Top Headlines

A revolutionary new terminal for Celebrity Edge at the Port Everglades

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 21 June 2018 21 June 2018

Designed to leave guests in awe, Celebrity Cruises celebrates another milestone with the unveiling of the line’s first ever brand-designed cruise terminal, Terminal 25 (T25), located at Port Everglades in Hollywood, Fla. Designed to complement the sophistication of the terminal’s future resident – Celebrity Edge – T25 features cutting-edge technology and a sleek design, all crafted to create the ultimate guest experience.

Brought to life in collaboration with Broward County’s Port Everglades and seasoned architectural firm Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc., T25 melds a gorgeous, warm design with unique technology, such as Frictionless Arrival, which will make the check-in process absolutely seamless, and an interactive light wall art installation. T25 will also offer Suite Class guests a singular experience along the path to The Retreat, with an exclusive lounge, elevator lobbies, screening areas and even a private rooftop terrace.

“When designing the revolutionary Celebrity Edge, we knew we wanted to design a terminal that perfectly complemented the ship and matched its one-of-a-kind experience,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “With cutting-edge technology, in service of a gorgeous design, T25 is that perfect new home. T25 also happens to be Celebrity’s first ever brand-designed cruise terminal, which not only represents a milestone for Celebrity, but also presented us with the opportunity to set yet another standard in design and create the perfect guest experience.”

“This is the largest financial investment that Port Everglades has made in a cruise terminal, and we fully anticipate that Terminal 25’s iconic design will be a showcase for Broward County and Celebrity Cruises as we strive to create an inviting and fun environment for the millions of cruise passengers who visit here," said Broward County Mayor Beam Furr.

“We are replacing two smaller and outdated cruise terminals with an innovative facility that is inspired by the sleek, futuristic design of Celebrity Edge and can accommodate some of the world’s largest cruise ships,” said Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director Steven Cernak. “The time was right to build a new Terminal 25 that uses cutting-edge technology, such as electronic media-mesh for innovative messaging, to attract contemporary travelers who want to explore the world.”

T25 also features a 1,463 sq. ft. GKD Mediamesh that will wrap the terminal’s exterior, juxtaposing the more than 18,000 sq. ft. of outward facing glass, and the first purpose-built crew lounge of any Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. terminal. This crew lounge will have complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity, TV access, optimized storage, quiet places for employees and more.

Scheduled for completion in late October 2018, T25 will be the new home to many Celebrity ships during their winter deployment, including Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Reflection and Celebrity Silhouette. Along with these ships, the terminal will be LEED certified and able to accommodate up to a 1,150-foot-long ship. When Celebrity is not using T25 the facility will be open to other cruise lines.

Currently, Port Everglades welcomes on average approximately 335,000 Celebrity guests annually, representing about nine percent of its overall passenger traffic. Once the new cruise terminal is completed, it is anticipated that Celebrity will generate nearly 500,000 travelers at Port Everglades – representing no less than 14 percent of the port’s projected passenger traffic.

Ritz-Carlton may add five yachts, parent Marriott ponders cruise entry - report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 20 June 2018 20 June 2018

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection could build up to five more yachts in addition to the three it is planning at the moment, , while its parent compaby Marriott is likely to launch other cruise brands across its hotel portfolio, Travel Weekly reports in the UK.

Douglas Prothero, chief executive of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, told Travel Weekly of his intentions to expand his brand and expectations of the Marriott group’s developing cruise proposition, believing it to have “enough brands to diversify (into cruise) for quite a long time”. Currently Ritz-Carlton has three 292-passenger and 149-suite vessels on order in Spain, the first launching in 2020 followed by two in 2021.

Prothero said that while expansion was on the cards for the Ritz-Carlton yacht brand, it was also important it remains a niche and specialised product.

“We’re going to build more yachts,” he was quoted as saying. “We don’t know exactly how many more but the intent to build is there. We have one in 2020, two in 2021 and then we expect one or two in 2022.”

“We want to maintain a niche designation; we could easily build 20 of them but we won’t. I think six, seven, eight ships won’t be a problem for us,” he stated.

“We’ll do other cruise ventures under Marriott,” he continued. “And that’s part of the reason why other cruise lines aren’t happy with our arrival in the market because they know we won’t stop with Ritz-Carlton. Any number of our hotel brands would work as a cruise brand. We won’t go head to head with ourselves within the group. We’re doing luxury with Ritz-Carlton and we could do upper premium and premium. We have enough brands to diversify for quite a long time,” he said, according to Travel Weekly.

Several years ago, the Canada-based Four Seasons hotel group that has no connection to Marriott was planning to enter the cruise industry. It had plans to build a 37,000 gross ton spa-orientated ship at what it Meyer Turku today, but the plan fell through.

