National Geographic Endurance completes sea trials

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 17 February 2020 17 February 2020

National Geographic Endurance, a next-generation expedition ship, purpose-built for polar navigation and the first polar new build for Lindblad Expeditions, has successfully completed her first sea trials in Storfjorden, which is the entrance of the iconic Geirangerfjord.

During the trials, the ship was put through a series of exercises which tested engines, azipods, navigation systems and emergency maneuvers.

"The first of two new polar vessels for the line, the 126-guest National Geographic Endurance is fully stabilized with the highest ice class (PC5 Category A) of any purpose-built passenger vessel, and features the distinctive X-Bow which will afford the smoothest, most comfortable ride imaginable, in all sea behavior, resulting in greater fuel efficiency and fewer emissions for reduced environmental impact," te company said in a statement.

National Geographic Endurance is back in the shipyard currently undergoing final outfitting before delivery set in March. She will embark on her maiden voyage, Svalbard in Spring: Polar Bears, Arctic Light and Epic Ice on April 2, 2020 followed by a series of expeditions exploring areas both familiar and new, presenting unprecedented opportunities to explore further, including the Northeast Passage.

Norwegian Spirit re-enters service after $100 million refurbishment

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 16 February 2020 16 February 2020

Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled the "all-new" Norwegian Spirit following an over $100 million renovation as part of The Norwegian Edge program, which reaffirms the company’s commitment to elevating the standard of excellence across the fleet.

Norwegian Spirit emerged from a 43-day dry dock in Marseille, France is to arrive to Civitavecchia, Italy, boasting 14 new venues, additional and updated staterooms, enhanced public areas and new hull art. She will set sail on a series of immersive 17, 20 and 28-day exotic expeditions spanning three continents, departing from Civitavecchia, Italy on Feb. 14, 2020; Dubai, United Arab Emirates on March 2, 2020; and Cape Town, South Africa on March 22, 2020, before homeporting in Athens (Piraeus), Greece for the first time on April 19, 2020.

She will offer a season of 7-night voyages to the Greek Isles, Turkey, and Israel through Nov. 8, 2020. Open for sale on Feb. 15, 2020, the new destination-rich itineraries, many which boast extended port times, will explore seven or eight ports in seven days, calling to sought-after destinations including Rhodes, Mykonos; Santorini and Corfu, Greece; Kusadasi and Istanbul, Turkey; Ashdod and Haifa, Israel; Limassol, Cyprus as well as two new ports of call for the brand, Patmos and Volos, Greece.

As the most extensive bow-to-stern revitalization of any ship in the Company’s history, Norwegian Spirit’s enhancements include a doubled-in-size Mandara Spa, complete with a new thermal suite and relaxation area; an expanded Pulse Fitness Center; and the second Onda by Scarpetta restaurant at sea. New complimentary dining venues include an additional main dining room, Taste; the 24-hour eatery, The Local Bar and Grill; the all-day dining outlet, Garden Café; the Great Outdoors Bar; and Waves Pool Bar. Making their debut are Bliss Ultra Lounge and Spinnaker Lounge, which features the Humidor Cigar Lounge, as well as the adults-only retreat Spice H2O, a daytime lounge featuring two new hot tubs and a dedicated bar, which transforms into an after-hours entertainment venue.

Norwegian Spirit will emerge from dry dock single-use plastic beverage bottle free as part of a significant effort towards providing guests with more sustainable options at sea. As of Jan. 1, 2020, Norwegian Cruise Line is the first major cruise line to eliminate single-use plastic beverage bottles across its entire fleet, an effort made possible through a recent partnership with JUST Goods, Inc.

“It is truly exciting to celebrate Norwegian Spirit’s sail out of dry dock to incredible destinations following her significant renovation,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Europe is the number one destination for international arrivals, and we are very proud to position Norwegian Spirit for her first post-dry-dock season in this high-demand region. Our brand has been recognized 12 times in a row by the World Travel Awards as ‘Europe’s Leading Cruise Line’ and we are thrilled to offer our guests even more great itineraries in the region, allowing them to explore multiple destinations while unpacking only once.”

