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Royal Caribbean could pit Icon class against second P&O Cruises’ newbuilding in UK

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 February 2019 08 February 2019

Competition between Royal Caribbean International and P&O Cruises might heat up further from 2022, when the first named company could bring the first unit of a new class ship to Britain to compete against the second newbuilding of P&O Cruises.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley has said that the company could bring an Icon class ship to the UK, according to Travel Weekly. Royal Caribbean International is the contemporary market unit in the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) group.

The company currently has the 2008 built Independence of the Seas and a Voyager class ship on the British market from spring to late autumn. However, Royal Caribbean International will raise its stakes in the UK already next year, when Anthem of the Seas, a Quantum class ship, will replace Independence of the Seas.

That same year P&O Cruises, the UK focused contemporary market unit of Carnival Corporation & plc, will introduce Iona, the first of its two 184,700 gross ton newbuildings.

“We have always been in the UK market and we will continue to be in the UK market. We see it as the cornerstone of our business. Our strategy has been continuation, protect, optimise and carry on the journey. That is why we announced that Anthem of the Seas is coming to the UK in 2020,” Bayley was quoted as saying.

The first Icon class ship of about 200,000 gross tons is due to enter serviced in 2022, the same year when P&O Cruises will introduce the yet unnamed sister ship of Iona.

Fincantieri delivers Viking Jupiter, Viking's sixth ocean vessel

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 February 2019 07 February 2019

Viking Jupiter, the sixth cruise ship which Fincantieri built for Viking, has been delivered on February 7 at the shipyard in Ancona.

Viking Jupiter, as its sister ships, belongs to the small cruise ship segment; with a gross tonnage of about 47,800 tons, it has 465 cabins with accommodation for 930 passengers.

The ship has been designed by experienced naval architects and engineers, including an interior design team of London-based SMC Design, and Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios, who gave the Viking Jupiter a modern design of Scandinavian inspiration, characterized by sophisticated yet functional elegance. In addition to the all-veranda staterooms, the ship also features spacious suites with sweeping views, two pools, of which one Infinity Pool off the stern, and a Spa designed according to the wellness philosophy of the Scandinavian tradition, with a sauna and a snow grotto.

The Viking units are all built according to the latest navigation regulations and equipped with the most modern safety systems, including the “Safe return to port”. Furthermore, they feature high-efficiency engines, hydro-dynamics and hull optimized for maximum fuel efficiency and equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution and meets the strictest environmental regulations.

Fincantieri started its partnership with Viking in 2012, trusting the shipowner which was entering the ocean cruise market as a startup. Today, the cooperation, which first began with an order of two ships, has reached a total of 16 units. This is an all-time record, the largest number of ships built by a shipyard for one sole shipowner.

The first of the series, Viking Star, has been built at the shipyard in Marghera and delivered in 2015. The other units, Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Sun, and Viking Orion, handed over in 2016, 2017 and 2018, were all built at the Ancona yard, as well as Viking Jupiter, which joined the shipowner’s fleet just today. Other 10 units, options included, for Viking Cruises will take to the sea from the Group’s Italian yards between 2021 and 2027. Furthermore, Vard, together with Fincantieri, is also specializing in the construction of expedition vessels. In this context, the company has acquired the order from Viking for two special cruise ships which will be built in the Group’s yards.

Fincantieri has built 88 cruise ships from 1990 to today (65 from 2002), while other 55 are currently being designed or built in the Group’s yards.

Winter Garden onboard the sister ship Viking Sky – designed by SMC Design

Windstar Cruises introduces new travel agency recognition program

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 February 2019 06 February 2019

Windstar Cruises has announced a new travel agency recognition program dubbed Club 180, a riff on Windstar's tagline that sailing with the small ship company is truly "180 Degrees from Ordinary." The multi-tier travel agency recognition program is designed to reward top-producing agencies with a top 10 Platinum distinction, a top 11-20 Gold award, and a 21+ Silver category.

Recognition is in the form of a number of amenities travel advisors can offer their clients (such as complimentary Wi-Fi and shipboard credit); additional marketing and sales support from Windstar (including advance notice on promotions and new product launches); priority service (such as a dedicated phone line); and benefits for travel advisors themselves when sailing on Windstar (including complimentary Wi-Fi and laundry service), with varying levels of benefits for the three tiers.

Inaugural members for the new Club 180 program have already been selected based upon 2018 sales production; however, membership will be renewed annually, with an opportunity to add new members in December 2019.

