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Princess Cruises names Jim Berra Chief Marketing Officer

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 09 January 2024 09 January 2024

Princess Cruises has announced that Jim Berra – an accomplished cruise industry and hospitality veteran with nearly three decades of brand, marketing, and commerce experience – has joined the organization as chief marketing officer, reporting directly to Princess Cruises president John Padgett.

As CMO, Jim will lead all global marketing facets including integrated marketing strategy formulation, creative development and brand promotion across all channels and geographies to further optimize Princess’ global marketplace position.

Berra joins a leadership team with extensive commercial and communications experience including highly respected industry veterans Terry Thornton, Chief Commercial Officer; Vicki Johnson, Sr. Vice President of Communications, and Carmen Roig, Vice President of Sales.

"Jim's demonstrated track record of success with outstanding hospitality brands make him a perfect addition to the Princess team," Padgett said. "The Princess brand is truly special, and Jim will ensure ‘The Love Boat’ extends its position as an iconic brand and a global destination leader.”

Berra comes to Princess from Invited (formerly ClubCorp), the largest owner of private membership clubs in the country, where he served as Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer. Prior to Invited, Berra spent six years at Royal Caribbean International as senior vice president and chief marketing officer, overseeing the company's advertising programs, marketing communications, social media, e-commerce, and customer marketing.

“Princess has a rich history of creating unforgettable moments at sea, and I am excited to steer the marketing efforts for the iconic Love Boat brand to even greater heights,” Berra said. “Together, we will continue to inspire travelers to embark on journeys filled with love, adventure, and cherished memories."

Before Royal Caribbean, Berra spent seven years at Carnival Cruise Line as its Chief Marketing Officer. Previously he also held multiple positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts including SVP of Customer Marketing and Strategic Alliances.

A resident of Miami Beach, Fla., Berra holds bachelor's degrees in economics and philosophy from Northwestern University.

SeaDream Yacht Club appoints Walter Littlejohn as Chief Sales Officer

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 January 2024 08 January 2024

Bringing over three decades of extensive experience in the cruise industry, including several executive and leaderships roles, Walter Littlejohn will assume the responsibility of overseeing and leading SeaDream Yacht Club’s global sales efforts across all markets globally.

“Walter brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our growing SeaDream team, with a proven track record in driving performance and fostering team success in the luxury segment. I am thrilled to welcome him to the SeaDream family," said Andreas Brynestad of SeaDream Yacht Club.

“Walter joins us at a time of growth. His deep knowledge and passion for the cruise industry combined with attention to details, strategic mindset and team spirit is a unique combination that will be crucial in writing the next chapter in the story of SeaDream Yacht Club,”, said Brynestad.

Family owned and operated, SeaDream Yacht Club founded modern yacht cruising in 2001. Today, the boutique luxury cruise line offers distinct yachting adventures in the Caribbean, Europe and Mediterranean on two small, newly upgraded yachts. With a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, guests can enjoy unprecedented service, unique all-inclusive culinary experiences and included activities such as watersports directly from the yachts.

"The standard for casual luxury”

Littlejohn joins SeaDream Yacht Club after a long-term consulting engagement with Silversea Cruises, where he has been working on a variety of strategic initiatives. Prior, Littlejohn spent six years as SVP and Managing Director of Crystal River Cruises, building the former Crystal Cruises’ division from scratch to an award-winning five-ship ultra-luxury river cruise line.

“I am truly excited to join SeaDream Yacht Club, a company that for decades has set the standard for modern, casual luxury in the cruise industry. It is a unique product that goes above and beyond any other. At the same time, SeaDream is the best kept secret in the industry, with a tremendous potential for further growth. I am really looking forward to letting more people in on the secret and working closely with travel retail partners to welcome more guests on board”, said Littlejohn.

Life-long cruise experience

Walter Littlejohn started his life-long career in the industry as a summer intern whilst in college and after graduation joined Carnival Cruise Lines to become one of the youngest Regional Sales Managers ever hired. Littlejohn also has strong ties to the travel agent community, having founded his own agency, which he owned for over a decade, after his stint at Carnival.

He has also held key positions at Expedia Inc. and AmaWaterways and is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Based in Miami, Littlejohn joined SeaDream on January 3 and reports to Andreas Brynestad.

