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Lania Rittenhouse joins FleetPro Ocean as President

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 November 2014 19 November 2014

FleetPro Passenger Ship Management announces that Lania Rittenhouse is joining FleetPro Ocean as President.
Lania comes to FleetPro with strong leadership and operational experience, having worked for Carnival Cruise Lines, NCL, Renaissance Cruises and Fraser Yachts in Executive Hotel and Technical Management roles.

"Lania brings FleetPro a combination of hotel operations and ship technical management experience, which is perfectly in line with our strategic position," says Robert Straubhaar, Group CEO of FleetPro Passenger Ship Management.

"With an experienced team in place, Lania’s primary role will be to focus on growing the business while assuring our clients that they will continue to receive personalized service in order to successfully deliver the many different brands we represent," adds Straubhaar.

FleetPro Ocean (formerly ISP) and FleetPro River (formerly River Advice) manage a combined fleet of ocean-going passenger ships, expedition cruise ships and river cruise ships in excess of 60 vessels, making it the largest passenger ship management company in the world. What distinguishes FleetPro is a hands-on managing approach with extremely strong technical and top notch hotel operation expertise. This allows FleetPro to service a wide array of clients in the demanding global arena of river cruise operations, ocean-going cruising and the itinerary intensive expedition cruise segments.

Fincantieri redelivers MSC Armonia after lengthening

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 November 2014 18 November 2014

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, has taken redelivery of MSC Armonia, the first of four Lirica class ships to be lengthened at the Palermo shipyard of Fincantieri, the Italian shipbuilder.

The four ship Renaissance Programme represents an investment close to €200 million and MSC Lirica spent about 10 weeks at the shipyard in Sicily, the shipbuilder said in a statement.

"The works have concerned the insertion of an entire prebuilt midship section, launched at the end of July, providing an addition of approximately 200 cabins, as well as new entertainment spaces and new technological enhancements. The impressive onboard boutiques has been enhanced with new interiors, more space and an all-new perfumery with display corners dedicated to leading brands," Fincantieri said.

The ship has left the shipyard to sail to Genoa, before heading to the Canary Islands for a 10-day inaugural cruise.

The Renaissance Programme, which was announced in December 2013 by MSC Cruises and Fincantieri, will involve also MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera, and will be complete in 2015.

MSC’s Lirica class Renaissance Programme follows the dry dock schedule below:

MSC Armonia (2004): 31 August to 17 November 2014

MSC Sinfonia (2005): 12 January to 16 March 2015

MSC Opera (2004): 2 May to 4 July 2015

MSC Lirica (2003): 31 August to 9 November 2015

The four Lirica Class ships were built between 2003 and 2005 at the STX yards in Saint-Nazaire, France. They are currently 251 metres long, have a gross tonnage of about 58,000 and carry 2,069 passengers. After the “Renaissance Programme”, the ships will be 275 meters long, their gross tonnage will rise to 65,000 and carry 2,680 passengers, boasting 193 additional cabins (plus 59 new cabins for crew members).

Viking Line opens first Victoria's Secret shop at sea

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 November 2014 18 November 2014

Viking Line, the Finnish cruise ferry group, said it has opened the world’s first Victoria’s Secret Beauty & Accessories shop onboard a ship and the first shop of the brand in Finland.

"Viking Line is opening the first Victoria’s Secret Beauty & Accessories shop in Finland. The shop has opened today on November, 18 on board the M/S Viking Grace and will offer passengers beauty products, fragrances, panties and handbags. Victoria’s Secret is the largest retailer of lingerie and beauty products in the United States and a highly anticipated newcomer in Viking Line’s product offering," the company said in a statement.

Viking Line has previously been able to offer selected Victoria’s Secret beauty products. Now our range will become far more diverse, since the M/S Viking Grace can now provide a whole store dedicated to the brand. "Meanwhile this will be the first Victoria’s Secret Beauty & Accessories (VSBA) shop located on board a cruise vessel. Passengers will be tempted by an extensive variety of products, including prestigious Victoria’s Secret beauty products and attractive handbags, wallets and sunglasses," the company said.

