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P&O Cruises Australia unveils first five ship programme

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 April 2015 08 April 2015

P&O Cruises Australia, the Sydney based contemporary market unit in the Carnival Corp & pc group, has unveiled its 2016-17 itineraries that entail five vessels for the first time in the company’s history.

“With 191 departures and 38 unique itineraries being offered across the cruise line's five-ship fleet between October 2016 and July 2017, the program continues P&O Cruises' evolution of modern Australian cruising,” the company said in a statement.

The addition of Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden – previously Statendam and Ryndam of sister company Holland America Line - sees a plethora of new itinerary options for Australians including two year-round ships in Brisbane, a bumper season from Melbourne, long weekend breaks from Adelaide, more Papua New Guinea and Pacific explorations and expanded regional cruises.

With short breaks in hot demand, P&O Cruises is offering 84 Sea Breaks from new music-themed itineraries to the first cruise from Auckland to Napier for the internationally-renowned Art Deco Weekend and more regional itineraries including Melbourne's inaugural short break to Eden on New South Wales' Sapphire Coast.

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Sture Myrmell said a five ship fleet opened up some exciting opportunities for Australian cruisers.

"We're taking Australian cruising to the next level with this jam-packed program. With the biggest home-ported fleet, we can offer the largest range of itineraries and destinations in the region," Mr Myrmell said.

"We have one of the best backyards in the world and our five-ship fleet is cruising from all over the country to take our guests from Port Lincoln to Papua New Guinea. While we're showing off the best of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our guests can enjoy the latest in onboard innovations making our ships an exciting destination in their own right."

On sale from April 22, highlights of the new program include:

Four music-themed Sea Breaks including a three-night Blues cruise from Sydney from $549*

A 10-night Papua New Guinea Christmas cruise on Pacific Eden from Brisbane from $1849*

Pacific Aria's first Sydney season featuring a new 15-night Papua New Guinea cruise calling at Alotau, Madang, Rabaul, Kiriwina Island, Kitava, Doini Island and scenic cruising in the Vitu Islands, Kawanasausau Strait and Milne Bay from $1899*

Pacific Eden will join Pacific Dawn cruising year-round from Brisbane including her inaugural 14-night New Zealand itinerary with fares from $1599*

Pacific Aria will offer a season of short breaks from Adelaide including three-night weekend getaways from $599* and four-night options visiting Port Lincoln or Melbourne from $649*

A bumper Melbourne season including Pacific Jewel's new 13-night Pacific Islands Christmas cruise from $1949* and the first four-night Sea Break to Eden from $599*

Pacific Pearl’s Auckland season sees the first Sea Break to Napier for New Zealand’s Art Deco Weekend priced from $659*

The first 200 guests who book a new program itinerary departing from November 14, 2016, will receive special extras including priority check-in and tenders, welcome gift packs and onboard credit.

PONANT joins CLIA as newest global cruise line member

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 April 2015 07 April 2015

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced the addition of Global Cruise Line Member, PONANT Yacht Cruises & Expeditions. A French luxury yacht-style cruise line and a world leader in Polar cruising, PONANT joins the growing number of CLIA’s Global Cruise Line Members, now totaling 28 cruise lines.

Last month, CroisiEurope, Europe’s largest river cruise line, also joined as a CLIA Global Cruise Line Member. PONANT and CroisiEurope are both a part of the CLIA Specialty Cruise Collection, a group of 17 cruise lines representing the rapidly growing small ship, river, coastal, luxury, adventure and sailing ship member lines.

“It is evident that the cruise industry is continuing to flourish and we are thrilled to see prestigious cruise lines around the world, such as PONANT, recognize the benefits of joining CLIA as a global member,” said Adam M. Goldstein, CLIA Global Chairman and President/COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Global Cruise Line Members take advantage of access to thousands of CLIA travel agent and agency members as well as tap into vast marketing and promotional activities across CLIA’s 15 global offices.”

“As the only French cruise line that specializes in luxury cruises and a world leader in Polar Expeditions, we are thrilled to move our CLIA membership to a global level and join its Specialty Cruise Collection,” said Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, Founder and CEO, PONANT. “With the development of our sales offices in the USA or Australasia, we look forward to engage fully with CLIA’s office and CLIA travel agent and agency members around the world over the coming years.”

