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Costa Cruises and AISM: Tours now also accessible to guests with disabilities for the first time

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 September 2018 28 September 2018

Costa Cruises, AISM (Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association) and the Costa Crociere Foundation present the results of a joint project aimed at making vacations increasingly accessible to people with impaired mobility. For the first time in the world in the cruise sector, guests with disabilities will be able to participate in group shore excursions, at no extra cost, with accessibility verified by AISM, in accordance with the most advanced international good practices.

The new tours, called "Adagio Tours", will be available for booking from Jan. 1, 2019, for Mediterranean cruises on the flagship Costa Diadema. At every port of call, at least one group excursion will be offered that is accessible to everyone, including guests with impaired mobility, and this is available at no extra cost. The list of tours currently includes visits to the cities of Genoa, Marseilles, Barcelona, Palermo, Rome, Palma de Mallorca and Cagliari. "Adagio Tours" have been developed considering the needs of all our guests who want to enjoy their chosen destinations at a slower pace, with more time to discover or rediscover them. They are therefore particularly suited to parents with strollers, elderly guests or people with permanent or temporary mobility impairments.

The programmes for these excursions have been devised, tested and checked with the contribution of 15 women with multiple sclerosis, trained and selected by AISM thanks to the "WAT! Women Accessibility Tourism” program funded by the Costa Crociere Foundation. These women – some with no permanent job, others who are students, recent graduates or part-time workers, all passionate about travel and tourism – attended a specific 160-hour training course on land and on board Costa ships, benefiting from the experience of AISM and a team of excursion experts from Costa Cruises. Following this training, starting with a few excursions already included in the Costa offer, they contributed to planning the tours, testing them first hand and taking into consideration every detail relating to accessibility, route mapping, tourism experiences, making the most of local attractions. The skills gained will also help the 15 women find employment in the field of sustainable tourism.

"AISM has been about people, rights and research for 50 years. Our aim of achieving a world free of multiple sclerosis also means ensuring full inclusion and the opportunity for everyone to live their life beyond multiple sclerosis. This is why the priorities in our Agenda for 2020 include access to stable employment and the right to inclusion, which also means accessible tourism. AISM is working to achieve change with a real impact on people's lives. The social value of our actions, as an Association, lies in achieving changes that benefit everyone with a mobility impairment and everyone in the community with similar problems. Change has to be contagious and applied to civil society as a whole", explains Mario Alberto Battaglia, President of AISM.

“With the cooperation of AISM and the contribution of our Foundation, we have tackled the subject of accessible tourism in a responsible way, with the aim of making significant changes to people's lives. This project, which is a real innovation in the world of cruises, is an important step forward towards including people with disabilities and ensuring that there are no more differences and that everyone can share the same experiences when on vacation. I hope our initiative can be extended to the whole sector in future. We certainly undertake to extend it to the other ships in our fleet.” - says Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises.

The Adagio Tours supplement the other services Costa already offers guests with disabilities on board its fleet. All company ships include appropriately fitted cabins with all the comforts required and free of any architectural barriers. Guests who need special assistance can also benefit from free travel for an accompanying person staying in the cabin with them. Priority boarding and landing services and reserved seats at the theatre, on the pool decks and in the buffet restaurants are also guaranteed.

AISM is the only organization in Italy dedicated to all aspects of multiple sclerosis. It takes an overall approach to its work that encompasses the rights of people with MS, social services and health care and the promotion, guidance and funding of scientific research. It has been operating since 1968. It is a not-for-profit social promotion association with local branches and volunteering activities across Italy. For the last 50 years, it has been the most authoritative and closest point of reference for all MS sufferers, their families, healthcare staff and social workers, operating across the country thanks to a network structure with 98 provincial sections, regional coordination offices, more than 60 operating groups and over 13,000 volunteers. Since 1998, AISM has been working with FISM, the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, which promotes and supports innovative basic and applied research aimed at improving quality of life and treatments and, in the long term, identifying a definite cure for multiple sclerosis. FISM is the third biggest private funding organization for research into MS in the world, second only to the US and Canadian associations, and on an equal footing with the British one.

Lindblad says National Geographic Endurance to feature hydrophones, underwater camera and ‘open bridge’

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 September 2018 28 September 2018

National Geographic Endurance, which will enter service with US based Lindblad Expeditions, will offer a number of features aimed at enhancing the experience of passengers of their cruise in the Arctic regions.

