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Compagnie du Ponant reports 50% year-on rise in January-May bookings

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 June 2014 16 June 2014

Compagnie du Ponant, the French flag destinational luxury cruise line, says it has announced record growth of 50% for January-May 2014 compared to the same period last year, the month of May being particularly exceptional with more than 2,200 passengers booked.

“After strong growth in 2013, with revenue topping €100 million for 20,000 passengers, and the launch of a fourth yacht, Le Soleal , 2014 looks set to be another very promising year: the number of bookings in the first five months alone have accelerated, up 50% year-on-year,” the company said in a statement.

“This spectacular growth is explained by the success of Compagnie du Ponant’s offer on both the French and international markets and the leverage gained from two other factors:

· An expanded portfolio of original cruise destinations linked with the arrival of a fifth ship Le Lyrial in the Spring of 2015. Having developed its business in Asia, South America and North Europe, Compagnie du Ponant launched into Oceania for the 2014/2015 Winter season (Australia, New Zealand) and now Alaska for 2015.

· Forward bookings, with sales for 2015 cruises having been launched mid-April 2014, six months ahead of the traditional calendar.

“Compagnie du Ponant has achieved excellent results for the first half of 2014 thanks to all the investments made over the last two years and deployment of a forward bookings strategy. The figures underpin the performance of our business model after 25 years of hard work,” says Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, Compagnie du Ponant’s CEO.

To support its expansion and meet the needs and expectations of travel agents, a priority sales route for Compagnie du Ponant, the company invested in major changes to its sales department, starting last year. These included:

· Consolidation of onshore teams and a Call Centre set up with promotions in January 2014, with Nicolas Bilek appointed Sales Director West Europe and Cyril Dupin as Sales Director France, Belgium and Switzerland. The international team also saw its workforce doubled in a move that included the appointment of two new sales people, Geoffrey Duval for the Ile de France department (Paris region) and one focused on Belgium.

· Reorganisation of the Reservations department into desks focused on particular regions and types of cruises, and again staff numbers have doubled.

· More staff to boost the Marketing team led by Agnès Mossina, Marketing Director, with three appointments including one to head up Digital Strategy and another responsible for Web Marketing.

“We have launched numerous projects over the last few months that are now bearing fruit in 2014, including a more aggressive fares policy, digital media strategy, systems revamp, investments in our relationship with travel agencies, etc. And we have other projects in the pipeline which will be unveiled in September 2014 at Top Resa,” says Hervé Bellaïche, who was appointed Sales & Marketing Director of Compagnie du Ponant in 2013.

Since it launched in 1988, Compagnie du Ponant has successfully built-up a loyal client base attracted by its four intimate cruise yachts, all flying the French flag and embodying the essence of being on a private luxury yacht.

Countdown to Costa Diadema christening

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 June 2014 15 June 2014

Costa Cruises will celebrate its new flagship, Costa Diadema, 148 days from today on Nov. 7 during a special christening event in Genoa, Italy, where the company was founded and is headquartered. For the first time, the ship's godmother will be selected from among participants in a worldwide travel agent competition to be held from July to September.

The christening will celebrate the city of Genoa and Costa Diadema's guests, as well as its godmother, who will join an impressive list of celebrities who have christened other Costa ships, including Claudia Cardinale, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Marion Cotillard and Margareth Madè.

Guests on Costa Diadema, fondly called Regina del Mediterraneo (Queen of the Mediterranean), will have an opportunity to book attendance to the ceremony as well as on the preview cruise departing Trieste, Italy, Nov. 1 or the first inaugural cruise departing Savona, Italy, Nov. 8. In addition, consumers can book an invitation to just the inaugural event and spend the night of Nov. 7 onboard.

The new flagship will be docked at Ponte dei Mille, Genoa's historic shipping terminal. Guests onboard can attend the ceremony in the ship's Emerald Theatre or watch it on big screens at the Lido Diana Magrodome Pool.

Following the christening, guests will attend an elegant gala dinner prepared by celebrity chefs featuring a special Mediterranean menu, highlighting Costa's "Made in Italy" theme.

Costa Diadema's celebrations will continue with dance performances by professional artists, acrobatic shows and music, with colorful masks given to guests to commemorate the event.

The grand finale will be a light show illuminating the sky over Genoa as Costa Diadema says farewell and sets sail for an overnight journey to Savona for its Nov. 8 inaugural cruise departure.

The 132,500-ton Costa Diadema is being built at Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, and is scheduled for delivery Oct. 30, 2014. Costa Cruises has invested a total of around US$745 million in its construction.

Costa Diadema's debut will last an entire month, including the preview cruise Nov. 1, the christening Nov. 7 in Genoa and a trio of inaugural cruises Nov. 8, 15 and 22.

Beginning Nov. 29 and for the rest of the 2014-15 winter season and through the 2015 summer season Costa Diadema will depart Savona on seven-night cruises in the western Mediterranean, calling weekly at Marseille, France; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Naples and La Spezia, Italy.

Oceania Cruises completes $50 million fleet upgrade

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 June 2014 15 June 2014

Oceania Cruises has welcomed Regatta back to the fleet following an extensive dry dock, making it the final ship of three sister ships to undergo a massive $50 million collective refurbishment. The ship set sail on June 10 on a 10-night "Majesty of Alaska" voyage, signaling the beginning of another summer season in Alaska for Oceania Cruises. Sister ships Nautica and Insignia emerged from dry dock and reentered service last month. Renovating three ships from bow to stern in a six-week time period marks the largest refurbishment program in Oceania Cruises’ history.

