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SS United States conservancy challenge comfortable exceeds target

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 October 2014 09 October 2014

In June, cruise industry executive Jim Pollin pledged to match up to $100,000 of new supporter donations to benefit the SS United States, the trans-Atlantic liner that captured the Blue Riband for the fastest crossing of the ocean on its maiden voyage in July 1952, but which has been laid up since November 1969.

Last week, the Conservancy announced that it was only $2,072 away from that $100,000 goal. "Just one week later, we are thrilled to announce that we have received $122,167 in donations eligible for matching -- prompting Jim to raise his initial pledge by $20,000, and match $120,000," the conservancy said.

"Our nation's flagship isn't just an historic vessel," Jim Pollin said recently. "It also represents the people of a great and determined nation that once again have demonstrated they can rise to any challenge. In response to the generosity of so many supporters of the SS United States, I am proud to match their recent contributions with an additional donation of $120,000 to save this enduring symbol of our country."

Campaign supporters hailed from 44 states and 17 countries, and their contributions ranged from one dollar to ten thousand. Every donation made a major difference, and we are profoundly grateful to Jim Pollin and to everyone who contributed. The ship would not be afloat today without this extraordinary collective effort.

Royal Asian Cruises another step closer to launch

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 October 2014 08 October 2014

With the view of launching a luxury cruise service next year, Royal Asian Cruises has signed an agreement with the Board of Investment in Sri Lanka. Alan Lam reports.

The company, with offices in USA and India, aims to invest US$200 million to acquire and operate two vessels by 2016. Its primary targeted source markets will be Indian and Sri Lankan diaspora, as well as potential Eastern European and Southeast Asian passengers.

It is reported that the first ship to be deployed, with homeport in Colombo, will be an 800-passenger vessel, scheduled for its first cruise as early as late 2015. The company’s plan for a second vessel is even more ambitious: the ship, which is projected to enter service in early 2016, will be able to accommodate 1,500-2,000 passengers.

The company also has a five-year plan to expand its fleet to five ships, representing a total investment of US$720 million.

The initial designed itineraries will include year-round seven-night cruises to Maldives and Cochin. The line will also offer 3- & 4-night cruises around Sri Lanka, as well as 10- & 11-night cruises further afield, to Singapore and back.

Royal Asian Cruises has partnered with Tillberg Design of Sweden to craft the ships’ interiors.

Thomas Cook to open 11 cruise concept stores in UK - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 October 2014 07 October 2014

Thomas Cook, the London based listed tour operator, said the introduction of the Cruise Concept Stores marked the next phase of the company’s transformation, underlined its investment in the sector and expertise in the cruise market, Travel Weekly reports.

"Thomas Cook has long been considered the UK’s biggest cruise retailer by volume, although cruise line suppliers say it had been focussing on other areas in recent years. Five of the stores are in partnership with Carnival UK brands P&O Cruises, Cunard and Princess Cruises and the other six stores are in partnership with Royal Caribbean International," the report said

The stores are being opened in Aberdeen, Harrogate, Gateshead, Merryhill, Liverpool, Maidstone, Darlington, Bolton, Newport, Plymouth and Fareham. Towns and cities have been targeted where there is more than one Thomas Cook branch, and while they will specialise in cruise product, land-based holidays can also be booked there.

Agents in the Cruise Concept stores will be trained on cruise products and the branding inside the stores will reflect the partnering cruise line. Joanna Wild, Cook retail director, said: “Retail is such an important part of Thomas Cook’s omni-channel approach. We know holidays are important to our customers, and cruise holidays are valued for offering a particular sense of adventure and security that everything will be taken care of as soon as our customers depart from port.

“The cruise market continues to grow and we want to invest in the market in support of our great cruise partners. The Cruise Concept Stores further illustrate the company’s commitment to the high street, aiming to offer a specially tailored and personalised service to our many cruise customers," she was quoted as saying.

