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Headlines
Royal Caribbean International sign to build
World's largest MEGA-SHIP
Seabourn Spirit again tops Conde Nast
Travellers Poll - Yacht-Like Ship Named World’s Best Small
Ship for Second Consecutive Year.
QM2's Dry-docking schedule to
repair the damaged propulsion pod.
Cruise Ship adrift in New Orleans.
Cunard release first details of the
Queen Victoria.
HAL's new Noordam, last
of the "smaller" ships? & the up-coming Solstice-class ships
of Celebrity Cruises
Ports & Shore Excursion
News
Port of Southampton has broken
its record for deep-sea cruise passengers
Cruise combines Cannes Film
Festival & the Monaco Grand Prix
Inside the
Industry
HAL's Marshal Livingston has moved up from Sales
Manager to Director of International Sales.
Alexis Puma
will be filling the position of Sales Manager of HAL's
Charter & Incentive Dept.
Cunard Line receives top
travel Industry Honors on both sides of the Atlantic.
Carnival Australia's complete
cruise solution
Mitch Schlesinger departs NCL
WWTCA's News
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Royal
Caribbean International sign to build World's largest
MEGA-SHIP
RCI
recently announced that they have placed and order with
Akers Yard in Finland to construct the worlds largest cruise
ship. This behemoth will carry around 5,400 passengers
and is expected to be over 40% bigger than anything
currently in service. Costing in the region of US$1bn
the ship, as yet unnamed , will be known as Project Genesis
and is expected to commence service in the autumn of 2009.
Seabourn
Spirit again tops Conde Nast Travellers Poll
The intimate, all-suite Seabourn Spirit is
once again the highest-rated small ship in the world in the
sixth annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Poll. The ultra
luxury ship was awarded the same title in the 2003 and 2005
polls. Spirit’s identical sisters, Seabourn Pride and
Seabourn Legend, shared the spotlight with admirable top-ten
scores in their own rights. Legend was ranked number eight
and Seabourn Pride number nine.
“This is an especially exciting honor this year,” said
Deborah L. Natansohn, Seabourn’s president, “because all
three Seabourn yachts have been refurbished in drydocks in
the last three months, with significant upgrades that guests
will definitely enjoy in 2006. Obviously Condé Nast
Traveler’s readers loved the ships over the last year, but
just wait until they see them now!”
The latest win is added to a list of honors the ultra luxury
line has received in recent years. Seabourn was the
highest-rated cruise line in the most recent Luxury Poll of
readers of Departures, a travel magazine published
exclusively for American Express Platinum and Centurion
cardmembers. The line also scored back-to-back victories
overseas, taking top honors for two years running in the
Swiss Travel Star Gold award, based on a survey of Swiss
travel agencies. In addition, Seabourn earned the coveted
Five Star Diamond Award from the American Institute of
Hospitality Sciences for the eleventh consecutive year.
The three ships, carrying just 208 guests each, perennially
occupy the upper ranks of ratings in guidebooks, newspapers,
magazines and other publications.
QM2's Dry-docking schedule to repair the damaged
propulsion pod
Cunard
officials had initially hoped they could fix the damaged
propulsion pod on the Queen Mary 2 without disrupting
sailings, but plans now call for a dry-dock in two phases,
resulting in the cancellation of two sailings. During the
first phase, a 12-day Med sailing, originally scheduled to
depart on May 5, will be changed to six-day Northern Europe
itinerary departing on May 11. The second phase,
when the repaired pods will actually be reinstalled, will
take place in November, resulting in delaying the November
11 transatlantic by one week to November 18 and canceling
the liner's November 18 Caribbean sailing.
Cruise Ship adrift in New Orleans.
A
cruise ship providing post-Katrina lodging in New Orleans
broke free from its mooring Monday, sending more than 1,000
New Orleans city workers and their families on a brief ride
on the Mississippi River. Carnival Cruise Line's 855-foot
Ecstasy was set adrift about 5:35 a.m, when a metal bollard
holding its tie-down broke off the wharf in high winds,
according to Carnival. There were no injuries reported and
no damage to the ship, the statement said. The ship went
less than a mile downriver before the captain and crew, with
the help of a river pilot who managed to get aboard, dropped
the ship's anchor and secured its position, according to the
U.S. Coast Guard. Tugboats returned the ship to its berth.