A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that is capable of reaching depth of 1,000 feet, far beyond the range of any Scuba diver, allows passengers to view parts of the undersea that are as unexplored as the moon. “Chances are you, like many of our guests, will be struck by how surprisingly colorful undersea life is in these unlikely places. And this glimpse may fundamentally change how you view the ocean.’ The company said in a presentation of the vessel on its website.

The ship will also feature eight boats, to be housed at two landing stations that allow passengers to go ashore in remote areas. The expedition landing craft are 19 feet long, powered by four-stroke outboard engines, and are capable of comfortably carrying 10-12 people. “They are widely recognised as the safest and most versatile small boats afloat,” Lindblad said..

National Geographic Endurance will be equipped with a fleet of kayaks large enough to ensure everyone who wants to can paddle at every opportunity. Prior kayaking experience is not necessary. Custom-designed floating platform lets Lindblad deploy kayaks from the ship, or any location - including far from shore. “Kayakers are usually free to explore where they want within boundaries set by the undersea specialist and officer of the watch,” Lindblad pointed out.

An undersea specialist will dive often during each expedition cruise, even in Alaska, with cold-water gear, to shoot high-definition footage of the deep..

Naturalists will use the video microscope to help explain all elements of the environment, including tiny organisms that are the building block of the marine ecosystem. “Spellbinding live views of krill at 80x magnification fills the high-definition screens in the lounge with vivid detail, and fills every onlooker with a sense of wonder at the importance of otherwise unobservable creatures,” Lindblad said.

Hydrophone, that is an underwater microphone, is deployed to listen to the vocalisations of marine mammals. Real time transmissions of their eerie, haunting sounds can be broadcast through the ship or recorded for later playback.

An electronic chart showing the ship’s location, course, and speed is almost always on display in the lounge, while passengers will have access to the bridge of the new ship, which features comfortable spaces to sit, enjoy the view, drink your morning coffee, or simply chat with the officers.

On warm weather itineraries where there will be snorkeling. A mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit that you have chosen will remain yours for the duration of the expedition.

The new ship will accommodate 126 guests in 69 outside-facing cabins. Cabins are efficiently designed, with sizes range from the 140-square-foot solo cabin to the 430-square-foot category 7 suite. Fifty-three of the 69 cabins, including all 12 of the solo cabins, will feature small balconies with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that bring in the spectacular views and ample natural light.

Every cabin has two portholes, a large window or balcony, and temperature controls. Bathrooms are modern and stocked with botanically inspired hair products, soap, and shower gel, plus a hairdryer. Cabins are equipped with expedition command centers with tablets and USB/mobile device docking, TVs, Wi-Fi connections, and hair dryers.

The food served onboard is fresh, local, and delicious, and sourced from suppliers who share our values of sustainable use whenever possible, the company continued. “Meals aboard are almost always served in the dining room, located aft of the lounge deck. When weather conditions allow, lighter fare may be served on the observation deck. There is no assigned seating and our dining room accommodates the entire expedition community in a single seating. During meals your expedition leader, naturalists, and any guest speakers aboard will join you,” Lindblad said.

Public areas onboard comprise two restaurants, a Chef’s Table for small group dining, an Observation Lounge with bar, gym, Wellness area, infinity-style outdoor hot tubs, library, main lounge with full service bar, 24-hour beverage, state-of-the-art facilities for films, slideshows and presentations, and a photo workshop area; plus, an expedition base with lockers for expedition gear, and an “open bridge” for access to our captain, officers and the art of navigation.

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven strengthen management with Sippel’s appointment

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 September 2018 28 September 2018

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven, the German ship repair and conversion specialist, said it is strengthening its management team by bringing in Carsten Sippel to join Rudiger Pallentin and Carsten J. Haake as the shipyard’s third managing director.

Carsten Sippel has a degree in business administration and will be responsible for the yard’s finance, controlling and IT sectors from October 1^st2018.

He has a lot of experience in the maritime branch having worked in managerial positions with globally active companies in the ship supply industry for the past 25 years. For the last nine years he has been in charge of a similar business portfolio as managing director and CFO of Wärtsilä SAM Electronics GmbH in Hamburg.

"I am looking forward to the new assignment", said Carsten Sippel "and also to being in a position to contribute my own business expertise to Lloyd Werft and play an active role in continuing to advance the company’s success".

