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Ponant's Le Lyrial launched in Ancona

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 November 2014 24 November 2014

Ponant, the French boutique cruise shipping company, says its fifth luxury cruise ship Le Lyrial, ordered from Fincantieri, was launched on October 23 at the Ancona shipyard in Italy. The ship is to be delivered in Spring 2015.

"After Le Boréal (2010), L’Austral (2011) and Le Soléal (2013), the launch of Le Lyrial concludes this unique series of four beautiful yachts loyal to the Ponant spirit," said the company which is owned by London based private equity group Bridgepoint. "Like her sisterships, Le Lyrial embodies a subtle atmosphere, a combination of luxury, intimacy and wellbeing which is the company’s signature."

"The elegance of her exterior and interior lines and intimate size (only 122 staterooms and suites, compared to 132 in the sisterships) make her a rare and innovative ship on the cruise market, giving passengers the feeling they are on a private yacht," Ponant said in a statement.

Designed by Jean-Philippe Nuel the ship’s welcoming contemporary interior mirrors the company’s destinations and the blue light of the Vega star in the Lyra constellation from which Le Lyrial takes her name. Shades of blue combine the luminous delicate grey-blues of the Polar ice with splashes of turquoise from Mediterranean coves.

Costa Celebration reported sold to undisclosed buyer

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 November 2014 21 November 2014

Costa Crociere, which is part of the Carnival Corp & plc group, has reportedly sold the 1987 built cruise ship Costa Celebration to undisclosed buyers.

Media reports say the 47,300 gross ton ship that was until recently known as Grand Celebration of Iberocruceros, a Spain focused brand of the Carnival group that lately had two ships. Carnival decided to close down the operation and to transfer its two ships to Costa.

The second ship of Iberocurceros was Grand Holiday, of 46,000 gross tons and built in 1985, which never entered service with Costa, however. Instead, it will join the fleet of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, the UK based company that will introduce it as Magellan in March.

Riley, Sadler to new positions in expanded Norwegian group

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 November 2014 20 November 2014

Following the closing of Norwegian Cruise Line’s acquisition of Prestige Cruises International Inc., two changes in senior management of the group have taken place.

Francis Riley, most recently Norwegian’s vice president and general manager international, has been appointed to the newly created position of senior vice president, international spanning across three brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Norwegian said in a statement.

In this role, Riley will be responsible for business development, marketing, and passenger services in all international markets, including the UK and Continental Europe, along with Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa regions. Riley will be relocating to the company’s Miami headquarters in order to oversee the global business. He will report to Andy Stuart, executive vice president of international for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas.

As a result of the growth in the UK, Graham Sadler, currently Managing Director of Regent Seven Sea Cruises for UK, will now become Managing Director of the three combined brands for the UK.

Graham will oversee the UK business and have a presence in the offices located in London and Southampton. Sadler has led the Regent Seven Seas UK office since 2001.Recognising his significant contribution in developing the Oceania brand in the UK and Europe over the past 10 years, the line’s current managing director, Bernard Carter, will remain responsible for Oceania’s UK and EU business. He will report into Sadler for UK business.

Holland America says Koningsdam to sail first season in Mediterranean

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 November 2014 20 November 2014

When Holland America Line’s Koningsdam sets sail in February 2016, the ship will first head to the Mediterranean on a seven-day Premiere Voyage and then continue on a series of 12-day Premiere Sailings through early May 2016, the company said in a statement.

"The debut cruises will explore some of the region’s most popular capitals, culturally rich cities, charming villages and beautiful beaches. Bookings for the Premiere Voyage and Sailings open on 1 December 2014."

The 2,650-guest ship is scheduled for delivery by Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy on 15 February 2016. Following its repositioning to Civitavecchia (Rome), Koningsdam will sail a seven-day Premiere Voyage roundtrip from Civitavecchia, departing on 20 February 2016 and sailing to Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kérkira (Corfu) and Katakolon (Olympia), Greece; and Naples, Italy.

“Since we announced ms Koningsdam, guests have been anxiously awaiting itinerary details, so we’re pleased to share the spring Mediterranean season,” said Richard Meadows, Holland America Line’s executive vice president of sales, marketing and guest relations. “We have a very loyal following and we anticipate these cruises will fill up quickly, so I recommend booking early.”

Following the Premiere Voyage, from the end of February through to early May, Koningsdam will cruise a series of six 12-day Premiere Sailings on two alternating roundtrip itineraries from Civitavecchia. The first itinerary calls at Katakolon, Piraeus (Athens), Rhodes and Crete, Greece; Istanbul (overnight) and Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; and Naples, Italy. The other itinerary visits Naples, Italy; Palermo, Sicily; Cagliari, Sardinia; Gibraltar, British Territory; and Cádiz, Málaga, Cartagena and Barcelona (overnight), Spain.

Holland America Line is working to finalise details on the ship’s summer and autumn 2016 cruises and information will be released in the coming months. Cruise fares on Premier Sailings begin at £699 per person, cruise only, based on two sharing.

Koningsdam represents a new Pinnacle Class of ship for Holland America Line. The vessel will debut several innovative concepts and new public spaces and venues, while still featuring popular features that guests associate with Holland America Line.

To bring a fresh vision to Koningsdam, Holland America Line is working with Adam D. Tihany, one of the world’s pre-eminent hospitality designers. Tihany joins distinguished maritime designer and architect Bjorn Storbraaten, who worked with Holland America Line on Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam. The two firms will create an interior that blends a fresh, contemporary styling in perfect harmony with the line’s renowned classic elegance, Holland America said.

Meyer Turku Shipyard begins steel work on Mein Schiff 5

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 November 2014 19 November 2014

Meyer Turku Shipyard, the Finnish shipbuilder controlled in the Meyer Werft group that is based in Germany, has started work on the 99,500 gross ton Mein Schiff 5 for Hamburg based TUI Cruises.

This is the third newbuilding of the premium market cruise operator and the start of steel work comes only a month after Mein Schiff 4 had been launched at the same shipyard. Mein Schiff 5 is due to enter service in 2016 and Mein Schiff 6 in the following year,the cruise line said in a statement.