Voyager refit completed and ship arrives in Portsmouth

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 03 December 2012 03 December 2012

All Leisure Group plc, the UK based boutique and destinational cruise group, has welcomed a new chapter in its history with the arrival of the extensively refurbished ship mv Voyager ahead of its naming celebrations in the maritime city of Portsmouth.

The refurbished Mv Voyager officially joins the travel company’s cruise ship fleet on Tuesday 4 December under the Voyages of Discovery brand. The ship will enjoy a four-day showcase in the city, before sailing to the West Indies, and will return in summer 2013 offering four different discovery cruises from Portsmouth.

All Leisure Group plc first purchased the ship in 2009 and invested in a multi-million pound refit of the vessel using predominantly British design and manufacturing companies. The technical upgrades and the redesign took place in the Dorset port of Portland delivering a boost to the shipping-based economy in the area.

Passengers will board the ship in Portsmouth (UK) following its official naming ceremony to enjoy a circumnavigation of South America and the Caribbean on a remarkable five-month voyage taking in destinations such as Margarita Island in Venezuela, Puerto Cortes in Honduras, Manta in Ecuador, Callao in Peru, around Cape Horn, cruising the Amazon River in Brazil, the Cuban capital of Havana and back to Portsmouth via the Azores.

 Fitting the adventure theme of the ship, mv Voyager will be named and christened in Portsmouth on 4 December 2012 by natural history, marine conservation, archaeology and wildlife TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff.

Key new additions to the 540-passenger vessel includes the introduction of an ‘explorer theme’ to the entire ship reinforcing the destination-led offering that the brand is known for, the new Scott’s Lounge – a classic piano bar serving cocktails into the evening and speciality restaurant, The Explorer Club. A new ‘Lookout Lounge’ also provides panoramic views from the front of the ship and a new terrace with all-weather awning has been added to the Veranda restaurant for al fresco dining. Mv Voyager will offer a choice of 270 cabins, 87% of which are outside cabins and 30 of which have balconies.

 Voyages of Discovery managing director, Alan Murray explains: “Our investment in revamping the ship comes at a time when the UK cruise market, especially for cruises departing from UK ports of call, is outperforming the broader British cruise market. Ensuring that the bulk of our spend in the refurbishment and technical upgrade was made in the UK, and in UK businesses, makes us especially proud of the ship, and the high standards of workmanship are a fitting tribute to the nation's great shipping and exploration traditions.”

Figures released by the Passenger Shipping Association in their annual report show that an additional 100,000 passengers in 2011 joined their cruise at a UK port, a 5% growth in ex-UK cruising compared to 2010.

 The 14-day ‘Land of the midnight sun’ cruise starting from £1,869 per person departs from Portsmouth port on the 11 June 2013 and calls at ports including Bergen (Norway), Leknes (Norway) and Stavenger (Norway). Price includes all relevant transfers, on board gratuities and service charges, meals and entertainment on board and a comprehensive programme of Guest Speakers.

MSC Cruises to introduce adult-only solarium on Fantasia class

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 29 November 2012 29 November 2012

MSC Cruises says that on the top decks of MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia, MSC Divina and MSC Preziosa - that will be named in Genoa, Italy, on 23 March 2013 - MSC travellers will soon be able to soak up the sun in style at the new Top 18 Exclusive Solarium, an adult-only sanctuary of serenity boasting premium deck space and stunning sea views.

"With its own dedicated spa service, bar menu and complimentary delicious fruit skewers, Top 18 is the perfect place to relax, unwind, and watch the waves go by," the company said in a statement.

Designed exclusively for MSC Cruises’ Fantasia class ships, Top 18 Exclusive Solarium will be available from the beginning of the 2013 summer season.

Star Cruises announces 2013 programme for SuperStar Gemini

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 28 November 2012 28 November 2012

Star Cruises, the cruise line based in the Far East, has announced the 2013 programmes for its SuperStar Gemini, the ship currently undergoing a US$50 million large-scale refurbishment. Alan Lam reports.

