Radisson Seven Seas Is Open For Business
Following Hurricane Wilma
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises’® executive
office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was affected by Hurricane
Wilma and operations have been temporarily disrupted. The
reservations department in Omaha, Nebraska and the nation-wide
field sales team continue to serve RSSC travel agent partners
and guests. Accounting and administrative support based
in Minnesota is also operating as usual.
Mark Conroy, president of Radisson Seven
Seas, has confirmed that all personnel are safe. RSSC vessels
were not adversely affected by the storm and will maintain
normal schedules. Property damage to headquarters is not
extensive. However, due to the storm and downed power lines,
calls to the executive office may not go through. “We thank
everyone for their concern for our well-being, as well as
their patience and understanding. Please be assured that
other than the temporary disruption to the corporate office
all of our operations are running smoothly,” said Conroy.
For any inquiries, contact Radisson Seven
Seas’ reservations department toll free at 1-800-285-1835.
For international inquiries, urgent matters or to reach
the executive office, call 1-402-501-5636.
New Luxury Cruise Line Service Between
Dubai AGCC Countries Debuts
The Dubai Department of Tourism Commerce
and Marketing (DTCM) has announced the launch of the first-ever
luxury cruise line service between Dubai and AGCC countries
as of October 29, 2005. “The launch of the new luxury cruise
service strengthens Dubai's position as a sought-after leisure
destination among the nationals and residents of the AGCC
countries,” said Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Acting Manager
of DTCM-managed Dubai Cruise Terminal. “It also signifies
the great potential for the cruise tourism in the region.”
The cruise service will play a significant role in the
regional travel and tourism market across the UAE by being
the first and only cruise ship to be based out of Dubai
and offering exotic cruise to the Arabian Gulf destinations
of Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, he added.
Operated by the Lebanon-based Abou Merhi
Cruises, the cruise ship, MV Orient Queen, will operate
two weekly roundtrips until May 2006 between Dubai and Oman,
Qatar and Bahrain. Ghassan Al Aridi, CEO of Alpha Tours,
sole agents for the cruise service between UAE and Qatar,
said that his company has been serving the tourism industry
since the past 15 years in Dubai and was well aware about
the scope of cruise tourism. This unique pan-Gulf cruise
service is expected to bring more tourists to Dubai in the
coming months.
Abou Merhi, CEO of Abou Merhi Cruises,
said that two more trips would be added to the new cruise
service to accommodate the extra passengers rush in the
future.
The 6916-ton, Panama-flagged vessel has
336 staterooms and 56 suites. The 400-member crew include
European and Lebanon nationals. The vessel offer a variety
of attractions including cultural entertainment, gourmet
cuisine, sports facilities, duty-free shopping and a complete
spa.
The Dubai Cruise Terminal is the world's
first to receive ISO-9002 certification and also the world’s
only cruise facility run by the government tourism body.
Royal Caribbean Reports Record Third
Quarter Earnings
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced
record net income for the third quarter of 2005 of $374.7
million, or $1.64 per share. This compares to $282.5 million,
or $1.26 per share, for the third quarter of 2004. As previously
announced, the third quarter of 2005 includes a net gain
of $44.2 million, or $0.19 per share, related to the redemption
of the company's investment in First Choice Holidays PLC.
Revenues for the third quarter of 2005
increased 8.4 percent to $1.5 billion from revenues of $1.4
billion in the third quarter of 2004. The increase in revenues
was attributable to increases in cruise ticket prices and
onboard revenues, plus a modest 1.9 percent increase in
capacity. Occupancy levels were 109.3 percent versus 109.0
percent last year. Gross Yields and Net Yields for the third
quarter of 2005 increased 6.3 percent and 6.9 percent from
the third quarter of 2004, respectively.
Net income for the nine months ended
September, 2005 was $719.6 million, or $3.22 per share,
on revenues of $3.9 billion, compared to net income of $500.5
million, or $2.31 per share, on revenues of $3.6 billion
for the same period in 2004. "It's been a very successful
quarter and a successful year," said Richard D. Fain,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The cost of
fuel and the lack of capacity growth have been very challenging.
Nevertheless, the success of our revenue enhancement efforts
and cost control program has more than compensated."
Outlook - 2006
Advance bookings for 2006 continue to
show evidence of a continued healthy demand environment
for both Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises.
