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MSC Cruises and Air France KLM sign letter of intent

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 December 2013 09 December 2013

MSC Cruises and Air France KLM have announced the signature of a letter of intent aimed at creating synergies between the two companies and improving their cooperation in common areas of business.

Patrick Alexandre, Executive Vice President Commercial, Sales and Marketing Air France KLM and Henri de Peyrelongue, Senior vice president Europe & North Africa joined Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman and Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises CEO in Geneva to sign the heads of agreement.

Vago declared: "MSC Cruises calls in 180 ports worldwide, and we are proud to bring our ships close to MSC travellers’ homes. However, as we increasingly diversify our product offerings, reaching new destinations, the combination of fly & cruise becomes essential. We are therefore pleased to be taking this step with Air France KLM today, expanding and complementing our network operations. This letter of intent will allow us to enhance MSC travellers’ journey experience even further."

Alexandre added: "The signature of this letter of intent with MSC Cruises confirms the willingness of Air France KLM to meet even more closely our customers’ needs. With the signature of this letter of intent, MSC travellers will benefit from products and services offered by the Air France KLM worldwide network. Together we will offer tailor-made solutions to our customers."

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise company employing 15,500 staff in 45 countries around the world. In 2014, the 12 ships in its ultra-modern fleet are expected to carry just under 1.7 million travellers.

Air France KLM is a major player in the air transport industry employing 100,000 staff around the world. The Group operates the leading long-haul network on departure from Europe. In 2012, Air France KLM carried 77.4 million passengers and 1.4 million tonnes of cargo.

Annual Full Metal Cruise on Mein Schiff 1 in April

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 December 2013 06 December 2013

TUI Cruises will stage its annual Full Metal Cruise again next year, this time on board Mein Schiff1 that sail on a five night Mediterranean cruise from Palma de Mallorca on 11 April.

The bands so far confirmed to participate are Hammerfall, Subway to Sally, JBO and Saltatio Mortis. In addition to performances on board the ship, there will be events at ports of call and the Hamburg based company said in a statement that more details would be disclosed in the near future.

Azamara appoints Richard Twynham Managing Director in UK

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 06 December 2013 06 December 2013

Richard Twynam has been named as the first UK managing director of Azamara Club Cruises. He joins the company from Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Holidays, where he headed cruise business, Travel weekly said in a news bulletin.

He will lead a new 10-strong team dedicated to the two-ship destination-focused cruise company.
In another move, former RCL Cruises commercial planning and analysis chief David Duff becomes commercial director for Azamara in the UK.

Azamara president and chief executive Larry Pimentel said: “The UK and Ireland market continues to be one of the largest and most important for Azamara Club Cruises and is going from strength to strength.We are excited to welcome Richard Twynam to lead this evolution as we continue to grow and invest in our business in the UK. Now is a really exciting time for the business as the expansion continues.”

Azamara is part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) group, which is setting up a new organisation in UK whereby its three main brands - Azamara, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity - will have their own organisations in the country. In the past, they all operated under the RCL Cruises organisation.

Thirteen of the 40 vessels in the RCCL group fleet are managed and operated from the UK as they have been entered in the UK tonnage tax system.

American Cruise Lines opening Salt Lake City sales/reservation center

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 December 2013 05 December 2013

American Cruise Lines – the largest U.S. cruise company – announced today its expansion to the Salt Lake City area with the opening of a brand new sales/reservation center scheduled for mid-January 2014. The newly-added Sandy, Utah location will initially open up more than 35 sales positions. The company is currently hiring for various sales positions, including managers, supervisors and trainers.

Headquartered in Connecticut, American Cruise Lines specializes in upscale river and small ship cruises in the United States. It carries passengers from all over the U.S. and around the globe. The line has experienced a high growth rate, adding new ships and itineraries each year, most recently returning overnight cruising to the American Heartland on the Mississippi River and Alaska.

Continued growth and popularity of American Cruise Lines’ unique upscale river and small ship cruises has led to an immediate need for an additional sales/reservation center. Interested people are encouraged to visit the website to apply or call 800-366-6740. The company offers a complete training program, extraordinary earning potential and a competitive benefits package.

Cunard Line and P&O Cruises unveil new UK commission package

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 December 2013 05 December 2013

P&O Cruises and Cunard Line have announced a new UK travel agent remuneration package following months of consultation with the trade, the two Carnival Corp & plc group companies said in a joint statement.

A new base rate of commission payment has been agreed, together with tailored marketing support for individual agents.

A base rate of 7.5% commission will be paid to all agents for both brands from December 9, 2013 and covers all departures from this date onwards. In addition, agents are paid commission on packaged flights when booking Caribbean and Mediterranean fly/cruises, as a direct result of agent feedback.

The change comes after a period of transformation within the business which includes a new senior leadership team, revised pricing structure to encourage early bookings, the introduction of a fly/Med programme for P&O Cruises and an expanded fly/Med programme for Cunard.

Sales and distribution support director Chris Truscott said: “The new commission structure recognises the absolute value we place on agents, who are critical to our business, and is part of a much wider process of positive change for both brands.”

“We listened, we promised and we have delivered,” said Truscott. “This signals a real step change in our relationship with the trade. We have trialled a number of initiatives with our travel agent partners during this year to assess which marketing channels perform the best.

“Our Agent Matters survey in the summer revealed five key areas for attention. As a result, we now pay commission on our packaged flights to the Caribbean and Mediterranean, which now gives agents far more value per booking and gives us a competitive advantage.

“We have offered over 300 fam trips for agents, we have made our sales team far more accessible and we have introduced a simplified, transparent, easy to sell pricing policy. Commission was the last piece of the jigsaw and the new package reflects a mutually beneficial approach to agents for P&O Cruises and Cunard.

“Combined with our announcement of the construction of Britannia, the largest ship ever built specifically for the UK market, we are demonstrating our continued commitment to the UK cruise industry and to cementing long term relationships with our trade partners.”