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Leslie Peden appointed President, Celestyal Cruises, North America

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 November 2017 28 November 2017

Celestyal Cruises, which is part of the Cyprus based Louis plc group, said it has appointed Leslie Peden as President, Celestyal Cruises, North America. Mr. Peden will be responsible for promoting Celestyal Cruises in North America to drive business growth and market share.

Peden will build on the foundations laid by Nicholas Filippidis who has led the business development efforts on behalf of Celestyal Cruises throughout North America. Filippidis will continue to be a valuable resource for our company as he takes on a consultancy role ensuring a smooth transition for our travel partners.

Peden is a highly-experienced, time-honored travel professional with 30+ years of success in cruising, tour operations, air and rail travel, including a proven track record serving in senior management and executive roles for such acclaimed cruise related companies as Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Holidays Cruises, and Island Cruises (now TUI).

A British national, Peden held full P&L responsibility for Virgin Holidays Cruises - a cruise retailer in the Virgin Group that should not be confused with the nascent cruise operator Virgin Voyages - and the integration of this business unit into the wider Virgin Travel Group. Among his many accomplishments while at Virgin, he developed and executed Virgin Holidays Cruises’ first fully-integrated marketing ‘peaks’ campaign with the launch of a new dedicated cruise brochure, new classified press creative and the business entity’s first-ever national TV, digital and social media campaign.

Prior to Virgin Holidays Cruises, Peden was with Island Cruises (Joint Venture between Royal Caribbean International and First Choice), where he defined and executed a five-year strategic plan for trade and consumer sales, multi-channel distribution, trade and direct marketing, customer services, call center operations and a winter air-sea program for all international markets, including the U.K.

Kyriakos Anastassiadis, CEO of Celestyal Cruises, said "We are excited to bring Mr. Peden on board. He is an industry standout and an innovator who brings decades of travel expertise, with an emphasis on cruising. We expect Mr. Peden will bring immeasurable enthusiasm to his role and we look forward to him achieving tremendous success in North America.”

Carnival Cruise Line introduces new shopping experience with renovated spaces

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 November 2017 24 November 2017

As part of an ongoing effort to provide its guests with the widest variety of choices at sea, Carnival Cruise Line is totally transforming its shipboard shopping experience with renovated spaces and popular items from some of the world’s best-known retailers, including Victoria’s Secret, Swarovski, Pandora, TAG and others.

According to Carnival’s Vice President of Retail William Butler, the upgraded retail venues and expanded offerings are the result of months of intensive research and data gathering to customize its onboard shopping options to match the preferences of Carnival guests.

“We’re committed to enhancing every aspect of our operations – which includes, of course, onboard shopping – and our expanded and enhanced retail offerings provide guests with an opportunity to enjoy some ‘retail therapy’ and take home a unique and memorable keepsake from their Carnival vacation,” he said.

Here’s a breakdown on some of the many new offerings available across the fleet:

– Effy (12 ships) – one of the largest manufactures of fine jewelry in the U.S., Effy’s tax- and duty-free items feature a lifetime guarantee and run the gamut from colored gemstones and diamonds to tanzanite and other top-of-the-line products.
– Swarovski (25 ships) – one of the world’s leading retailers of fashion jewelry offering custom jewelry, pearls, sterling silver and more.
– TAG (24 ships) – a leading manufacturer of high-end luxury timepieces, TAG’s constantly evolving line of fine watches are worn by celebrities and sports stars the world over.
– Pandora (10 ships) – the nation’s top costume jewelry provider offers a selection of custom bracelets, rings, necklaces, and charms, including, appropriately enough, some tied to a vacation theme with cruise ships, palm trees and sandals.
– Invicta (25 ships) – this high-end retailer offers a full line of fashion watches with hundreds of different styles to choose from – from exercise to every day and special occasions - providing consumers with a watch to suit any mood or taste.
– Victoria’s Secret (22 ships) – purveyor of top beauty products offering a variety of popular items and accessories, including mists, lotions and perfumes, with convenient displays divided by the categories of Prestige, VS Fantasies and Rollerballs.
– Los Cincos Soles (4 ships) – this Mexican-themed retailer offers sterling silver jewelry, souvenirs, T-shirts, authentic arts and crafts created by local artisans.

Additionally, the line’s Cherry on Top sweets shops offering bulk candies, novelty items and apparel are currently available on 20 ships.

Carnival’s shipboard retail experience has also been enhanced with fun activities, special promotions, and giveaways, in-store parties and more. Select ships also feature stand-alone kiosks with “wearable tech” accessories that include the latest fitness trackers, pedometers, and heart rate monitors by brands like Fossil and others. Carnival has also made a significant investment in digital marketing across the fleet directing guests to marquee retail events and upcoming deals during their cruise.

Over the past year, Carnival has completely renovated the shopping outlets on Carnival Sensation, Carnival Elation, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Valor with Carnival Victory, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Legend and Carnival Paradise scheduled for retail refurbishments in the coming year. The new Carnival Horizon, set to debut in spring 2018, will take the line’s retail offerings to the next level with the line’s largest, most elaborate and diverse shopping experience to date with two decks of shops, boutiques and displays featuring top-name retailers.

P&O Cruises cancels Oriana’s 50 night cruise due to sail 6 January 2018

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 November 2017 23 November 2017

P&O Cruises, the UK focused contemporary market unit of Carnival Corporation & plc group, has decided to cancel a 50 night cruise of Oriana that had been scheduled to depart on 6 January 2018 to allow maintenance to take place.