Load factors for 2006 are in-line with levels achieved at
the same time last year, but pricing continues to be higher
than the previous year. In addition, the company's onboard
revenue initiatives are working well. While it is still
too early to quantify projections for 2006, management is
optimistic that the current demand environment will result
in positive yield improvements.
Fuel prices for 2006, however, remain
a concern. If 2006 at-the-pump fuel prices remain at current
levels, the company estimates that its 2006 fuel costs will
increase approximately $140 million and negatively impact
earnings per share by $0.60.
BAFTA/LA) Partners With Prestigious
Cunard Line For Entertainment Initiatives
The British Academy of Film and Television
Arts/Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) has entered into a partnership
with Cunard Line, the legendary ocean liner company, for
a program of entertainment initiatives which celebrate the
line's illustrious history and salute British contributions
to film and television. The sponsorship includes, among
other things, Cunard being named the title sponsor of the
BAFTA/LA's hallmark annual awards ceremony, which have been
renamed the BAFTA/LA Cunard Britannia Awards. This year,
the awards will honor Tom Cruise, Elizabeth Taylor, director
Mike Newell and filmmaker Ronald Neame, and will take place
on November 10, 2005 at the Beverly Hilton hotel.
The special award being presented this
year to Ronald Neame ("The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,"
"The Odessa File") will hereafter be named The
Cunard Britannia Award for Lifetime Contributions to International
Film. In addition to its presentation of the Britannia Awards,
Cunard will also participate as a sponsor in BAFTA/LA's
other unique entertainment events and programs presented
in Los Angeles by BAFTA/LA throughout the year. "Throughout
the decades, Cunard has had connections to the world of
filmmaking and theater, as film and stage personalities
from both sides of the Atlantic have sailed aboard our company's
liners," said Peter Ratcliffe, Cunard's chief executive
officer. "We're therefore delighted to be taking this
new voyage with BAFTA/LA as we carry on that storied Cunard
tradition."
HollandAmerica.com Debuts Dynamic
New Virtual Online Cinema Experience
Web surfing travelers can experience
a virtual cruise vacation with Holland America Line's new
interactive Online Cinema experience debuting now on the
premium cruise leader's website at www.hollandamerica.com. On the virtual
cinema, the elegant ships, worldwide destinations, gracious
service, sophisticated dining and enriching activities for
which Holland America Line is renowned, come to life via
rich media allowing guests to view a Holland America Line
vacation experience in advance of their trip. "Our
new Online Cinema feature is designed to augment the existing
site, inviting guests to immerse themselves in a virtual
cruise of their choice. Guests can witness views from a
tableside window in the Pinnacle Grill, virtual tours of
our spacious staterooms and video from ports of call,"
said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, senior vice president, marketing
and sales.
The new Online Cinema portal on the opening
page of the Holland America Line web site links guests to
the site's innovative features including 360 degree tours,
video clips, photo albums, interactive maps, travelogues,
and more. Content covers each of the line's 12 ships and
all of its destinations -- Alaska, Australia/New Zealand,
Asia/Pacific, Caribbean, Europe, Grand World Voyages, Hawaii,
Canada/New England, Mexico, Panama Canal, and South America.
All five sections of the Online Cinema module—ships/accommodations,
destinations, service, dining and activities—feature virtual
tours, photo albums and downloadable e-brochures. The Penthouse
Verandah Suites, Deluxe Outside Verandah Suites, and Outside/Inside
Staterooms are further showcased with 360 degree tours.
Destinations come to life with interactive maps and travelogues
of the cruise itineraries.
Virtual tours of other popular and requested
areas by ship include: the Atrium, Dining Room, Pinnacle
Grill (intimate, reservations-only fine dining), Lido Pool
& Bar, Neptune Lounge (VIP lounge for penthouse and
deluxe verandah suites), Greenhouse Spa & Salon, Fitness
Center, Casino, Show Lounge, Piano Bar, Crow's Nest, Culinary
Arts Center presented by Food & Wine, Explorer's Lounge,
Exploration Café - powered by The New York Times, Club HAL
(for children), the Loft (for teens), and the Oasis (teens-only
deck area).
The site also features special cruise
offers, and cyber travelers are encouraged to sign-up for
emails and download e-brochures.
