Splendour of the Seas becomes the first cruise ship to feature iPads in all cabins

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 23 November 2011 23 November 2011

Royal Caribbean International will mark another industry first with the introduction of iPad mobile digital devices in every stateroom onboard the newly revitalized Splendour of the Seas. The hottest tablet on the market empowers guests with an additional medium by which to receive, retrieve and use information on their cruise vacation. With a touch of the screen, guests will be able to access the daily Cruise Compass of events and activities; personal daily itineraries, including shore excursions; monitor their onboard account; order room service; view restaurant menus; access the internet; and watch movies. The iPads will be available beginning mid-February 2012 on Splendour of the Seas before being extended to all Vision-class ships when each undergoes revitalization in the following two years.

"Based on consumer research, we added the iPads to greatly enhance guest communication, interactivity and to continue to offer industry leading technology that helps enhance the guest experience," said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president, Hotel Operations, Royal Caribbean International. This is just one of the many exciting ways that Royal Caribbean continues to provide our guests with the ultimate cruise experience.

The iPads, which will feature English and Portuguese when they debut on Splendour of the Seas, will offer guests the opportunity to access all of their information not only from the comfort of their staterooms, but through the pervasive WIFI also being installed throughout the ship, will enable guests to enjoy the iPads wherever they go onboard.

In addition to the iPads, Splendour of the Seas, which emerges from dry dock on Nov. 25, 2011, also will have an array of new stateroom amenities such as flat screen televisions, new bathrooms, and completely remodeled interiors, including luxurious new linens and furniture, as well as an additional 124 balconies. The ship also will be outfitted with the digital wayfinding technology that can be found on the line's acclaimed Oasis-class ships.

The newly revitalized Splendour also will debut new dining options including the Asian Izumi restaurant; the line's signature steakhouse, Chops Grille; the Boardwalk Dog House hotdog counter; the Park Café deli-style restaurant; and the exclusive Chef's Table dining experience. Royal Caribbean also will introduce a new à la carte menu in the Viking Crown Lounge that will offer guests the opportunity to enjoy bite sized portions of their favorite classics. Additional Royal Caribbean signature innovations debuting on the ship will be the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, a Diamond lounge, a Concierge Lounge, a Britto Gallery featuring works from Brazilian pop-artist Romero Britto, the new R-Bar as well as a reinvented Centrum experience.

Upon completion of the refurbishments, Splendour of the Seas will sail a trans-Atlantic voyage on November 25 from Lisbon, Portugal to her seasonal homeport of Sao Paulo (Santos), Brazil. From there, she will offer a variety of South American itineraries that take advantage of the summer season in Brazil.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 22 innovative ships, calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.

Thomas Cook talks to lenders as trading, cash position deteriorate

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 22 November 2011 22 November 2011

Thomas Cook Group plc, the London based tour operator that is a major retailer of cruises, says that as a result of deterioration of trading in some areas of the business in the current quarter, and of its cash and liquidity position since its year end, opened discussions with its principal lending banks with regard to its facilities during the seasonal low period of cash in the business.

 

"While the Company currently remains in compliance with its financing covenants, it also intends to seek agreement from its lending banks to adjustments that will improve its resilience if trading conditions remain difficult. As a result, the Company will delay its announcement of its full year results until these discussions are concluded. The Company expects to report a headline operating profit for the year ended 30 September 2011 broadly in line with previous guidance," Thomas Cook said in a statement.

 

Thomas Cook Group in its present form came into being in 2008, when the German retailer Arcandor that owned Thomas Cook merged the company with My Travel, a UK based tour operator previously known as Airtours. Arcandor controlled 52.8% of the shares in Thomas Cook Group until the following year. Since 2009, all shares in the company have floated free on the stock market.

 

Princess Cruises details 2012 Canada and New England season

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 22 November 2011 22 November 2011

As the East Coast cruising season has just come to an end, Princess Cruises is reminding passengers it's the perfect time to start planning a Canada & New England voyage for 2012. Whether travelers are intrigued by charming Canadian ports, including quintessentially French Quebec City, or wish to follow in the footsteps of America's founders in historic cities, Princess' fall cruises next year offer the perfect way to discover these timeless vacation destinations.

Emerald Princess and Caribbean Princess will offer 11 voyages on three itineraries – a week-long roundtrip sailing from New York; a 10-day one-way voyage, sailing between New York and Quebec City and featuring an overnight stay in the charming French-Canadian city; and a 12-night Canada & Colonial America cruise from Quebec to Ft. Lauderdale for a voyage along the entire eastern coastline.

All itineraries feature the opportunity to experience area highlights, such as the historic treasures of Boston, the beauty of Maine's Acadia National Park, and the dramatic mansions of Newport, RI.

"The natural beauty of this coastline mixed with the area's rich history makes Canada and New England one of our favorite cruise destinations," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "Where else can you find such brilliant fall foliage, colonial landmarks, rugged beauty and quaint towns all in one voyage?"

Passengers can extend their Canada & New England voyage with one of two cruisetour options that create a full land/sea vacation to America's colonial treasures, or to Niagara Falls and some of the favorite cities in Canada.

