Royal Caribbean Group extends maturity of two credit facilities

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 16 January 2023 16 January 2023

Royal Caribbean Group said it has successfully amended and extended the majority of its two unsecured revolving credit facilities.  “The amendment has extended the maturities of $2.3 billion of the $3.0 billion aggregate revolving capacity by one year to April 2025, with the remainder maturing in April 2024,” the world’s second largest cruise shipping group said in a statement.

"The successful extension of our credit facilities is a testament to our strong relationship with key lenders and their confidence in the Royal Caribbean Group," said Naftali Holtz, chief financial officer. 

"Our liquidity position remains strong and strengthening driven by our strong booked position, and delivering positive EBITDA cash flow generation," added Holtz. "This extension, coupled with the repayment of $0.6 billion of debt in the fourth quarter of 2022, is a continuation of our proactive and methodic improvement of the balance sheet as we seek to return to an investment grade profile balance sheet."

Stena Line boosts capacity between Sweden and Poland with brand-new Stena Ebba

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 16 January 2023 16 January 2023

The all-new Stena Ebba was in the spotlight during a naming ceremony on 11 January 2023 in Karlskrona, marking the launch of Stena Line’s second E-Flexer ferry on the Karlskrona-Gdynia route.

Stena Ebba was named during the ceremony where godmother Ulrica Messing, the governor of the Blekinge region in Sweden traditionally smashed a bottle of champagne against the ship. The event follows the introduction of the sister vessel Stene Estelle in September 2022 and with the two new vessels now launched on the route, the relations between Sweden and Poland continue to grow.

“The addition of our new modern Stena Ebba ferry in the South Baltic Sea is Stena Line’s response to customer demand in a dynamic economic area that continues to grow," says Niclas Mårtensson, CEO Stena Line. He continues: “We have operated this ferry route for more than 25 years and with our new E-Flexer ferries we will enable our partners to expand their business through an enhanced access to European markets and supply chains."

Stena Ebba is one of the largest ferries in regular operations in the Baltic Sea. It is 240 metres long, offers space for 1,200 people and can accommodate up to 200 trucks. With its 3,600 lane metres, capacity has increased with no less than a 60 per cent boost versus the previous vessel on the route.

This is a completely new vessel – it recently arrived on the Gdynia-Karlskrona route directly from the shipyard. The ferry is also energy-efficient thanks to its optimised design and also more sustainable, not least by the possibility of using shore power during port calls, which reduces exhaust emissions. The interior has been designed in a Scandinavian style with panoramic windows, which for sure will appeal to passengers.

"Today, with the inauguration of the Stena Ebba on the Gdynia-Karlskrona route, as well as the earlier introduction of its sister ship Stena Estelle, we are beginning a new phase in the development of our region. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers the most modern vessels on this market. The modernisation of our fleet will enable a significant capacity increase, which is important not only for us and our customers, but also for the entire region and the countries we connect," said Marek Kiersnowski, Trade Director Baltic Sea South at Stena Line.

Over the past year, Stena Line has done significant investments to modernise the Gdynia-Karlskrona ferry connection. In June 2022, operations were transferred to the new ferry terminal in Gdynia, which allows berthing of 240 m vessels and offers the possibility of developing an intermodal solution, thanks to its proximity to railway tracks. In September, the new vessel Stena Estelle was introduced, now followed by Stena Ebba.

Located on the other side of the Baltic Sea, the Karlskrona ferry terminal is not lagging behind. During Stena Line’s 25 years of operating the ferry route to Poland, the port has expanded with a modern terminal catering for the needs of both growing demand from passenger as well as larger freight volumes.

Ambassador Cruise Line names Godmother of Ambition

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 15 January 2023 15 January 2023

Ambassador Cruise Line, the new UK based operator that commenced business last year, has announced that British sailor and double Olympic Gold Medallist Shirley Robertson OBE is set to add another title to her considerable list of honours: Godmother of Ambition, the second ship to sail in the brand colours of the premium-value, no-fly cruise line’s fleet.

A longstanding tradition, the role of the Godmother is to bring good luck and protection to a ship, and in her new role, Shirley will name Ambition ­at an official ceremony in Newcastle on 11 May 2023. She will then join the new ship’s first cruise, which departs Newcastle on 12 May, for one night before disembarking in her home town of Dundee as Ambition continues on her inaugural 14-night Hidden Gems of France and Spain sailing.