Berlitz’s Guide to Cruising &
Cruise Ships 2006 Announces Top 5-Star Ships
For the sixth consecutive year, Europa,
the luxury Hapag-Lloyd ship, tops the list with the highest
score in the most categories in Berlitz Publishing's annual
definitive cruising guide: Complete Guide to Cruising
& Cruise Ships 2006, which is due in bookstores
next month. This year, only 18 ships scored the numbers
necessary for membership into the prestigious Five-Stars
Club, as opposed to 20 which earned the rating in last year's
guide (Hebridean Spirit and Hebridean Princess are off the
list. Queen Mary 2 went down several places, from 1764 points
to 1712).
Five-Stars-Plus (*****+) Club
Europa (Hapag-Lloyd Cruises) with 1,858
points out of a possible 2,000
Five-Stars (*****) Club
1. SeaDream I with 1,790 points
2. SeaDream II with 1,790 points
3. Seabourn Legend with 1,786 points
4. Seabourn Pride with 1,785 points
5. Seabourn Spirit with 1,785 points
6. Silver Shadow with 1,757
7. Silver Whisper with 1,757
8. Hanseatic with 1,740
9. Silver Cloud with 1,722
10. Silver Wind with 1,722
11. Queen Mary 2 (Grill Class) with 1,712
points
12. Sea Cloud II with 1,706
13. Sea Cloud with 1,704
14. Crystal Serenity with 1,702
15. Crystal Symphony with 1,701
16. Seven Seas Mariner with 1,701
17. Seven Seas Voyager with 1,701
Century Casinos Extends Its Agreement
With Oceania Cruises Until 2012
Century Casinos, Inc. has extended the
Casino Concession Agreement with Oceania Cruises, Inc. until
the year 2012. Currently, the company operates the casinos
on two of Oceania Cruises' vessels and will commence casino
operations on board a third vessel, the Nautica in
late November of this year. In total, more than 200 gaming
positions (Roulette, Blackjack, Poker and slot machines)
will be available to Oceania Cruises' guests on the three
ships.
Century Casinos, an international casino
company that owns and operates Womacks casinos around the
world, also operates the casinos aboard Silversea’s Silver
Wind, Silver Cloud, Silver Whisper, as well as The World
of ResidenSea.
Globe of America on the ‘Queen Mary’
Launches Family Matinee Fun!
The Globe of America on the Queen
Mary is launching a series of family matinee productions
by the Young Globe Players. Four productions will be performed
through the year in the ship's Royal Theatre. Season Tickets
are $60 for adults and $40 for children. Single tickets
for the first production, The Fir Tree, slated to begin
November 11, are also available at $20 for adults and $15
for children. Tickets can be purchased from the Globe's
Box Office at the Queen Mary by telephoning 562-499-6630,
or on line at www.globeofamerica.org
.
The Young Globe Players season includes:
The Fir Tree—opening November 11 and playing through December
30; A Device Out of Time—running February 2 - March 19,
2006; Young King Arthur—April 6 through May 19, 2006 and
A Comedy of Errors—July 6 through August 27, 2006. Performances
will be held Wednesdays at 4 p.m., and Thursdays and Fridays
at 1 p.m. to accommodate groups wanting to combine tours
of the ship and lunch with the play. The Globe's Ice Cream
Matinee series will continue to be presented on Saturday
and Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m.
The Globe of America is one of many entertainment
opportunities available on a visit to the Queen Mary. The
Globe box office staff can arrange self- guided tours and
other combination packages at the time tickets are ordered.
The Queen Mary is permanently docked
in Long Beach, California and features a 365-stateroom hotel,
casual-to-elegant restaurants, unique shops and historic
tours. More information is available by calling (562) 435-3511
or visiting www.queenmary.com.
The Globe of America is a professional
theatre company that makes its home on board the Queen Mary.
In the ship's Royal Theatre and its Boiler Room, the Globe
produces frequent weekend evening entertainments, experimental
approaches to classic plays and a series of four plays for
children and families throughout the year. The Company offers
classes for seniors and middle school students and workshops
for serious acting students. The Globe's first major productions
of Shakespeare's plays are scheduled to open on July 6,
2006. For performance information, call 562-499-6646, or
visit the Globe's website at www.globeofamerica.org.
