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Royal Caribbean reveals new thrills and adventures on Harmony of the Seas

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 February 2015 25 February 2015

Royal Caribbean International’s new generation Oasis-class ship, Harmony of the Seas, is set to launch in April 2016. The third in the Oasis class of ships – currently the largest cruise ships in the world – will continue the award-winning cruise line’s philosophy of innovation and imagination to offer a unique vacation adventure for guests.

"We are orchestrating a medley of new exciting concepts with the best Royal Caribbean innovations to strike the perfect chord for adventurous vacationers. That is why we are calling our third Oasis-class ship Harmony of the Seas," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.

Harmony of the Seas, featuring the cruise line’s design of seven distinct neighborhoods for which Oasis class is known, will offer the most amazing collection of experiences, amenities and activities at sea. Guests can test their mettle on the ship’s three multi-story waterslides, all of which twist and turn over Central Park 10 decks below. One of the slides also will feature a champagne bowl that swirls guests around as they make their approach to the end of the ride.

"The Oasis class ships continue to astound and delight both new and experienced cruisers. They shatter preconceived notions of what cruising can be and continue to stand in a category by themselves," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "With Harmony of the Seas, we are making the most exciting experience at sea even better."

Harmony of the Seas also will feature a new Bionic Bar on the Royal Promenade. The Bionic Bar was first introduced aboard Quantum of the Seas, and feature robot bartenders serving up one-of-a-kind crafted cocktails while dancing to a fluid beat. Additionally, guests onboard Harmony of the Seas will enjoy RFID technology with Royal WOWBands that provide them access to their staterooms as well as make onboard purchases and reservations. Like her sisters, Harmony also will feature the fastest Internet connection at sea where guests can stream video; Skype with family and friends back at home; and share their vacation memories through social media instantly while at sea.

While Oasis and Allure offered some of the largest staterooms in the fleet, on Harmony of the Seas the company has made some stateroom categories even larger. Interior accommodations also will be outfitted with Royal Caribbean’s exclusive Virtual Balconies which offer a view in every stateroom, while single travelers will have studio stateroom choices. Suite guests also will have exclusive new areas to enjoy, from a well-appointed suite lounge and a private suites-only restaurant called Coastal Kitchen to an exclusive full-service Suite Sun Zone sun deck.

Younger and young-at-heart guests can take a spin on the handcrafted carousel or enjoy a new classic games arcade on the ship’s Boardwalk neighborhood. While parents enjoy the newly relocated Starbucks café on the Boardwalk, kids can meet new friends at a new climbing play area.

Royal Caribbean’s Dynamic Dining will give Harmony of the Seas’ guests a culinary experience as vast and varied as dining in the world’s most cosmopolitan cities with more choice and flexibility than ever before. Those preferring a more traditional cruise dining style may select the “Classic” option which will offer two set seating times. Dynamic Dining’s “Classic” option allows guests to rotate through each of the main complimentary restaurants at an early- or a late-seating time throughout their cruise with their dining group and the same assigned waiter each evening.

New specialty restaurant concepts will provide even more variety for guests including Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, with a new teppanyaki menu, and the Sabor Modern Mexican restaurant. The new Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine will give guests the chance to experience a unique culinary adventure for the senses when Royal Caribbean chefs twist their culinary kaleidoscopes in a whimsical setting that challenges the imagination with never-before-seen fare.

Harmony of the Seas will span 16 decks, encompass 227,000 gross registered tons, carry 5,479 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,747 staterooms. The Oasis class is an architectural marvel touting Royal Caribbean’s exclusive seven neighborhood concept, including Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone. For more information about Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships, please visit Royal Caribbean Press Center.

With Quantum-class ships Anthem of the Seas (launching in April 2015 in Southampton, U.K.) and Ovation of the Seas (debuting in April 2016), Harmony of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean’s third new ship to launch throughout the next 18 months. Itineraries for Ovation of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas will be announced this coming March.

TUI Cruises offers past passengers two Mein Schiff 4 pre-inaugural cruises

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 February 2015 24 February 2015

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise shipping company, said it would offer people that have cruised with them at least twice before an opportunity to sail on Mein Schiff $ before its official maiden voyage.

The 99,300 gross ton vessel would be delivered ahead of schedule from Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. Consequently, the company will offer a cruise from Hamburg to Copenhagen and Kiel from 22 to 25 May and another one from Kiel to Gothenburg and Hamburg from 26 to 31 May.

Bookings open today for passengers that have sailed at least twice before with the company. A team from the head office in Hamburg will also be on board to prepare the ship's entry in service during the two pre-inaugural cruises, TUI Cruises said in a statement.

Princess Cruises to operate five ships in Europe in 2016

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 February 2015 23 February 2015

Princess Cruises announced today its 2016 cruise vacations to Europe featuring five ships sailing to over 130 destinations from the corners of the Mediterranean to the northernmost tip of Europe. Guests can choose from itineraries ranging from three to 48 days and on ships ranging from the cruise line’s newest and largest Royal Princess and Regal Princess; to its deluxe Caribbean Princess and Emerald Princess; and its small ship, Pacific Princess, which will visit off-the-beaten path destinations never before visited by the line.

The 2016 season includes the cruise line’s return to the Canary Islands and many maiden ports of call for Princess in Croatia, Ireland, Norway and Scotland. All 2016 Europe cruises open for bookings on March 19, 2015.

“Princess has long been hailed as offering the best cruise itineraries and we’re not resting on our laurels,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “We have many unique and first-time offerings for the 2016 Europe cruise season to appeal to both novice and avid cruisers. We’ve combined the best destinations with our signature onboard innovations like Movies Under the Stars, The Sanctuary and our new Discovery at Sea program to create the most rejuvenating retreats at sea possible for vacation-goers who want to explore this fascinating region.”

