Emerald Cruises’ first ocean yacht, Emerald Azzurra, christened in Venice

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 31 May 2022 31 May 2022

On Saturday, May 29, Emerald Cruises’ first ocean luxury yacht, Emerald Azzurra, was christened in an intimate ceremony in Venice, Italy. In attendance were Glen Moroney, Founder and Chairman of Scenic Group, of which Emerald Cruises is part; his wife Karen Moroney, Director of Project Design; embarking guests; Emerald Cruises staff who worked on delivering the yacht; and local dignitaries.

Speaking during the ceremony Glen Moroney offered “Scenic Group holds a unique position of owning the complete end to end process where we design, build, and operate our vessels. Special thanks must go to the project team, headed by Ivo Skelin, for their commitment and dedication during the building of Emerald Azzurra.”

Godmother Sarah Wikevand, joint Managing Director at Reader Offers Ltd (ROL), was unable to attend the ceremony. However, Rosie Cairns, joint Managing Director at ROL stepped in.

David Winterton, Global Director of Brand and Marketing at Emerald Cruises said: “The team at Reader Offers Ltd are true advocates for the cruising market and their dedication reflects our own commitment to growing the popularity of luxury yacht cruising. As one of Emerald Cruises’ top performing agents for both river and yacht cruising, ROL has been instrumental in the success of launching Emerald Cruises’ first ocean-going luxury yacht, Emerald Azzurra. We are truly honored that Sarah has agreed to serve as an Emerald Cruises Godmother.”

The luxury yacht carries just 100 guests in 50 deluxe staterooms and suites – of which 88% feature a balcony. Emerald Azzurra offers a luxurious small ship cruising experience, visiting ports and harbors only accessible to small yachts. The custom-built vessel features a variety of stunningly appointed public areas including an infinity-style pool, wellness area with an infrared sauna, and a marina platform for easy access to water sports and activities such as electric bikes and stand-up paddleboards.

Emerald Azzurra entered service on March 12 and is currently sailing an eight-day Croatia in Depth itinerary. The luxury yacht will continue sailing the Adriatic and Mediterranean coastlines before repositioning to Doha, Qatar in December 2022 to cruise the Arabian Peninsula between Doha and Dubai. Emerald Azzurra will be joined by sister yacht Emerald Sakara in 2023, with itineraries to the Mediterranean on sale now.

Emerald Cruises offers a diverse lineup of river and yacht cruises on three continents. Emerald Azzurra, the line’s first ocean-going vessel which debuted in March 2022, is a 100-guest, luxury yacht sailing the warm waters of the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. Emerald Sakara will be the brand’s second luxury yacht and launches in 2023. On the rivers, Emerald Cruises sails eight branded Star-Ships in Europe and one on the Mekong.

MedCruise 60th General Assembly confirms increasing trends in the cruise sector and designs new sustainable scenarios

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 31 May 2022 31 May 2022

The 60th edition of the General Assembly of MedCruise, the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports, representing more than 145 cruise ports from 22 countries and three continents, was hosted by the port member Costa Brava Cruise Ports representing Palamós and Roses.

It was an exceptional event for many reasons: after two years of lockdown it was finally one of the first events organised in presence but also because of the record number of participation. 185 delegates, coming from three continents, 22 cruise executives from 18 cruise lines, 11 journalists from international and 12 from Spanish press joined at Costa Brava for three vibrant days. The record participation was beneficial for the new #MedCruise4Planet campaign, which involved as a first in the industry one registration one planted tree in France and Portugal thanks to the support of Reforest Action company.

Palamós & Roses, 31st of May 2022-The MedCruise 60th General Assembly hosted by the port member Costa Brava Cruise Ports in Palamós & Roses, has successfully concluded. In three days the Association has organised more than 600 B2Bs, workshops, meetings and discussion panels including all the port and associated members. Special B2B online sessions will be organized specifically for the Black Sea cruise ports that could not attend the MedCruise General Assembly.