New Exhibit Of Marilyn Monroe Artifacts
Opens In November
On November 11, 2005, "Marilyn Monroe:
The Exhibit," will make its debut aboard the Queen
Mary. This exhibit will feature the world's largest private
collection of Marilyn Monroe artifacts ever assembled. Part
of this collection is the more than 40 bottles of rare Marilyn-monikered
wines, which have been collected since the year of their
inception, 1985, by collector Robert Otto.
Orion Expedition Appoints Daryl Hudson
Regional Manager North America.
Daryl Hudson has been appointed Orion
Expedition Cruises new regional manger for North America.
“The appointment of Daryl to work on the ground in the USA
and Canada illustrates our strong commitment to growing
our business – and travel to Australia, within these markets,
“ said Sarina Bratton, Managing Director of Australia-based
Orion Expedition Cruises. “Our product is specialized—small
ship, luxury expedition cruising to some of the most beautiful,
remote and unspoiled places in the world—this requires specialist
local knowledge that we believe Daryl will be able to deliver
to the North American market.”
Daryl has been working with Tourism Tasmania
for the past six years and on their behalf accepted consecutive
Opal Awards for Excellence (2002 and 2003) in recognition
of the Tassie Specialist Program designed to better equip
North American travel agents to sell Tasmania. He has also
held senior management positions with Tourism Australia
and Sydney Convention & Visitors Bureau.
MedCruise Names New President
Laurent Monsaingeon was named the new
president of MedCruise. The French Riviera Ports managing
director was elected to serve a three-year term at the MedCruise
annual general assembly held in Cyprus this month.
Set up in Rome on the 11th of June 1996,
MedCruise, is the association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports.
Medcruise aims to promote the interests of Mediterranean
ports while developing and fostering good relations and
collaboration among all cruise ports of the world through
the exchange of information. Today, the association has
grown to 45 members representing 62 ports around the Mediterranean
region.
Glacier Bay Cruiseline Files For Chapter
11 Bankruptcy Protection
Seattle-based small-ship operator Glacier
Bay Cruiseline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
this month, ShipsandCruises has learned. According to Glacier
Bay, it is the hope of the company pay off its vendors and
seek means of raising additional funds.
Glacier Bay Cruiseline is currently looking
for charter business for its vessels and is cautiously optimistic
that it will be able to generate funds with which to repay
obligations.
BB Acquisition LLC, doing business as
Glacier Bay Cruiseline (“BB”), will not operate a 2006 cruise
season. The operations of BB have been financed through
a credit line with BB’s secured lender, and under that arrangement
all funds from the 2005 season are pledged to repayment
of that credit line and are not available for payment to
our vendors.
New Director For Cruise Baltic Project
Signe Adamsen is the new director of
the Cruise Baltic Project. Launched in 2004, the three-year
project aims to boost the competitiveness of the Baltic
Sea region, ensure 20 percent growth in the number of passengers
to the area and foster four percent growth in the Baltic’s
share of the global cruise market.
Adamsen formerly served as route manager
at Scandinavian Airlines Denmark, where she worked with
business strategies and was responsible for leisure traffic
from Copenhagen since 2004.
‘SuperStar Virgo’ Again Comes To The
Rescue Of A Sinking Ship
Star Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo
once again came to the rescue of a sinking ship while sailing
along the Straits of Malacca from Singapore to Port Klang
this month. The incident occurred in the morning when three
crew members were spotted in the water by lookouts on the
bridge of SuperStar Virgo, after their fishing vessel had
sunk in unfavorable weather conditions. The onboard Man
Overboard Team (“MOB”) was immediately activated as the
ship alerted the Malaysian Vessel Traffic Information System
and prepared to rescue the survivors. Having launched the
rescue team, all three survivors were picked up and brought
onboard where they rested until the ship arrived in Port
Klang.
This is the second such rescue incident
involving SuperStar Virgo in two months
Refit Now Underway For P&O Cruises’
‘Pacific Star’
The Pacific Star is set to shine
when she arrives in Brisbane in December, after undergoing
a $20 million refit. P&O Cruises Australia officially
took ownership of the ship on October 19 from the Italian-based
Costa Cruises, where she sailed as Costa Tropicale.
The 35,000-ton Pacific Star will remain
in Italy for five weeks for her refit before setting sail
to her new homeport of Brisbane late November.
