Voyager to be named by television presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 12 November 2012 12 November 2012

Voyages of Discovery today announced the appointment of Miranda Krestovnikoff, the high profile British television presenter specialising in natural history, marine conservation, archaeology and wildlife, to serve as Godmother to mv Voyager – the 540 passenger ship which is joining the Voyages of Discovery fleet next month.

 

Krestovnikoff will name the ship in its homeport of Portsmouth during a formal naming ceremony on 4 December 2012. VIP guests, key staff, travel agents and media have been invited to attend a ceremony led by Revered Philip Hiscock, Chaplain to the Port of Portsmouth.

 

Voyages of Discovery selected Krestovnikoff to serve in the revered role of Godmother in recognition of her passion for discovery and her noticeable fit with the destination-led cruise offering that the brand is famous for.

 

Krestovnikoff began her career as a runner for various history and wildlife TV programmes. Quickly moving up to researcher, her presenting big break came in 1998 allowing her to travel and present conservation stories from around the globe. From this, she moved onto presenting projects as diverse as local history and marine conservation and is a now a regular feature on British TV screens co-presenting various high profile wildlife and travel programmes.

 

Managing Director of Voyages of Discovery, Alan Murray, commented:

“Miranda Krestovnikoff embodies discovery, a love for exploring and learning about new destinations, which are all the core values of Voyages of Discovery. It was the Guest Speaker programme on topics as diverse as Oceanography, wildlife conservation and geology that really caught her attention and we are honoured that she has agreed to become Godmother."

Krestovnikoff is currently working on her new exploration book ‘Beach’. Outside of work she can be found at home just outside of Bristol with her husband, two children and 10 chickens, planning her next adventure.

 

“I am hugely honoured to be asked to serve as the Godmother to this wonderful ship" said Krestovnikoff. “The small size of Voyager means that she is able to access remote, out of the way ports which is perfect for people like me who like to explore new destinations. It is extremely flattering to be recognised for my adventurous streak and I hope that through this association with Voyages of Discovery, I will encourage others to get out and discover more of the world. The event in Portsmouth next month is such an important date in a ship’s life span and I am really excited to be a part of it.”

 

Mv Voyager arrived at Queens Pier, Portland (Dorset) last week for a month long refurbishment ahead of its maiden voyage on 4 December 2012. Northern Ireland based international contracting company, Mivan, specialists in cruise ship refurbishment, will be completing the project which marks the final stage in a multi-million investment by Voyages of Discovery to introduce the ship to its fleet.

 

Key new additions to Voyager will include:

·       Scott’s Lounge – a classic piano bar serving cocktails into the evening - and new specialty restaurant the Explorer Club

·       The addition of a ‘Lookout’ lounge providing panoramic views from the front of the ship

·       A new terrace with all-weather awning added to the Veranda Restaurant to allow guests to dine al fresco style

·       Introduction of new digital media players allowing guests in all cabins to access and view a large selection of films, classical concerts and documentaries

·       New artwork added to key public spaces

·       Upgrade of all soft furnishing in public spaces

·       Complete refurbishment of the library

·       New dual purpose Bridge Club which can also be used for Guest Speaker lectures and functions onboard the ship

 

Formerly the Alexander von Humboldt, mv Voyager will offer a choice of 270 cabins, 87% of which are outside cabins and 30 of which have balconies, open seating dining in two restaurants, plus an intimate pre-bookable specialty restaurant, The Explorer Club. Following Voyager’s first two cruises sailing in the Caribbean, it will embark on a series of itineraries in Central and South America, heading to the Amazon in early 2013.

 

From April 2013 the ship will be based in its homeport of Portsmouth. Prices for a 9-day Celtic Treasures cruise start from £1,099 per person. Price includes all relevant transfers, on board gratuities and service charges, meals and entertainment on board and a comprehensive programme of Guest Speakers.

