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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines welcome lifting of Liverpool restrictions

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 May 2012 24 May 2012

Cruising from Liverpool has become easier and more convenient, with the UK Government’s announcement today of its intention to lift the restrictions that had previously prevented Liverpool’s Pier Head Terminal from being used for turnaround calls – subject to the municipality's repayment of an £8.8 million UK Government grant, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said in a statement.

Fred. Olsen cruise guests in Liverpool will be welcoming Boudicca back to the city in spring/summer 2013. The cruise line is making a return to this popular departure port with 10 cruises, on a variety of exciting worldwide itineraries, between April and August 2013. Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: "Having been a supporter of the Merseyside region for a number of years, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines welcomes the decision to grant turnaround status for Pier Head in Liverpool.

Liverpool’s Pier Head, with its three famous buildings – Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Mersey Docks & Harbours Building – handled turnaround calls of ocean liners up to the early 1970s. Following the demise of these, the Princes Landing Stage that handled passenger ships was greatly reduced to handle just small local ferries. A new cruise terminal was built a few years ago just downriver of the remaining part of the old landing stage.

“This is a great opportunity for the City of Liverpool to boost its status as a major departure port in the UK. It also benefits Fred. Olsen and other cruise operators, as it will improve the accessibility of the port by eliminating locks and increasing the tidal window available to cruise ships,” Philpot continued.

Boudicca will be offering a wide range of cruise itineraries from Liverpool in 2013, of varying durations – from a 12-night Canary Islands cruise in April 2013 to a four-night mini-cruise in August 2013. Fred. Olsen will also be adding Harwich and Belfast to its list of regional departure ports in 2013. Together with the return to Liverpool in 2013, this means that Fred. Olsen is able to operate a vessel within only a two hours’ drive from 80% of the UK population, further enhancing its reputation as the UK’s local cruise line with a choice of global itineraries.

Norwegian Cruise Line expands TRX Suspension fitness programme fleet wide

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 May 2012 21 May 2012

Norwegian Cruise Line has expanded its fitness programme by offering the one-of-a-kind fitness experience, TRX Suspension Training® classes, across its fleet of Freestyle Cruising® ships, the company said in a sratement.

The group exercise classes, first introduced on board Norwegian Epic, are now available fleet-wide. Fitness enthusiasts can experience a total body workout on board without having to put their gym routines on hold whilst setting sail to popular cruise destinations such as Alaska ; Bahamas and Florida ; Bermuda; the Caribbean; Europe; and Hawaii .

A popular fitness trend, the TRX Suspension Training® classes encompass strength training with adjustable resistance straps and allow participants, of any age and fitness level, to perform exercises that build core strength and power; increase flexibility; and enhance balance and mobility. The classes are held four times a week on seven-night sailings and are $20 for a single class or $60 for four classes.

"Norwegian continues to offer guests the optimal experience to maintain a healthy lifestyle while on holiday with the first abseiling wall at sea on board Norwegian Epic and climbing walls on board Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Pearl. A variety of exercise classes are also available fleet-wide including cycling, nutritional consultation, Pilates, yoga and personal training sessions. The fitness centres on board most ships feature treadmills, cross trainers, extensive weight and cardiovascular equipment, free weight areas, stretching areas and aerobic studios," the company said.

MSC Cruises and STX France celebrate record-breaking partnership

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 21 May 2012 21 May 2012

In the morning of May 19 in Saint-Nazaire, France, MSC Divina was officially delivered to MSC Cruises at the STX France shipyard.

During the traditional flag ceremony, the shipyards pennant and the French flag were lowered, accompanied by the French national anthem, before Laurent Castaing, General Manager of STX France, formally handed the ship over to MSC Cruises owner Gianluigi Aponte. Mr Aponte then gave command of the ship to Captain Giuliano Bossi, and the flags of Italy and MSC Cruises were raised to the sound of the Italian national anthem. Erminio Eschena, General Director of MSC Cruises France, Belgium and Luxembourg, was also in attendance.

The honor of cutting the ribbon fell to Ela Aponte, wife of MSC Vice President Diego Aponte, who was also in attendance. After the traditional breaking of a bottle of champagne, three blasts from the ships siren signalled the end of the ceremony.

I am very proud of MSC Divina, the 12th addition to our wonderful fleet and our third Fantasia-class ship. I believe she is the most beautiful ship in our fleet and that her innovations and polished features bring this successful class to perfection. Dedicated to Ms. Sophia Loren, MSC Divinas stylish refinement represents a new benchmark in cruising. More than that, MSC Divina is the latest expression of our long-term collaboration with STX France, said MSC Cruises CEO Pierfrancesco Vago. Each Fantasia-class ship represents 5 million working hours and an average investment of $700 million, over 70 percent of which directly benefits the French economy, in terms of both employment and the procurement of goods and services in support of the ships construction. We believe that the success of a countrys economy relies on such investments in its unique industrial traditions.

STX France's General Manager Laurent Castaing added: "MSC Divina is the 11th ship in just over 10 years that our shipyard has built which is operated by MSC Cruises. Her sistership MSC Preziosa, currently under construction, will become the 12th ship. Throughout our 150-year history never before have so many vessels been built for one ship builder, and this is a record which deserves to be highlighted today. I myself have even had the opportunity to participate in the construction of a good number of these vessels during my previous roles at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard.

MSC Divina is 1,094 feet long, 124 feet wide, and measuring 139,400 tons, the 3,502-guest (double occupancy; total: 4,345) luxury cruise ship is able to travel up to 23 knots, offering smooth cruising in sumptuous surroundings.