P&O Cruises Australia Managing Director
Gavin Smith said the refit would ensure the ship was tailored
for the Australian market and included a dedicated teens
center—a first for a P&O ship; a Lotus Spa sanctuary;
reconfiguration of some cabins to accommodate families of
our; and the introduction of a steak house as an alternative
dining venue.
The current refit follows the ship’s
stunning $30 million refurbishment in 2001 by Costa.
“This latest work will put the finishing
touches on a very smart ship and ensure she is looking fantastic
when she starts her inaugural Australian season,” said Smith.
MSC Musica Enters Final Stages of
Construction
MSC Cruises’ newbuild MSC Musica has
entered the final phase of construction at Alstom Marine
of St. Nazaire in France, after being “floated” out on October
15 from Chantiers de l’Atlantique to the Penhoet dock. There,
the ship’s interiors will be fitted. Final delivery of the
vessel to MSC Cruises is scheduled for June 2006. (Click
New Ships for more information.)
Virgin Atlantic’s Richard Branson
Embarking On A New Cruise Venture?
According to press reports, Sir Richard
Branson plans to “do to cruising what he has done to the
airline business”. The British entrepreneur is said to be
planning to unveil results of talks with Miami executives
about “alliances” with US cruise entities in three to four
months. ‘Miami is obviously the center of cruises and Virgin
has been looking at cruise ships. And we would do it very
differently than any cruise ship traveling today,’ the Virgin
Group chairman told a Miami Herald reporter during a recent
business conference in Miami. ''And hopefully we'll do to
the cruise-ship business what we did with the airline business
and come up with something pretty exciting,'' he said.
After making Virgin Records a household
name, Branson launched Virgin Atlantic Airlines in 1984,
with a single 747. Over the last two decades the fleet has
grown to more than 200 planes and Virgin has bought controlling
stakes in airlines in Australia and Africa.
The company hopes to introduce Virgin
America to the U.S. domestic market some time next year,
with no frills-filled travel that has made Virgin Atlantic
famous. Earlier this year the company announced it had partnered
with the makers of SpaceShipOne—the first civilian craft
enter suborbital flight—and would begin taking passengers
into space by 2008. With fares starting at $200,000, some
200 people have signed up for the ride and more than 100
have purchased tickets, according to the company's website.
203 750 2570 call
Cruise Association’s ‘World’s Largest
Cruise Night’ A Record-Breaker
An estimated 25,000 consumers across
North America celebrated the World’s Largest Cruise Night
(WLCN), held this month, demonstrating that interest in
cruise vacations is at an all-time high. The first-ever
WLCN is a highlight of National Cruise Vacation Month, the
cruise industry’s annual promotional campaign focusing awareness
on cruising’s popularity and broad appeal.
In all, 424 Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA) member agencies hosted WLCN events, the
largest one-day member agency initiative in CLIA’s history.
The gatherings and events ranged from cruise presentations
at an Inn-style restaurant in Wisconsin to live morning
television weather remotes from aboard the deck of a cruise
ship docked in Charleston Harbor, and also included Web
casts, luncheons and full-scale expos. Cruise line representatives
were on hand at many events to provide detailed briefings
on their ships and itineraries. Depending on the travel
agency, guests who booked cruises at the events were able
to take advantage of door prizes, special offers and value-added
incentives.
Eleven million travelers are expected
to embark on cruises this year, and all signs point to continued
growth in 2006, according to CLIA, the chief cruise industry
marketing organization and the sponsor of WLCN. “The spirit
of excitement and participation generated yesterday clearly
reflects the deep reservoir of consumer interest in cruising,”
said Terry L. Dale, CLIA’s President and CEO. “WLCN provided
CLIA-member travel agents the opportunity to demonstrate
their expertise and in-depth knowledge gained through CLIA’s
seminars and certification training. Above all, WLCN reinforces
that CLIA’s 16,700 member travel agencies are the consumer’s
very best resource when planning a cruise vacation.”
The events focused on the diversity of
cruise vacations available on the more than 150 ships in
CLIA’s member-line fleets and the 1,800 worldwide ports
of call they visit.
Condé Nast Traveler Announces Ship
Winners Of Its 2005 Reader’s Choice Awards
The November 2005 issue of Condé Nast
Traveler celebrates the 18th annual Readers' Choice Awards.
