Legend of the Seas sail in Southeast Asia, Australia and South Pacific in 2015-16

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 08 May 2014 08 May 2014

Royal Caribbean International has announced Legend of the Seas’ year-round deployment for 2015-16, offering itineraries to destinations throughout Southeast Asia from Singapore in the summer season, and sailings to idyllic settings in Australia and the South Pacific during the winter season from the cruise line’s new homeport of Brisbane, Australia. With Mariner of the Seas’ also sailing from Singapore in the winter season, Legend of the Seas’ new summer season will mark the first time that the cruise line will offer year-round sailings from Singapore. Additionally, Legend of the Seas will join Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas to total a record deployment of four Royal Caribbean ships in Australia. Legend of the Seas 2015-16 Southeast Asia, Australia and South Pacific cruises will open for sale on May 21, 2014.

Legend of the Seas will begin its 2015 summer with a 15-night Westbound Panama Canal crossing, departing in April from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to San Diego, Calif. From there, the ship will embark on a trio of sailings across the Pacific to Singapore. A 10-night Hawaii cruise from Ensenada, Mexico, will take guests to the islands of Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii – with a cruise by the world famous and still-very active Kilauea Volcano – and conclude at Honolulu, Oahu. From there, Legend of the Seas will sail a 17-night itinerary to Sydney, Australia, via the French Polynesian islands, Fiji and New Caledonia. The ship will then complete its half-way-around-the-world voyage to Singapore via the north coast of Australia.

While homeported in Singapore, Legend of the Seas will sail a variety of three- to 10-night roundtrip itineraries throughout Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam through mid-November. Vacationers also can choose among two consecutive 14-night itineraries in September, a southbound sailing from Singapore to Perth (Fremantle), Australia, followed by a northbound return, both taking guests to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Western Australia.

Legend of the Seas will then transition from Singapore to its new homeport of Brisbane on an 18-night itinerary, departing in late November. During the cruise line’s first season sailing from the Australian city, vacationers can choose among a wide range of eight- to 11-night, round-trip itineraries that take them to Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands and Fiji in the South Pacific. The ship also will offer seven-night Queensland sailings which feature an overnight at Cairns. Additionally, a 14-night New Zealand itinerary will take guests to Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Akaroa, and Dunedin, as well as cruise Dusky, Doubtful, and Milford sounds.

Recently having undergone an extensive revitalization, Legend of the Seas offers guests seven delicious dining options, including the cruise line’s signature Chops Grille steakhouse, Izumi Asian Cuisine, Park Café gourmet deli, and the exclusive Chef’s Table, a multi-course dining and wine-pairing experience hosted by the executive chef and sommelier. Most exciting has been the addition of the Centrum aerial-acrobatic extravaganza, making the ship’s central five-deck atrium an unexpectedly spectacular entertainment venue. Every stateroom and bathroom also have been renewed and new ship-wide technology enhancements, such as an oversized LED movie screen poolside, digital signage at elevator lobbies, flat-panel televisions in staterooms, and bow-to-stern WiFi service, help offer guests the most contemporary vacation experience. Suite guests and the most loyal Crown & Anchors Society members also respectively enjoy exclusive access to the new Concierge Club and Diamond Club lounges, while the youngest guests – age six- to 36-month old – can rest soundly in the ship’s new Royal Babies & Tots Nursery. Throughout, guests will enjoy Royal Caribbean’s world-renowned friendly and engaging GOLD Anchor Service.

AIDAluna fitted with exhaust gas emission treatment system

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 07 May 2014 07 May 2014

AIDAluna of AIDA Cruises has left the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg after extensive maintenance work that was carried out from April 26 to May 5, 2014. "Work on the cruise ship included among others the installation of the first elements of a comprehensive filter system with which AIDA Cruises is gradually fitting out its fleet," said AIDA Cruises, which is part of Carnival Corp & plc

The system for the treatment of exhaust gas emissions, which was developed within the Carnival Group, uses a new technology built in a compact form making it possible to technically integrate all of the main cleaning stages for the first time. After its stay at the shipyard, AIDAluna is now fitted with the first element of the system - a so-called "scrubber" - that reduces sulfur oxide emissions by around 90 percent. Further elements of the exhaust gas treatment system will be installed in due course.

Apart from this, scheduled class and maintenance work was carried out on AIDAluna, including on the stabilizers, steering gear, the ship's body and the machinery. The deck floorings, staterooms and public areas are also restored to new glory after the visit to the shipyard: the deck floorings were replaced - including more than 2,000 m² of carpeting - upholstery was cleaned, and painting and leather treatment work carried out.

Another new feature is the installation of a face recognition system at the photo shop. When guests scan in their board cards, they can now see all photos of themselves on a monitor, and individually select which ones they wish to print as mementoes. Thanks to digitalization, AIDA will reduce its consumption of photo paper and printing chemicals by around 50 percent, making yet another contribution to environmental conservation. In addition, the photo shop’s printing technology has been upgraded, and the display cabinets refurbished.

Fincantieri plans to raise €600 million in IPO - report

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 05 May 2014 05 May 2014

Fincanteri, the Italian state owned shipbuilder that is market leader in cruise ships, is preparing to go public on the Milan stock exchange and raise €600 million in the planned initial public offering (IPO) of shares, a report on the website of the 24 ore newspaper says.

AIDAprima floated out in Nagasaki

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 03 May 2014 03 May 2014

On May 3, 2014, at 2 p.m. local time, the dry-dock gates opened for AIDAprima for the first time at the Tategami Plant of Nagasaki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) in Nagasaki, Japan. The cruise ship has touched water and has successfully demonstrated its stability and buoyancy.

Then AIDAprima was hauled during an about one-hour journey from the MHI Tategami shipyard to the Kojagi Dock on the outskirts of Nagasaki. Before the ship docks there for further fittings, diverse technical systems will be extensively tested in the next days.

The highlights of the ship of a totally new AIDA generation include the Beach Club housed beneath a weather-independent transparent dome, the "Four Elements" with water slide, climbing walls, and the brand new AIDA Mini Club providing childcare for young children 6 months and older.

A completely new kind of hull design increases energy efficiency considerably. On AIDAprima, a comprehensive filter system for reducing emissions will be used for the first time. With this yet unrivaled exhaust treatment technology all three significant emissions, namely soot particles, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur oxide will be reduced by between 90 and 99 percent.
 
With 124,500 GRT, a length of 300 meters, and a width of 37.60 meters, AIDAprima can accommodate around 3,300 passengers and will depart on its maiden voyage from Yokohama on October 1, 2015.