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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings opens sales office in Brazil

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 28 January 2015 28 January 2015

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced today the expansion of its sales presence in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with the establishment of a sales, marketing and reservations center to support the growing demand for cruise travel in the region.

The company’s three lines: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises have all experienced growth in the number of Brazilian guests that have chosen to take a cruise vacation, particularly in Europe, Alaska and Caribbean itineraries.

“Given its economic growth and the increasing interest of Brazilians to experience the world by taking a cruise, Brazil represents a significant opportunity to advance Norwegian Cruise Line Holding’s international growth strategy,” said Andy Stuart, executive vice president of international sales for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has acquired Firstar Representacoes, the local representative for Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises in Brazil. Estela Farina will lead the new office as general manager. The company will have its main office in Sao Paulo and a satellite office in Rio de Janeiro.

The new office provides multiple benefits for local travel partners. For Norwegian Cruise Line bookings, these include the ability to offer cruise fares in BRL (Brazilian Reais), accept payment in up to ten installments with no financing fees and an on-line booking engine in Portuguese. For Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Sea Cruises bookings, the sales center will allow guests to pay in up to four installments with no financing fees. The office will also offer local reservations, sales and marketing support for all three brands, providing direct access to travel partners and consumers. The local reservation center will be available to make reservations in real time and invoice directly from the cruise line. Additionally, individual travel agency sales will be recorded and recognized for performance and compensation based on production. Finally, travel partners will continue to be provided training opportunities, now on a more regular basis and directly by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd staff.

Travel partners in Brazil can contact the new Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. office at 011 3253 7203 in Sao Paulo and 021 3553 7646 in Rio.

CLIA UK & Ireland to host River Cruise Weekend in March

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

Following the success of the CLIA UK & Ireland Cruise Week, the association is today announcing details of its first ever CLIA UK & Ireland River Cruise Weekend taking place in March and aimed at raising the profile of river cruise holidays within the travel trade and to the consumer, the organisation said on its page on Facebook.

“Via social media, the event will focus on promoting the diversity of destinations available on a river cruise holiday together with the wonderful experiences and service provided by the association’s 17 river members,” CLIA said.

“More British passengers than ever before are taking a holiday on Europe’s waterways, with the most recent figures (2013) showing a rise of 22% in the number of passengers choosing a river cruise taking the total number to almost 110,000 passengers. The growth on Europe’s rivers has been underpinned by a significant increase in the number of new cruise ships with more than 25 being launched this year on the world’s waterways,” it said

CLIA UK & Ireland director, Andy Harmer, said: ‘More travel agents than ever are now selling river cruises but we want to grow this interest still further. Together with our 17 river members, we will highlight the very best of river cruising – whether that’s in Europe, America, Africa or Asia, there are just so many fantastic places to visit.”

He continued: “We will ask travel agents and guests to Tweet ‪#‎lovecruise with a wonderful photo of a river cruise destination or experience explaining why they love river cruising. We will be collecting river cruise stories, blogs and videos so that we can maximise exposure across all social media platforms. We are also placing additional river specific training modules on our website to help agents make the most of the River Cruise Weekend which runs from 26 – 30 March. This segment of cruising is growing at a tremendous pace and we want to ensure agents are best placed to take advantage of the opportunities this brings.”

Regent Seven Seas' sales soar as bookings open for Seven Seas Explorer

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

The world’s most luxurious ship is already surpassing expectations, as Regent Seven Seas Cruises reported both single-day and first week record bookings for the line’s new flagship Seven Seas Explorer. The ship went on sale exclusively to members of the line’s loyalty program, the Seven Seas Society, on Jan. 19 and reservations made that day surpassed the line’s previous single-day revenue record by nearly three times.

The new level of grandeur offered on Seven Seas Explorer generated strong demand for the ship’s inaugural season, resulting in a new weekly sales record for Regent Seven Seas Cruises that more than doubled the previous high. Currently, reservations for Seven Seas Explorer are limited to past cruisers with the line and will become widely available starting Feb. 4.

