Tallink’s second quarter profit dives on lower charter income

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 11 August 2016 11 August 2016

Tallink Grupp AS, the Estonian cruise ferry group, has reported a sharply lower second quarter profit and a first half loss as reductions in charter income offset a slight rise in volumes and rise in on board sales.

Group net profit fell to €9.8 million in the second quarter from €28.5 million in the same period last year, while revenues decreased to €245.2 million from €253.9 million.

In the first half, the listed Tallinn based company bookeda net loss of €2.2 million compared to a profit of €15.2 million in the first six months of last year. Revenues decreased to €438.0 million from €444.0 million.

In the second quarter, the group’s vessels carried 2.4 million passengers which is 2.8% more compared to the second quarter last year. The number of cargo units transported increased by 7.3% and the number of passenger vehicles transported increased by 3.8% compared to same period as last year, the company said in a statement.

"Despite the increase in passenger number the average ticket price per passenger was lower and the total revenue from the ticket sale is on level with the second quarter last year,” Tallink noted.

Restaurant and shop sales increased by €3.6 million or 2.7% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year.

“The sales growth is supported mainly by the higher number of passengers travelling with the Group’s operated ships. Throughout the second quarter there was a price pressure from competition on all routes," the company said. 

“The second quarter total revenue and operating result were lower compared to the same period last year mainly due to less revenue from chartering related to the sale of vessels Regina Baltica and Silja Festival and termination of cruise ferry Silja Europa charter,” the company said

Royal Caribbean announces longest-ever Singapore season on three of Asia's largest ships from October

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 10 August 2016 10 August 2016

Asia’s largest cruise ships Ovation of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas will be back in Singapore from this October to next May to offer Royal Caribbean International’s longest-ever homeporting season here, which will run for eight months totalling 55 cruises and expected to bring an estimated 200,000 guests to ports in Southeast Asia.

The deployment of these three ships will increase Royal Caribbean’s capacity in 2017 in Southeast Asia by 30% over 2016.

To kick start the season is Mariner of the Seas from this October with 39 sailings until next March, ranging from three to seven nights to popular destinations such as Penang, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Phuket, Bangkok (Laem Chabang) and Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My). The new itineraries for the season are the 3-night Penang Weekend Cruise which will feature night touring and the 4-night Phuket Cruise.

Other highlights of Mariner of the Seas are the festive cruises for Christmas and New Year in December and Chinese New Year in January 2017 which come with special entertainment, decorations and feasts onboard. Theme cruises are also being lined up such as the Salsa Cruise this December featuring renowned international salsa dancers and the second Cosfest Sea Cruise next February where guests can look forward to a cosplay themed parade, anime party and treasure hunt.

Asia’s largest and newest ship Ovation of the Seas which was in Singapore in June, will be back in March to April 2017 with a total of 10 new sailings, comprising three to five nights to Penang, Phuket, Bangkok (Laem Chabang) and a 12-night one-way cruise to Tianjin with calls at Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) for an overnight, Hue/Danang (Chan May), Hong Kong and Seoul (Incheon). Ovation of the Seas alone is expected to add some 42,000 additional guests to the Singapore cruising scene, and delivering millions through in-port spend.

Following this will be Voyager of the Seas returning in May 2017 to offer six sailings of three to five night Southeast Asian itineraries to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Penang, Phuket and an 8-night one-way cruise to Hong Kong, with stopovers at Bangkok (Laem Chabang) for an overnight, Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Nha Trang.

Uniworld appoints Ellen Bettridge as new President and CEO

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 09 August 2016 09 August 2016

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has announced the appointment of Ellen Bettridge as President and Chief Executive Officer. Bettridge succeeds Guy Young, who is being promoted and will take on two new roles at The Travel Corporation (“TTC”), Uniworld’s parent company. Bettridge began her new position effective August 6, 2016, and Young will work with her to ensure a smooth transition prior to joining TTC.

