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Princess Cruises to base ship year round in San Francisco

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 04 May 2012 04 May 2012

Princess Cruises has announced that for the first time it will base a ship in San Francisco year round, beginning in May 2013. The extensively renovated Grand Princess will first offer a series of Alaska cruises during the summer months from the City by the Bay, followed by a schedule of Hawaiian Islands, Mexico and the California Coast sailings during the fall 2013 to spring 2014 season.

Last year the 2,600-passenger Grand Princess underwent the largest drydock in Princess Cruises history, adding a host of new features so that passengers will enjoy the same onboard experience as offered by the line's other newer ships.

"Princess has been cruising from San Francisco nearly as long as our company has been in operation, so we have a rich history with the city, and we are the leading cruise line homeporting there," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "Our Bay Area passengers and travel agents have long been asking for more cruise options from San Francisco and our new year-round schedule with Grand Princess will now give them a great selection of itinerary choices, plus the benefit of sailing on a ship that offers our signature features and amenities."

"Princess ships have been cruising from San Francisco for more than 40 years, and we greatly appreciate the company's longstanding partnership with our city," said Monique Moyer, executive director of the Port of San Francisco. We are delighted to now have our first year-round ship based here, and it is a natural fit that the vessel is the caliber of Grand Princess. Having this ship sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and berth at the foot of Coit Tower will be spectacular, both for the passengers on board and the people of San Francisco."

During the 2013-14 season Grand Princess will sail roundtrip from San Francisco to:

Alaska: Grand Princess' first Alaska season features 10-day Inside Passage sailings. The ship will offer 13 voyages featuring the stunning scenery of Glacier Bay National Park or Tracy Arm, with calls at Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria. Cruises depart between May 10 and September 7, 2013.

Mexico: Grand Princess will offer two sailings on a new 10-day itinerary to Mexico, featuring two new ports for Princess – Loreto and La Paz, both in Baja California. Passengers will also enjoy calls at Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. Sailings depart on September 17, 2013 and March 5, 2014.

California Coastal: An increasingly popular Princess itinerary, Grand Princess will take passengers to Santa Barbara, Los Angeles (Long Beach), San Diego, and Ensenada. Four sailings are offered on September 27 and October 19, 2013; plus March 15 and April 6, 2014.

Hawaiian Islands: Passengers can explore each of the main Hawaiian islands on this 15-day voyage to the Big Island (Hilo), Oahu (Honolulu), Kauai (Nawiliwili), Maui (Lahaina), and Ensenada. Grand Princess will offer 12 departures between October 4, 2013 and April 28, 2014.

During last year's drydock Grand Princess added a variety of passenger amenities, including a completely new Piazza atrium, several new eateries – including Alfredo's Pizzeria and the Crown Grill – and the line's first specialty tea lounge called Leaves. Also included in the renovation were a remodeled casino, boutiques and art gallery; enhancements to the Horizon Court, Lotus Spa, and wedding chapel; and the addition of Crooner's Martini Lounge and a new nightclub, The One5.

IHAS panel to discuss challenges of crises in corporate communications

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 04 May 2012 04 May 2012

A new panel to address the challenges corporate communicators face in crises has been added to the program for the International Humanitarian Assistance Symposium (IHAS). To be held in Miami June 7-8, 2012, IHAS is a meeting to enhance industry response to emergencies and disasters through knowledge-sharing, with the goal of ensuring that those involved in an unforeseen tragedy are provided with the support they need.

The panel, Crisis Communications: How to Survive the OMG Event, will feature corporate communications leaders from Carnival Cruise Lines and WestJet Airlines – both of whom have safely navigated through two separate crises that garnered major international media attention.

Jennifer de la Cruz, Senior Director Public Relations, Carnival Cruise Lines, will discuss how she handled communications following the engine room fire on the Carnival Splendor that left 3,299 passengers and 1, 167 crew members without electricity for two days in November 2010.

Richard Bartrem, VP, Communications & Community Relations for WestJet Airlines, will discuss his role in WestJet’s response to an explosion at the Grand Riviera Princess Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, that killed seven people and injured seventeen others, also in November 2010.

How and when a company responds to a crisis is changing rapidly, says Carnival’s Jennifer de la Cruz. "The landscape has changed dramatically in terms of how and at what speed a story breaks in a crisis based on today’s communications channels," says de la Cruz. "The key audiences a company must effectively engage with are different from even five years ago. This IHAS panel should provide an excellent, interactive forum for exchanging ideas and sharing best practices."

"Our best opportunities to learn and grow as crisis communicators come from these opportunities to share stories with those who have had direct experience," says WestJet’s Richard Bartrem. "IHAS is the major event that allows this dialogue to take place."

Originally scheduled as a breakout session concurrent with other panels, conference organizers decided to create a dedicated panel on the topic, so that all who expressed an interest could attend without missing other sessions. The panel will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, June 8th and will address:

– The challenges & opportunities social media channels present to communicators during a crisis

– Transparency: What’s communicated internally vs. externally and how this is changing

– Walking the tightrope: Balancing the immediate needs of those impacted by a crisis with the concerns of risk management

– Preparing executives for the intensity of media coverage during crisis events

– The importance of ensuring the bond of trust isn’t broken with stakeholders

– Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

– Best practices for and lessons learned by communicators in recent high-profile situations

The panel will be moderated by Jeff Braun, president of Crucial Communications Group, LLC. and vice president of communications for the Family Assistance Foundation. Braun is a communications expert and former journalist who has assisted clients in many sectors of industry prepare for and successfully respond to crises. More speakers are expected to be announced.

