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Crystal Esprit expedition yacht to sail in the Caribbean from November 2017

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 November 2016 15 November 2016

Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises, part of the Los Angeles based Crystal Cruises unit of Genting Hong Kong, said it is redeploying its ultra-luxury yacht, Crystal Esprit, to the islands of the West Indies beginning in November 2017 and for all of 2018.

Beyond putting the luxury yachting experience within greater geographical reach for the majority of Crystal’s guests, the shift will also focus on conveniently timed itineraries, the company said in a statement.

Sailing round-trip on Sundays from Marigot Bay, St Martin, two distinct seven-night routes will alternate for easily combinable extended holidays. The ports of call are decidedly in line with access unique to a boutique yachting experience, with visits to the idyllic harbours of destinations long favoured by travellers.

As Crystal Esprit’s newly unveiled itineraries focus heavily on the glamorous but laid back yachting lifestyle, the tropical locations will also allow travellers to take full advantage of the active pursuits and abundant water sports amenities in the yacht’s high-tech private marina, including the first submarine in the cruise industry. Crystal Esprit’s new West Indies itineraries include:

British Virgin Islands & Saint-Barthélemy Yachting Escape: Marigot Bay, St. Martin; Gustavia, St. Barthélemy; Anegada, Scrub Island (overnight), Jost Van Dyke, Great Harbor (overnight), Salt Island, Tortola/Road Town, Peter Island (overnight), The Indians, Virgin Gorda, Gorda Sound (overnight), British Virgin Islands West Indies Yachting Explorer: Marigot Bay, St. Martin (overnight); Sandy Ground, Anguilla; Saba, Netherlands Antilles; Falmouth Harbor, Antigua & Barbuda; Nevis; Gustavia, St. Barthélemy (overnight); Orient Bay, St. Martin

“The decision to reposition Crystal Esprit to the West Indies is one that was made with our guests’ expressed wishes in mind, as more luxury travellers seek curated adventure with the seamless ease and convenience that Crystal’s attention to detail provides,” says Crystal’s CEO and president, Edie Rodriguez. “While long coveted by celebrities and other selective travellers, the West Indies remain largely exclusive, hidden gems that will almost certainly top Crystal guests’ bucket lists.”

MV Werften confirms revised five year production schedule

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 November 2016 15 November 2016

MV Werften, the German shipbuilding unit in the Genting Hong Kong group, has confirmed a revised five year production schedule that mirrors an earlier decision to postpone the Exclusive class of Crystal Cruises, another unit of Genting Hong Kong.

The ships to be built in the next five years are:

– Four “Rhine Class” river cruisers for Crystal River Cruises for delivery in 2017 and 2018

– Three “Endeavor Class” 20,000 gross tons exploration yachts for Crystal Yacht Cruises to be delivered in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and

– Two “Global Class” 201,000 gross tons mega cruise ships for Star Cruises to be delivered in 2020 and 2021.

Crystal Cruises said on 1 November: "In the first quarter of 2022, Crystal will introduce the first Crystal Exclusive Class™ ocean ship that will set a new standard of luxury travel with signature features and guest amenities, and boast luxurious Crystal Residences, allowing travelers to literally call a Crystal ship home.”

On the crystalthenextchapter.com website the launch of the first of planned three 117,000 gross ton Exclusive class ship is given as the autumn of 2019.

TUI Cruises offers €4,000-plus wedding present to win on first LGBT cruise

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 November 2016 14 November 2016

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise shipping company, is offering a wedding package worth more than €4,000 for a couple to win on the first Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual, Bisexual (LGBT) cruise of the line.

In order to win, the prospective couples should register their details on rainbow-cruise.com, submit their photos, describe how they met and suggest why they should be the winners of the package.

The Rainbow Cruise of Mein Schiff 2 will depart Palma de Mallorca on 29 April for seven nights. It all be the first cruise on the German speaking market that targets the LGBT segment.

MSC Cruises announces its first-ever World Cruise

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 November 2016 14 November 2016

MSC Cruises — the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise line and market leader in Europe, South America and South Africa — announced today the opening of sales of its first-ever World Cruise.

The MSC World Cruise features the industry’s largest and most modern ship to offer this type of extended voyage. MSC Magnifica will depart from Genoa on January 5, 2019 and complete her around-the-world voyage back to Genoa 119 days later on May 3, 2019. "Crossing six continents and calling at 49 unique destinations in 32 countries, this one-of-a-kind world cruise will be an unforgettable dream come true for voyagers, while allowing them to travel in the comfort and elegance that guests have come to expect from MSC Cruises and its ships," MSC Cruises said in a statement.