Guillermo Taleno is joining FleetPro as Vice President Hotel Operations

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 October 2014 07 October 2014

FleetPro Passenger Ship Management announces that Guillermo Taleno will be joining the company as Vice President, Hotel Operations. Dietmar Wertanzl, Executive Vice President Hotel Operations and Guest Satisfaction for FleetPro Leisure, states; “Guillermo is a cruise industry veteran with a strong background in Hotel Operations, Product Development, New-building start-ups, Supply Chain, and Inventory Control Management. He joins FleetPro with a distinguished career from top cruise brands such as Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. Guillermo is another addition to our experienced talent, with a distinct understanding of the industry that ensures our delivery of the highest ratings and service to the growing number of brands we work for ".

Wertanzl adds further that; “Michael Thomas currently Vice President Hotel Operations is planning to retire, but will remain part of the Hotel Operations team for the foreseeable future, to assist in ensuring a seamless hand-over and smooth transition.. Michael has been a strong contributor to FleetPro Ship and Hotel Management’s growth, our strong ratings and above all a successful bottom-line orientation”.

FleetPro Ocean (formerly ISP) and FleetPro River (formerly River Advice) manages 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.

St. Maarten positions itself as prominent cruise and convention destination by hosting FCCA Conference & Trade Show

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 October 2014 07 October 2014

Today's opening of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association's (FCCA) 21st annual Conference & Trade Show – the Caribbean's largest cruise tourism conference and trade show-will reconfirm St. Maarten's commitment to maximizing cruise tourism's economic impact.

St. Maarten is looking to build onto their past growth by hosting the event-along with about 1,000 tourism stakeholders and 100 executives, presidents and CEOs from FCCA's 15 Member Lines-for a second time. The destination knows the significance because of their progress after their first Conference in 2003. In 2001, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies reported 875,540 passenger arrivals. This number rose 70 percent to 1,490,386 in 2005, just two years after hosting the Conference.

These numbers extend far beyond the cruise pier; they impact the entire economy. According to the Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) 2012 study, Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies, the average expenditure per passenger in St. Maarten was $185.40, which benefitted numerous industries through purchases of goods that included food and beverage at restaurants and bars, clothing, shore excursions, ground transportation, local crafts and souvenirs, watches and jewelry, perfumes and cosmetics, electronics, entertainment/night clubs/casinos, retail purchases of liquor, and telephone and internet.

However, this is hardly the only economic contribution provided by cruise tourism. The same study showed that the average expenditure per crew in St. Maarten was $135.50 for similar products and services. Plus it revealed the direct and indirect employment generated by the cruise industry, totaling 8,123 jobs and $159.8 million in employee wages.

By these figures, St. Maarten's 70 percent increase after hosting their first Conference represents an increase of $114 million in passenger spending alone, along with the coinciding growth of crew spending, cruise line spending, employment and indirect contribution of passengers that return to the destination as stay-over visitors.

Projecting this same growth after this year's Conference would be aggressive, considering that in 2014 St. Maarten expects 1.67 million passenger arrivals onboard 523 vessels from FCCA Member Lines alone. But a single cruise ship has a large economic wake. BREA's figures show that just one average cruise vessel-130,000 GRT, 1,040 feet long, carrying 3,000 passengers and 500 crewmembers-would generate $556,200 in passenger spending and $67,750 in crew spending, along with roughly $15,000 in port fees, totaling $638,950.

Projecting a more conservative growth rate of 20 percent, or 105 additional cruise ship calls, would mean an extra $67 million per year directly contributed to St. Maarten's economy. Plus a 20 percent increase in cruise tourism-impacted employment would represent 1,625 more jobs with $32 million in wages.

As Mark Mingo, CEO of Port St. Maarten, noted, hosting the event is also a step in establishing conference and convention tourism. "Conference and convention tourism is a niche market that should be explored and developed," said Mingo.

"We have an opportunity in the FCCA post-conference period to work towards establishing St. Maarten as a dynamic business events destination."

Considering the potential economic impact from cruise and convention tourism, it becomes easy to understand why St. Maarten again decided to invest in the FCCA Conference & Trade Show.