Highlights of the Princess Cruises 2016 Europe program include:

Cruises to the Mediterranean

Royal Princess will sail on a variety of unique seven-, 14-, 21- and 28-day cruises from Barcelona, Rome and Athens. Mediterranean Medley 14-day sailings include destinations rich with ancient history including Rome, Athens and Naples. Collection voyages will sail the entire Mediterranean region visiting Spain, France, Italy, Tunisia, Malta, Greece and Turkey during 21-day immersive adventures. For the ultimate Mediterranean experience, 28-day Circle Mediterranean voyages will visit 20 destinations in seven countries with all cruises visiting Rome, Athens, Istanbul and the French Riviera.

Pacific Princess will offer a variety of 12-day voyages from Rome, Venice and Barcelona and feature a mix of marquee ports with off-the-beaten-path ports unreachable by larger ships.

For guests sailing from Britain, Emerald Princess will be based in London (Southampton) to offer two-week Mediterranean Adventurer sailings featuring such marquee ports as Florence, Rome and Dubrovnik. Emerald Princess will also sail to the Canary Islands on 11-day voyages, visiting four island destinations in the Canaries and Madeira and Vigo, Spain.

Scandinavia & Russia Cruises

Regal Princess returns to Northern Europe, for popular 11-day cruise vacations to Scandinavia & Russia featuring two full days in St. Petersburg, Russia. Joining her in the region, Emerald Princess will sail select 14-day cruises through the Baltic Sea.

British Isles Cruises

Caribbean Princess, the only cruise ship dedicated to the region for the entire summer season, will visit must-see destinations in the U.K., Ireland and Scotland, including two opportunities to see Scotland’s famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the grounds of Edinburgh Castle.

Small ship Pacific Princess will offer an all-new way to explore the British Isles on 14-day Irish Counties & Scottish Highlands voyages from London (Dover). The itinerary includes maiden port calls in Ullapool, Scotland and Galway, along the western coast of Ireland.

Iceland & Norway Cruises

Both Emerald Princess and Pacific Princess will offer North Cape voyages to the Arctic Circle during the peak midnight sun period around the summer solstice. Emerald Princess will also visit the spectacular Norwegian fjords, while Pacific Princess will feature a maiden call in Haugesund, Norway.

Pacific Princess will also offer 14-day Iceland & Norway itineraries visiting off-the-beaten path ports in Iceland and the Shetland Islands. She will also cross to the land of fire and ice on a Transatlantic crossing featuring Iceland.

European Cruisetours

Guests can enhance their European travel with four land and sea vacation options, which combine certain sailings with a fully-escorted land tour. Choices include Paris and the French Countryside; Ireland’s Ring of Kerry; Classic Italy, visiting popular sites in Venice, Florence and Rome; and the Imperial Treasures of Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin.

Third Oasis class ship to be called Harmony of the Seas - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 23 February 2015 23 February 2015

The third Oasis class cruise liner of Royal Caribbean International will be called Harmony of the Seas, according to cruisetricks.de, a German cruise website reported. The 227,000 gross ton vessel is under construction at the STX France shipyard in St Nazaire and it will be delivered in May 2016. A fourth unit of the class is also on order at the same yard.

One off gain lifted Viking Line in 2014, reported to plan ship order

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 February 2015 20 February 2015

A one off financial gain helped Viking Line, the Finnish cruise ferry operator, to increase its net profit in the final quarter and full year 2014, the company said in a statement. A newbuilding order is on the cards to enter service within the next five year, said Jan Hanses, its managing director, in a media report.

Group net profit rose €27.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 from €6.7 million a year earlier, helped by a €28.1 million non-recurring financial gain. Revenues fell slightly, to €126.3 million from €129.7 million.

For the full year 2014, the group's net profit rose to €29.7 million from €27.1 million, again lifted by the financial gain. Revenues decreased to €527.4 million from €549.4 million, the company said in the statement.

"The number of passengers on Viking Line’s vessels last year increased by 76,496 to 6,610,146 (6,533,650). This was an all-time record. The Helsinki (Finland) – Tallinn (Estonia) route accounted for the largest increase, thanks to the expanded service offered last summer," Viking Line said.
Cargo volume continued to increase during 2014. The number of cargo units carried rose by 8.0% to 129,255, compared to 119,704 the previous year.

"The decrease in consolidated sales is primarily explained by the prevailing pressure on prices in today’s tough competitive situation, combined with falling volume early in 2014 and an economic downturn in Finland that affects the pattern of consumption. Overall, this has had a negative impact on net sales revenue per passenger," Viking line said.

During 2015 Gabriella and Mariella will again provide expanded summer service to Tallinn according to a concept similar to the preceding year. "These vessels will thus – in addition to serving their regular Helsinki–Stockholm routes – also temporarily serve the Helsinki–Tallinn route. Competition in Viking Line’s service area implies continued pressure on both prices and volume," the company said.

"The economic downturn in Finland is another uncertainty factor, but recent bunker price developments are currently having a favourable effect on earnings. The overall assessment of the Board of Directors is that in 2015, operating income will improve compared to operating income in 2014, but future bunker price developments represent a significant uncertainty factor," the company said. EBIT in 2014 amounted to €32.3 million," Viking Line commented.

Jan Hanses, the company's managing director, told the Turun Sanomat daily that the company is planning to place an order for a newbuilding that should enter service within five years or no, which would mean placing the order in 2016 or 2017. "It is, of course, possible that it could happen sooner than that," he was quoted by the paper as saying.