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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.

Legend of the Seas completes long-running Asian deployment

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

Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ship Legend of the Seas is sailing for one last time today from Singapore as she completes her long-running Asian deployment since December 2008. A farewell ceremony to commemorate the event will be held onboard today to be hosted by Captain Kjell Nordmo, in the presence of a group of government officials, business partners and travel agents.

The 70,000-gross registered ton, 2,074-guest Legend of the Seas has spent four years in Asia, called at over 40 ports – for instance Penang, Phuket, Bali, Hue/Danang, Hualien, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Fukuoka and Busan spanning 13 different countries – and been served by five Captains. Recently, the ship received a US$50 million bow-to-stern revitalization which introduced greater culinary options, new visually stunning entertainment and activities onboard, as well as a refresh of all furniture and staterooms.

Jennifer Yap, Royal Caribbean’s Managing Director, Singapore said, “Our Legend of the Seas has given our guests so many wonderful memories with the Royal Caribbean’s international style of cruising, innovative signature amenities and activities such as the rock-climbing wall and mini-golf, and most of all, her warm and friendly crew. Her presence in Asia over the years has played a significant role in creating greater market awareness for our brand and the attractions of cruising, in changing consumers’ mindset to see cruise ships as true destinations on their own and a top family-friendly vacation option with something onboard for everyone! We will definitely miss our ship here.”

Legend of the Seas will depart on a 14-night repositioning cruise to Dubai, calling at Port Klang, Phuket, Colombo, Cochin, New Mangalore, Goa, Mumbai and Muscat along the way. She will then reposition to Europe for the summer season dividing between the Italian homeports of Rome (Civitavecchia) and Venice. Thereafter the ship will head to the Caribbean in November to offer Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal sailings.

In the meantime, Mariner of the Seas will arrive in Singapore this June to kick-start her maiden Asian season. She will join her sister ship Voyager of the Seas in China for the summer for the North Asian season, before heading back in Singapore for more Southeast Asian cruises in the year-end.

(Updated) Viking Line sells Isabella cruise ferry to Tallink

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

Viking Line, the Finnish cruise ferry group, has sold the 1989 built cruise ferry Isabella to Hansalink Limited, a subsidiary of AS Tallink Grupp. The sale price of the 34,384 gross ton vessel that has 2,200 berths was 30 million euros.

Isabella was replaced on the Turku-Stockholm service by the 58,000 gross ton newbuilding Viking Grace in January. Viking Line had put Isabella up for sale already in the summer of last year, but decided that if no buyer could be found, the ship would be employed on mini cruise service between Helsinki and Tallinn in the summer months of 2013. This will not happen now.

Tallink will employ the ship on its service between Stockholm and Riga, where it will replace the 1986 built Silja Festival that is of roughly the same size as the now acquired vessel

NEMA, U.S. Coast Guard, cruise lines conclude Black Swan exercise in Freeport

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 April 2013 04 April 2013

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, cruise line industry, emergency response teams and key Bahamas government officials participated in the Black Swan Exercise, April 2 - 4, 2013.

The three-day exercise, designed to better understand each agencies' capabilities and concerns during a maritime mass rescue event, involved testing emergency procedures, search and rescue coordination, abandon ship process and accountability of passengers and crew, and landing site management and medical surge procedures.

One of the National Emergency Management Agency's objectives was to conduct an exercise in Grand Bahama to ensure that the local assets were further strengthened in managing an event. The local Emergency Operations Centre was fully activated to determine the ability of the personnel to assess events and make sure corrective measures are carried out.

"The efforts of the local Red Cross and the Salvation Army at the landing site are to be commended. They were able to provide the passengers and support team refreshments at the site. The efforts of the medical teams from the Rand Memorial and the U.S. FAST Team who came to provide assistance to the injured persons are to also be commendable. I am also pleased with the support of the US Coast Guard and the US Coast Guard air assets, which medically evacuated persons for care and attention," said Director of NEMA Captain Stephen Russell.

Coast Guard crews involved in the exercise included members aboard the Coast Guard Cutters Joshua Appleby, Tarpon and Diamondback. Crewmembers from the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) and Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) also participated in the exercise.

Cruise line assets involved in the exercise were Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas and Norwegian Sky, both of which were utilized for an evacuation drill of passengers and tendering to port. Carnival Cruise Lines provided family guest care facilities and Norwegian Cruise Lines provided landing site forward teams.

Coast Guardsmen throughout the service train daily in different mission areas to better improve individual skills and proficiency within their designated jobs. Preventing and responding to an emergency offshore or onshore marine incident falls under the Coast Guard's Search and Rescue and environmental protection mission.

