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Holland America Line to acquire Mckinley Chalets Hotel in Denali National Park from Aramark

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 October 2013 02 October 2013

Holland America Line, through its subsidiary Holland America-Princess Alaska, has reached an agreement in principle to acquire the McKinley Chalets Hotel in Denali National Park from Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services. Holland America Line will develop the property further for inclusion on its Land+Sea Journeys that combine an Alaska cruise with an overland tour to Denali National Park.

Details of the McKinley Chalets Hotel purchase agreement and plans for future enhancements are ongoing, and once the purchase is completed later this fall, more information will be made available to the public.

The agreement to purchase McKinley Chalets Hotel is part of an enhancement program that also will see modifications to Holland America Line's Alaska hotels at Fairbanks, Skagway and Whitehorse. The renovations, which will take place over the next few years, will include extensive room updates and upgrades to soft goods and hotel décor.

"Acquiring the McKinley Chalets Hotel provides Holland America Line with great potential for growth in Denali and enables us to expand the appeal of our brand as a leader in Alaska travel," said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. "This purchase will help us deliver the finest destination resort and experience in Alaska at the highlight on Land+Sea Journeys - Denali National Park."

Spanning more than 42 acres, the McKinley Chalet Resort features 345 rooms, fine and casual dining, an on-site dinner theater, on-site raft departures and walking trails on the Nenana River. Holland America currently owns 26 acres adjacent to the chalets, including 135 additional guest rooms that have been operated by Aramark as part of the McKinley Chalets. Total rooms are 480.

Land+Sea Journeys bring fresh approach to Alaska experience

In 2014, Holland America Line is rebranding its popular Alaska CruiseTour program with the new name Land+Sea Journeys. Now with more time in the marquee destinations and less overland travel time, Holland America Line guests will have more opportunities than ever to explore and personalize their Great Land vacations.

With 12 options ranging in length from 10 to 20 days and featuring a three- to seven-day cruise, Land+Sea Journeys offer the benefit of combining the "must-see" of Denali National Park with the "seldom seen" wonders of the Yukon. Among the most significant program enhancements for 2014 is a convenient one-hour flight that brings Fairbanks, Alaska, and Dawson City, Yukon closer together - replacing up to two days of motorcoach travel and a hotel overnight.

Other notable elements include revised departures for the McKinley Explorer dome rail schedule between Anchorage and Denali to maximize guest time in both locations. For travel between Denali and Fairbanks, luxury motorcoaches will be introduced to also increase guest time in both Fairbanks and Denali.

Regent Seven Seas to offer free wi-fi

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 October 2013 02 October 2013

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced an expansion to its industry-leading all-inclusive product by offering free Wi-Fi across its fleet. Beginning with the line's Winter 2014-2015 sailings, concierge-level and higher guests will receive up to 500 minutes of free Wi-Fi.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will also make a multi-million dollar investment to upgrade its fleet's onboard Internet offering. This will include:

– Doubling the satellite bandwidth to provide considerable improvements in both the quality and speed of the guest's online experience;

– Expanding the Wi-Fi signal's range, making Wi-Fi available throughout the entirety of the ships including all suites, public rooms and outdoor decks;

– Replacing all onboard hardware such as the modems, routers and bandwidth compression equipment with advanced technology.

These upgrades will be completed by the end of this year, significantly enhancing the Internet experience for all guests.

According to Kunal S. Kamlani, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the addition of free Wi-Fi is a natural evolution of the brand's all-inclusive product offering, which is unmatched in the travel industry.

"It's all included on Regent, from flights, ground transfers and unlimited shore excursions to premium spirits and fine wines, and gratuities. Coupled with our hallmark personalized service and spacious all-suite accommodations, we provide a luxury cruise experience like no other for those who want to explore the world without compromise," Kamlani said. "And we know staying in touch with family and friends is of paramount importance. Our fleet-wide Internet upgrade will ensure our guests have an exceptional experience whenever or wherever they connect on board."

Details on the free Wi-Fi program can be found here<http://www.rssc.com/experience/onboard-activities/free-wifi/>. Details of the 2014-2015 Winter Collection will be announced on Wednesday, October 9, 2013.

TUI Cruises to launch charm offensive in Southern Germany

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 October 2013 02 October 2013

TUI Cruises, the Hamburg based premium market cruise shipping company, says that it will be launching a marketing initiative to target travel agents in the southern parts of Germany in order to increase retailers’ and customers’ awareness about the company and to boost sales.

Residents in the southern states of Germany spend a lot on holidays and TUI Cruises intends to capitalise more on this market. In the north and west, where major embarkation ports such as Hamburg and Kiel and nearer by, the cruise sector is thriving and the cruise holiday concept has been well received by consumers, said Michael Baden, Director of Sales at TUI Cruises.

