Industry Insider

 

Norwegian to test privacy friendly biometric boarding

Norwegian have contracted Braathens IT Solutions and Genkey to develop solutions for faster and more secure boarding. In the period 3-14 November Norwegian will test boarding using next generation biometrics on selected departures from Moss Airport Rygge.

Norwegian extends its investment in biometric self service kiosks, and have chosen Braathens IT Solutions, a provider of IT systems to the airline industry, and GenKey, a provider of biometric solutions, as partners in next generation solutions for faster and more secure boarding of our aircrafts.

Our target is to develop the simplest and most effective concept for our travellers. Norwegian will, as first airline globally, use "Biometric Encryption", a technology where no sensitive passenger information is stored at any time. ”We know that our customers are concerned with privacy, and this technology opens for new usages of biometrics while being privacy friendly” says Bjorn Erik Barman-Jenssen, Director Station & In-Flight Services in Norwegian.

Project Manager Lars Nappa says that we expect to be able to install the solution for production in the spring of 2009. Our passengers appreciate not to have to line up in slow queues to board our aircraft. We work hard to meet this expectation, and to provide a pleasant travel experience. Trials show that passengers value the advantages of biometric solutions. This solution satisfies government requirements to confirm that the person boarding the aircraft is identical to the one checking in luggage at the bag drop counter. The biometric solution can be combined with an automated boarding device, turnstile, to further accelerate the boarding process

Yet more delays for Pearl Seas Cruises

New US cruise line Pearl Sea Cruises has, for the second time, postponed the introduction of the 9,000 grt Pearl Mist, a newbuilding under construction at Canadian shipbuilder Irving Shipbuilders in Halifax, Nova Scotia due to delays in completing the vessel.

A sistership on order at the same yard has also been cancelled.

Pearl Mist was to have entered service this autumn with a series of cruises around Canada’s Atlantic Seaboard and up the St. Lawrence River, followed by winter cruises in the Caribbean.  The delay in delivering the vessel has been attributed to the owner’s increasing the passenger capacity of the Pearl Mist from 166 to 214.

Pearl Seas Cruises is a subsidiary of American Cruise Lines.

Carnival Cruise Lines will debut a new branding campaign
Carnival Cruise Lines will debut a new branding campaign designed to capture the essence of the Carnival vacation experience, which the line said “embodies spirited and spontaneous fun.” Under the tagline “Fun For All. All For Fun,” the new campaign will kick off with events featuring Guinness World Record attempts in Dallas and Philadelphia. The first event, to occur in Dallas on Oct. 26, will try to set a Guinness record for the world’s largest beach ball. The second event, to take place in Philadelphia on Nov. 2, will feature a Guinness attempt for the world’s largest piñata. Footage from the events will be used to create two TV spots, which will soon begin airing nationally, and eventually in select local markets as well.

The new campaign also includes both a consumer and trade magazine component with new travel trade ads beginning Nov. 10 and a series of four consumer ads scheduled to run in “People” the weeks of Nov. 17 through Dec. 8. The campaign also features a variety of online elements including Towel Animal Theatre, which involves a series of online videos that depict towel animals having amusing conversations with each other while the stateroom’s occupants are away. The videos are currently running as part of an advertising buy on www.abc.com and beginning Nov. 3 will be available for viewing at www.carnival.com/funville.

The new campaign was created by Arnold Worldwide of Boston. To develop the campaign’s creative concept, Arnold conducted an intensive study involving more than 3,000 consumers, many of whom are Carnival customers. “There is a real kind of meaningful fun on Carnival -- their cruise experience is uniquely social, participatory, uninhibited and gives people the freedom to be who they are,” said Pete Favat, Arnold’s chief creative officer. “In today’s land of ‘too’ -- as in too much work and not enough fun -- we’re showing how Carnival’s brand of fun is more valuable than ever before.”

Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of marketing and guest experience, added, “In today’s chaotic world, people are overworked and overstressed. Research indicates that an estimated 51 million Americans will not use all of their vacation days this year. Carnival is on a mission to remind people that not only should leisure time and fun not be sacrificed within our lives, but today it is more important than ever, and a Carnival cruise provides a truly exceptional vacation environment for people to thoroughly relax and enjoy themselves.”

