More News

Sture Myrmell appointed as President of P&O Cruises Australia

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 December 2015 17 December 2015

P&O Cruises Australia has announced the appointment of a full-time President, reflecting its massive growth in 2015 and its overwhelming success as Australia’s major cruise line.

Sture Myrmell, who is currently Senior Vice President P&O Cruises, will take responsibility for managing the brand’s operations, effective January 1, 2016.

Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry, who has been leading the day-to-day activities of P&O Cruises for the past eight years as well as driving strategy for the region’s brands, will become Carnival Australia’s Executive Chairman.

She will continue to have strategic oversight across the seven cruise lines that operate in this region under Carnival Australia’s umbrella, coordinating direction, management and advocacy on major issues.

Since joining Carnival Australia in 2007, Sherry has reshaped the cruise category and driven the company’s success in the region from two locally-based full-time ships to nine across all the brands, including five P&O Cruises' ships.

Another five Carnival Australia ships are deployed in the region seasonally on top of the visiting international ships during the summer peak.

"I am very proud to hand the day-to-day operations of P&O Cruises to Sture, who has been so integral to the evolution of the brand since joining in 2007," Sherry said.

"Sture’s appointment is a vote of confidence in P&O Cruises and a demonstration of its overwhelming success as Australia’s major cruise brand and the backbone of the industry in this region.

"All of Carnival Corporation’s brands around the world have a standalone President, and Sture’s appointment is recognition of the value and power of P&O Cruises in Australia and New Zealand.

"Importantly, it is also wonderful acknowledgement of Sture’s leadership in transforming P&O Cruises into a product that is like no other in the marketplace and one that truly reflects modern Australia.

"In many ways, Sture’s success is a turning point for the industry because it cements the success of a home-grown brand."

Myrmell, who first started working onboard ships 22 years ago, has worked across almost every facet of the cruise business. He is currently responsible for P&O Cruises’ Commercial, Guest Experience and Product Development areas.

"My appointment is the result of many people’s dedication and hard work over many years to get us to this point, and is proof that the brand has matured and holds its own in the global fleet," Myrmell said.

"I have enjoyed working alongside Ann over the past eight years and have learnt from the best. Ann is at the forefront of industry advocacy and debate and is passionate about pushing hard to ensure cruising reaches its potential.

"I am delighted that with Ann stepping up to the role of Executive Chairman for Carnival Australia, I continue to have the opportunity to work in partnership with her."

Mr Myrmell will report to Holland America Group CEO Stein Kruse.

The seven cruise lines under the Carnival Australia umbrella are P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Cunard, P&O Cruises World Cruising and Seabourn.

Costa Group to deploy humanoid robots on its ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 December 2015 17 December 2015

Alan Lam reporting

Costa Group has signed an exclusive agreement, worth more than a million euros, with the French company ALDEBARAN, a subsidiary of the SoftBank Group, for the deployment of “Pepper” robots on its ships.

Pepper is the world’s first robot capable of human emotions. He is, according to Costa, “ideally suited to help and delight guests on board of cruise ships”. The group hopes that the robot will improve guest experience and provide help and entertainment on board both AIDA and Costa branded ships.

Launched in June 2014 in Japan by SoftBank and ALDEBARAN, Pepper is the first humanoid robot in the world capable of recognising main human emotions, taking its environment into account and proactively responding accordingly. It is well equipped with features and a high-level interface for communicating with those around him, to move fluidly and analyse expressions and voice tones using the latest advances in voice and emotion recognition.

The robot has already completed an onboard trial on AIDAstella, demonstrating its seaworthiness while engaging with customers and crew.

The first batch of Peppers will join the crew on AIDAprima and Costa Diadema in Spring 2016. Their duty will be to guide guests when they embark and while onboard. They will also be on hand to provide recommendations and tips on restaurants, events and excursions. They will be able to speak German, Italian and English.

By the summer of 2016 the rest of the robots will be joining the crew aboard the Costa and AIDA fleet.

“With an emotional robot on board our cruise ships,” said Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group, “we are once again continuing our tradition of innovation. For us, this is an important step towards a digital future for our brands. I am confident that our guests will love Pepper.”

“I am very happy that the Costa Group gave us this opportunity,” said Fumihide Tomizawa, President of Aldebaran and SoftBank Robotics Corp. “Pepper is built to interact with humans, their emotions and needs. We hope that it will help to improve AIDA’s and Costa’s travellers’ experience.”

Pepper in figures:

Measures 120cm in height and weighs 28kg
It has17 joints for graceful movements
Three omnidirectional wheels to move with agility
One 3D camera for detecting people and movements
A 10-inch touch screen

Andy Harmer to take up CLIA Europe role

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 December 2015 16 December 2015

CLIA announced today that Andy Harmer, UK & Ireland Director, will take on a new European role within the association beginning 1 January, 2016. Harmer takes up the position of CLIA Europe Vice President Operations with responsibility for the strategic development of CLIA’s travel agent programme.

Harmer will continue to oversee the advancement of CLIA within the UK and Ireland whilst taking on responsibility for the expansion of CLIA events across Europe and building a European travel agent community which at its heart will be the training and professional development of travel agents.

“I am delighted to be taking on this new role at a time when CLIA is making great progress in expanding the agent offering," said Andy Harmer, Vice President Operations, CLIA Europe. “We want to share the great wealth of resources and information that we have in the UK with our European colleagues as we know that with the right support and resources, we can help grow an agent’s business.”

“Andy has a track record of achievements including the creation of the largest cruise travel agent event in Europe, the CLIA Conference, which each year attracts record numbers.” said Cindy D’Aoust, CLIA's acting CEO. “He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise and is passionate about the industry and has grown the number of travel agents who are experts in selling cruise holidays.”

Cunard Line and P&O Cruises could have separate commission structures - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 December 2015 16 December 2015

Cunard Line, the premium to luxury cruise market unit in Carnival Corporation & plc group, could introduce its own agent commission structure in Britain next year as Carnival UK that operates the brand, looks to differentiate the line further from sister brand P&O Cruises, Travel Weekly reports.

“If the move goes ahead, it would be the first time Cunard has offered different remuneration rates from P&O. Both brands currently offer a base commission of 7.5%,” the report said

Earlier this year, Carnival UK revealed it was to separate the brands by introducing a new boss at the helm of each line. Paul Ludlow was appointed senior vice-president of P&O, while the Cunard role has yet to be filled.

TUI Cruises offers overnight stay on Mein Schiff 5 naming ceremony event

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 December 2015 16 December 2015

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise shipping company, says it is offering the public the possibility to stay overnight on board its new Mein Schiff 5 on the occasion of the ship’s naming ceremony. This will take place in Kiel in Lubeck-Travemunde on 15 July next year.