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Floods disrupt Elbe, Danube river cruises

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

Disruption to European river cruises is set to continue in the wake of record floods on the Danube and the breaching of a dam on the River Elbe in Germany, Travel Weekly reports in the UK.

At least 20 people have been killed in Hungary while thousands have been force to evacuate their homes in the German city of Magdeburg. Water levels on the Danube in Budapest are believed to have peaked and officials say defences should prevent flooding in most areas.

Viking River Cruises was forced to cancel cruises on the Danube while other companies have also seen itineraries disrupted or cancelled including APT, Avalon, Uniworld and Tauck. Viking said in a message to prospective passengers: "We fully understand that you are concerned and have questions about your upcoming cruise due to the unprecedented and severe flooding throughout areas of central Europe.

"Please be assured that we are working hard with our Swiss operations and nautical team and in many instances, due to having the largest fleet in river cruising, we are able to continue operating some itineraries through careful planning and switching of sister ships. Where it is not viable to operate a particular sailing we have taken the decision to cancel it. In every decision we make, the safety of our guests and crew remains our top priority."

The company's customer services team is contacting passengers whose sailings have been affected or have had to be cancelled for departures up to June 16.

"If you are due to sail in Europe after 16 June you should assume that your cruise is still scheduled for departure," Viking added. "If there is a need to alter or cancel any sailings due to the current areas of flooding, you will be notified by Viking as soon as we are aware of any necessary changes. This level of flooding is extremely unusual and we will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation closely."

Royal Princess sails into Southampton

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 June 2013 08 June 2013

A musical salute provided a spectacular welcome for Royal Princess to Southampton as the new cruise ship arrived on June 7 to begin a week-long series of special inaugural events. British actor, director and writer Simon Callow orchestrated the Southampton University Brass Band to serenade the new Princess Cruises' ship with a rendition of "God Save The Queen" as the vessel sailed into the harbor. Royal Princess will be officially named in Southampton on Thursday, June 13 by The Duchess of Cambridge.

The unprecedented musical welcome, conducted by Callow, was answered back by Royal Princess with its own special horn that plays the first notes of the theme song from the TV show "The Love Boat."

"What an extraordinary welcome Royal Princess received for her arrival in Southampton," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "Starting the week off with this amazing musical orchestra offered the perfect way to tune up for a naming ceremony that will celebrate with many special musical performances."

The June 13 naming event will feature not only the christening by The Duchess, but also star-studded musical entertainment including British pop singer Natasha Bedingfield singing her hit Unwritten, as well as a performance by British actress and the first lady of London's West End, Kerry Ellis. The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth and The Pipe Band of 1st Battalion Irish Guards will open the event with the pomp and ceremony of British ship-naming traditions.

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is a new-generation ship. Among the special features found on board is a dramatic multi-story atrium serving as the social hub of the ship offering a host of dining and entertainment options; an over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship; plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on water; the new Princess Live! television studio; the largest pastry shop at sea; a special Chef's Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms.

Work starts at Marghera on the Viking Star

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 June 2013 08 June 2013

The steel-cutting ceremony was held yesterday at the Marghera shipyard for the Viking Star, the first of two cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for Viking Ocean Cruises.

The ceremony was attended, among others, by Torstein Hagen, founder and CEO of Viking, while Fincantieri was represented by Gabriele Cocco, Executive Senior Vice President Merchant Vessels, and Attilio Dapelo, the Marghera yard manager.

The delivery of the Viking Star is scheduled for at the beginning of 2015. It is a gross tonnage of about 47,800 tons, it will have 464 cabins with accommodation for 944 passengers.

The ship has been designed by SMC Design of London, while Rottet Studio in Los Angeles has been engaged to design its interior, where every attention will be paid to elegance and style.

This new shipbuilding project adds a major new brand to Fincantieri’s list of cruise ship customers. The contract for the Viking Star, signed last year, includes the construction of a second ship scheduled for delivery in 2016. Fincantieri and Viking have also signed an agreement that is being finalized for the construction of two additional passenger vessels with an option for two more.

SeaDream reveals details on 2014 expedition to Papua New Guinea

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 June 2013 07 June 2013

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB REVEALS DETAILS ON 2014 EXPEDITION
TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA

MIAMI, June 6, 2013 - Few areas in the world are as exotic and stunning as Papua New Guinea. The land's vibrant culture is still thriving and its natural beauty makes the territory a true untouched tropical paradise. Embarking from Cairns, Queensland (Australia) Feb. 1, 2014, SeaDream II of the award-winning SeaDream Yacht Club<http://www.seadream.com/>, will set sail on an exclusive voyage led by a team of expedition experts. Visiting a virtually inaccessible part of the world, guests will travel far off traditional cruising routes and venture into areas rarely visited by outsiders.

