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MSC Cruises teams up with chef Roy Yamaguchi

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 March 2016 16 March 2016

MSC Cruises, the world’s fourth largest cruise shipping group, has announced a new partnership with celebrated pan-Asian chef and international culinary pioneer, Roy Yamaguchi.

The innovative Japanese-American chef will bring his unique fusion of cooking traditions to MSC Cruises, initially on board the Company’s next-generation ship, MSC Seaside due to be launched in December 2017 and sail year-round from Miami to the Caribbean.

This latest announcement further demonstrates MSC Cruises’ ongoing commitment to international fine dining and adds to the existing partnerships with renowned, award-winning chefs Carlo Cracco, Jean-Phillippe Maury and Jereme Leung, the company said in a statement.

FCCA and CLIA in strategic media partnership

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

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have announced a collaboration to transform FCCA's quarterly magazine into a global publication, reinforcing the cruise industry's unified voice and offering stakeholders an opportunity to be heard by an influential audience.

As the official magazine of the cruise industry, Travel & Cruise will give insight into the inner-workings and happenings of the industry with exclusive content from cruise lines executives and prominent stakeholders. It will be distributed quarterly, the two organisations said in a joint statement.

"This partnership represents a step forward for both the associations and cruise industry," said Micky Arison, chairman, Carnival Corporation & plc and FCCA. "FCCA's magazine has long been the cruise industry's official magazine, and it now expands to represent the industry on the global scale. It also extends the focus to engage travel agents, wholesalers and other tourism professionals."

"CLIA and FCCA have each served the cruise industry well for years, and this new cooperation to publish Travel & Cruise will enhance the global cruise industry," said Adam Goldstein, president & COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and CLIA global chairman.

Norwegian Escape to depart from Miami at 19:00 hours to allow Europeans catch ship

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

As part of its “Growing Europe” campaign for continued growth on European markets, Norwegian Cruise Line said it has changed the departure time of its seven-night cruises on Norwegian Escape to the Eastern Caribbean to 19:00 from 7 May to 16 July and from 3 September to 31 December 2016.

“This later departure time allows passengers to fly from many European airports on the day of embarkation without a prior overnight stay,” the company said in a statement.

“The departure change for Norwegian Escape is a direct result of feedback from our guests. Norwegian Cruise Line is committed to actively working with our European customers in order to ensure our products meet our customers’ preferences,” says Christian Boell, Managing Director Europe, Middle East and Africa at Norwegian Cruise Line.

“To land on the day of embarkation in Miami without a prior overnight stay and to proceed directly to boarding makes Caribbean cruising, including the outward and return trip, possible within a week – and therefore particularly interesting for guests who seek total relaxation but can only take a few days off.”

AIDA Cruises takes delivery of AIDAprima

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

AIDA Cruises, the German unit in the Carnival Corporation & plc group, says it has taken delivery of AIDAPrima, the first of two 124,500 gross ton newbuildings from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan.

Although the delivery was significantly delayed from the original contract date, the vessel will arrive in Hamburg earlier than anticipated and it will offer an additional four night cruise to Southampton from Hamburg on 25 April.

AIDAprima is the largest vessel in the fleet of the Rostock based company.

AIDA Cruises names AIDAprima godmother

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 March 2016 11 March 2016

The well-known young actress Emma Schweiger will christen AIDAprima, the new flagship of AIDA Cruises, as part of the 827th Hamburg Port Anniversary on May 7, 2016. Germany’s leading cruise company made the announcement on March 11, 2016, during the ITB in Berlin. Emma Schweiger greeted all guests via video message that is also posted at www.aida.de/neuegeneration. The 13-year-old has already captivated millions of people with roles in hit movies such as Rabbit Without Ears (“Keinohrhasen”), Rabbit Without Ears 2 (“Zweiohrküken”), “Kokowääh” and Head Full of Honey (“Honig im Kopf”).

“Emma is perfect for the role of AIDAprima godmother. She is an unparalleled embodiment of the young, fresh, unconventional attitude towards life that the AIDA brand stands for. With her naturalness and zest for life, she is a delight to many people in Germany, regardless of their age,” says Felix Eichhorn President AIDA Cruises.

“I am so happy to have the chance to be godmother of this super cool ship. I think that no matter your age, everybody should be able to do what they think is most fun especially on vacation – without stress and obligations. And that is exactly what I can do on AIDAprima,” says godmother Emma Schweiger.

Under the motto “Experience the christening of the year!”, AIDA Cruises is presenting its new flagship AIDAprima and the diversity of the vacation options with numerous activities on shore and on the water as the main sponsor of the 827th Hampurg Port Anniversary from May 5–8, 2016.

AIDAprima will be entering the Hamburg port accompanied by sister ship AIDAaura in the early morning hours on May 7, 2016. For port anniversary visitors, who would like to see AIDAprima up close, AIDA Cruises is offering a free shuttle boat from Binnenhafen Süd [South Inland Port] (floating pier near Baumwall) to the berth at the Steinwerder Cruise Center on the day of the christening. At about 8 p.m., AIDAprima will leave the Steinwerder Cruise Center for the Elbe Philharmonic Hall, where it will heave to before joining AIDAaura in front of the Harbor Piers (Landungsbrücken) for the christening ceremony. At exactly 10 p.m. a stunning light show on board AIDAprima will usher in the christening ceremony. Emma Schweiger accompanied by Captain Detlef Harms will christen AIDAprima at about 10:15 p.m. The subsequent AIDA fireworks display will turn the night sky over the Elbe into a glittering sea of color.

After a little cruise around the harbor, AIDAprima will bid farewell to Hamburg and the city’s guests and set off on a 7-day voyage to the cities in Western Europe.

AIDA Cruises is also going to broadcast the christening live online for everybody not able to be in Hamburg for the event. The christening will also be broadcasted abord the AIDA ships. Additional details will be announced shortly.