New role for Lepisto

In a strategic move, SeaDream Yacht Club’s President Bob Lepisto, who until recently has overseen the company’s global sales activities, will continue to be an important contributor to the executive team. He will also spearhead SeaDream’s exclusive charter business, and continue to report directly to Andreas Brynestad.

“Continued growth of our charter business is crucial for our future success. I am thrilled that Bob will take on this important role, and utilize his network, knowledge and skills focusing on further improving the way we work with charters”, said Brynestad.

More New faces

The appointment of Walter Littlejohn is the latest in a series of new senior and key appointments in SeaDream Yacht Club.

Recent additions include Mark Schmitt, Sales Director UK and Ireland, as well as Rune Thomas Ege, Senior Vice President of Communications.

Stena RoRo places order for yet another E-Flexer RoPax vessel

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 January 2024 08 January 2024

Stena RoRo has placed an order for yet another RoPax-class E-Flexer vessel from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai). The vessel will be delivered in the first quarter of 2026 to Corsica Linea and will operate between Marseille and Corsica. This is Stena RoRo's thirteenth vessel in the E-Flexer series and the first to be delivered to the Mediterranean region.

"The arrival of this new LNG vessel in the fleet is a strong signal that is in line with the ambitious course set for Corsica Linea the coming years: to become the most modern shipping company in the Mediterranean by 2030. This new and highly efficient ship will be an important factor in our green transition and a part of our objective to reduce our CO2 emissions with 40 % by 2030”, says Pierre-Antoine Villanova, CEO of CORSICA linea.

The E-Flexer series is based on a concept with larger vessels than today's standard RoPax ferries, and is very flexible. Each ship is tailored to the customers' needs, both commercially and technically. Optimized design of the hull, propellers and rudders help to ensure that the E-Flexer vessels are at the forefront when it comes to sustainability, performance and cost.

The vessels' engines are of the multi-fuel type and can run on LNG, conventional marine fuel (MGO) or biodiesel. The vessels have been designed in line with future environmental requirements and, through their technical design, can meet both existing and future international requirements by a wide margin. The vessels will be designed with the classification society notation “Battery power” which means that in the future the vessels will also be able to utilize batteries as a means of propulsion.

"This ship is a further development of our previous RoPax concepts, where the focus on sustainability and future-proofing has been a top priority,” says Per Westling, Managing Director, Stena RoRo. “Through the further development and optimization of the hull shape in combination with multi-fuel engines and battery hybrid technology, ordering new vessels will be the most important and powerful measure to reduce CO2 emissions from shipping in the future".

Stena RoRo currently has 13 confirmed orders for E-Flexer vessels, as well as two so-called “New Max” RoRo vessels, at the CMI Jinling shipyard in Weihai, China. A total of six vessels will now be under construction at the shipyard at the same time. Thus far, nine vessels have been delivered.

(Updated with video) Silver Nova officially named in Port Everglades

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 07 January 2024 07 January 2024

Heralding a new world of luxury at sea, Silversea officially named Silver Nova during an intimate ceremony in Port Everglades on January 4, honoring maritime traditions to welcome the ‘Ship of Light’ to its fleet. "The most environmentally conscious ultra-luxury ship ever built, the 728-guest Silver Nova strengthens Royal Caribbean Group’s commitment to delivering the world’s best vacations, responsibly," Silversea said in a statement.

Customary traditions

Emotions ran high as bagpipes — a customary tradition of Royal Caribbean Group — resounded triumphantly through Silver Nova’s theater to mark the commencement of the ceremony. An emotional performance of the U.S. national anthem by Rachel York followed, as well as an exclusive screening of a commemorative video to honor Silversea’s 30th anniversary, which the Brand celebrates in 2024. Reverend Sanford Sears and Rabbi Adam Watstein blessed Silver Nova. Barbara Muckermann, President of Silversea, and Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, addressed members of the Brand’s extended family and announced the ship’s Godmother: celebrated chef, restaurateur, and television personality Nina Compton. Rounding out the ceremony, Compton – accompanied by Captain Cosimo Pontillo – officially named Silver Nova and triggered a magnum-sized bottle of champagne to smash on the ship’s hull, before Liberty led guests in a toast to mark the momentous occasion.