“We meticulously designed every detail aboard Seven Seas Explorer in order to make it the most luxurious ship ever built, and we are thrilled by the overwhelmingly positive response from our past guests and travel partners,” shared Jason Montague, president and chief operating officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “The maiden voyage is nearly sold out and demand for the inaugural season is extremely strong, it underscores the global excitement surrounding the world’s most luxurious ship.”

Scheduled to set sail in the summer of 2016, Seven Seas Explorer’s maiden voyage will be a 14-night sailing from Monte Carlo to Venice on July 20, 2016. The inaugural season highlights a variety of iconic locations throughout the Mediterranean including Ibiza, Barcelona, St. Tropez and Venice.

At 56,000 gross-registered tons and carrying just 750 guests, the all-suite, all-balcony ship will boast one-of-the-highest space ratios in the cruise industry and an exceptionally high staff-to-guest ratio. The ship is designed to be the most luxurious ship ever built, with the one-of-a-kind, opulent 3,875-square-foot Regent Suite, extravagantly designed lounges and showplaces, and lavish gourmet restaurants. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is setting a new standard for luxury vacations with the launch of Seven Seas Explorer.

P&O Cruises Australia three ship fleet in Sydney for National Day

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

In an historic display, P&O Cruises’ entire fleet of three cruise ships will spend Australia Day berthed in Sydney offering around 6000 guests a front row seat to all the action on the harbor, the company said in a statement.

“The trio is set to begin sailing through the heads at 530am with Pacific Dawn to be based off Kurraba Point, Pacific Jewel berthing at Athol Bay and Pacific Pearl anchoring at Point Piper,” said the company, which is part of Carnival Corp & plc.

To mark the occasion, Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel will sport patriotic decals with the nation’s catch cry, “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”, while Pacific Dawn will be draped in giant Australian flags.

The three ships will enter the harbour at 15 minute intervals and are expected to be in position by 645am and dressed by 730am.

It will be the first time all three P&O Cruises’ ships have met in Sydney, with the display marking the third year the cruise line has been the official sponsor of the Australia Day Sydney Harbour Program.

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Tammy Marshall said P&O Cruises’ decked-out superliners had become one of the key features of Australia Day on the harbour.

“We’re as Australian as meat pies and kangaroos so we’re thrilled to bring our entire fleet into Sydney’s iconic harbour for the first time on our national day,” Ms Marshall said.

Special Australia Day events on the harbour include the Ferrython, the Army’s 21-gun Salute to Australia, RAAF flyover, a Harbour Parade, a Tug and Yacht Ballet, a 'tinnie muster', Tall Ships Parade which Pacific Pearl will start with her horn, the P&O Cruises’ fireworks display between the three ships at 830pm, and for the first time HMAS Canberra will join the festivities in the centre of the harbour.

Australian entertainers will perform on the ships, while guests will dance the day away to Aussie music, watch Australian movies and enjoy a quintessential Aussie BBQ onboard.

Pacific Pearl’s three-night Australia Day cruise from Sydney commences on January 24, Pacific Jewel’s three-night Australia Day cruise from Sydney will run from January 25 while Pacific Dawn will offer her first Australia Day short break with a four-night roundtrip itinerary departing Brisbane on January 24.

Fred. Olsen’s Boudicca heads for Canaries after engine room fire

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

Boudicca, one of the four ships operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in the UK, is on its way to the canaries following an engine room fire early on Sunday, the company said in a statement.

“Following a fire in the engine room on board Boudicca at around 4am on Sunday 25th January 2015, sailing off the coast of Casablanca, Morocco, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm that the ship is now proceeding towards the Canary Islands, at a slower speed than planned. Guests are being kept informed of the situation at all times,” the company said.

The 28,388 gross ton Boudicca was built in Finland in 1973 as one of the three ships of the now defunct Royal Viking Line of Norway. It was lengthened in 1981 and re-engined in 2006.