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MSC Cruises unveils management changes

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 February 2014 17 February 2014

From 20th March 2014 Oliviero Morelli will be moving from his current role of Product Director to take up the position of Managing Director for MSC Cruises Japan. In addition, Lorenzo Diamantini will be moving from his role as Sales Director for Ireland to take up the position of Deputy Executive Director for the Anglo Saxon markets in Geneva, reporting into Giles Hawke. As Lorenzo moves to Geneva, Stephen Moffett will add Ireland into his remit as Sales Director for MSC Cruises UK and Ireland, the company said in a statement.

To maintain the strength of the UK business and position us for future growth in the UK and Ireland, Lee Strongitharm has been appointed into the newly-created role of Commercial Director for MSC Cruises UK and Ireland. Lee joins from Carnival UK and will be responsible for all areas of activity related to MSC Cruises' operations in the UK and Ireland. This follows the recent announcement that Giles Hawke is now Executive Director to the UK, Ireland and Australia. Lee takes up his new role in April.

Giles Hawke commented “Lee brings with him a very impressive track record of achieving profitable growth from the UK and Ireland marketplace in both air and cruise sectors, which will be fundamental for MSC Cruises’ future ambitions. I am delighted to welcome him to lead our very talented UK and Ireland team.

Oliviero and Lorenzo have both worked for MSC Cruises for a number of years and these promotions reflect their contribution and achievements within the UK and Irish business. They will both be missed and will be great assets to the markets in their new roles. Stephen’s broader responsibility reflects his contribution to the UK business and gives him greater scope to use his experience and expertise within the UK and Ireland.”

Sabine Ficek, Finance Director, and Alessandra Pierleoni, Marketing Director, continue in their key roles within the MSC Cruises UK and Ireland leadership structure.

MSC Cruises says took record of more than 200,000 bookings in 30 days

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 February 2014 17 February 2014

MSC Cruises, the Geneva base cruise shipping company, says in the last 30 days the number of people who booked a cruise with the company reached a record high, totalling 208,262 travellers.

“Among some of the favourites of MSC’s future on board guests are MSC Divina’s glamorous exploration of the Caribbean during the summer, MSC Lirica’s sophisticated sailing through the hidden jewels of the Mediterranean and Northern Europe sailings, offering a unique perspective on some of the world’s most stunning natural wonders or a visit to the beautiful capital cities of the Baltic,” the company said in a statement.

Britannia attracts more pre-registrations in day than Azura in week - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 February 2014 17 February 2014

P&O Cruises , the UK focused contemporary market unit in the Carnival Corp & plc group, took more pre-registrations in one day last week for new ship Britannia than in a whole week for Azura before it launched in 2010, Travel Weekly reports in a daily newsletter emailed to Cruise Business.

Marketing director Christopher Edgington said pre-registrations, targeted at past passengers only, allowed clients to put their name down for specific cruises but not cabins. The maiden voyage, a 14-night Mediterranean cruise departing March 14 2015, was in high demand, as was a 12-night round-Britain cruise in July. They open for sale on March 27.

Speaking at Britannia’s float out - the moment when the dry-dock is flooded and water hits the hull for the first time – Edgington was quoted as saying: “Our past passengers are really excited about Britannia. We have created a ship that is right for them and for people who have never cruised by enhancing our signature features and adding exciting new ones.”

Passenger dies on Marco Polo as ship hit severe weather

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 February 2014 15 February 2014

A passenger on Cruise & Maritime Voyages' 22,080 gross ton Marco Polo has been killed in the English Channel and another airlifted to shore after their vessel was hit by a freak wave on Friday.

“The 85-year-old man died after being airlifted off the ship. The second passenger taken to shore was a woman in her 70s,” the Independent newspaper reported on its website. The huge wave battered ship as it headed for its home port of Tilbury in Essex following a 42-night voyage to Brazil.

Celebrity Cruises confirms withdrawal of Celebrity Century in 2015

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 February 2014 15 February 2014

Celebrity Cruises, the premium market unit in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) group, has confirmed that it will withdraw its oldest ship, the 1995 built Celebrity Century, from service next year. Earlier, reports have said the ship would joins RCCL’s Paris based Croisieres de France brand

“To celebrate the farewell season of Celebrity Century, the ship will host special events, including a newly introduced ‘President's 'Celebration of the Century' Cruise,’ during a year featuring a record number of ports of call and 17 new cruise destinations for the brand. The farewell season will also feature exclusive onboard programming and special offers for guests. Celebrity Century will leave the fleet in April 2015,” the company said in a statement.

Captain's Club loyalty members and holidaymakers can join Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, on the President's Celebration of the Century Cruise in Asia. The 14-night sailing from Singapore on Celebrity Century will depart on 8 March 2015, and guests will travel to destinations in Vietnam and the Philippines. Further special events and exclusive onboard programming will be announced shortly.

From March 2014 to April 2015, Celebrity Century will visit 77 ports across 32 countries, the most destinations worldwide of any other ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet. New exotic destinations include Manila and Boracay (Philippines), Bandar Seri Begawan (Muara) (Brunei), and Yangon (Rangoon) (Myanmar). Guests can take their pick from culture-rich experiences in Asia, Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Coast and South Pacific.