“After years of research, development, and collaboration, we are all incredibly proud to officially welcome Silver Nova into Royal Caribbean Group’s fleet. Silver Nova is a game changer, a new vision for the ultra-luxury travel experience,” said Jason Liberty. “We will continue to push boundaries and innovate the vacation experience in 2024 with our three global brands that, together, turn the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations for our guests around the world.”

“It is fitting that we officially named Silver Nova – a truly pioneering ship – in the same year Silversea celebrates its 30th anniversary: the ship connects our history with our tomorrow, striking a perfect balance between our Brand’s refined heritage and the future of ultra-luxury cruise travel,” said Barbara Muckermann. “Launching this pioneering ship would not have been possible without the invaluable support of Jason Liberty, and all involved at Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea, and Meyer Werft. A strong expression of our brand positioning, Silver Nova will immerse guests into the world’s most enriching destinations, championing human connection and cultural discovery. For this reason, Chef Nina Compton is the perfect fit for the ship’s Godmother – her values perfectly align with those at the heart of our S.A.L.T. culinary program, and I have no doubt she will inspire our guests to engage meaningfully with the planet and its people.”

Carnival Cruise Line drives demand as Amber Cove and Ensenada each celebrate one million cruise guests

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 05 January 2024 05 January 2024

With its Fun Ships filled with guests from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and California, Carnival Cruise Line has played a pivotal role in helping Amber Cove, Dominican Republic and Ensenada, Mexico each cross the one millionth cruise guest threshold as they closed out 2023.

Each destination celebrated in late December by recognizing the one millionth visitor as guests and their families arrived at each port. At Amber Cove, the Collier family were the special guests, visiting from Mardi Gras on Dec. 20. The Andrus family, who arrived in Ensenada aboard Carnival Radiance on Dec. 27, marked the special milestone. In each destination, local dignitaries, ship leaders and other guests joined together to celebrate the occasion.

“This year, we’re celebrating that no one does fun like Carnival, and it’s also true that no cruise line drives demand and the tourism economy like Carnival! We’re delighted that our guests set these important distinctions for both Amber Cove and Ensenada,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. “Amber Cove is one of the best destinations in the Caribbean. Our guests love the relaxation and adventure they find here and that’s why many of our ships visit Amber Cove. Likewise, Ensenada is a quaint coastal town that has grown into a strong part of our West Coast offerings. Our guests love its rich history and vibrant culture, with the addition of Carnival Firenze joining our fleet this spring, plus some exciting plans under development, we see even better things ahead for the destination.”

Amber Cove, located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic just outside Puerto Plata, welcomed its first Carnival ship in 2015. The cruise port is an island paradise operated by Carnival Cruise Line’s parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc, and features pools, bars and many shore excursion opportunities, such as snorkeling and a waterfall adventure.

“We congratulate the Amber Cove cruise terminal for reaching one million cruise visitors. This represents unstoppable growth for Puerto Plata and its people who directly receive the benefits of these achievements,” said Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism David Collado.

Carnival has sailed to Ensenada, one of Mexico’s original seaside getaways, for nearly three decades. From historical sightseeing to thrilling ATV riding, Ensenada offers something for everyone. Carnival guests enjoy the delicious food they find in the vibrant city, as well as finding adventure nearby, learning about local traditions and exploring the nearby wine country.

“This achievement is the result of the efforts of the Ensenada Cruise Committee, as well as the Ensenada City Council, the Ensenada National Port System Administration and Hutchison Ports, and commits us to continue working for Ensenada to consolidate itself as a leading cruise destination in Mexico," said Miguel Aguíñiga Rodríguez, secretary of tourism of Baja California.

Carnival sails to Ensenada from San Francisco seasonally and year-round from Long Beach, Calif., where Carnival Firenze will soon add more options for more people to sail from the West Coast with four-day cruises visiting Catalina Island and Ensenada, as well as five-day Mexican Riviera cruises calling in Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. Carnival Firenze, named after the city of Florence, Italy, will join the fleet in April 2024, sailing from Long Beach as the second ship to showcase Carnival Fun Italian Style experiences.