Top Headlines

Oasis of the Seas to undergo $165 million refit in autumn

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 22 May 2019 22 May 2019

Oasis of the Seas, the lead ship in the Oasis class of Royal Caribbean International that entered service in 2009, will undergo a $165 million and 63 day refit in the autumn, the company said in a statement.

“Rooted in research and guest feedback, Royal Caribbean's investment of more than $1 billion in the program spans 10 ships in four years and touches every facet of the guest experience to bring new thrills and signature experiences designed to appeal to every generation,” the company said.

The company did not disclose where the refit would take place.

The ship will be fitted with a reimagined, Caribbean-inspired pool deck that will feature a Splashaway Bay kids aquapark and The Lime & Coconut signature bar; famed Quantum Class staple, Music Hall; the Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, and the Ultimate Abyss – the tallest slide at sea.

Debuting alongside this lineup is the cruise line's first barbecue concept, Portside BBQ, and dedicated karaoke venue Spotlight Karaoke. The amplified Oasis will set sail on 24 Nov, beginning 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Royal Caribbean's new, state-of-the-art Terminal A in Miami.

In May 2020. Oasis of the Seas will reposition to her its summer home at Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, offering 7-night sailings to The Bahamas with visits to Royal Caribbean's newly transformed private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

“For all-day Caribbean vibes, guests need look no further than the reimagined Pool and Sports Zone. The transformed neighbourhood will feature new ways to relax, celebrate and plunge into adventure, joining the popular twin FlowRider surf simulators, nine-deck-high zip line and twin rock-climbing walls,’ the company said.

New features will include Ultimate Abyss, a 10-storey test of courage and the tallest slide at sea; and The Perfect Storm, an action-packed trio of multistory waterslides known as Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell. For the youngest, the most thrilling Splashaway Bay at sea yet is to come, with a Splash Pad for tots, three waterslides, water cannons, fountains, pools and the first-ever twin drench buckets.

At the centre is the new Caribbean-style pool deck with The Lime & Coconut. The signature bar will be one of the liveliest spots on board, day and night, with poolside cocktails, DJs and live music across two locations.

Every pool is only as good as its places to chill, and Oasis will deliver a larger variety of seating and shade, including comfy casitas, daybeds, hammocks and swing seats, new whirlpools on the top deck, and a refreshed Solarium for the adults.

Royal Caribbean's latest culinary creation and first-ever barbecue restaurant, Portside BBQ, will offer an authentic, meat-packed menu inspired by the best-in-class barbecue across the United States..

Across the way, guests can find Mexican grab-and-go fare at El Loco Fresh, serving up made-to-order tacos and burritos, quesadillas, mini salads and salsas galore. Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade will anchor the lineup in the signature Boardwalk neighborhood.

The new Spotlight Karaoke on the Royal Promenade is where budding singers can rock out to their favorite tunes at the dedicated karaoke venue's main stage or one of two private rooms.

First introduced on Quantum of the Seas, live music venue Music Hall will make its Oasis Class debut. A roster of live cover bands, an expansive dance floor, pool tables and intimate loungers across two levels give vacationers ample room to end the night on a high note at a place where every seat is the best seat in the house.

Rounding out the list of go-to hot spots is the dynamic duo of robotic bartenders that will mix, muddle, stir and shake cocktails nonstop at the Bionic Bar. The new venues join nightlife favorites on board, including Boleros, Schooner Bar, Blaze Nightclub & Comedy and English pub Atlas & Globe.

MSC Cruises’ 2018 net profit reached €348 million

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 21 May 2019 21 May 2019

MSC Cruises, the Geneva based cruise shipping company, has reported a net profit of €348 million for 2018, which was 11.9% more than the corresponding figure for the previous year.

Capacity grew by 23%, which fuelled a 21.4% rise in revenues, which reached €2.75 billion, the company said in its 2018 annual report. Operating profit rose by 31.8% to €484 million.

Tickets accounted for 74.9% and on board spending for 25.1% of revenues in both years. Net yield decreased by €1 last year to €133 per passenger day, but net cruise costs, excluding fuel, also fell, to €72 from €76 in 2017.

SeaDream Innovation to raise the bar for sustainability at sea

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 16 May 2019 16 May 2019

SeaDream Innovation is the world’s most advanced hybrid ship being built today that will sail to all seven continents, SeaDream said in a statement. SeaDream has received a grant for USD $1.8 million for the creation of the revolutionary vessel from Enova, an organization owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment that is responsible for the promotion of environmentally friendly production and consumption of energy. Enova strongly supports SeaDream and this new mega-yacht given its creative and sustainability-focused approach to energy and climate technology.

“We are extremely grateful that Enova supports our environmental efforts. Without this solid support from Enova, this would not have been possible,” said Atle Brynestad, owner of SeaDream. “We are proud to contribute to the cruise industry by taking the lead in developing more environmentally friendly vessels that will also sail with the Norwegian flag. We are committed to having a positive impact on the environment, our employees, our guests, our suppliers and the places we visit. In the future, we all need to make a positive contribution to our environment and the local communities we visit, so guests can continue experiencing different local communities and enjoying the fantastic nature while using local services and making local purchases where possible.”

