Top Headlines

Viking suspends all operations until 1 May

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 12 March 2020 12 March 2020

Viking, which operates a total of 79 ocean and river cruise ships, will suspend all operations until 1 May, the company's chairman Torsten Hagen said in a message to booked passengers.

The message reads as follows:

"Dear Viking Guests,

Since we started Viking nearly 23 years ago, we have always cared first and foremost about our guests and our employees. I feel we have become one large Viking family of 500,000 guests each year and 10,000 employees. Since day one, it has been our mission to create experiences for our guests that focus on the destination and allow them to explore the world in comfort. This has always been Viking’s ambition and will remain so.

I am sure you recognize that COVID-19 has made travel exceedingly complicated. An increasing number of ports, including Venice, Monte Carlo and Bergen, have temporarily closed to cruise ships; major attractions such as the Vatican and other museums have been closed; and some countries are imposing restrictions on public gatherings and visitors.

In recent days we have had an experience where a river cruise guest in Southeast Asia was exposed to COVID-19 while in transit on an international airline. While this guest is not exhibiting symptoms, she has been placed in quarantine. Separately, the remaining 28 guests will also be quarantined.

I am writing today because the situation has now become such that operating as a travel company involves significant risks of quarantines or medical detentions, which could diminish the travel experiences for which our guests have been planning. As a private company with strong finances, we do not have to worry about quarterly profit expectations – and that flexibility allows us the ability to do what is best for our guests and our employees, as we have always done.

Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend operations of our river and ocean vessels embarking from March 12 to April 30, 2020 – at which time we believe Viking will be in a better place to provide the experiences our guests expect and deserve. This is a decision we made with a heavy heart, but with present circumstances what they are, we are unable to deliver the high-quality Viking experience for which we are known.

For those guests whose cruise falls within this window of suspended operations, we are offering the choice of a Future Cruise Voucher valued at 125% of all monies paid to Viking or a refund equal to the amount paid. Guests will have 24 months to use their Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. For additional flexibility, if you are unable to use your voucher, we will automatically send you a refund equal to the original amount paid to Viking after the voucher expires. These Future Cruise Vouchers will also be fully transferable.

Rest assured, our reservations team is currently in the process of issuing Future Cruise Vouchers of 125% of all monies paid to Viking. However, if you would prefer the alternative please call Viking at 1-833-900-0951 or contact your Travel Agent by March 25, 2020. "

Costa reviews its itineraries in Italy to respect Government containment measures

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 10 March 2020 10 March 2020

Following the new measures introduced last evening by the Italian Government in an effort to contain the health emergency on the national territory, Costa Cruises has reviewed the itineraries of its ships calling at Italian ports up to April 3.

"As an Italian company and the only cruise operator flying the Italian flag, we are committed to guarantee compliance with the regulations and support to the Italian authorities and the community in this extraordinary effort to face the current situation of emergency," said Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises.

Cruises currently underway will call at Italian ports only to allow guests to disembark and return to their home, with no excursions or new embarkations. The company is promptly informing all guests involved by these changes, offering them a future cruise credit so that they will be able to enjoy the cruise experience at a later date.

In the past days, Costa Cruises had already cancelled all outgoing Italian guests departing from cruises outside the Mediterranean in an effort to contain risks, preserve the environment and enforce the specific measures issued by the Italian Government.

The protection of health and safety of guests and crew members is the utmost priority for Costa Cruises. On board Costa ships, the level of sanitization has been increased to ensure maximum hygiene and safety for guests and crew members. The Company has adopted rigid health screenings upon embarkation since the beginning of the Covid-19 emergency.

NCLH in $675 million liquidity boost agreement

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 10 March 2020 10 March 2020

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH), the world’s third largest listed cruise shipping group, said it has taken the proactive measure of securing additional $675 million in liquidity by entering into a credit agreement.

The group transacted this through its subsidiaries, NCL Corporation Ltd. and Norwegian Epic, Ltd. with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and as collateral agent, and certain other lenders thereto which provides for revolving loans in an aggregate principal amount of $675.0 million.

“The Norwegian Epic Credit Agreement shall be used for general corporate purposes. The maturity date of the Norwegian Epic Credit Agreement is March 4, 2021.As of March 9, 2020, no borrowings were drawn under this Norwegian Epic Credit Agreement nor NCLC’s other $875.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility, resulting in availability under these revolving credit agreements of $1.55 billion, “NCLH said.