The announcement was made last week by Brett Tollman, Chief Executive of The Travel Corporation. Said Tollman, “It is my great privilege and pleasure to welcome Ellen to our team at Uniworld. I have known and admired Ellen for many years. She is a superbly capable and talented travel industry professional, with an exceptional reputation and a winning track-record. I am confident that Ellen will make a consequential and instrumental contribution to Uniworld’s performance and success, and the team and I very much look forward to working closely with her.”

Bettridge will be responsible for managing and overseeing Uniworld’s global business, including operations and financial performance, product development, the industry’s foremost guest experience, service enrichment and onboard/onshore programming. She will also specifically focus on growing and expanding Uniworld’s business, as well as furthering its leadership and innovation in the river cruise industry.

Said Bettridge, “It is an honor for me to take the helm of the world’s finest river cruise line. I look forward to partnering with Brett and collaborating with the entire Uniworld team to ensure that the Company continues to lead and maintain the standard of excellence in the river cruise industry, as well as to create innovative experiences, programs and services that appeal to the most discerning and inspired travelers throughout the world.”

Bettridge joins Uniworld from Azamara Club Cruises, where she has served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing, responsible for growing Azamara’s markets in the Americas, as well as for developing strategic relationships with trade and marketing partners. Previously, Bettridge held the position of President, Americas at Silversea Cruises Ltd., where she developed and implemented successful sales strategies and marketing campaigns throughout the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Prior to Silversea, Bettridge held various positions at American Express over more than twenty years, initially as a Travel Counselor and most recently as Vice President Retail Travel Business, responsible for the management of travel and financial services in twenty-eight owned locations in the U.S., 300 employees and 150 franchisee partners.

Young, who will continue to be based in the Company’s Encino office, is being promoted and will take on two newly created and exceptionally important roles; Global Brand Engagement Officer at TTC, reporting to Brett Tollman, and President of Costsaver, Trafalgar's fast-growing value brand, reporting to Gavin Tollman, CEO of Trafalgar. Said Brett Tollman, "Guy and I have worked together for over 25 years now, and he has led Uniworld to new heights and exceptional accolades during his tenure of nearly a decade. Both Gavin and I congratulate Guy on his accomplishments, and we very much look forward to working closely with him as we continue to drive and grow some of the very best brands in the travel industry."

AIDA Cruises launches first marketing campaign in China

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 09 August 2016 09 August 2016

AIDA Cruises, the German contemporary market unit of Carnival Corp& plc group, says it has launched the first marketing campaign on the Chinese market. From April 2017, with AIDAbella, AIDA Cruises will, for the first time, deploy a ship in China all year round and, in close cooperation with Costa Asia, be offering cruise vacation "Made in Germany" from Shanghai as a new premium product for the booming Chinese market, the company said in a statement.

"The ongoing growth of AIDA has made Germany the second biggest cruise market in the world. With our Costa Asia brand, we have pioneered the way in China since 2006 and were the first international shipping company to develop the cruise market there. The expansion of our product portfolio to include an AIDA Cruises ship on the fastest-growing market in the world is a strategic step for the further successful development of Costa and AIDA", said Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group.

 "AIDA would not be as successful today if we had not constantly entered uncharted territory in the 20 years since the commissioning of our first new vessel. We are now venturing a further important step and, with AIDAbella, exporting our successful concept to China, the fastest-growing cruise market in the world. With our lifestyle-oriented and innovative product, we will provide further important momentum for the emerging Chinese market and thrill entirely new groups of guests. I would like to thank our colleagues at Costa Asia for supporting us with their know-how", commented Felix Eichhorn, President AIDA Cruises.

AIDAbella will be prepared for service in Asia during a dockyard refit in spring 2017. Without changing the essence of the successful AIDA brand, the ship and services will be oriented to the wishes and demands of Chinese guests. Under the motto "cruise vacation Made in Germany" i.a. the "Brauhaus" featuring a blend of Bavarian conviviality meets with modern far eastern cuisine in the in the spacious buffet restaurant "World of Asia" where the hot pot restaurant "Hot & Spicy" will be integrated. New on board are as well successful German brands as Rimowa or Hugo Boss.