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Special Features:
New boats, new questions as the
2006 America's Cup races commence
Uncertainty swirls around
the Port America's Cup as sailors, organisers and race fans
look forward to some thrilling match racing in Valencia when
with the first race of the 2006 season commenced on Thursday
11 May.
Will Alinghi prove as
dominant in 2006 as they were in 2005? How will the new
boats launched by Emirates Team New Zealand, Luna Rossa and
BMW ORACLE Racing square up to the might of the Swiss
Defenders? Can any of the smaller teams, still sailing their
older boats, pose a serious threat to the Big Four?
Thursday's matches could
offer a revealing insight into some of those questions, when
local favourites Desafío Español 2007 line up against
Alinghi for the first battle of the 2006 season, while on
the other course it will be Italian civil war between Luna
Rossa and Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team. A total of 66
matches are scheduled over the next six days, and by the end
of next Tuesday, the 12 teams will have a much better idea
of how well they have spent the past six or seven months of
training, boat building and testing.
To show, or to hide?
One of the big dilemmas
facing the bigger teams has been whether or not to put their
new boats into competition. BMW ORACLE Racing skipper Chris
Dickson said: "You either race your boat early and gain the
opportunity of learning about it, or you keep your boat back
and don't reveal to the others what you have. But then you
don't get the chance to learn about it. We have chosen to
race our boat early, although racing it in the third year of
a four-year campaign isn't really that early."
This is the decision that
all the big three challengers have come to, each indicating
they intend to race their new boats, while the Defender has
decided to keep the new SUI-91 under wraps for a while
longer. In any case, SUI-75 proved plenty quick enough in
2005, earning 31 victories from 33 matches. Ed Baird,
nominated as Alinghi helmsman for this Act, doesn't believe
it will be anything like as easy this season. "It's unlikely
that a boat that was designed four or almost five years ago
should be able to outperform one of the new ones. But it's
always our hope; it would be a fantastic day, if we can take
a race off of a new boat."
Luna Rossa may have a
better gauge of the performance of their new boat, ITA-86,
than most teams because they have engaged in some informal
training with the Defender. For some America's Cup purists,
training with the Defender represents a form of high
treason, but Luna Rossa's skipper Francesco de Angelis
didn't see it quite like that.
"I don't think it's such a
big deal, because all the teams are racing Alinghi starting
from tomorrow, and a few of them will be racing in the new
boat. I don't think they will want to go out and lose a race
against Alinghi."
Whereas in past Cups
Alinghi would been training in isolation, the series of
Louis Vuitton Acts which started in Marseilles back in
October 2004 mean that the Defenders race all the Challenges
on a regular basis.
A new phase, a
new place
After the travelling Acts
of the past two years, when the teams visited France, Sweden
and Sicily, the 2006 season marks the beginning of a new
phase. From here to the America's Cup Finals just over a
year from now, all racing takes place in Valencia. The port
has undergone a miraculous transformation over the past
year, as teams have erected new permanent bases and massive
building works continue to take place, building up the Port
America's Cup. Superyachts and motor cruisers are mooring up
to the newly constructed marinas. The buzz of anticipation
around the Port grows ever louder as the 2006 racing is
about to commence.
Ryder Cup 2006 in Ireland - unique buy-in
opportunity Seabourn Cruise/Ryder Cup Program
This fully developed program with all the
bells & whistles including badges for each day, parties,
ground transportation, play the next Ryder Cup venue and a 4
day cruise ending in London is now available at incredibly low pricing.
Ryder Cup.
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Headlines
Royal
Caribbean International plans numerous opportunities for the
trade to experience their newest and biggest Freedom Class
ship - Freedom of the Seas.
With her
energetic FlowRider® surf park, cantilevered whirlpools and
colorful H20 Zone silhouetted against the backdrop of The
Statue of Liberty, Freedom of the Seas, the most anticipated
cruise ship to take to the seas in years, made her
spectacular U.S. premiere in New York on May 10th.
Prior to crossing the
Atlantic she made a stop at Oslo, Norway and another in
Southampton. Arriving in New York harbor after
her first transatlantic crossing where the ship was formally
dedicated while at anchor near the Statue of Liberty. Next
stop will be Boston before arriving at her homeport of
Miami.