The loans under the Norwegian Epic Credit Agreement shall bear interest at a per annum rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 0.80%. In addition to paying interest on outstanding loans under the Norwegian Epic Credit Agreement, Norwegian Epic is required to pay commitment fees on the undrawn portion of the commitments under the Norwegian Epic Credit Agreement and customary agency fees.Norwegian Epic may voluntarily and permanently terminate the commitments under the Norwegian Epic Credit Agreement, in whole or in part, at any time, subject to payment, NCLH said.

Royal Caribbean increases its revolving credit capacity

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 10 March 2020 10 March 2020

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd today announced that due to the spread and recent developments related to the COVID-19 outbreak, the company has increased its revolving credit capacity by $550 million bolstering the company’s liquidity. The company is pursuing additional actions to improve its liquidity by reducing capital expenditures, operating expenses and taking other actions to improve liquidity by at least a further $1.7 billion in 2020. The company is also planning reductions to the 2021 capital expenditures and operating expenses.

The company had previously communicated that its 2020 guidance did not include the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Given the recent government actions and the heightened impact and uncertainty of changes in the magnitude, duration and geographic reach of COVID-19, the company is withdrawing its first quarter and full-year 2020 guidance.

“These are extraordinary times and we are taking these steps to manage the company prudently and conservatively,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO. “I am proud of the work our teams are doing to address this unprecedented situation.”

Celebrity Edge sails with all-female bridge and leadership team

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 09 March 2020 09 March 2020

For the first time in maritime history, an all-female bridge and onboard leadership team set sail yesterday, commemorating International Women’s Day. Led by Captain Kate McCue, the first American female cruise ship captain, who was accompanied by 26 other women representing 16 different countries, the award-winning Celebrity Edge sailed out of Port Everglades and began its 7-night Caribbean journey. Retiring Pilot Boat Captain Cheryl Phipps, one of only a few female pilot boat captains in the country, led the ship out to sea.

Also, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Celebrity Edge lit up the high seas with a vibrant purple glow, the color associated with the day, to further celebrate change-making women everywhere.

Around the world, only 2% of the world’s mariners are women. Celebrity Cruises made it a priority to #BRIDGEthegap, leading the maritime industry into a more diverse future and growing the number of women on their bridge teams from 3% to nearly 25% over the last few years, ultimately, making this historic moment possible.

“I fell in love with cruise ships at age 12 when my family took its first cruise vacation. At the end of the trip, I asked my Dad if he thought I could be a cruise director someday and he replied that I could drive the ship, if I wanted to. Five years later, I enrolled at the California Maritime Academy and nineteen years later I became a Captain,” said Captain Kate McCue. “I firmly believe that you have to see it, to be it. My hope is that today we inspire a new generation of young girls and women to chart their own course of pushing boundaries and breaking barriers to be whatever it is they want to be.”

“To ‘man the bridge’ with 100% women and to fill every leadership role on board with women is truly significant. I am so proud of these accomplished women, who worked tirelessly to be the best person for the job in a traditionally male-dominated industry and I am honored to work alongside them,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “Advancing gender equality in our industry takes a purposeful and focused commitment because it is not easy. This is such meaningful progress and we’re just getting started.”

On board for the history-making sailing are trailblazing women in other fields including Madeline Stuart, the first Supermodel with down syndrome; Kellee Edwards, the first black woman to host a national adventure travel show; and child prodigy artist Autumn de Forest; international jewelry designer Reout Kallati; and world-renowned fashion designer Mary Frances. The historic seven-night sailing will celebrate other female achievements through a variety of events including panel discussions, gallery exhibitions featuring female artists, excursions to women-led businesses in the ports the ship visits, and a cinema series putting female directors, actors and inspirational narratives center stage.

Celebrity Edge, which debuted in late 2018, was brought to life by a team of visionary architects and designers and features an array of stunning industry-first innovations – such as the transformational Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda and Magic Carpet, the world’s first cantilevered platform that travels up to 16 decks alongside the ship. Building on Celebrity Edge’s incredible momentum, Celebrity Apex debuts in 2020, followed by three additional sister ships in 2021, 2022 and 2024, respectively.