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Fincantieri delivers Scarlet Lady for Virgin Voyages

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 13 February 2020 13 February 2020

Scarlet Lady, the first of four ships which Virgin Voyages (new cruise operator and a brand part of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group), ordered from Fincantieri, was delivered today at the shipyard in Genoa Sestri Ponente.

The ceremony was attended, among others, by the President and CEO of Virgin Voyages Tom McAlpin, by the Governor of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti, by the Mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci, welcomed by the Chairman of Fincantieri Giampiero Massolo, and its CEO Giuseppe Bono.

Scarlet Lady registers about 110,000 gross tons, is 278 meters long and 38 wide. Virgin Voyages second ship, Valiant Lady, currently under construction in the same yard, will be delivered in 2021, while the third and the fourth units, still unnamed, will set sail respectively in 2022 and 2023. They will all feature over 1,400 guest cabins designed to host more than 2,770 passengers, accompanied by 1,160 crew members on board to deliver the famed Virgin service. The quality of life on board is guaranteed by the "comfort class" certification, testifying minimum levels of noise and vibration, as well as by an extensive use of home automation. Thanks to this, by installing an app on their smartphones, guests are able to manage a wide range of cabin functions (air conditioning, lightening, opening and closing of blinds, music, and television).

The development of Scalet Lady stands out for her design, as well as for the particular attention paid to energy recovery, featuring cutting-edge alternative technologies that reduce the ship’s overall environmental impact. For example, the ship is equipped with an energy production system of approximately 1 MW, which uses the diesel engine’s waste heat. In addition to a scrubber system for the waste management of sulfur dioxides, the new unit is also fitted with a catalytic converter, which reduces nitrogen oxides. “Scarlet Lady” is entirely equipped with led lights to reduce energy consumption, while the hydrodynamic design of the hull provides excellent performance with consequent fuel saving.

Havila Voyages adds two orders at Tulsan

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 13 February 2020 13 February 2020

Havila Voyages, the Norwegian company that wull start operations on the west coast of the country next year, said it has signed a contract with the Turkish shipyard Tersan for the construction of the last two coastal route vessels.

The same builder already has two 15,800 gross ton ships on order from the Norwegian company and the construction of the second batch of two ships would commence in just a few weeks, Havila Voyages said in a statement.

The 468 passenger capacity ships had been planned to be built at the Barreras shipyard in Spain, but the company ran into financial problems and this has led to challenges for Havila Voyages that will affect early operations.

“Two new vessels will be delivered and are scheduled to sail from January 2021. These will give our passengers the most environmentally-friendly voyages along the Norwegian coast. While we wait for the next two vessels, we will use replacement vessels, and provide good and safe transport and meet our customers’ expectations,” CEO of Havila Voyages Arild Myrvoll said in a statement.

From 2021, Havila Voyages will operate four vessels on the voyage between Bergen and Kirkenes on the west coast of the country.

Carnival Corporation & plc issues profit warning on coronavirus

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 13 February 2020 13 February 2020

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise shipping group, has issued a profit warning due to the coronavirus outbreak and currently estimates that the virus could wipe up to $0.65 per share of its earnings in the financial year to 30 November 2020.

“Since the situation continues to evolve, the company is currently unable to determine the full financial impact on its fiscal year 2020. However, while not currently planned, if the company had to suspend all of its operations in Asia through the end of April, this would impact its fiscal 2020 financial performance by $0.55 to $0.65 per share, which includes guest compensation. In addition, the impact on global bookings will further affect the company's financial performance,” the company said in a statement.

In its 2019 result statement issued in December, the company estimated that ull year 2020 earnings are expected to include $0.12 to $0.17 per share incremental impact from prior year events and previously announced voyage disruptions, including ship delivery delays. “Based on the above factors, the company expects full year 2020 adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $4.30 to $4.60 compared to 2019 adjusted earnings per share of $4.40,” Carnival said at the time.

In its profit warning, the company said travel restrictions as a result of coronavirus necessitated the suspension of cruise operations from ports in China, as was previously announced, and are now resulting in the cancellation of voyages in other parts of Asia. 

Significant events affecting travel typically have an impact on booking patterns, with the full extent of the impact generally determined by the length of time the event influences travel decisions.  As a result of Coronavirus, the company believes the impact on its global bookings and cancelled voyages will have a material impact on its financial results which was not anticipated in the company's previous 2020 earnings guidance.

“The company is currently evaluating contingency plans to mitigate the impact and will provide an update with its first quarter 2020 earnings release in late March,” Carnival said.

 

Celebrity Apex returns from sea trials

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 11 February 2020 11 February 2020

Celebrity Apex returned to the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France, over the weekend following a very successful first sea trial. "As anticipated, the Celebrity Cruises ship followed in the footsteps of its Edge Series sister ship, the award-winning Celebrity Edge, far surpassing performance expectations," Celebrity said in a statement.

The trial, conducted between February 4 – 8, 2020, in the Bay of Biscay near the shipyard, was overseen by more than 50 crew members, including engineers and nautical experts. Despite the optimal trial conditions, including strong winds and waves, the second-in-series ship showcased a superior level of comfort and fuel efficiency thanks to the revolutionary design of the Parabolic Ultrabow.

“The purpose of a sea trial is to test the functionality of the ship, but this wasn’t just any sea trial – and Celebrity Apex isn’t just any ship,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “In typical Edge Series-fashion, the ship absolutely exceeded our expectations, performing perfectly in line with our above-and-beyond operating standards.”

“It was an absolute honor to stand at the helm of Celebrity Apex for her highly successful first sea trial,” said Celebrity Apex Captain Dimitris Kafetzis. “Celebrity Apex is truly a beautiful and highly advanced vessel.”

Celebrity Apex encores the transformational look and feel of the line’s first Edge Series ship, Celebrity Edge, with such distinctive features as the floating Magic Carpet cantilevered off the ship's side inviting guests to eat, drink and soar up to 16 decks above the sea; the all-exclusive experience for all suite guests in The Retreat; dramatically expanded staterooms with Infinite Verandas; soothing indoor and outdoor garden escapes; magnificent two-story Edge Villas with their own private terrace and plunge pool; and high-style spaces throughout public areas, keeping focus on the contemporary design elements that are a highlight of the Edge Series of ships.

It then adds new culinary, spa and wellness, and entertainment features and experiences guaranteed to make Celebrity Apex the industry’s “it” ship. Celebrity Apex will also debut new, all-inclusive amenities and pre-cruise concierge services in The Retreat for all suite guests.

Celebrity Apex will begin its inaugural season on April 1, 2020, with a mini-season of five sailings to Northern Europe destinations and then spend the summer sailing seven-to-12-night itineraries in the Mediterranean. In November, Celebrity Apex will reposition to Fort Lauderdale for a winter season of week-long Caribbean sailings.

[Celebrity Apex will be featured in the Spring issue of CruiseBusiness.com Magazine]