Norwegian Cruise Line makes inaugural call to Havana, Cuba

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 02 May 2017 02 May 2017

Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Cruise Line’s first ship to sail to Cuba, made her maiden call in the capital city of Havana on May 2. Norwegian Cruise Line executives were onboard to celebrate the voyage, including Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings President & CEO Frank Del Rio and Norwegian Cruise Line President & CEO Andy Stuart.

“Today is a momentous day for Norwegian Cruise Line, our guests and our travel agent partners, as we open our doors to Cuba’s natural beauty, warm people and historical treasures,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. “Sailing into the Havana Harbor today, we were welcomed by the Cuban people with open arms and excitement to share their incredible culture with our guests.”

“Our cruises to Cuba offer our guests a unique opportunity to engage in true cultural immersion with the freedom and flexibility to explore this destination on their own timetable and as they choose,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “We look forward to our guests experiencing the wonderful hospitality of the Cuban people aboard each of our many sailings to Cuba to come.”

Today’s call was the first of Norwegian Sky’s weekly roundtrip cruises from Miami to Cuba. The ship will sail a total of 53 four-night voyages to Cuba, with 52 including an overnight stay in the historical and culturally-rich capital of Havana. Norwegian Sky will bring guests to the very heart of Havana, offering guests the opportunity to visit historical sites such as Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; view incredible art and listen to the vibrant local music scene; and visit with Cuba’s warm and friendly residents through people-to-people exchanges. Norwegian offers a selection of 14 half and full-day OFAC-compliant shore excursions, where guests aboard Norwegian Sky will have the opportunity to have a farm to table dining experience, explore the flora and fauna of Soroa, see modern Havana in an American classic car and much more.

The all-inclusive Norwegian Sky will also call on Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas, during her four-day cruises to Cuba. Great Stirrup Cay is a private island paradise, with white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, watersports galore and lushly landscaped beachside cabanas available for daily rental for those who wish to have a more exclusive island experience. Great Stirrup Cay was recently enhanced to offer guests exciting new ways to enjoy the island with additional pathways, seating and shaded lounge areas, with additional features still to come, including a private luxury lagoon enclave for suite guests and guests of The Haven.

Guests sailing on Norwegian Sky also enjoy unlimited complimentary beverages as a part of the ship’s all-inclusive program.

Jim Barreiro de León joins the CMI Executive Team

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 02 May 2017 02 May 2017

Cruise Management International, Inc., (“CMI”), a dedicated passenger ship manager for technical and marine operations, based in Miami, Florida announces that Jim Barreiro de León has joined the CMI Executive Team as President and CEO. He will be replacing Kenneth Engstrom, who after more than 30 years with ISP, SunStone and CMI, will be retiring as of May 1, 2017.

Jim brings to CMI a vast experience in passenger ship management, having been involved in this market segment for more than 30 years managing vessels of all types and in different market segments.

Chairman of CMI, Niels‐Erik Lund, comments: “Jim is regarded as a high‐value business driver with exceptional management skills and expert knowledge of the industry and we are excited to have him on our team."

Jim is a native of the Canary Islands, Spain, but was raised in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. His career in the maritime industry began in 1986 on‐board river cruises in Europe and after three decades of maritime experience, he has acquired a specific understanding of the ship management industry. He is proficient in designing turn‐key ship management solutions, while optimizing all aspects of the shore‐side and ship‐board operations. He has proven to be a maritime visionary, with the ability to address the ever‐changing, demanding challenges of our industry, while never losing focus on the needs of the ship owners and operators.

CMI was formed in 2015 as a continuation of the original International Shipping Partners, Inc. formed in 1990. CMI took over the organization and the management contracts, now managing 11 cruise vessels, mainly within the expedition cruise segment. CMI and its sister company, CMI Leisure Ltd., a hotel concessionaire, work closely with SunStone Ships, managing their fleet and will also manage its newbuilding fleet.

Niels‐Erik Lund continues: “CMI has established itself with a strong management team, supported by a dedicated and experienced technical team for its existing fleet of passenger vessels, and is now looking forward to expanding their services portfolio and growing the business”.