"Our engagement with the Bahamian government, cruise line industry and other key partners continues to be highly beneficial," said Capt. Todd Lutes, 7th Coast Guard District Chief of Incident Management Branch. "We've been coordinating these exercises over the past few decades as one of many processes to continually improve maritime safety of passengers and crews. The Coast Guard's coordination with multiple agencies during the three-day joint exercise was seamless in exercising these procedures."

"The cruise industry was pleased to take part in this exercise, and CLIA wishes to thank the U.S. Coast Guard, NEMA, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian for their efforts in making the exercise a great success," said Christine Duffy, president and CEO, Cruise Lines International Association. "The exercise further strengthens the cruise industry's unwavering commitment to emergency preparedness in coordination with the Coast Guard and other government authorities. It also underscores the focus we maintain on our number one priority: the safety and comfort of our guests."

The Black Swan is an international exercise designed to maintain and build upon a strong track record of continuous improvement in safety. The exercise incorporates interagency and multilateral efforts across different industry and government agencies and the United States Embassy in Nassau.

Approximately 200 personnel participated including 137 volunteers participated in the Black Swan exercise. The majority of these people were members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Seabourn expands culinary offerings in The Restaurant

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 04 April 2013 04 April 2013

Seabourn has expanded the dining menus in The Restaurant aboard the line's intimate, award-winning ships. The Restaurant is Seabourn's main, fine-dining venue. Its newly-designed menus incorporate an extensive array of new dishes created by the line's team of highly-skilled chefs. Each menu will include vegetarian options, a daily specialty cheese preparation, a "Seabourn Signature" dish, and "Local Flavors" specialties, reflecting the regional cuisines where the ships are cruising.

"Great culinary experiences are part of an excellent vacation," said Richard Meadows, Seabourn's president. "Dining stimulates our senses just as much as the scenery or the cultures we discover when we travel," he continued. "On Seabourn's ships, dining is also an integral part of the social life that our guests enjoy, so it has to be as adventurous, sophisticated and refined as our guests themselves."

By adding dozens of new dishes, Seabourn has expanded the variety offered on The Restaurant's menu cycle. New options have been added in every course from appetizers to dessert. Examples include an appetizer of Truffled Corn and Mascarpone Tortellini; a Farmed Goat Cheese Green Salad; Golden Mussel Chowder; Seared Cocoa & Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin; Cumin & Coriander Crusted Swordfish; and Sour & Spicy "Assam Prawns."

Ingredients are also constantly being enhanced. The latest addition is an upgrade to Jidori chicken, a highly-prized hybrid breed first developed in Japan and now being organically raised on a vegetarian diet in California.

A new menu section is "Local Flavors," allowing the executive chefs to create dishes incorporating local ingredients when possible, prepared in styles representative of the region. European "Local Flavors" specialties will include Croatian Style Pan Roasted Sea Bass; Feta Stuffed Braised Chicken; and Grilled Dover Sole Fillets with caviar cream butter.

For guests who prefer a meatless diet, the new menus now offer a separate section featuring vegetarian starters and entrée options. Several examples of these dishes include Vegetable and Potato Gnocchi Risotto, Spring Vegetable Paella, and Warm Baked Thyme Onion & Gruyere Tart.

Also new to the menus is a daily specialty cheese dish, such as a Cambozola Mousse with herb filo and mixed berry jam; and a Brandy Flavored Camembert Mousse with spiced flatbread and fig mostarda.

The new "Seabourn Signature" section highlights perennially popular dishes from Seabourn menus that guests have grown to love.

If one still has room for dessert at the end of the meal, the line's new dessert menu will satisfy every sweet tooth. New options include Warm Mocha Chocolate Cake; Chocolate and Peanut Butter Ganache Tart; Warm Beignets of Pistachio Cream; and Toffee Honey Fig Pavlova.

In addition to the new dining options, The Restaurant will continue to feature healthy "Lighter Fare" options and the selection of simpler "Seabourn Classics" such as a perfectly grilled steak, roasted chicken, a broiled salmon fillet or a classic Caesar salad.

The Restaurant is Seabourn's main dining venue, capable of serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to all guests in a single, open seating. Guests can dine when and with whomever they wish. The talented culinary team prepares the wide variety of dishes a la minute, cooked to order.

Seabourn's delightful gourmet dishes are prepared by a team of highly talented chefs with creative culinary skills and exceptional credentials. The team is led by Culinary Operations Manager Bjoern Wassmuth, a seasoned executive chef with experience in numerous five-star luxury hotels in Germany, Switzerland, Russia and the Caribbean. He served as Executive Chef de Cuisine on five of Seabourn's ships before moving to his shoreside position in 2011. In addition, every member of Seabourn's culinary staff successfully completes an intensive culinary academy prior to joining the ships.