"I think the interest we’ve had in this topic is a reflection of the acute awareness of the way changes in technology – and pressures on executives and others – are impacting crisis communications and response," says Dr. Carolyn Coarsey, co-founder of the Family Assistance Foundation and conference organizer. "The speed at which news, photos, and videos from the scene of a crisis can appear online have elevated the importance of having well-prepared, highly-trained communicators ready to respond to any set of challenges."

International Humanitarian Assistance Symposium is organized by The Family Assistance Foundation and Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services. The two-day event will consist of a series of educational panels, practical workshops and experiences recounted first hand by disaster and accident survivors.

Symposium sponsors include: Royal Caribbean International, the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, Aviem International, Inc., Carnival Cruise Lines, BMS CAT, Higher Resources, Inc.,Virgin Australia, Ceres, Crucial Communications Group, LLC., NYCruise and Jeff Arnold, survivor American Flight 420 

Supporters include: CruiseEurope, Medcruise, Passenger Shipping Association, Cruise Lines International Association, the Rusty Pelican and the City of Miami.

Norwegian Cruise Line reports 24% stronger ticket pricing for first quarter of 2012

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 30 April 2012 30 April 2012

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL Corporation Ltd., "Norwegian" or "the Company") today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

Operating income for the first quarter grew 23.8% to $46.4 million, with Adjusted EBITDA posting a 10.3% increase to $93.5 million, from strong revenue performance and the benefits of ongoing business improvement initiatives. Net Revenue grew 4.6% in the quarter from an increase in Net Yield and a 2.3% increase in Capacity Days. Net Yield increased 2.2%, or 2.3% on a Constant Currency basis, as a result of higher average ticket pricing across the fleet coupled with increased onboard and other revenue per Capacity Day, particularly in tour and gaming operations.

Net Cruise Cost per Capacity Day increased slightly by 0.6%, or 0.7% on a Constant Currency basis, as the timing of repairs and maintenance expenses coupled with benefits from business initiatives and improved efficiencies offset a 15% increase in the per metric ton cost of fuel to $598 from $520 in the prior year. Excluding fuel expense, Net Cruise Cost per Capacity day decreased 1.9%, or 1.8% on a Constant Currency basis. "It is always rewarding to report strong top-to-bottom results," said Kevin Sheehan, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. "Revenue growth was very positive, considering the impact of redeploying Norwegian Jade in late 2011 due to geopolitical disruptions in Egypt and the surrounding region," continued Sheehan.

Interest expense, net decreased 3.6% mainly due to lower average debt balances in the period. During the quarter the Company took advantage of favorable market conditions and issued $100 million in senior unsecured notes which were an add-on to the existing notes due in 2018. The net proceeds were used to repay portions of certain outstanding revolving credit facilities and for general corporate purposes.

The Company posted net income of $3.3 million on revenue of $515.4 million versus a loss of $(7.9) million on revenue of $495.5 million in 2011.

Australian cruise market grew 34% in 2011, exceeds 23% annual average 2006-11

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 30 April 2012 30 April 2012

Australian cruise marke continues to grow at a rapid rate, with 34% increase recorded in 2011 on the previous year, International Cruise Council Australia said in a statement, adding that the volume had nearly tripled in five years. 

 

"The extraordinary growth of the Australian cruise industry has been highlighted in a new report which reveals that the number of Australians taking a cruise holiday surged by a record 34% last year to reach an all- time high of 623,294. Compiled by the International Cruise Council Australasia, the 2011 Australian Cruise Industry Report found that the growth in Australian cruise passenger numbers in 2011 outstripped all other major international markets, with the US recording a 4 %t rise in passengers and the UK reporting a 5% increase," the report said.

 

Released at an industry function in Sydney today, the report also reveals that 40% of the nation’s cruise passengers live in New South Wales with Queensland accounting for 24%, Victoria 16% and Western Australia 9%. Now in its 10th year, the Australian Cruise Industry Report looks at key trends drawn from data supplied by ICCA member cruise lines carrying Australian passengers around the world.

 

Launching the 2011 report, ICCA Chairman Gavin Smith said the latest figures cemented cruising’s status as the shining star of the tourism industry, with the Australian cruise market leading the world in terms of growth. “While other industries have waivered in these tough economic times, cruising has continued to expand, with its popularity in Australia growing significantly year-on-year,” Smith said.

He attributed the growth to the broadening range of cruise ships available locally and overseas, as well as increasing awareness of the great value that cruise holidays offer, with all-inclusive fares covering accommodation, transport and meals. “Every year we are seeing more cruise ships based in Australia and more ships visiting our shores, taking the profile of cruising to new heights and prompting an unprecedented number of Australians to take to the seas for their holidays.”

 

Key findings of the 2011 Cruise Industry Report include:

 

• Australian cruise passenger numbers rose 34%  from 466,672 in 2010 to 623,294 in 2011

• Local cruising to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific accounted for 70% of Australian cruise passenger numbers in 2011

• The South Pacific retained its position as the most popular destination for Australians, attracting 37% of passengers (230,321) in 2011

• The number of Australians cruising to New Zealand surged by 80% in 2011 to reach 84,013, reflecting an increase in the number of transTasman cruises

• River cruising passenger numbers grew by 22% to almost 35,000, accounting for 6% of Australian cruise passenger numbers

• The growth in passenger numbers saw a rise in estimated sea days (ie total days spent at sea by

Australian holidaymakers) to almost 6.5 million – up 36% on 2010

• 2.7 % of the Australian population took a cruise in 2011, placing Australia second in the world in

terms of market penetration

• Cruise passenger numbers rose by more than 23% annually between 2006 and 2011.