The six plenary sessions were focused on key matters and themes that the cruise industry needed to discuss in depth. Trends in the Med session moderated by Francesca Antonelli, Marketing & Cruises Manager, Commercial & Business Development, Port Authority of Valencia, Spain and SVP, Professional Development, MedCruise and Lorenzo Vega, Manager, Motrilport-Granada, Spain, VP, Destination Development, MedCruise. The discussion with Maria Cano, Cruise Manager, Ports of Catalonia, Spain, Andrea Ferla, Manager, Destination Experiences, Silversea Cruises, Sander Groothuis, VP, Port Operations & Development, Carnival UK and Jacopo Pendola, Director, Itinerary & Revenue Planning, Costa Cruises has been about the challenges covered by Med Ports together in the last years and has underlined how the pandemic also created new opportunities and confirmed that cooperation with the cruise lines and other stakeholders is crucial more than ever to face new challenges.

Fit for 55 - Where the 145 ports are to fit the sustainability goals moderated by Valeria Mangiarotti, Marketing Manager, PNA of the Sardinian Sea, Italy and Technical Enviromental Solutions, MedCruise, Theodora Riga, Director of Corporate Communications, Thessaloniki Port Authority, Greece and European Union & Association Collaborations, MedCruise. The speakers involved, Alessandro Carollo, Director, Government Relations, Royal Caribbean Group, Vincenzo Galati, Director, ABG Marine Technology, Carnival Corporation & Plc, Nicolai Skogland, Executive Director, Port Operations and Government Relations, Viking Cruises, have discussed this pack of new legislative proposals and amendments to existing EU legislation that will help the EU cut its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990.

Young travellers - What the travellers & customers want from us moderated by Cristina de Gregori, Communication and Marketing, Ports of Genoa, Italy and PR, Communication and Marketing, MedCruise and Anne-Marie Spinosi, Cruise Manager, Chamber of Commerce of Corsica, Franceand Events and #PortsTogether Activities, MedCruise. The speakers involved, Nikola Bajo, Nautical Manager, Grand Circle Cruise Line, Gina Dunnett, Director, Land Product Development, Azamara Club Cruises and Sacha Rougier, Head, Itinerary Planning and Shore Experience, MSC Cruises - Explora Journeys have added an interesting discussion about the different needs of the guests depending on their age with a particular focus on younger travellers that belong to Z Gens and how they impact the current and future travellers’ trends.

#MedCruise4OurPlanet-A holistic approach to sustainability moderated by Jamil Ouazzani, Director of Marketing & Strategic Intelligence, Tangier City Port Management Company, Morocco and EcoSystem and Sustainability, MedCruise and Elisa Zamora, Commercial Manager, Port Authority of Santa Cruz of Tenerife, Spain and Membership and Sponsorship, MedCruise. The debate was about the fact that even if we operate in a global industry, every MC member has its own identity and no doubt that one solution will never fit any challenge they face. For this reason, the debate together with Michele Bosco, Shore Excursions-Mediterranean, North Africa & Black Sea, Holland America Group, Andrea Gonzalez, Sustainable Development Coordinator, Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services, Ioannis Pappas, Director Mediterranean Region of Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Frederique Patry, Senior Manager, Itinerary Planning, Silversea Cruises, Adam Sharp, Director, International Destination Development, Royal Caribbean Group has been concentrating on how to get to an adapted approach and tailor-made solutions for multifaceted sustainable challenges.

The new normal cruising-First half reviews from itinerary planning, destination management and port operations perspective moderated by Cristina Carriere, International Relations and Communication Department, PNA of the Ionian Sea, Italy and Port & City Relationship, MedCruise and Aziz Gungor, East Med Ports Regional Director, Global Ports Holding, Turkey and Health, Safety and Security, MedCruise

Along with Aleksander Bieniek, VP, Marine Operations, Star Clippers, Emilio Freeman, VP, Itineraries & Destinations, SeaDream Yacht Club, Hugues Lamy, Director, Port Operations, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Daniela Sordi, Senior Manager, Destinations Management, Swan Hellenic Cruises, the debate was about the crisis-driven innovations cruise lines made while navigating their way to the «new normal».

The big 3D’s - Digitization, digitalization, data for a better customer experience moderated by Figen Ayan, Chief Port Officer Galataport Istanbul, Turkey and MedCruise President and Aris Batsoulis, Head, Technical Services & Development Director, Corfu Port Authority, Greece and Projects, Studies and Finances, MedCruise. In our modern, constantly changing, involving world and cruise industry, it has been interesting to understand with Yusuf Amro, Founder and Business Consultant of Yamro.Limited, Semih Incedayi, CEO, Dogus Technology, Davide Truscello, Director, Pricing, Itinerary & Revenue Planning, Costa Cruises and Diogenis Venetopoulos, DPA/CSO-Partner, Variety Cruises how our companies via reliable and consumable data can create better customer experiences.

