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Norwegian Cruise Line extends sailings to Cuba through December 2017

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 February 2017 09 February 2017

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that it will extend its offering of weekly roundtrip cruises from Miami to Cuba aboard Norwegian Sky, the largest vessel sailing to Cuba, through December 2017. Together with the five previously announced cruises in May 2017, these 25 additional cruises, which start in June 2017, all feature an overnight stay in Cuba’s historical and culturally-rich capital of Havana.

“We are thrilled to be the first cruise line able to offer weekly sailings from Miami to Cuba through the fall of 2017, all with overnights in the beautiful city of Havana,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “We have seen great demand from our guests for sailings to Cuba and we look forward to providing more opportunities for them to experience this incredibly culture-rich destination on a weekly basis.”

Norwegian Sky will sail 4-night roundtrip cruises from Miami each Monday, featuring an overnight in the capital of Havana as well as a call on Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas. The ship will dock right in the 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 will offer a selection of 15 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.

Norwegian Sky’s sailings to Cuba will also feature a call to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island destination in the Bahamas that was recently enhanced to offer guests exciting new ways to enjoy the island, with additional features to be added through summer 2017. 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.

Along with the freedom and flexibility that only Norwegian Cruise Line can provide, guests sailing on Norwegian Sky will also enjoy unlimited complimentary beverages as a part of the ship’s all-inclusive program.

Norwegian Sky’s four-day cruises to Cuba will open for sale on February 21.

Costa to base a ship in Tarragona

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 February 2017 09 February 2017

Alan Lam reports

After years of tenacious effort, the small Spanish port of Tarragona finally succeeded in attracting the attention of a major cruise line: Costa Cruises will base its 1,727-guest Costa neoRiviera in Tarragona from 2 June to 22 September 2017 for one of its key Mediterranean operations.

This welcoming news is a result of a meaningful cooperation and dialogue between the port and the cruise line. The proximity to Barcelona and the myriad of attractions in and around Tarragona make the port an ideal choice for Costa. It is estimated that the weekly departure plus two additional calls by one of the company’s much bigger ships, the 3,780-guest Costa Favolosa, will bring an additional 32,000 visitors to the port in the coming season. This will make a tremendous difference to the port’s cruise traffic, as without them the port would only expect 15,000 cruise passengers this year.

Departing Tarragona every Friday, the ship will call at Savona, Porto Torres, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera, and Palma before returning to the point of departure.

According to a statement released by the port, this move will be an essential stepping-stone in positioning Tarragona and the entire Costa Dourada region as a tourist and cruise destination of international importance.

“This is the first time we are a base port of a regular cruise line,” said Josep Andreu, Chairman of the Port of Tarragona. "The commitment shown by Costa Cruises for Tarragona and the Costa Daurada is a landmark in the consolidation of our project and it means a great boost for Tarragona Cruise Port Costa Daurada.”

"We in Costa Cruises always offer the best travel proposal to our customers in our drive to strengthen our leadership in a highly competitive sector,” said Raffaelle D'Ambrosio, the company's General Manager Spain and Portugal. “We want to offer the most appealing destinations in order to provide a unique, unforgettable vacation experience.”

Cruise Business Review has always been a leading proponent of lesser-known ports that have serious cruise potentials. In one fell swoop Tarragona has become a success story for small and medium Mediterranean ports.

MSC Seaview coin ceremony takes place at Monfalcone

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 February 2017 02 February 2017

MSC Cruises, the world’s fourth largest cruise shipping group and the Italian shipbuilder Fincanteri marked a milestone in the building of MSC Seaview with the coin ceremony, held at the Monfalcone shipyard in Italy.

MSC Seaview is the third next-generation mega cruise ship that will come into service under MSC Cruises’ ten-year investment plan through 2026.

The coin ceremony takes place when a ship’s keel is laid, at the early stages of its construction. Tradition dictates that two long-standing employees representing the shipyard and the ship owner act as godmothers for the ceremony, placing two coins under the new ship’s keel block as a sign of blessing and good fortune.

MV Werften appoints Gruenhagen as finance head

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 February 2017 02 February 2017

MV Werften, the German shipbuilder in the Genting Hong Kong group, said has appointed Richard Gruenhagen (54) as Managing Director of Finance and Administration.

He will reinforce the Management Board of the shipbuilding group effective immediately.

Richard Gruenhagen graduated from Indiana University, is a Certified Public Accountant (USA), has many years of experience as Executive Financial Management Professional, broad business experience as CFO, Director of Finance, Chief Accountant and as Head FP&A & Controlling in large global companies and startups, incl. ABB and GE. Most recently, Richard Gruenhagen worked as CFO at DHL Logistics in Switzerland, the shipbuilder said in statement.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines appoints Justin Stanton as sales and marketing head

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 February 2017 02 February 2017

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destinational cruise line, said it has appointed Justin Stanton as its new Sales and Marketing Director, reporting into Mike Rodwell, Managing Director.

“Based at its Head Office in Ipswich, Suffolk, Justin Stanton has been Head of Marketing for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines since 2012. In his new role, Justin will take responsibility for the Sales Department, managed by Neil Herbert – Head of Sales, and Public Relations, managed by Rachael Jackson – Public Relations Manager, alongside the Marketing Departmen,” the company said in a statement.

The role will concentrate on enhancing and further developing Fred. Olsen’s relationships with trade partners, whilst ensuring that marketing and PR activity continues to drive sales to travel agents, who deliver the majority of bookings.

He joined Fred. Olsen in 2006 as Marketing Services Manager, primarily responsible for production of brochures and brand advertising. Previously, he worked for eight years at the award-winning specialist Tapestry Holidays in the Sales & Marketing team, latterly as Head of Marketing. With more than 20 years’ experience in the travel industry, Justin started his career as a graduate trainee at Harrods.