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Seventeen hour dispute breaks out over lost port call on Costa Victoria - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 February 2014 07 February 2014

Some of the 300 passengers who refused to leave Costa Victoria of Costa Crociere for 17 hours on Thursday in Hong Kong have blamed tour company Miramar Travel for escalating the row by accusing travellers of greed and of “hijacking” the ship, the South China Morning Post reports on its website.

The passengers staged a protest on the vessel at the end of a five-day cruise, demanding more compensation for the cancellation of a visit to Vietnam’s Halong Bay. They delayed the journey of 2,000 passengers booked on a cruise to Malaysia which had been due to depart on Thursday afternoon.

The stand-off escalated after a fiery meeting on Wednesday with a Miramar representative, passenger Peter Cheung, 57, said. “The representative said something like ‘you guys are just causing a stir for money’,” said Cheung, who was among the last group of passengers to leave the boat at around 10.30pm. “One traveller was so angry hearing that comment he took out a pile of US dollars and threw them at the rep.”

After telling passengers the company was offering no compensation in addition to the HK$340 offered by the cruise liner, the Miramar representative failed to deal with the situation.

“The rep was quite immature… he didn’t even say sorry,” Cheung said. The mood deteriorated further on Thursday when Costa staff refused to provide water and Miramar’s general manager Alex Lee Chun-ting told a radio programme that passengers had “hijacked” the ship.

“Even an educated person would become irrational after hours without water,” Cheung said, adding one man was so angry he threatened to jump off the boat. Passengers only received drinks after the Travel Industry Council intervened on Thursday afternoon.

Things would have turned out differently if senior Miramar managers had started discussions with disgruntled tourists early in the morning, another passenger Windy Kwok Pui-fong said. “I can’t believe the crisis management of such a big agency could be so poor,” she said.

Miramar manager Lee, who met with 20 passengers around midnight, refused to comment on the behaviour of his staff. On Thursday he suggested that the passenger who had thrown money had shown poor manners. Lawmaker Ann Chiang Lai-wan, who had been on the cruise, rejected suggestions that passengers had behaved like “bullies”. Refusing to leave the boat was the only bargaining power they had, she told a radio show on Friday, the report said.

Celebrity Cruises and Canyon Ranch to form spa and wellness partnership

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 February 2014 06 February 2014

Celebrity Cruises, the premium market unit in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) and Canyon Ranch, one of the world’s leading spa and wellness brands, have unveiled a partnership for the leading luxury cruise company to feature Canyon Ranch SpaClub at Sea facilities onboard 10 state-of-the-art Celebrity ships.

"Canyon Ranch and Celebrity will create the largest and most comprehensive SpaClub at Sea, and debut exclusive SpaClub services and treatments," Celebrity Cruises said in a statement, adding that the partnership would take effect from April 2014. Canyon Ranch currently operates the spa on Queen Mary 2 of Cunard Line, which is part of the Carnival Corp & plc group.

The Canyon Ranch SpaClub on Celebrity Cruises will include spa, beauty salon, wellness and fitness amenities featuring signature Canyon Ranch offerings. The industry-leading brands intend to develop the onboard experience by introducing exclusive SpaClub treatments and services tailored to the unique preferences of Celebrity’s guests, including new facial and body treatments, and unique yoga and meditation classes.

“We are passionate about providing our guests with unforgettable experiences, and this collaboration with Canyon Ranch is an important milestone in our drive to elevating guests’ modern luxury cruise holidays,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. "We want every aspect of our cruise offer – from dining and destinations to relaxing in beautiful spa surroundings – to be special, and the experts at Canyon Ranch will help us deliver on this promise."

Both Canyon Ranch and Celebrity Cruises have long been recognised as leaders in their respective industries and have received countless awards. The Canyon Ranch SpaClub at Sea division of Canyon Ranch has been recognised as a “Best Spa at Sea” from various industry publications’ readers choice awards, including Condé Nast Traveller, and Celebrity Cruises is consistently awarded top industry honours. The combination of these award-winning travel brands will result in an unrivalled holiday experience for discerning travellers seeking a taste of modern luxury at sea.

“It gives us great pleasure to offer our luxury spa experience to guests onboard Celebrity’s state-of the-art ships,” stated Peter Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Canyon Ranch. “Our approach to the wellness lifestyle perfectly complements that of Celebrity and we look forward to a long, prosperous relationship.”

