More News

Regent Seven Seas unveils 2014-2015 winter program

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 October 2013 13 October 2013

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has introduced its 2014-2015 Winter Collection featuring voyages to Asia, Africa, South America, South Pacific, Caribbean, Europe and Alaska. In total, the line's award-winning, all-suite vessels will sail 48 itineraries and 19 Extended Voyages to more than 200 destinations in 75 countries. The collection, which features voyages taking place from November 2014 through May 2015, includes 23 new destinations from Busan, South Korea to Zadar, Croatia.

"We are extremely excited about the launch of our upcoming Winter Season itineraries as Seven Seas Mariner will explore the South Pacific for the first time in five years, Seven Seas Voyager will call on an array of new ports in Africa and Asia and Seven Seas Navigator will offer more choice in the Caribbean than ever before," states Kunal S. Kamlani, the lines president. "Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers the only truly all-inclusive experience and continues to set the standard for the cruise industry, most recently adding complimentary Wi-Fi for concierge-level and higher guests."

Recognized as The Most Inclusive Luxury Cruise Experience in the world, all Regent Seven Seas Cruises sailings include two-for-one cruise fares, roundtrip air, unlimited shore excursions, premium spirits and fine wines and gratuities as well as a pre-cruise luxury hotel package, complimentary Wi-Fi and free land programs on select sailings in Africa and Asia for those who book concierge-level and higher suites.

Out of Africa and into the Mediterranean on Seven Seas Voyager

The 700-guest, all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager begins its season in Dubai, UAE; traveling to Cape Town, South Africa; and then to Singapore. Maiden ports of call explored from November through December 2014 include Maputo, Mozambique; Langkawi, Malaysia; Nosy Be/Nosy Komba, Madagascar; and Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

From mid-January 2015 to April 2015, Seven Seas Voyager visits Asia and the Pacific on six itineraries ranging from 14 to 21 nights, calling on Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo and Dubai. For the first time, the line is calling on Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Busan, South Korea; and Ishigaki and Kagoshima, Japan.

The month of May 2015 is spent in the Mediterranean with three itineraries, beginning with a 20-night journey from Dubai to Barcelona, followed by two seven-night sailings from Barcelona to Lisbon and then Lisbon to London. Highlighted ports include Petra, Jordan; Rhodes, Greece; Málaga, Spain; Oporto, Portugal; and Bordeaux, France.

Tahiti and the South Pacific to New Zealand and Australia on Seven Seas Mariner

The South Pacific and Tahiti are featured destinations for Seven Seas Mariners winter offerings. The 700-guest, all suite, all-balcony ship opens the season with the choice of a 16-night itinerary from Miami to Los Angeles or a 34-night voyage from Miami to Papeete, French Polynesia. New ports of call include Corinto, Nicaragua; Nawiliwili (Kauai) and Kahului (Maui), Hawaii; Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands; and Fakarava, French Polynesia.

Seven Seas Mariner then makes her way to New Zealand and Australia, discovering new ports along the way such as Raiatea, French Polynesia; Rangiroa, French Polynesia; Champagne Bay (Espiritu Santo), Vanuatu; Pago Pago, American Samoa; and Huahine, French Polynesia.

From March 2015 to mid-April 2015, she explores South America with three itineraries from Lima, Peru to Buenos Aires, Argentina; Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Rio de Janeiro to Barcelona, Spain. For the first time, the line calls on Natal, Brazil known for its blend of stunning beaches and historical monuments.

The ship culminates the season in the Mediterranean with a 10-night trip from Barcelona to Venice, Italy visiting Provence, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Florence/Pisa, Rome and Palermo, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; and for the first time, Zadar, Croatia.

From the Tropics of the Caribbean to the Fjords of Alaska on Seven Seas Navigator

Accommodating 490 guests, the all-suite Seven Seas Navigator starts the season with 16 Miami round trip sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. From ecotourism adventures in Belize City to the ultra-chic vibe of St. Barts, guests will be charmed and captivated by island life. Of note is the 24-night Eastern Caribbean/Amazon River itinerary that begins November 23, 2014 and includes calls on Santarém, Boca da Valeria, Manaus, Parintins and Alter do Chão, Brazil along the Amazon River.

In April 2015, Seven Seas Navigator makes a 10-night Miami round trip to Bermuda with stops in Port Canaveral, Jacksonville and Charleston. Later that month, she sails west to San Francisco calling on Key West; Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and San Diego transiting the Panama Canal along the way.

The ship returns to Alaska in May 2015 with two seven and one nine- and one 14-night itinerary. Ports include Vancouver; Prince Rupert and Victoria in British Columbia; Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Hoonah, Anchorage, Skagway in Alaska; and Astoria, Oregon.

