Star Cruises’ losses mount in April-June period to $21.7 million
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 02 September 2014 02 September 2014
Star Cruises, the Asia-Pacific focused cruise shipping unit of Genting Hong Kong group, has reported a significant widening of loss year on for the April-June period.
Revenues totaled at $274.9 million compared to $252.9 million a year earlier, but loss deepened to $21.7 million from $14.3 million. “Onboard and other revenues grew 5.7% to $32.7 million primarily driven by higher onboard retail sales. Passenger ticket revenue decreased 6.5% to $68.3 million mainly due to m.v. SuperStar Virgo’s drydock and its relocation to Hong Kong,” Genting Hong Kong said in a statement.
Star Cruises receives most of its income from gaming on board its ships and revenues from this activity increased to $167.0 million from $146.8 million.
Total cost and expenses, excluding depreciation and amortisation, increased to $261.4 million in 1H2014 compared with $232.8 million in 1H2013, mainly attributable to higher salaries and marketing and promotion expenses. Total costs and expenses, excluding fuel expenses and depreciation and amortisation, increased 15.3% to $229.7 million but increased only 10.7% on a per-capacity-day basis compared with that of 1H2013.
Fuel expenses, included in total costs and expenses, declined 5.4% to $31.6 million due to lower overall fuel consumption mainly as a result of the drydock of m.v. Superstar Virgo in January 2014 coupled with a 2.8% decrease in average fuel price. Star Cruises’ average fuel price per metric ton, net of hedges, was $636 in 1H2014 compared with $654 in 1H2013.
Total depreciation and amortisation expenses increased 7.0% to $41.5 million in 1H2014, primarily due to the additional capitalised drydock expenses of m.v. Superstar Virgo in 1H2014.
From November 2014, m.v. SuperStar Virgo and m.v. SuperStar Gemini will continue their homeport deployment in Hong Kong and Singapore, respectively. M.v. SuperStar Gemini will be offering various itineraries cruising to destinations including Penang, Langkawi, Port Klang and Malacca while m.v. SuperStar Virgo will focus on offering over-night cruises to the high seas from its homeport.
To enhance customer experience, m.v. SuperStar Virgo is scheduled to undergo minor facility enhancement projects in the third quarter of 2014 for its Hong Kong deployment. M.v. SuperStar Aquarius will commence its seasonal homeport deployment for the 2014/15 winter season, returning to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, Malaysia.
Star Cruises’ announced newbuild programme has made good progress. Two new ships are on order with Meyer Werft GmbH at Papenburg, Germany for delivery scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Each of these sister ships is approximately 150,000 gross tons and will be designed to offer a wide variety of Asian and international food & beverage outlets as well as world-class recreation, health & fitness and conference facilities catering to the unique demand of the Asian clientele. The two new ships are expected to reinforce Star Cruises’ leading position in Asia-Pacific and our commitment to develop the region as an international cruise destination.
Quantum class ships to float on bed of air bubbles, waste glass etc. frozen to prevent bacteria growth
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 25 August 2014 25 August 2014
Microscopic bubbles of air will be injected under the hull of the Quantum class ships as a way to reduce friction and fuel consumption, said Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL).
The feature will save about 4% of the fuel bill of the ship. Through a host of energy saving measures, the ships of the Quantum class will be 20% more fuel efficient than the Oasis class vessels.
Hull design, lighting, air conditioning etc. have all been looked at to reduce fuel consumption and environmental footprint.
Everything used on board will be either reused or incinerated on board or recycled. Glass and other similar waste will be frozen on board in order to prevent the growth of bacteria.
Quantum class Two70 windows to become video screens, Bionic bar robots mix drinks
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
- Published: 25 August 2014 25 August 2014
The huge Two70 lounge at the stern of the Quantum class ships of Royal Caribbean International will become video screens. The three deck high lounge will have no pillars, rather the ceiling is hung from the above rather than supported from below, said Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL).
The room will feature projectors eight times the definition of an HD television. In addition, the room will feature robotic screens that feature entertainment. They can dance or an present an abstract scene. Most of the time, the lounge is a living room with sea view, with occasional entertainment.
Inside cabins will feature a virtual balcony that produces the view of the sea. Cameras mounted on the sides of the ship feed image from the perspective of respective cabins rather than video or a single spot of footage.
Other design features give the virtual balcony a three dimensional feel. You can turn the feature off and pull the curtains if you like, but it will not feature functions like TV or games.
Bionic bar features robots that mix your drinks; you will place your order via tablets in the room, Fain said. As experience builds up, a wider range of drinks will be available.
Fain said that he and his team are “scared to death” as so much new technology is going on board the Quantum of the Seas that has never been used on board ship and with very little experience ashore either in some cases.
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