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Two FleetPro managed Avalon river cruise ships launched in Amsterdam

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 20 February 2014 20 February 2014

FleetPro River (formerly River Advice) announced the launch of two river cruise ships for Avalon Waterways; The Avalon Poetry II and Avalon Impression. These state of the art ships are part of a series of twelve Avalon vessels FleetPro is managing.

The Avalon Poetry II and the Avalon Impression offer an intimate cruise setting along the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers. Like their sister ships, the Avalon Artistry II and Avalon Visionary, the Poetry II and Impression feature two full decks of suites offering Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows that transform the living space into a unique Open-Air Balcony. The 200 square feet, Panorama Suites are more than 30% larger than the industry standard, giving guests the rare opportunity to wake up to the most enchanting
sceneries.

Onboard amenities include an alternative dining option in the Panorama Bistro, complimentary Wi-Fi access, an expanded fitness center, and a spacious Sky Deck with premium lounge chairs, whirlpool, and light al fresco lunches at the open-air bistro. These beautiful passenger cruise vessel have a variety of restaurants, bars, and extensive spa and leisure facilities.

A third new 2014 new build Avalon vessel (Avalon Illumination) will be delivered in April, 2014. "We are proud to play such an important part in the expansion of Avalon’s growth on the European rivers. The ships and accommodation will provide the most optimal river cruise experience for the Avalon guests. In the development and building, we completely focused on designing a ship offering the highest quality vacation and delivering an optimal destination experience. I am so proud to see that this objective is fully accomplished. We are honored that Avalon Waterways has chosen us to manage these quality ships.” says Robert Straubhaar President and CEO of FleetPro.

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.

The American Queen Steamboat Company extends partnership with National Trust for Historic Preservation

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 February 2014 19 February 2014

The American Queen Steamboat Company, owner and operator of the U.S-flagged American Queen and the American Empress, announces the extension of its partnership with The National Trust for Historic Preservation. In an effort to preserve American heritage, the company will donate $100,000 to the National Trust's Campaign to Save America's National Treasures on behalf of guests sailing on the line's two riverboats during the 2014 season. The American Queen and American Empress are also the only vessel members of Historic Hotels of America, designated for their contributions to delivering legendary hospitality and a classic hotel-style experience on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Columbia and Snake Rivers.

"Our guests share a passion for discovering America's heartland and the Pacific Northwest. We are delighted to make this contribution restoring and maintaining important landmarks protected by The National Trust for Historic Preservation," shares Ted Sykes, president and COO of the American Queen Steamboat Company. "The American Queen Steamboat Company recognizes our responsibility to carry on traditions, educate guests and we embrace the Historic Hotels of America membership of our two riverboats. "

Through the partnership, American Queen travelers have the opportunity to learn more about the National Trust's National Treasure sites, located along the Mississippi River as well as the Pacific Northwest, where the American Empress will launch April 2014. The American Queen Steamboat Company is the contributing sponsor of the Mississippi Delta Heritage Area, Manhattan Project Historic Site in Washington and the Willamette Falls Navigation Canal and Locks in Oregon. Special attention to preservation concepts and techniques, as well as the work of architects, historians and other professionals in the field of historic preservation are highlighted onboard and onshore.

The National Trust's National Treasures are irreplaceable, critically threatened places across the country where the National Trust for Historic Preservation is making a deep organizational investment. Guided by more than 60 years of experience, the organization is taking direct action to protect these places and promote their history and significance, engaging local preservationists to help advance the cause of preservation nationally.

Costa launches career website for shipboard and shoreside jobs

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 February 2014 19 February 2014

Costa Crociere launched www.career.costacrociere.it, a website dedicated exclusively to recruiting office staff and crew members for its ships.

The site is available in Italian and English, and lists all available vacant positions. In addition, applicants can submit an online application for a particular position, send a resume without a specific job in mind or find full details about the company, its mission and values.

"We're always on the lookout for talented young people and experienced professionals who are motivated to work with passion for the common objective of making our guests happy," said Costa Crociere Vice President Human Resources Marialuisa Bozzano. "By means of this new site we'll be able to have a direct link with anyone who's interested in joining our company."

The website provides an overview of all employment opportunities offered by Costa Crociere S.p.A. The international company headquartered in Genoa, Italy, operates three cruise brands - Costa Cruises, German brand AIDA Cruises and Spanish line Iberocruceros. With a combined fleet of 27 ships in service, plus three more due for delivery by 2016, Costa is Europe's largest cruise company. The combined group has a workforce of more than 27,000 employees from 70 countries.

In 2014 the Costa Cruises brand expects to have around 1,200 shipboard new hires, thanks to the new flagship Costa Diadema, which is due for delivery Oct. 30, 2014.

Career opportunities in Costa's shoreside offices in 14 countries around the world also are listed. The site has details about training programs and courses of instruction offered free of charge and arranged in collaboration with several Italian provincial administrations. The site will enable Costa to manage the recruitment process quickly and efficiently, and during the personnel-selection process job candidates can complete tests and questionnaires online.

Most job openings are for shipboard positions, said Bozzano. In the Hotel Department open positions are mainly those in contact with guests, including cruise staff, receptionists and restaurant personnel. Jobs on offer for deck and engine seafarers include first and second deck officer, first and second engineer, nurses and technical personnel.