The new spa menu features popular Canyon Ranch treatments, such as indulgent facials and facial enhancements, massage, thermal, Asian touch, and Reiki healing energy therapies. A selection of salon offerings, including hair care, nail, and makeup services, will also be offered. Fitness lovers can choose from private consultations to group classes, including yoga, Pilates, cycling, Mind/Body Connection and relaxation – led by Canyon Ranch-trained fitness experts. Wellness programmes such as personal exercise prescription, private nutritional consults, acupuncture, Chiropractic therapy and Canyon Ranch Healthy Feet centres will also be available on select ships. Additionally, Canyon Ranch health experts will provide onboard wellness lectures, workshops and cooking demonstrations.

Celebrity’s modern luxury holidays bring guests to inspiring destinations across all seven continents. In addition to its newly enhanced spa and wellness programming, the premium brand welcomes holidaymakers to experience its luxury “AquaClass” accommodations, which enhance the stateroom experience with additional spa-like elements as well as a host of other extras. AquaClass guests can exclusively dine in the chic specialty restaurant, Blu, and enjoy unlimited access to the Persian Garden, a relaxing oasis with heated mosaic lounge chairs and grottos releasing a variety of dry heat, aromatherapy-infused steam and mists into the air.

TUI Travel says online generated 24% of 2013 financial year revenue

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 February 2014 06 February 2014

TUI Travel plc, the London based tour operator whose business includes cruise brands Thomson Cruises, Quark Expeditions plus the shoreside services provider Intercruises, said the online business of the group accounted for 24% of its sales in the financial year to 30 September 2013.

"Of our direct sales, 35% is online which equates to £3.7 billion in revenue. There is still ample opportunity to increase direct distribution channels which will help us gain further margin across all our source markets," said Peter Long, CEO in a presentation of the group's results for the 2013 financial year.

Group revenues totalled £15.05 billion, an increase from £14.46 billion in the previous financial year, while net profit fell to £67 million from £137 million a year earlier. However, this was mainly due to a £188 million impairment charge; in the previous year the company only booked £20 million in such charges. Online sales of £3.7 billion thus equalled 24% of the group's total revenue.

"Our direct distribution channels are key to the Group’s success and enable us to increase margin and improve results. The number of holidays booked through our Mainstream websites continues to increase and this remains the core contributor for direct sales," Long said.

"We are an online business but we continue to drive further enhancements through technologies that amplify the customer experience at the front-end and drive further efficiencies in the back-end processes," he stated, adding that in in May the company had launched the award-winning TUI Digital Assistant in the UK as the ‘MyThomson’ mobile app. It was very well received by customers achieving a five star rating in the Apple App Store and topped the free download travel app chart shortly after launch.

"Since then, we have had in excess of 180,000 downloads proving we understand what our customers want and need from their travel provider. Post year end, we began the TUI Digital Assistant international roll-out with the ‘Meine TUI’ mobile app launch in the German source market," Long pointed out.

Costa Cruises launches 'MyCosta Mobile' free voice and text app

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 February 2014 04 February 2014

Costa Cruises has launched "MyCosta Mobile," a new application for smartphones and tablets that enables Costa guests to call and phone each other while cruising onboard its 14 ships with unlimited talk and text at no cost.

The user-friendly MyCosta Mobile is free to download and register. Before their cruise, guests simply download the application from the Apple, Android or Google Play store and install it on their smartphone or tablet. Once onboard, guests connect to the ship's Wi-Fi network, register and launch the app.

By accessing the application via the ship's Wi-Fi system, guests can socialize with other guests on their ship by phone or text through the closed network at no charge. The app also can be used to contact a stateroom or one of the ship's restaurants, spa desk, shore excursion office and more.

If a guest uses the mobile device to access the Web or contact someone not on the ship, then the customary roaming and shipboard Internet-access charges apply.

MyCosta Mobile is available for the iOS 5.0 operating system and newer versions of iPhones and iPads, as well as for smartphones and tablets that run on Android 2.3 and later mobile-operating systems. The application comes in six languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese.

Royal Caribbean's Navigator gets major makeover

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 February 2014 04 February 2014

Royal Caribbean International’s Navigator of the Seas is primed to resume year-round service from Galveston, Texas on February 5, 2014, after completing a month-long drydock revitalization. Part of an extensive fleetwide program to enhance every Royal Caribbean’ ship, Navigator of the Seas will WOW the Lone Star State with the area’s most innovative and contemporary Caribbean cruise vacation by introducing new and significantly enhanced dining options; debut a new FlowRider surf simulator; and offer a glimpse ahead toward the cruise line’s highly anticipated Quantum of the Seas.