The 2012 Canada & New England program includes:

Canada & New England – Caribbean Princess sails on its popular roundtrip seven-day sailings from New York, featuring calls at Halifax (Nova Scotia), Saint John (for the Bay of Fundy), Bar Harbor (for Acadia National Park), Boston and Newport. Caribbean Princess will offer seven departures between September 8 and October 20, 2012.

Classic Canada & New England – Emerald Princess sails on three Classic Canada & New England 10-day cruises between New York and Quebec City, featuring calls in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John (for the Bay of Fundy), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Sydney (Cape Breton Island), and Charlottetown plus an overnight stay for extra time in charming Quebec City. Emerald Princess departs between September 26 and October 16, 2012.

Canada & Colonial America – Emerald Princess also offers one sailing along the full East Coast on a 12-day Canada & Colonial America itinerary from Quebec City to Ft. Lauderdale on October 26. This cruise features an overnight in Quebec City plus calls along the Eastern seaboard in Sydney (Cape Breton Island), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Bar Harbor (for Acadia National Park), Boston, Newport, New York and Charleston.

Cruisetours – For those who would like to extend their Canada & New England vacation, Princess offers escorted pre- or post-cruise land tours in conjunction with these sailings, in which passengers can travel back through historic America or spend further time in Canada with a complete land and sea experience. The Historic America cruisetour includes travel to Washington, D.C.; Williamsburg; Richmond and Monticello in Virginia; Gettysburg, and Philadelphia, while the Maple Explorer cruisetour includes the Canadian cities of Toronto (for Niagara Falls), Ottawa, Montebello, and Montreal.

Oceania unveils 2012-13 itineraries with 15 new ports

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 21 November 2011 21 November 2011

Oceania Cruises, which is part of Prestige Cruise Holdings in Florida, says it has launched its 2012-13 winter collection of worldwide cruises from September 2012 to May 2013 on board its four mid-sized luxury cruise ships, the 1250 guest new cruise ship `Marina’, her sister ship `Riviera’ (launching April 2012), and the two 650 guest ships `Regatta’ and `Nautica’. The new collection features 22 new itineraries, 15 new ports of call and new Grand Voyages from 23 – 71 days as the four ships cruise in Asia, South America , Canada & New England, the Caribbean, Australia , New Zealand and the South Pacific.

For the first time the magnificent new ship Riviera will make inaugural journeys to the idyllic Caribbean islands for a winter season of Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises, starting with `Idyllic Isles’ (departing 29th November 2012, from £931pp). The ships 14 night `Island Holiday’ (departing 20th December  2012, from £2258pp) includes stops at Kingstown, St. Vincent, and Philipsburg, both new ports for Oceania Cruises. Riviera’s sister ship Marina will take guests to the South Pacific, to Australia and New Zealand, sailing to new ports that include the mysterious Easter Island for the first time and replacing the smaller ship, Regatta, on cruises `down under’. Her The 20-day `Ancient Legends’ voyage (departing 27the December 2012, from £2030pp) to Polynesia via South America will visit such outposts as Robinson Crusoe, Easter and Pitcairn islands and Fakarava in French Polynesia.

The 684-guest luxury ship Regatta returns to New England and Canada in September and October 2012, including a 14 night `Autumn Vistas’ cruise (19th October 2012, from £2234pp) before cruising to the Caribbean and South America where new port calls include Boston and Portland, Maine . Her sister ship Nautica returns to Africa and Asia, with a 17 day `Asian Treasures’ itinerary (4th February 2013, from £2969pp) sailing from Singapore to Hong Kong, followed by a 17 day `Empires and Dynasties’ cruise (21st February 2013, from £3007pp) from Hong Kong to Beijing .

Oceania Cruises’ Managing Director, UK and Europe , Bernard Carter said “We anticipate strong demand for these cruises. Oceania Cruises’ core values of comfort, service and cuisine have repeatedly won accolades for exceptional quality at exceptionally keen prices. This new collection is no exception and with 7 night cruises from £738 per guest (Regatta 27 Nov 12), we are rivaling the top cruise lines for quality while maintaining exceptional value for our clients”.

Oceania Cruises’ Winter 2012- 13 Collection – at a glance

·         15 new ports of call

·         22 new itineraries

.         21 new Grand Voyages from 23 to 71 days.

·         A return for `Regatta’ to Canada and New England 

·         A return for `Nautica’ to Africa and Asia .

 ·         Riviera’s North American debut with a winter season of Panama Canal and Caribbean cruises.

·         Marina will replace Regatta on cruises Down Under; the repositioning cruise from South America to the South Pacific and will visit exotic destinations such as Easter Island, the Pitcairn Islands and Robinson Crusoe Island .

 ·         In South America, Marina will operate a Rio to Valparaiso cruise as well as a Panama Canal cruise from Miami to Lima

·         Regatta operates a 25-day Amazon cruise from New York , a new 7-day Caribbean cruise, a Panama Canal transit, and a 30-day cruise highlighting the best of South America before operating 12-day cruises.

·         Marina which will operate a 16-day voyage from New York to Southampton via New England , Canada and Ireland .