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MSC Splendida to operate six ex Southampton cruises 2016 as company returns to port

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 April 2015 01 April 2015

MSC Cruises, the world’s fourth largest cruise shipping company, says it will operate 270 sailings and 22 itineraries on 12 ships in the summer of 2016 and return to Southampton after a break of one year.

“These will be made up of nine ‘core’ Med itineraries of seven nights; seven ‘longer’ Med itineraries of between nine and 12 nights; new Baltic and Norwegian fjords options; plus the chance to sail on one of MSC Cruises’ largest Fantasia-class ships (MSC Splendida) from the UK for the first time,” the company said in a statement.

The 137,000 gross ton MSC Splendida will offer six ex-UK sailings – the first time UK guests have been able to experience a Fantasia-class vessel in home waters. “The Southampton departures will include two 11-night round-Britain sailings in April and May with calls including Le Havre, France; Hamburg, Germany; Invergordon; Kirkwall; Greenock; Dublin and Cork. From £899pp. Additionally there will be four seven-night continental coastal cruises, featuring calls in Le Havre; Zeebrugge, Belgium; Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Hamburg,” the company said.

MSC Cruises executive director UK and Ireland Giles Hawke said: “We have made no secret as a business that we are intent on continuing our phenomenal growth. This 2016/17 brochure will be the last before the arrival of two spectacular new-builds in 2017, so it is vital we maximise the impact we make – and that means showcasing our inventory to UK guests.”

“MSC Cruises is already the number-one cruise operator in the Med with eight ships in the region for 2016/17, and fly-cruise continues to be our bread and butter. We know how much Brits love to get their holidays started and there’s no better way to do this than fly straight to the sun.

“We have also responded to feedback by making cruise-only an attractive option for those who wish to make their own arrangements or for agents who want to create their own packages.”

Guests booking before August 31 2015 will be able to take advantage of price reductions of up to £300 per person. For simplicity, cruise-only prices in Europe are set £150 lower than fly-cruise packages where available and £400 lower in the Caribbean and Emirates. On ‘Fantastica’ Experiences, upgrades from outside to balcony cabins are available for just £50pp.

The programme features a greater focus on cruises of eight nights or more. Introduced for summer 2015, longer sailings will operate in the shoulder seasons from Venice and Genoa on four ships [MSC Fantasia, MSC Lirica, MSC Opera and MSC Splendida].

Meanwhile, MSC Cruises will continue to offer its comprehensive selection of winter sailings in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Caribbean and Middle East across seven ships. For the first time, the popular Dubai winter season will be operated by one of MSC Cruises’ largest, Fantasia-class, ships [MSC Fantasia], with a tweak to the itinerary to include the debut of Bahrain.

For 2016/17 MSC Cruises has opted for a more contemporary look for its brochure, with the majority of itineraries presented over two pages. Colour-coded grids detailing prices for each cabin and Experience type have been introduced, with each giving the cost depending on seasonality.

As an added bonus, the brochure features four teaser pages with information about facilities planned for MSC Cruises’ exciting new-builds. The company has four ships on order - the innovative all-season STX Vista project vessels [4,500 passengers double occupancy] will launch in spring 2017 and 2019, while Fincantieri’s Seaside project ships [4,140 passengers double occupancy], are set to join the fleet in November 2017 and 2018.

Details revealed include the news that both classes of ship with have larger MSC Yacht Club areas, including luxurious duplex suites and suites with private whirlpool bath. Both will also feature ‘cluster cabins’, where three adjacent cabins can be linked together for families.

As announced earlier in March at Cruise Shipping Miami, the first ‘Seaside class’ vessel will be named MSC Seaside, and based year-round in Miami. The ship will feature an innovative and high-tech aqua park with four thrilling slide rides.

New 'Jet to Joni' contest from Carnival awards travel agents a chance to travel to Miami to meet Carnival executives and win free Carnival Journeys cruise

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 March 2015 31 March 2015

Carnival is inviting travel agents to share their most memorable “Fun Ship” client moment as part of the new “Jet to Joni” contest awarding three agents with a trip to Miami meet with the line’s Vice President of Worldwide Sales Joni Rein and other Carnival executives, as well as a free nine- to 15-day Carnival Journeys cruise. The contest starts today and runs through April 30, 2015.

Travel agents may submit the most memorable experience they created for a client sailing on Carnival by submitting their story to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. during the contest period. A panel comprised of members of Carnival’s sales management team will choose three winners who will be announced on or around May 27, 2015.

“With this contest, we’re celebrating the incredible impact travel agents make in creating lifetime memories for their clients,” said Rein. “From start to finish, travel agents play a key role in marketing the Carnival cruise experience that keeps guests coming back to them and ultimately to us.”

Winners will receive a trip to Miami highlighted by a day-long visit to Carnival’s headquarters. During their visit, agents will receive a special behind-the-scenes look at the line’s headquarters from Rein, along with briefings with various Carnival executives and lunch with Carnival President Christine Duffy. That evening, Carnival’s sales team members will host the winners for a celebratory dinner at a local restaurant. In addition, winners will receive a complimentary Carnival Journeys cruise for two in balcony accommodations.

Carnival Journeys is a unique collection of nine- to 15-day seagoing adventures that kick off this fall and feature spectacular ports throughout the Caribbean, Central America, Hawaii and Mexico, along with exciting shipboard activities and experiences created especially for this one-of-a-kind cruise program.

For additional information on the “Jet to Joni” contest, including complete terms and conditions, agents can visit GoCCL.com.