Viking Grace is a 58,000 gross ton cruise ferry that operates between Turku in Fonland and Stockholm in Sweden.

Norwegian Epic to stage two new shows and add The Cavern Club

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 November 2014 18 November 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line said a new entertainment line-up for Norwegian Epic that will be based year-round in Barcelona, Spain, starting 30 April 2015. "Two new Broadway shows will take the stage as headliners: Burn the Floor in April, 2015 and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - The Musical in October, 2015. The ship will also feature an all-new British pop music entertainment experience, The Cavern Club, bringing the legendary Liverpool venue where the Beatles performed to life at sea," the company said in a statement.

“We are excited to bring Norwegian Epic to Europe year-round and want to provide our guests with even more exciting entertainment options on the ship that first elevated the onboard entertainment experience,” said Drew Madsen, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief operating officer.

“These new world-class entertainment offerings, along with Norwegian Epic’s innovative accommodation and plethora of dining options, are the perfect combination for the European cruise market and give guests the freedom and flexibility to customise their vacation.”

"Press Photo 3Broadway sensation Burn The Floor, which has received rave reviews on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, will bring the sizzle and passion of ballroom dancing to Norwegian Epic with an all new and exciting show specifically designed for European guests beginning on her transatlantic voyage, 19 April 2015. “Ballroom Blitz,” featuring 14 dancers, a live band and two singers, is an ultimate high-voltage theatrical dance experience that explodes with jaw-dropping choreography, heart-pounding music and breath-taking moves," the company said..

Based on the Oscar-winning movie, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is the heart-warming, uplifting comedy adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of discovering. The Tony Award winning musical features a dazzling array of over 500 award winning costumes, 200 extraordinary head-dresses and a hit parade of dance floor favourites, including “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive,” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” The show will open on the ship’s 18 October 2015 voyage.

Press Photo 2Norwegian Epic will also receive a whole new entertainment venue created through an exciting partnership with the owners of Liverpool’s The Cavern Club, the birthplace of British pop music. Impressively, 57 years after its opening, the original Cavern Club survives and thrives as a contemporary music venue. Norwegian will re-create The Cavern Club experience at sea, rocking guests each evening to the sounds of The Beatles, along with other international musicians. The Cavern Club will debut on the 11 October 2015 sailing.

Carnival Corp & plc to launch multi brand campaign to attract newcomers

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 November 2014 17 November 2014

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world's largest cruise company, today announced its first-ever multi-brand marketing initiative incorporating all nine of its leading global brands to drive increased awareness, consideration and demand for cruising as a great vacation option at an exceptional value. Targeting consumers who are new to cruising, the campaign will kick off on November 24 with several digital and social elements and will continue to ramp up through 2015, the company said in a statement.

As part of the marketing effort, Carnival Corporation & plc will introduce the “World’s Leading Cruise Lines Marketing Challenge” – an interactive crowdsourcing program in which CEO Arnold Donald and celebrity emcee Cedric the Entertainer ask consumers to “join the company’s marketing team” and pick their favourite TV ads from a selection of creative concepts, with the chance for one lucky participant to win a yearly cruise for life.

Carnival Corporation & plc's newly redesigned World’s Leading Cruise Lines website – WorldsLeadingCruiseLines.com – will serve as the campaign hub. The new site will feature content from each of the company’s nine brands and also house new tools and functionality in support of the campaign.

The campaign elements are designed to educate consumers and especially non-cruisers on why cruising is an extraordinary vacation experience at an exceptional value. The campaign will help consumers understand how contemporary cruising has evolved, with grand cruise ships offering something for everyone and how common myths about cruising are untrue. The campaign will also encourage consumers to consult a travel agent as a valuable resource for planning a cruise vacation.

The goal of the marketing program is to help inspire consumers to consider cruising as one of their top options when planning vacations -- and, ultimately, to grow demand for cruising. While cruising continues to grow in worldwide popularity, with nearly 22 million people expected to have taken cruises in 2014, only about 3.3 percent of people in North America in any given year go on a cruise – providing a significant marketing opportunity.