TUI’s cruise revenue soars but profitability growth lags behind in first quarter
- Details
- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 13 February 2020 13 February 2020
TUI AG, the German tour operator that is listed in London, has reported a strong rise in the revenues of its cruise operations for three months to 31 December 2019, but profitability of the operations did keep pace with the volume growth.
Turnover rose by 25% to €238.4 million year on, but underlying operating result (EBIT) only grew by 3.8% to €48.8 million, the company said in a statement.
TUI’s cruise operations comprised of fully owned Hapag-Lloyd Cruises in Germany and Marella Cruises in the UK plus a 50% share in TUI Cruises in Germany at the time. However, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has since been sold to TUI Cruises.
The company said the underlying EBIT result had increased by €2 million in the quarter, with annualisation benefits from three new ships launched during the course of the financial year to 30 September 2019.
However, these were mostly offset by higher cost base principally from the impact of IMO2020 fuel regulations and adverse foreign exchange effects, which could not be fully recovered through pricing.
“TUI Cruises’ earnings increased due to the annualisation benefit of the new Mein Schiff 2 launched in February 2019, although average daily rates decreased in the quarter as a result of route mix,” the company said in a statement..
“Marella Cruises’ overall earnings, as expected, decreased due to a higher cost base not fully recovered, combined with lower occupancies from slower winter rates of sale and itinerary disruption.
The average daily rate increased due to higher pricing of our newer fleet in the quarter. Itinerary disruption in the Middle East and operational disruption in Asia cost €2 million in the quarter.
Marella Discovery, one of the company’s ships, reportedly suffered from technical problems while operating in Asia in the quarter.
Hapag Lloyd Cruises had benefitted from good trading of two new expedition ships, but the cost of dry docking of luxury segment vessel Europa and the introduction of an expedition ship had exceeded the effects of the positive developments.
Meyer Turku starts hull assembly of Costa Toscana
- Details
- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 11 February 2020 11 February 2020
Assembling the hull of Costa Toscana, the second of two 185 000 gross ton LNG powered cruise ship for Costa Crociere, began today at Meyer Turku shipyard with traditional lucky coins being placed on the keel blocks, the shipbuilder said in a statement.
Costa Toscana will enter service in late summer of 2021 and it wll follow Costa Smeralda that the Finnish yard handed over to Costa Crociere, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc, in December 2019.
“This symbolic moment in the construction of Costa Toscana marks a further step forward in the use of LNG in the cruise sector. We were the first in the world to believe in this innovation five years ago, when we ordered these new ships, starting a transformation process toward make tourism increasingly sustainable,” said Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises.
"LNG is currently the solution that allows the best and most immediate results to be achieved in terms of reducing the environmental impact of ships,” he noted.
Meyer Turku CEO Jan Meyer reminds that every ship is an evolution from the previous one: “We are always building on the learnings of previous ships, but Costa Toscana will also have totally new designs in many features to inspire her passengers.”
Updated: Westerdam to sail to Cambodia instead of Thailand
- Details
- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 10 February 2020 10 February 2020
Westerdam is now sailing for Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where the current cruise will end. We will arrive at 7:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, Feb. 13 and will remain in port for several days for disembarkation. Guests will be able to go ashore. All approvals have been received and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support.
----
Westerdam is sailing for Laem Chabang, Bangkok, Thailand, where the current cruise that departed February 1 from Hong Kong will end on Thursday, February 13. All guests will be disembarking in Bangkok for their forward flights home. This new schedule has been communicated to guests on board. Due to the coronavirus epidemic in China, many countries denied the entry of Westerdam to their ports.
All guests will receive a 100% refund for the 14-day sailing, as well as a 100% Future Cruise Credit. Complimentary internet and phone access is available for guests and crew to stay in contact with loved ones.
The ship is not in quarantine and we have no reason to believe there are any cases of coronavirus on board despite media reports.
"We have also received a letter from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment affirming that they have full confidence in all our medical reporting and the quality of our medical staff and services on Westerdam. This assessment was done in concert with the Ministry of Health of the Netherlands," Holland America said in a statement.
"We sincerely thank our guests and crew on Westerdam — and their loved ones — for their patience during this extraordinary time."
The Feb. 15 cruise currently scheduled to embark in Yokohama has been cancelled. Booked guests and their travel advisors have been notified.
No cancellations for cruises with departure dates beyond February 15 have been announced at this time. However, we are assessing the impact of current port restrictions in Asia on cruises departing Feb. 29 or later. We will communicate details as they become finalized in the next few days.
CLIA statement on coronavirus outbreak
- Details
- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 08 February 2020 08 February 2020
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, issued on February 7 the following statement in response to recent developments concerning the 2019-novel coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the global cruise industry.