Pallentin and Haake already know Carsten Sippel well from his previous work with Wärtsilä SAM Electronics GmbH. They underscore how important it is for Lloyd Werft to have acquired in him an experienced and highly-qualified specialist with such proven skills in internationally active concerns.

The new appointment follows the departure in June of Carsten J. Haake, who was named CFO of the management team of MV Werften.

Saga says Spirit of Discovery sales "meet ambitious target"

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 September 2018 27 September 2018

Saga Group plc, the British tourism to financial services group that targets customers aged 50 or more, said forward sales of the first of its two newbuildings are going well.

Meanwhile the current cruise operations of the group reported a stable result for the first six months of the year.

“Spirit of Discovery forward sales continue to meet our ambitious plan with over 64% of our sales target for the first 19 cruises already achieved at attractive rates,” the company said in its first half 2018 interim report.

Saga Cruising delivered a 6.0% increase in revenue to £47.6 million, reflecting an increase in passenger days of 3,000 with increased capacity. There were no scheduled maintenance days in the period compared with 19 days of maintenance on the Saga Pearl in the comparable period in 2017.

The gross profit for Cruising was impacted by the treatment of hedging gains on fuel. Owing to the significant rise in the price of oil through December 2017 and January 2018, the year-end derivatives charge included a £1.6 million mark-to-market benefit on undesignated fuel hedges related to the current financial year. Of this, £0.8 million related to the first half of the year. This will not be an issue after this financial year with the introduction of IFRS9, which will enable improved matching of hedging contracts.

Underlying Profit Before Tax from the Cruising business was £4.8 million, barely changed from the £4.7 million in the same period last year. “Increased marketing spend was partially offset by cost savings from operational efficiencies,” the company said.

Commenting on the results, Lance Batchelor, Group Chief Executive Officer, said in the report: "Travel has delivered a solid performance and we are seeing encouraging demand for our new ship, Spirit of Discovery, in line with our ambitious plan. Construction is on track, with keel laying this summer, ahead of her maiden cruise next year.”

P&O Cruises to introduce former Golden Princess as Pacific Adventure in 2020

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 September 2018 26 September 2018

P&O Cruises Australia, the Australia and New Zealand focused contemporary market unit in Carnival Corporation & plc group, said its has first Grand Class ship will be named Pacific Adventure and that it will join the line in late 2020.

“Pacific Adventure is certain to be a popular name choice among P&O Cruises’ many guests. P&O’s nearly 600,000 strong Facebook community was asked to guess the name of their favourite cruise line’s newest ship and six were spot on suggesting Pacific Adventure,” the company said in a statement.

The 108,865 gross ton ship, currently sailing as Princess Cruises’ Golden Princess, is scheduled to enter the P&O fleet in October 2020. The first program featuring Pacific Adventure will go on sale next month and include sailings through to the end of 2020.

Princess Cruises' Star Princess will join her sister ship, Golden Princess, in the P&O Cruises Australia fleet from the end of 2021. “Star Princess will replace the much-loved and considerably smaller Pacific Jewel, which will leave P&O Cruises in March next year, by which time she will have served the brand for almost 10 years,” the company said. Its new name has not been published yet.

Continuing the fleet’s transformation, Pacific Adventure is in sync with the adventurous spirit behind Pacific Explorer’s name, and will build on the fresh and contemporary design of her sister.

The 3,100 guest ship will offer an array of dining experiences including exciting concepts from Australian chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan and award-winning Melbourne chef Johnny Di Francesco.

Taking relaxation to a whole new level, Pacific Adventure will sport a sprawling child-free Oasis retreat across multiple decks, offering sun lounges, spa tubs, a swimming pool and dedicated bar.

The Blue Room also returns as a live-music venue with sumptuous soft furnishings for guests to sit back and enjoy live blues, soul and R&B.

With an expanded range of cabin options including 560 balcony rooms, 230 suites and mini suites and the fleet’s first 5-berth family cabins, the ship will offer something for everyone.

P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said the brand is primed to keep transforming the fleet with the arrival of Pacific Adventure in 2020.

“We’re thrilled to have another ship on the horizon that will continue the exciting evolution of our modern Australian cruise product. We have grand plans for Pacific Adventure and we can’t wait to take our guests on unforgettable adventures across Australia and the South Pacific,” said Myrmell.