PONANT specializes in luxury cruising aboard its fleet of intimate yacht-style vessels (32 to 122 staterooms) embodying a lifestyle “à la française.” These elegant, small-capacity yachts offers chic cruising without the crowds, being small enough to reach ports that are inaccessible to bigger ships with destinations to Antarctica, Alaska & the Arctic, the Caribbean, Central & South America, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe & the Baltic, West Africa, Asia and the Pacific. The latest eco-friendly technologies, attentive five-star service, bilingual crew, luxurious staterooms and suites, a gourmet cuisine and meticulously planned excursions guarantee a voyage that is unique and full of emotionally moving experiences.

The American Empress returns to the Pacific Northwest

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

Today, the American Queen Steamboat Company announces its second inaugural season touring the Pacific Northwest onboard the American Empress, a 223-guest riverboat. With nine-day itineraries steeped in culture, exclusive winery tours and tastings, the American Empress itineraries continue to deliver an unforgettable vacation through the eyes of the region's first settlers.

"The unblemished beauty and bountiful grape harvest make the Pacific Northwest home to some of the world's most sought after wines and celebrated landmarks," shares American Queen Steamboat Company President and COO Ted Sykes. "Through locally sourced cuisine and tour operators, we're excited to bring the region's culture to life with award-winning shore excursions and onboard amenities."

Wine Themed Tours & Tastings Include:

– Premium Tour: Wine & Spirits on Red Mountain

– Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center

Named for "the Father of Washington Wine," the Walter Clore Center offers a detailed look at the history of Red Mountain, Wash. and the area's wine production together with tasting samples of some of the finest wines from local vineyards.

– Kiona Vineyards

Located in Red Mountain Wash., Kiona Vineyards provides a tasting room with panoramic views of the Yakima Valley and estate vineyard, spanning over 250 acres.

– Hedges Family Estate

Allows guests to tour the expansive estate winery and sample the vintages produced on site before continuing to Black Heron Spirits, a unique and quirky distillery where guests can tour the facility and taste their specialty whisky and spirits.

– Premium Tour: From Maryhill Museum to the Vineyard

The tour to Maryhill Museum includes an exclusive wine tasting of the artistic wines unique to the Pacific Northwest. During the visit, guests can sample a variety of wines and enjoy veranda views of the gorge, Mt. Hood and the Columbia River flowing below.

– Premium Tour: The Beauty and Bounty of the Pacific Northwest

Features Mount Hood Winery, a "wine to bottle" full production facility in Oregon that specializes in distinctive wines and warm hospitality. The Estate's grown Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Riesling thrive in Mount Hood's rich volcanic soils and the ideal growing climate of the Hood River Valley.

– Premium Tour: Wine Walk in Spokane, Wash.

Guests can enjoy a wine walk with tastings around a post-cruise stay in Spokane, Wash.

– Included Tour: Sunshine Mill Winery in The Dalles, Ore.

The included Hop-on Hop-Off Tour will feature Sunshine Mill Winery, the first building in The Dalles to have electricity with an amphitheater for wine tastings.

In addition, wine by the glass is rotated through each itinerary onboard the American Empress and include Willamette Valley Vineyards, Eola Hills, Joe Dobbes Family Estate, Fox Farm, Anelare, and Maryhill Winery.

Offering the most inclusive river cruise experience in North America, fares on the American Empress begin at $3,795 based on double occupancy. All journeys include a one-night pre-voyage hotel stay, shore tours in all ports, complimentary wine and beer with dinner and a host of other amenities. To order a brochure, request additional information and make reservations, contact the American Queen Steamboat Company at 888-749-5280, visit online at www.AQSC.com or contact a professional travel agent.

Fincantieri delivers first LNG-powered ferry built in Italy

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

After having successfully completed the Liquified natural gas (LNG) sea trials, F.-A.-Gauthier, the latest generation ferry built by Fincantieri in its shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia (Naples), departed the yard on April 1 sailing to Matane, in Québec, Canada. The delivery to Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ), a Québec crown corporation that operates in maritime passenger and vehicles transport, will take place when the ferry will arrive in Canada.

The new vessel represents a genuine technological revolution. It is the first LNG powered ferry ever built in Italy and the first of the kind to enter into service in North America.