Cunard’s latest ship combines classic liner hallmarks
with sea-going innovations
Announcing the first highly-anticipated details of Cunard’s
next new ship, the company today revealed that Queen
Victoria, scheduled to enter service in December 2007, will
be a quintessential Cunard liner that includes not only
hallmark features associated with the luxury brand, but also
exciting innovations including private viewing boxes in the
Royal Court Theatre, alfresco dining for Grill guests, a
floating museum of Cunard memorabilia, and a two-story
library with 6,000 books.
With the addition of this new 90,000-ton vessel, the Cunard
liner legacy will be faithfully upheld, as Queen Victoria
will offer all the classic characteristics that have become
associated with the company’s unique liner heritage. From
the outside, her distinctive black and red livery will hint
at the experience that differentiates a Cunard liner from a
modern-day cruise ship. This will be most evident in the
ship’s homage to the liner traditions of the past with
elegant public rooms, many on a grand scale, and all
graciously-styled with luxurious finishings. The public
spaces will set the stage for myriad programs and amenities
that also distinguish Cunard’s liner persona as guests enjoy
entertainment and enrichment options that evoke a more
civilized era of travel. The ship will also feature the
line’s celebrated Queens Grill and Princess Grill stateroom
accommodations and private dining rooms, another Cunard
exclusive. And, of course, the ship has been constructed
with impressive sea-keeping qualities that will enable it to
travel easily and efficiently through the Atlantic and other
demanding waters around the world.
“Cunard has the unique distinction of having the only true
liners in the industry, and we’re proud to be able to expand
this heritage with our new Queen Victoria,” said Carol
Marlow, Cunard’s president and managing director. “This
vessel will offer our guests the classic Cunard luxury and
experience they have come to expect while at the same time
providing the most up-to-date amenities and facilities,
along with a few impressive innovations.” Marlow added that
the debut of this ship is particularly noteworthy as it will
mark the first time that three Cunard Queens (Queen Victoria
joins Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2) have been in
service together in the company’s 167-year history. In
keeping with Cunard’s reputation for intriguing itineraries,
Queen Victoria will debut with two special maiden voyages --
a Christmas Markets Voyage on December 11 and a Canary
Islands Festive Celebration on December 21 -- incorporating
both Christmas and New Year. These sailings open today for
pre-registered bookings, on February 26 for booking by past
guests, and on April 3 for all bookings.
A Quintessential Liner , at 90,000-tons Queen Victoria will
be the second largest Cunarder ever. She will offer all the
classic hallmarks of a true Cunard liner, along with some
new innovations.
Highlights of the vessel include:
- The Royal Court Theatre, reminiscent of a grand West End
theatre with 800 seats. Classically elegant in style, it
features a cruising first – elegant private boxes on the
upper level
- A two-story wood-paneled library with a spiral staircase
and two full-time librarians overseeing a collection of
6,000 books
- Al fresco dining for the Grill restaurants in an exclusive
outdoor patio called “The Courtyard,” reserved exclusively
for Grill guests
- Also for Grill guests, an Upper Grills Terrace which
serves as a secluded retreat for sunning and relaxing
- A floating museum called “Cunardia” displaying historic
nautical memorabilia, with an adjacent Cunardia shop
- A grand conservatory with colonial ambiance called the
Winter Garden, featuring a retractable roof which opens to
the sky
- The stunning, classically-inspired double height Britannia
Restaurant with sweeping staircases
- A three-story Grand Lobby featuring a dramatic staircase
and exclusive artworks
- The Royal Shopping Arcade with 4,000 square feet of
designer-name shops over two decks, inspired by the Royal
and Burlington arcades in London
- A Todd English restaurant serving innovative Mediterranean
cuisine that has proven so popular with guests on board
Queen Mary 2
- A 270-degree lounge called Hemispheres, the venue for
classes, lectures or relaxing before transforming into a
stunning nightclub in the evening
- A double height Queens Room with a 1,000 square foot dance
floor, for afternoon tea or dancing before dinner
- A traditional London pub
- A large number of private balconies – out of 1,007 guest
staterooms, 86 percent will be outside and of these 71
percent will feature a private balcony. Twenty cabins on the
ship will be ADA equipped. Maiden Voyages Celebrate the
Holidays In keeping with Cunard’s legacy of taking its
guests on fascinating journeys to exotic locales, Queen
Victoria’s first two cruises will be special voyages, and
will incorporate holiday celebrations.