CMI offers a broad range of comprehensive passenger ship management services, employing a vast team of officers and crew, and managing hundreds of millions of dollars in assets and expenses for its managed fleet.

Royal Caribbean returns to New Orleans, adds capacity to Galveston and Miami

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 02 May 2017 02 May 2017

After a three-year hiatus, Royal Caribbean International will return to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana with the newly announced repositioning of Vision of the Seas for the 2018-2019 winter season. The 915-foot cruise ship will sail 7-night itineraries to culture-rich destinations across the Bahamas and Yucatan Peninsula. Her 989-foot sister ship Enchantment of the Seas will move from Miami, Florida to join Liberty of the Seas in Galveston, Texas, offering 4- and 5-night Caribbean cruises that will complement Liberty’s popular 7-night Caribbean vacations. The two new offerings bring more options and easy access from the Gulf Coast for adventure-seekers in the region to embark on journeys to world-renowned dive destinations, explore ancient ruins of past civilizations, and discover the natural beauty of rainforests.

Before repositioning to its new home in “The Big Easy” on Dec. 15, 2018, Vision of the Seas will offer two, 16-night sailings through the Panama Canal from Miami to Los Angeles, California and from Los Angeles to New Orleans. This will be the first time in three years that Royal Caribbean will journey through this engineering marvel.

Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas also will be redelpyed in 2018 when the longtime resident of Asia-Pacific returns to the United States to homeport in Miami. Mariner will be the first Voyager-class ship – famous for introducing industry innovations including the rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink and Royal Promenade – to offer short Caribbean sailings perfect for first-time cruise travelers. The 3- and 4-night itineraries from PortMiami to the Bahamas begin on June 21, 2018, following the ship’s extensive, 32-day revitalization. Prior to going into drydock and her arrival to Miami, Mariner will embark on a previously announced “Global Odyssey,” consisting of three 13- to 15-night sailings from Singapore to Dubai; Dubai to Barcelona; and Barcelona to Miami.

Enchantment of the Seas arrives to Galveston on June 23, 2018. Guests currently booked on Enchantment for sailings departing Miami after June 23 will be contacted individually to transition the original booking to the freshly revitalized Mariner of the Seas from her new homeport in Miami.

Sailings onboard Mariner of the Seas will be available to book on May 1, 2017, Enchantment of the Seas and Vision of the Seas will be available to book as of May 5.

Peter Butz to join Expedition Voyage Consultants as COO

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 01 May 2017 01 May 2017

Expedition Voyage Consultants announced today the appointment of Peter Butz as its Chief Operations Officer. In his new position, Butz will assume responsibility for the company’s day-to-day operations and resources as well as contribute to its consulting projects.

“We feel very fortunate to have Peter join our team. As the industry continues to expand at an unprecedented pace, building on our talented team with decades of bona-fide expedition experience reinforces EVC’s leading position. Peter’s background will be key to our offering the finest expedition advice in the industry, whether in ship design, operations, itinerary development or market analysis,” says EVC CEO Ben Lyons.

Butz began his career in the late 1970s when he first began working on the pioneering expedition ship Lindblad Explorer. As Expedition Leader, Butz managed voyages to the far flung corners of the world, including Antarctica, the Great Barrier Reef, the Arctic and the Amazon. In those early days of the industry, few ships were reaching these destinations, and Butz describes those years as “true exploration.”

Butz went on to join Special Expeditions (now Lindblad Expeditions) as Expedition Leader. Over eight years, he sailed to Alaska, Baja California, Papua New Guinea, the Arctic and Amazon. In 1989, he transitioned ashore to manage vessel operations. For the next 25 years, first as Vice President of Fleet Operations and then as Chief Operating Officer, he oversaw the company’s fleet grow to six globally deployed vessels and its employees and contractors grow to almost 500. Recently, Butz had spent three years consulting independently and overseeing Alaskan Dream Cruises’ expansion.

“Having started my career in the field, I’m thrilled to be joining a team that places such a emphasis on practical experience. The team at EVC represents decades of managing and running expedition logistics and operations on all sizes and types of ship; I look forward to providing our clients with some of the hard-won experience we’ve all learned first hand.”