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MedCruise General Assembly: Exposing the gap between ports and cruise lines

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 June 2015 06 June 2015

On the second day of the 46th MedCruise General Assembly, a gulf between the perspective of MedCruise and that of the cruise lines on several issues became apparent. Alan Lam reports from Zadar.

Despite years of continuous dialogue and hard work, there still appeared to be a gap between the practices of the ports and the expectations of cruise lines.

During the State of the Port Industry session, Carla Salvadó, President of MedCruise, presented a comprehensive and well-assembled 10-section, 70-question Fact Finding Report on behalf of the organisation. The report covered a wide range of topics relating to MedCruise member ports, including port profiles, berthing policies, user satisfaction surveys, operational issues and challenges.

While both parties recognised the importance of Europe and the Mediterranean to the cruise business as a whole, it soon transpired that there still remained significant differences in standpoints between MedCruise member ports and cruise lines on several key issues, chiefly among them were the fact that MedCruise’s order of priorities and challenges being a departure from those of the cruise lines. A number of port practices, such as the first-come-first-serve berthing policy adopted by several ports, were still not in line with the expectations of the cruise lines.

It also transpired that bridging this seemingly unbridgeable gap in itself was a robust challenge; more dialogues between the two parties were needed and much more must be done. MedCruise is continuing its efforts relentlessly.

A fuller report and detailed analysis will be published in the next edition of Cruise Business Review.

Deltamarin introduces ropax of the future

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 June 2015 05 June 2015

Deltamarin launched their new showcase ro-pax vessel “DeltaChallenger” during the Nor-Shipping 2015 exhibition in Oslo. Based on Deltamarin’s extensive experience on developing ship concepts and with the help of well-known partners, with expertise in their respective areas, a most energy efficient and environmentally friendly vessel has been developed. The design incorporates in unforeseen way the latest technologies available, many of which are not yet used on any other ro-pax vessel.

To reduce fuel consumption the vessel has six rotor sails by Norsepower, giving ca. 10% of the total propulsion power (1.3 MW). Impressive fuel economy and manoeuvrability is gained through the combination of dual-fuel electric machinery, four power plants (2 x 6 MW and 2 x 3 MW) and the new compact Azipod D pod propulsion system from ABB. The steering unit of the pod can be fitted in one deck so that it does not hamper the loading of cars.

The vessel will have GTT Mark III membrane LNG tanks of totally 1,200 m3. The tanks give superior layout advantages making new efficient loading and unloading configurations possible without decreasing passenger and cargo capacity.

The air conditioning and ventilation has been optimised by Carrier. The vessel utilises heat recovery and demand controlled ventilation to ensure maximum comfort while at the same time minimising the energy consumed.

Very effective loading and unloading is guaranteed by the possibility to simultaneously load and unload on two levels of the lower hold. The ship will have totally 2,720 m of trailer lanes on main and upper deck. There are 480 car lanes / 104 cars in two levels in lower hold which can be loaded with maximum number of trailers. Alternatively by means of hoistable car decks in use, the ship could be loaded with maximum of 950 cars.

The vessel can carry up to 950 passengers and 50 crew members. There are 267 cabins reserved for passengers and 32 for crew. Deadweight of the vessel is 7,900 t and main dimensions 200 m in length overall, 30.4 m breadth and 6.0 m draught. The service speed is 18.5 knots at design draught.

“Challenging the existing methods and utilising the latest technologies have always been part of Deltamarin’s philosophy. With the new DeltaChallenger we aim to show what the future’s combined passenger and cargo ship could be. By combining the top-level existing technology, you can create something unique but functional. The right product for the customer may not be the DeltaChallenger as such, but the idea is that together with the customer and our partners we can develop exactly the exceptional ship that best serves the customer’s s future needs”, explains Deltamarin’s Manager, R&D Mrs Päivi Haikkola.

World Ports Conference: AIDA's Michael Ungerer takes a stand for the expansion of port infrastructure

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 June 2015 04 June 2015

On occasion of this year's World Ports Conference in Hamburg Michael Ungerer, President of AIDA Cruises and Chairman of Cruise Association CLIA, spoke to representatives of the main port cities in the world on June 4th, 2015.

Ungerer talked about the development of the cruise industry in the German market and economic impacts of this increasingly important industry. He focused particularly on the port of Hamburg, which has become one of the leading cruise destinations in Northern Europe. He also presented the opportunities and challenges associated with the growth of the cruise industry.

"The demand for cruises continues. Between 2014 and 2017 the capacity of German cruise lines will grow by 42.9 %. By 2016 we want to reach the 2 million mark in Germany and there may also be a further million guests on top in the upcoming 3 to 4 years," said Ungerer. However, this can only be achieved, if all responsible parties start to think about the necessary requirements today. "The existing infrastructures of the Year 2015 will not be sufficient for this," Ungerer underlines.