With all of her never-before-seen features, Freedom lives up
to the standard Royal Caribbean created with years of
envelope-pushing amenities. Not surprisingly, it takes a big
leap and a large ship to follow the wake created by the
launch of her sister ships - when measured from the
waterline to the top of the funnel, Freedom of the Seas
towers 208 feet tall, approximately the same height as two
Statues of Liberty, placed head to toe. A few highlights on
this mega-ship include:
* The first FlowRider® surfing simulator at sea, found on
the same deck as the multi-hued interactive sculpture garden
found in the H20 Zone water park.
* The first cantilevered whirlpools at sea, suspended 112
feet above the ocean in the adults-only solarium, which also
features a pool flanked by hammocks.
* Studio B the onboard skating rink open for skating lessons
and free skating during the day while used to stage the
original ice show Freedom-Ice.com by night.
* At 1,215 square feet, the Presidential Suite sleeps 14
people and features an 810-square foot outdoor living area
with a Jacuzzi and private bar.
* The first boxing ring on a cruise ship in the Freedom
Fitness Center, the largest-ever cruise ship gym.
* The Royal Promenade entertainment boulevard, longer than a
football field and the hub for dining, shopping, bars and
lounges and the midnight parade.
* Samsung Flat-paneled televisions and the debut of the
line's new bedding program in every stateroom.
* A Sports Deck offering guests the chance to test their
skill at a 9-hole miniature golf course, a golf simulator,
basketball, paddleball or volleyball.
* Also found on the Sports Deck, a bigger, enhanced version
of the industry revolutionizing rock-climbing wall that
first appeared on Voyager of the Seas in 1999.
Freedom of the Seas was making headlines even before she was
delivered. In a nationwide search conducted with NBC's
"TODAY" show to find an extraordinary "everyday" Godmother,
Katherine Louise Calder, foster mother to over 400 children,
was crowned in February 2006 during "TODAY's" Olympic
broadcast coverage.
At 160,000 GRT and holding 3,634 guests double-occupancy,
Freedom of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world.
The first in Royal Caribbean's new Freedom class, she sails
seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami calling
in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay,
Jamaica; and Royal Caribbean's private destination, Labadee,
Haiti.
SS BLUE LADY (ex FRANCE, NORWAY) heading
for the scrap heap.
This famous old lady finally left her Port
Klang anchorage on Friday at 16:00, according to local
reports. The famed ship was taken under tow, and, unless she
is resold en-route she will be beached at Alang for
scrapping. She is due to arrive in Alanag on 1st June.
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RSSC extends the Le Cordon Bleu
Partnership with culinary shore excursions and tours.
Tasteful explorations of Paris, Monte Carlo, Tokyo and
Sydney, in addition to Le Cordon Bleu Workshops on Select
Voyages. Since 2001, guests of Regent Seven Seas
Cruises’ acclaimed 700-guest all-balcony suite sister ships,
Seven Seas Voyager® and Seven Seas Mariner®, have been free
to immerse themselves in the world-class cuisine of the
legendary Le Cordon Bleu® – enjoying exclusive dinners at
“Signatures,” the only permanent Le Cordon Bleu
restaurants-at-sea, and in intimate, hands-on Le Cordon Bleu
“Classe Culinaire des Croísières” workshops.
Now, on select 2006
sailings, even the most passionate of food lovers can
further enrich their culinary experiences and savoir faire
by choosing to participate in pre- and post-cruise “Master
Class” shore trips celebrating the captivating regional
gastronomy of Paris, Monte Carlo, Tokyo and Sydney.
The American Star, the newest luxury cruise ship for
American Cruise Lines, was recently launched at the
Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD.
The American Star will begin her Inaugural Season with a 7-
night Maiden Voyage on the Chesapeake Bay, departing from
Baltimore, MD. She will then make her way north for an
Inaugural Summer along the Maine Coast and Harbors from June
16 thru October 7. Departing from New York, the American
Star will sail fall foliage cruises on the picturesque
Hudson River, one of ten American Heritage Rivers. The
American Star will be the fourth American Cruise Lines
vessel to cruise the magnificent East Coast.