 

Costa Crociere promotes Beniamino Maltese SVP and CFO

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 09 November 2012 09 November 2012

Costa Crociere S.p.A., the Italian unit in Carnival Corp & plc group, says it, has promoted Beniamino Maltese to Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer.

 

Beniamino Maltese will report directly to Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Crociere. His new role will see him coordinating and managing, together with his 120 staff, activities related to accounting, treasury, control, taxation and legal matters for the Costa and Iberocruceros Group.

 

During his career with Costa, which spans more than 30 years, Beniamino Maltese has contributed significantly to its development, assisting in its transition from a family business to a company listed on the stock exchange, and finally as a major international Group. He has played a significant part in the substantial growth and remarkable success that the Group has recorded in the last 10 years, with a sixfold increase in sales and total guests. 

 

Beniamino Maltese is an Economics graduate, chartered accountant and auditor. He joined Costa Crociere in 1981, was appointed Financial Director in 1992 and Vice President & Chief Financial Officer in 2004. Since 2008, he has also been Chief Financial Officer of Iberocruceros, the Spanish branch of the Costa Crociere S.p.A. Group.

 

Costa Concordia wreck removal website launched

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 09 November 2012 09 November 2012

Costa Crociere in partnership with Titan/Micoperi, have launched a website today that provides a wealth of information and images relating to the Costa Concordia wreck-removal project at www.theparbucklingproject.com.

"Parbuckling" is the technical term for the process of rotating the wreck into an upright position -- one of the most complex and crucial phases of the removal plan.

The site is available in both Italian and English (though some parts are only available in Italian), and provides a reference resource for journalists and anyone interested in learning more about the monumental and unprecedented technical challenge.

The site's main features include background information about the project and the companies involved, up-to-date news, multimedia assets including videos, 3-D animations and pictures; thematic insights and technical details.

 

Star Cruises launched second seasonal homeport deployment in Hainan, China.

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 08 November 2012 08 November 2012

Star Cruises, the Asia-Pacific based cruise line, has announced that its 50,764 gross ton SuperStar Aquarius has launched her second seasonal deployment in Sanya. Star Cruises was the first international line to homeport in Sanya last year. Alan Lam reports.

To celebrate this occasion, Sanya Tourism Development Commission staged a special ceremony at the Phoenix International Cruise Terminal for the kick-off of the second season.

Those present to welcome the first batch of 1,300 passengers included Mr Lin Dong, the Executive Vice Mayor of Sanya Municipal Government, Mr William Ng, Chief Operating Officer of Star Cruises, and a myriad of local tourism officials.

“SuperStar Aquarius’ first seasonal deployment in November last year introduced cruising as a new holiday option in Sanya, and marked the beginning of Sanya’s path of becoming an international cruise homeport,” said Mr Lin during the welcoming ceremony. “We are grateful for Star Cruises’ continuing support. We believe that SuperStar Aquarius’ second Sanya deployment will continue to highlight Sanya’s rich tourism resources to regional and international markets.”

In return Mr Ng extended his gratitude on behalf of Star Cruises to Hainan Provincial Government and Sanya Municipal Government for their ongoing support. He remarked that the measure, which facilitated Hainan ID cardholders to cruise to Vietnam with Cross Border Pass, bode well for Star Cruises' deployments in Hainan. It also benefitted the overall development of Hainan cruise industry. He hoped that the measure would be extended across the country to further bolster Hainan and Sanya as an international cruise hub and homeport.

"We are delighted to announce that SuperStar Gemini, which is currently undergoing a $50 million refurbishment, will join our fleet to offer Sanya-homeported cruises in February and March 2013,” added Mr Ng. “Deploying our newest vessel to Sanya signifies our commitment to play a pivotal role in growing Sanya as a cruise hub. We are privileged to contribute to attracting domestic and regional passengers to Sanya and boost local tourism."

During this winter season, SuperStar Aquarius will offer 3-night Sanya/Halong Bay/Danang cruises and 2-night Sanya/Halong Bay cruises. The line has also introduced special cruises sailing from Sanya to Hong Kong.

 

Alan Lam