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Online retailer Cruise.co.uk. eyes expansion to Ireland, Australia, South Africa and Scandinavia - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 October 2014 03 October 2014

Cruise.co.uk, the British online cruise retailer, is reported to be looking to purchase a small agency in both Ireland and Australia as it eyes international expansion that could embrace South Africa and Scandinavia as well.

Managing director Seamus Conlon said, according to Travel Weekly, that the company would be operating in Ireland by the end of this year as Cruise.co and in Australia by early next year. He expects the company’s website model in the UK, which combines cruise deals with extensive user generated content, to work well in other markets. The user content, which includes reviews and Q&As, will be replicated for the two markets.

“It has been part of our strategy, in changing venture capitalists, to expand to other English-speaking markets,” Conlon said. Our preferred option is to invest in an existing business [rather than a start-up].”

Marketing director Sukie Rapal, who will co-ordinate the move and expansion, said: “Our strategy is to buy a really small agency in Ireland and invest in it so it can operate as our base there. The same will be done in Australia.”

She added: “We are also looking at South Africa and Scandinavia, where there is a high proportion of English-speakers, as well as [possibly] partnering with someone in the US. Ireland and Australia are still emerging [markets] when it comes to cruise. They are where the UK was a few years ago so we believe our combination of user reviews and deals will work well in these markets,” the report said.

Carnival Miracle to begin year-round Mexican Riviera program next week

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 October 2014 01 October 2014

Carnival Miracle will depart Saturday, Oct. 4 from Long Beach, Calif., on the first voyage of a new year-round cruise program to the Mexican Riviera. The ship will be among the first to visit Cabo San Lucas following Hurricane Odile when it calls there October 6 and will be loaded with relief supplies provided by Carnival for local residents.

Carnival Miracle’s new year-round Mexican Riviera program will encompass three different week-long itineraries, including a new three-port, seven-day cruise featuring Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

During the ship’s first visit to Cabo San Lucas, the crew will be off-loading several pallets of bottled water, canned food, cereal, diapers, paper products, personal items and other supplies for local residents.

“We have been in close contact with officials in Cabo San Lucas and have sent our own teams there to evaluate the recovery process,” said Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines. “The residents, along with local, state and federal authorities, have worked extremely hard to ready the destination to receive visitors and revitalize the economic contribution that tourism brings to the area. At the same time, local residents are still in need of relief supplies and it is extremely gratifying to be resuming our Mexican Riviera cruise program while doing some good for the local community,” Cahill added.

Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, federal under minister of tourism for Mexico, stated, “Our tourism destinations are ready to receive visitors. Tourism is an important part of the local economy and we are grateful for everyone’s contribution to the recovery of Los Cabos. The destination is ready for cruise passengers and the majority of restaurants, shops and tours are ready to be enjoyed.”

Carnival Miracle’s year-round schedule from Long Beach also includes two other itinerary options. The first is a seven-day, two-port itinerary that features a stop in Cabo San Lucas, along with a two-day overnight stay in Puerto Vallarta. The second alternate itinerary includes a visit to Puerto Vallarta, along with a two-day call at Cabo San Lucas.

MSC Cruises upgrades shore exursion commissions in UK

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 October 2014 01 October 2014

MSC Cruises says it is giving retail partners in the UK more opportunity to benefit from selling its products with the launch of upgraded commission payments on shore excursions.

"Promised as part of the cruise line’s ‘Serving You’ programme for agents, which launched in July, the higher commission goes live today (October 1 2014) and will initially run as a six-month trial. Previously all agents received a standard 5% on excursions but that will now rise to the level of their individually-negotiated base commission," the company said in a statement.

To receive the higher payments, retailers must book the excursions via MSC Cruises’ new trade booking portal, MSC Book (www.mscbook.com/uk).

Giles Hawke, MSC Cruises executive director UK and Ireland said: “When we unveiled ‘Serving You’ we set out our plans to get closer to the trade and listen to their concerns. Enhancing commission on excursions was on our ‘to do’ list and we have been true to our word.

“Agents had told us in the past that our excursions were complicated to book and that the payments didn’t reflect the time it took. MSC Book is much more user friendly and integrates excursions into the sales path, so our partners can now book land-based activities easier and make more money.”

The launch of higher commission payments comes hot on the heels of the roll-out of MSC Book. Access to the new booking system is now available to all retailers following its successful introduction across the UK during September.

New Colombia-Panama ferry service to open 24 October

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 October 2014 01 October 2014

A Panamanian shipping line, Ferry Xpress, is about to start a ferry service between Colón in Panamá and Cartagena in Colombia. It will be the second attempt to link these two countries by ferry. Though the first endeavour failed, the operator is confident about the success on this occasion, citing that this time round the company will be directly managed by the port itself.Alan Lam reports.

Moreover, this will be the only significant transport connection, both cargo and passenger, between the two neighbouring countries, besides the air link, as the Pan American Highway does not connect Colombia with Panamá on account of the untamable Darién Gap. For this reason alone this maritime enterprise is deemed to be commercially viable.

Up till now, overland travellers between South and Central America have had to - at the mercy of unscrupulous operators - rely on the precarious motorboat services from Capurganá in Colombia to Puerto Obaldia in Panamá, from there they have had to find a flight to the capital, as there is no road. Not too long ago, this correspondent endured that journey; the experience can be summed up as both unsafe and uncomfortable.

Commencing 24 October this year, the new ropax service will initially depart from Colón, the homeport, on Mondays and Wednesdays and return from Cartagena on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The journey time will be about 18 hours.

What is truly interesting is that, in addition to the ferry service, the ship - the 1986-built SNAV Adriatico that is currently being prepared for the service – will also undertake a weekly mini-cruise, setting sail every Friday night from Colón to Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro, a popular resort island in Central America. The demand for this cruise is largely untapped. Colombia-Panama ferry service to open 24 October

Pacific Princess sale not currently planned

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 September 2014 30 September 2014

Princess Cruises, part of the Carnival Corp & plc group, has no plans to sell Pacific Princess, although its sister ship Ocean Princess has been put up for sale.

“While the announcement was made that Ocean Princess is for sale, there is nothing to report at this time. There are no current plans for Pacific Princess to leave our fleet,” Julie Benson, Vice President, Public Relations at Princess, told Cruise Business Online.

A report on Cruise Critic said last week: “For many months the rumours have around that the three smaller ships in the fleet (one over at P & O) were going to be sold. Today Carnival Corporation confirmed that Ocean Princess is listed for sale, and that she would be available at almost any time for the buyer.”

“ It would appear that Pacific is the next, as much major refit work has been deferred on her too. It would appear than once the new Panama Canal locks are opened, the vessel deployments will see Coral and Island take over the globe roaming voyages and the larger vessels take on the Canal trips,” the report said.

A spokesperson for P&O Cruises, another Carnival Corp & plc group unit that operates Adonia that is a sister ship of Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess, said that vessel is an :”integral part” of the P&O Cruises’ fleet.

Adonia, Pacific Princess and Ocean Princess were originally built in France at the turn of the millennium as part of an eight ship fleet of Renaissance Cruises, which is no longer in business. Oceania Cruises employs three of these ships and Azamara, which is part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, has two.