“As a company, MSC Cruises is committed to providing truly special and unique experiences to its guests. For this reason, when developing the world cruise and its one-of-a-kind itinerary, we have listened to our guests feedback and know that for many the opportunity to travel the world in comfort and style is a lifelong aspiration,” said MSC Cruises’ Chief Executive Officer Gianni Onorato. “As one of the world’s truly international cruise companies, making available to our guests and travelers from around the globe a product such as a world cruise is a natural progression. Naturally, we did it in true MSC Cruises fashion, by making available the best possible ship to enjoy such a voyage – MSC Magnifica – and featuring an itinerary like no other available in the market.”

Throughout the 119 day globetrotting voyage, guests will visit some of the most historic ports, bustling cosmopolitan cities and remote, exotic island paradises around the globe. Highlights of this one-of-a-kind cruise include:

– Exotic and uncharted destinations: From the warm, archipelago of Tonga and the pristine waters of Bora Bora to the thriving culture of Cartagena and oasis of Aqaba, MSC Cruises has hand-selected 49 coveted destinations across the world — many of which are only available to cruise lovers and world travelers alike via this cruise. The MSC World Cruise will also offer guests the opportunity to explore New Zealand, Fiji and the Maldives as well as an expanded comprehensive tour of “off the beaten path” Caribbean islands, with nine ports of call in the region.

– Exclusive and unprecedented shore experiences: MSC Cruises continues its commitment to providing authentic experiences to satisfy the needs of all guests with an extensive choice of excursions. Whether riding the elephants of Pinnawela, snorkelling in the lagoons of Moorea or touring the Nga Bay National Park, guests are able to immerse themselves in local culture and experience the best that each destination has to offer. Furthermore, exclusive to MSC World Cruise, guests will be able to book 15 complimentary shore excursions of their choice to really explore the globe like never before.

– True discovery: In order to take advantage of the local culture and activities of each call, MSC World Cruise guests will have plenty of time to explore. With an above-industry average stay of 13 hours on shore per port of call, guests will be able to fully experience and discover at their own pace.

– Extended stays in coveted destinations: For popular destinations with a range of activities, MSC Cruises has arranged extended in-port stays that no other cruise line offers, including four full days in Polynesia, three full days in both Hawaii and San Francisco, and two full days in Los Angeles.

– Quality onboard experience: Spending 118 nights on board, MSC Cruises knows how important it is to make guests feel at home. To make traveling easier, MSC will offer numerous onboard discounts, including a 30% discount on laundry services. Every little detail has been considered to ensure that it is now even more convenient than ever to make this the voyage of a lifetime.

In addition to the immense variety of destinations and experiences to be had while on shore, MSC Magnifica will enable guests to travel in real comfort and style. Built in 2010, the ship boasts masterful design and relaxed refinement, with all of the features that distinguish any MSC Cruises ship, including one of the highest ratios of balcony staterooms, high quality service, fresh and authentic dining options including four restaurants and 11 bars, modern and comfortable staterooms as well as a wide range of entertainment and leisure activities. From the gourmet restaurants serving cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients and authentic inspiration from around the world to the wide variety of world class entertainment offerings including a full-scale casino, panoramic discotheque, cigar lounge, 4D cinema and much more – guests will feel the attention to detail in service and design that is a trademark for MSC Cruises.

While there are plenty of activities to enjoy at sea, guests can also opt to escape to relaxation at one of the many on board havens. This includes MSC Magnifica’s award-winning MSC Aurea Spa, with traditional Balinese massages found nowhere else at sea in addition to a number of other ultramodern beauty treatments, a sauna, Turkish bath and thalassotherapy room.

Starting November 14, 2016 for one month MSC Voyagers Club members will be able to exclusively book the entire 118 night cruise with sales opening up to the general public on December 14. Round trip embarkation/disembarkation ports of call include Civitavecchia/Rome, Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona. Guests can book staterooms on the world cruise starting from $16,999 – just $144 per person per night.

Fincantieri bids to acquire full control of Vard Holding

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 November 2016 14 November 2016

Fincantieri, the Italian shipbuilding group, said it has launched a voluntary offer to acquire the 44.37% of the shares in Vard Holding, the Norwegian shipbuilding group that it does not already own.

The offer which has been made through the Italian group’s Fincantieri Oil & Gas unit, values the Singapore listed Vard’s shares at SGD0.24 each or SGD125.6 million in total.

Vard is one of the largest global shipbuilders of offshore and specialised vessels, with about 9,000 employees and nine shipyards in Norway, Romania, Brazil and Vietnam. In the course of this year, it has established itself as a major builder of expedition cruise vessels.

“The purpose of the Offer is to delist Vard from the Singapore Stock Exchange and the Offer is conditional upon Fincantieri O&G acquiring more than 90% of the total Vard shares. Once this condition is met, the Singapore Stock Exchange may suspend trading of the Vard shares following the close of the Offer,” Fincantieri said.

“The offer period will begin on the day an Offer document is dispatched to shareholders, and will end on a date at least 28 days after the day the Offer document is dispatched, subject to further extensions,” the Italian company concluded.