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Fincantieri delivers MSC Seaview

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 04 June 2018 04 June 2018

Today, MSC Cruises officially took delivery of its new flagship MSC Seaview, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The delivery ceremony took place in the presence of Gianluigi Aponte, the ship owner as well as Founder and Executive Chairman of MSC Group. Also present at the ceremony were Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, other members of the Aponte and Aponte-Vago families, Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, as well as other regional and local authorities and dignitaries.

Coming on the heels of her sister ship, MSC Seaside — which launched at the end of 2017 in Miami — MSC Seaview is ready to start sailing her inaugural season in the Mediterranean. The ship, representing a key highlight for 2018 as she is the one MSC Cruises new build coming into service this year, is also the third MSC Cruises new build to come into service in just 12 months, the second ship to be built by Fincantieri, and the 15th ship to join the MSC Cruises global fleet.

With her iconic “beach condo” design and generous outdoor public spaces, MSC Seaview is a game changer, bringing guests closer to the sea and ensuring they are able to enjoy the outdoors during their cruise. During her inaugural season, MSC Seaview will cruise the Mediterranean. She then heads to South America for the winter season, further strengthening the Company’s position in two markets in which MSC Cruises is the leading cruise brand.

“MSC Seaview will bring yet another new distinctively innovative MSC Cruises product to the market as she boasts cutting edge design, and features the latest marine and environmental technology,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises. “She is an example of our commitment to bring the best and most innovative tonnage to the market, and our ambition to set each time a new standard in the industry. The Seaside class is yet another brand new, highly-innovative prototype that we introduce – the 5th to date, since we entered the cruising industry only 15 years ago. Moreover, I am proud to say, together with her sister ship MSC Seaside, it is the biggest ship ever built in Italy.”

Vago added, “We are increasing capacity at record speeds. MSC Seaview is the third ship to come into service in just 12 months. These are very exciting times for us, and we are already merely nine months away of the completion of our next ship, MSC Bellissima – the first of two Meraviglia class ships that will come into service over a six-month period next year.”

“We will remember MSC Seaview, without doubt, as an authentic undertaking. Just six months ago, in fact, we celebrated in this same yard the delivery of the largest ship ever built in Italy, MSC Seaside, a revolutionary prototype,” said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “Today we are repeating this success with her sister ship. This is an amazing performance that we are extremely proud of, carried out thanks to the technical and managerial skills, which made us great and acknowledged as such in the world and which allows us to look to the future with renewed confidence.”

During today’s delivery ceremony, which pays tribute to an important maritime tradition, Roberto Olivari, Fincantieri's shipyard director, handed over to Pier Paolo Scala, Master of MSC Seaview, an ampoule holding the first water that touched the hull when the ship was floated out last year.

MSC Seaview is the second ship in the Seaside Class and, like her sister ship MSC Seaside, is pushing the boundaries of pioneering ship building and design. As one of the most innovative ships at sea, MSC Seaview will feature the latest environmental technology. In addition to complying with the highest international environmental standards she will also receive from the international classification society RINA, — in addition to the main class notations – the “Green Star 3 Design” notation. RINA’s Green Star 3 — the latest and most comprehensive of RINA’s Green STAR class notations – recognizes attention to detail during design and construction. Specifically, the certification recognizes that MSC Seaview reaches the highest levels of eco-compatibility thanks to the relevance of the various innovative measures put in place to help reduce the ship’s environmental footprint during operations. These include the exhaust gas cleaning system, advanced waste water treatment, systems for the prevention of oil discharge from machinery spaces, ballast water treatment system, and the ship’s Environmental Management Plan.

MSC Seaview is the third ship to be built under MSC Cruises’ EUR 10.5 billion ($12.4 billion USD) investment plan which has already resulted in the completion of two out of 12 next-generation ships: MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seaside in May 2017 and November 2017 respectively. She will depart from the shipyard later today, making a three-day voyage, arriving in her homeport, Genoa, Italy, on June 7. The newest addition to the MSC Cruises’ fleet will be officially inaugurated there in a glittering ceremony on June 9 and will commence her inaugural cruise on June 10.

Norwegian Bliss makes history as the largest cruise ship christened In Seattle

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 31 May 2018 31 May 2018

Following a month-long show-stopping tour around the United States including previews in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, Norwegian Cruise Line’s highly-anticipated ship, Norwegian Bliss, was officially christened on May 30 in her summer home of Seattle. Following a preview sailing from May 30 – June 2, Norwegian Bliss, the third ship in the most successful class in the line’s history, will commence her inaugural summer season with cruises to Alaska including calls in Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and Victoria, British Colombia beginning June 2. She will join Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl as the youngest fleet ever to cruise to Alaska.

Norwegian Bliss was welcomed to her summer home with a sky-high water-canon salute by the Seattle Fire Department, as she cruised into Port of Seattle. The recently renovated and expanded Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, a public-private investment between Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and the Port of Seattle, received the 168,000-gross-ton ship with a capacity of 4,004, double occupancy, early this morning. The enhanced terminal features three times the square footage, increasing the usage capacity by 300 percent, a dedicated lounge for suite guests and more guest-facing elements providing a seamless, comfortable and stylish ship-to-shore experience.

