“Kidults” breathe new life to family holidays in UK - CLIA

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 30 May 2016 30 May 2016

Travel companies in the UK need to cater for a wider demographic that encompasses young adults dubbed as ‘kidults’, according to new research by Cruise Lines’ International Association UK & Ireland (CLIA) has shown.

“Even when young people choose to holiday independently, 95% returned to the family holiday, a social condition the cruise trade association describes as the boomerang effect,” the Travel Weekly reported about the report.

“The family holiday is in a state of flux, no longer is there an age at which parents lose the kids and we are seeing a new demographic; the kidults,” CLIA Europe VP operations Andy Harmer was quoted as saying. “As a result more attention needs to be placed on experiences for customers in their late teens and early twenties, something the cruise industry is already prepared for," he added.

As many as 74% or parents allow their children to determine where they go on holiday. Despite this, children do not want to take any financial responsibility and 88% of parents pay for their child/children of any age to go on holiday with them, Travel Weekly stated.

In the opinion of Cruise Business Online, the widening popularity of a family holiday is in itself positive for the cruise industry, but if up to three quarters of the respondents of the survey say they allow their offspring to choose the destination, it does not mean that a cruise is necessarily high on the list.

Cultural commentator and BBC broadcaster Benjamin Ramm said in the Travel Weekly report: “Society is seeing a seismic shift in attitudes to travel and wider family life, as this CLIA research reveals.

“Previous generations were desperate to break free from the family structure, whereas today the rising cost of living and an increased sense of individual culture all lead to a dependency on the family unit – which of course extends into the holiday arena, a formative opportunity to spend quality time together,” she said in the Travel Weekly report emailed to Cruise Business Online.

“This trend is working both ways: while it is convenient for the 'kidult' to benefit from financial support, a growing number of parents are holidaying with their children and grandchildren in later life.”

The poll was taken by 1,000 UK adults who will or have taken a holiday in 2016 with their children aged 16 to 21 years old.

The main reason for parents choosing to holiday with their children is to spend quality time together with 78% of those surveyed agreeing with this statement.

Almost three quarters (70%) of parents say that a holiday is the only opportunity they have to spend quality time with their children. Historically, the family holiday may have been considered stressful, where family members would clash and arguments would materialise.

But the research implies that these stereotypes have lessened and now children of all ages seek refuge to relax on the family holiday.

This also links to the reason parents prioritise relaxing on a family holiday, which represents nearly 68% of the poll, inferring that a family holiday in 2016 is far more harmonious.

 

 

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s revenue, operating performance weaken but cash holdings strengthen

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 30 May 2016 30 May 2016

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line the UK based destinational cruise ship operator, has reported a fall in revenues and operating results for the first quarter, but the cash holdings of the company increased markedly.

Revenues fell to NO497 million in the first quarter of this year from NOK511 million year on, while operating result (EBITDA) contracted by NOK million to NOK30 million. EBIT became negative by NOK30 million compared to negative by NOK7 million in the first three months of last year, while pre tax loss narrowed slightly, to NOK4 million from NOK6 million.

The company has no interest bearing debt and its non-interest bearing debt narrowed by a faction, to NOK820 million from NOK822 million.

On a positive note, cash and cash equivalent holdings increased to NOK84 million at the end of March from NOK57 million year on, said Bonheur, the listed holding company of the Fred. Olsen family that owns the cruise line.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line operates four ships and two of them usually operate long haul cruises that take several months in the beginning of each year. One is based in the Caribbean to offer fly cruises from the UK and one is employed on lengthy UK based cruises in the first quarter of each year.

Queen Mary 2 refurbishment begins at Blohm+Voss shipyard

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 30 May 2016 30 May 2016

On May 27, at 8:00 PM, the Queen Mary 2 docked at Blohm+Voss at dry dock ELBE 17, well-known to the ocean liner. There, the flagship of the long-established British shipping company Cunard Line will undergo the largest refit program since being brought into service. It is the sixth time that the Queen Mary 2 docks at Blohm+Voss. A total of 50 new cabins are fitted or remodeled in line with this year’s master refit, 35 of them in the front section of deck 13. In addition, Blohm+Voss has prefabricated several steel deck sections with a total weight of approx. 200 tons that will also be installed on deck 13 by the shipyard’s specialists; furthermore, comprehensive modernizations in the hotel, entertainment and gastronomy areas of the ocean liner are part of the current construction schedule.

Fred van Beers, Chief Executive Officer at Blohm+Voss, explains, “We are proud to carry out such an extensive master refit on the Queen Mary 2. In the past years, we have managed to gain a good international reputation with orders from the cruise liner industry. In this area, we are especially known for our performance during complex remodeling and modernizations with ambitious deadlines. In 2015, we prepared 10 cruise liners for the future this way.”

The shipbuilding and mechanical engineering work comprises modifications to the bridge wing, the installation of new bulkheads for improved damage stability as well as modifications to the tanks. Furthermore, the ocean liner with a length of 345 m and a tonnage of 148,528 gross tons will also receive an upgrade in terms of environmental protection. For this, four new scrubbers as well as the corresponding exhaust gas filters will be installed. Additionally, the maintenance of the four pod drives, the four stabilizing systems as well as the removal and maintenance of the three bow thrusters are on the task list. A new, environmentally friendly coat of paint in the underwater area as well as for the superstructure and the renewal of the class complete the stay at the shipyard.

On June 17, after only 21 full working days at Blohm+Voss, the Queen Mary 2 will leave dry dock ELBE 17 again at approx. 2:30 PM and will be hauled to the Steinwerder cruise terminal. Only four days later, passengers will board the ship for a 10-day transatlantic cruise, leaving from Hamburg and arriving in New York via Southampton.

Cruise Lines International Association offers travel agents free livestreams from Cruise360

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 29 May 2016 29 May 2016

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced that it is offering travel agents who are unable to attend Cruise360 in Vancouver the opportunity to view the General Sessions via livestream. Thanks to its sponsors, General Sessions taking place on June 2, 3 and 4, will be aired live on CLIA Cruise tv for CLIA Members to access.

General Session keynotes include some of the industry's leading executives, including Arnold Donald, President & CEO, Carnival Corporation & plc; Adam M. Goldstein, President & COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; and Edie Rodriguez, President & CEO, Crystal Cruises.

In addition, it features a State of the Cruise Industry presented by Cindy D'Aoust, President & CEO of CLIA; along with a panel each day, featuring executives from 16 of CLIA's Global Cruise Line Members; and special guest speaker Dick Durrance, National Geographic Photographer.

"Cruise360 is a must-attend event for travel agents who sell cruises. That said, not all are able to attend the conference. By live streaming the General Sessions, our agent members can view and access some of the key information that is shared at the conference," said D'Aoust.

To register and learn more, CLIA Members can visit http://videos.cruising.org/live-stream/cruise360-2016. The livestreams are free for CLIA Members thanks to its generous sponsors, Crystal Cruises and PONANT Yacht Cruises & Expeditions.

CLIA Cruise tv is CLIA's exclusive one-stop shop video platform developed as a resource for travel agents and features original video content as well as videos directly from CLIA Member Cruise Lines and Executive Partners.

CLIA Cruise360, the largest and only official conference of the cruise industry, offers a truly panoramic view of the cruise industry and features exclusive networking events, live and virtual ship inspections, professional development opportunities, educational seminars and an in-depth analysis into current cruise and travel industry trends.