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Uniworld christens its latest "Super Ship"

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 29 March 2014 29 March 2014

Uniworld launched its new "Super Ship," the S.S. Catherine on March 27, 2014 in Lyon, France following a christening ceremony. The ship’s Godmother, famous French actress Catherine Deneuve, led the red-carpet event complete with a live band and a ceremonial breaking of a bottle of Dom Pérignon Champagne across the bow. The inauguration was attended by 150 industry guests who will then experience the three-day sailing launch of Uniworld’s newest addition.

Like its sister ships, the S.S. Antoinette and River Beatrice, the S.S. Catherine has many unique features and was expertly designed by Mrs. Beatrice Tollman, President and Founder of Uniworld’s sister company The Red Carnation Hotel Collection; her daughter, Toni Tollman; and Brian Brennan, Projects Director. The ship offers 80 staterooms, 5 suites and one Royal Presidential Suite.

Decorations include original commissioned and antique artwork alongside exquisite details reflected throughout the Uniworld fleet. A unique, magnificent Murano chandelier decorates the lobby alongside a glass elevator, which features a waterfall cascading down one side. The S.S. Catherine boasts a signature Bar du Leopard, complete with cinema facilities, referencing the famous Leopard Lounges found in some Red Carnation Hotels. The Super Ship also features a spacious Van Gogh Lounge, elegant Cézanne Restaurant, cozy bistro, coffee and tea bar, swimming pool, Serenity River Spa, fireplace and fitness center.

Like all Uniworld ships, the S.S. Catherine serves high-quality cuisine made from the finest ingredients. Daily visits to the local farmers’ markets ensure that Uniworld guests can expect gourmet dishes for every meal.

“I am confident that the S.S. Catherine will continue setting the standard of excellence in luxury river cruising,” said Guy Young, President of Uniworld. “She will allow us to offer more capacity to support our popular Burgundy and Provence and Grand France itineraries.”

Europe shines, Egypt suffers in 2013 UK river cruise bookings

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 March 2014 27 March 2014

The continued investment in new river cruise ships has led to a 22% increase in the number of UK passengers taking a European river holiday in 2013, but the continued unrest in Egypt has hit badly the business on the Nile, figures released by Cruise Lines’ International Association (CLIA) UK & Ireland show.

The number of British passengers on European river cruises in 2013 increased to 109,800 from 90,000 in the previous year, while those cruising outside Europe numbered 21,700, a sharp fall from 39,800 in the previous year. Nile lost 57% of the business, with just 12,200 British passengers last year, while the Far East suffered a fall of 38% to 4,300 passengers.

“European river cruising is in the process of a major product re-invention and this is reflected by UK travel agents reporting a surge in demand for river cruises. In just the last two years (2012-13), 27 new ships have been introduced on Europe’s rivers and 24 more are due during 2014,” CLIA said.

The previous generation of river cruise ships were small with few if any cabins with balconies. Dining was limited to one venue and fixed times while entertainment options were limited. This has changed radically with the new generation of ships.

A third of European river cruise ships have been built within the last ten years - a quarter within the last five. These are larger than their predecessors with some having a new-style twin-deck design. They also offer the kind of multiple dining venues, spa facilities and range of cabins with balconies which have already combined to transform the ocean cruising.

Another key change is that most river cruise brands have now moved towards a more comprehensive and easier-to-understand all-inclusive pricing model, CLIA stated.

Royal Caribbean Quantum class ships to feature UK chef Jamie Oliver restaurant

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 March 2014 27 March 2014

Royal Caribbean International, the contemporary market unit of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) group, says it has teamed up with Jamie Oliver, the British celebrity chef, who will have his restaurant on the two Quantum class ships the line has on order.

"In yet another first for Britain’s best loved chef, Jamie’s Italian and leading holiday company Royal Caribbean International today announce that it will open the first Jamie Oliver eaterie at sea. The company’s most innovative resort ships, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas will feature a Jamie’s Italian. ‘Anthem of the Seas’ will open to guests during spring 2015 and sail from Southampton whilst ‘Quantum of the Seas’ will open to guests during autumn 2014 and sail from New York," Royal Caribbean said.

The addition of Jamie’s Italian to the restaurant portfolio aboard the Royal Caribbean ships reflects the holiday company’s plans to completely reimagine dining at sea. Smaller, flexible and personalised main restaurants and a collection of smaller, modern and distinct eateries such as ‘Jamie’s Italian’ and experiential restaurant ‘Wonderland’ will cater for the full spectrum of food lover. The new approach to dining will feature exclusively on Royal Caribbean International ships ‘Quantum of the Seas’ and ‘Anthem of the Seas’ replacing the Captain’s Table style dining usually associated with the cruise holiday experience.

“I’m thrilled to partner with Royal Caribbean, a brand that continually pushes the limits of what’s possible, to debut my very first restaurants at sea onboard the new Quantum-class ships,” said Jamie Oliver. “Royal Caribbean shares my approach to food and dining, which is to serve simple, fresh ingredients in a warm, inviting ambience. I couldn’t be more excited to bring my love of Italian cooking to their guests with Jamie’s Italian. It’s going to be brilliant!”

Since opening its first restaurant in Oxford in May 2008, Jamie’s Italian has become one of the biggest success stories in high street eating. The quality of the food and service, coupled with the affordability of the food, has meant that customers return time and time again. The casual dining experience is based on offering tasty and simple Italian food, using only the best fresh ingredients. All produce used in Jamie’s Italian is higher welfare and the restaurants aboard the Royal Caribbean ships will be no different.