The “Fun For All. All For Fun” tag, along with a new look and feel, will be fully integrated into brochures, direct mail and trade communications. These components of Carnival’s new branding campaign are the first of a number of new marketing initiatives planned for the coming year. Noam Murro will direct the TV spots. Murro is known for his award-winning commercials for Volkswagen, Hummer, “Monsters” and Nike. Most recently, he directed the movie “Smart People.”
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced record net income for the third quarter 2008
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced record net income for the third quarter 2008 of $411.9 million, or $1.92 per share, compared to net income of $395.0 million, or $1.84 per share, in 2007.

This improvement was due primarily to increased capacity, higher yields, and lower net cruise costs, partially offset by higher fuel prices.

These figures also include the receipt of a legal settlement of $17.6 million.

Higher fuel prices increased costs by $65.1 million, or $0.30 per share. While fuel costs per metric ton increased 46% versus 2007, they were $48 per metric ton, or $0.07 per share lower than previous guidance.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $17.2 million, or $0.08 per share better than previous guidance due primarily to timing and management's focus on cost containment.

Carnival suspends dividend for 1st quarter
Carnival Corp. suspends dividend for 1st quarter to preserve some cash; shares plunge on market.

Carnival Corp. said that it will suspend its dividend for the first quarter as it looks to preserve cash during uncertain economic times.

The move is expected to lead to annual savings of about $1.3 billion and allows for the funding of new ships without tapping credit markets, the cruise operator said.

Carnival shares plunged $5.23, or $18.2 percent, to $23.48 in morning trading on the news.

The leisure sector has been pressured as consumers continue to tighten spending due to the ongoing housing slowdown, diminishing credit and rising food costs. Meanwhile, financial markets around the world have fluctuated on growing concerns of a recession.

Carnival maintained that its cash flow is still strong, but expressed a desire to keep a close eye on it.

"In light of the unusually high cost of raising new capital, continuing concerns about financial institution liquidity and current uncertainties in the global economy, we believe that preserving cash is a prudent step which will further strengthen the company's balance sheet and enhance our financial flexibility," Chief Executive Micky Arison said in a statement.

The company plans to keep the dividend suspension throughout 2009, but will reassess its dividend policy from time to time throughout the year.

In addition, Carnival declared a fourth-quarter dividend of 40 cents that will be paid on Dec. 12 to shareholders of record Nov. 21.

Sad demise of the Majestic America Lines Fleet

With surprising candor, Majestic America Line's CEO Joe Ueberroth (who will be receiving nearly US$3 million in lost wages and bonus compensation as he steps down) stated that MAL was a "poor investment" for parent company Ambassadors International and will not be revived under new ownership.

Ambassadors also owns high seas entity Windstar Cruises. MAL's river cruise vessels are now being offered for sale on an individual basis.

The historic DELTA QUEEN failed under MAL ownership to get a Congressional exemption from SOLAS regulations that prohibit vessels with wooden superstructures from carrying overnight passengers and will be laid up (as new plans are revived to get the exemption that was granted for over 40 years to her previous owners).

The AMERICAN QUEEN will be laid up and taken over by MARAD (the U.S. Maritime Administration) for unpaid debt when she finishes her last cruise on November 15. She will join EMPRESS OF THE NORTH, which was seized by MARAD this past summer.

COLUMBIA QUEEN is laid up and QUEEN OF THE WEST is finishing her last voyage this week. And, most sadly, MISSISSIPPI QUEEN, gutted for an intended refit by MAL last year was left abandoned at New Orleans and is now reportedly infested with dangerous mold. The latest rumor is that she will be sold and cut down to become a barge.

Orient Lines Furloughs Employees

Orient Lines has furloughed 10 full-time employees due to the current worldwide economic crisis, it has been announced by Wayne Heller, the line's president and CEO.

The furloughs, which took effect Friday, Oct. 31, represent less than 3% of the combined shoreside and shipboard staff and crew.

A spokesman for the line said that its plans to launch the Marco Polo II next spring are moving forward.

Furloughs allowed the line to cut expenses without impacting the operation, according to the spokesman