Princess Cruises brings The Sound of Music out to sea

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 31 March 2015 31 March 2015

Beginning mid-April, Princess Cruises will partner with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment to screen the biggest movie musical of all time, The Sound of Music, onboard all 18 of its cruise ships and feature sing-a-longs, trivia games, and other movie-themed experiences throughout the year. The offerings celebrate the 50th anniversaries of both the cruise line and the musical and are part of a year-long campaign to honor the classic film.

In addition, Princess Cruises is offering movie fans chances to win a free cruise and a $500 onboard gift card every month through December 2015. More details about the themed onboard experiences and cruise giveaways are available at www.princesscruises.com/SoundofMusic.

A phenomenon upon its debut in 1965, The Sound of Music won five Academy Awards®, including “Best Picture” and continues to inspire audiences around the world with unforgettable songs including “Do-Re-Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Every Mountain,” and “The Sound of Music.” Starring Oscar® winners Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, the film follows Maria (Andrews), the warm-hearted young woman who brings joy and music to Captain von Trapp (Plummer) and his seven children.

"The Sound of Music isn’t just a classic film - watching the movie together is a classic family activity. In a year in which both Princess Cruises and The Sound of Music mark their golden anniversaries, this is truly a fun and memorable way to join in the celebrations,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president.

The Sound of Music will be shown once on every sailing throughout 2015 on Princess Cruises giant Movies Under the Stars top deck screens, with the sing-a-long version featured in the Princess Theater. Song birds can meet and rehearse for a special The Sound of Music edition of Princess Pop Choir and a themed Trivia Challenge will test fans' movie knowledge.

The Sound of Music 50th Anniversary Blu-ray™ featuring the all-new documentary “The Sound of a City: Julie Andrews Returns to Salzburg” is available everywhere now.

Stena Line launches the world's first methanol ferry

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 March 2015 30 March 2015

Sustainable sea transports demand new solutions. Stena Line has chosen to focus on the alternative fuel, methanol, and now the world's first methanol powered ferry, the Stena Germanica, has been launched, which operates on the route Kiel–Gothenburg.

On 26 March, the Stena Germanica re-entered service after a couple of months' intermission. Now, as the world's first methanol powered ferry. Stena Line is thus the first shipping company to operate with environmentally friendly methanol as the main fuel. On Friday the 27ththere was an inauguration ceremony in Kiel and today, Monday the 30thof March there was a ceremony in Gothenburg

"We are very enthusiastic about methanol's possibilities and it has the potential to be the maritime fuel of the future. We want to pursue change and development in the shipping sector and, with the Stena Germanica, our environmental impact will be completely different to what the industry has seen before," Carl-Johan Hagman says.

Methanol is a biodegradable, environmentally friendly and cost efficient fuel that reduces the emissions of sulphur and particles by 99 percent. The ferry's fuel system and engines have been adapted in the shipyard in a collaboration between Stena Line and Wärtsilä. The technology is called dual fuel – methanol is the main fuel, but there is the option to use MGO, Marine Gas Oil, as backup.

The conversion of the Stena Germanica was carried out in Gdansk, Poland, at the Remontova shipyard and it started up at the end of January and continued until the end of March. The project has received support from the EU's Motorways of the Seas and has had a total cost 22 million euros.

The conversion has already attracted praise for the innovative new technology and the progress this means for the marine environment.

"I think Stena Line's initiative in being the first in the world to use methanol as an alternative fuel is extremely pleasing. Together with the impressive efforts made in its Energy Saving Programme, ESP, over a number of years, this demonstrates a great commitment to sustainable development. This is showing shipping the way, both in Sweden and globally, for how to protect responsibly the environment and climate," the Swedish Maritime Administration's Director General, Ann-Catrine Zetterdahl, says.

"Stena Line is steering a sustainable and particularly environmentally friendly course. We are proud that the route between Kiel and Gothenburg was chosen and that we are part of this outstanding pilot project," says Dr. Dirk Claus, managing director of Seehafen Kiel GmbH & Co KG.

On both events prominent guests were attending. In Kiel the owner of Stena, Dan Sten Olsson, held a ceremonial speech and so did also Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Reinhard Meyer, Schleswig -Holstein's Minister for Enterprise and Work, Dr. Ulf Kämpfer, Kiel's Mayor and Björn Ullbro from the Finnish engine manufacturer Wärtislä.

In Gothenburg ceremonial speeches were held by Stena Lines CEO Carl-Johan Hagman, Swedish Maritime Administration's Director General, Ann-Catrine Zetterdahl, Her Excellency Dr. Lisa Emelia Svensson, Ambassador of Sweden for Oceans, Seas and Fresh Water and Pierpaolo Barbone from the Finnish engine manufacturer Wärtislä.

Fincantieri delivers Viking Star

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 March 2015 29 March 2015

Viking Star, the first of three cruise ships which Fincantieri is currently building for the company Viking Ocean Cruises, was handed over today at Marghera shipyard. The other two sister ships are Viking Sea and Viking Sky. The ceremony was attended by Torstein Hagen, founder and chairman of Viking Cruises, while Fincantieri was represented, among others, by Giuseppe Bono, CEO.

Viking Star, like its two sister ships, will be placed in the small cruise ship segment. In fact, with a gross tonnage of about 47,800 tons, it will have 465 cabins with accommodation for 930 passengers. The ship has been designed by experienced nautical architects and engineers, including an interior design team of London-based SMC Design, and Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios.

Fincantieri has built 69 cruise ships since 1990 and other 15 ships are currently being designed or built in the Group's yards.