“The health and safety of cruise passengers and crew is and remains the number one priority of CLIA and its member lines, which make up over 90% of ocean-going cruise capacity worldwide.
Given the evolving nature of the ongoing 2019-novel coronavirus outbreak and based upon prevailing guidance from global health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) CLIA Members have adopted the following enhanced protocols for ocean-going guests and crew who have recently traveled from or through China, including Hong Kong and Macau. These enhanced policies, which are in effect as of 7 February 2020, build upon those which were implemented on 31 January 2020 and continue to allow for informed decisions on a case-by-case basis whether a guest or crewmember will be permitted to board.
– CLIA Members are to deny boarding to all persons who have traveled from, visited or transited via airports in China, including Hong Kong and Macau, within 14 days before embarkation.
– CLIA Members are to deny boarding to all persons who, within 14 days before embarkation, have had close contact with, or helped care for, anyone suspected or diagnosed as having Coronavirus, or who is currently subject to health monitoring for possible exposure to Novel Coronavirus.
– CLIA Members are to conduct preboarding screening necessary to effectuate these prevention measures. Enhanced screening and initial medical support are to be provided, as needed, to any persons exhibiting symptoms of suspected Novel Coronavirus.
In coordination with cruise lines, medical experts and regulators around the world, CLIA and its member lines will continue to closely monitor for new developments related to the coronavirus and will modify these policies as necessary with the utmost consideration for the health and safety of passengers and crew. Importantly, the cruise industry is one of the most well-equipped and experienced when it comes to managing and monitoring health conditions of those onboard, with outbreak prevention and response measures in place year-round. Furthermore, ships must be fitted with onboard medical facilities, with shipboard medical professionals available around the clock, 24/7, to provide initial medical care in the event of illness and help prevent disease transmission.”
Torbjörn Liljehammar of Tallink Silja Line wins BACARDÍ Legacy Cruise Competition 2020
- Details
- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: More News More News
- Published: 06 February 2020 06 February 2020
Torbjörn Liljehammar of Tallink Silja Line has been crowned winner of the BACARDÍ Legacy Cruise Competition 2020 for his own signature cocktail, ‘The Magellan’. Torbjörn will now represent the global Cruise channel in the BACARDÍ Legacy Cocktail Competition global finals in Miami, May 1-7 2020, competing with 40 domestic market winners from across the globe.
Zachary Sulkes International Key Account Manager (Cruise), Bacardi Global Travel Retail, commented. “We are in a new golden age for spirits with a long-term global trend for luxury cocktails. BACARDI rum is perfect for the ‘shaken and stirred’ millennial generation and so the importance of creating a professional cocktail culture in the Cruise sector is increasingly relevant.
“The standard of entries for the BACARDI Legacy Cruise Bartender of the Year 2020 has been incredible. We’ve organised similar competitions in the Cruise sector for 15 years now and, once again, I’m amazed by the growing professionalism of the participants year on year and the skills they demonstrate in creating their own unique premium cocktail recipe, led this year by Torbjörn. I’d like to thank AS Tallink and all our cruise partners for their enthusiasm and support in joining our mission to maximize the luxury potential of the Cruise cocktail market.”
Nele Nedaškovskaja, Beverage Manager, AS Tallink Duty Free is delighted with Torbjörn’s success. “This award means a lot for us and proves that everything is possible. I’m sure it will have a positive impact on our entire team of creative bartenders, motivating them to create new, amazing cocktails for the next BACARDI Legacy competition. We are immensely proud of Torbjörn, his professionalism, creativity and skills as a world class bartender and we will support him all the way to the global finals in Miami.”
The four finalists in the BACARDÍ Legacy Cruise Competition 2020 were Torbjörn Liljehammar of Tallink Silja, Antonino Pepe representing P&O Cruises Australia, Alexandra Muresan of Celebrity Cruises and Fabricio do Santos from Carnival Cruise Line.
The BACARDÍ Legacy Cruise Competition 2020 final was held at the Contemporary Museum of Art in San Juan, Puerto Rico, just a few miles from the BACARDÍ distillery, the largest premium rum distillery in the world. During the semi finals the four finalists spent time visiting the distillery and meeting the BACARDÍ Maestros de Ron as part of an itinerary giving them an insider’s guide to the BACARDÍ rum portfolio, its heritage and craft.
The Magellan created by Torbjörn Liljehammar:
50 ml BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho Rum
30 ml BLANDY’S 10YO Sercial Dry Madeira Wine
40 ml Vanilla/Apricot homemade syrup
15 ml Lemon Juice
2 dashes orange bitter
Mix BACARDI Reserva Ocho, apricot/vanilla syrup, lemon juice, Madeira wine, together in a shaker and add plenty of ice.
Shake well and double strain into a chilled glass.
Use lemon peel to zest the glass with oils and then discard.
More Articles ...
