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Azamara Onward officially joins Azamara fleet following Monte Carlo naming ceremony

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 May 2022 03 May 2022

Azamara, an upmarket cruise line and leader in Destination Immersion experiences, has officially added Azamara Onward to its now four-ship fleet today following a festive naming ceremony in Monte Carlo. The christening ceremony was led by the President of Azamara, Carol Cabezas, and Azamara Onward Godmother, Beth Santos, founder and CEO of global community and lifestyle brand Wanderful.

“We are thrilled to introduce Azamara Onward and share this special moment with our loyal guests and travel partners,” said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “This is an exciting new chapter for our company, and we are so thankful for our hardworking team both onboard and offshore, for making this possible. Together, we look forward to bringing Azamara Onward and our love of travel further than ever before, to connect even more guests with the many people and cultures of the world.”

Prior to the ceremony, Azamara Onward ventured from Barcelona to Monte Carlo on an exciting five-day pre-inaugural voyage, stopping in Marseille, France and Porto Venere, Italy along the way. Upon arrival to the port of Marseille, guests had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the destination through a ‘Marseille City Sights’ shore excursion, discovering the immutable charms and rich history of Marseille, one of France’s most colorful ports.

Upon arrival to Porto Venere, Italy, guests were welcomed to Azamara’s signature AzAmazing Event where they were greeted shoreside by an immersive cultural celebration complete with live Italian opera entertainment alongside delicious local cuisine and a leisurely stroll discovering unique medieval corners along the carrugio, or main street of the romantic town. Guests then set off to explore the Cinque Terre through two specially curated shore excursions, ‘Wine Tasting in Cinque Terre’ and ‘Best of Cinque Terre,’ exploring the region’s colorful villages, enjoying extraordinary local wines and savory delicacies and venturing up to the famous Chiesa di San Pietro for picture-perfect panoramic views. The voyage concluded in Monte Carlo with a signature White Night Party celebration, an onboard evening soirée where cruisers enjoy a celebratory feast with the Azamara team and crew before dancing late into the night.

On the embarkation day of Azamara Onward’s maiden voyage, the ship’s traditional christening ceremony was held shipside at the Port of Monte Carlo, attended by Azamara’s loyal partners, with a warm welcome toast by Cruise Director Eric De Gray and musical performance by Chœur d’enfants. Azamara President, Carol Cabezas and honorary Godmother, Beth Santos, each delivered meaningful words to attendees followed by the Godmother’s ceremonial bottle breaking tradition to close out the christening of Azamara Onward and to bring good fortune to the vessel in its future voyages.

“I am so honored to have been selected as Godmother of Azamara’s newest ship, Onward,” says Beth Santos, CEO of Wanderful. “This is such a symbolic moment not just for Azamara, but for the entire travel industry. Following two years of pause, we look forward to pressing onward with new mindsets, new adventures, and new opportunities to learn how we can be better travelers.”

Following the naming ceremony and traditional christening, the vessel will set sail for an eleven-night maiden voyage throughout the Mediterranean, departing from Monte Carlo and concluding with an overnight stay in Ravenna, Italy.

Royal Caribbean Group to hire thousands of Antiguans and Barbudans

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 May 2022 02 May 2022

Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism and Investment The Honourable Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez was joined by Royal Caribbean Group, Vice President of Government Relations, Americas, Russell Benford to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and Royal Caribbean Group to bring thousands of job opportunities to the people of Antigua and Barbuda in June.

In making the announcement, Minister Fernandez said, “Royal Caribbean is one of the iconic brands that is part of the foundation of cruise tourism in the Caribbean, and this initiative will not only see a huge cadre of our tourism professionals become gainfully employed while being ambassadors for our country, but it will further strengthen the partnership between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and Royal Caribbean. It’s a win-win solution for all of us.”

The Minister also spoke of the Government’s careful and successful management of the coronavirus pandemic that gave Royal Caribbean the confidence they could hire the services of citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, knowing our people are vaccinated, fully trained and possess the skills needed to add value to Royal Caribbean’s operations.

“The relationship between Royal Caribbean and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda goes back well over 30 years,” said Benford. “We have supported each other through the most challenging times and signing this agreement demonstrates the strength of our partnership and will result in boosting the tourism economy.”

He added, “I take this opportunity to congratulate Minister Fernandez as well as our entire team involved in moving negotiations forward that will benefit the people of Antigua and Barbuda. This is a good day for the travel industry.”

In congratulating Royal Caribbean for its service to Caribbean tourism, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority CEO, Colin C. James remarked, “Antigua and Barbuda have enjoyed a strong rebound in cruise arrivals in January and March of this year and Royal Caribbean has been a major part of that. This new partnership will impact hospitality employment opportunities for the destination in a positive way that goes beyond just welcoming cruise passengers to our shores.”

The employment initiative on Royal Caribbean’s ships will commence with a major job fair in St. John’s in June open to nationals and residents of Antigua and Barbuda. Opportunities for employment are in a number of positions such as the Marine sector which include junior seaman, junior engine man, assistant electricians; in the Operations Sector including storekeepers, cruise staff, youth staff, sports staff, laundry and restaurant attendants, bar waiters, wait staff, bakers, and butchers. In the specialty sector, vacancies are available for all positions in the casino, entertainers, photographers, and the list goes on. “This is the tourism industry performing at its finest”, James concluded.

Antigua and Barbuda will also receive the bonus of showcasing the talent of its people in a range of services. The new employees will be Antigua and Barbuda’s cruise guest ambassadors and further strengthen the existing Royal Caribbean partnership.

