Carnival and Fincantieri celebrates Carnival Horizon's coin ceremony

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 10 March 2017 10 March 2017

In a time-honored maritime tradition dating back centuries, a ceremony was held earlier today aboard Carnival Horizon at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, during which a commemorative coin was welded to the ship’s mast to mark a significant construction milestone.

The coin ceremony – whose origins can be traced back to the ancient Romans who believed that attaching coins to a ship provided divine protection – signifies the successful completion of Carnival Horizon’s exterior outfitting.

Fabrizio Timossi of Carnival’s corporate shipbuilding department represented Carnival at the ceremony with Clementina Zecchin of Fincantieri’s Marghera yard serving as godmother.

The 133,500 gross ton Carnival Horizon – a sister ship to the Carnival Vista introduced last year – is set to debut in Europe April 2, 2018.

Carnival Horizon will offer many of the innovative indoor and outdoor dining, bar, entertainment and activity options that debuted on Carnival Vista.

Among those is a groundbreaking bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction called SkyRide, an IMAX Theatre and a massive WaterWorks aqua park with corkscrew slides, a tipping bucket and other attractions promising lots of splash-tastic fun.

A wide range of accommodations will also be offered, including spa cabins with exclusive privileges at the luxurious Cloud 9 Spa, extra-roomy staterooms in Family Harbor, and tropical-inspired Havana staterooms and suites with exclusive daytime access to a Cuban-themed bar and pool.

A variety of unique dining and bar concepts and spectacular outdoor spaces found only on Carnival Horizon will also be offered and revealed in the near future.

Carnival Horizon is scheduled to make its maiden voyage April 2, 2018, with a 13-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona – the first of four round-trip departures from this port. Carnival Horizon will reposition to the U.S. with a 14-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to New York May 9-23, 2018.

Following its summer schedule of four-day Bermuda and eight-day Caribbean departures from the Big Apple, Carnival Horizon will shift to Miami and kick off a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning Sept. 22, 2018. Carnival Horizon will also offer a special two-day cruise to Nassau from Miami Sept. 20-22, 2018.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises names its two new expedition ships

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 09 March 2017 09 March 2017

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is putting its trust in the strong HANSEATIC brand name and has named the two new ships in its 5-star expedition segment HANSEATIC nature and HANSEATIC inspiration. The company unveiled the names of the two, new members of the fleet and released various other details at a press conference held Wednesday at ITB Berlin. The expedition ships, which are planned to launch in April and October 2019, respectively, are an investment by the TUI Group on behalf of its Hamburg-based subsidiary. In terms of its growth strategy, the world’s largest tourism group is increasingly focusing on its own hotels and cruise ships. The new expedition ships – both of which feature an identical design – will each accommodate up to 230 passengers (or up to 199 passengers on Antarctic expeditions). Alongside the highest ice class for passenger ships, they each boast three restaurants and an extensive wellness and fitness area. There is also a marina for water sports.

Karl J. Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, said: “The potential in the expedition ship segment is more than three times higher than supply. By virtue of the comfort and luxuriousness of our state-of-the-art new vessels, we will appeal to even more customers in the luxury segment in future. At the same time, authentic, natural spectacles that convey the feeling of a personal expedition have always been the basis for our decision-making. With our choice of names, we are continuing the success story of today’s HANSEATIC – the only 5-star expedition ship according to Berlitz – retaining the popular and well-known brand name and establishing a new and separate class within our fleet.”

The design concept, “inspired by nature”, reflects the expeditionary spirit and is the creative idea underpinning both ships. Nature is not only experienced outside, but also is reflected in the interior design. This comes to the fore in the choice of materials, colours and forms, as well as in the contours and lines of walls and surfaces, the lines of sight and therefore the interplay between the interiors and the world outside.

The on-board design highlights include the two extendible glass balconies. Passengers standing on these balconies can experience the unique feeling of floating over the ocean. The all-round deck in the upper deck forward (bow) ensures a genuine expeditionary feeling. Here, passengers can experience the action at close quarters – closer even than the captain. This contributes to the expeditionary character, especially when the ships embark on journeys to the Arctic, Antarctic, or Amazon.