The 100-passenger American Star is 215 feet long, and will
have a similar modern design to the American Spirit. The new
modern luxury ship will feature more oversized staterooms
with private verandahs, and all staterooms will have the
large opening picture windows, a trademark of American
Cruise Lines. Every room is fitted with flat-screen
satellite TV and DVD players, individual climate control,
Internet access and many other modern conveniences and
amenities expected by the discerning traveler.
The ship’s layout will include an elevator to all four
decks, four lounges of various sizes, a spacious observation
deck, a well-stocked library and a dining room with
surrounding windows providing spectacular landscapes and
coastal scenery as you dine.
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easyCruise signs letter of intent with
Neorion for up to four ships
easyCruise and Greek shipbuilding group Neorion Holdings
announced today the signing of a letter of intent for the
construction of two 500-passenger cruise ships, plus two
options, in Neorion Holdings' shipyards in Greece. Neorion
own two shipyards, one in Elefsis near Athens and one on the
island of Syros. According to easyCruise, the building
of these ships will allow the brand to expand its cruise
operations into the Greek islands as well as other parts of
Mediterranean, Caribbean, Florida and the Bahamas and Dubai.
'I'm delighted that after an international tender that began
back in 2005 with participating shipyards from Italy, Spain
and Germany, easyCruise selected Neorion shipyards of Greece
to enter into a letter of intent,' said easyGroup boss
Stelios Haji-Ioannou. 'The competition was intense and the
criteria of our choice were both financial and of a
technical nature,' he added. Haji-Ioannou reports there are
still specific issues to be resolved but he hopes to
finalise the agreement within the next two months.
'Our company is committed to work really hard within the
next few weeks to ensure that this agreement is finalised
and this significant investment on the part of easyCruise
remains in Greek borders,' commented Neorion md J.
Tavoularis.
Referring to easyCruise's expansion plans in Greece, the
ships will sail from one of the marinas located in the
Faliro area near Athens (avoiding the commercial port of
Piraeus), offering weekend cruises to Mykonos and Syros, and
4-day cruises to Santorini, with possible visits to Paros,
Naxos, Milos or Serifos. No specific date has been reported
for start-up.
The easyCruise French/Italian
rivieras model will be repeated in Greek waters with the
ships remaining in port during most of the day and
overnight, reports Haji-Ioannou 'so that the passengers are
free to visit the local bar-restaurants and shops, thus
strengthening local economy in their ports of call.' He
added, 'The advertising campaign that will support our
activity in Greece will contribute to the country's
promotion abroad.'
Haji-Ioannou and Tavoularis met today with Greek Minister of
Economy & Finance, George Alogoskoufis, who assured them of
the Greek government's support in the business venture.
Briefing meetings with other related Greek ministers will
soon follow.
Ports & Shore Excursion News
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Holland
America Line Features More National
Parks On Cruise And CruiseTours To
Alaska And The
Yukon
Holland America Line makes 13 national parks and preserves
easily accessible in the
Great Land.
Every cruise and CruiseTour features numerous national parks
of note and
Glacier Bay
National Park on all three major
cruise itineraries. From world renowned
Denali National
Park to remote and stunning
Kluane National
Park, guests can follow their
wilderness quest with Holland America Line. HAL
embraced Alaska 59 years
ago and has taken great strides in developing comprehensive
itineraries to take advantage of really getting into the
Great Land.
Our Klondike Wilderness Adventure CruiseTour for example
explores three premier national parks – Glacier Bay, Denali,
Kluane – and guests have the option of taking an excursion
to another recognized wilderness park at
Tombstone, just north of
Dawson City,
Holland
America Line Showcase
European Heritage On Cruises From London,
Copenhagen And
Rotterdam.
Holland America Line originated in Rotterdam, Holland, in
the 1870s is putting to good use it's experience of Europe
to allow its clients the opportunity to explore Northern
Europe with itineraries rich in content and diversity. Two
spacious five-star ships offering four different itineraries
from three convenient homeports—now including London—reflect
increased demand for the line’s intriguing Baltic cruises
departing May through September, 2006. All cruises
spotlight the unique treasury of art and architecture to be
found in St.