A genuine concentration of technology, it adopts the most advanced solutions in terms of energy saving and low environmental impact, enabling a major reduction in emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide), NOx (nitrogen oxides) and reducing to almost zero the SOx (sulphur oxides). This ship, which is equipped with a unique integrated diesel electric propulsion system has four dual fuel diesel power generators installed and it can run on either gas (Liquid Natural Gas - LNG) or marine diesel oil (MDO). This propulsion system fully meets the ecological requirements of the ECA areas (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Caribbean, North America).

The ship, certified in the highest class designated by international registries for this type of service, is also in ice class 1A with regards to the hull and propulsion class 1AS, which are the highest levels awarded by these classification registries and which allow the vessel to operate non-stop in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, known for its adverse weather conditions. "F.-A.-Gauthier" is also able to break sea ice, thanks to its innovative bow and stern, designed and patented by Fincantieri.

The ferry’s two electric propulsion engines operate azimuth thrusters, each equipped with two Countra-Rotating propellers, which together with bow thrusters, make the ferry exceptionally manoeuvrable. These characteristics, combined with a complex and extensive system of ramps and doors at both bow and stern, will allow the vessel to load and unload very quickly.

133 metres long and 22 metres wide, F.-A.-Gauthier will be able to reach a maximum service speed of 20 knots and to carry 800 passengers and 180 vehicles. The ferry will be used in the Province of Québec on the Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout route, which, with 1,600 sailings per year, provides transport for more than 180,000 passengers and over 85,000 vehicles, allowing them to reach the opposite side of the river in a 2-hour navigation, instead of a 10-hour drive.

Royal Caribbean names Anthem of the Seas godmother

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 April 2015 02 April 2015

Royal Caribbean International today announced that travel agent Emma Wilby, 27, from Sunderland, U.K., is the Godmother for the Anthem of the Seas. Upholding a timeless maritime tradition, Ms. Wilby will officially christen Anthem of the Seas and perform a special song for more than 1,300 invited special guests and dignitaries at the ship’s inaugural ceremony in Southampton, U.K., on April 20, 2015. Designed to revolutionize the industry, Anthem of the Seas will sail its inaugural season from Southampton before the ship repositions to its permanent homeport of New York in November.

“We are delighted to welcome Emma Wilby into the Royal Caribbean family as Anthem of the Seas’ Godmother,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Emma is among many submissions from truly talented travel agents across the U.K. and the judging was very difficult. We thank all travel agents, who we value and are honoring by naming a fellow travel agent as the Godmother of our newest ship.”

In addition to being a travel agent for Thomson, Ms. Wilby is a military wife and budding singer who performs in the Military Wives Choir in Kinloss, Scotland, where she is based with her husband, a Royal Engineer for the British Army. To help her prepare for inaugural day, Craig Yates, Team Captain from British choir group Only Boys Aloud will be Ms. Wilby’s vocal coach, and Royal Caribbean is treating her to a full makeover.

“Emma’s inaugural song will herald in a ship that will be a new anthem for the cruise industry,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “I am very much looking forward to Emma’s performance and launching Anthem of the Seas with her. I know she will be simply spectacular.”

The Godmother role is a lifetime title bestowed upon an individual, who figuratively presides over the ship and imparts good luck and divine protection over the vessel and all that sail aboard. Traditionally, Godmothers have celebrity status or even royal connections, such as Royal Caribbean Godmothers Gloria Estefan, Jane Seymour, Whoopi Goldberg and Steffi Graf, to name a few.

“I still can’t believe I won,” said Ms. Wilby after being informed of her new title earlier this week. “I am really honored to have been chosen. I am hugely excited to be taking on the role of Godmother for Anthem of the Seas – it will be incredible to sing in front of all these people and a real honor to give the ship the best sendoff possible.”

Anthem of the Seas features Royal Caribbean’s unmatched innovations in onboard attractions, including the North Star aerial observatory, a glass capsule that takes guests more than 300 feet above the ocean for incomparable panoramic views, and the RipCord by iFLY skydiving and FlowRider surfing simulators. Guests will be dazzled with the ships’ transformative venues, such as the Two70 lounge, a great room by day and an immersive, multimedia entertainment spectacular at night, and SeaPlex, where guests can challenge each other at bumper cars, disco roller skating, circus school, and basketball and other sports. Guests enjoy a choice of 18 onboard restaurants, each serving a distinctive menu of delectable fare, and rollicking live entertainment in Music Hall, the Royal Theater, and the Royal Esplanade.