The top large and small cruise lines are:
Top Large Cruise Lines:
Top Small Cruise Lines:
1. Crystal Cruises
1. Silversea
2. Radisson Seven Seas
2. Seabourn
3. Celebrity
3. SeaDream Yacht Club
4. Oceania
4. Radisson Seven Seas
5. Disney
5. Grand Circle*
6. Holland America
6. Windstar
7. Princess
7. Sea Cloud
8. Royal Caribbean
8. Peter Deilmann Cruises
9. Cunard
9. Lindblad Expeditions
10. Orient Lines
10. Abercrombie & Kent*
Each year Condé Nast Traveler, whose
motto is Truth in Travel, polls its subscribers
to determine the world’s very best travel companies and
properties based on certain characteristics. Cruise lines
are evaluated in the six categories of Activities/Facilities,
Cabins, Crew/Service, Design/Layout, Food/Dining and Itineraries
*Cruise-travel agencies
Royal Caribbean Plans To Bring ‘Grandeur
Of The Seas’ Back To New Orleans
Royal Caribbean International is making
plans to bring Grandeur of the Seas back to the Port
of New Orleans for her scheduled seven-night Western Caribbean
sailings in December 2006. Until then, Grandeur of the Seas
will sail from her new temporary home, the Port of Tampa,
on a series of four- and five-night Western Caribbean itineraries
from December 2005 through May 2006, before relocating to
Baltimore for the summer season. “The impact of Hurricane
Katrina has been devastating,” said Adam Goldstein, president
of Royal Caribbean International, “but we are confident
that New Orleans will eventually reclaim its place as a
world-class tourism destination.”
On December 2, 2006, Grandeur of the
Seas will make her much anticipated return to New Orleans,
where she will resume seven-night sailings to Cozumel, Mexico;
George Town, Grand Cayman; and Costa Maya, Mexico, before
closing out the season on April 28, 2007.
Carnival Corporation & Plc Increases
Quarterly Dividend By 25 Percent
Carnival Corporation & plc declared
in October a quarterly dividend of $0.25 cents per share,
which is an increase of 25 percent. The dividend is payable
on December 9, 2005, to shareholders of record on November
18, 2005. With today’s announcement—combined with previously
announced dividend increases in April 2005 and October 2004—Carnival’s
quarterly dividend has doubled in just over 12 months. In
April 2005, Carnival’s quarterly dividend increased 33 percent
from $0.15 cents per share to $0.20 cents per share; in
October 2004 the company increased its dividend 20 percent
to $0.15 per share from $0.125 per share.
Cruise West Founder Passes Away
Chuck West, founder of the small-ship
company Cruise West, died Tuesday, October 4 in Haines,
Alaska at the age of 90. Nicknamed “Mr. Alaska,” he died
of natural causes.
Up until the early 1990s, West served
as chairman and CEO of Cruise West. The line, now directed
by West’s son, Richard G. West, chairman and CEO, is today
North America’s largest small-ship cruise line, with ships
in Alaska, British Columbia, California Wine Country, Mexico’s
Sea of Cortés, Central America, the South Pacific and Japan.
Chuck established Alaska’s first post-war
retail travel agency. He founded an all-tourist hotel chain,
motorcoach network and Inside Passage cruise line that were
all consolidated into Westours. He sold to Westours to Holland
America in the early 70s and went on to found Cruise West.
The Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance
Adds Two More Cruise Lines
Discovery World Cruises and Fred. Olsen
Cruises have joined the ten other cruise lines which are
members of the Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance. The 12 lines
have banded together to educate travel agents on the value
of concentrating on the sale of specialty cruise products.
The alliance provides educational programs, seminar content
and trade show exposure for its members and this industry
segment. "Our new members will provide NCMA with an
even stronger voice to let travel agents know about the
benefits of selling niche and specialty cruise products
in the competitive marketplace that exists today,"
stated Lawrence Dessler, CTC, Executive Director of the
Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance.
The Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance is
anticipating the expansion of its travel agent training
and other outreach programs including greater participation
at industry events, a stronger alliance with other travel
agent organizations such as ASTA/NACTA and the expansion
of its internet-based training program.
Other NCMA members include: American
Cruise Lines, American West Steamboat Company, Cruise West,
Galapagos Explorer II (Canodros), Imperial Majesty Cruises,
Norwegian Coastal Voyage, Orion Expedition Cruises, Peter
Deilmann Cruises, RiverBarge Excursion Lines and Star Clippers.
