PPI Group relocates to new offices and unveils fresh brand

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 18 October 2012 18 October 2012

 PPI Group has moved its operations to brand new offices in a tree-lined enclave of east Fort Lauderdale. In line with the company’s “moving forward/standing out” motto of 2012, PPI Group has also created a fresh look, embodying the spirit of innovation and crisp, modern visuals, as it publishes the FCCA 40th Anniversary Book and hosts its 2012 Fall Port Lecturer Conference.

Now located at 6261 NW 6th Way, Suite 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, PPI Group presents its new state-of-the-art facilities and logo in conjunction with two key events: its publication of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s 40th Anniversary Book and PPI Group’s own 2012 Port Lecturer Fall Conference, held during the first week of October at the hip and sleek B Ocean Hotel on Fort Lauderdale beach.

For the FCCA’s 40th anniversary, PPI Group has created a bespoke 128-page publication celebrating the cruise industry’s development and the journey of the organization that has been vital to the industry’s success. Through the best of travel photography and writing, readers will learn about the FCCA’s accomplishments when the book premieres at this week’s FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show in Curacao, October 1-5, 2012.

During this same week, PPI Group hosts and operates its own 2012 Port Lecturer Fall Conference, a week-long event featuring presentations from luxury brands, information on new product lines, training of onboard shopping presenters, and a reinvigoration of sales and marketing strategies.

“Now in our 25th year, we’re even better suited to meet the individual and varied needs of the clients we value so dearly,” says PPI Group president and CEO Bill Panoff.

Niche brand American Cruise Lines reports strong business

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 18 October 2012 18 October 2012

American Cruise Lines, the US based niche operator of  riverboats and small cruise ships in the United States, has announced record sales in the months of August, September and October, creating a unique pre-Wave Season for the company and a strong start to the fourth quarter. Revenues and high early-occupancy levels followed the record sales numbers closely. American Cruise Lines expects a strong 2013 Wave Season, the company said in a statement.

Each of the past 10 weeks has broken previous company sales records. “We predicted significant sales growth for 2012, especially with the launch of new itineraries on the Mississippi River, Alaska and Puget Sound,” said Timothy Beebe, Vice President of American Cruise Lines. The company has since scheduled more cruises on its most popular itineraries in response to demand.

 

Beebe attributes the sales growth to a number of other important factors, the largest of which may be American Cruise Lines’ strengthening travel partner relationships. “We are working with more new travel agents and our existing travel partners are booking more cruises than ever,” said Beebe.

As sales continue to grow, so is the company’s fleet. American Cruise Lines launched its brand new paddlwheeler, Queen of the Mississippi, on August 4^th of this year, and has already ordered another new riverboat, scheduled to enter service in 2014. Details such as the name of the new riverboat and its itineraries will be released over the next few months. Passenger response to the Queen of the Mississippi has been fabulous, with rave reviews about the new riverboat and the service provided.

Russell Watson to perform on three P&O Cruises in 2013

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 18 October 2012 18 October 2012

Classical singing star Russell Watson is to perform on two short breaks run by P&O Cruises in 2013, the company said in a statement.  "The world famous tenor will appear on new three and four-night sailings from Southampton in May and June."

The first departure is a three-night cruise to Belgium and Guernsey departing on Aurora on May 18 with prices starting at £299 per person. 

The second sailing will see Russell Watson perform on superliner Azura on a four-night cruise departing on June 5, calling at the same destinations. Prices are from £399pp. 

In addition to the performance, passengers on Azura can book pre- or post-performance dinner in celebrity chef Atul Kochhar’s Sindhu restaurant, or Marco Pierre White’s Cafe Bordeaux on Aurora. 

The first port of call at Zeebrugge gives passengers the day to explore the city of Bruges with the possibility of travelling further afield to visit Brussels, Ghent or Ypres. The second call in St Peter Port provides a gateway to the island of Guernsey. 

Russell Watson has been in the spotlight since 1999 when his performance of World Cup anthem “Nessun Dorma” at a Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium received a standing ovation. 

The former Salford factory worker has since sold millions of records worldwide and has performed for some of the most influential people of our time, as well as facing two life–threatening illnesses in the last five years. 