"Club 180 recognizes domestic North America travel sellers – not consortium," explains Windstar's Vice President of Sales Steve Simao, CTC. "It is based primarily on top sales, though select travel agencies may be included in the program based on the history of our partnership and their overall support of the Windstar brand."

Windstar has been putting a renewed focus on its relationship with travel professionals and travel agencies in recent years, recognizing the power of the travel advisor and launching the Star Promise program in 2016 to help advisors increase sales and book more efficiently. Windstar's Travel Advisor Hub, which grew out of that Star Promise program, has been an important resource for those advisors interested in expanding their Windstar business. Simao recommends that those interested in becoming a top agency with Windstar start with the line's travel agent website for tips and training to become a top producer in Windstar's new Club 180.

For Wave Season, Windstar's "Beyond Ordinary" Savings Event plus Star Perks bonus is on now and offers the best fares and availability of the year on 2019 and 2020 cruises. Fares start at $2,999 for all 11- and 12-day Alaskan Splendors cruises with nine departure dates May through August, featuring the second season of the award-winning Windstar's Signature Expeditions program. Headlined by biologists, glaciologists, and scientists, the Expedition Leaders mix with guests onboard, give lectures and launch expedition field trips direct from the ship onto Zodiacs and kayaks. Windstar's iconic 7-day Dreams of Tahiti vacation begins at $2,599 and visit six islands featuring a Bora Bora overnight with complimentary Destination Discovery cultural evening on a private motu, with traditional Polynesian performances headlined by the tantalizing fire dancers. Northern Europe is a top cruise pick for 2019 with more than 40 sailings April through September including an 8-day Gaelic Explorers voyage June 20 from Dublin to Edinburgh visiting Northern Ireland and the remote Isle of Man, Isle of Skye, and Isle of Lewis; wrapping up with a chance for cruise clients to spy the elusive "Nessie" in beautiful Loch Ness during a call to Invergordon, Scotland; also starts at $2,999 per person, double occupancy.

In addition guests may "pick their perk" — an attractive incentive to enjoy while the cruise is underway. Star Perks selections include: up to $1,000 shipboard credit, free Wi-Fi, or free gratuities. Available on hundreds of Windstar sailings worldwide, "Beyond Ordinary" savings and Star Perks both vary by cruise and destination. In addition, longer Star Collector sailings of 14 days and more offer up to 20 percent savings and free laundry service. The promotion runs through March 18, 2019.

Fred. Olsen River Cruises to launch second season

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 February 2019 06 February 2019

Fred. Olsen River Cruises, which is part of the UK based Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, is launching its second season of European river cruising in 2019 aboard 156 guest Brabant in April, the company said in a statement

There would be no single supplement on selected sailings and drinks and tips would be included in the fare for most bookings made by 28 February.

Keith Norman, River Sales Manager at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “Brabant proved to be a fantastic addition to the Fred. Olsen fleet in 2018, allowing us to offer a completely different style of 'city break' holiday to a number of fascinating new destinations.”

Pandaw to add two ships to Ganges River

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 February 2019 06 February 2019

Pandaw Expeditions, the Singapore based river cruise specialist, said it would add two ships to the Ganges River in India to bring its fleet there to three vessels and to grow the range of cruises its offers there.

Katha Pandaw will be joined by Kalaw Pandaw and Kindat Pandaw shortly. Kindat Pandaw and Kalaw Pandaw would operate in the Lower Ganges late this year, while from early next year, Kalaw Pandaw would support Katha Pandaw on Upper Ganges from early next year.

“The seven-night ‘Lower Ganges’ or Hooghly traverses picturesque West Bengal with its Arcadian countryside and cultural treasures – from temple complexes to colonial palazzi between the Kolkata and Farakka, where the Ganges becomes the Hooghly,’ Pandaw said in a statement.

The 14 night ‘Upper Ganges’ cruise covers the river from colonial Kolkata and holy Varanasi right across Northern India covering lovely West Bengal, the sacred Buddhist sites of wild Bihar and on to Varanasi, said to be the oldest city on the planet, and the sacred site of Hinduism.

“In the following season, 2020-21, we will be announcing a new and very exciting Upper Brahamaputra sailing, going as far as Diburgarh in the east of Assam We will also be offering an Expedition from the Ganges to the Brahmaputra positioning expedition from Kolkata, traversing Bangladesh and into Assam,” Pandaw said.