Pullmantur announces two Caribbean itineraries

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 01 October 2015 01 October 2015

Alan Lam reporting

At this year’s International Tourism Fair Latin America (Feria Internacional de Turismo de América Latina), which has just been held in Buenos Aires and attended by all major cruise brands with vested interest in the region, Pullmantur, the Iberia and Latin America focused cruise line, announced two new South Caribbean itineraries.

The eight-day-seven-night South Caribbean itineraries are named as “Antillas y Caribe Sur” (Antilles and South Caribbean) and “Caribe Tropical” (Tropical Caribbean): the former, available from 4 December to 18 March on board the Monarch, will be exploring Aruba, Curaçao, and Cartagena de Indias or Panamá City, including return flights from Madrid to Colón; the latter, available from 5 December to 19 March on board the Horizon, will sail to Dominican Republic, Martinique, and St. Marteen or Margarita, including return flights from Madrid to Santo Domingo.

According to the company, these cruises are aimed at European customers by offering them winter sun during the colder months at home. It will be promoting the sales primarily through its travel agent partners throughout Europe.

Pullmantur is in the midst of a major expansion programme, which has Caribbean and Central America at its heart. Its two other new 2015 itineraries, “Caribbean Maya” and “Mayan Coast”, are both focused on this region.

The fact that the company introduced these cruises so close to the first departure dates reflected its confidence in its own performance and the demand for its products. So far this season Pullmantur has been sailing with 100% occupancy, with the number up by 10% from the same period last year. The company is very positive about the outlook for the remainder of the season.

 

Carnival group expects to have fast WiFi on nearly 40 ships before year end

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 30 September 2015 30 September 2015

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world's largest cruise shipping group, has announced that it has expanded its innovative hybrid connectivity system to create the cruise industry's largest Wi-Fi network to 30 of its 100 vessels and expects to reach close to 40 before the year end.

With more than 30 advanced satellite systems, the company's expanded WiFi@Sea connectivity network features the broadest high-bandwidth internet coverage in the industry currently deployed on 30 of its 100 ships -- far more than any other cruise line company – with further deployment planned over the next several months. "In addition, several of its cruise line brands have introduced new plans and pricing packages that make staying connected on a cruise more convenient and affordable – and are improving the guest experience and increasing the number of guests using Wi-Fi while cruising," the company said in a statement.

Expected to be extended to nearly 40% of the company's industry-leading fleet across several of its global brands by the end of 2015, the expanded WiFi@Sea service has led to increased guest satisfaction, higher usage rates and greater number of devices connected during voyages. Carnival Corporation's brands currently using the new features include AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line. Building on existing broadband Wi-Fi capabilities already available throughout its fleet of 100 ships, Carnival Corporation is continuing the deployment of its technology solution with plans to expand the new system on the majority of its fleet across its 10 global brands through 2016.

The company's system represents a first in the cruise industry on this scale – providing the broadest high-speed global coverage across dozens of ships coupled with onboard intelligence to enhance the guest experience – a breakthrough technology innovation for overcoming the challenging circumstances of sailing in the middle of the ocean and still providing fast, reliable and affordable wireless internet access for guests.

Expanding the System
The system is a first-of-its kind solution that integrates a combination of advanced satellite systems, onboard software, networking equipment, land-based antennas and Wi-Fi from port connections. The technology is expected to change how millions of travelers stay in touch during their cruise and generate even greater interest in cruise vacations, especially among tech-savvy millennials and people of all ages who want to stay in touch, research destinations or share their vacation experiences via social media.

With the continued rollout of the enhanced connectivity system across the fleet, guests will be able to access the websites, social networks and apps most important to them at speeds up to 10 times faster than those previously available on the company's ships.

"As we continue to enhance our WiFi@Sea system, we implement technologies, packages and overall approaches that will create the best experience and value for our guests wherever their cruise vacation takes them," said Reza Rasoulian, vice president of global connectivity and shipboard technology operations at Carnival Corporation. "We optimize all of our service layers continuously to ensure a great connectivity experience. With this approach, we are giving our guests faster internet speeds without constraining the time they can be online through our packages, which has led to more people than ever using their devices to connect while on our ships and a steady improvement in guest satisfaction ratings as the new plans and pricing are rolled out."

New Packages and Pricing Structure
With the new pricing models, Wi-Fi packages are based on the types of services guests will be using throughout their trip versus the previous system of charging for the amount of time they will be online. For example, guests who are only interested in using Wi-Fi to post to their social networks can purchase a basic package for a lower fee.

This change gives guests the freedom they prefer for unlimited use of the specific internet services and applications they are interested in without the worry of time constraints – an important offering for a good number of guests who are looking to stay connected, especially as the industry works to increase interest in and demand for cruising across all demographics, especially among younger guests.

Specific package offerings and pricing structures vary by brand, but in all cases the company is working to create more value and a better overall connectivity experience.

System Enhancements Focus on the Guest Experience

Carnival Cruise Line, the company's largest brand with 24 ships and its 25th ship, Carnival Vista, coming in spring of 2016, announced in August it has enhanced internet access including new social media packages. The packages are now available on 19 of its 24 ships with plans for fleet-wide implementation by the first quarter of 2016. In June, the company's AIDA Cruises brand announced new flat-rate social media and internet packages, along with bandwidth upgrades that have been installed on seven ships, and will be fully deployed on each of the brand's 10 ships by November 2015.