"It is simply exhilarating to arrive on a secluded beach by Zodiac boat from SeaDream II and be warmly greeted by a civilization that has remained the same for thousands of years," shares Pamela Conover, CEO of SeaDream Yacht Club. "Visiting this unspoiled region with our collection of experts promises an unforgettable and rewarding experience."

Sailing from Australia's northwest coastal city of Cairns on Feb. 1 and arriving in Bali (Benoa) on Feb. 15, 2014, ports of call and remote harbors include Alotau, Milne Bay; Kitava, Trobriand Islands; Tami Island; Sepik River and Watam Village; Jayapura; Banda Neira; Moluccas; Larantuka; and Komodo Island.

Calling the 112-guest mega-yacht SeaDream II home, guests will be transported by a fleet of nimble, go-anywhere Zodiacs, landing directly on the beaches of these coastal villages to begin exploration. An added bonus will be professional wildlife photographer Sue Flood onboard, documenting the expedition and sharing tips for taking the perfect shot.

Highlights and shore excursion options include:

* Introduction to Papa New Guinea culture in Alotau in the Milne Bay Province, meeting charming locals and touring the coast. Travelers will have the option to venture into the jungle to revisit a key World War II site. For those interested in natural history, guides will lead guests on hikes and bird watching tours from the beach.

* Exploring the Trobriand Islands, one of the most culturally intact destinations in Papa New Guinea. Guests landing ashore will experience colorful and powerful performances of young warriors and local maidens dancing directly on the beach before touring the gardens and thatched roof homes of the villagers. The day will conclude with a beachside barbecue in this unspoiled paradise.

* Discovering the tiny islands of Tami, comprised of uplifted coral atolls less than a kilometer in length. Locals will greet guests with indigenous dances and tours of their villages, observing traditions dating back thousands of years.

* Visiting the mighty Sepik River, the longest in Papua New Guinea, which is home to the villages of Watam and Kopar along its delta. Villagers will display local customs and dances, allowing a direct look back in time to a culture that measures its existence in thousands of years.

Fully inclusive yachting fares begin at $9,999, based on double occupancy. The SeaDream II will be sailing a series of 17 voyages in Asia starting Oct. 2013 through April 2014. Itineraries include Myanmar, Thailand, India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Northern Australia and Malaysia.

Cruise industry veteran Ken Muskat joins MSC Cruises

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 June 2013 07 June 2013

MSC Cruises (USA), Inc. has announced that industry veteran Ken Muskat has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing effective June 3rd. In this role, he will be responsible for overseeing sales, marketing, public relations and customer service for North America. He will report to Richard Sasso, MSC Cruises (USA) President and CEO.

"Ken joins MSC at a very exciting time," says Sasso. "With our largest and most luxurious ship, MSC Divina, preparing to sail year-round from PortMiami, Ken’s years of experience, excellent relationships with the travel agent community and tremendous enthusiasm for the MSC brand will certainly be assets as we prepare for important growth in North America."

"I am honored to be joining such an exciting and unique cruise brand at a time when MSC has clearly established itself as a major player in the industry and has committed to growing in this market,” said Muskat. "The brand provides an outstanding vacation experience that is definitely a best kept secret. I'm looking forward to working closely with such a talented and dedicated team, as well as our Travel Agent partners, to market and sell the benefits of our special Mediterranean style cruising.”

"We are delighted to have Ken join us," adds Sasso. "He is a consummate professional and we are looking forward to working with him."

Muskat comes to MSC with more than eighteen years’ experience with Royal Caribbean International. Recognized for exceptional sales, marketing and leadership abilities, Ken has served in a variety of senior executive roles. Prior to joining MSC, he was instrumental in successfully leading marketing, sales, consumer outreach and onboard revenue initiatives for Royal Caribbean. During this time, he hosted the cruise industry’s first weekly online radio show for both travel agents and consumers, which ran for 22 weeks reaching over 24,000 listeners a week.

Early in his career, Ken was twice named one of Travel Agent Magazine’s “Top 100 Rising Stars of the Travel Industry”. More recently, he was a recipient of University of Hartford’s Anchor Award, the most prestigious honor presented by the university’s alumni association to recognize graduates who have achieved the highest levels of professional accomplishments.

Ken currently serves on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of the Children’s Cancer Caring Center, the only free treatment center for childhood cancer in the southeastern United States, and is an annual contributor and supporter of the United Way. He is a graduate of University of Hartford, holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and Advertising.