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Marella Cruises to replace remaining 1980s tonnage within five years - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 April 2019 12 April 2019

Marella Cruises, the UK focused deep sea cruise lne in TUI AG group, plans to retire its two remaining 1980s built vessels within five years and replace them by newer ships, Cruise Critic reports

Chris Hackney, Managing Director, was quoted by Cruise Critic as saying: "They've been in the fleet a number of years and the next stage will be looking at replacement plans for when we retire those ships further down the line. I would say they will retire in the next five years.”

“That's realistically the timeline. We haven't got concrete plans for when they leave and what replacement options will be -- clearly we are in the market to grow and not shrink.”

The line still operates the 1984 built 33,930 gross ton Marella Celebration that started life as Noordam of Holland America Line and Marella Dream of 54,763 gross ton, which was built in 1986 as Homeric of the no longer extant Home Lines.

Marella Dream is heading for a two month dry docking in January 2020 that will see the ship undergo a complete refurbishment, the report said.

Marella Cruises introduced the 1995 built Marella Explorer 2 earlier this spring and TUI AG said a UK focused new venture called TUI River Cruises would commence operations in 2020 with three ships that the group had acquired.

Irish Continental Group sells 1987 built Oscar Wilde to MSC for €28.9 million

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 April 2019 11 April 2019

Irish Continental Group plc (ICG), the Dublin based listed ferry company, said that it has entered into a bareboat hire purchase agreement for the sale of the 31,122 gross ton cruise ferry Oscar Wilde to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA.

The total gross consideration for the sale is €28.9 million, payable in installments over six years, up to 2025. Delivery to the buyer is expected to take place during April 2019.

The Oscar Wilde, built in Finland in 1987 as Kronprins Harald for the now defunct Jahre Line, was acquired by ICG in 2007 and was operated by its subsidiary Irish Ferries on the Ireland – France route.

“The proceeds less the net book value of the Oscar Wilde (€7.7 million) and related disposal costs will result in a profit on disposal which will be reported as part of the 2019 financial results of ICG,” the company said in a statement.

TUI acquires three river ships for new UK focused venture

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 April 2019 11 April 2019

TUI AG, the German tour operator that has a significant foothold in the cruise industry, said it had acquired three river cruise ships for a new UK focused venture.

To be called TUI River Cruises and due to commence operations in the summer of next year, it will complement Marella Cruises, the group’s deep sea cruise offering in the UK.

“TUI River Cruises will offer adults the ultimate flexibility to create their perfect trip when it comes to river cruising, with the option to create bespoke packages to suit their every need,” TUI said in a statement

Customers would choose their board basis, whether that’s full board plus with wine, beer and soft drinks included with meals, or selecting the premium drinks package, cabin type and even their favourite cocktail in the lounge. “The cruise line will also boast a handful of private balcony suites for those seeking to add even more luxury to their package,” TUI added.

Excursions would range from ones for avid adventurers, sightseeing tours with a local expert for those looking to broaden their knowledge, relax and learn, and those looking to try something a little different can experience a bike tour. “The cruise line will also offer £120 credit to put towards any shore excursion bookings, allowing each customer the perfect opportunity to tailor their holiday to suit them,” TUI said, adding that tips and service charges would be included in the fare, as is the case with Marella Cruises.

Chris Hackney, Managing Director of Cruise for TUI UK &Ireland said in the statement: “We’re incredibly excited to be moving into the river cruise market, we’re always looking for new opportunities to offer our customers even more variety when it comes to choosing the perfect holiday and our river cruises will really take this to the next level as customers are able to personalise their package whether that’s board type, cabins, excursions and even cocktail choice.”

Ponant takes delivery of Le Bougainville from Vard

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 April 2019 10 April 2019

Ponant, the French expedition cruise specialist, said it has taken delivery of Le Bougainville that is the third ship in the Ponant Explorer series of vessels from Vard in Norway.

The ship was delivered on time.