“Norwegian Cruise Line has been cruising out of the Port of Seattle for eighteen years, and the public-private investment that made the enhancement of Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 possible, demonstrates the commitment we have to the city of Seattle,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. “This month, Norwegian celebrates twenty-four years of cruising to Alaska, and with Norwegian Bliss joining our Alaska fleet we will have the largest capacity in our history, offering guests more options to experience the majesty of that destination.”

“The Port of Seattle is thrilled to host the magnificent Norwegian Bliss and her passengers for many Alaska cruise seasons to come,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Courtney Gregoire. “Cruise ships like Norwegian Bliss meet our objectives of increasing economic opportunity in our region while constantly raising the bar on environmental sustainability. We thank Norwegian for their eighteen years of partnership with the Port of Seattle, and look forward to many more to come.”

The christening ceremony took place on board the ship, for another Norwegian first. The meticulously orchestrated event was a testament to the company’s commitment to entertainment. Led by the godfather, Elvis Duran and The Morning Show crew, nearly 2,400 people witnessed the christening ceremony as it was broadcasted throughout the ship, making it an interactive experience for all on board. The main event took place in the 900-seat Bliss Theater with satellite activations in Q – the debuting Texas Smokehouse, the new 20,000-square-foot Observation Lounge offering 180-degree views, the Atrium and other venues throughout.

Frank Del Rio and Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, welcomed travel partners, investors and industry representatives on board Norwegian Bliss, and spoke to the beauty of the ship, the excitement of her incredible inaugural tour, the industry leading amenities and their gratitude to all those who ensure a memorable guest experience aboard Norwegian Bliss. Special guests included governor of Alaska Bill Walker and local officials from Seattle. Also in attendance was the internationally renowned marine life artist Wyland, whose larger-than-life mural adorns the hull of Norwegian Bliss, and stands as an inspiring reminder of the splendor of Alaska and the importance of preserving the world’s oceans.

“As the largest ship to ever be christened in Seattle, Norwegian Bliss’ ceremony was our most exciting one yet,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We thank the Emerald City for a very warm welcome and their partnership, and we are looking forward to continuing and strengthening our relationship with the Port of Seattle for years to come.”

After the traditional blessings, honorary Godfather, Elvis Duran, officially christened Norwegian Bliss with the symbolic bottle break across the ship’s hull, wishing a safe voyage to all guests and crew wherever in the world she may travel, and commencing an evening full of show-stopping surprises.

Norwegian Bliss will cruise seven-day voyages to Alaska from Seattle and then in October she will sail select voyages to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles. For her fall/winter season, she will sail to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami and in 2019; she will sail from New York City to the Bahamas and Florida, the Southern and Western Caribbean.

MedCruise identifies latest trends in a golden era of cruising

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 24 May 2018 24 May 2018

Alan Lam reporting from Malta

The 52nd MedCruise General Assembly is currently under way in Malta. About 130 delegates from MedCruise partner organisations, cruise lines and international medias have gathered in Valletta — the European Capital of Culture 2018 — to discuss the latest trends in the Mediterranean cruise business and the issues it faces.

In this golden era of cruising, while the MedCruise partners continue to expand their collective vision of growth into the future and beyond its boundaries, especially to the emerging markets of China and other Asian regions, the focuses of the association are also firmly on other challenges and developments; one of them being making efforts to provide LNG bunkering services to cruise ships.

MedCruise’s dedicated LNG working group has carried out extensive studies and gathered valuable information on the viability of various methods of LNG supplies to cruise vessels operating to and from its ports — a service it considers to be essential for the future development of cruise business in the Mediterranean.

Experts from cruise lines and ports offered their views and suggestions for the way forward. There are many technical, social, commercial and regulatory hurdles ahead. Many Mediterranean ports, because of various idiosyncrasies, must confront unique challenges in this regard. With and increasing number of LNG-powered cruise ships coming on stream, the ports and all the stakeholders of the region need to work together to find a path through the labyrinth of rules, local oppositions and other obstacles in order to ensure the continuation of this golden era of cruising.

In this connection, the 52nd MedCruise General Assembly also discussed trends in shipbuilding and port development, with specific references to the region.

A full-length analytical feature on the key topics discoursed at the Assembly will appear in the next issue of Cruise Business Review

Global Ports Holding breaks into Caribbean, to operate Havana port

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 22 May 2018 22 May 2018

Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH), the London listed and Istanbul based company that is the world's largest independent cruise port operator, is pleased to announce that it has signed a 15-year management agreement with the Cuban company Aries S.A., for the operation of the cruise port in Havana, Cuba, GPH said in a statement.

Under the terms of the agreement, GPH will from 21 June 2018, use its global expertise and operating model to manage all of the cruise port operations over the life of the agreement. “As consideration, the Group will be paid a management fee that is based on a number of factors including passenger numbers, with growth based incentives,” GPH said in a statement.

In addition to operating the cruise port operations, GPH will continue to work with our Cuban partners on the design and technical specification of the cruise port investment programme, including proposed new terminals. “Once these have been completed GPH will take responsibility for the marketing and commercialisation of these new facilities,” the company said.

The agreement is part of significant investment by Cuba into the port area and the tourism infrastructure in Havana. The port currently has capacity of two berths and in 2017 welcomed about 328,000 cruise passengers, a growth rate of 156% compared to 2016, with over 500,000 cruise passengers forecast for 2018. As part of Cuba's significant investment program into the port and surrounding area the number of berths will increase to six by 2024, significantly increasing the passenger capacity of the Havana port.