The multimillion-dollar makeover brought many of the interior design elements from the award-winning Marina and Riviera ships to Insignia, Nautica and Regatta while maintaining the warmth, intimacy and charm Oceania Cruises' guests cherish in the 684-passenger ships. In addition to elegant new furnishings and décor for all public rooms, suites and staterooms, Regatta added several new guest experiences, including the ever-popular Baristas coffee bar, a cook-to-order grill at Terrace Café and new outdoor recreation on the Sports Deck.

"I spent a couple days on Regatta and had a chance to experience the newly refined elegance of the ship firsthand. It's clear that we accomplished what we set out to achieve," said Kunal S. Kamlani, president of Oceania Cruises. "We wanted to ensure our guests received the same upscale cruise experience and exceptional value no matter which Oceania Cruises ship they sail, and based on early guest feedback this $50 million refurbishment is a homerun."

Notable enhancements include:

Suites & Staterooms: There are significant updates to the Owner's and Vista Suites with an all-new bathroom design that is elegant, yet contemporary in nature. The bathroom features wall-to-wall marble with a decorative inlay centerpiece, along with an expansive granite vanity that sits opposite an inviting oversized shower. The Penthouse Suites received all-new furnishings, rich upholstery and a vibrant, yet calming palette that reflects the sea, sun and sky. All staterooms were appointed with new décor elements featuring a refreshing sense of style and elegance.

Terrace Café: The main casual dining option on board the ship is brand new from top to bottom. A resplendent collection of new furnishings, floorings, fixtures and lighting accompanies the stunning floor-to-ceiling window views. The pièce de résistance is the cook-to-order grill featuring delicacies such as steaks, chops and lobster tail.

Baristas: The popular coffee bar where master baristas prepare complimentary illy brand espressos and cappuccinos throughout the day now makes its debut on Regatta. Baristas is the perfect location to relax with a beverage in one of the comfortable lounge chairs or sofas and is centrally located on deck 5, near the Grand Dining Room.

Upper Decks: The Sports Deck, located atop the ship, received new golf putting greens and shuffleboard courts, along with other deck games. The main pool area, ringed with luxurious sun beds, shimmers with blue and white mosaics, beautifully contrasted with rich teak decking.

Canyon Ranch SpaClub: The newly renovated Canyon Ranch SpaClub exudes a sense of tranquility with new décor elements including a flowing mosaic display. Inside the spa, guests will enjoy peaceful steam rooms with beautiful new tile mosaics, along with renovated changing areas.

Lounges: All of the ship's main lounges are refreshed and refurbished. Horizons bar features a new color palette of soothing sea blues, cocoa brown and mint, complemented by new sofa, chair and table furnishings. Martinis maintains its classic ambiance with all-new furnishings. The Regatta Lounge was completely refurbished with new carpeting and chairs, along with luxurious new fabrics and upholsteries.

The transformed Regatta will offer a variety of 7- 9- and 10-day cruises to America's Last Frontier throughout the season.

Photo credit: Teijo Niemela

Saga Holidays to sell range of MSC Cruises products in second partnership deal

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 June 2014 13 June 2014

Saga Holidays, which is part of the UK based Saga plc grop, is to promote and sell a range of MSC Cruises’ itineraries as part of its new third-party cruising programme.

From the end of next month, the over-50s specialist will have allocations across the 12 ships in the MSC Cruises fleet, focusing on fly-cruise sailings, MSC Cruises said in a statement.

A few weeks ago, Saga entered in a similar agreemrent wityh Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the destinational cruise operator that has a fleet of four vessels. Saga group itself has two ships of its own that trade under the Saga Cruises’ brand.

MSC Cruises sales and commercial director for UK and Ireland Lee Strongitharm said in the statement that as well as giving the cruise line a new distribution channel, the deal would support efforts to take a greater share of the UK’s early-booking market.

“This new agreement marks another significant step in the growth plans for MSC Cruises in the UK - both parties are focused on producing a high volume of passengers within two years,” he said.

“We have been working well together across all areas of each other’s business and having a lot of fun in the process during this early phase of planning for a July launch.”

MSC Cruises recently unveiled its new Experience Pricing approach for winter 2014/15 and beyond. The pricing structure supports early booking by ensuring the best deals and upgrades are always available furthest from departure date.

Strongitharm added: “Saga Holidays’ customers place a huge amount of trust in the brand and are very loyal, so this partnership is hugely significant. Saga clients can now take advantage of MSC Cruises competitively-priced and extensive fly-cruise programme – these are new customers for us.”

Saga Cruises chief executive Robin Shaw said: "We already operate a highly successful cruise business and are continually looking to expand this in-house operation. However, we also recognise that this venture allows us to reach out to more people, offering greater choice to today's over 50s in terms of experience, destination and duration.

“Customers booking MSC Cruises through Saga will automatically enjoy a range of added extras including our VIP door-to-door service to and from the port or departure airport, and included travel insurance."

P&O Cruises to add Ventura as third Southampton “winter ship” in 2015-16

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 June 2014 12 June 2014

P&O Cruises, the UK focused contemporary market unit in the Carnival Corp & plc group, will significantly increase its year-round capacity from Southampton in the winter 2015-16, when the 116,017 gross ton Ventura will become the third ship of the company to remain based there year round.

The 3,078 passenger Ventura will join the 1,880 berth Oriana and 2,016 passenger Oceana as year round Southampton based vessels. The 2008 built Ventura, which is based on the Caribbean Princess class of sister company Princess cruises, has a magrodome sliding glass roof over its centre pool, unlike its two year younger sister vessel, Azura.

The company will take delivery of the 143,000 gross ton Britannia early in 2016, which will become the eight vessel of the company.