Complimentary land programs for guests booked in Concierge Suites and higher

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering complimentary three-night pre- and post-cruise land programs in Africa and Asia for guests booking concierge-level and higher categories on select itineraries. The land programs include:

· Singapore: Angkor Wat Experience – features a two-night stay in Angkor Wat and a one-night stay in Singapore. Guests will enjoy tours to Banteay Srei, Angkor Thom, the Ta Prohm Temple, the Angkor Wat Temple and Angkor Wat at sunset;

· Beijing (Tianjin), China: Beijing & The Great Wall Experience – guests will enjoy three nights in Beijing with tours to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Great Wall at Juyongguan and the Changling Tomb of Ming Tombs;

· Cape Town or Johannesburg, South Africa: Safari – this land program features either a one-night stay in Cape Town or Johannesburg with a two-night African Safari where guests will enjoy breathtaking scenery and discover big game;

· Hong Kong, China: Jewels of Hong Kong – this tour features a three-night stay in Hong Kong with tours to the Flower, Jade and Stanley Markets, the Sacred Chi Lin Nunnery, the Nan Lian Garden of Sun Dynasty, a Sampan Boat Ride to the floating village of Aberdeen, and the Tin Hau and Man Mo Temples;

· Tokyo, Japan: Sunrise over Tokyo – guests will enjoy three nights in Tokyo with tours to the KMtoku-in Temple, Tokyo Tower, the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gk Shrine, Rappongi and Ginza, the Meiji Shrine, the SensM-ji Temple and Mount Fuji;

· Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Opulent Cities of the Emirates this three-night post land program includes tours to Dubai City, Burji Khalifa, Jumeirah Mosque, Jumeirah Beach and Dubai Museum.

Extended voyages for those with the luxury of time

For those who wish to spend a bit more time discovering new cultures and exotic destinations, Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers combination cruises consisting of one or more voyages, ranging from 26 to 85 nights. Additional amenities on select Extended Voyages include complimentary Business Class Air, door-to-door luggage delivery, a comprehensive visa package, phone time, unlimited Internet access, laundry including dry cleaning and pressing, and a special gift featuring a commemorative jacket, a designer tote bag and Regent Seven Seas Cruises' logo gear.

Hapag-Lloyd's Europa returns from the dry dock

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 October 2013 11 October 2013

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa has undergone a comprehensive redesign during its dry dock in Hamburg. A total of 156 suites have been furnished with new materials, carpets and furniture during the redesign. The full list of renovations featured 452 points and included, for example, new carpeting in the public areas and renovation work in the atrium and pool area.

A total of 650 specialists worked on the comprehensive modernisations, including 5,200 square metres of new carpeting and 1,000 square metres of renewed Bolidt flooring, and applied 25 tonnes of paint to the ship.

All 152 Veranda Suites on decks 5, 6, 7 and 9 were given a new colour scheme. Predominantly sandy and natural colours combined with berry tones and the select furniture, such as modern chairs, all contribute to a fresh and airy atmosphere. The living areas of the four SPA Suites on Deck 7 were also renovated with bright wall closets and new seating furniture. All public areas, corridors and staircases now feature new carpeting, woven exclusively for the Europa with its own design.

The atrium at the heart of the Europa was made even more beautiful. A new colour scheme, carpet islands and contemporary lounge furniture make the central area of the ship a comfortable and leisurely place. The renovation has also given the particularly popular pool area on decks 8 and 9 renewed splendour – the new tiles, maritime colours and floating lights immediately generate an extraordinary atmosphere, especially in the evenings.

Some culinary innovations can also be found on board. In future, late risers will be able to enjoy a late breakfast at Restaurant Dieter Müller. Besides breakfast specialities, the menu will feature a daily recommendation from the patron until 12.00 hrs – created especially by Dieter Müller.

Norwegian Jewel debuts in New Orleans this Sunday

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 October 2013 10 October 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line continues its commitment to New Orleans with the inaugural arrival this Sunday, October 13, of Norwegian Jewel, the largest and newest ship from the line to homeport in the Crescent City. The 2,376-passenger ship features Norwegian's signature Freestyle Cruising with 16 dining options, 13 bars and lounges and exclusive Nickelodeon programming and activities.

"We've taken the cruise experience up a notch in New Orleans this season by bringing one of our Jewel class ships here," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Lines president and CEO. "Norwegian Jewel enhances the cruise experience for guests with a wide range of amenities and accommodations to choose from."

