as Yangon, Myanmar.

Sailing on Viking’s award-winning 930-guest Viking Star®, the epic voyage will explore ports of call in Central America; transit through the Panama Canal; journey up the West Coast of North America before crossing the Pacific Ocean and calling upon Hawaii; traverse New Zealand and Australia; and sail through Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean before concluding in London. Guests may also choose a shorter, 119-day portion of the sailing, 2022 Viking World Horizons, which departs from Los Angeles on January 10, 2022 and visits 22 countries and 49 ports before ending in London. All Viking World Cruise guests will also receive the complimentary option to remain on board for three additional days and disembark in the ship’s home port of Bergen, Norway.

“For more than 20 years, we have been committed to providing our guests with immersive and culturally enriching experiences while traveling the world in comfort,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “This has been an unusual year for all travelers, but we remain focused on the future and are pleased to offer our guests a new destination-focused World Cruise that allows for extensive exploration in 2021-2022.”

Princess Cruises extends pause of select global ship operations until December 15

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 July 2020 23 July 2020

Due to the continued progression of COVID-19 and related decisions of various government, health authorities, and airlines regarding travel restrictions, Princess Cruises is extending its pause in cruise operations impacting the following voyages:

– All cruises sailing in and out of Australia on Majestic Princess, Regal Princess, Sapphire Princess, Sea Princess, and Sun Princess through October 31, 2020

– All sailings in Asia, Caribbean, California Coast, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal, South America & Antarctica, Japan, and Tahiti/South Pacific through December 15, 2020

“We share in our guests’ disappointment in cancelling these cruises,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “We look forward to the days when we can return to travel and the happiness it brings to all who cruise.”

Guests currently booked on these cancelled voyages who have paid Princess in full will have the option to receive a refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 25% of the cruise fare.

For guests who have not paid in full, Princess will Double the Deposit, providing a refundable FCC for the money currently on deposit plus a matching bonus FCC that can be used on any voyage through May 1, 2022. The matching bonus FCC is non-refundable, will not exceed the base cruise fare amount of the currently booked cruise, and will have a minimum value of $100 per person.

To receive the above FCCs, no action is required by the guest or their travel advisor.

Princess will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full in recognition of the critical role they play in the cruise line’s business and success.

Cruise ship engine builders prepare for challenging, changing world

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 22 July 2020 22 July 2020

Two major cruise ship engine builders have said that they expect the near future to remain challenging in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the world may emerge different from what it is today once the effects of the pandemic have become a matter of the past.

“We need to prepare ourselves for a market environment that will remain difficult for a long period of time,” said Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions said in a statement in which the company unveiled a programme to cut costs by €450 million.

“Some of the company’s key areas of business, such as the cruise ship business, have been directly affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and we do not expect to see a recovery to precrisis levels until 2023. The programme is designed to address these negative market influences and make lasting improvements to MAN Energy Solutions’ ability to respond to market fluctuations,” he continued.

Meanwhile, the Finnish technology group Wartsila pointed out in its second quarter 2020 interim report that the cruise and ferry segment has been severely impacted by reduced sailings and temporary vessel lay-ups, as travel bans and other mitigation measures have kept most passenger vessels idle throughout the second quarter.

“Governments worldwide have announced relief packages to respond to the economic distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In many cases, the packages are linked to the development of greener infrastructures,” the company said.

“This is anticipated to incentivise the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, and increase interest in alternative fuels, electric and hybrid-battery propulsion, as well as in digital solutions across the industry,” Wartsila pointed out.

Meyer Werft to cease production for six weeks - reports

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 July 2020 21 July 2020

Meyer Werft, the German cruise ship builder, has furloughed its staff for six weeks, starting on20 July, and ceased production as a result, media reports say.

“Over the next five years, Meyer Werft needs to save €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) due to cruise firms canceling and stretching their orders for new liners,” Deutsche Welle reports on its website.

The company has three deliveries nearing completion – Iona for Carnival Corporation & plc unit P&O Cruises that has already left the yard, but which has not yet been handed over; Spirit of Adventure for Saga Cruises, also in the UK plus Odyssey of the Seas to Royal Caribbean International unit of Royal Caribbean Group.

Delivery of the last named ship has been pushed to April 2021. The vessel also suffered a fire onboard in June, a report on royalcaribbeanblog.com said.

NCLH group prices note and equity offerings

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 July 2020 21 July 2020

NCL Corporation Ltd., a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH), has announced that it has priced an offering of $750 million of senior secured notes, $400 million of exchangeable notes and plus some $300 million of new equity.

A public offering of 16,666,667 ordinary shares were sold at a price to the public of $15.00 per share. However, the underwriters have notified the Company of their intent to purchase an additional 2,500,000 ordinary shares pursuant to the full exercise of their option to acquire additional ordinary shares. As a result, NCL Corporation will issue an aggregate amount of 19,166,667 ordinary shares in the offering, including the option shares.

In addition, the company has priced $750 million aggregate principal amount of its 10.250% senior secured notes due 2026, which were offered in a private offering.

The amount was increased to $750 million from the previously announced $675 million. “The Secured Notes and certain of the related guarantees will be secured by a first-priority interest in, among other things and subject to certain agreed security principles, one of our vessels,” NCLH said.

NCL Corporation also priced $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.375% exchangeable senior notes due 2025 which were also offered in a private offering. The aggregate principal amount of Exchangeable Notes to be issued was increased to $400 million from the previously announced $250 million.

NCLC has granted the initial purchasers of the Exchangeable Notes an option to purchase, on or before August 2, 2020, up to an additional $60 million aggregate principal amount of Exchangeable Notes, NCLH said.