The 50,760 gross ton vessel, Star Cruises’ latest addition to its fleet, will embark upon a series of inaugural cruises to some of Asia’s top destinations. Kicking off in Penang from 2 January to 24 January, followed by a 7-day 6-night special cruise (25 Jan – 31 Jan) to Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Hong Kong. From 1 February to 31 March the vessel will homeport in Sanya, Hainan, and from April to October the ship will homeport in Shanghai, offering over 40 cruises in 4-day 3-night to 7-day 6-night itineraries to a number of destinations in North Asia.

Among its rich array of entertainment programmes onboard, there will be magic shows performed by Charles Bach and ballroom dancing by Suzanna and Dima of Belarus.

Clearly, Star Cruises’ major focus for this ship in 2013 is on the Chinese market.

Alan Lam

Costa unveils seventh sustainability report

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 28 November 2012 28 November 2012

Costa Crociere, Europe’s largest cruise line, says it has reached excellent environmental results in the seventh edition of its Sustainability Report (available online at www.costacruise.com/best4).

The report was revealed at the Seatrade Med 2012 in Marseilles, the biggest event of the year for cruise operators in the Mediterranean. Key achievements include a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 3.8% decrease in fuel consumption and a 40% increase in hours spent on training.

These results demonstrate that Costa Cruises not only operates in accordance with the established environmental compliance laws, but continuously strives to achieve wider objectives. Through a dedicated management and control system that goes beyond the scope of mandatory requirements set out by local, national and international regulations, Costa Cruises actually anticipates possible solutions for improving environmental standards. 

The main results obtained in 2011 are as follows:

o    A 3.8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the previous year due to reduced fuel consumption, representing a 14.5% decrease since 2007. These emissions are measured in terms of ‘specific’ emissions and consider factors such as the total nautical miles sailed during the year and the available lower berth days across the fleet. Various measures directed at reducing energy consumption were implemented to achieve this reduction, such as the use of ecological silicone-based coatings for the ship’s hull, the use of low power consumption LED light bulbs and energy-efficient HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) technology as well as the use of inverters to optimise the performance of fans and blowers in the engine room

• A 50% decrease in emissions of ozone-depleting substances thanks to the replacement of refrigerating and conditioning systems and the gradual conversion of plants containing HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) into systems using HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), which have an ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) of zero
• 71% of the water used on the ships in the Costa fleet is produced directly on board using desalination plants and evaporators
• 2011 saw the launch of the ‘Sustainable cruise’ project co-funded by the European Commission through the ‘Life+’ Programme, the EU’s funding instrument for innovative environmental projects. Costa Cruises is Project Manager of this ‘Sustainable cruise’ project, the world’s first ever shipboard experimental project involving the use of innovative techniques and methods to deal with three specific types of waste – packaging, biodegradable (organic) waste and paper – with precise objectives regarding reduction at the source and recycling. Costa Pacifica (114,500 gross tonnage and 3,780 total guests) was chosen to pilot this project and the initial activities began earlier this year. The ‘Sustainable Cruise’ project dovetails with Costa Cruises’ own waste management policy of 100% separation of solid waste on board, which has been applied fleet-wide for some time now.

Costa Cruises’ ongoing commitment to sustainability is demonstrated by the prestigious environmental awards that stakeholders granted to the company once again in 2011, including eight new international awards certifying Costa Cruises’ vocation for innovation and compliance with the highest environmental protections standards. 

Internal training was also a priority in 2011, in terms of both on-board and shore-side employees. Training hours totaled around 780,000, an increase of some 40% compared to the previous year, with tuition coveringsocial accountability, environment and safety, as well as managerial, technical and language refresher courses. Finally, Costa Cruises’ community support recycling projects continued in Brazil, where various types of waste are recycled with the aim of financing local social development. In 2011 funds were used to support ‘CAPDEVER’ association in Salvador de Bahia, which aids families living in extreme poverty, and to support ‘Crianca Feliz’ NGO in Santos which organises sport courses for children in need.