HANSEATIC nature and HANSEATIC inspiration have been fitted with cutting-edge equipment and environmental technology. In a highly complex process, the hulls of the two ships have been optimised to achieve the maximum reduction in fuel consumption for the propulsion system and cut overall bunker consumption. The new vessels are fitted with an SCR catalytic converter, which reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by almost 95 per cent. Additionally, each of the two ships features a PROMAS rudder with a special propeller. This also helps reduce fuel consumption and therefore lower emissions. The IR ice detectors are a further highlight, with the infrared camera making it possible to spot ice at night and in misty conditions. Cold ironing is also envisioned.

The new expedition ships are being built by Norwegian company Vard Holdings Limited, which is a subsidiary of the Italian Fincantieri Marine Group. The current and successful route concept, which focuses on untouched and unspoilt regions, will be continued and expanded. PC6, the highest ice class for passenger ships, makes it possible to conduct expeditions far into Polar waters, with tropical destinations such as the South Seas and the Amazon remaining on the itinerary. 16 on-board Zodiacs and E-Zodiacs with eco-friendly electric drive systems allow for landings in remote expedition areas, regardless of the vicinity to a port.

Royal Caribbean to enhance CocoCay private island experience in the Bahamas

Details

Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 09 March 2017 09 March 2017

The world’s largest cruise line, Royal Caribbean International, has committed to a multi-year agreement with the island nation of The Bahamas that will help grow tourism to the destination, rapidly increase the cruise line’s employment of Bahamian nationals and invest in hospitality training to develop talent in the country.

At a signing ceremony attended by Perry Christie, Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, the cruise line confirmed plans for a significant investment in major enhancements to CocoCay – its private island destination in The Bahamas – which will include the construction of a pier, additional guest features and amenities, and new opportunities for vendors and craftsmen to promote the culture of The Bahamas to visitors.

“Royal Caribbean has been a long-standing partner of the islands of The Bahamas and their plans to significantly increase tourism to our country as well as to develop the talent of our youth and expand employment opportunities for Bahamians is commendable,” said Prime Minister Christie.

As part of the agreement, Royal Caribbean plans to work with The Bahamas government to develop a training program to provide those who aspire to a career in hospitality with a unique opportunity to participate in innovative training and development. The cruise line will create a curriculum that will prepare many thousands of students for careers at sea on board one of Royal Caribbean’s ships. The classes will be facilitated by dedicated instructors who will provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge to help them develop valuable and marketable hospitality skills. In addition to the classroom experience, students will receive on-site guidance and training from shipboard professionals.

Royal Caribbean has committed to rapidly growing the number of Bahamian nationals employed by the cruise line in the next five years. In addition, they have joint ownership of the Grand Bahamas shipyard in Freeport at which major revitalizations and drydock maintenance of its ships take place.

“Tourism is an important engine of growth for the economy of destinations in the Caribbean and The Bahamas, and we are excited to bring more visitors on our newest and most innovative ships to this popular vacation spot,” said Bayley. “Our commitment to The Bahamas is multifold. It is our responsibility to contribute to the country’s economic diversity, to its employment base and the training of Bahamian youth as well as the protection of the environment. We are excited about the continued growth of tourism in The Bahamas, and look forward to doing our part to keep that growth and progress moving along in the years to come.”

Operators of the world’s largest ships with an additional two mega ships under construction and four on order, Royal Caribbean currently brings 1.7 million visitors a year to The Bahamas, with plans to significantly expand that number in the next decade as they add capacity in the region. With its strategic location and proximity to the United States, Bahamian destinations are already marquee ports of call for 13 of Royal Caribbean’s ships and are consistently highly rated by guests.

Viking River Cruises marked its 20th anniversary by welcoming two Viking Longships.

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 08 March 2017 08 March 2017

“During a celebration that took place at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers in Koblenz, Germany, Viking Hild and Viking Herja, were officially christened by ceremonial godmothers and now join Viking’s award-winning, state-of-the-art fleet of more than 60 river vessels sailing the world’s waterways,” the company said in a statement.

Viking Hild will sail the Rhine River this spring on Viking’s new Paris to the Swiss Alps itinerary, and later this year both new ships will sail Viking’s popular Danube Waltz and Rhine Getaway itineraries.

“Two decades ago when we started this company, modern river cruising was still unknown to most travelers. Now 20 years later, we are pleased that most travelers know river cruising, and they know Viking as a household name,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises.

 “The naming of a new ship by a ceremonial godmother is a sacred maritime tradition. We are honored that the godmothers of our two new Longships are also important partners who will help us deliver thoughtful and enriching experiences for Viking guests this year.”