Most anticipated of all the ship’s additions is the new FlowRider surf simulator, the center of the action atop the Sports Deck (deck 13), as well as the debut of Royal Caribbean’s first Virtual Balconies in 81 interior staterooms displaying expansive, real-time views of the ocean and destinations. Virtual Balconies were first announced for Quantum of the Seas, which debuts October 2014, and vacationers can be among the first to experience the innovation on Navigator of the Seas – even before the Quantum class is launched. Vacationers also can choose new Panoramic Ocean View staterooms, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls providing guests breathtaking, unobstructed views all the time.

Navigator of the Seas’ guests also can look forward to an expanded lineup of eight dining options, led by the debut of an all-new modern Mexican specialty restaurant Sabor, featuring a mouthwatering menu of authentic, modern and unexpected Mexican dishes, such as Oaxacan Ceviche of Red Snapper, Spicy Chicken Flautas, or Chicken and Roasted Corn Empanada, topped with Green mole and spicy peanut sauce – to name a few. Sabor diners also can delight in customized guacamole and salsas, made tableside right in front of their eyes, as well as an assortment of tacos, quesadillas and burritos, all made with the freshest ingredients. Sabor has a service charge of $25 per guest.

Guests can complement their experience with a curated menu of tequilas, mezcal, and Mexican beers, as well as delicious sangrias and tableside-mixed margaritas, for an additional charge. Sabor’s tequila flights also offer guests a chance to sample a trio of Plata, Reposado and Anejo tequila, or savor the nuances among three Reposado tequilas.

Furthermore, Navigator of the Seas’ guests will be the first to enjoy the fully revamped and elevated Chops Grille: The New American Steakhouse, which marries contemporary flair to traditional steakhouse offerings. The first among Royal Caribbean’s fleet to offer the new menu, Chops Grille on Navigator of the Seas will feature brand new selections, such as the Veal Chop Parmesan, slow broiled with caramelized shallots and topped with parmesan herb butter, a Slow-braised Short Rib of Beef with Bordelaise sauce, and a Dry-aged Steak Burger served on a brioche bun and topped with melted gruyere and pancetta. Guests also can still enjoy Chops Grille classic cuts, such as the 8 Oz. Filet Mignon, served with Béarnaise butter, and a 10 Oz. Grilled Sirloin Steak, as well as a range of new and delicious signature appetizers, soups, salads, and sides – such as new, decadent Truffled French Fries and Gruyere Cheese Tater Tots – that will complete the experience in the cruise line’s hallmark specialty restaurant. Chops Grille steakhouse has a service charge of $35 per guest.

Chops Grille also features two new premium selections of the finest quality cuts of beef in the world, a 16 Oz. dry-aged NY Strip Steak and a 20 Oz. dry-aged Porterhouse Steak (an additional $18 and $19 respectively), each USDA prime beef, dry-aged for four weeks to achieve the pinnacle of flavor, tenderness and aroma. This dry-aged process can only be found at select steakhouses around the world, and now, in a cruise industry first, is offered aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Chops Grille.

Navigator of the Seas’ guests also can choose exciting sushi and Asian fusion dishes in the ship’s new Izumi Japanese Cuisine (a la carte menu), and delicious classic Italian favorites in Giovanni’s Table Italian trattoria ($15 for lunch and $20 for dinner per guest). Rounding out Navigator of the Seas’ culinary experiences is the grand, three-story main dining room, newly renamed Sapphire, the casual-dining Windjammer Café, and complimentary room service from 5 – 12 a.m. Navigator of the Seas’ specialty restaurants are available for advance online reservations for booked guests at RoyalCaribbean.com.

Guests also will enjoy some of the more popular concepts that were introduced aboard Royal Caribbean’s ground-breaking Oasis-class ships, such as new digital signage, bow-to-stern Wi-Fi service, new flat-panel televisions in every stateroom, an oversized LCD movie screen overlooking the main pool, a new Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty member guests, and the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery for the youngest guests ages six to 36 months. Additionally, the ship’s Champagne Bar has been re-conceptualized into Royal Caribbean’s signature, retro-chic R Bar.

Navigator of the Seas will sail seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries every Sunday from Galveston, visiting exciting warm-weather getaways in the Caribbean, including; Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Falmouth, Jamaica; and George Town, Grand Cayman.