Four Seasons only wanted to invest a minority stake in the ship owning company – an asset light business model – although it would operate the ship. By contrast, Ritz-Carlton has opted to own the ships it plans to operate.

Ponant takes delivery of Le Lapérouse, the first ship in the Ponant Explorers series

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 19 June 2018 19 June 2018

Ponant, the global leader in luxury expeditions and the only French cruise line, has taken delivery of its new vessel, Le Lapérouse, the first of the six Explorers-class ships.

On June 15, as per the agreed construction schedule, Ponant successfully took delivery of Le Lapérouse, the brand-new vessel and the first of the six exceptional Ponant Explorers series. Construction of the other five ships is currently under way. Le Lapérouse left the shipyard in Ålesund, Norway, on June 16 and will reach Reykjavik, Iceland today, June 19 for the start of her maiden cruise. The inauguration will take place on July 10 in Reykjavik.

“Le Lapérouse is a wonderful achievement for the company and the result of intensive teamwork with Vard and Fincantieri. From remarkable nautical performances to technical excellence and offering an extraordinary level of comfort, everything is in place for the Ponant Explorers series to be a huge success,” says Jean Emmanuel Sauvée, CEO and Co-Founder of Ponant.

With a smaller capacity of just 92 staterooms and suites all with a balcony or private terrace, the ship boasts an elegant design, a long sleek line, state-of-the-art technology, and major innovations. Also designed to respect the environment, Le Lapérouse is the true symbol of a new generation of ships flying the French flag.

The six Ponant Explorers will feature a world first: the “Blue Eye.” The innovative multi-sensorial underwater lounge will allow passengers to discover and experience the underwater world via two portholes in the form of a cetaceous eye looking out on to the sea bed, non-intrusive underwater lighting, and hydrophones integrated into the keel that retransmit the natural symphony of the deep water. The lounge will also feature Body Listening sofas, offering a unique sensorial listening experience by corporal resonance.

MSC Cruises orders fifth Meraviglia-class ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 14 June 2018 14 June 2018

MSC Cruises and STX France signed today an order for the construction of a fifth Meraviglia class cruise ship. Due to be delivered in 2023, this vessel will be equipped with a new generation of dual-fuel engines designed to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG). She will also feature other innovative environmental technologies, notably including an advanced wastewater treatment system compliant with the world’s most stringent regulatory standards, including the provisions enshrined in Resolution MEPC.227 for the Baltic Sea.

This announcement was made at a unique ceremony held at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard in the presence of Bruno Le Maire, the French Minister of the Economy and Finance. STX France and MSC Cruises celebrated three major ship building milestones: the Steel Cutting Ceremony of the 4th Meraviglia class vessel where MSC Cruises announced that the ship will be named MSC Virtuosa; the Coin Ceremony of MSC Grandiosa; and the Float-out of MSC Bellissima. For the first time in Saint-Nazaire’s history, three cruise ships belonging to a single cruise brand are under simultaneous construction at the shipyard.

Speaking before opening the valves to flood the dry dock where MSC Bellissima has been assembled, Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said: “With the announcement of yet another new vessel, the 13th under our 10-year investment plan, we are affirming our commitment to sustainable growth for our Company. I say this while three more next-generation MSC Cruises are now simultaneously under construction.

Mr Vago added, “Our fifth Meraviglia class cruise ship will bring a new generation of cutting-edge environmental technology to the market, benefiting from a new generation of LNG-powered engines. This will help us further reduce our environmental footprint and advance in our journey of constant improvement. She will be joined at sea by up to four World Class LNG-powered ships, as part of our overall commitment to environmental stewardship through this and other next-generation technologies and solutions deployed fleet-wide.”

The agreement for the additional Meraviglia-Plus ship represents an additional investment of €900 million.

RCCL reiterates $8.70 to $8.90 full year EPS guidance, excludes potential effects of Silversea

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 14 June 2018 14 June 2018

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) the world’s second largest cruise shipping group, has reconfirmed its latest adjusted earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $8.70 to $8.90 per share, excluding the potential effects of the acquisition of a controlling interest in Silversea Cruises, the Monaco based luxury cruise operator

Some cruise industry analysts have recently questioned the strength of the demand side plus raised concerns about the rise in fuel prices.

“This updated guidance does not include any potential impact from the transaction (to acquire a 66.7% stake in Silversea Cruises), although RCCL does not expect the transaction to materially impact near-term adjusted earnings per share,” the company said in a statement.

Operationally, the company's forecast for the third and fourth quarters has remained unchanged, but increases in the market price of fuel and the strength of the dollar are expected to cost the company roughly 25 cents per share.

Fortunately, strong close-in demand for core products and better than expected performance below the line is expected to drive improved results for the second quarter.

“These improved results are expected to completely offset the impact of the FX (foreign exchange) and fuel headwinds in the second half of the year, which allows the company to maintain its guidance for 2018.