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Executive Vice President, Operations, Royal Caribbean International explains “Jamie Oliver is known for pushing the boundaries within the world of food and Royal Caribbean has a history of pioneering many firsts within the holiday industry. With ‘Jamie’s Italian’ creating unique but accessible dining with food that is at its freshest and ethically sourced, we are able to guarantee guests will only be served the freshest Italian dishes possible while on holiday with Royal Caribbean. This is just one element of a revolutionised dining concept to ensure the options we have on board reflect what today’s modern family looks for from their holiday.”

CMV takes over sales and marketing of Passat Kreuzfahrten in further German drive

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 March 2014 26 March 2014

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), the Uk based cruise shipping company that recently acquired Transocean Kreuzfahrten in Germany, said it has taken over of the shore side sales and marketing management of Passat Kreuzfahrten and expansion in the growing German cruise market.

"As part of this strategic alliance, CMV will assume full control and responsibility on 1st April 2014 for the distribution, marketing and commercial shore side management of Passat’s premium rated cruise vessel, Delphin (470pax) and 13,000 capacity year round cruise programme," the company said in a statement.

This development follows the earlier announcement in January of CMV’s take-over of Transocean Kreuzfahrten and Astor’s (600pax) 7,000 summer capacity German programme and 17,000 capacity river cruise programme. The four ship river cruise fleet includes; Belvedere (176pax), Bellefleur (150pax), Bellejour (180pax) and the Sans Souci (80pax) featuring the Rhine, Main, Danube, Mosel, Neckar, Elbe, Oder, Havel, Rhône and Saône rivers.

The Transocean acquisition also included its Munich based ship management unit, whereby the CMV group is no longer a tour operarator but manages both Astor and Marco Polo inhouse. Discovery belongs to All Leisure group, the UK based niche cruise shipping company, that has said it will sell the ship at the end of the 2014 summer season. CMV has not yet stated whether or not the ship will continue with it in 2015.

During the winter season (Nov-May), Astor is operated on the Australian market under the CMV brand home porting in Fremantle (Perth) with a programme capacity of 10,000 passengers.
Christian Verhounig, CEO and Chairman of CMV explains, “This important new alliance with two established cruise lines and popular premium brands will provide valuable synergies, enhanced distribution and competitiveness with coordinated and measured sales initiatives. We will be retaining the existing Offenbach based sales office and the team will be headed up by the highly respected Klaus Ebner as Director of Sales & Marketing”.

Chris Coates, Commercial Director of CMV added, “Germany is now Europe’s fastest growing and highest yield European cruise market and while this expansion has no direct effect on the core and growing 49,000 passenger capacity UK market, this new initiative strengthens the Group’s overall international presence in line with strategic development and growth plans”.

CMV is part of the Global Maritime Group and also operates three other ocean vessels, the Marco Polo (800pax), Discovery (700pax) and Astor (600pax) plus the river vessel, Vienna I (160pax) under the new premium plus Signature River Cruise brand. In 2014, the combined ocean fleet passenger carryings are projected to exceed 70,000 passengers representing almost 100% growth since 2010.

The 16,631gt Delphin that was built in Finland in the mid-1970s is owned by Vishal Cruises Pvt, Ltd and is chartered to Passat Kreuzfahrten Gmbh. It has 237 cabins and carries 470 passengers with a wide range of well appointed public facilities across seven passenger decks and is equipped for worldwide ocean cruising for the premium sector. Destinations include Scandinavia & Russia, the British Isles, Greenland, Iceland and the Arctic Circle, the Mediterranean, South America, Antarctica and Africa. During the summer, Delphin’s dual home ports are Kiel and Bremerhaven in Northern Germany.

Seabourn hires Robin West as Manager, Expedition Operations & Planning

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 March 2014 26 March 2014

Seabourn announced that it has hired veteran expedition leader Robin West as its Manager, Expedition Operations & Planning, to head up its cruise programs in Patagonia and the Antarctic, as well as developing new expedition land elements and tours for the company in other regions around the world. The appointment follows West's role as expedition leader during Seabourn's highly successful inaugural season of four voyages aboard its ultra-luxury Seabourn Quest in Antarctica and Patagonia between November of 2013 and February of 2014.

"Robin was a key to the enormous success of our first season in Antarctica," said Seabourn's president Richard D. Meadows, "and not solely because of the depth of his knowledge and expertise, but also because of his skillful collaboration with Seabourn's shipboard team, coordination with the large and diverse expedition team on board, and his understanding of the expectations of our guests. Those same abilities will continue to help Seabourn expand the definition of ultra-luxury travel."

A native of South Africa, West is a graduate of the University of Port Elizabeth. After graduating he founded two companies offering scuba diving and outdoor adventure experiences in many of South Africa's most beautiful and exciting areas. Expanding his experiences beyond Africa, he has participated in expedition travel operations since 2002, sailing on numerous ships and planning and executing expedition programs for half a dozen companies. He has spent multiple seasons in regions from the circumpolar Arctic to the Antarctic, including East and West Africa, the South Pacific, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, Australia and the Mediterranean.

At Seabourn, West will be responsible for planning and managing Seabourn's cruises in the Patagonia and Antarctic regions and will continue his role as onboard expedition leader during the company's Antarctica season. He will also act on the company's behalf in preparing the detailed daily landing schedules in Antarctica and hiring and managing the larger expedition team. In addition, he will further enhance the company's current deployments with added opportunities for Seabourn guests to enjoy the company's award-winning, six-star luxury and onboard amenities in combination with authentic, adventurous experiences ashore.

Seabourn's award-winning fleet of intimate, all-suite ships circles the globe throughout the year, sailing to the world's most desirable destinations at their peak seasons including marquee cities and lesser-known yachting harbors and hideaways that few travelers ever see. Remarkably all-inclusive fares offer tremendous value for one of the world's finest travel experiences.