“The ship left Søvik in Norway on the morning of 8 April and she is currently sailing to Spain to start her maiden cruise on 15 April from Malaga. She will be officially inaugurated on 4 June,” the company said in a statement.

Combining an intimate size with just 92 staterooms and suites, all with a balcony or private terrace, taut, sleek lines, refined design, cutting-edge technologies, respect for the environment and major innovations, Le Bougainville is truly the symbol of the new generation of ships flying the French flag.

Like its sister vessels, it is fitted with a world first, the “Blue Eye”. This multi-sensorial underwater salon will allow guests to discover and experience the underwater world via two portholes in the form of a cetaceous eye looking out on to the sea bed, non-intrusive underwater lighting, and hydrophones integrated into the keel retransmitting the natural symphony of the deep water, as well as Body Listening sofas, offering a unique sensorial listening experience by corporal resonance.

Completing the existing fleet - Le Ponant, Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial - and announced in 2016, the development of the new Ponant ships is on schedule according to the construction timetable:

Le Lapérouse – June 2018

Le Champlain – October 2018

Le Bougainville – April 2019

Le Dumont-d’Urville – June 2019

Le Bellot – scheduled for April 2020

Le Jacques Cartier – scheduled for July 2020

Le Commandant Charcot – scheduled for May 2021

Mystic Cruises names its first ocean vessel

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 April 2019 09 April 2019

In a grand, pier-side gala in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, Mystic Invest Chairman Mário Ferreira and singer, songwriter, supermodel, French former-First Lady, and ship’s Godmother Carla Bruni-Sarkozy christened World Explorer as Mystic Cruises’ first ocean cruise ship. The ceremony was held on April 6.

“Portugal has a rich maritime history and we are very proud that World Explorer is the first luxury cruise ship to be built here. We are further honored to have Ms. Bruni-Sarkozy as the ship’s godmother,” said Mr. Ferreira. “Active and adventurous travelers will delight in sailing with the new Mystic Cruises, which will exemplify Mystic Invest’s more than 25 years’ experience in innovating travel and tourism.”

Captains Alex Zakalashnnyuk from Russia, Filipe Sousa from Portugal, and Terje Willassen from Norway will master the new World Explorer and bring more than 75 years of combined experience aboard the 9,300-gross-tonne, 200-guest World Explorer. A low crew-to-guest ratio will ensure that guests enjoy a luxurious experience as they explore far reaches and smaller ports that larger ships cannot reach.

World Explorer – and sister-ships World Navigator and World Voyager, both scheduled for 2020 – will incorporate the latest maritime technology to be among the world’s most-advanced and safest ships. These 1B Ice Class ships are each equipped with two Rolls Royce 9,000 kw hybrid diesel/electric engines and incorporate FarSounder’s Forward-looking Sonar (FLS) to deftly navigate harbors, rivers, and iceberg fields for convenient access to city centers and incomparable, up-close vistas. Portugal’s WestSea Viana Shipyard is constructing all three ships.

Mystic Cruises is a new expedition cruise company, offering programs in captivating destinations, including Antarctica, Europe, Iceland and Greenland. Focused on offering unique experiences in an eco-friendly way, Mystic Cruises delivers unspoiled landscapes with all the comfort of a five-star cruise ship. German-brand Nicko Cruises will sail World Explorer’s inaugural, summer 2019 season, and Quark Expeditions has chartered the ship for breathtaking Antarctica voyages in winter 2019-20.

Mystic Cruises and Nicko Cruises are brands of Mystic Invest, a privately held Portuguese financial holding company with more than 25 years of experience in the travel and tourism sector. Started in 1993 with the establishment of river cruise company DouroAzul, Mystic Invest has grown to aggregate more than 15 companies and a workforce of more than 550 dedicated professionals working around the world to create unforgettable experiences for more than 375,000 guests who choose a Mystic Invest brand for their holidays every year. From river cruising to hotels and resorts, including museums and helicopter tours, all the way to space tourism, Mystic Invest’s brands are leading the innovation of how travelers discover the world.