“Following a recommendation from our technical team, Oriana must undertake some essential maintenance, which will result in the cancellation of cruise no X801,” said Michele Andjel, Head of Publc Relations at the Southampton based company.

The 69,840 gross ton ship was built at Meyer Werft in Germany and it entered service in 1995. It is the oldest ship in the P&O Cruises’ fleet.

“We understand how disappointing this is for our guests but our ships sail 365 days a year and they do occasionally require unplanned maintenance, the only available slot for us to undertake this work is in January,” she told Cruise Business Online.

“We have written to guests and advised that there are four other similar cruises that sail to the Caribbean from Southampton early next year, including all of the information and itineraries for these departures,” she continued.

As a result of this cancellation P&O Cruises are giving guests a 5% Future Cruise Credit of the fare paid on the original Oriana cruise, which is available to use on one of the cruises mentioned or any other P&O Cruises holiday booked before 31 December 2019. “We will also honour the 500 Peninsular Club loyalty points they would have earned from the original Oriana cruise.

We have asked them to contact their travel agent by Friday 8 December 2017 if they wish to transfer to another cruise. If, by this date they have not done so then the booking for the Oriana cruise will be cancelled and all monies paid will be refunded,” Andjel said.

“If they do not wish to book an alternative cruise at the moment, the 5% Future Cruise Credit will be applied to their P&O Cruises unique reference number (URN) until they the new cruise booking is made,” she concluded.

The importance of interior ‘refreshes’

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 November 2017 23 November 2017

With most cruise ships that are already in service having a major refit every two years, and some newbuilds planning a major refit up to every five years, maintaining the high standards of the ship interiors between refits is vital to the overall passenger experience. At any time during the ship refit cycle, the passenger expects the same standard of interior furnishing, says interior specialist Trimline.

Wear and tear is a major factor for cruise lines with several thousand-people boarding their ships each week. Carpets and flooring get worn, dance floors get scratched, wall coverings knocked, upholstery soiled and generally furniture gets damaged. During a refresh, marine interior contractors like Trimline, bring specialist marine trades onboard (joiners, soft furnishers, carpet fitters, hard surface repair experts, french polishers, decorators etc) to update areas showing signs of wear, returning them to their original condition before passenger awareness.

In addition to the major refits that Trimline have just undertaken including Marella Discovery 2, Zuiderdam, Arcadia, Crystal Symphony and Sage Sapphire, they have also carried out many ‘refreshes’ in the last few weeks alone including Marella Dream and Marella Celebration, and as the market leaves a longer term in between major refits, this is a trend set to increase.

Genting Cruise Lines christens World Dream in Hong Kong

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 November 2017 17 November 2017

Genting Hong Kong celebrated the arrival of Dream Cruises’ second new ship, World Dream, today at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal with a special blessing and christening ceremony to impart good fortune and luck to the vessel. Puan Sri Cecilia Lim, World Dream’s official Godmother and the wife of Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genting Hong Kong, delivered her inspirational message and activated the traditional breaking of the champagne on the hull of the new ship in the presence of more than 1,000 guests including government dignitaries, business and trade partners and media.

World Dream is the sister ship to Genting Dream which debuted last November to great acclaim receiving a Star Performer Top Ten rating in the Large Resort category of the highly-revered Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Guide 2018 along with ‘Best New Ship’ and ‘Best Cruise Line – Entertainment’ recognitions at the Travel Weekly Asia Reader’s Choice Awards 2017, and will double the capacity for Dream Cruises, Asia’s up-market cruise line, in the region.

Notable attendees at the debut and christening included Guest of Honour The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Honourable Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Ms Cathy Chu, JP, Commissioner for Tourism and Dr Peter Lam, GBS, Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board.

“We are truly excited to christen World Dream in Hong Kong – and to be the first-ever cruise ship to have this honour in a city that holds such significance to Genting Hong Kong and Dream Cruises. As the pioneer of the Asian cruise industry 24 years ago, Genting Hong Kong developed the Asian cruise industry with the founding of Star Cruises, with its headquarters in Hong Kong,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genting Hong Kong. “Now, with Genting Dreams’ arrival in the Pearl River Delta a year ago, she has delivered over 300,000 international passenger trips from across the region. Hundreds of jobs have been created and tourism receipts in hotels, airlines and destination management industries for the Pearl River Delta have grown significantly.”

During the event, Tan Sri Lim also expressed the importance of Hong Kong to both Genting Hong Kong and the overall cruise industry in the Asia Pacific and reiterated the company’s commitment to showcase the city and grow the Pearl River Delta region into a world-class, cruise destination hub. He noted that, as a well-developed port city, Hong Kong is strategically located to promote China’s "Greater Bay Area" initiative to link the major cities in the Pearl River Delta into an integrated economic and business centre.

During the event, Guest of Honour, The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Honourable Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, and Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genting Hong Kong delivered their messages to the audience followed by the customary exchange of gifts and souvenirs to the various VIPs in attendance. Guests were also treated to a dazzling sneak preview performance of World Dream’s brand new signature stage production, Sonio, a picturesque production inspired by the dawn of a new dream, and the much anticipated blessing by the God mother and the smashing of the bottle of champagne activated by the simple touch of a spectacular full moon to symbolize the attainment of one’s dreams.

Complimenting World Dream’s on board attractions, diverse itineraries featuring new, authentic destination experiences will take guests on tropical and cultural journeys in Asia. Specially designed voyages taking in sun-drenched, popular destinations for the winter feature 6-day/5-night cruises to Manila and Boracay in the Philippines alternating with 6-day/5-night journeys to Ho Chi Minh and Nha Trang in Vietnam.