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Norwegian Cruise Line adds complimentary restaurants across fleet

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 April 2015 14 April 2015

Norwegian Cruise Line announced yesterday that many of the line’s popular Asian dining venues can now be enjoyed on a complimentary basis across the fleet. Guest favorites like Shanghai’s Noodle Bar aboard Norwegian’s Breakaway Class ships and Norwegian Epic, Jasmine Garden aboard Norwegian Jade, Chin Chin aboard Norwegian Jewel and more will join the extensive list of complimentary dining venues available to Freestyle cruising guests.

As a part of the Norwegian NEXT program, Norwegian Cruise Line is investing significantly into enhancing guests’ dining experience onboard and offering even more culinary options to provide the best cruise vacation experience. As a part of these new initiatives, the cover charge and à la carte pricing for many Asian dining concepts across the fleet has been eliminated to further enhance guest satisfaction and provide guests more freedom to create their ideal cruise vacation.

"Norwegian’s Freestyle Dining is the most fun and flexible way for guests to enjoy some of the best dining experiences at sea, when they want and how they want," said Andy Stuart, president and chief operating officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We are thrilled to continue that legacy by providing guests with more of the food they have come to love and enjoy with the introduction of fleetwide complimentary Asian cuisine."

Guests cruising aboard Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising ships can indulge in favorites like fried rice, spicy seafood udon noodles, steamed pork dumplings and more free of charge at the following venues:

– Orchid Garden, Norwegian Gem

– East Meets West, Pride of America

– Lotus Garden, Norwegian Pearl

– Shogun, Norwegian Spirit

– Chin Chin, Norwegian Jewel

– Bamboo, Norwegian Dawn

– Jasmine Garden, Norwegian Jade

– Ginza, Norwegian Star

– Shanghai’s, Norwegian Epic

– Shanghai’s Noodle Bar, Norwegian Epic

– Shanghai’s Noodle Bar, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian’s popular Teppanyaki restaurants will continue to provide guests with the showmanship and culinary delights of Japanese iron-griddle cooking for a per guest cover charge, and Sushi venues across the fleet will retain nominal à la carte pricing.

Argentine port city of Mar del Plata hosted first hemispheric cruise conference

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 14 April 2015 14 April 2015

The first three-day hemispheric conference on cruise tourism and social responsibility (Primera Converencia Hemisférica sobre Turismo de Cruceros y Responsabilidad Social Empresarial) has just taken place in the Argentine port city of Mar del Plata. Alan Lam reports.

The international conference, held on the 8 to 10 April in the port’s cruise terminal (Terminal de Cruceros “Eduardo Tomás Pezzati”), was attended by representatives from various tourism enterprises of the members of Organization of American States, including those of Tourism Ministries of these countries. Cruise lines operating in the region and many Latin American port authorities were among the attendees who discussed various aspects of cruise tourism development in the Americas.

“It will be three intensive days of hard work, promotion and learning,” said Pablo Fernández, President of Mar del Plata Tourist Board, prior to the convention. “We will generate dialogues, debates and discussions on everything that has to do with cruise tourism, from port security to commercial activities.”

One of the main objectives of the conference was to establish a forum for analysis, discussion and exchange of experiences on policies, strategies, cruise operations and social responsibility of all those involved in the business. Moreover, it also aimed to identify practices that would attract cruise businesses and investments in the way that they would benefit communities and destinations, at the same time protect the environment.

Ports and destination development of the region was a focal point of much discussion, side by side with sustainability and social responsibility.

The conference spoke of regional collaboration in developing cruise business and overcoming challenges of the future.

Costa Cruises inaugurates the 2015 season from Trieste

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 April 2015 11 April 2015

On April 10, Costa Mediterranea (85,700 gross tons and 2,680 total guests) kicked off Costa Cruises 2015 season in Trieste, Italy.

Costa Mediterranea arrived at Trieste after a transatlantic crossing that departed March 20 from Miami, Fla. The ship will leave on April 11 to begin its season of cruises in the Adriatic Sea. In total, during these two days, Costa Mediterranea will bring to Trieste more than 3,600 guests (1,400 disembarking and 2,200 embarking) coming from different countries, including Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria and Japan.

From April 11 to Nov. 21, 2015, Costa Mediterranea will depart from Trieste every Saturday, with a total of 33 calls. The ship will sail two different seven-day itineraries, visiting the most beautiful destinations in Croatia, Montenegro and Greece, and, beginning May 9, calling at Venice, Italy.

Norwegian Cruise Line launches new cruisetours in South America

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 April 2015 11 April 2015

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering guests the freedom and flexibility to build their dream South American vacation with the introduction of three new South American Cruisetours. These pre- or post-cruise land-based tours are available for guests sailing on Norwegian Sun’s South America itineraries, beginning November 2015. Ranging in length from three to five days, these in-depth experiences are hosted by expert English speaking local tour guides and take guests off the beaten path on a once-in-a-lifetime immersion into the authentic flavors, sights and history of Argentina and Chile.

Cruise guests looking to celebrate the romance of Buenos Aires, often referred to as the “Paris of South America,” can opt for the three-day Tour & Tango in Buenos Aires. Travelers will overnight in Buenos Aires, tour the city, dine in Argentinian restaurants known to locals, attend an evening dinner and tango show and round-out the trip by going cheek-to-cheek with a tango lesson from professional dancers.

Those looking to explore deeper into the ecological and cultural diversity of Argentina can opt for the five-day Buenos Aires & Iguazú Falls Eco-Explorer Cruisetour. As a complement to their cruise vacation, this Cruisetour engages guests’ senses on a three-night excursion through Buenos Aires, where they will taste, touch, listen and dance to the rhythm of the big city, then hop on a short flight to Iguazú for a two-day eco-tour of the area’s wondrous waters, a visit to the Aborigene Guaraní community and more. Culture seekers will immerse themselves in Argentina’s living history at the XIX Century “Estancia” (ranch) El Rosario de Areco, where they’ll be welcomed by gauchos on horseback, learn the importance of the Pampas region to Argentina’s culture, enjoy an amazing gauchos and horses show, savor a traditional Argentine barbeque and more.

Guests can say “hola” to adventure on the Easter Island & Santiago Explorer Cruisetour in Chile. The five-day experience will take guests on a three-day adventure in Easter Island, one of the most isolated inhabited places on earth, to marvel at hundreds of mysterious giant moai statues dating back centuries and visit the ceremonial village of Orongo. As an added element to their archeological adventure in Easter Island, guests will overnight in Chile’s capital city of Santiago and tour the city’s juxtaposition of pre-Colombian cathedrals and monuments along with modern residential areas.

Norwegian Sun will cruise through South America from November 21, 2015 through April 9, 2016, sailing alternating Eastbound and Westbound 14-day voyages between Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The two week sailings provide guests with the opportunity to see the many of the marvels of South America, including the European charm of Montevideo, Uruguay, the penguin-packed Falkland Islands, and through the mystical Strait of Magellan and beyond.

TUI Cruises to offer yoga and fitness themed cruises 2016

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 April 2015 09 April 2015

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise line, will offer a yoga and a fitness themed cruise next year, the company said in a statement.

Mein Schiff 4, the second of four 99,300 gross ton newbuildings of the company, will host a yoga themed cruise from 18 to 26 June next year. It will include classes on Power, Functional, Chakra and Hatha yoga. The cruise will sail from Kiel.

Five months later, sister ship Mein Schiff 3 will be the venue of a Fitness themed cruise, with activities including Aerobioc, Step, dance, Body art, Pilates, toning and activities in the ship's 25 metre swimming pool. The seven night cruise will depart from Dubai on 21 November.