The Russell Watson cruise itineraries, on sale from November 1, are: 

·        A three-night cruise on board Aurora (R305), departing May 18, 2013 
Itinerary: Southampton, Zeebrugge, St Peter Port, Southampton. Prices from £299 per person. 

·        A four-night cruise on board Azura (A316N), departing June 5, 2013 
Itinerary: Southampton, Zeebrugge, St Peter Port, Southampton. Prices from £399 per person. 

Oceania Cruises unveils 2013-14 winter programme

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 11 October 2012 11 October 2012

Oceania Cruises, which is part of Prestige Cruise Holdings in Miami, has  announced its 2013-2014 Winter Collection, detailing 61 voyages and 18 new itineraries. “With new ports in China, the Caribbean and the South Pacific, Oceania’s four ships— Riviera, Marina, Regatta and Nautica—will sail to 160 destinations throughout the world. The far-reaching cruise schedule also includes 21 all-new Grand Voyages ranging from 24 to 63 days,” the company said in a statement.

 Bookings made by December 31, 2012, offer added value with two-for-one deposits and free pre-paid gratuities.  All winter 2013-2014 voyages feature two-for-one cruise fares, free air transportation and bonus savings of up to $5,000 per stateroom. “The 2013-2014 Winter Collection showcases the depth and diversity of our multi-faceted itineraries and a number of exciting new ports of call including Dalian, China, Aitutaki, Cook Islands and Kralendijk, Bonaire to name a few,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, Oceania Cruises’ president. “We have once again raised the bar on offering tremendous value to our guests by providing complimentary pre-paid gratuities across every new winter sailing for those who book by year-end."

 Riviera – the newest ship to join the Oceania Cruises’ fleet – will spend her second winter season offering 13 Caribbean voyages featuring new itineraries along with some favorites from the previous year. In addition to popular 10-day cruises in both the Eastern and Western Caribbean, she will sail a new 14-day voyage Caribbean Sand & Sea (departing March 4, 2014) venturing deep into the Southern Caribbean, visiting islands such as Aruba, Curacao and Kralendijk, Bonaire, a new port for Oceania Cruises.

Starting the winter season with a 20-day South American Holiday itinerary departing from Rio de Janeiro (beginning Dec. 8, 2013), Marina will offer a series of 10- to 18-day South Pacific itineraries visiting exotic ports in Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand and the Coral Sea. The 14-day Tahitian Pearls itinerary (departing April 5, 2014) visits Rarotonga and a new port of call for Oceania, Aitutaki in the Cook Islands.                                     

 The 684-guest Nautica will return to Africa and Asia with six itineraries—three voyages are 16 or 21 days in length and three voyages are 30 or 35 days – providing a number of destinations for guests to discover. These include a 30-day Lands of Grandeur (departing Dec. 8, 2013) holiday sailing from Dubai to Cape Town, visiting parts of India, the Maldives, the Seychelles and Kenya, followed by a 30-day Sands & Safari journey (departing Jan. 7, 2014) to Singapore.  Nautica then begins three new Asian exploration cruises of 16 and 21 days that showcase a range of ports throughout Japan, Vietnam, and Korea including two itineraries that will visit Dalian, China, a new port of call for Oceania Cruises.

The 684-guest Regatta will commence her winter 2013 schedule with a series of Panama Canal and South American sailings ending up in Peru, to start a series of South American cruises. A new itinerary, Mystical Andes & Majestic Fjords (beginning Feb. 3, 2014), takes guests on a 30-day journey from Lima to Rio de Janeiro, highlighting both obscure and well-known parts of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. An Amazon River cruise in the spring brings Regatta to Miami for a single 12-day Southern Allure voyage (April 19, 2014) to Bermuda and the Southern United States to end the winter season.

Oceania Cruises offers 21 Grand Voyages, including new departures, from 24 to 63 days in length.  Each blends multiple itineraries for in-depth exploration of as many as 19 different countries on some voyages.

Marina, Regatta and Nautica sail distinct Grand Voyages in different parts of the world, offering guests over-night stays in port for extended visits as well as significant value, including free airfare, two-for-one cruise fares, bonus savings of up to 45 percent, two-for-one deposits, and free pre-paid gratuities.