Norwegian Jewel's weekly seven-day Western Caribbean cruises will depart New Orlean's Julia Street cruise terminal on Sundays from October 13, 2013 to April 13, 2014 with ports of call including: Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras); and Costa Maya (Mexico). Cruise fares start at $369 per person, double occupancy.

"The Norwegian Jewel demonstrates Norwegian's steadfast commitment to New Orleans with a newer and larger ship," said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. "Cruise passengers sailing out of the Port of New Orleans have yet another exciting option with this beautiful ship and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Norwegian Cruise Line for many years to come."

Norwegian Jewel offer guests the opportunity to sail in style in The Haven, Norwegians exclusive and luxurious accommodations which include the largest suites at sea the 5,000 square foot, three-bedroom Garden Villas. Guests can dine around the world with 16 dining options including French, Asian, American, and the lines newest restaurant, Moderno Churasscaria, a Brazilian steakhouse. Norwegian Jewel also features three swimming pools; six hot tubs; a contemporary spa and fitness center; sports deck with basketball, volleyball and tennis court; the Jewel Club casino; and spectacular stage shows like Le Cirque Bijou and Band on the Run in the ships Stardust Theatre.

Onboard Norwegian Jewel, families will delight in the exclusive Nickelodeon programming. Activities include the Pajama Jam breakfast with the characters, where kids and adults can eat, sing and play with SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Patrick, Diego and more; meet and greets with popular Nickelodeon characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer; and other family activities offered, including Nick Jr. story time, family trivia and special arts and crafts sessions.

Cruise Line International Association found cruise industry spending last year in Louisiana grew 42.5 percent to $399 million, generating 7,548 jobs. Those jobs resulted in $294 million in income, as New Orleans was ranked the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States.

Dockwise wins Costa Concordia wreck removal contract

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 October 2013 10 October 2013

Dockwise, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. in the Netherlands, has been awarded the contract to load and transport the Concordia wreck from Isola del Giglio onboard the Dockwise Vanguard. The contract was awarded by Costa Crociere S.p.A, the company said in a statement.

Following the successful parbuckling of the Concordia, and in anticipation of the pending refloat, Dockwise and the client have been in discussion to seek a safe solution to remove the Concordia wreck from Isola del Giglio in Italy. In a unique operation the Concordia can be loaded as a whole onto the Dockwise Vanguard and safely transported to a location where she can be scrapped. The client has yet to make a decision in agreement with the local authorities on the final destination. Alternatives under review include scrapping the vessel in Italy.

As part of the contract, certain modifications will be made to the Dockwise Vanguard to accommodate the loading of the Concordia in her current state. The operation is planned to take place around mid-2014 and contract value of the work scope as described amounts to approximately $30 million.

The Dockwise Vanguard is the world’s largest semi-submersible ship uniquely positioned to lift and transport extremely heavy cargoes in a dry and safe manner. The ship was initially designed to transport offshore oil and gas structures, but can also carry other vessels and act as an offshore dry dock facility. The Dockwise Vanguard has an open and flat stern and bow-less deck measuring 275 meters by 70 meters allowing the vessel to transport cargo longer and wider than the deck dimensions. When the ballast tanks are flooded, the ship deck submerges below the surface, allowing her to handle deep draught cargoes. Once the Dockwise Vanguard is semi-submersed, the floating Concordia will be brought in position above the deck and as the ballast tanks are emptied, the entire ship including the Concordia is brought above the water line allowing her to transport the cargo in a safe and swift manner.

Boskalis, through its wholly-owned subsidiary SMIT Salvage, also provided emergency response services in the first months following the Concordia accident. SMIT Salvage, together with its local partner Tito Neri, successfully removed the bunker fuel from the ship and acted as caretaker from mid-January through to mid-March in 2012.

Boskalis views this project as strategically important demonstrating the opportunities for combining maritime services and assets across the breadth of the company. Furthermore, the use of the Dockwise Vanguard for this extreme salvage operation shows the versatility of the vessel. The recently announced transportation of a FPSO, a recent successful dry docking operation and this salvage transport contract award demonstrate the potential of the vessel.

Carnival Corp. sold seven year notes for $700 million

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 October 2013 10 October 2013

Carnival Corporation, the Panama domiciled,US listed constituent of the Carnival Corp & plc group, has sold $700 million worth of seven year notes, the Reuters news agency reports.

The notes were sold at a 195 basis point (bp) premium over the yield of US treasury notes of the same maturity. Originally, the deal had been reported to raise $500 million at a 175bp premium, the report said.

On Tuesday, the US seven year treasury notes closed with a yield of 2.09% in New York.