The revitalized Norwegian Spirit further strengthens the Company’s presence in Europe, where the cruise line will position a total of seven ships in 2020: Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Jade.

Virgin Voyages becomes carbon-neutral from the first day of commercial operation

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 16 February 2020 16 February 2020

Virgin Voyages, the new lifestyle and travel brand delivering vacations in cruising, announced on February 14 that the Scarlet Lady has officially reached completion. Nearly three years in the making, Virgin Voyages formally welcomes its first ‘Lady Ship,’ Scarlet Lady, in its fleet of four to the open waters, departing the shipyard in Genoa, Italy. In just 46 days, Sailors will embark on the Maiden Voyage, departing from her home port in Miami.

On the heels of this celebratory occasion, Virgin Voyages welcomes Scarlet Lady with an industry-leading approach that takes immediate action to address climate change. Not only has the brand designed its fleet of ships to the latest energy-efficiency standards with state-of-the art equipment, Virgin Voyages is offsetting its direct climate change emissions through the purchase of carbon offsets. This commitment makes the brand the first cruise line to become carbon-neutral for its direct emissions footprint from its first day of commercial operation. The projects that will be supported by Scarlet Lady will meet high-quality, internationally-recognized verification standards, including The Gold Standard and the Verified Carbon Standard.

“It’s wonderful to welcome Scarlet Lady today,” says Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson. “I’m so proud that as we start this exciting journey, we also bring to life Virgin Voyages’ commitment to preserving the ocean and the first of many steps towards a net zero carbon future.”

The brand has recognized that climate change is an urgent, global issue for every industry and business. Like others, Virgin Voyages’ long-term ambition is a net-zero carbon future. This will require significant advancements in technology and infrastructure, and access to solutions that remain in development. And, Virgin Voyages is committed to working with the industry to support the necessary research and development to advance carbon-free fuels and to scale commercially viable solutions.

“The ocean is our home, and we are on a mission to protect it. The single-biggest threat facing our ocean is climate change, and we want to be part of the solution,” said Tom McAlpin, CEO and President of Virgin Voyages. “We are committed to pioneering new technologies onboard and working with our industry peers to advance research and development for zero-carbon fuels.”

Virgin Voyages is one of first cruise lines to use Climeon, a technology that utilizes heat generated from the ship’s engines to generate electricity, thereby decreasing the demand for fuel. While the industry continues to improve on the journey for readily available and commercially viable solutions, purchasing high-quality carbon offsets allows us to take immediate action, while also supporting a long-term strategy that secures a net-zero future for the cruise industry.

Senior management changes in Global Ports Holding

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 15 February 2020 15 February 2020

Global Ports Holding PLC, the world's largest cruise port operator, has announced a number of changes to its senior management team.

Having introduced port and destination services across its portfolio and having been part of the development of its guest services and retail operations, Mark Robinson is moving to head up business development efforts in EMEA and Asia Pacific.

As a result, Mert Basar has joined the company to take on the role of Chief Commercial Officer. Mert has spent his recent years as Chief Commercial Officer at IGA- Istanbul Airport. In this role Mert designed and executed the commercial strategy, overseeing both aeronautical and non-aeronautical services at one of the world's largest airport projects. Before this, he has held a number of senior executive roles at Turkey's leading telecommunications companies such as Turk Telecom and Turkcell and for one of the world's leading technology companies, HP.

Commenting on the changes, Emre Sayin, Chief Executive Officer, said: " I look forward to Mark's input from his new and exciting role. I expect Mark's wealth of cruise industry experience will prove to be invaluable to our business development aspirations in both EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

I am also delighted to welcome Mert to our team. His experience and knowledge of commercial operations at such an important aviation hub will be invaluable in helping us deliver on our short and medium-term objectives for ancillary services across the business."