Queen Victoria will depart on her maiden voyage on Tuesday,
December 11, 2007 and feature a Christmas markets tour of
Northern Europe. The 10-night roundtrip sailing will leave
from the company’s home port of Southampton, and will call
at Amsterdam, Copenhagen (overnight call), Oslo, Hamburg and
Bruges.
Cunard Line has operated the most famous ocean liners in the
world since 1840. Cunard vessels have a classic British
heritage and include the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 and
Queen Mary 2. Queen Victoria joins the fleet in 2007.
HAL's new Noordam, last of the "smaller" ships? & the
up-coming Solstice-class ships of Celebrity Cruises
Holland America's 81,000-ton, 1,848-pax Noordam, the last of
the Vista-class new-builds, debuts this week, and it may be
the last vessel of the two big premium lines to fall under
2,000 passengers. When Holland's next ship arrives in 2008,
it will be an 86,000-ton vessel, with approximately 11% more
passengers than on Vista-class.
But the up-coming Solstice-class ships of Celebrity Cruises
represent an even bigger change. Currently, Celebrity's
largest ships are the 91,000-ton, 1,950-passenger
Millennium-class vessels. The first in the newly named
Solstice-class, 118,000-GRT series is to be built at Meyer
Werft Yard, will be the Celebrity Solstice, followed by the
Celebrity Equinox. carrying 2,850 passengers they will be
46% bigger than the Millennium class ships.
Celebrity President Dan Hanrahan said. "I can tell you it's
(Celebrity Solstice) is going to be special. We
have thought through the service delivery very thoroughly. I
think of the Ritz-Carlton. You find small Ritzes and very
large Ritzes, and they all deliver good experiences".
"Even though we'll have more people
onboard than on a Millennium ship, I think we can deliver
the premium passenger experience regardless. For one thing,
we've thought through the public areas better than we ever
have before, so I think that people will find it to be as
good as or better than we have had in the past."
Ports & Shore Excursion News
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Port of Southampton has broken its record
for deep-sea cruise passengers,
With 702,000 passengers passing through the
UK cruise capital in 2005, according to full year results
announced by Associated British Ports' today. The strong
growth in Southampton's cruise figures is attributable
partly to the port's commitment to working closely with its
customers and making strategic investments based on
long-term agreements. April 2005 saw the completion of the
£0.5m extension to the custom-built City Cruise Terminal,
creating more check-in desks, baggage storage and
car-parking facilities. Accordingly, the port continues to
draw the biggest names in the worldwide cruise market.
Southampton is Carnival Corp & plc's UK home port and, in
2005, was also the regular turnaround port for Royal
Caribbean International, Fred Olsen Cruise Line, Saga
Cruises and Thomson Cruises.
WindSurf cruise combines Cannes Film
Festival & Monaco Grand Prix
A special 14-day Wind Surf cruise will take in both the
Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix. Passengers
will also be invited to a wine tasting on board hosted by
Woodhouse Family Cellars, a boutique Washington state
winery.
The cruise sails on May 21, roundtrip from Nice. Passengers
will overnight in Cannes during the film festival and spend
two nights in Monaco during the Formula One Grand Prix.
Other ports are St. Tropez, France; St. Florent, Corsica;
and Ponza, Amalfi, Sorrento, Portovenere and Portofino,
Italy.
Special exclusive events, available at extra charge, include
a gala dinner at The Hotel Majestic in Cannes, a private
dinner at the Monaco Private Car Collection Museum of the
late Prince Rainier and a cocktail party at the jet-set
Bylos Hotel in St. Tropez. Also available is a Monaco Grand
Prix Package Tour at $1,900 per person that includes a
private cocktail reception and gala dinner on board the
ship, a gift package and reserved race seating for two days.
The cruise fare starts at $3,999 per person, double
occupancy.
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Inside the industry
Holland American's
Charter & Incentive Dept., Marshal Livingston has moved
up from Sales Manager to Director of International Sales.
We wish him well in his new position.
Also on the move in
HAL.