Her elegant design is once again the work of award-winning naval architects De Jorio Design International. New features to MSC Divinas 322,900 square feet of public areas include the Garden Pool, an infinity style pool with a chic and minimal design and its four resounding sculptures, to the Galaxy restaurant in the disco with its fabulous Mediterranean fusion cuisine and its chic décor, based around the theme of light.

After the closing of the flag ceremony, MSC Divina today began her pre-christening cruise from Saint-Nazaire, where calls are scheduled at Lisbon, Portugal, on Monday, Cadiz, Spain on Tuesday, and Valencia, Spain on Thursday. She will reach the port of Marseille on Friday, May 25, ready for her official christening ceremony the next day. The highlight of the event will be the cutting of the ribbon and the naming of the ship by screen legend Sophia Loren.

Fred. Olsen to call in Myanmar, Pitcairn Island on 2014 world cruises

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 18 May 2012 18 May 2012

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has announced two new ‘World Cruises’ for 2014 aboard its cruise ships Balmoral and Black Watch that will visit some new ports of call, such as Yangon in Myanmar – formerly Burma – and a first foray into Japan, with visits to the historic island of Hiroshima, then the ports of Osaka and Yokahama.

“Balmoral's cruise includes five maiden calls, and Black Watch’s has four; but the ships also re-visit some of Fred. Olsen’s guests’ favourite ports around the world, often with an extended stay to allow extra time for shore excursions,” the company said in a statement. There are special ‘Pre-Launch’ offers available on these exclusive cruises, valid until the launch of the ‘Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Worldwide Cruises Brochure 2013/14’ in late June 2012. Early bookers will also benefit from up to £550 free onboard spending credit per cabin.

Balmoral's 104-night ‘Myanmar, Japan & Hawaii World Cruise’ L1401, ex Southampton on 5th January 2014 This cruise travels in an easterly direction, via Spain and on to Egypt, with an overnight stay in the historic city of Alexandria, and a daylight transit of the Suez Canal. Balmoral continues to Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga, then Salalah in Oman and glittering Dubai in the UAE. Next, Balmoral calls into enigmatic and magical India, where ports include Mumbai, for an overnight stay, and Cochin, an important trading centre since ancient times. After visiting Colombo in Sri Lanka, Balmoral makes a first-ever visit to Yangon in Myanmar, a highlight of the cruise, allowing guests to visit this beautiful and little-known part of the world. There is a two-night stay here, before Balmoral cruises on to the great world ports of Singapore and Hong Kong.

Balmoral’s next calls are in Japan, to the historic island of Hiroshima, then to Osaka and Yokahama. The dream destinations of Hawaii follow; Nawiliwili, Honolulu and Hilo. After a call into sunny San Diego, in the United States, Balmoral visits Mexico, including Acapulco, famous for its legendary cliff divers. This offers a panorama of different cultures and climates; the next ports Central America – Guatemala and Costa Rica – and, finally, Balmoral visits the balmy Caribbean islands of Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua. Her return voyage makes a final call into the Azores, before she docks back in Southampton on 19th April 2014.

Black Watch’s 114-night ‘Australia & South America World Cruise’ W1401, ex Southampton on 14th January 2014. This epic cruise has a very different itinerary, and is the longest ever undertaken by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. The itinerary offers a real feast for the senses, with its diversity of destinations. It takes in South America, with overnight stays in both Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Buenos Aires (Argentina), to allow guests time to explore these vibrant ports at leisure, then rounds Cape Horn, and cruises the Chilean Fjords, with ports of call including the romantically-named Robinson Crusoe Island in Chile. Another highlight must be Easter Island, famous for its enigmatic giant stone carvings.

Black Watch also visits Pitcairn Island, Papeete (Tahiti), and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. One of the great joys of a long cruise is being able to call into so many diverse islands en route to the world’s major ports. The Australasian sector of the cruise visits Auckland, New Zealand, and the Australian ports of Sydney, Brisbane, and Cairns. There is a completely different atmosphere as she heads east, travelling to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore, and on to magical India. Here Black Watch calls into Port Blair, Chennai (Madras) and, of course, Mumbai for an overnight stay. The cruise concludes with calls into ports in Jordan, Egypt and finally Malta and Gibraltar, before returning to Southampton.

P&O Cruises to show live HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee events

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 16 May 2012 16 May 2012

P&O Cruises will show live BBC World News coverage of HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on June 5, the company said in a statement.

Highlights of the coverage will include:
· HRH The Duke and HRH The Duchess of Cambridge’s first formal carriage ride since their wedding in April 2011.
· HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and HRH Prince Harry joining the procession.
· HM The Queen's 1902 state landau travelling along Whitehall and the Mall to Buckingham Palace following the Diamond Jubilee lunch in Westminster Hall.
· The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment providing a Sovereign's Escort for the remaining members of the royal party.
· HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh gathering with senior royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet the crowds and watch an RAF formation fly past.

In addition to the live coverage on June 5 passengers will also have the opportunity to watch a three-part series called, Diamond Queen, in which Andrew Marr from the BBC looks at the life and reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II, interspersed with interviews from members of the Royal Family. Diamond Queen will air on board on June 2nd/3rd, 9th/10th and 16th/17th.

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow said: “We are delighted to be showing live coverage of the Diamond Jubilee on board. As Britain’s favourite cruise line we want to ensure that all of our passengers can enjoy world class coverage of this historic occasion while enjoying their holiday”.

All coverage will be shown live in public areas on board, and is satellite dependent.