Another key issue in the cooperation between cruise companies and ports is the continuous improvement of environmental performance.

"Sustainable management and the consistent protection of the environment are the guarantee for being able to successfully offer cruises in the future," said Ungerer.

Overall, AIDA Cruises will invest around 100 million euros in environmental and climate protection until 2016 and thus bring new technologies like a comprehensive exhaust gas treatment system, onshore power supply and LNG operation on the road. With this pilot project for the energy supply of cruise ships using LNG while being berthed in ports, which is thus far unique worldwide, AIDA Cruises and Becker Marine Systems have opened a new chapter for environmental protection in the port of Hamburg on May 30, 2015.

Frisco RoughRiders and Carnival Cruise Line host 'Kids Day' event for local youth

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 June 2015 04 June 2015

FRISCO ROUGHRIDERS AND CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE HOST ‘KIDS DAY’ EVENT FOR LOCAL YOUTH

Carnival Cruise Line, Texas’ number one cruise operator, and the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, hosted a special day of fun, food and baseball this weekend at Dr Pepper Ballpark for 500 children and their families from across the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The second annual “Carnival Kids Day” was part of the cruise line’s multi-year partnership with the ‘Riders.

Carnival and the RoughRiders hosted kids from a number of local youth organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club, Captain Hope’s Kids, CASA of Collin County, CASA of Denton County, CASA of Tarrant County, Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, City House, Inc., Frisco Family Services, Make-A-Wish North Texas and HopeKids North Texas, for an unforgettable day of fun.

During Sunday’s RoughRiders vs. the Tulsa Drillers game, children and their families participated in a variety of activities and took photos with RoughRiders players. In addition, every participant received complimentary game tickets and parking.

For this year’s Kids Day event, Carnival added its signature brand of fun with experiences that included:

– An inflatable batter’s box and small ball toss, providing kids the opportunity to work on their swing or practice their pitching technique
– An airbrush face painting booth and art station where youngsters could create their own souvenir drawstring backpack
– A photo booth that allowed fans the chance to pose for their own take-home baseball card
– A fun-filled inflatable obstacle course and an appearance by the RoughRiders’ mascots Deuce and Daisy
– A Cracker Jack stand offering free samples of the classic ballgame snack

“The second annual Carnival Kids Day was a big success and offered deserving children and their families an opportunity to enjoy a memorable day at the ballpark,” said Jim Berra, Carnival’s chief marketing officer. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with the RoughRiders and give these kids and families an unforgettable day at the ballpark.”

As the Official Cruise Line of the Frisco RoughRiders, Carnival is hosting a number of fun activities throughout the 2015 season. At each game, fans enjoy two specially designed promotions. Every time a RoughRiders player hits a home run, fans hear the sound of the Carnival ship horn, fireworks launch from the iconic Carnival funnel in the outfield and celebratory graphics illuminate the LED signs around the stadium. Carnival is also matching monetary donations made by fans during the age-old Texas League tradition of "Passing the Boot" for the RoughRiders Foundation, team and individual players after each RoughRiders' home run.

The “Carnival Crush Inning” promotion started this weekend, giving lucky contestants the chance to the win a free Carnival cruise, based on when a ‘Riders player gets a hit during a designated “Crush Inning.” Fans can sign up for the promotion at the stadium or online before the game at RidersBaseball.com. The cruise line is also sponsoring the Carnival Getaway Grill featuring unlimited ballpark favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, bratwursts, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, and Dr Pepper products for one all-inclusive price.

Azamara announces major upgrades for its two ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 June 2015 03 June 2015

Azamara Club Cruises, the boutique line delivering an up-market experience at sea with unparalleled destination immersion on land, announced on June 3 that its two ships – Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest – will undergo “major upgrades” while in dry dock in early 2016, reinvigorating the onboard guest experience. The mid-size ships that accommodate up to 686 guests will be outfitted with new venues, public spaces and technologies to bring fresh services and amenities to guests. From bow to stern, there is no area on the line’s ships that will be untouched. The upgrades include all staterooms and suites, dining, spa and entertainment.

"We are best known for our Land Discoveries programs which have enabled us to boast an unprecedented number of repeat guest bookings as well as strong back to back voyage reservations. As we continue to evolve our destination immersive offerings, we also want to ensure our onboard experience is modernized to meet guests’ every need," says Larry Pimentel, President and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises. "We can’t wait for our ships to come out of dry dock as these major upgrades are going to have an instant impact on our guests’ experience. Each corner of the ships will have a new look and feel, setting a brighter, more contemporary ambiance, while the new venues will bring guests fresh experiences. We’re also investing in new onboard innovations and have paid close attention to the smallest of details. We really are redefining our onboard experience in every way."

The Azamara Journey will enter dry dock in January 2016 in the Bahamas, and the Azamara Quest in April 2016 in Singapore.