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China's first Around-the-World Cruise debuts from Shanghai on Costa Atlantica

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 March 2015 01 March 2015

Costa Cruises celebrates China’s first Around-the-World Cruise onboard Costa Atlantica at a launch event before its departure with nearly 1000 passengers from the homeport of Shanghai on March 1st. Distinguished guests including Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Crociere Group, government officials, trade partners, journalists, and passengers were in attendance to bless Costa Atlantica as she sets sail on her for 86-day voyage.

“This first world voyage by a cruise ship specially for the Chinese market marks a particular milestone for the Costa Group and the cruise industry in the rapid further development of our business in Asia. We will invest further in this and accelerate the development of these important markets for the future with innovative ideas and products. I wish the passengers on the Costa Atlantica a unique, eventful, exciting and simply wonderful cruise at this world premiere!", says Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group.

Costa Atlantica, inspired by Italian cinema and arts, has been dedicated to Asia and China since May 2013, receiving a great appreciation for her unique elegance and style. During her inaugural 86-day Around-the-World cruise Costa Atlantica will take passengers across five continents, visiting 28 destinations in 18 countries. Some of the most fascinating places on earth are included in the itinerary: Maldives, Athens (Greece), Sicily island in Italy (with the call at Catania), Rome (Italy), Marseille (France), Barcelona (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), a 3-day call at New York City (USA), Miami (USA), a 2-day call at Los Angeles (USA), then San Francisco (USA) and the Polynesian paradise islands of Maui and Hawaii.

“As a cruise industry leader in the China market, we strive to bring the best holiday options for our valued customers in the region. Our unique packaging for the World Cruise will undoubtedly exceed consumer expectations. At Costa Cruises, we are always keen to bring new formulas to make a difference in China’s cruise industry,” stated Buhdy Bok, President of Costa Asia.

The World Cruise product reflects a new chapter in China’s tourism industry, bringing China to the World Cruise Era. It offers a unique travel opportunity to a broad target audience, introducing an innovative win-win product for Costa Cruises and its trade partners in China. With the support of local government, tourism boards, and Costa’s partners, this new innovative holiday option will have a tremendous impact on the local cruise industry.

Since Costa Cruises entered China in 2006 as the first international cruise line to operate homeport cruises, it supported China’s cruise industry to become the most exciting market in the world. Costa Cruises is always committed to bring more innovative holiday options to this market.

Tallink sells two 1980s built cruise ferries

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 February 2015 27 February 2015

Tallink Grupp, the Estonian listed cruise ferry company, says it has sold two 1980s built vessels that have not been used on its srvices in recent times.

“Tallinn Stockholm Line Ltd., a subsidiary of AS Tallink Grupp has come to an agreement with Scandinavian interest (a non related party) to sell the motor vessel Regina Baltica. The vessel is expected to be delivered by April 2015,’ Tallink said in a statement.

Regina Baltica is of 13,878 gross tons and it was built in 1980. The ship has been chartered out for third parties in the recent past.

Meanwhile, Tallink Swedish Line Ltd., has sold the 1986 built 33,818 gross ton Silja Festival to Bridgemans Services Ltd and I will be delivered to the buyer by April 2015. The buyer is a Canadian company that has used the vessel as accommodation unit on the country’s west coast for some time.

Parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction prices. The transactions will have no major impact to the group operations and consolidated results. “The cash flow from the sale of the vessels will strengthen the group's financial position by supporting dividend payment, investments and repayment of loans,” Tallink said.

Cruise Critic launches new site in Australia

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 February 2015 26 February 2015

Cruise Critic, the world’s largest online cruise resource, has launched a new website for Australian cruisers. The new site, www.CruiseCritic.com.au, will provide reviews of cruise ships popular to the Australian market, with a heavy focus on cruise topics of interest to Australian cruisers, including pricing and deals.

“The Australian cruise market has grown exponentially in just the past few years, and it’s on par to be one of the largest areas of growth in the industry in 2015,” explains Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic. “With more than 200,000 Australian cruisers already planning their trips with Cruise Critic, we wanted to offer an experience catered specifically to those travelers – pricing, deals, tips and reviews to make planning a cruise even easier.”

Cruise Critic is a cruise review site and international community of cruise travellers which launched in the U.S. in 1995 as the first consumer cruise site on the Web and now helps more than 4 million people plan their cruise holidays every month. The award-winning site features more than 100,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world’s largest online cruise community where travellers exchange advice and tips on all aspects of cruising. Published by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor since 2007, the company's first international expansion was Cruise Critic's UK site which launched in 2008.

Serving as senior editor of Cruise Critic Australia will be Sydney-based writer and editor, Louise Goldsbury. Awarded ‘Best Travel Writer’ in the 2013 National Travel Industry Awards, and a member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers, Goldsbury covered the cruise industry for the past five years as editor of Cruise Weekly.

“Over the years, interest in cruising has really taken off with Australians,” says Goldsbury. “And cruise lines are answering that by sending more and more ships to our region. With so much growth, it’s an ideal time for the creation of a Cruise Critic specifically for Australians, to highlight the details and topics that matter most to us.”

MSC Cruises appoints Chiara Brooker in new UK sales manager trade operations post

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 February 2015 26 February 2015

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, says it has strengthened its sales team in the UK with the appointment of Chiara Brooker to the newly created role of Sales Manager (trade operations).

"Brooker will oversee all aspects of agent liaison, including trade incentives and events, sales campaigns, fam trips and ship visits, as well as taking responsibility for the new B2B booking system MSC Book. She begins at the cruise line on March 2," the company said in a statement.

MSC Cruises head of sales UK and Ireland Janet Parton said: “Chiara brings with her a wealth of experience and is the perfect person to spearhead our efforts to work closely with agents. She has worked with the trade for a number of years and is well known and well liked in the business. I’m sure she will be a great asset.”

Brooker joins from Carnival UK, where she has held a number of trade-facing roles - most recently as senior sales operations manager. The appointment comes as part of MSC Cruises’ on-going efforts to restructure its UK sales team and double its size. Recruitment continues to fill a number of remaining vacancies.

Tallink expects result improvement after disappointing 2014

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 February 2015 26 February 2015

Tallink Grupp, the listed Estonian cruise ferry group with a fleet of 18 ships, said its 2014 result was unsatisfactory, but a number of measures taken to put things right should deliver a better result this year.

Group net profit in the final quarter of 2014 rose to €8.4 million from €7.5 million in the same period a year earlier, while revenues remained virtually unchanged at €224 million. For the full year, the profit plunged to €27.3 million from €43.3 million in 2013, while revenues contracted by €20 million to €921.4 million.

"The 2014 financial year result did not meet the management’s expectations, however the fourth quarter result was strong and provides a good base for the forthcoming year. Due to increased competition, continuously weak Nordic economic environment and one-off effects the annual results for the 2014 financial year were weaker than expected," the company said in a statement.

During the financial year several steps have been taken including charters, upgrades and re-routings with the goal to optimise operations. "A positive effect to the profitability can be seen from the fourth quarter result. The management expects an improvement in the results for the 2015 financial year," Tallink said..

The group was successful in lowering fuel cost in the fourth quarter by approximately €9 million compared to the same period last year. This was a combined effect of reducing consumption through optimising current operations, by way of re-routings and charters and the drop in fuel global prices in the end of the 2014 financial year. It had a smooth transition switching to the low sulphur fuel in the end of the fourth quarter.

"The unstable macro-economic situation in Europe has had a negative impact to the Group’s operations. The decline in the passenger volume from the Russian market has been visible throughout the year," Tallink pointed out.