Petersburg, Russia.
Two full days in port offer organized excursions to the
Hermitage Museum,
Peterhof and Catherine’s Palaces and many other legendary
sites. Unique cultural experiences like a Gala Evening at
Yusupov Palace—one of the line’s exclusive Medallion
Collection excursions. To complement a Baltic cruise
vacation, exciting pre and post hotel packages in
London, Copenhagen
and Rotterdam
offer the opportunity to extend stays in these remarkable
cities.
Carnival
Cruise Lines’ 88,500-ton Carnival Legend will offer a new
eight-day schedule from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,
The Carnival
Legend’s new southern Caribbean cruises begin Jan. 27, 2007
and are part of the ship’s seasonal eight-day schedule from
Fort Lauderdale encompassing alternating southern and
western Caribbean cruises. Eight-day western
Caribbean cruises include Colon, Panama; Limon, Costa Rica;
and Belize City, Belize. Carnival Legend’s eight-day program
will operate Oct. 23 – April 9, 2007 and Oct. 22 – April 7,
2008. (The ship will continue to offer its original
eight-day southern Caribbean cruises to St. Maarten,
Barbados and Martinique from Oct. – Dec. 2006).
Immediately prior to and following the eight-day voyages
from Fort Lauderdale, Carnival Legend will operate a program
of eight-day Caribbean cruises round-trip from New York.
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Grand Turk facility marks official opening
The Grand Turk
Cruise Center held its official opening ceremony last
week with a reception attended by government officials from
the Turks & Caicos Islands and representatives of Carnival
Corp. & plc, the operator of the $42m facility.
Although the center welcomed its first ship on Feb. 25 when
Holland America Line’s Noordam made its inaugural call, the
official opening marks the completion of construction.
Coinciding with the opening is the launch of a new FM radio
station, GT Cruise FM, which offers a mix of Caribbean tunes
plus news and information on Grand Turk Island and the
cruise center.
The grand opening ‘represents the culmination of many years
of hard work in developing and constructing this
state-of-the-art center which has been met with enthusiastic
response from cruise passengers,’ said Deputy Chief Minister
Floyd Hall. So far the facility has hosted 15 calls
from five lines, bringing a total of more than 25,000
passengers and 11,000 crew. More than 130 calls are booked
in 2006
Algeria emerging as a cruise destination
Could Algeria be the next 'hot' cruise
destination? Ivan Mifsud of Malta-based Mifsud Brothers Ltd,
whose company was one of the pioneers in opening up Libya
for cruise calls, is now developing its ground-handling and
agency business in neighboring Algeria. Last week Algerian
Cruise Services, a joint venture between Mifsud Brothers and
an Algerian destination management company, handled its
first shorex call in Algiers, attending Phoenix Reisen's
Amadea.
"Some 400 passengers went on a half day panoramic excursion
of the city,' reports Mifsud. 'Disembarking passengers were
greeted by young Algerians wearing regional costumes
offering local dates whilst a group of musicians were
playing traditional music. It was a very colorful scene.'
The ship called at 7:45 a.m. and departed at 2 p.m. 'Since
we operated a panoramic tour and had to drive through rather
narrow roads, we opted for 16 x 27 seater buses,' says
Mifsud. Passengers visited the Martyr's Monument (the
country's premier landmark), the city centre, mosques, the
old Citadel and the Basilica of Notre Dame d'Afrique. The
trip included a refreshment break in a five-star hotel
perched on a mountain from where they could have a panoramic
view of Algiers and also see Amadea in port.
This was the second time Pheonix Reisen has called in
Algeria. Last year it made its maiden call with Albatros.
French Riviera-based Plein Cap, operating the 278-passenger
Adriana, featured Algeria as a cruise destination for the
first time this year calling several times in Oran, Annaba,
Skikda, Bejaïa and Algier.
Algeria Cruise Services, which offers shore excursions and
port agency services from the ports of Algiers, Oran, Bejaia,
Skikda and Annaba, says it is now planning tours in and
around the coastal town of Bejaia for a call scheduled for
later this year for an 'undisclosed US line'.