Alexis Puma previously HAL's DSM in San
Francisco is replacing
Marshall Livingston as Sales Manager of the Charter &
Incentive Dept.
Cunard Line receives Top Travel Industry
Honors on both sides of the Atlantic.
Cunard Line and its flagship Queen Mary 2 were recently
awarded top travel industry accolades on both sides of the
Atlantic. U.S. publication Travel Weekly announced its
annual Reader's Choice Awards, naming Queen Mary 2 as "Best
Luxury Cruise Ship" for the second consecutive year. In the
U.K. earlier in the fall, Travel Trade Gazette's British
Travel Awards named Cunard as "Best Luxury Cruise Line" and
"Cruise Line of the Year."
Both highly-coveted awards result from travel agent polls
and are widely recognized as a symbol of excellence in the
travel industry.
"It is truly an honor to receive these very meaningful
accolades from our valued travel industry partners," says
Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard
Line. "Their sentiments are a testament to the distinctive
experience that only Cunard is able to offer - blending
unique onboard elements with historic itineraries and our
renowned White Star ServiceSM ."
Cunard liners are known for sailing legendary voyages around
the globe, with such signature routes as the company's
iconic transatlantic crossings and renowned world cruises.
Continuing Cunard's 165-year heritage of transatlantic
service, Queen Mary 2 is the only ocean liner with regularly
scheduled transatlantic crossings between New York and
Southampton.
Cunard Line caters to sophisticated travelers who enjoy the
classic ocean liner experience combined with 21st century
luxuries and amenities. Aboard the famous ships, like-minded
travelers will enjoy the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable
White Star ServiceSM, fine dining, sumptuous surroundings
and civilized adventure.
Carnival Australia's complete cruise
solution
Carnival Australia vp sales John Molinaro today launched a
new trade brand - Complete Cruise Solution - for its six
cruise line products. While P&O Cruises Australia and UK,
Princess Cruises, Cunard, Seabourn and Costa will continue
to retain individual brand identity, the new logo, which
incorporates them all, will 'integrate trade marketing
initiatives.'
He said the idea (already up and running in the UK market)
is to save travel agents time and effort by providing a
central source of information on the combined fleet's ships
and itineraries.
Molinaro said agent training will come under the Complete
Cruise Solution umbrella which has a large sales support
team, including nine district sales managers, throughout
Australia.
He also launched
www.completecruisesolution.com.au
In a surprise move
NCL
lets go their
VP of N. American Sales,
Mitch Schlesinger.
Schlesinger, a respected industry veteran who was
with NCL in the 1980s, returned to NCL full time in
October 2001 via Orient Line. Last fall, several
retailers predicted to Cruise Week that they
expected some
fallout on the sales side with NCL, because the
company was experiencing some product satisfaction
issues in the third quarter, and those tend to lead
to slower sales in subsequent months. Given that
background, it's not clear if the weaker than
expected sales are related to NCL specifically
(negative feedback leading to less agent promotion),
problems with the sales force itself, or if it is
indicative of bigger industry wide issues.
WWTCA's News
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Two mega-yacht charters contract in the
same week.
Two of the world most exclusive and expensive
mega-yacht where chartered by different parties for
corporate programs. Worldwide was instrumental in
securing the yachts
Turama and
Delphine for our clients, both mega-yachts in the true
sense of the word but very different in style and
appearance.
Turama being a 380ft., 80 passenger modern yacht and
Delphine being a 258ft., 30 passenger classic and
immaculately restored yacht of the past
Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise
Worldwide is pleased to be the supplier of
cruise product for this successful company. For the
past three years Legendary R&B has chartered a ship from
Holland America for their popular R&B cruises. Having
just completed another sold-out Caribbean cruise they are
expanding their offerings to the Pacific coast with a cruise
on the m.s Zaandam departing San Diego in October. In the
works and heading to contract are ships for 2007 & 08. Click
on this link to check out the action...
Legendary R&B .
Worldwide partners with Krisam Group to
supply cruise products to their clients.
The Krisam
Group is perhaps better known as a resource of hotel
products and through their link with Global Events Partners
they have a worldwide reach in the destination management
field. To further the options available to their clients
they have recently partnered with August Jackson a powerful
production company and Worldwide Cruise Associates as their
cruise supplier.
For more
information on any of OUR ASSOCIATES go to our website or,
email us.
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