The NCMA office is in Bellevue, Washington,
a suburb of Seattle. Website: www.NicheCruise.com.
French Master Chef Georges Blanc Signs
Exclusive Agreement With Carnival Georges Blanc, one
of France's most revered and recognized master chefs who
has maintained the coveted three stars from Michelin for
the past 25 years, and Carnival Cruise Lines announced an
exclusive agreement in which the chef/restaurateur will
create a series of one-of-a-kind dishes to be served aboard
the line's ships. "Georges Blanc Signature Selections"
include a wide variety of gourmet appetizers, entrees and
desserts to be served in Carnival's main dining rooms and
Lido restaurants fleetwide, as well as its reservations-only
supper clubs featured on select vessels.
Blanc and his staff are also providing
training to Carnival chefs both at his restaurants in Vonnas,
France, and aboard the line's ships.
According to Carnival President and
CEO Bob Dickinson, the exclusive alliance continues Carnival's
efforts at upgrading its culinary program. "Georges
Blanc is one of the world's most innovative and celebrated
chefs and Carnival is extremely honored and pleased that
he will lend his extensive and wide-ranging culinary expertise
to enhance our guests' dining experience," Dickinson
said.
Blanc, famous for creating dishes that
combine classic preparation with contemporary flair, has
created a variety of entrees, appetizers and desserts for
Carnival's dining room menus fleetwide, along with several
items for the widely popular supper clubs on Carnival's
eight Spirit- and Conquest-class vessels. "Georges
Blanc Signature Selections" are indicated by a special
notation on each menu.
Sodexho USA And Carnival Bring 'Towel
Animal' Creations To Hospital Patients
Sodexho USA, a leading provider of food
and facilities management services, is taking the hospital-patient
experience to a new level with the popular "towel animals"
featured aboard Carnival Cruise Lines' ships. The whimsical
creatures, which greet guests as they arrive in their staterooms
each evening, will be introduced into hospitals this fall.
Carnival is working with Sodexho to train
its employees in the art of creating swan, dog and cobra
towel animals. As Sodexho employees advance their skills,
additional animals will be added to the collection. Commented
Carnival President and CEO Bob Dickinson, "'Towel animals'
are one of the many popular features aboard the 'Fun Ships'
- enjoyed by children and adults alike. Carnival is very
pleased to work with Sodexho in teaching hospital employees
how to brighten a patient's day by creating these fun and
whimsical creatures."
Carnival's recently published book "Towel
Animal Creations" provides helpful page-by-page instructions
on creating the different animals and it is serving as a
reference manual by Sodexho's hospital employees.
Carnival Assigns Previously Ordered
Ship To P&O Cruises/UK
Carnival Corporation & plc has assigned
the newbuild slot for the previously announced 116,000-ton
cruise ship to U.K.-based P&O Cruises. To be built
by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the vessel is scheduled
to enter service in spring 2008. The new 3,100-passenger
vessel will become the largest cruise ship specifically
built for British cruise service and continues Carnival’s
ongoing European expansion strategy. An itinerary for this
vessel has not been announced.
The new P&O Cruises ship was part
of a five-ship agreement with Fincantieri announced in September
2004 that also included the new 110,000-ton Carnival
Freedom for Carnival Cruise Lines, the 116,000-ton Emerald
Princess for Princess Cruises, a 110,000-ton ship that
still must be assigned to a particular Carnival brand, and
a significant redesign of Cunard Line’s previously ordered
Queen Victoria. “The agreement with Fincantieri presented
a unique opportunity to contract for a package of five ships
at a very attractive price. At the time we signed the contract,
we had not made a decision as to which brands would be designated
for two of the ships. Given P&O Cruises’ strong performance
and the excellent demand for cruising in the UK market,
the decision was made to designate one of the ships for
P&O Cruises,” said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation
& plc’s chairman and CEO.
The new P&O Cruises ship, to be named
Ventura, will feature eight restaurants, five pools and
three show lounges, including the largest theater on a British
cruise ship. In addition to one of the largest spas afloat,
the ship will include a “family zone” featuring children’s
play areas, a “family bistro” and two pools dedicated to
families and children. Of the ship’s 1,550 cabins, nearly
60 percent will offer private balconies.