Meyer Turku reaches a satisfactory result

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 02 May 2022 02 May 2022

The Meyer Turku Group financial figures for 2021 were published today. The company's turnover was EUR 1.08 billion. It is somewhat higher than in the previous year, but the result for the financial year was a loss of EUR 17.0 million.

CEO Tim Meyer comments the result: “Exceptional times lasted longer than expected. The global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, such as labor and material mobility, affected our operations as well. However, despite significant challenges, we were able to keep our production and processes running. In the spring of 2021, we also launched a major transformation program in Turku and Papenburg to increase our cost efficiency and to ensure a sustainable profitability level.

Our customers see growth in the market after the pandemic, and our shipyard's order books extend to 2026. Today, the surrounding society, customers and ship passengers require action to enhance responsibility. Our focus will increasingly shift to sustainable shipbuilding.”

In December 2021, Meyer Turku handed over Costa Toscana to Costa Crociere. At the end of this year, another Carnival ship, Carnival Celebration, will be completed, followed by the Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of The Seas in 2023 and the TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 7 in 2024.

New features on the Azamara Onward which will enter service in May

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 30 April 2022 30 April 2022

Azamara will introduce its newest ship, Azamara Onward, to the world in May and the company said it will offer guests fresh additions to its onboard venues and luxury retail spaces, as well as refreshed accommodations and new entertainment options for travelers to enjoy throughout their sailing.

“This is an exciting time for Azamara, and we are thrilled to be welcoming guests on our new ship,” says Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara. “Destination immersion has always been our main priority, and we are delighted to be bringing inspiration from the Mediterranean and beyond to all our onboard offerings and experiences for guests to connect with the culture of each port, even while we are at sea.”

Travelers looking to sail into spring and summer with Azamara Onward can expect:

New onboard venues showcase innovation and authenticity:

A new addition to the Azamara family, and exclusive to Azamara Onward, is Atlas Bar. The specialty venue brings a unique concept onboard, offering innovative artisanal cocktails created using the latest techniques from smoking domes to nitro-infusions. Fresh squeezed juices and handmade syrups elevate the flavors of the curated list of cocktails including the Grand Bazaar, London Fog Martini, Tuscany delight, among others.

"While trendy, upscale cocktails will be the focal point at Atlas Bar, guests can also enjoy an exotic premium menu of small plates served hot and cold, including beef tartare topped with caviar and shaved truffle, smoked lobster crudo, and more," the company said.

Azamara Onward will also offer an exclusive addition to its specialty restaurant, Aqualina, with a new Chef’s Table. Guests can enjoy a seven-course culinary journey of beautifully presented dishes that capture the flavor and essence of some of the destination’s most authentic dishes.

Luxury mementos for a trip to remember:

Guests looking to take home a souvenir from their voyage can explore the ship’s retail section, in partnership with Starboard Cruise Services. The world’s leading luxury vacation retailer at sea offers a highly curated, distinct assortment of resort wear and travel accessories along with local, hand-crafted artisanal finds for guests onboard. The retail program will bring destination immersion to life through Starboard’s ever-evolving collections and experiences, including a standalone destination shop featuring goods from Spain, Italy, Greece, France and Portugal for Azamara Onward’s inaugural season in the Mediterranean.

Seaside sanctuaries:

Guests traveling aboard Azamara Onward can experience a variety of exclusive benefits in addition to the modern accommodations of its stylish staterooms or spacious suites with butler service. Both accommodations offer 24-hour room service and are the perfect retreat following a long day ashore, whether exploring independently or on one of Azamara’s inmersive shore excursions. In addition to ocean views, staterooms offer plush cotton slippers, bath products and fresh flowers upon arrival.

Signature Shows

Azamara is proud to present four brand-new Signature Shows premiering on Azamara Onward to keep guest of all ages grooving all night long. Led by its Signature Singers & Dancers, these new shows will offer bold entertainment with a wide variety of music styles, including: Club Crooner, offering the classics from Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett to more current artists such as Natalie Cole and Michael Bublé; Amped Up, offering a fun evening of the hottest classic rock sounds of the 70s; Wanderlust, highlighting an eclectic mix of sounds from around the world; and Groove Tonight, offering a psychedelic disco soundtrack that is sure to get guests out on the dance floor.

Additionally, Azamara will be expanding its orchestra with acoustic and electric guitars and will offer local performances on select sailings to provide guests a true sense of the destination’s cultural entertainment. Azamara will also continue its onboard Destination Celebration events, the cruise line’s immersive evening programming which brings the unique culture of the destination directly onboard. Following Azamara Onward’s inaugural season throughout Europe, the cruise company will reintroduce its signature AzAmazing Evenings for guests, which bring these cultural evening events off ship for an even more immersive destination experience, the company said in a statement.

The ship is one of the eight R class vessels, built for the now defunct Renaissance Cruises in 1999. It underwent major upgrade before entering service with Azamara. The company already operates three other of these 30,277 gross ton ships.

Virgin Voyages to operate Australia season 2023-24

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

Virgin Voyages, the Miami based cruise operator in Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, will operate a season of cruises in Australia and New Zealand next year.

The company will send the 2,770 passenger capacity Resilient Lady to operate a series of two to 14 nights cruises, with Melbourne as its base. The season will run from December 2023 to March 2024, the company said.

Resilient Lady is the third of four identical 108,000 gross ton ships the company is building at Fincantieri in Italy. It is scheduled to be completed later this year.