Shirley Robertson is one of the most recognisable faces from the sport of sailing. She was appointed MBE in 2000 and OBE in 2005, making history when becoming the first British woman to win Gold Medals at two consecutive Olympic Games (Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004). Named World Sailor of the Year by the International Sailing Federation in 2000, she has been a trailblazer for women in sailing for many years, having also steered massive superyachts around the race track to being the first ever female skipper in the groundbreaking ‘Extreme 40 Sailing Series’. Shirley features in Scotland’s prestigious Sports Hall of Fame and holds a role as Deputy Lieutenant for the place she now calls home: the Isle of Wight.

Today, Shirley Robertson is considered one of the sport’s most successful broadcasters. An accomplished presenter across multiple channels, she has previously fronted CNN’s dedicated sailing programme, Mainsail, as well as presented the BBC’s Olympic sailing coverage. She is an engaging public speaker and a regular contributor to discussions across a variety of topics within sailing. While her exploits beyond the Olympic arena are considerable, Shirley has recently taken up double-handed offshore sailing, and last year took on the marathon of the Round Britain and Ireland race, saying she ‘still feels most at home when at sea’ and has developed a new-found appreciation for the British coastline.

Shirley will be Godmother to Ambition, the second ship to join the Ambassador fleet following Ambience, which sailed for the first time in April 2022. Ambition is aptly named to emphasise the brand’s commitment to inspire and delight every guest to enjoy an authentic cruise experience effortlessly and sustainably. Like her sister ship, Ambition will be upgraded to operate at IMO Tier III from her inaugural voyage, placing her amongst the top 10%-15% of cruise ships to achieve this level of environmental operation.

Ambition will carry up to 1,200 passengers in 714 cabins, 125 of which have balconies and 113 are suites with up to 62m2 of living space. Dining options will include two main restaurants, speciality dining options, and a more casual bistro style café, plus four bars, lounges and a wine bar. Entertainment offerings include the main theatre, a card room, library and craft studio. Additional guest facilities will include the wellness centre, gym, two swimming pools and a range of retail shops, perfect for days at sea. Following her maiden voyage from Newcastle, Ambition will sail from an additional six regional UK ports in her inaugural year including London Tilbury, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol, and Falmouth.

Christian Verhounig, CEO at Ambassador Cruise Line, said: “As one of the most recognisable faces in sailing, there seemed no better fit for Ambition’s Godmother than Shirley Robertson. As a trailblazer for women in the sport, not only is she passionate about all things nautical, but Shirley’s story is an inspiration to us all. What’s more, with the launch of our second ship we are also announcing cruise departures from seven regional UK ports, including Shirley's hometown of Dundee."

Shirley Robertson OBE said: “I was drawn to Ambassador from the very first contact - I love their passion for quality service and their drive to look for sustainable options at every turn. I’m also a big fan of holidays that don’t involve the stress of airports and love the beauty and variety our very own coastline offers. Being at sea, and the excitement of arriving somewhere by sea, is very special. I’m very much looking forward to being a regular on Ambition and partnering with the dynamic team at Ambassador – I can’t wait.”

Massimo Brancaleoni joins Silversea as SVP Global Sales

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 14 January 2023 14 January 2023

Silversea Cruises, the leading ultra-luxury cruise line, has enriched its global sales team to propel its continued growth, welcoming cruise industry veteran Massimo Brancaleoni as SVP Global Sales. Reporting to President and CEO Barbara Muckermann, Brancaleoni will drive the cruise line’s global sales strategies across all channels, leveraging his 25 years of experience in the cruise industry to further strengthen the company’s position as the category leader. Silversea’s regional managing directors will report to Brancaleoni.

“We are delighted to welcome Massimo Brancaleoni as SVP Global Sales, as we continue to bolster our global sales team to sustain our unprecedented growth trajectory,” said Barbara Muckermann, President and CEO, Silversea Cruises. “Massimo’s wealth of experience and his international background will prove crucial as we further strengthen our position as the world’s leading ultra-luxury cruise line. This is an entirely new role for Silversea, which demonstrates our commitment to continuous growth and our deep partnership with our travel advisor community. Massimo’s strategic expertise will prove key as he drives sales globally, across all channels.”

“I am honored to join Silversea Cruises as SVP Global Sales and I look forward to strengthening the cruise line’s stellar reputation as the market leader, working with the global sales team to drive growth across all markets,” said Massimo Brancaleoni, SVP Global Sales, Silversea Cruises. “I look forward to working closely with Silversea’s travel advisor partners. We would not find ourselves in our leading position without their continuous support and I look forward to strengthening our partnership even more.”

An Italian national, Massimo Brancaleoni—who most recently held the position of SVP Global Sales at Costa Cruises—brings over 25 years of experience, with proven success in leading large teams and developing profitable global sales strategies. Brancaleoni was educated at the University of Economics in Genoa and the IESE Business School in Barcelona.