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Carnival said to be in talks with Saudi fund over Seabourn sale

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 May 2022 27 May 2022

Carnival Corporation & plc, which is the world’s largest cruise company, is reportedly in talks to sell its luxury brand Seabourn Cruise Line to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

CNBC reports that “people familiar with the situation” told them about the negotiations. Carnival refused to comment on rumours or speculation to CNBC, while the Saudi fund did not reply to their inquires.

Seabourn has a fleet office ships, with a 23,000 gross ton expedition cruise ship newbuilding called Seabourne Venture due to sail on its maiden voyage in the summer and a similar ship scheduled to enter service in the spring of next year

The Carnival group has massive debts as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that led to the suspension of virtually all its operations for months. Equity accounted for only $10.3 billion of there group’s $53.3 billion balance sheet at the end of February, i.e. the first quarter of its financial year.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to celebrated onboard Fred Olsen Cruise Line’s ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 May 2022 27 May 2022

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships will offer the chance to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style over the long Bank Holiday weekend, with the festivities starting aboard ‘royal’ ship Balmoral next week, the company said in a statement.

Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne for 70 years, making her the longest serving monarch in British history, while Balmoral is also the name of her 40,000 acre estate in the Scottish Highlands.

Daytime activities include Corgi Racing, a royal twist on Fred. Olsen’s ever-popular Dolphin Racing; Victoria Sponge and ‘Platinum Pudding’ competitions between the fleet’s expert chefs; a British teatime, offering a traditional British take on Afternoon Tea; specially themed cooking demonstrations and royal trivia quizzes, to name just a few.

These royal celebrations are in addition to an on-board enrichment programme designed to showcase and celebrate each port of call, with scenic voyages to Scottish islands and the Faroe Isles setting sail over the long Bank Holiday weekend. Departures for these cruises are available from Liverpool, Belfast and Newcastle.

Thomas Rennesland, Hotel Operations Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “It’s not too late to plan a trip over the long Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. We have a host of activities planned, and we’re inviting you all to join us to mark the occasion in quintessentially British style on what promises to be a memorable few days. In keeping with the street parties taking place all over the UK, if you are sailing with us on the Thursday and Friday you can join us for a ‘street fayre’ out on deck, with live music, games and activities to enjoy. All of our ships will be adorned with Union Jack bunting and red, white and blue decorations and there will be special events aplenty for you to enjoy in the Jubilee spirit on board.

“You can dress-to-impress in your favourite red, white and blue outfits, join us for a rousing British sing-a-long and wave your Union Jacks on British Night, which will include themed dinner menus and entertainment.

Azamara’s all four ships in service

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 27 May 2022 27 May 2022

Azamara, the destination focused cruise operator of four ships, said its fleet of four ships has returned to the high seas.

“I am beyond thankful to our hard-working team and dedicated crew members for all the incredible work and effort that has brought us to this exciting moment,” says Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara.

“Thanks to them, our four-ship fleet are all sailing for the first time ever, allowing us even more opportunities to immerse our guests in the smaller ports and hidden gem destinations of the world,” she said in a statement.

The company’s current programme includes 392 overnight stays and 862 late evening departures, plus more than 3,000 shore excursions, the company said.

Cruises to nowhere from Hong Kong could resume in July - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 May 2022 24 May 2022

Mainland Chinese cruise ship Piano Land could provide cruises to nowhere in Hong Kong in July to cater to demand for these trips after two vessels offering such services left the city for Singapore, the South china Morning Post reports.

Sources the paper had spoken to reportedly said Astro Ocean Cruise – a brand invested in and operated by state firms China National Travel Service Group Corporation and China COSCO Shipping – and the Hong Kong government were in talks to bring Piano Land services to the city.

The ship was built as Oriana for P&O Cruises in the UK by Meyer Werft in Germany in 1995 and it was one of the vessels that the Carnival group disposed of in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

MSC World Europa to feature solid oxide fuel cell demonstrator

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 24 May 2022 24 May 2022

MSC World Europa that is nearing completion at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France is set to become the greenest and most efficient vessel in MSC Cruises’ fleet when it is delivered in October 2022.

“MSC Cruises has today released information about the ship’s environmental credentials, including solid oxide fuel cells, a selective catalytic reduction system and enhanced shore-to-ship power capability. She will also be the largest LNG powered cruise ship in the world when she launches later this year,” the Geneva based company said in a statement.

MSC World Europa will be the world’s first contemporary cruise vessel to feature brand new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) developed by MSC Cruises, Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Bloom Energy.

The 205,000 gross ton ship that is first in a series of four, will include a 150 kilowatt SOFC demonstrator that will generate auxiliary power to deliver efficiency gains and significant CO2 emissions reductions compared to traditional internal combustion engines. It will be a testbed to accelerate the development of fuel cell technology for contemporary cruise ships and offers a potential to enable hybrid propulsion solutions in the future.

Compared to standard marine fuels, LNG nearly eliminates air pollutant emissions, including sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and fine particles, and achieves a CO2 reduction of up to 25%. LNG will also enable the development of low-carbon fuels and solutions such as green hydrogen, bio-LNG, and fuel cells. Traditional marine fuels cannot support these upcoming solutions.

MSC World Europa features a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that reduces NOx emissions by 90% when LNG is not available, and the ship must run on marine gas oil. As LNG fuel achieves a similar reduction, MSC World Europa will always meet International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) Tier III NOx emissions standards. On top of this, shore-to-ship power connectivity allows MSC World Europa to minimise engine use at ports where the required infrastructure is available.

As with all new MSC Cruises’ ships, MSC World Europa also features the latest wastewater treatment technology, in compliance with the IMO’s MEPC 227(64) Resolution, fully aligned with the world’s most stringent regulatory requirements – the so-called ‘Baltic Standard’. The ship includes an advanced ballast water treatment system that prevents the introduction of invasive species in the marine environment through ballast water discharges, in compliance with IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention, MSC Cruises said.