Mifsud tells Seatrade Insider there are early signals of the
birth of cruise tourism in Algeria. 'Immediately after the
Amadea call we received a letter of support signed by the
Algerian Minister of Tourism,' he reveals
Inside the Industry
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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has named
Thomas Martin Senior Vice President and Treasurer.
He assumes responsibility for financing, cash
management, banking and credit agency relationships,
corporate planning, risk management and investments. In this
new role, Martin reports to Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer Luis E. Leon. Since 2001,
Martin served as vice president and treasurer of Allied
Waste Industries Inc., a Fortune 500 waste collection,
recycling and disposal firm based in Scottsdale, Ariz. Prior
to that, he was vice president of treasury, tax and
procurement for California-based online financial services
company E*TRADE. Martin also held positions with
Federal-Mogul Corp., Red Lion Hotels, Boise Cascade Corp.,
JP Morgan Chase and Wachovia Securities.
NCL reorganizes sales department
NCL Corp. reorganized its sales department by
separating selling and service areas. Terri Burke, formerly
director of key accounts, moves to the new position of vp
business development, reporting to Scott Rogers, svp
marketing and sales. Burke will lead a business development
team that includes Wayne Peyreau, director of field sales;
Joe Jiffo, director of national accounts; and a new leader
of key accounts to be named to replace Burke. The group will
increase its focus on home-based agents and new emerging
retail business models.
Clark Reber will continue to lead sales, strategy and
planning as director of sales planning, also reporting to
Rogers. Strategy and planning will support the business
development group by creating and managing training
programs, events, promotions and tools for travel agents as
well as providing for the continued growth of agency loyalty
programs and the NCL President's and Captain's Clubs.
Inside sales will expand its focus and become a one-stop
shop for both agents and field sales representatives with
questions and issues about business on the books. That will
free district sales managers to focus on selling, Rogers
said.
The charter, meetings and incentives team will continue to
be led by Marianne Schmidhofer, who now reports to Rogers.
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A
landmark cruise expo in Manly
Landmark Travel will stage its first cruise
expo at the historic 103-year-old Manly Golf Club on June 3.
Gerd Wilmer, who launched Landmark Travel in Manly 28 years
ago and was appointed Australian representative for Hapag-Lloyd
earlier this year (Seatrade Insider 09/03/2006), has
advertised the event in the local newspaper that is
distributed to Sydney's affluent northern beachside suburbs.
Wilmer said 20 cruise lines will have stands in the
grandiose clubhouse where he will also hold seminars on 'how
to select the right cruise' and 'river cruising in Europe.'
Exhibitors include Captain Cook Cruises, Carnival, Classic
International Cruises, Coral Princess Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd,
Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania,
Silversea and Star Clippers.
Admission to the expo and seminars is free. There is a A$5
fee for a presentation on cruising the Arctic and Antarctic
by Australian travel writer and photographer, David
McGonigal, author of 'Antarctica: The Complete Story.
Worldwide Cruise Associates news.
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Worldwide's President & CEO will cruise
on the
Le Diamant
This small, luxury ship most recently known as the "Song of
Flower" was purchased by the luxury French cruise line -
Compagnie des Isles du Ponant - and immediately refitted to
a high standard. CIP's other small ships - "Le
Ponant", the 64 passengers modern sailing cruiser
and "Le
Levant", the 100 Passenger luxury yacht style
cruise ship are well known for the high standard of service,
cuisine and the intriguing itinerates the ships sail. This
will be the first time anyone from our offices have sailed
on the ship since it joined the Le Diamante since it joined
the CIP Fleet. Look for our report in the next issue.
Monte Carlo here we come.
The Monaco Grand Prix has always been an event that catches
the imagination and rightly so, held in what is perceived to
be the capital of Luxe, this years event has been a
masterpiece of event management with several programs being
operated on ships chartered for the event. This year
Worldwide will have three luxury vessels on the quay for the
event and to ensure all goes smoothly Diana and Steve Bloss
will be on hand form Worldwide's office.
For more
information on any of OUR ASSOCIATES go to our website or,
email us.
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