CLIA backs global effort to facilitate shore leave for crew members

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 05 March 2013 05 March 2013

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced its support of efforts being led by the International Shipping Federation (ISF) to facilitate shore leave for seafarers. These efforts are being made through a request that port States make provisions for crewmembers to be able to apply for visas upon arrival in port or very shortly before arrival if the port State requires a visa for shore leave.

CLIA supports ISF's proposal made in a submission to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Facilitation Committee, which meets in April to consider its current review of the IMO Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL). The FAL Convention includes a blanket prohibition on port states requiring seafarers to obtain visas in order to enjoy shore leave.

"Crewmembers are the lifeblood of our industry," said Christine Duffy, President and CEO of CLIA. "We strongly support the efforts underway at the IMO to enable them to take advantage of their well-earned shore leave in the hundreds of ports across the globe that our member line ships visit."

Global cruise association appoints director for CLIA UK & Ireland

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 04 March 2013 04 March 2013

CLIA, the new global cruise association, has today announced that Andy Harmer will take responsibility for its activities in Britain and Ireland. Andy, presently head of the Association of Cruise Experts, will take up the position as director of CLIA UK and Ireland on 1 May 2013.

In December it was announced that the Association of Cruise Experts (ACE) and the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) were among 10 regional cruise associations which were coming together to serve as the global voice for the cruise industry. CLIA has been created to provide increased benefits and a unified approach for cruise lines, travel agents and business partners - all of whom contribute to an industry that creates nearly $1000 billion in economic impact and more than 753,000 jobs worldwide.

From 1 May, The UK Chamber of Shipping will represent PSA ferry line members, with many ferry companies already belonging to the organisation. Their interests will be represented on the Chamber's ferry and cruise panel.

Andy Harmer said: "I am delighted to be taking on the role of director for CLIA UK and Ireland at such an exciting time. Our goal is to grow the cruise market in the UK and Ireland by working with our travel agent partners and highlighting, through our consumer media campaigns, the many and varied great reasons for taking a cruise holiday. We will continue to provide effective training, support, national and international events for agents with the new association offering more robust partnership programmes and networking on a broader scale."

He continued: "Technical and regulatory issues will now be looked after by our colleagues in CLIA Europe who will oversee the activities of the national associations. We look forward to working with them on developing events and communications to create a greater interest in cruise holidays."

After 19 years as PSA director, Bill Gibbons will be retiring on 1 May. Bill said: "I have seen huge changes since I joined in 1994 as cruise has expanded from what some considered a preserve of the wealthy to a mainstream affordable holiday. Over the same time the ferry sector has seen considerable consolidation but has transformed the quality of the service with investment in new ships and services. The passenger shipping industry should be proud of what it has achieved." He continued: "The formation of a global cruise association makes total sense for what is now a worldwide industry. We have a strong, dedicated team who will be moving forward with CLIA and I should like to thank all our member lines and associate members for their huge support and commitment over the years."

PSA chairman and P&O Ferries passenger services director, Simon Johnson said: "The PSA was formed more than 55 years ago and since that time has had a high-profile role with the cruise and ferry industries. The association has been instrumental in ensuring issues have been addressed with Government and regulators while tirelessly campaigning to raise the public's awareness of the great advantages of travel by sea. I am proud to have served as the last chair of the PSA and having overseen the restructuring of the organisation, am confident the interests of our cruise, ferry and associate members will take the highest priority. I would like to thank and pay tribute to Bill Gibbons for all he has achieved with the PSA, along with all our members best wishes for the future."

Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager UK and Ireland for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, will take on the position of chair for CLIA UK and Ireland.

Technical issues force CMV to cancel Discovery cruise

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 04 March 2013 04 March 2013

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), the UK based operator of two small cruise liners, has been forced to abandon a 15 night cruise on the 20,600 gross ton Discovery from Bristol to Norway due to technical problems and adverse weather conditions, the company said in a statement.

 “The vessel was originally scheduled to sail from Bristol Avonmouth on Thursday 28 February 2013 but due to adverse weather conditions en route from Genoa, compounded by tidal restrictions in Bristol, Discovery was re-routed to Portland where our passengers embarked,’ CMV said.

The 1972 built Discovery has undergone an extensive dry docking period and is operating under her new joint venture partners, All Leisure Holidays and Cruise & Maritime Voyages. “Due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control and notwithstanding the recent dry docking, the vessel has encountered technical problems which prevent her from sailing. We have been unable to resolve these technical issues to enable us to continue with the cruise on time and further works will have to be undertaken to ensure all issues are fully resolved,” CMV stated.

“Passengers were informed by the Captain last evening that the vessel is unable to perform her planned itinerary and arrangements are in place for their disembarkation and onward transportation on Saturday March. Our passengers will be receiving a full refund of their cruise fare and in addition, compensation of  £250 per person and a discount of 40% on a future Discovery cruise if booked by 30 April 2013,” CMV said.

It is envisaged that Discovery will be ready for its next scheduled departure from Avonmouth on 15 March.

Industry leaders to participate in Cruise Shipping Miami forum

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 01 March 2013 01 March 2013

Seven heads of leading cruise lines are set to discuss the industry's current trends and future direction at the State of the Industry session slated for Tuesday, March 12, at the 29th annual http://www.cruiseshippingevents.com/miami conference. The session also features Christine Duffy, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association, who will lead off with the State of the Industry address, and David Scowsill, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, who will provide the keynote speech.

Panelists at the 9:30 a.m. session include Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International; Kevin Sheehan, chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line; Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises; Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines; Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line; Pierfrancesco Vago, chief executive officer of MSC Cruises, and Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, chairman of Silversea Cruises.

"We are bringing together key cruise line executives to address the trends and issues shaping the industry, including the on-board experience and attractions, newbuilds, ship revitalizations, globalization of the industry, technology and port and infrastructure development," said Daniel Read, director of UBM's Cruise Shipping Portfolio. "We look forward to a lively and informative panel discussion from these engaging industry leaders."

The State of the Industry assembly has long been a mainstay of the conference program of the premier annual cruise industry conference. It is the only plenary session of the four-day conference, and typically sets the stage for the three days of conference sessions to follow.

The 2013 conference program has been revamped with a series of more concurrent 90-minute sessions and a host of first-time panelists.

Developed by UBM Live to be more in-depth and content-rich, the conference lineup is the result of solid research and feedback from Cruise Shipping Miami attendees, cruise lines and industry organizations. Conference sessions are organized into four "streams" that will thematically link sessions daily Tuesday through Thursday. The streams are Shipbuilding, Operations and Technology; Destinations and Ports; Market Segments, and Product Development.