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SuperStar Gemini embarks on Shanghai inaugural sailing

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

SuperStar Gemini officially commenced her Shanghai homeport deployment yesterday with the first batch of about 1,000 passengers from China and other regional countries, departing from Shanghai at 1pm and calling at Jeju, Korea.

Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Authority Lin Zhang, Hongkou District People's Government of Shanghai Party Deputy Governor Xiping Zhang and Shanghai International Port(Group) Vice President Jiali Zhang attended a sailing off ceremony.

At the ceremony, Mr. Michael Goh, Senior Vice President, Sales of Star Cruises expressed gratitude to all parties in Shanghai for supporting SuperStar Geminis homeport operations. He remarked, "The Shanghai homeport deployment is Star Cruises most significant strategy in China this year. We have high hopes for our Shanghai endeavour. As the leading cruise line in Asia-Pacific, Star Cruises has the competitive advantage of having a better understanding of what Asian and Chinese travelers like in their holidays. SuperStar Gemini was refurbished with the preferences of Chinese tourists in mind. In addition to the revamped dining and recreational facilities, we forged a partnership with China Duty Free Group to launch an upscale duty-free shopping boulevard onboard that offers designer brands and luxury goods. This ensures passengers a one-stop cruise holiday that encompasses all elements of a memorable holiday.

From April to October 2013, SuperStar Gemini will be homeported in Shanghai and offer over 40 cruises in 4D3N to 7D6N itineraries. The travel market overwhelmingly received SuperStar Geminis cruises and over half of the cruises have been sold shortly after launch. SuperStar Gemini will visit popular tourist ports, including Busan, Jeju and Yeosu and offer special cruises to Taiwan. SuperStar passengers also have a vast selection of unique shore excursions to explore various local tourist attractions.

To celebrate SuperStar Gemini's inaugural sailing from Shanghai, Genting Hong Kong and the Chinese Athletes Educational Foundation have joined forces to organize a charity golf tournament with four legs in China this year that will raise funds for education for athletes and children.

SuperStar Gemini's homeport deployment in Shanghai signifies another important phase of growth for Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal. It also strengthens Shanghai's competitiveness as a cruise hub in Northeast Asia and accentuates its tourism appeal to the world.

In memoriam – Robert Tillberg

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 April 2013 07 April 2013

Robert Tillberg, the Swedish interior designer whose work in cruise and ferry shipping started in the 1960s, has passed away.

“We are saddened to report that Tillberg Design's founder Robert Tillberg has peacefully passed away. Robert will be remembered as a great pioneer and creator, motivator and mentor - both within our company and by his collaborators and clients,” Tillberg Design said in a statement.

“He had unique skills, and huge knowledge of the marine cruise market. We, who worked with Robert, feel both proud and thankful to keep his name alive.”

Shares in Carnival trade a “compelling EV / Berth” – UBS

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

Shares in Carnival Corp, the US based and listed holding company and its UK based, London listed counterpart Carnival plc trade at an “compelling enterprise value (EV) per berth ratio, according to Robin Farley, cruise industry analyst at UBS in New York.

“We believe EV/Berth allows investors to compare long-term value across periods of different earnings power, particularly helpful when the next 12 months may not be the best period to value the stock for the long term,” she said in a research note dated 4 April.

Carnival shares only trade 11% above their all time quarterly low set in 1Q09 in EV/Berth terms, while the correspmding figure for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) is 46% above all-time quarterly average low, also set in 1Q09.

“CCL’s (Carnival group’s) EV/Berth is currently at an 8% premium to RCL, well below its historical premium of 26% over the past 5 years and 38% over the last 10 years,” she said.

Shares in both companies are trading below Trailing 10 Year EV/Berth Averages, with CCL EV/Berth is trading at 12% below its five-year quarterly and 34% below its 10-year average. “RCL EV/Berth is now 2% above its five-year quarterly average and 15% below its 10-year quarterly average,” Farley stated.

Carnival’s five-year average quarterly EV/berth would imply a stock price of about $40 for Carnival Corporation stock and £25 for that of Carnival plc.

RCL’s five-year quarterly average EV/berth would imply a stock price of about $31,” she said. Farley recommends that investors buy shares in Carnival, while RCL receives a neutral notion.

Pullmantur offers a special Eurovision cruise to Malmö

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

Pullmantur, the Spain-focused cruise line, is offering what can be regarded by many as a quirky themed Eurovision Song Contest 2013 cruise itinerary to Malmö. This one-off voyage will depart A Coruña on Friday, 3 May, on board its 1,877 passenger Empress. The ship will call at Bilbao, La Havre, Dover, Ijmuiden, and Hamburg before docking at Malmö, Alan Lam reports.