Added Rasoulian: "We know that each of our guests is looking for something different when they cruise, whether that is being completely or partially unplugged from the internet or staying plugged in. For those who want to stay connected with their life back home or research the next destination on their trip, we are offering faster, more reliable and more affordable options to give our guests what they are looking for."

The improved onboard connectivity experience will also help crew members across Carnival Corporation's 10 brands keep in touch with their family and friends at home during the extended amounts of time they spend at sea. This is an important component of each crew member's quality of life and has a positive impact on helping them maintain their passion for consistently providing exceptional service for guests during the voyage.

Costa Crociere to double Indian Ocean cruises in winter 2016-17

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 30 September 2015 30 September 2015

Costa Crociere, the Italian unit in Carnival Corp & plc group, says it gears up its operations in the Indian Ocean by doubling the number of cruises for the winter 2016-17 season to visit the most beautiful islands of this destination, an exclusive of the Italian company since the end of 2006.

"The first of a total of 11 cruises is scheduled to depart on 15th October 2016 and the last on 4th March 2017. The cruise, always for 14 days on board the Costa neoRomantica, will be even more exciting thanks to longer stopovers to allow guests to enjoy more extended visits of the islands," the company said in a statement.

The cruise will depart from Mauritius, quite easy to reach with flights from Europe, and then to the Seychelles Islands, where the ship will berth for two days and two nights. The cruise will continue with a focus on discovering the beaches and landscapes of Madagascar, with day calls to Nosy Be, Diego Suarez and Tamatave; the next stop, one day and one night, will be the island of Réunion, with its wild nature; then the return to Mauritius, with a final one day and one night call, for a close encounter with the culture and attractions of this island, before returning to Europe.

The increase in the number of cruises in the Indian Ocean is the end result of an agreement signed today in Paris, during the IFTM/Top Resa travel trade show, between Costa Cruises, the Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and the Vanilla Islands Organisation (the organisation that promotes tourism in the islands of the Indian Ocean).

“We are the only company proposing regular cruises to these unique islands of the Indian Ocean and offer our Guests an exceptionally beautiful cruise experience” declaredNorbert Stiekema, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing of Costa Cruises – “Thanks to the partnership agreement reached with local authorities, our tourism offer to these destinations will continue to grow, and during the 2016-17 winter season we plan on taking about 15,000 guests, and most of them European, on cruises to the islands”.

The agreement calls for cooperation and investments for promoting tourism, for improving port infrastructures and guest hospitality facilities, for flight connections and for the excursions offered to guests.

On 12 December 2015, for the departure of the first Costa neoRomantica Indian Ocean cruise of the winter 2015-16 season, all the Ministers of each country member of the Vanilla Islands will be onboard with Norbert Stiekema for 2 days to work on the future development of the agreement.

 

Queen Mary 2 remastered - famed Grills Suites and restaurants to receive new look

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 29 September 2015 29 September 2015

Queen Mary 2’s renowned Queens and Princess Grill suites and restaurants will undergo lavish enhancements in May and June, 2016, ascending to a new level of luxury, sharing company with the world’s finest five star hotels. Cunard’s iconic flagship will stay true to her classic art deco heritage, while offering updated, crisp, contemporary interiors painstakingly re-designed for today’s most discerning travelers, and further solidifying the unique position of these distinctively luxurious at-sea accommodations.

The Cunard Grills experience affords the line’s most selective guests the highest standards of comfort at sea with large, well-appointed suites, all with prime locations and private balconies.

Cunard’s Grill guests always enjoy deluxe accommodations and the opportunity to unwind in the sublime comfort of intimate, sophisticated spaces reserved exclusively for them. Queens Grill guests are treated to the apex of luxury and personalized service, with a butler to tend to every need, including unpacking. Grill accommodation also includes thoughtful extras such as dedicated Grills concierge service for both Princess and Queens Grill guests, an amenity selection from bespoke heritage perfumer Penhaligon’s, and nine choices of pillow types.

The exclusive benefits of the historic Grills experience will remain unchanged, but all 172 Grills suites on Queen Mary 2 will receive a comprehensive restyling, reconfigured to maximize space, with subtle references to Cunard’s unrivaled history, including soothing muted tones and elegant textures with new bespoke luxury carpet throughout featuring design work inspired by rugs from the original Queen Mary.

The Grills dining experience will also be redesigned to elevate what is already the utmost in sophisticated dining at sea. Guests staying in Queen Mary 2’s Grill Suites enjoy open seating in the world-renowned Queens Grill or Princess Grill restaurants, both offering extensive a la carte offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The new Grill restaurants will each display a distinctive character through design, colour scheme and furnishings, and offer more intimate tables for two, increased space between tables for privacy, and additional loose tables for the ultimate in flexibility and ambiance. Spacious, beautifully redesigned dining rooms with rich, updated décor will be complemented by new culinary options and anchored by Cunard’s signature White Star Service.

“Under the moniker, ‘Queen Mary 2 remastered,’ there will be a host of innovations and enhancements, further confirming our commitment to invest in luxury on a grand scale,” said Richard Meadows, president, Cunard, North America. “Guests will certainly feel the sense of pride and confidence that the refurbishment will exude, befitting of Queen Mary 2’s luxury ocean travel experience.”