SeaDream Innovation will be equipped with a large battery pack of approximately 4 MWh, which enables sailing silently and without emissions for up to three hours with no disturbance to surrounding wildlife. The hybrid system will reduce local emissions by supporting the diesel generators in “peak shaving mode”, reducing fuel consumption. The yacht will be able to sail to sensitive areas such as the Norwegian fjords and along the ice edge toward the North Pole because of this system. The batteries also bring an added degree of safety, acting as “spinning reserve,” which in the event of a motor shutdown switches instantaneously to the use of batteries without loss of power.

“Batteries have entered the maritime sector, but until now, there has been little experience to show in practice, especially in cruise ships,” said Enova's CEO Nils Kristian Nakstad. “When it comes to electricity production of surplus heat, land-based industry has shown what is possible, but at sea, such solutions are currently used very little. We depend on more people developing and using these technologies the world needs.”

SeaDream Innovation will also install an "Organic Rankine Cycle" machine that takes waste heat from the engines and converts it to electricity. This can produce up to 150 kW of electrical power, which would otherwise have been wasted energy, and instead reduces fuel consumption and results in lower emissions.

Where available by port, SeaDream Innovation can be plugged into shoreside electrical grids around the world by using a multi-voltage shore connection system reducing local pollution anywhere in the world.

The mega-yacht has four modern diesel engines and a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system for reducing nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions to the most stringent IMO rules with engines rated to meet the latest and most stringent MARPOL Tier III limits. SeaDream Innovation will be equipped with two podded propulsors providing the highest efficiency and maneuverability. Additionally, SeaDream Innovation will have the high ice class that is designated by PC6.

SeaDream believes in authentic experiences that allow guests to enjoy the world’s natural beauty while preserving its resources and promoting sustainability and responsible travel.

TUI AG’s cruise operations shine, but 737-Max grounds group performance

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 15 May 2019 15 May 2019

Continued ban to operate Boeing 737-Max jet airliners has led to deeper losses for the second quarter to 31 March at TUI AG, the German travel group, despite strong performance of its cruise operations.

Net loss widened to €175.1 million from €142.3 million year on, while EBITDA was negative by €240.1 million in the latest quarter, much weaker than the €146.5 million negative figure for the same period last year. Revenues also decreased, to €3.10 billion, from €3.15 billion.

The group’s cruise operations that comprise of 50% stake in TUI Cruises in Germany and the fully owned luxury and expedition unit Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten in Germany and Marella Cruises in the UK, increased their underlying EBTIDA to €59.4 million from €56.0 million.

TUI AG said it continues to see good demand for cruises. “Load factor and yield performance remain in line with our expectations,” it pointed out, adding that investments in the sector should deliver good performance for the present financial year as a whole.

However, overcapacity in holidays in Spain plus the continued grounding of the Boeing 737-Max aircraft have resulted in a revision of guidance for the full year and the board now says EBITDA should decrease by 26% in the present financial year from €1.18 billion in the previous year. Its previous guidance, issued on 29 March, was a 17% fall in the figure. TUI AG as 150 aircraft, of which 15 are Boeing 737-Max jets.

Helsinki shipyard acquisition will be finalized in May, cruise ship orders expected

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 15 May 2019 15 May 2019

The acquisition of Helsinki shipyard will be finalized in May. The parties have agreed on the terms of the transaction on May 9th.
In preparation for the closing, Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Oy (AHS) establishes a new company, Helsinki Shipyard Oy. AHS will transfer its assets and operations to Helsinki Shipyard Oy, which will continue shipbuilding at the Helsinki shipyard. In the transaction, AHS will sell 100% of Helsinki Shipyard Oy’s shares to Algador Holdings Ltd.

Following the transaction AHS will continue its shipbuilding operations as a shareholder of Nevsky Shipyard LLC. The last vessel that will be delivered from Helsinki shipyard under AHS’s ownership is tanker NB515, which completed sea trials on May 12th.

“The transaction will not have any effect on subcontracts. AHS’s personnel will be transferred to Helsinki Shipyard Oy without changes to their contracts. Under the new owners Helsinki shipyard can concentrate on its core expertise, which are strong ice- class vessels and cruise ships," says Viktor Olerskiy, the incoming Chairman of the Board of the Helsinki Shipyard Oy.

Algador Holdings is owned by Rishat Baugatdinov and Vladimir Kasyanenko who have strong backgrounds in the maritime industry. Their companies operate international shipping and shipbuilding businesses including Russia’s largest river cruise ship operator Vodohod Ltd.

Establishing Helsinki Shipyard is an important step in moving forward with tender backlog, which currently total at 1.5 billion EUR. The tenders consist of several cruise ships, icebreakers and LNG tankers. Letters of intent have already been signed for some of the tenders.