Over 170 top management officials from the world’s leading cruise line companies, who attended a two-day sea trade conference in Malta, had words of praise for the island’s work in the industry.
The conference, on the theme Winter Cruising In The Mediterranean, was held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.
A high-ranking delegation from MSC Cruises attended, including the company’s managing director Domenico Pellegrino and Captain Luigi Pastena, in charge of ports and cruise liner itineraries.
The delegation held “very fruitful talks” with their local representatives Simon Coppini and Thomas Cauchi, the port agent and operations manager of J. Ripard and Sons Ltd.
They also met Norman Hamilton, chairman and managing director of Hamilton Travel Co. Ltd, which has been MSC Cruises’ Malta general sales agents since 1996.
MSC Cruises is launching two new ships this year - the 92,000-tonne MSC Poesia will be paraded in Dover in April while the 135,000-tonne MSC Fantasia will be inaugurated in Naples in November, expanding the fleet to 10.
MSC is in negotiations with Hamilton Travel and terminal operators Viset to increase the frequency of its cruise liner visits to Malta next year and the year after.
This year, MSC Cruises estimates it will bring to Malta about 100,000 passengers with weekly back-to-back calls of MSC Sinfonia and MSC Rhapsody between April and November and winter calls by MSC Musica, MSC Opera and MSC Poesia.
Archive for January, 2008
Holland America Line was awarded Best Overall Cruise Value for the 16th consecutive year at an international industry event in December. The award was presented by the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society, a 25-year old organisation which represents thousands of experienced cruising enthusiasts, who take an average of two cruises a year.
“I’m delighted and honored to again have Holland America Line recognised by the members of the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society,” said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer. “Our investment in Signature of Excellence enhancements has helped keep Holland America Line at the top of the premium cruise market and we will continue to advance or brand in the coming year with the addition of the new ms Eurodam.”
The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society reviews all cruise lines annually and releases a monthly publication - Ocean and Cruise News. They listed a number of reasons as to why Holland America Line was once again named as the best overall cruise value. The company’s continual effort to improve its fleets, most notably through the Signature of Excellence program; the immaculate presentation of the ships; friendly and well trained staff; and a broad and flexible range of dining options were among some of the grounds for which the award was given.
Carnival Cruise Lines has placed its $80 million creative and media advertising account into review, according to the marketer.
Coral Gables, Fla.-based CooperDDB, part of the DDB Worldwide network at Omnicom Group, is the lead agency on the account. CooperDDB will be invited to participate in the review, the marketer said. The agency helped Carnival earlier this month launch a new branding campaign that promotes the value in fun, memorable vacations for couples and families. A DDB spokeswoman referred calls to the client.
The review comes shortly after the company lost its senior VP of sales and marketing, Vicki Freed, to rival cruise line Royal Caribbean International earlier this month. Royal Caribbean late last year concluded a $90 million media and creative review in which a WPP Group team composed of JWT and MindShare emerged the winner.
Miami-based Carnival spent $82 million on U.S. measured media in 2006 to market its flagship Carnival Cruise Lines brand, according to TNS Media Intelligence, and spent $60 million between January and September 2007.
If you enjoy islands and unusual cruise destinations, an upcoming 15-day/14-night “On the Edge” adventure cruise from Scotland Experience explores the outer reaches of the United Kingdom and Eire. The cruise tour visits remote, compelling places that are difficult or impossible to reach by land.
The adventure cruise begins at Dartmouth, England, where passengers will board M/V Polar Star, their floating home for the next two weeks.
The visit to the Isles of Scilly include a stop at the sub-tropical Abbey Gardens of Tresco bordered by white sandy beaches and aquamarine water (yes, this is England!). Then, sailing northwest to the coast of Eire, the M/V Polar Star will cruise around the rugged Skelligs, with views of abandoned monasteries and time to explore the Dingle peninsula.
The ship will cruise alongside the Cliffs of Mohar before going ashore at Inishmore Island for a trip through stonewalled fields to Dun Aengus, a Bronze Age fort set atop cliffs 90 meters high. Then it’s on to Donegal Bay, one of the most spectacular areas of Ireland, known for its jagged peninsulas and the highest sea cliffs in Europe,
Rocky Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland is ideal for bird watching from its lofty cliffs. It is rich in Viking and early Christian history and, according to legend, Robert the Bruce hid here before his victorious return to Scotland.
Along with a flurry of new rules for travelers this year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has implemented another item that directly affects cruise travel.
As of February 18, all cruise ships departing from U.S. ports must send a passenger manifest to the department of Customs and Border Protection no less than 60 minutes prior to departure, which means that all passengers must be checked in and onboard prior to that time.
Some cruise lines have taken a proactive role and are implementing the procedure now. Most lines — Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Regent, Crystal, Oceania, Princess — have implemented a policy that states you must be processed and onboard at least 90 minutes before sailaway or you can be denied boarding.
Norwegian Cruise Line is formulating its official policy at this time and we will provide an update as soon as we know more; a message to travel agents asked that they advise their clients to be at the pier no less than two hours prior to departure. The message also indicated that if an individual attempted to check in within the 60-minute window, that individual would be denied boarding, but if a planeload of passengers was delayed, causing a late arrival at the port, the captain has the discretion to wait for them and delay departure of the ship.