Members of the band from Asturias, El Sueño de Morfeo, the Spanish entry of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will travel to the event on this cruise, with a view of entertaining the guests during this 9-day-8-night special cruise.

There will be many other Eurovision-related entertainment programmes on offer on board, including themed games and talent shows for the less reserved guests.

This annual Europe-wide musical extravaganza is a much-anticipated televisual event in Spain.

Alan Lam

Azamara Club Cruises inaugurates AzAmazing evenings

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

Marking another ‘first’ for Azamara Club Cruises, the destination-immersion cruise line inaugurates its new industry-differentiating inclusive program AzAmazing Evenings, authentic, exclusive and bespoke night touring events that are inclusive for all guests aboard every Azamara voyage. The latest AzAmazing Evenings event took place at Sete, France, during the cruise line's President’s Voyage, where President and CEO Larry Pimentel and wife Sandi are currently hosting a very special itinerary along the Cote D’Azur. Throughout the President’s Voyage, which concludes at Monte Carlo on April 10, Larry is sharing his thoughts and insights through his new Twitter handle LarryPimentel, as guests of Azamara Quest join in unforgettable and authentic cultural experiences while calling at some of the region’s most intriguing destinations. Travelers also can join the President’s Voyage virtually with #AzAmazing.

While at Sete on Thursday evening, guests were treated to the regionally historic sport of ‘jouste,’ or water jousting, an AzAmazing Evenings event created just for Azamara Quest guests. A lively band heralded the impending contest as they led guests through the streets of Sete to the Grand Canal, where two vibrantly decorated boats awaited to carry two long-rivaling teams of men – those married in Red and bachelors in Blue – into one face-off after another. Azamara Quest's own Captain Carl Smith led the Red jousting team to guests’ delight, but lamentably, was vanquished by the village’s seven-time champion jouster. The festivities continued with local wine and delectable fare, concluding with an exhilarating fireworks exhibition as Azamara Quest departed Sete in the late evening.

Prior to Sete, the very first AzAmazing Evenings event was launched on March 30 at Gibraltar, U.K., where the historic St. Michael’s Cave was opened exclusively to guests of Azamara that night. Guests were welcomed to St. Michael’s Cave by members of the Re-enactment Society “History Alive,” clad in traditional Scottish Regiment dress uniform, and ushered into a unique night-time cocktail reception with local canapés in Cathedral Cave, a large cave within St. Michael’s Cave named for its pipe organ-like stalactite formations in the expansive space. The main feature of the evening was a private concert in the cave by the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Band and Corps of Drums in Cathedral Cave, accompanied by Gibraltar’s famed-vocalist Andrea Simpson.

These two special affairs are the very first AzAmazing Evenings. These once-in-a-lifetime experiences spotlight a destination’s true culture – sights, sounds and tastes that are mostly only found among the nightlife, and are individually created by Azamara in ports of calls on the cruise line’s mostly non-repeating itineraries. The AzAmazing Evenings events cannot be purchased off- the-shelf from any other supplier, and further establishes Azamara Club Cruises as the most distinctive destination immersion cruise brand, made possible through the cruise line’s philosophy of longer stays and more overnights in port on every voyage to provide guests the opportunity for night touring.

Along with the new AzAmazing Evenings events, Azamara Quest’s guest also are enjoying more inclusive onboard amenities including boutique wines, international beers and select standard spirits in the ships’ bars, lounges and restaurants when open. Azamara Journey will launch its AzAmazing Evenings events aboard every voyage and more inclusive amenities on its first 2013 Europe voyage, departing May 15.

Azamara Club Cruises offers distinct destination-immersive experiences for up-market travelers. The cruise line uniquely features longer stays and more overnights in ports on each voyage to provide guests the opportunity to experience night touring in some of the most compelling destinations of Europe, Asia, South America, West Indies as well as Central and North America. On board its two intimate ships, which embody a sophisticated country club ambience, Azamara guests receive extraordinary and personal service from every member of the crew whose aim is to anticipate guests every need. Guests also enjoy fine cuisine and boutique wines from around the world, as well as more inclusive amenities, such as included gratuities; complimentary bottled water, sodas, specialty coffee, and teas, as well as complimentary red and white boutique wines during lunch and dinner; complimentary self-service laundry; English Butler service for suite guests; and shuttle transportation to city centers in ports, where available.