Thanks to MedCruise General Assembly, the cruise line executives, together with the international press, have also had the opportunity of visiting the most characteristic places and testing the eco-gastronomic uniqueness of Costa Brava through dedicated tours.

“I am particularly proud of this General Assembly, the first one for me as President of MedCruise"’ declared Figen Ayan. ‘It has been a record edition demonstrating that especially in our socially engaging cruise industry, people need to meet, greet and do networking in presence. Nevertheless, I would like to send my thoughts and prayers to our friends in Odessa and the entire Black Sea, while looking forward to seeing them among us. Post MedCruise General Assembly, we have arranged specifically for our Black Sea members online meetings in order to let them be involved in the unique MedCruise B2B meetings. I would like sincerely thank the the Ports of Catalonia (Ports de la Generalitat), the Tourism Board of Costa Brava, the Council of Palamós, the Council of Roses that have hosted every participant of our General Assembly in a warm and exclusive manner, which gave the opportunity to have fruitful networking opportunities. Moreover, we have been able to discuss environmental and sustainable matters whether it is technical or social in a non-intimidating manner but in an open, solution-oriented manner all for the benefit and sustainable growth of the cruise industry. The Med continues to be a leading market in the sector because we know that collaboration is a key ingredient for strong growth. And it is for this exact reason that the cruise activity restart after the pandemic in August 2020 in the Med first. After 2 years, the cruise lines have confirmed the increasing trend and the ports of MedCruise are working all together to maintain this leading position in the most sustainable way, improving and implementing the offer of their excursions as well”.

The 62nd General Assembly will be held in Malaga the day after the Seatrade Cruise Med event.

#60MedCruiseGA #MedCruise #MedCruise4OurPlanet #cruise #PortsTogether

Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard floats out Explora I

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 31 May 2022 31 May 2022

The float out of Explora I, the first out of four luxury cruise ships ordered by the Cruises Division of MSC Group for its new luxury brand Explora Journeys, has taken place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy today. The vessel, whose construction began in June 2021, will enter service at the end of May 2023. At the same time, the construction of Explora II, the second ship of the new brand, is proceeding with delivery expected in summer 2024.

The float-out ceremony was attended, among others, by Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, and by Fincantieri Chairman, Claudio Graziano, and Fincantieri CEO, Pierroberto Folgiero.

The construction of the innovative Explora Journeys fleet, commissioned to Fincantieri by the MSC Group in 2018, continues at a fast pace thanks to a total order worth more than €2 billion for four units. The ships will have gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 tons, featuring the latest available technologies in terms of environment and sustainability.

Carnival Cruise Line provides statement on Carnival Freedom fire

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 27 May 2022 27 May 2022

On Thursday morning while in port at Grand Turk, Carnival Freedom’s emergency response team quickly activated and extinguished a fire inside the ship’s funnel. All guests and crew are safe, and all other ship, hotel, and guest services, along with safety equipment are fully functioning.

While the majority of Carnival Freedom’s guests went ashore in Grand Turk today, Carnival’s technical team completed an initial assessment of the funnel and related features, and the shoreside team completed a plan to get our guests back to Port Canaveral.

There are 2504 guests and 972 crew on board. Carnival Conquest’s next cruise, departing May 27 from Miami has been cancelled and that ship will be deployed to Grand Turk to transport Freedom guests back to Port Canaveral. Carnival Conquest will arrive to Grand Turk on Saturday, May 28 and guests aboard Carnival Freedom will transfer to Carnival Conquest for the voyage back to Port Canaveral, arriving on Monday, May 30. Carnival Conquest will then return to Miami, and her May 30 departure will be shortened by one day, with guests embarking on May 31.

Once guests are transferred from Carnival Freedom, the ship will proceed to Freeport for a repair to the funnel. The May 28 departure of Carnival Freedom from Port Canaveral has been cancelled. Guests booked on the impacted sailings on Carnival Conquest and Carnival Freedom voyages have been notified of these changes.

Carnival apologized to all those guests who are impacted and offered special thanks to the crew who handled the situation on the ship effectively and according to safety protocols.