Knowledge of English is a requirement for all shipboard jobs.

In Costa's shoreside offices positions are available in a number of areas including sales and marketing, human resources, contact center, marketing and marine and nautical operations.

The website also offers opportunities for young people with no previous work experience. Currently there are two training programs for European citizens, with places for 20 guest-service operators (receptionists) and 20 cruise staff. Tuition is provided free of charge and is designed to lead to an eventual offer of employment. The programs are co-funded by the European Social Fund and the Provincial Administration of Genoa, with job offers guaranteed for at least 60 percent of participants.

The career website is accessible worldwide, both in countries where Costa hires employees directly and in those where it uses recruiting agencies, whose contact information is provided on the site.

In addition to Costa Crociere's new website the Italian company is also on LinkedIn.

Costa Cruises was named one of CRF Institute's Top Employers 2014 Italy at a ceremony in Milan, Italy, Feb. 18, 2014. The award recognizes organizations that achieve the highest standards of excellence in human resources management.

Top Employer certification is bestowed based on an in-depth analysis of a company's policies regarding communication, diversity and inclusion, knowledge management, ability to attract and develop talent, training, compensation and benefits, and working conditions.

CRF Institute is an independent global certification organization specializing in human resources management research. Details about the certification as well as photos from the awards ceremony can be found at www.top-employers.com.

Royal Caribbean International unveils 2015 European programmes

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 February 2014 19 February 2014

Following the news that both Anthem of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will call Europe home from summer 2015, Royal Caribbean International unveiled the itineraries for the five other ships that will sail the region in 2015, including three from the UK.

The company, which has 21 ships in all, will employ six ships in Europe next year. It is the contemporary market unit of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) group.

Both Anthem of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas will share the Port of Southampton from May 2015 until late October 2015 while Brilliance of the Seas will return to her home port of Harwich. Serenade of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas complete the cruise line’s European deployment with each sailing European waters from summer 2015, the company said in a statement.

Serenade of the Seas will join Anthem of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas in the North Sea in summer 2015, and offer a range of Scandinavia and Russia, as well as Norwegian Fjords, sailings from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden. Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas 2015 itineraries will open for booking on 26 February 2014. Cruise only prices from £519.00 on Serenade of the Seas

Adventure of the Seas will sail three- to 16-night, roundtrip itineraries to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, or Madeira, Azores and Canary Islands. The ship also will sail two trans-Atlantic Ocean Voyages – a 12-night itinerary from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Southampton on 3 May 2015, and from Southampton to Port Canaveral, Fla. on a 15-night return itinerary on 16 October. Cruise only prices from £279.00 for three night sailing.

Offering holidaymakers a second British port to embark on a Royal Caribbean holiday, Brilliance of the Seas will reposition from Tampa, Florida. to its homeport of Harwich, England, on a 14-night trans-Atlantic Ocean Voyage on 4 May 2015, and continue with 12-night roundtrip Scandinavia and Russia sailings from mid-May. A 29 July sailing will take guests on a special 12-night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland itinerary, featuring an overnight call at Reykjavik, Iceland.

Serenade of the Seas also will offer holidaymakers seven- to 13-night Scandinavia, Russia and Norwegian Fjord itineraries from May through August. The ship will sail from Copenhagen from May through June and in the month of August, bookending sailings from Stockholm from mid-June through July.

Guests also can choose from four repositioning cruises on Serenade of the Seas. The 11 April 2015, sailing will take guests on a 13-night Caribbean itinerary from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Boston, Massachusetts, followed by a 15-night trans-Atlantic Ocean Voyage to Copenhagen via the North Sea. Finally, a 16-night westbound trans-Atlantic Ocean Voyage from Copenhagen to Cape Liberty via Iceland will depart on 30 August.

Additionally, Rhapsody of the Seas will offer three 10- and 11-night Black Sea itineraries from Istanbul, Turkey, and then sail a variety of seven- to 11-night Greek and Turkey itineraries from Rome (Civitavecchia, Italy). Finally, Splendour of the Seas will offer seven-night Greek Isle and Turkey itineraries from Venice, Italy. Rhapsody of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas’ summer 2015 season will be open to the general public on 18 February 2014. Cruise only prices from £519.00 on Rhapsody of the Seas.

Norwegian to host webinar for UK agents 26 February

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 February 2014 19 February 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line will be hosting a webinar focusing on its new preview brochure at 9.15am on 26 February 2014, the next in the series of Partners First Webinars.

Hosted by Francis Riley, general manager & vice president international and Nick Wilkinson, director business development UK, Ireland & Scandinavia, discussions will include information about the 2015-16 preview brochure, which includes new European cruises to the Norwegian Fjords, North Cape and around Britain.

Agents will be able to catch up on Norwegian Getaway’s inaugural celebrations (with lots of agent photos), including the successful ‘Try Before you Buy’ taster cruise. The advantages of Norwegian Cruise Line’s all new and improved Travel Partners Website, which now combines trade resources and online learning portal NCL U in one seamless interface, will also be discovered.

Francis Riley general manager & vice president international said “This webinar will give all Partners First agents the opportunity to find out the latest news and developments at Norwegian Cruise Line. I’m looking forward to helping our key travel partners to discover more about how best they can sell to their clients, staying on top of news and trends.”