In January, Baden and his team will launch “Vertriebsoffensive Süd” (“Sales Offensive South) to raise the profile of the company and its Mein Schiff fleet in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, plus Switzerland and Austria, ahead of the introduction of the 97,300 gross ton Mein Schiff 3 next spring. A sister vessel is due a year later.

20th annual FCCA Cruise Conference opens doors to over 1,000 cruise industry professionals

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 October 2013 02 October 2013

The FCCA Cruise Conference officially opened today, attracting over 1,000 professionals from throughout the cruise industry and the private and public sectors of cruise destinations, along with anyone looking to extend their contact base, reach, knowledge and business dealings in the industry.

Conference attendees will engage in a four-day span of one-on-one meetings with the nearly 100 cruise executives in attendance, representing the 15 FCCA Member Lines and various departments, including operations, purchasing, marketing and shore excursions.

Workshops are also offered, broaching important topics and granting insight to the cruise industry from panels comprised of those that know the ins and outs-field leaders and numerous cruise executives. Topics include a state of the industry by FCCA Member Lines' CEOs and presidents; discussion of what decides itinerary planning and how to improve destinations' calls, customer satisfaction and marketability; critical elements of shore excursions' service and safety; and development of destinations' brand identity.

To complete the days, evening business functions bring the attendees and cruise executives together to foster communication between them and help develop beneficial bi-lateral working relationships.

In its 20th year, the FCCA Conference provides the best chance for entities doing business or wishing to do business with the cruise industry to increase their contact base with the cruise executives in attendance so that they can present their destination/product and learn what the cruise lines look for in terms of shore excursions, products, services and ports of call. It helps attendees establish a clear vision that will map the road to success in future dealings with the cruise industry.

The FCCA prides itself in bringing together cruise industry representatives with those looking to do business with its Member Lines. It is a symbiotic relationship between them; the more that the destinations and companies progress and learn about the industry, the more that the industry is able to grow and thrive. The FCCA promotes this mutually beneficial connection in most of its operations.

Silversea's second expedition ship, Silver Galapagos, sets sail

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 01 October 2013 01 October 2013

Luxury expedition cruise specialist Silversea has launched its second expedition ship. Fresh from a major refurbishment, the 100-guest ship (formerly named Galapagos Explorer II) embarked September 28 on her first-ever voyage as Silver Galapagos.

Prior to setting sail, a christening ceremony was held on board, attended by local dignitaries and company executives. Highlighting the occasion were speeches by Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, Silversea's chairman; Santiago Dunn, vice president of Silversea, Ecuador; and Conrad Combrink, Silversea's director of expedition cruises. Following the traditional blessing by a priest, the chairman's daughter, Costanza Lefebvre d'Ovidio, the ship's godmother, officially welcomed Silver Galapagos into the Silversea fleet by cutting a ceremonial ribbon.

The all-suite Silver Galapagos has just completed a major stem-to-stern refurbishment. All public spaces and guest suites have been refreshed with new upholstery, carpeting, curtains, and wall treatments. Each suite is highlighted by a totally renovated bathroom, enhanced with rich marble detailing. Besides a new walk-in rainforest shower, each bathroom features a new vanity, shelving, mirrors, lighting fixtures, and wood flooring. Plus, all guest suites have been outfitted with new flat screen TVs, new mattresses (custom-made exclusively for Silversea), and luxurious Pratesi bed linens.

Other ship enhancements include the installation of Wi-Fi access throughout the ship (including all suites) and a new complimentary service providing streaming movies and live television news broadcasts for guests to enjoy on their portable devices.

And rounding out the renovations are a new fitness center, massage room, beauty salon, outdoor Jacuzzi, outdoor furniture, and Silversea's signature outdoor dining venue, The Grill.

In his remarks at the christening ceremony, Lefebvre d'Ovidio stated, "It is our aim that this ship will not only offer our guests the highest level of comfort and service, but also enlighten them to the rarity and beauty of the Galápagos Islands."

Silver Galapagos sails Saturday to Saturday on seven-day roundtrip voyages from Baltra Island, following either a western or north central route. These expedition cruises offer adventurous travelers the life-enriching chance to discover a wild, pristine paradise that has long been regarded as a natural laboratory of evolution. On complimentary expeditions ashore guided by an experienced expedition team (certified by the Galápagos National Park Service), Silversea's guests may experience up-close encounters with an abundance of wildlife that includes sun-basking land iguanas, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, colorful marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins and Darwin's famous finches.