With thousands of travelers choosing to explore Alaska and the Yukon Territory with Holland America Line each year, the company has added new shore excursions in Alaska to appeal to an increasingly broad range of interests. Food lovers, adventure seekers and art enthusiasts will all find not-to-be-missed experiences among the more than 250 excursions offered in 2008.
“We have a long history of arranging tours in Alaska,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest relations. “Our experienced staff actively searches for unique tours that offer a new adventure or different perspective on a particular location. The variety lets guests personalize their vacation experience each day.”
For a different view of Alaska, snorkeling is offered in Sitka and Ketchikan. Typically a warm-water sport, a wetsuit or dry suit provides protection from the elements while exploring the usually unseen underwater wilderness of Southeast Alaska. A narrated tour in calm, clear waters teeming with marine life lets guests observe and handle a variety of sea life.
Fans of the Discovery Channel’s show Deadliest Catch, highlighting Alaska’s crab fishing industry, won’t want to miss the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour in Ketchikan. Guests set out on the f/v Aleutian Ballad-the same vessel as seen on the show but modified for comfort and safety-with real fisherman who will set and pull pots for an inside look into their life and livelihood.
Logo from Holland America Line.
The organizers of the famous European Elvis Tribute Artist Championships and the website http://www.elvis.co.uk present the Elvis party cruise; the first European Elvis cruise, sailing on Royal Caribbean’s new US$450 million Freedom Class ship, the
Independence of the Seas.
Guests and performers for the Elvis Party Cruise now include:
- Ed Bonja - Elvis’ tour manager and photographer
- Karen Sue Presley - Elvis Presley’s first cousin
- Paul Larcombe - UK winner for Graceland’s search for the Ultimate Elvis and top ten world finalist in Memphis.
- Rob Kingsley - Winner of the 2008 European Championships, recently signed to Sony BMG
- Colin Paul - A dynamic Elvis vocalist and performer, a Memphis regular and highly regarded with all fans.
They are also holding the first Elvis Tribute Contest at sea. The winner receives a cash prize and a reproduction of Elvis Presley’s world famous International Gold Belt, made by the highly acclaimed Elvis costumers B & K Enterprises.
As well as the Elvis competition, showcases and special guests, the cruise also features Elvis theme nights, discos and cocktail parties, plus the chance for fans to take their vows in the presence of the King using our on-board Las Vegas style wedding chapel. The Elvis Party Cruise sails from Southampton to Cork and back, departing May 17, 2008.
Photo by gaintravel.co.uk
“Fred Olsen has canceled the inaugural sailing of its new ship, Balmoral, due to construction problems. The new boat was due to depart tomorrow on a 14-day cruise around the Canary Islands, but the decision to cancel the cruise was taken due to technical issues
following an extensive refit. The announcement comes just a week after the line announced that it would have to abandon its three-day inaugural celebration in Dover.
All passengers booked will receive a letter confirming the cancellation and will be offered a full refund and 50 per cent off any future cruise up to 2010. The 20-night trans-Atlantic and Caribbean cruise due to depart Dover on February 13, remains on schedule.”
Photo by Wikimedia
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking into an outbreak blamed for making 143 people sick Carnival Cruise Lines’ “Holiday.”The ship returned to port this
morning, after a 4-day cruise to Cozumel. According to Matt Albright with the CDC, 121 passengers and 22 crew members on-board the ship got sick with gastro-intestinal illnesses. The symptoms include sudden nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The CDC is analyzing lab specimens to determine what may have caused the illnesses. They have not confirmed whether it is the Norwalk Virus.
Statement from Carnival Cruise Line
During the previous voyage of the cruise ship Holiday, a four-day cruise, which departed from Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 24 and returned to Mobile this morning, a number of incidences of gastrointestinal illness were reported to the ship’s infirmary. The cruise line has been working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control since the early part of that voyage.”
Photo by texascruiseco.com
Nickelodeon, a unit of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International, Inc. , and Royal Caribbean International, a cruise line owned and operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., announced a new agreement where the two will introduce the “Nickelodeon Family Cruise with Royal Caribbean.” The first-ever Nickelodeon cruise will set sail on August 10-17, 2008, departing out of Miami, Fla., on an exclusive, seven-day Nickelodeon family summer vacation.
Taking place on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, the largest ship in the cruise industry with a capacity of more than 4,000 passengers, the “Nickelodeon Family Cruise with Royal Caribbean” will match the family- friendly amenities of Freedom of the Seas with a packed schedule of Nickelodeon activities and entertainment. The cruise will visit four exotic Western Caribbean destinations including: Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and a special stop at Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination, Labadee, which will be Nickelodeon-themed.
“For the past few years, we’ve been witnessing the coming of age of Nickelodeon families and have been expanding our brand and business to meet their growing entertainment, recreational and vacation needs — from hotels, to theatrical shows, to theme parks,” said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. “Taking to the seas with our first- ever family cruise with Royal Caribbean was the natural next step for us. Combined with the ground-breaking of our first Marriott Hotel and the opening of the biggest indoor theme park in the country at the Mall of America, Nickelodeon will be offering more family experiences this year than ever before.”
